27", 21.5" iMac Owners, test your screen for yellow tint issue here

[kfscoll]

If I take my glasses off, I can't see any dust on my desk. If I put them on again, I see there definitely is some dust. I'll have to return my desk for a refund.

What's your problem? I understand what he's saying about his glasses...of course wearing yellow-tinted glasses will make his screen look more yellow! I interpret his comment to mean that that the "yellow tinge" doesn't exist in his case as much as he originally thought it did. I guess as an Apple apologist you have to spin his comment and extract some meaning from it that was never intended.

 

[quagmire]

If I take my glasses off, I can't see any dust on my desk. If I put them on again, I see there definitely is some dust. I'll have to return my desk for a refund

I can still see things close to me clearly. I only need glasses because I can't see objects at a distance. Plus, I think I could tell a change in color when I take off my glasses and put them back on.

Like I said, I don't know what is causing it. Just by looking at the lenses, they look clear without a yellow tint to them. That is why I guess it is the chemical in the lenses that makes them change in sunlight that makes the screen look more yellowish then it really is which magnifies the yellow tinge issue.

What's your problem? I understand what he's saying about his glasses...of course wearing yellow-tinted glasses will make his screen look more yellow! I interpret his comment to mean that that the "yellow tinge" doesn't exist in his case as much as he originally thought it did. I guess as an Apple apologist you have to spin his comment and extract some meaning from it that was never intended.

And that is exactly what I meant. The yellow tinge is still there, but not as pronounced with my glasses off.

 

[WillF]

A Couple questions regarding those who have requested replacements, specifically from the apple online store.

1. How did you describe this issue to them? Was there much resistance in asking for a replacement?

2. If They do grant you a replacement, is there an option where they ship one out and once you receive it, then you can ship the one you have now back? Instead of shipping the current one first? I would hate to have some downtime where I'm without an imac, since I do most of my work on this machine now.

Anyone else have any luck with the firmware upgrade?

Thanks in advance

 

[Sir Cecil]

How did you describe this issue to them? Was there much resistance in asking for a replacement?

The best way might be to contact Apple's customer service and have them enter in the case number record that you are complaining about a machine that is within the return period. This is indisputable recorded proof that the fault you are complaining of was WITHIN the return period, not something that arose later. Tell them you will return the machine for an exchange OR that you will be willing to wait for a few days/weeks for a possible firmware update, so long as you can return the machine at a later date for an exchange or refund (not a repair) if such a fix is not forthcoming. They agreed.
I did this and, several days after the exchange period I referred them to the note they had in my case number and the cost of the computer was refunded without quibble.

 

[JayQC]

Anyway i called Apple Care and the rep told me that BOTH the brightness adjustment noise and the yellowing (faded pixels as they call it) are being tracked under an "emerging issues" category and that "1 out of 3500 iMacs are affected".

Interesting that they call it faded pixels unless it's just a name they've given to the problem, although I find the numbers he's given you somewhat rubbish according to the number of issues which popped up about this on different forums.

Did he mention the brightness adjustment noise as being as widespread as the yellowing or both pretty much within the 1 out of 3500 iMacs ?

 

[boombashi]

1 out of 3500!? Yeah, somehow I don't think I'm that lucky.

 

[rwwong]

No way its 1 out of 3500. Like I said in an earlier post, I just received my replacement and the replacement is worse than my first one. I've read that some people are on their 3rd and 4th replacements with the same issues.

 

[Sir Cecil]

When they say the brightness adjustment noise and the yellowing are being tracked under an "emerging issues" category, they are referring to tracking the numbers of returns based on those problems.

When they say 1 out of 3500 iMacs are affected, they mean that the number of RETURNS based on those issues presently corresponds with a number equating to 1 in every 3500 they've sold. They are not talking about how many may or may not be out there – they are talking about the number that have been returned and reported as affected.

It doesn't mean Apple has decided that 1 in 3500 of their production run is faulty. It means 1 in 3500 buyers have returned a machine citing that issue. So a total number of faulty (and unreturned) units could be considerably higher.

People now saying here that Apple claim only 1 in 3500 are faulty are incorrect. But I suppose that inaccurately interpreted information will soon be all over the Internet and it will be believed, just like all the other gossip.

 

[JimKirk]

I think the odds are more like 80% to 90% chance that you have it

Most people will not notice it because of the snow leopard backgrounds.

Notice that the solid colors apple chooses in the backgrounds.

Black is missing. Why? Because it most likely show the crappy backlighting that LCD panels have LED or not it is not uniform and spotlights in the 4 corners.

I would have ket my machines but the yellowing is so bad that I can clearly see the difference just looking at web sites. Many have black text with white background. It looks like someone urinated on a sheet of paper compared to the crisp white on black near the top of the display.

