Apple Addresses Battery Life Issues on New Wireless Keyboards With Firmware Update

MacRumors · Feb 10, 2010, 03:37 PM

Apple today released 2009 Aluminum Keyboard Firmware Update 1.0, addressing battery life issues with Apple's recently-redesigned wireless keyboard when used with other Bluetooth devices.

Quote:

This firmware update improves battery performance of the 2009 Aluminum Apple Wireless Keyboard when used in combination with other Bluetooth devices (example. Magic Mouse, Bluetooth headsets).

The update appears to address severe battery life issues blamed on Apple's multi-touch Magic Mouse when paired with a computer at the same time as the keyboard. Apple released a similar update for its older wireless keyboard last month.

Article Link: Apple Addresses Battery Life Issues on New Wireless Keyboards With Firmware Update

Illusion986 · Feb 10, 2010, 04:08 PM

Awesome all i need to do now is buy that keyboard....not

kbmb · Feb 10, 2010, 04:41 PM

Anyone know, does this get downloaded via Software Update?

-Kevin

-Ryan- · Feb 10, 2010, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbmb

Anyone know, does this get downloaded via Software Update?

-Kevin

Yep, downloaded via software update and then it runs a firmware update utility serperately.

johny5 · Feb 10, 2010, 04:47 PM

Duracell have thanked Apple for its increased sale of AA's.

wschutz · Feb 10, 2010, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johny5

Duracell have thanked Apple for its increased sale of AA's.

Rechargeable batteries?
I use these, both in the old wireless aluminium keyboard as well as in the mighty mouse, and I can't recall last time I had to recharge keyboard ones... though mouse ones probably once a month or a month and a half (but I never turn off none)

Patrick J · Feb 10, 2010, 05:57 PM

Thankfull for this: my Apple Wireless Keyboard (less than one month old) is already down to 70% battery.

thejadedmonkey · Feb 10, 2010, 06:17 PM

Didn't they just do something like this a few weeks ago? Or was that for a different keyboard...?

nigel1210 · Feb 10, 2010, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thejadedmonkey

Didn't they just do something like this a few weeks ago? Or was that for a different keyboard...?

Yeah I used that one, i've got mine with a 2009 mac pro on release in march.

Did I use the wrong update as I think I got it off the apple site?

MartiNZ · Feb 10, 2010, 06:44 PM

Previous update was for the older version of the keyboard, the stupid 3-battery one. I recently bought a bunch of rechargeable batteries to cover the older keyboard and mighty mouse, and the newer keyboard and magic mouse - the 3-battery thing really throws the numbers out, and I need to find something that takes only 1xAA somewhere!

As for the 'works better with bluetooth headsets' thing, I did previously have trouble with that with the older keyboard, and the update did fix it ... but only for one day. Now once again it keeps losing the keyboard connection if keyboard, mouse and bluetooth headphones are active

.

BryanLyle · Feb 10, 2010, 07:28 PM

Beginning to wonder if Apple even tests things out anymore. I hope this fixes my battery problem, because I have been chewing through batteries for months now.

freedevil · Feb 10, 2010, 07:37 PM

About time and to the people harping on rechargeable's, do you know you are wasting cycles and diminishing its life as well.

paulyras · Feb 10, 2010, 07:49 PM

So, can someone explain why I had to restart my computer after a firmware update to a peripheral that's not even physically attached to the computer?

iindigo · Feb 10, 2010, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulyras

So, can someone explain why I had to restart my computer after a firmware update to a peripheral that's not even physically attached to the computer?

I believe it's because the bluetooth keyboard is connected at a hardware level as opposed to a software one. This is evidenced by the fact that when one boots into, for example, the Windows XP installer (the DOS-style blue screen one with NO BLUETOOTH DRIVERS) their Apple bluetooth keyboard will still work perfectly.

In fact, I think the internal Bluetooth receiver is hooked into the USB array, so without any drivers installed connected keyboards and such simply appear as a normal corded USB devices.

Sebby · Feb 11, 2010, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartiNZ

Previous update was for the older version of the keyboard, the stupid 3-battery one. I recently bought a bunch of rechargeable batteries to cover the older keyboard and mighty mouse, and the newer keyboard and magic mouse - the 3-battery thing really throws the numbers out, and I need to find something that takes only 1xAA somewhere!

As for the 'works better with bluetooth headsets' thing, I did previously have trouble with that with the older keyboard, and the update did fix it ... but only for one day. Now once again it keeps losing the keyboard connection if keyboard, mouse and bluetooth headphones are active

.

