New MBA Ambient Light Sensor removal

[mshahnoora]

Hi All,
I just bought my new MBA 13.3 in. 128GB from the Apple Store! Really excited about the thin form-factor and performance, especially compared to my previous unibody MBP. However, it seems like Apple removed the Ambient Light Sensor feature as well. Has anyone else noticed this? This is a very helpful feature.

I might as well just return/exchange for a unibody 15" MBP if Apple seemed to take out too many features in the name of weight and footprint.

Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks!

[spinnerlys]

How did you confirm the removal?

Have you checked System Preferences > Displays > Automatically adjust brightness?

[jw nyc]

Hi All,
I just bought my new MBA 13.3 in. 128GB from the Apple Store! Really excited about the thin form-factor and performance, especially compared to my previous unibody MBP. However, it seems like Apple removed the Ambient Light Sensor feature as well. Has anyone else noticed this? This is a very helpful feature.

I might as well just return/exchange for a unibody 15" MBP if Apple seemed to take out too many features in the name of weight and footprint.

Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks!

Wow I'd be very surprised if this is true. Can anyone else confirm?

[GeekLawyer]

How did you confirm the removal?

Have you checked System Preferences > Displays > Automatically adjust brightness?I don't see it. It's not there.

[bolsen78]

How did you confirm the removal?

Have you checked System Preferences > Displays > Automatically adjust brightness?

Hmm mine doesnt say that either or give that option?

[falconeight]

The automatic adjust brightness is gone but I think I have seen my screen adjust itself.

[lbro]

What if you shine a light on an angle on the screen near the camera, if you see a little dot about the size of the camera, that means it does have a sensor.

[noodles5666]

I checked the settings and the OP is correct.

[lbro]

The automatic adjust brightness is gone but I think I have seen my screen adjust itself.

If you want to test that, just put your hand over top of the camera, it should cover the light sensor too, and if the screen doesn't dim, it means there isn't a sensor.

[jw nyc]

That's a total disappointment. I ordered a custom built MBA but after hearing it's missing a bunch of features that I've become accustomed to, I might have to cancel my order. The backlit keyboard I could live without but if it doesn't have the light sensor for the screen brightness that is pretty much a deal breaker for me.

[r2fa3l]

isnt it below the headphone jack? theres something there but idk what it is

[GeekLawyer]

isnt it below the headphone jack? theres something there but idk what it isThat's the microphone if I understand what you mean by "below."

[jw nyc]

isnt it below the headphone jack? theres something there but idk what it is

Try covering it with your hand and see if the brightness of the screen changes!

[jw nyc]

That's the microphone if I understand what you mean by "below."

I think the microphone on the air is on the left of the body near the headphone jack.

[lbro]

isnt it below the headphone jack? theres something there but idk what it is

Below the headphone jack? There's nothing there? You mean beside it? That would be the microphone.

[r2fa3l]

idk it seems different anyways the light is not bothersome and it looks like my iphone 4 which is a big plus. definitely enjoying my air

[GeekLawyer]

Try covering it with your hand and see if the brightness of the screen changes!No change on mine. If you can't enable and disable the option in System Preferences, I don't think it's there.

I think the microphone on the air is on the left of the body near the USB port.The ports on the left go MagSafe, USB, Headphones, Microphone, left-to-right.

I covered the FaceTime camera. No change in brightness. Covering the iSight on a MBP results in a change in brightness.

[lbro]

I think we can conclude that there is no ambient light sensor. All the little goodies are gone. No backlit keyboard, no ambient light sensor...

[motulist]

The ambient light sensors react quickly, but not instantly. So get a heavy blanket, turn your overhead room light on high, and then quickly throw the blanket over your head and the computer while watching to see if the screen changes brightness. That way we don't have to guess as to where the light sensor might physically be located on the machine. Assuming that your particular machine isn't broken, then this test will be absolutely definitive.

[jagger27]

That settles it. Apple gimped the MBA to make the imminent release (I'm betting on May) of completely redone MacBook Pros look better.

It's been a while since they updated the look of the MBPs. I wouldn't be surprised if they omit the optical drive and make them more like the MBA. MacBook PrAir, if you will.

[bolsen78]

That settles it. Apple gimped the MBA to make the imminent release (I'm betting on May) of completely redone MacBook Pros look better.

It's been a while since they updated the look of the MBPs. I wouldn't be surprised if they omit the optical drive and make them more like the MBA. MacBook PrAir, if you will.

