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Apple Releases Firmware to Activate PowerNap on 2011 MacBook Airs

I'm another who :mad: that the newest MBPR is not supported yet. You would've figured that Apple would've configured itself around this notebook being the SSD is the only HD being offered for it. Or at least have it ready the same day it released the OS.

And where the heck is the stupid Thunderbolt to firewire 800 adapter?? Thanks to Apple and its wisdom in not supporting USB 3.0, I'm now using USB 2.0 on the macbook since the portable HD makers only supported firewire and usb 2.0 for macs. Trying to pull video off the portable is making me pull my hair out.
 
That's why I haven't bought a MBA in 2010, and I waited for the 2011 Sandy Bridge models. Somehow I felt it was not a good idea to spend a whole bunch of money on a machine with slow, last-gen CPU, without backlit keyboard...

I understand the restriction of AirPlay, Apple always wants to deliver perfect user experience, so that's why they didn't make something like AirParrot. But as for Powernap... They really stated that it required second generation MBA, so I think there might be a chance that they will release a firmware update for 2010 Airs, too... Wait a few days, guys.

Upd.: specific ML system requirements have changed on apple.com, now they really say that Powernap only supports MacBook Air (Mid 2011 or newer), MacBook Pro with Retina display. :( That's too bad guys, I also find this unfair. Even if it has real hardware-connected reasons, it wasn't very nice from them advertising it for the MBA 2010 as well, and then changing their mind.
 
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I'm also disappointed, as Apple clearly said in the keynote that Macbook Air (2nd gen) was supported. Now if I count correctly the 2010 Macbook Air is at least 2nd gen, and has a SSD.
 
M.a.r.k. said:
I'm also disappointed, as Apple clearly said in the keynote that Macbook Air (2nd gen) was supported. Now if I count correctly the 2010 Macbook Air is at least 2nd gen, and has a SSD.
Click to expand...

Yeah, this is unacceptable. They clearly stated that the 2010 MBA was supported even on their spec site for Mountain Lion. There really isn't that much left in the update if you don't have an iPhone/iPad or Apple TV. I won't be syncing Notes, Reminders or Safari. I also won't be using iCloud as it doesn't work with my Galaxy Nexus. Yeah, notifications are cool, but I used Growl earlier so it really isn't a new thing.
 
starstreak said:
I'm another who :mad: that the newest MBPR is not supported yet. You would've figured that Apple would've configured itself around this notebook being the SSD is the only HD being offered for it. Or at least have it ready the same day it released the OS.

And where the heck is the stupid Thunderbolt to firewire 800 adapter?? Thanks to Apple and its wisdom in not supporting USB 3.0, I'm now using USB 2.0 on the macbook since the portable HD makers only supported firewire and usb 2.0 for macs. Trying to pull video off the portable is making me pull my hair out.
Click to expand...

Not only that, but Apple royally f'd up the USB 3.0 implementation. I cannot get my HDD to be recognized 9 times out of 10. And that 1 time it does work is only on the left-side port. Hopefully it's a software issue, not hardware.

It works fine if I use a USB 2.0 extension cable (and therefore limit the drive to USB 2.0)... but that defeats the purpose of having USB 3.0
 
Thex1138 said:
Hmmm I upgraded my 2010 MBP with a 120gb SSD drive...
You reckon it will work for me?
:apple:
Click to expand...

Sorry dude, this has been answered a million times already, but NO, only in-built SSD is supported. Why? Two explanations:

1. "normal" SSD has higher power consumption which doesn't fit to power nap
2. Apple wants us to feel our old Macs are outdated, and buy new ones

You decide. :)

Btw if your 2010 MBP has only Core 2 Duo CPU, it is absolutely out of the question, seeing the 2010 MBA with in-built SSD also not supporting Power Nap... : ( That means it's somehow also limited to Sandy Bridge architecture or later...
 
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mrbyu said:
1. "normal" SSD has higher power consumption which doesn't fit to power nap
Click to expand...

That's questionable for a start. Energy saver preferences have different profiles for running on A/C or battery power. If they were really concerned about power consumption on Macs without the blade type flash storage, they could have just restricted Power Nap availability to when plugged into the mains. On all Macs, HD and SSD included.
 
DarwinOSX said:
Yeah it's a scam but Apple didn't fool you!

----------

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.
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Actually, the reason listed that some laptops don't have power nap is because of the SSD, my mac book air actually has on board flash storage like the 2011 and 2012 model.

I have no problem with Apple leaving a feature out and I'm perfectly happy with ML but I was just making the point I haven't seen any reason why this feature wasn't included, so the only logical reason is that it was a business decision for more profit, which again I have no problem with, Apple are a business and deserve to be able to encourage people to upgrade which I will when the rMBP is updated next year.
 
The fact this feature was a major one advertised for the MBA and rMBP, and they have failed to produce it for the rMBP is nothing short of a joke.

Apple really are going downhill these days.
 
Well, I applied last night the EFI firmware update, and left the laptop plugged in the whole night and the powernap seems to be working in a late 2011 air. I'm abroad so I didn't have the chance to test the time machine backups, but some new emails were there this morning (although not the most recent ones). Does anybody know how often does powernap update emails etc.?
 
M.a.r.k. said:
I'm also disappointed, as Apple clearly said in the keynote that Macbook Air (2nd gen) was supported. Now if I count correctly the 2010 Macbook Air is at least 2nd gen, and has a SSD.
Click to expand...

Yes this is indeed provoking. AirPlay video I can kinda understand why they left out due to the puny cpu, but Power Nap? Give me a break.
 
First thought I clicked the wrong menu item before realizing that Software Updates now launches the AppStore. Nice how this is now integrated.
 
If the machine is sleeping, older mechanical hard drives spin down. If it spun up to update it would defeat the purpose of being asleep, wouldn't it? Where as SSD drives have no moving parts, thus no physical spin-down, that's probably why it has the odd requirement. My iMac has an Apple SSD drive, however the 4gb OSX download off the app store is a show stopper. My internet speed is best described as baud-band out in the sticks. :(
 
Cmmts said:
Yeah, this is unacceptable. They clearly stated that the 2010 MBA was supported even on their spec site for Mountain Lion. There really isn't that much left in the update if you don't have an iPhone/iPad or Apple TV. I won't be syncing Notes, Reminders or Safari. I also won't be using iCloud as it doesn't work with my Galaxy Nexus. Yeah, notifications are cool, but I used Growl earlier so it really isn't a new thing.
Click to expand...

This reminds me of the uphill battle that Android will be facing in the coming years now that both Apple and Microsoft are increasing the value of their respective mobile offerings by their deep integration and syncing of native applications on the desktop/laptop with mobile while Android doesn't have anything comparable.

Windows Phone/Tablet has PCs with Windows 8, iOS has Macs with OS X Mountain Lion, and Android has Chromebooks. Will be interesting times to see what happens in this new era.
 
Personally I am not too happy that Apple are bringing out these new concepts... PowerNap / Airplay and then excluding them from machines which are not that old at all, my 2011 MBP will work with Airplay, but my i3 iMac will not, and neither of them will work with power nap. What Apple is basically doing is saying these are the things which will be compulsory in the future, and unless you buy new hardware you ain't gonna be having them, out of order if you ask me. Spending so much money on these things, I am happy to upgrade but every year, just to keep up with the OS updates?

Getting silly now Apple.
 
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