Apple Releases Studio Display Firmware 17 With Improvements to Built-In Camera

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

The official Apple Self-Service Repair program will sell you a replacement cable and a tool that makes pulling the cable out easier. An Apple Store can also perform this replacement, potentially for free if the device is under warranty.

Oh that's news to me, they do sell the cables, but only through Apple and I can't look up the price of a replacement cable without a serial number.

That doesn't justify the cable at all. In honesty it only makes it worse as it begs the question why they didn't use a C13/C14 or hell USE THE CABLE THEY MADE FOR THE M1 IMAC. THE GOD DAMN PRO DISPLAY XDR USES A STANDARD REMOVABLE CABLE AND THAT MONITOR COSTS $5000! And yet they can't do the same for the $1600 starting price Studio Display?!

You shouldn't need to jump through all these hoops to replace a god damn power cable. As far as I'm concerned that's defective by design.

 

[iPhone Andy]

In honesty it only makes it worse as it begs the question why they didn't use a C13/C14 or hell USE THE CABLE THEY MADE FOR THE M1 IMAC.

The standard C13/C14 connectors are both longer than the studio display is thick, so that won't work.

They couldn't use the M1 iMac cable because the Studio Display's power supply is inside the display, whereas the M1 iMac's power supply is external in the form of a power brick. The M1 iMac's power brick converts the AC power from the outlet to DC, at which point the law allows the cable to be user-removable. The Studio Display's cable carries AC from the outlet to the monitor itself, which the law forbids from being user-removable without the standard C13 or C14 connectors.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

The standard C13/C14 connectors are both longer than the studio display is thick, so that won't work.

They couldn't use the M1 iMac cable because the Studio Display's power supply is inside the display, whereas the M1 iMac's power supply is external in the form of a power brick. The M1 iMac's power brick converts the AC power from the outlet to DC, at which point the law allows the cable to be user-removable. The Studio Display's cable carries AC from the outlet to the monitor itself, which the law forbids from being user-removable without the standard C13 or C14 connectors.

I'd like to point out the Pro Display XDR doesn't use C13 or C14 it uses C6 (which is user removable btw,) and that monitor is the same depth as the Studio Display with the power supply in the monitor as well.

Studio Display - Technical Specifications

View all technical specifications for the 27-inch 5k Retina Studio Display.

www.apple.com

Pro Display XDR - Technical Specifications

See the tech specs for the new Pro Display XDR including resolution, brightness, contrast, color, connectivity, and compatibility.

www.apple.com

You keep making excuses to why the cord is the way it is when the mere existence of the Pro Display XDR invalidates every single excuse you keep making. Occum's Razor is that the monitor was a rushed product, Apple screwed up in engineering, or designed it like this on purpose so you had to go through them to replace the cable. Simple as.

Which designing it like this where you have to go through them means this monitor has a shelf life, as eventually Apple will stop providing support and parts for that monitor, which means after that once the cable gets frayed, back to the landfill it goes and this conversation's gone back to square one.

 

[iPhone Andy]

I'd like to point out the Pro Display XDR doesn't use C13 or C14 it uses C6 (which is user removable btw,) and that monitor is the same depth as the Studio Display with the power supply in the monitor as well.

Studio Display - Technical Specifications

View all technical specifications for the 27-inch 5k Retina Studio Display.

www.apple.com

Pro Display XDR - Technical Specifications

See the tech specs for the new Pro Display XDR including resolution, brightness, contrast, color, connectivity, and compatibility.

www.apple.com

You keep making excuses to why the cord is the way it is when the mere existence of the Pro Display XDR invalidates every single excuse you keep making. Occum's Razor is that the monitor was a rushed product, Apple screwed up in engineering, or designed it like this on purpose so you had to go through them to replace the cable. Simple as.

Which designing it like this where you have to go through them means this monitor has a shelf life, as eventually Apple will stop providing support and parts for that monitor, which means after that once the cable gets frayed, back to the landfill it goes and this conversation's gone back to square one.

I did forget that the C6 connector was also an option for user-removable AC cables, but this does not invalidate my argument.

The Studio Display is about 8mm thinner than the Pro Display XDR, which makes it too thin to accommodate the C6 connector.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

I did forget that the C6 connector was also an option for user-removable AC cables, but this does not invalidate my argument.

The Studio Display is about 8mm thinner than the Pro Display XDR, which makes it too thin to accommodate the C6 connector.

Oh wow, 8mm thinner. That definitely justifies the cable totally /s

 

[Elektrofone]

How can I check which version I’m on?

 

[MisterSavage]

Yep, attempting to update the firmware has given the same issue that I had last time.
It’s just looping round and round and has been for over an hour. I think it’s bricked.
Correction - I switched off the display, disconnected the thunderbolt cable and rebooted my MacBook. Powered it all back up again and it went through the loop twice more and then suddenly my display was back and on version 17. This software upgrade is so flaky as this was the problem that I had last time.

