Apple Releases Firmware to Activate PowerNap on 2011 MacBook Airs

newdeal said:
Is there a real reason for this or is it just BS like many of the features left off older iphones? I can tolerate it on a mobile device but if they start leaving key features off of my computer for no reason (because lets face it even a core 2 duo has enough power to do any of these features) my 2010 imac will be my last mac
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Every hardware omission in Mountain Lion thus far has had a valid technical reason, however frivolous you consider it.

1. Power Nap doesn't support regular SSDs because the power requirements differ compared to on-board flash storage.

-Not sure about the excl of 2010 MBAs though. Maybe the Nvidia chipset lacks key features or iSeries chips are needed as some have pointed out. *shrug*

2. No Airplay support for pre-2011 Macs because Apple leverages Intel's QuickSync which is only found on Sandy Bridge chips or newer

3. Lack of installation support for older Macs is because Mountain Lion's Kernel is exclusively 64-bit top to bottom. If your Mac can't boot the 64-bit kernel and/or doesn't have 64-bit GPU drivers then you're SOL.
 
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Up until yesterday Apple stated that PowerNap would work with MacBook Air models from 2010. Now all of the sudden it's 2011 MacBook Air or newer. Something ain't kosher here...
 
imwoblin said:
Up until yesterday Apple stated that PowerNap would work with MacBook Air models from 2010. Now all of the sudden it's 2011 MacBook Air or newer. Something ain't kosher here...
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Apple decided they needed more sales, that's all probably.
 
newdeal said:
Is there a real reason for this or is it just BS like many of the features left off older iphones? I can tolerate it on a mobile device but if they start leaving key features off of my computer for no reason (because lets face it even a core 2 duo has enough power to do any of these features) my 2010 imac will be my last mac
Click to expand...

Yes it is a vast Apple conspiracy directed at you specifically. This is not a feature that requires CPU "power" btw.
 
imwoblin said:
Up until yesterday Apple stated that PowerNap would work with MacBook Air models from 2010. Now all of the sudden it's 2011 MacBook Air or newer. Something ain't kosher here...
Click to expand...

It installed in the beta on my 2011 MBA then was pulled and not in subsequent betas or the GM. If it is true that they said it would work in 2009 MBA (proof?) then the probably found something they didn't like.
 
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imwoblin said:
Up until yesterday Apple stated that PowerNap would work with MacBook Air models from 2010. Now all of the sudden it's 2011 MacBook Air or newer. Something ain't kosher here...
Click to expand...

Yup. I'm really disappointed. PowerNap was one feature I was looking forward to.

No AirPlay and now no PowerNap. Grrrrr........ The computer is not even two years old, and already features are missing.
 
alexmack said:
grrr... asides from thunderbolt and "i5", there is nothing that really separates the mid 2010 MBA's from the 2011's. :(
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Umm.. PowerNap is a difference...

Seriously though, I'm sure there are all sorts of differences under the hood that we don't know about.

Gary
 
macingman said:
Apple decided they needed more sales, that's all probably.
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Yeah it's a scam but Apple didn't fool you!

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No you are supposed to assume it's some master scheme by Apple to deprive you of a feature you didn't know or care about anyway followed by a rant about how you will never buy another Apple product even though you know you will. Extra points if you claim to know there is no reason Apple could not have added it to whatever it is you own.

daneoni said:
Every hardware omission in Mountain Lion thus far has had a valid technical reason, however frivolous you consider it.

1. Power Nap doesn't support regular SSDs because the power requirements differ compared to on-board flash storage. Not sure about the excl of 2010 MBAs though. Maybe a controller issue. *shrug*

2. No Airplay support for pre-2011 Macs because Apple leverages Intel's QuickSync which is only found on Sandy Bridge chips or newer

3. Lack of installation support for older Macs is because Mountain Lion's Kernel is exclusively 64-bit top to bottom. If your Mac can't boot the 64-bit kernel and/or doesn't have 64-bit GPU drivers then you're SOL.
Click to expand...


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CyberBob859 said:
Yup. I'm really disappointed. PowerNap was one feature I was looking forward to.

No AirPlay and now no PowerNap. Grrrrr........ The computer is not even two years old, and already features are missing.
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"2. No Airplay support for pre-2011 Macs because Apple leverages Intel's QuickSync which is only found on Sandy Bridge chips or newer"
 
CyberBob859 said:
Is this a new requirement? I thought PowerNap only required flash storage and SSD, and initially didn't state 2011 Airs or newer only.
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newdeal said:
Is there a real reason for this or is it just BS like many of the features left off older iphones? I can tolerate it on a mobile device but if they start leaving key features off of my computer for no reason (because lets face it even a core 2 duo has enough power to do any of these features) my 2010 imac will be my last mac
Click to expand...

Intel is touting a similar feature called "Smart Connect" for certain Ultrabooks. I think that certain Intel chipsets have features that help make this possible. The first notebooks that met the Ultrabook standard were Sandy Bridge based, so that's why I'm guessing this feature doesn't support 2010 MacBook Airs.
 
CyberBob859 said:
I understand that. It doesn't work on Late 2010 Macbook Air? It meets those requirements.
Click to expand...

alexmack said:
grrr... asides from thunderbolt and "i5", there is nothing that really separates the mid 2010 MBA's from the 2011's. :(
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The Intel Sandy Bridge chipset is a big difference between the 2010s and 2011s. It includes technology that makes Power Nap possible.

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/architecture-and-technology/smart-connect-technology.html
 
It will be cool to see this extended to third party apps. I could definitely see this working with Transmission for example or any other app the you want to keep actively running after you close to sleep (copying/moving files also comes to mind). I also noticed they keep stressing backing up to Time Capsule as a key feature of Power Nap. My guess is that this extends to any kind of Time Machine backup. For example, having external drive connected to AEBS should still back up fine with this feature? I guess I'm just lucky these features are available to me and my 2011 MBA, feel bad for the guys left out :(
 
I have a Mid 2011 13" MBA Mountain Lion and it says this firmware update is not supported on my system....not sure why. Any ideas?
 
imwoblin said:
Up until yesterday Apple stated that PowerNap would work with MacBook Air models from 2010. Now all of the sudden it's 2011 MacBook Air or newer. Something ain't kosher here...
Click to expand...

According to what?

MRSooner said:
I have a Mid 2011 13" MBA Mountain Lion and it says this firmware update is not supported on my system....not sure why. Any ideas?
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You attempted to install through the Mac App Store?
 
So are there technical differences between the blade-style SSDs and the 2.5" factory installed SSDs? What I'm asking is if something in the SATA interface is what's keeping this from working on my Early 2011 MBP with a factory SSD. Because I'd certainly love Power Nap on this thing.
 
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