10.7.2 Application Switcher Distortion

[dretan]

Since upgrading to 10.7.2, I've noticed a graphics glitch with the application switcher (cmd+tab). Randomly the icons will be darkened or distorted, or when quitting an app via the application switcher, I'll notice the glitch flash when the application fades out upon quit. A logout/restart solves the problem temporarily, but it seems to arise shortly thereafter.

MacBook Pro Mid-2010
NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M 512 MB
2.66 GHz Intel Core i7
8 GB 1067 MHz DDR3

It is the model with the graphics switching, so I'm not sure if that is related? Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

UPDATE: I would like to add that it's happening when my MBP is plugged into an external display. I currently go from plugged into an Apple Cinema Display at home to a Dell display at work. It appears to have graphics issues coming out of sleep on these monitors.

 

[Nielsenius]

I'm not sure if this is related, however it might be. The 2010 MacBook Pros with graphics switching are experiencing a number of issues. It's an issue with OS X Lion. I'd turn off auto-graphics switching in the power saving section of System Preferences and see if that helps.

 

[dretan]

Thanks, Nielsenius. I've seen that solution floating around, so I'll try it and see if it helps. I guess the best bet is waiting for 10.7.3 and hoping Apple addresses the issues, or they issue a firmware update for early-to-mid 2010 MBPs.

 

[xtremesniper]

I experience the same problem when I have an external monitor plugged in. See related thread where there are screenshots: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1260763/

I wouldn't hold your breath for a fix in a release from Apple. I don't think enough people are filing bug reports (either through the normal way https://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html or through the developer way http://bugreport.apple.com) for them to notice.

 

[pittpanther]

Same issue here - although, restarting/shutting down is no longer resolving it.

 

[dretan]

Same issue here - although, restarting/shutting down is no longer resolving it.

Have you tried going to System Preferences > Displays > Color and switching to a different color profile (one of the many listed under the currently used one), to see if the distortion is temporarily disabled?

It has something to do with Nvidia drivers and color profiles on external monitors. It's doubtful that Apple fixes it in 10.7.3 unless it's a widespread issue, so the hope is that they release a firmware update to fix the issue.

 

[pittpanther]

Have you tried going to System Preferences > Displays > Color and switching to a different color profile (one of the many listed under the currently used one), to see if the distortion is temporarily disabled?

It has something to do with Nvidia drivers and color profiles on external monitors. It's doubtful that Apple fixes it in 10.7.3 unless it's a widespread issue, so the hope is that they release a firmware update to fix the issue.

Thanks a bunch dretan - that worked. Appreciate it greatly.

 

[dretan]

So I went into /Library/ColorSync/Profiles/Displays/ and deleted a Color Profile I had setup for an old Dell monitor I no longer plug my MBP into. It seemed to alleviate the issue for a few days, but I plugged my MBP into my Apple Cinema Display when getting home today, and the app switcher icons were burnt looking. I logged out/back in and all was fine. Since you can switch the color profile, it makes me think that you need to recreate them because they are corrupt? Anyone know about doing this?

I currently have 3 Color Profiles in /Displays/ - Color LCD (MBP), Dell, and LED Cinema Display. I'm not really sure what the course of action is other than waiting it out...?

 

[xtremesniper]

So I went into /Library/ColorSync/Profiles/Displays/ and deleted a Color Profile I had setup for an old Dell monitor I no longer plug my MBP into. It seemed to alleviate the issue for a few days, but I plugged my MBP into my Apple Cinema Display when getting home today, and the app switcher icons were burnt looking. I logged out/back in and all was fine. Since you can switch the color profile, it makes me think that you need to recreate them because they are corrupt? Anyone know about doing this?

I currently have 3 Color Profiles in /Displays/ - Color LCD (MBP), Dell, and LED Cinema Display. I'm not really sure what the course of action is other than waiting it out...?

Well the problem started happening for me with a brand new monitor that I bought, so I'm not sure how the profile could have gotten corrupt already... But if you removed the profile and the problem came back anyway, then there's a fundamental problem that we can't resolve without a fix from Apple, as far as I'm concerned...

 

[dretan]

Well the problem started happening for me with a brand new monitor that I bought, so I'm not sure how the profile could have gotten corrupt already... But if you removed the profile and the problem came back anyway, then there's a fundamental problem that we can't resolve without a fix from Apple, as far as I'm concerned...

The Color Profile being corrupt or screwed up is just a guess on my part. It has nothing to do with the monitor. It has to do with the computer's graphics card and the assigning of Color Profiles on different monitors. There may not be a solution outside of waiting/hoping for Apple to fix it via a point-release or a firmware update, but I'm still going to try and diagnose it and find out if there's some configuration that's causing the issue to trigger.

 

[xtremesniper]

I'm still going to try and diagnose it and find out if there's some configuration that's causing the issue to trigger.

Let us know if you find anything interesting. For now my only workaround is to simply log off and log back on whenever I want to use my external monitor as my main screen in clamshell mode.

 

[xtremesniper]

Just to update, I think the latest OS X Lion update 10.7.3 has resolved this issue even though the changelog makes no mention of graphical fixes for Nvidia GPUs.

 

[buckski]

Having the same issue on Dual graphics card MacBook Pro

I'm having the same issue.

MBP 10.7.3 2.8Ghz with dual graphics cards (manual switching) still seeing this issue. Also using a 23" Apple Cinema display, not sure if that is cause, but getting it on some applications, application switcher, and Dashboard.

 

[xtremesniper]

I guess then it's not really resolved...

I thought my particular scenario was resolved but I found that I still get some problems with my smaller Dell monitor at work. Nothing like the problems I used to experience before, though.

Almost there, I suppose?

 

[almostdaniel]

Just a note: Going into System Preferences > Displays > Color, and picking a different colorsync profile than the device-related one (you will need to uncheck the "Show profiles for this display only" option) seems to have fixed the problem for me. For example, I chose sRGB IEC61966-2.1. The bug seems to be with Lion's ability to correctly build a device-specific color profile.