Well I sat here for a little while watching the Vikings LOSE and my screen did go dim so does that mean the is a sensor somewhere on here? I cannot recall my MB doing that ever. but this MBA did. After I wasnt touching it for a while

[lbro]

Well I sat here for a little while watching the Vikings LOSE and my screen did go dim so does that mean the is a sensor somewhere on here? I cannot recall my MB doing that ever. but this MBA did. After I wasnt touching it for a while

It could be that you have your MBA set to do that after a few minutes or so to save power.

[mshahnoora]

Yes, I can't seem to find any light sensor toggle in System Preferences. I also tried holding my hand over the FaceTime camera for quite a while, but to no avail.

I really think they removed this feature, although it should be easily enabled through a software update (?? maybe ??).

I'm really edging towards returning the unit sometime this week, regardless of how cool and thin the computer is; there's a limit of how many features Apple is eliminating. The original MBA was still very thin, and had several features the new one doesn't.

Any thoughts of how to force Apple to post a software upgrade?

[QuarterSwede]

I wouldn't be surprised if they omit the optical drive and make them more like the MBA. MacBook PrAir, if you will.
Jobs did say that the MBA is the future of notebooks. I'll bet the 13" MB gets the axe and the 13" MBP loses the optical drive but the 15"+17" retain it.

[Willis]

Yes, I can't seem to find any light sensor toggle in System Preferences. I also tried holding my hand over the FaceTime camera for quite a while, but to no avail.

I really think they removed this feature, although it should be easily enabled through a software update (?? maybe ??).

I'm really edging towards returning the unit sometime this week, regardless of how cool and thin the computer is; there's a limit of how many features Apple is eliminating. The original MBA was still very thin, and had several features the new one doesn't.

Any thoughts of how to force Apple to post a software upgrade?

You can't add the senor by software, its a hardware feature. It's not there, never will be.

[bolsen78]

It could be that you have your MBA set to do that after a few minutes or so to save power.

How do I know if I did that or not or have adjusted anything?

EDIT Never mind I just located it in the energy settings and yes I did have it set to adjust my bad.

[nylon]

Jobs did say that the MBA is the future of notebooks. I'll bet the 13" MB gets the axe and the 13" MBP loses the optical drive but the 15"+17" retain it.

I can totally see the next 13" MBP ditch the DVD drive and the HDD. That will give it the room it needs for the Core series of CPU's, a massive battery and a reduction in weight while keeping the ports and features a pro user needs.

[Moodikar]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/532.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.5 Mobile/8B117 Safari/6531.22.7)

Yes, another improvement next round. Sure it'll return along with backlit keyboards and sleep light and IR when they run out of speedbumps and the new redisign isn't ready yet.

This isn't the first time we've seen this game. Mb aluminum to Mbp with FireWire, iBooks with FireWire, no Sd card to now with Sd card slots etc.

Can't have it all. Not the first round. If the new MBA turned out to be a cube, then this prevents apple from losing it all and/or costing so much.

Oh well. Can live with lack of minor features. Ram and storage and gpu and CPU power is truly the guts.

[falconeight]

doesnt bother me the dim button is kind of close to the keyboard. No wait its on the keyboard all I have to do is stretch my fingers.

[dokindo]

You can't add the senor by software, its a hardware feature. It's not there, never will be.

Isn't the camera a light sensor?

[QuarterSwede]

I can totally see the next 13" MBP ditch the DVD drive and the HDD. That will give it the room it needs for the Core series of CPU's, a massive battery and a reduction in weight while keeping the ports and features a pro user needs.
That's pretty much how I see it too ... and frankly as long as Lion supports TRIM it'll be a fantastic machine especially since Apple seems intent on upping the PPI (yay!).

Isn't the camera a light sensor?
I don't believe so.

[bolsen78]

doesnt bother me the dim button is kind of close to the keyboard. No wait its on the keyboard all I have to do is stretch my fingers.

LOL!! that is very true though so if I did want to dim it the button is right there. I am sort of confused about the complaints of the new MBAs that the old ones have. I never had the opportunity of owning an MBA until now. But some of these things seem to be minor issues but like I said IDK because this is my first one.

[henry72]

Well... I guess when something come down to this thin and small, we will have to lost something? Anyway, I don't really care about this sensor and the keyboard light, this is just something to show off :D

Actually, when I was using my MacBook Pro, I turn the light sensor off because it will end up using more power when it sense wrong ;)

[lbro]

Isn't the camera a light sensor?

No it's not. The light sensor is just a little to the left of the camera on the MBPs.

[dokindo]

Quote:
Originally Posted by dokindo
Isn't the camera a light sensor?