It is terrible. I waiting for replacement number 3 due to arrive in Jan and hope that they will have it fixed by then but I have little faith with these odds.

 

[SaSaSushi]

Well guys I have had the new firmware downloaded for about 5hrs now with the computer on since then. Just about 30 min ago I started seeing the yellow tinge come back.

I'm not going to accuse you nor anyone else of lying about your machine's display problems. I do, however, wonder just how severe this yellow tinge problem can be if it took you 4 hours and 30 minutes just to realize that it was still there.

Having no tinge issues nor any other visual anomalies and no flickering thus far in almost a full month of usage on my i7 I am holding off on applying this firmware patch myself.

 

[tapplox]

I'm not going to accuse you nor anyone else of lying about your machine's display problems. I do, however, wonder just how severe this yellow tinge problem can be if it took you 4 hours and 30 minutes just to realize that it was still there.

Having no tinge issues nor any other visual anomalies and no flickering thus far in almost a full month of usage on my i7 I am holding off on applying this firmware patch myself.

I think I could answer that one for him. The severity of the "yellowing" can change throughout the day depending on things we probably can't pinpoint at this time, such as heat or if the display is trying to display certain colors.

However once it's there, it does not go away. Sometimes it gets worst, sometimes it fades.

@SaSaSushi: Can you recall what happened to Apple's 24" iMacs when some of their suppliers were sending out faulty panels? Back then there was a "gradient" issue that goes horizontally across the screen, right? I do have a 24" Aluminum iMac that has a color uniform screen. The question is, I wonder if Apple has corrected that issue in silence?

 

[Sir Cecil]

I'm not going to accuse you nor anyone else of lying about your machine's display problems. I do, however, wonder just how severe this yellow tinge problem can be if it took you 4 hours and 30 minutes just to realize that it was still there.

Having no tinge issues nor any other visual anomalies and no flickering thus far in almost a full month of usage on my i7 I am holding off on applying this firmware patch myself.

I had no flickering, but applied the firmware update anyway. After a few hours use I see nothing untoward happening.
After a week I still see no sign of any yellowing on my screen either.

 

[Sir Cecil]

The severity of the "yellowing" can change throughout the day depending on things we probably can't pinpoint at this time

Do you totally discount environmental changes during the day and their possible affects? Different light conditions, different directionality of light, natural light versus indoor lighting etc. Are polarizers used in the iMac by the way?

 

[powerbook911]

I had no flickering, but applied the firmware update anyway. After a few hours use I see nothing untoward happening.
After a week I still see no sign of any yellowing on my screen either.

Sir Cecil - Wow so you've never had *any* yellowing? That is fantastic. Hope mine could be that way.

 

[SkyFox244]

Returned my second imac yesterday... The second one was a week 50.
The yellowing is still there and more prominent at the bottom right half of the screen. Overall though the yellowing was a bit lighter than the week 47.
The Apple people acknowledged there were problems and expected that the newer versions where yellow free. They also pointed out the 2 week delay, as mentioned earlier in this thread. Giving me hope that the problem is solved. But that could also be the holidays…. as discussed already.

Once again... I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

- Sir Cecil: can you tell us your imac production week?
- Ls: Has anybody a problem free imac?

 

[SaSaSushi]

@SaSaSushi: Can you recall what happened to Apple's 24" iMacs when some of their suppliers were sending out faulty panels? Back then there was a "gradient" issue that goes horizontally across the screen, right? I do have a 24" Aluminum iMac that has a color uniform screen. The question is, I wonder if Apple has corrected that issue in silence?

Indeed I remember this well. I bought the mid-2007 24" (first aluminum iMac) on it's release date. I returned it once for a horrible left to right gradient and a second time for an unrelated display defect (a smudge on the panel itself). The third panel they sent me had a uniform screen, near gradient free although it wasn't perfect. I can't say if Apple corrected it in silence but only that the third one I got was good.

Thank you for your explanation of the yellow tinge.

One thing I do remember about the 24" left-right gradient was that it was often far more pronounced immediately after powerup and smoothed out in an hour or so once the backlight had heated up.

- Sir Cecil: can you tell us your imac production week?

Can't speak for Sir Cecil but my good display is week 47.

- Ls: Has anybody a problem free imac?

I do, so far anyway. This is why I'm afraid to run that firmware update. I've got nothing to "fix".

 

[El Jack]

I notice it less in person than in photos of it, but there definitely is a yellow tint on the bottom of my screen. How does mine compare to most - as I'd hate to exchange it only to get a worse one...

*sigh*

 

[dagored]

Like mine, lower right side. I have a 21 inch, should the firmware update be applied?

 

[G-Force]

Like mine, lower right side. I have a 21 inch, should the firmware update be applied?

