Apple Releases Second Studio Display 15.5 Firmware Beta With Webcam Update

[MacRumors]

Apple today released a second beta version of new 15.5 firmware that's coming to the Studio Display, with the software coming one week after the launch of the first beta. The Studio Display firmware is designed to improve the function of the webcam on the device.

All Studio Display models are able to receive over-the-air firmware updates, but this firmware update is limited to Macs that are running the ‌macOS Monterey‌ 12.4 beta at the current time. After installing the macOS 12.4 beta, Studio Display owners can go to System Preferences > Software Update to install the firmware.

Apple in March promised a firmware update for the Studio Display to address an issue with the webcam.

The Studio Display is equipped with a 12-megapixel Ultra Wide camera that supports Center Stage, but Studio Display reviewers and owners have discovered that the camera consistently produces grainy, washed-out images, which Apple has said is the result of the system to not behaving as expected. The firmware brings updated "camera tuning, improved noise reduction, contrast, and framing."

Article Link: Apple Releases Second Studio Display 15.5 Firmware Beta With Webcam Update

 

[DeLaSoul]

“The best firmware update for the Studio Display we ever released”

 

[Kylo83]

It can’t be fixed it’s a hardware issue

 

[Cham2000]

It can’t be fixed it’s a hardware issue

How do you know this?

 

[waziazi]

Apple can’t stop humiliating itself! It’s embarrassing!! 🙈

 

[alexandr]

I finally saw the Studio Display in-person this weekend. I left surprisingly unimpressed.

 

[Kylo83]

Apple made a huge mistake putting a ultra wide for centre stage 99% of people just sit in front of there screen and not use centre stage and if they put a normal wide camera like the iPhone 13 one it would be epic quality, it’s not like a laptops the display is thick so they could or put the iPhone sensor in it

 

[Reeneman]

Picture quality will be pushed later by software. Buy it know, don’t complain and wait ?

 

[Kylo83]

How do you know this?

Because it’s the ultra wide it crops the image when not using centre stage and the sensor isn’t great

 

[KaliYoni]

I hope Apple–for once–takes the time to thoroughly test and validate this iOS/DisplayOS firmware update. Bringing in or, worse, shipping a bricked monitor to Apple would be a major PITA compared to dealing with an iPhone or iPad.

 

[t0rqx]

You cannot fix old hardware with a firmware update. The fact you need two updates to try and fix it says it all. The beta stamp is just an excuse. Now we all need to use fake insta filters Apple applies in all the webcams recently.

 

[JPack]

This is exactly why you don't want Center Stage on MacBook.

With an ultrawide camera, you have to zoom and crop for selfies, which means the 12MP camera becomes 6MP.

Center Stage isn't some magic feature. You can either choose wide angle and low quality or regular angle and full quality.

 

[Moonlight]

Remember before you bash this or say "why is this only on the latest OS?", this is beta software. Once they release the final firmware fix, then you can complain all you want.

 

[DMG35]

I still want the Pro XDR Display. Problem is I don't need it and can't justify spending the cash on it.

 

[joecomo]

I still want the Pro XDR Display. Problem is I don't need it and can't justify spending the cash on it.

Needing is a fluent concept - I also don‘t need it, but using it gives me pleasure every day

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

How do you know this?

Because there's nothing to fix. Apple took an image sensor from a device that, relatively, is far smaller than the Studio Display. You blow up that image, it's obviously going to magnify the pixels and produce worse image quality on a larger screen. But they didn't just stop there, they actually used a wide-angle lens and need to crop the image just to keep one person in the centre of the frame - whilst using AI to alter the perspective.

The real question is why Apple didn't use a higher quality sensor, such as the selfie camera from their iPhones.

 

[DMG35]

Needing is a fluent concept - I also don‘t need it, but using it gives my pleasure every day

Lol excellent point.

 

[canadianreader]

“The best firmware update for the Studio Display we ever released”

They fired Beta Testing Department and hired earth population to test for them...you know free labor...

 

[lkrupp]

How do you know this?

He doesn’t. He read it on the internet and we all know if you read something on the internet it must be true.

 

[FasterQuieter]

Such a wasted opportunity and cheapskate move not putting a great camera in this monitor. It should have had the front iPhone camera at the very least. For the amount they are charging, the main back camera is not unreasonable. It would have been a great way to distinguish the monitor as well. Webcams are very important to people now. If it was known this monitor had the best webcam out there, many would buy it for that reason alone.

 

[StudioMacs]

They fired Beta Testing Department and hired earth population to test for them...you know free labor...

It does have the advantage of testing the software with a variety of hardware, peripherals, and third-party software that would be difficult to replicate in-house.

 

[izzle22]

So are there any productive posts out there that address whether this beta has made any improvements? Or just continuous bashing from folks that don't want or can't afford the display? Asking for a friend...

 

[canadianreader]

It does have the advantage of testing the software with a variety of hardware, peripherals, and third-party software that would be difficult to replicate in-house.

That's what guinea pigs are for.

 

[joecomo]

I finally saw the Studio Display in-person this weekend. I left surprisingly unimpressed.

Saw it also last week (matte next to glossy) - I think the glossy is nice, although at the end the old LG ultra-Fine with minor upgrades and an integrated iDevice

 

[nutmac]

Because it’s the ultra wide it crops the image when not using centre stage and the sensor isn’t great

I get that sentiment but I don't recall people complaining about iPad's Center Stage camera this much. Looking at several comparisons between Studio Display and iPad Pro/Air with the same camera, both are almost equally subpar, significant downgrade from iPhone 12/13's front camera.