Originally Posted by QuarterSwede
I don't believe so.

Sorry for the sarcastic post. By definition, a camera is a light sensor.

[QuarterSwede]

Sorry for the sarcastic post. By definition, a camera is a light sensor.
Ah, I missed the subtlety of the "a" and not a "the."

Isn't the camera a light sensor? - Sarcasm
Isn't the camera the light sensor? - Question

[iMJustAGuy]

... if it doesn't have the light sensor for the screen brightness that is pretty much a deal breaker for me.

Are you serious?

[mshahnoora]

Isn't the camera a light sensor?

Actually, that's what I was implying as well. My friend actually told me that the "sensor" is just the iSight (or now FaceTime) camera. It detects the incoming light and accordingly adjusts the brightness/backlight. Hopefully Apple can just enable the brightness adjustment through software.

But I could definitely be wrong; maybe you actually need a discrete sensor near the actual camera, as someone pointed out.

[dokindo]

Ah, I missed the subtlety of the "a" and not a "the."

Isn't the camera a light sensor? - Sarcasm
Isn't the camera the light sensor? - Question

No problem.

The point is, even if the original hardware light sensor (distinct from the camera) is not present perhaps it could be addressed by software. I have no idea, but simply wanted to say the idea of a software solution shouldn't be immediately dismissed by lack of a separate light sensor given the camera.

[Moodikar]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/532.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.5 Mobile/8B117 Safari/6531.22.7)

Hmm, having the camera be the sensor is a neat idea but does that mean that if your wearing dark clothes, your monitor would adjust levels differently than if your wearing light color clothes? After all, the camera is aimed at you and is wide enough to capture your sweater and etc.

Still, neat thought...

[Aranince]

Meh, I usually turned off the light dimming. It was more annoying than useful.

[falconeight]

I would rather have a more powerful useful MBA than a lit keyboard and auto dimming. And the damn thing is cheaper, stop complaining the new MBA towers over the old one.

[bolsen78]

I would rather have a more powerful useful MBA than a lit keyboard and auto dimming. And the damn thing is cheaper, stop complaining the new MBA towers over the old one.

That is why I am so confused. Because some people are saying its a deal breaker if it doesnt have BL now its a deal breaker if it doesnt have the ambient light.

[sparkie1984]

The camera can't be the sensor as my mbp has a separate sensor. Covering the camera does nothing.

Also surely it would be built into the front camera of the iPhone 4 then the White iPhone wouldn't have that horrible sensor visible

[epictempo]

Meh, I usually turned off the light dimming. It was more annoying than useful.

Amen, I knew it was gone immediately two days ago and am totally happy with this omission. I hated that when the shadow of my head (light behind) hits the sensor, the screen would dim unnecessarily. Happened often, and sometimes the screen would be too bright or dim and I'd have to adjust it manually. Glad its gone.

[Hellishness]

The camera can't be the sensor as my mbp has a separate sensor. Covering the camera does nothing.

Also surely it would be built into the front camera of the iPhone 4 then the White iPhone wouldn't have that horrible sensor visible

Proximity sensor =/= ambient light sensor. iPod touches and MBPs have ambient light sensors, but the iPhone has a proximity (turns the screen off when you're talking on the phone) and an ambient light (dims/brightens the screen according to the ambient light) sensor.

[sparkie1984]

Ah yea!

Good point.

Hmmm doesn't the iPhone auto dim then? I'm sure there's an option for it

[Hellishness]

Ah yea!

Good point.

Hmmm doesn't the iPhone auto dim then? I'm sure there's an option for it

Yes it does. I believe iPhones have both ambient light and proximity sensors.
I also said this in my last post.

[AppleGoddess]

The automatic adjust brightness is gone but I think I have seen my screen adjust itself.mine seems to adjust too

[bcaslis]

mine seems to adjust too

How? There is no control in the software like on every other Mac with an ambient light sensor. I see no adjustment what so ever. I can go from a brightly lit room to a completely dark room and the screen brightness doesn't change at all.

[Rafterman]

Well I sat here for a little while watching the Vikings LOSE and my screen did go dim so does that mean the is a sensor somewhere on here? I cannot recall my MB doing that ever. but this MBA did. After I wasnt touching it for a while

Favre, man. He's your best player and worse liability, switching from one to the other as the game goes on. Talk about extremes. I think this being his last year is a good idea.

[PittAir]

Just asking...

Do you think a lot of these posts are from Windows astroturf trolls?

"No light sensor...a deal breaker..."?????

"No backlit keyboard...a deal breaker..."?????