So how many batteries does the 2009 one take?

octarine · Feb 15, 2010, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sebby

So how many batteries does the 2009 one take?

2009 model takes 2 AAs.

This fix is very welcome. My keyboard was eating through a set of batteries in 4 days, with practically 0 use.

Since I upgraded the firmware (a thankfully painless procedure) it's still on 100% after a week.

SDub90 · 09:12 PM

Anyone else having problem making capital letters using the left shift button after this update? In my case, I can't make a capital o using the left shift, but it works using the right shift key.

EDIT: don't know what happened, but it is now working just fine after coming home.

Feb 10, 2010, 04:41 PM	#3
kbmb macrumors 68030 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NH	Anyone know, does this get downloaded via Software Update? -Kevin __________________ 2010 Mac Pro 2.8 Quad, 27" ACD - MacBook 2.4 GHz
	0

Feb 10, 2010, 06:17 PM	#8
thejadedmonkey macrumors 604 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pa	Didn't they just do something like this a few weeks ago? Or was that for a different keyboard...? __________________ MacBook Air • 17" MacBook Pro • iPod Nano • Apple TV Custom Windows 7 Desktop • Surface RT • WP7 "Good judgment comes from experience, experience comes from bad judgment." - Mulla Nasrudin
	0

Feb 10, 2010, 07:28 PM	#11
BryanLyle macrumors 6502a Join Date: Aug 2005	Beginning to wonder if Apple even tests things out anymore. I hope this fixes my battery problem, because I have been chewing through batteries for months now. __________________ follow me on twitter: @bryanlyle
	0

Feb 22, 2010, 10:55 AM	#17
SDub90 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Long Island	Anyone else having problem making capital letters using the left shift button after this update? In my case, I can't make a capital o using the left shift, but it works using the right shift key. EDIT: don't know what happened, but it is now working just fine after coming home. Last edited by SDub90; Feb 22, 2010 at 09:12 PM.
	0

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Feb 10, 2010, 04:08 PM	#2
Illusion986 macrumors regular Join Date: Mar 2009	Awesome all i need to do now is buy that keyboard....not
	0

Feb 10, 2010, 04:47 PM	#5
johny5 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: UK	Duracell have thanked Apple for its increased sale of AA's.
	0

Feb 10, 2010, 05:57 PM	#7
Patrick J macrumors 65816 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Oporto, Portugal	Thankfull for this: my Apple Wireless Keyboard (less than one month old) is already down to 70% battery.
	0

Feb 10, 2010, 06:44 PM	#10
MartiNZ macrumors 6502a Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Auckland, New Zealand	Previous update was for the older version of the keyboard, the stupid 3-battery one. I recently bought a bunch of rechargeable batteries to cover the older keyboard and mighty mouse, and the newer keyboard and magic mouse - the 3-battery thing really throws the numbers out, and I need to find something that takes only 1xAA somewhere! As for the 'works better with bluetooth headsets' thing, I did previously have trouble with that with the older keyboard, and the update did fix it ... but only for one day. Now once again it keeps losing the keyboard connection if keyboard, mouse and bluetooth headphones are active .
	0

Feb 10, 2010, 07:37 PM	#12
freedevil macrumors 6502a Join Date: Mar 2007	About time and to the people harping on rechargeable's, do you know you are wasting cycles and diminishing its life as well.
	0

Feb 10, 2010, 07:49 PM	#13
paulyras macrumors 6502 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Saint Paul, MN	So, can someone explain why I had to restart my computer after a firmware update to a peripheral that's not even physically attached to the computer?
	0


MacRumors Forums > News and Article Discussion > Mac Blog Discussion

Similar Threads
thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Apple Working with iPhone 4S Owners to Address Battery Life Issues	MacRumors	MacRumors.com News Discussion	305	Oct 20, 2012 06:13 PM
Apple Releases iOS 5.0.1 to Address Battery Life Issues [Updated]	MacRumors	MacRumors.com News Discussion	682	Dec 1, 2011 11:43 AM
Apple Addresses Graphics Issues on Mid 2011 iMacs With Firmware Update	MacRumors	Mac Blog Discussion	37	Jun 20, 2011 11:52 PM
Battery Life Worse on Wi-Fi Than 3G	dark55	iPhone Tips, Help and Troubleshooting	3	Feb 23, 2011 08:16 PM
Apple Addresses Battery Life Issues With Aluminum Wireless Keyboard Firmware Update 1.1	MacRumors	Mac Blog Discussion	35	Feb 9, 2010 03:30 PM