Firmware Update -- Engadget

MacBook Pro update rights the wrong, enables 3Gbps SATA transfers

by Darren Murph, posted Jun 22nd 2009 at 5:53PM

We've seriously no idea why Apple didn't just ship all of the June 2009 MacBook Pro units with the SATA 3Gbps specification enabled, but at least it caved to the chorus of complaints and enabled it today via a firmware update. MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.7, as it's called in Software Update, weighs in at just 3.35MB and requires OS X 10.5.7 to be installed. According to Apple, the update "addresses an issue reported by a small number of customers using drives based on the SATA 3Gbps specification with the June 2009 MacBook Pro." Of course, it goes on to say that it still doesn't support the use of drives that can take advantage of such speeds, but at least you have the option now of taking matters into your own hands and upgrading to a non-hamstrung SSD should you choose.

[Via MacRumors]

Canon EOS 5D Mark II update with manual video exposure controls now available

by Nilay Patel, posted Jun 1st 2009 at 10:31PM

We'd heard it was coming and now it's here -- the just-released EOS 5D Mark II 1.1.0 firmware update adds a much-longed-for manual exposure control to the video mode. That ought to warm some budding filmmaker hearts our there -- and the rest of us can enjoy a few other minor enhancements. Fun for the whole family!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Android Dev Phones get early shot at Cupcake

by Paul Miller, posted Apr 27th 2009 at 12:36PM

While mere mortals will most likely have to wait until May to get at Cupcake (probably even stooping so low as to refer to it as Android 1.5, those commoners), the proud, good-looking possessors of Android Dev Phones can get at the update right this instant from HTC's website. Naturally, we'd assume somebody's going to figure out how to get these images onto rooted G1s before long, but we wouldn't want to over estimate the intelligence or temerity of the proletariat.

[Via Talk Android]

T-Mobile Germany website indicates May launch for Cupcake

by Donald Melanson, posted Apr 24th 2009 at 1:18PM

It's not exactly a huge surprise considering that the Cupcake-powered HTC Magic is confirmed to be coming out May 5th, but T-Mobile Germany's website now looks to have also confirmed that the Cupcake update itself will also be rolling out to G1 users sometime the same month -- in Germany, at least. That'll of course bring with it the much-desired on-screen keyboard, along with video recording, stereo Bluetooth support, and some new integration with Picasa and YouTube, among other fixes and additions. As you can see above, the update will "skillfully" install itself on your G1 as soon as it's available, so you needn't do anything except go on about your daily business in the meantime, or check the interwebs furiously for a means of jumping the cue.

[Via Talk Android]

TiVo update brings pause menu ads to Series3 & TiVo HD owners

by Richard Lawler, posted Apr 6th 2009 at 4:34AM

TiVo heard you liked ads, so it's putting ads in your pause menu so you can watch ads while you skip ads. Already rolled out on older Series2 hardware last December, Dave Zatz posts that the 11.0c software update for Series3 / TiVo HD hardware brings the new "feature" of ads popping up while viewers are time shifting. That can show up as a "More information" prompt for some shows, as seen above, but will hold advertisements on certain programs. The prompt will only show up once per recording, but if this new form of advertising bugs you, TiVo Community user bfdtv instructs that permanently hiding the progress bar can be achieved by pressing pause, press down to hide the popup, press play again, then enter SELECT-PLAY-SELECT-PAUSE-SELECT, which can also be reversed by using the code again while watching a recording. Still, we doubt the ad skipping arms race will end here.

Read - TiVo's Pause Menu Spam Hits S3/HD Units
Read - TivoHD Overview, Q&A, Setup, Tips

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic software update available: faster, better, updater

by Thomas Ricker, posted Mar 30th 2009 at 4:38AM

Nokia's hot selling 5800 XpressMusic handset just got a little bit better. Available now, the free update promises faster Internet data, built-in dictionary with text-to-speech support, an improved overall UI and eMail experience, and better in-device search. Nokia's also tweaked the cameras adding still image support to the front-facing video-call camera and a burst mode for capturing multiple snaps while holding the shutter button. There's also a new Application Update feature that identifies and downloads updates to your installed applications automatically. Giddy up.

Apple firmware update aims to fix vertical line issues on 17-inch MBP

by Darren Murph, posted Mar 25th 2009 at 7:59PM

Apple's latest firmware update for the recently shipped 17-inch MacBook Pro sure is light on details, but one thing's for sure: it reportedly nixes those weird vertical line issues that have plagued so many. Unfortunately, the "MacBook Pro Graphics Firmware Update 1.0" doesn't point out whether it was an overheating problem or a GeForce 9600M quirk that was wreaking havoc, but so long as it works, we guess it matters not. Hit up your Software Update when you get enough courage to suck down 770KB of problem-solving goodness.