Annoying, yes. A trade off for a computer that is thin, light, and does what you want it to, yes.

A deal breaker? Come on. Buy a netbook or a $3000 Vaio Z (And still have to deal with Windows 7). Or live with the compromise--you'll forget you even complained about it in a month or so.

[GeekLawyer]

You might be on to something.

I couldn't care less about the loss of an ambient light sensor. I had to actually turn it on on my MBP to test this out. I turned it off a year ago because it was annoying to me to have my display brighten and darken on its own.

It's a trifling concern. Hmmm... concern. Concern trolling?

[TheAllStar]

I was on the fence about getting a new one or a refurb previous generation. Glad I got the old one. New version is a little too handicapped to be appealing to me; I guess next revision may see some features added back.

[falconeight]

I was on the fence about getting a new one or a refurb previous generation. Glad I got the old one. New version is a little too handicapped to be appealing to me; I guess next revision may see some features added back.

The old mac air is horrid. It only has one usb port no sd slot. Its base hard drive is slow. The GPU is weak and the battery dies to easily.

[bolsen78]

Favre, man. He's your best player and worse liability, switching from one to the other as the game goes on. Talk about extremes. I think this being his last year is a good idea.

I know I agree he seriously needs to retire. I like the guy but this year he hasnt been all that great. I thought we would improve with having Moss back but it was close last night. Sorry guys off topic lol oh well!! :D

[bolsen78]

Just asking...

Do you think a lot of these posts are from Windows astroturf trolls?

"No light sensor...a deal breaker..."?????

"No backlit keyboard...a deal breaker..."?????

Annoying, yes. A trade off for a computer that is thin, light, and does what you want it to, yes.

A deal breaker? Come on. Buy a netbook or a $3000 Vaio Z (And still have to deal with Windows 7). Or live with the compromise--you'll forget you even complained about it in a month or so.

Hmm maybe you are right!! It seems they are complaining about something that is so minor. Maybe they like the BL or the ambient light. If they do well then the new MBA isnt for them and they should just stick with what they have now.

[rkahl]

Funny how people love to buy the new and next generation things, but how quickly they cry when its not the same exact product they replaced!

[Sound Evolution]

[

Yes, another improvement next round. Sure it'll return along with backlit keyboards and sleep light and IR when they run out of speedbumps and the new redisign isn't ready yet.


I think you are wrong. The reason why all those features are removed because the current MBA line will be the "new" entry level macbooks. The MBP's will become bigger airs (without optical drives) with all those features on board. Hence that is why they can call it "pro" :D

This is pure marketing strategy and a sign for the future of the macbooks. The removal of those features was nothing design/cost based but strategy.

The removal of the features from the pro's together with steve's words about the future of the macbook makes it very clear. Just follow the hints.

Mark my words on it ;)

With kind regards,
Bas

[jameskk]

so no IR port!
no sleep light!
no Backlit keyboard
no ambient light sensor!!

I'm thinking that I will keep my current MBA (2.13 & 128SSD) for now.

[jw nyc]

Funny how people love to buy the new and next generation things, but how quickly they cry when its not the same exact product they replaced!

Funny how only fanboys would excuse the missing features as product evolution. The ambient light sensor and backlit keyboard have been staples of Apple notebooks for the last few generations. Not only is it annoying that they left it out but I'm sure many people bought the product EXPECTING those features to be included. That's where the problem lies.

[Sound Evolution]

Funny how only fanboys would excuse the missing features as product evolution. The ambient light sensor and backlit keyboard have been staples of Apple notebooks for the last few generations. Not only is it annoying that they left it out but I'm sure many people bought the product EXPECTING those features to be included. That's where the problem lies.

They will be all back in the future macbook pro/airs. This are now the entry level macbooks. Basicly not a direct replacement for the old air's. You should see this as a revolution of the entry level mac book's. ;)

The first gen MBA will be replaced by the next generation MBP's which will become airs.

With kind regards,
Bas

[jw nyc]

They will be all back in the future macbook pro/airs. This are now the entry level macbooks. Basicly not a direct replacement for the old air's. You should see this as a revolution of the entry level mac book's. ;)

The first gen MBA will be replaced by the next generation MBP's which will become airs.

With kind regards,
Bas

While there is a good chance you are correct, the MBA's are not priced like entry level machines and do not have entry level parts for the size. I still don't believe Apple (or any other company) is capable of making a power notebook in the air form factor that could contain an i5 or i7 chip and have any type of battery life or contain the heat. I think you will see smaller MBP's but nowhere near the size of the air...at least not in the immediate future.