Same thing has happened to me multiple times and that's usually how I get out of it. If you've got AppleCare you might want to bite the bullet and get the logic board replaced while you still can for free. I'm going to try on Tuesday.

Seeing all the negativity here, I just have to help compensate a bit.

I have an ASD and I love it and have had no issues with it whatsoever. It's probably the nicest display I've ever owned, and I especially love how sturdy and well-made the chassis is. It blows away the old LG UltraFine. It also functions perfectly as a docking station for my Macbook, supporting all the devices plugged into it without issue.

There, I just had to say it. Ya'll can get back to kvetching now.

I love mine too but it getting stuck in restore mode when there's an update isn't something that should be happening.

 

[AngryBrit]

Despite the issues I'm going to pick up one of these today. Helps that it is a business expense and I can claim some money back.

Had a LG UltraFine 21.5" for 3+ years. It's been great but looking pretty small now. Should also get a decent chunk of money back when I sell it. 😐

 

[MisterSavage]

Despite the issues I'm going to pick up one of these today. Helps that it is a business expense and I can claim some money back.

Had a LG UltraFine 21.5" for 3+ years. It's been great but looking pretty small now. Should also get a decent chunk of money back when I sell it. 😐

I think you'll like it. I bought an UltraFine right before I got mine and was able to return it. Like the ASD so much better.

 

[flottenheimer]

Once again my Studio Display got stuck in an infinite update loop + the ".../restore" message (happened while updating to fw16.4 as well). A bricked display essentialy.

Once again the solution was somewhat weird: To type the MacOS unlock password + a [Return] while the display is on the ".../restore" screen before it will attempt to update again. Learned that trick from Apple Support last time.

Hmmmmmmm.
Other than that, I really love this display.

 

[MisterSavage]

Once again my Studio Display got stuck in an infinite update loop + the ".../restore" message (happened while updating to fw16.4 as well). A bricked display essentialy.

Once again the solution was somewhat weird: To type the MacOS unlock password + a [Return] while the display is on the ".../restore" screen before it will attempt to update again. Learned that trick from Apple Support last time.

I'm surprised they didn't tell you to take it in for repairs. Mine had the same issue.

 

[Bazooka-joe]

I'm surprised they didn't tell you to take it in for repairs. Mine had the same issue.

I have spoken to Apple and I’m going to take it in at Christmas so they can do a firmware fresh and then if that doesn’t work they will replace the logic board

 

[MisterSavage]

I have spoken to Apple and I’m going to take it in at Christmas so they can do a firmware fresh and then if that doesn’t work they will replace the logic board

If I was you I would insist on a logic board replacement. I've been able to successfully update the firmware several times (after much pain) but then when the next software update came out I'd get stuck in restore mode until I went through it again. They're replacing my logic board right now.

 

[homerofwar2]

I have spoken to Apple and I’m going to take it in at Christmas so they can do a firmware fresh and then if that doesn’t work they will replace the logic board

No need to waste your time at the Apple Store. The issue is Ventura and Sonoma do not work well with the studio display firmware upgrade process due to the fact it need to ask permission to approve the display when its in recovery mode as its seen suddenly as a new device.

had this exact issue

the ONLY fix was oddly Creating a new volume in Disk Utility, then download Older Mac OS Monterey:

‎macOS Monterey

‎macOS Monterey lets you connect, share and create like never before. Enjoy new FaceTime audio and video enhancements, including spatial audio and Portrait mode. Get more done with powerful productivity tools like Focus, Quick Note and Tab Groups in Safari. Work fluidly across your devices with...

apps.apple.com

After downloading
Then plugin a USB/SD card into your Mac, run Open terminal, and replace MyVolume below with the name of your thumb drive

sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Monterey.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume

This will create a bootable thumb drive for Monterey, then if on a M1 Pro MacBook reboot the MacBook hold the power button, boot into the Monterey bootable drive you just made, and then install Monterey on the new volume you created in disk utility. (this will not erase your current OS as its going onto a new volume)

After the install was done I just went though setup quickly and BAM, the studio display was actually able to restore itself after 15 mins to the prior Display OS version.

I then power cycled the Mac, went back into Sonoma and was then able todo the firmware update again without an issue ensuring I never unplugged it.

I only tried this method as I saw someone else in apple support forums saying the Apple Store was only able to fix it after using a Mac with Monterey on it.

I know a lot of hoops but it WILL fix it, and it will save you. Like I said the major issue with Ventura and Sonoma is when the studio display is in recovery mode its not portly prompting the Mac to allow it permission to connect to it, where Monterey does have this stupid privacy accept stuff. You can then delete the Monterey volume if you like.

 

[homerofwar2]

I know a lot of haters in here, but the Display OS 17 actually did vastly improve the camera and looks a lot closed to my 16" M1 Pro now. just saying.