[Via MacRumors]

Xbox 360 HDMI audio fix arrives tomorrow morning

by Richard Lawler, posted Feb 2nd 2009 at 5:33PM

Notice something missing from your Xbox 360 ever since the NXE went live? Some HDMI-connected gamers lost all audio after the update, and a fix is finally on the way. According to Major Nelson, it's due to arrive February 3 at 2:00 a.m. PST in a mandatory dashboard update that should address the issues experienced with some HDTVs. That problem with your idiot friend always triggering the witch while playing Left 4 Dead? Still unaddressed.

iPhone firmware update 2.2.1 brings minor stability improvements

by Paul Miller, posted Jan 27th 2009 at 2:05PM

No copy and paste here, move along everyone! What you can expect in the new, just-released 2.2.1 software update for the iPhone (and iPod touch) is "improved general stability of Safari" -- always encouraging -- and a fix for saved Mail images not showing up just right in the camera roll. It's like Christmas in January!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

iriver's SPINN hits 2.0, throws download party

by Thomas Ricker, posted Jan 21st 2009 at 7:35AM

The SPINN is easily the sexiest device on iriver's tawdry pallet of gadget-lust. Unfortunately, we found the user experience to be a bit lacking at launch. While the feature list is long and impressive, the UI just couldn't pull it all together. Now SPINN's gone 2.0 and with it hope for the device to live up to our giddy first impressions. New to this firmware update is a memo taking feature, big glorious album art, auto rotating pictures, auto-recording of DMB television, and DAB or FM radio (where supported), increased control over video playback, and game downloads for those of you in Korea.

[Via PMP Today and DAPreview]

Cowon S9 firmware update adds Bluetooth speaker support

by Darren Murph, posted Dec 25th 2008 at 11:53PM

For early adopters who have already taken delivery of their shiny new Cowon S9, they've already sucked down one firmware update to fix some of the more obvious issues. Now, there's round number two (v2.06) to endure. The company has loosed the second firmware update for its just birthed PMP, with this one adding JPG album art support (for files with the .jpg extension) and fixing a bug that occasionally caused a system reboot after the "remove hardware from PC" message appeared. Most notable, however, is the new inclusion of Bluetooth speaker support, meaning that this device can now stream tunes to BT-enabled sound systems sans cabling or any other black magic. Tap the read link to get your download a-goin'.

Cowon issues first firmware update for S9 PMP

by Darren Murph, posted Dec 18th 2008 at 6:15PM

Yes, already. Before the 8GB S9 has even had a chance to become available, Cowon has already issued the first firmware update for its hot little PMP. If you're one of the earliest of adopters, you may want to give this one a download / install before flinging your device upside the wall. Just to name a few, the patch fixes bugs when changing boundary settings for music playback, when viewing particular picture files, when the upper buttons are pressed simultaneously and when connecting Bluetooth Mono headsets. Hop on past the break for the full alert, and tap the read link to access the file.

Continue reading Cowon issues first firmware update for S9 PMP

New MacBook firmware update doesn't resolve memory issues

by Donald Melanson, posted Dec 11th 2008 at 1:44PM

Apple may well have an update on the way that fixes the 4GB memory problem affecting at least some new MacBooks and MacBook Pros, but it apparently isn't the firmware update that was just released yesterday. According to jkOnTheRun, while the update appeared to have remedied the problem initially, the freezing eventually returned and, once again, going back to 3GB proved to be the only way to get the laptop back into working condition. Of course, Apple never claimed that the update would fix this particular problem, but it seems that there's an increasing number of people waiting to hear something about the matter straight from the company.

Zune 3.1 update out today - now featuring Sudoku!

by Joseph L. Flatley, posted Nov 18th 2008 at 2:52PM

We asked how you would change the Zune 3.0 software and Microsoft responded -- by upgrading Texas Hold 'Em. In addition to adding a multiplayer mode and some new single player difficulty levels to the venerable card game, the 3.1 update (out today) should find Zune Social easier to navigate, and a new "like minded listeners" feature lets you compare your music tastes to other users on the service. Additionally, the update promises an overall increase in stability and performance for the Zune PC app and the device firmware, including improved play count reporting and content synchronization. Rounding out this embarrassment of riches, the new software packs in freebies of Checkers, Sudoku and Space Battle. What are you still doing here, Zuneophiles? Hit the read link!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Sony says 5.01 PSP firmware update will fix Memory Stick problems

by Donald Melanson, posted Oct 22nd 2008 at 3:50PM

Sony got a lot of things right with its 5.0 firmware update for the PSP, with the PlayStation Store and its direct downloads making a long awaited appearance, but it looks to have caused a bit of a problem for folks with high-capacity Memory Sticks -- namely, it was reporting that 8GB or 16GB cards are full when, in fact, there's plenty of free space left on 'em. Ever the one for a do-over, Sony now says that it's aware of the problem and that the 5.01 firmware update will sort everything out when it's released "soon."

[Via PSP Fanboy]