I believe features were left out due to size constraints with the hardware not b/c these are entry level machines.

[jamespa66]

Funny how only fanboys would excuse the missing features as product evolution. The ambient light sensor and backlit keyboard have been staples of Apple notebooks for the last few generations. Not only is it annoying that they left it out but I'm sure many people bought the product EXPECTING those features to be included. That's where the problem lies.

The missing "features" don't bother me a bit. IR port, never used it. Light sensor, was an annoyance I disabled. Sleep light, I taped over it, the flashing white light annoyed me at night. The back lit keyboard I do miss, I like working in a dimly lit area, the current Air kb is not easy to see in a dimly lit work area.

[jw nyc]

The missing "features" don't bother me a bit. IR port, never used it. Light sensor, was an annoyance I disabled. Sleep light, I taped over it, the flashing white light annoyed me at night. The back lit keyboard I do miss, I like working in a dimly lit area, the current Air kb is not easy to see in a dimly lit work area.

You're lucky that you didn't use any of the features they removed but unfortunately, that is not the case with most people. I had a MBP in 2006 with the backlit keyboard and even when I switched to a Windows laptop I refused to buy one without that feature b/c of how much I've come to appreciate it. I feel the same way about the light sensor. The other "features" I don't care much about either but I'm sure other people do.

[jclardy]

Hmm well the lack of the sensor is kind of lame but I won't be missing it.

I always find myself 'correcting' the ambient light sensor when some clouds fly by and make the room a little darker it drops the brightness, and I turn it right back up. I also like to control the brightness completely since the screen it is one of the biggest battery drains.

[ArcAngel66]

Hmm well the lack of the sensor is kind of lame but I won't be missing it.

I always find myself 'correcting' the ambient light sensor when some clouds fly by and make the room a little darker it drops the brightness, and I turn it right back up. I also like to control the brightness completely since the screen it is one of the biggest battery drains.

Yeah I actually never use the one on the MBP. It's annoying when I want to keep it at a certain brightness and it changes it.

I am, however, upset that they removed the sleep light. Especially considering Apple expects us to almost always put it to sleep (the whole instant-on thing)... I would've liked to see it stay. I use it a lot on my MBP too.

[ReallyBigFeet]

The lack of backlit keys and ambient light sensor is a minor complaint, but that doesn't make it any less valid particularly when you consider that these have become mainstays of the Mac line. I mean, what if the MBA didn't have an Apple logo on the top of the lid? Would it negatively impact the computing experience? No, it wouldn't. But I sure would be disappointed to lose the glowing Apple.

So while I don't care that my inbound MBA Netbook will be missing these two features, I can understand why some people would find their absence a "deal breaker." You already make some compromises when buying a MBA versus a MBP. Why do we have to compromise "brand image" features like these as well?

[eba]

Since the first thing I do with any new Mac is turn OFF the ambient light sensor, this is no big deal for me. I'd rather control the brightness manually.

[KPOM]

Funny how only fanboys would excuse the missing features as product evolution. The ambient light sensor and backlit keyboard have been staples of Apple notebooks for the last few generations. Not only is it annoying that they left it out but I'm sure many people bought the product EXPECTING those features to be included. That's where the problem lies.

It's called decontenting, and it happens all the time. Car manufacturers are notorious for it. The ads for the 2011 will point to the new engine but won't mention that they used cheaper vinyl for the seats than the 2010s or removed some feature that they are hoping you don't notice.

I'm most disappointed with the loss of the backlit keyboard, but I agree with those who are saying that Apple is positioning the new Air as the "new MacBook." When Air first came out, it was the most expensive. Now it's available for the same price as the MacBook. The 13" Pro will lose the Superdrive next, and eventually it will be optional, if at all, on the 15" and 17". The MacBook didn't have a backlit keyboard.

Overall, I've concluded that what I gain with the new Air (better heat management, more RAM, better graphics, more available storage) is greater than what I lose (backlit keyboard, ambient light sensor, sleep light, IR).

[Molopo]

I don't understand. How hard is it to adjust the brightness yourself? Honestly it is an annoyance to me when the lights go out and the screen dims when i want it to stay bright. I keep it off on my mbp.

[mklnz]

Things removed:

Ambient light sensor
Front power led
Front IR receiver

None of those affect me in any way though :)

[Fanboyofnothing]

What they also removed was the bottom of the Air hitting leg burning temps. Then they went and added a ton of battery life. And what did we lose? Backlit keyboard...I'll miss it for sure and ambient light sensor...a feature I always turn off since it drains battery. Advantage: New Air.