The update is only for 27-inch models.

"27-inch iMac Graphics Firmware Update 1.0"

 

[dagored]

The update is only for 27-inch models.

"27-inch iMac Graphics Firmware Update 1.0"

Yes, I tried, would not install. I don't want to send this mac back. It is running great. Except for the lower right hand corner, I would say about 15 - 20% of the screen, It is perfect.

I have applecare. Probably just wait. I moved up from a G5 PPC. I LIKE IT.

 

[SuAlfons]

[...|
However once it's there, it does not go away. Sometimes it gets worst, sometimes it fades.
[...]

same goes for the screen noise! I have just operated my iMac21.5 at full brightness for a while (usually, I'm using it in the evening, now at day time b/c it's holidays). Now it does barely "whistle" !!! Can you believe it? Maybe it won't return, then I will believe in some sort of "burn in prcess" of the inverter for LED lighting. But my guess is, it will return after a few hours of low-brighness setting again....

If it stays like this, I' going to keep my machine. The yellow tinges must be one of the most subtle of all reported here and also the screen noise seems to be comparably unobstrusive (it falls on my nerves in the evenings, but right now, it's nearly silent!)

Regards & Season's Greetings,
SuAlfons

 

[SuAlfons]

[...] How does mine compare to most [...]

Mine is a 21.5", it seems to be a little less yellow than yours.

 

[Frith]

I notice it less in person than in photos of it, but there definitely is a yellow tint on the bottom of my screen. How does mine compare to most - as I'd hate to exchange it only to get a worse one...

*sigh*

I also noticed that the photo I took of my screen made the yellowing more obvious than it was in person. It's really subtle but noticeable if I look for it. Probably quite similar to yours.

Rather than ignore the subtle problem as some would suggest I'm going to return my machine for a replacement as many times as it takes to get one with a uniform color across the screen. There's no one that can convince me that that's too much to ask for.

 

[spcdust]

I also noticed that the photo I took of my screen made the yellowing more obvious than it was in person. It's really subtle but noticeable if I look for it. Probably quite similar to yours.

Rather than ignore the subtle problem as some would suggest I'm going to return my machine for a replacement as many times as it takes to get one with a uniform color across the screen. There's no one that can convince me that that's too much to ask for.

Until this issue is acknowledged by Apple engineers and steps taken to address it at the manufacturing stage of the process you may simply be swapping a faulty unit for another faulty unit. These things take time to filter down through the many stages of an operation the size of Apple. Even though engineers may be becoming aware of an issue it will take time for them to evaluate and take action to address it - it could take a few more weeks before any real steps are actually actioned to remedy it.

An alternative may be to contact Applecare and raise a case number reporting the issue whilst still in your right-to-return for replacement period, therefore the fault is logged at that date. You could then wait a while until a definite fix has been established and then depending on your disposition/cause of fault you either opt for a replacement or maybe opt just for the screen to be replaced locally at your Apple Store / repair agent.

 

[filmgirl]

See, I can make out what I would suppose would be "slight" yellowing (week 47 iMac 27" i7 -- this is my second iMac, the first was week 45 I think but that one had a defective displayport and had to go back), it didn't seem any more or less pronounced than the observation I had on my first 27" iMac.

However, before going into a return frenzy (which seems silly if the issue hasn't even been corrected -- if an issue even exists), I'm waiting it out for a number of reasons.

1) I'm not convinced there is an issue with the panel. I think a lot of it is actually natural light reflection and angle of view. Yes, I realize that IPS panels aren't supposed to be affected like that and that the LED should be uniform, but I'm just really feeling in my gut that this is just either par for the course with these types of displays or some sort of natural optical reaction/illusion.

2) I need my computer. I already had to wait an extra two weeks to get a replacement iMac and then reload all my files onto it again, I'm not going to go on a wild-goose chase to try to find the perfect panel. Just like with TVs, video cameras and digital SLRs, if you examine anything closely enough, you'll find fault. I've already almost been sucked into paranoia and idiocy on the LCD HDTV front (oh, the famed Samsung S-panel which is apparently superior to the A, B or C panel -- even though there is no actual conclusive evidence other than that's what a bunch of forum inhabitants with too much time, too little real knowledge and too much paranoia say).

3) If there is ever a pronounced discoloration issue, I have Apple Care. I'll gladly call and get service then. But as it stands, if I have to do banding tests and grey backgrounds and look at the right angle just to convince myself something is there, I'm not going to convince myself something is there.

Now some photos I've seen show some obvious discoloration issues. Not being able to see it in person, who knows, but the photographic evidence in the post on the first page shows some "wow, yeah, OK that's for real" info. I don't have that. It isn't impacting the way I enjoy my computer, I'm making the decision not to care about it unless it does impact how I see things.