Apple Releases Thunderbolt Display Firmware Update 1.2

[MacRumors]

Apple today released Thunderbolt Display Firmware Update 1.2, designed for the Thunderbolt Display that was released in 2011. According to the release notes, the update improves reliability when connecting devices to the Apple Thunderbolt Display and addresses a rare issue that may cause the display to go black.

Thunderbolt Display owners can download the update from the Mac App Store.

Thunderbolt Display Firmware updates are fairly rare, with the last firmware update released in December of 2011 to fix an issue with fan noise.

Article Link: Apple Releases Thunderbolt Display Firmware Update 1.2

 

[kfscoll]

How about instead of releasing a Thunderbolt Display firmware update, Apple releases a 4K Thunderbolt Display instead!

 

[troop231]

Great, now release a new Thunderbolt Display..

 

[Drumjim85]

addresses a rare issue that may cause the display to go black.

I'm surprised we didn't see posts about this all over the web, blaming apple's new lack of QC.

 

[Tim0]

But does it upgrade it to 5k? 4k maybe?

 

[displayblock]

Great, now release a new Thunderbolt Display..

They could create a 4K (4096 x 2160) resolution display, but that falls short of the bar they set with the 5K Retina display in the newest iMacs.

For Retina iMac resolution on a Thunderbolt Display, you would need to connect two Thunderbolt 2 cables between the new display and your Mac to achieve the bandwidth necessary. A single cable solution would only be possible for Macs with Thunderbolt 3 ports (once they're released).

 

[xizdun]

As many of you know, the current Thunderbolt technology doesn't support 5K. You'd have to use two Thunderbolt cables to transmit 5K resolution data. Thus why Apple didn't launch a 5K Thunderbolt Display alongside the "iMac with Retina 5K".

 

[Kariya]

How about instead of releasing a Thunderbolt Display firmware update, Apple releases a 4K Thunderbolt Display instead!

Then you people will moan its not 5K like the iMac

 

[redheeler]

As many of you know, the current Thunderbolt technology doesn't support 5K. You'd have to use two Thunderbolt cables to transmit 5K resolution data. Thus why Apple didn't launch a 5K Thunderbolt Display alongside the "iMac with Retina 5K".

Yes, and most current macs won't be able to drive a 5K display because they only have one Thunderbolt bus.

 

[kfscoll]

Then you people will moan its not 5K like the iMac

"You people?" Don't generalize. I would be fine with a 4K Thunderbolt display.

 

[retrospek]

I can't seem to get this update - nothing showing in the App Store and nothing happening when I click the link above ?

 

[Black107]

Honestly after experiencing very few issues with mine, I'm gunshy about touching any update like this. "If it ain't broke..."

 

[Skika]

As many of you know, the current Thunderbolt technology doesn't support 5K. You'd have to use two Thunderbolt cables to transmit 5K resolution data. Thus why Apple didn't launch a 5K Thunderbolt Display alongside the "iMac with Retina 5K".

What about Thunderbolt 2?

 

[BillyTrimble]

Honestly after experiencing very few issues with mine, I'm gunshy about touching any update like this. "If it ain't broke..."

OK. Then don't.

----------

How about instead of releasing a Thunderbolt Display firmware update, Apple releases a 4K Thunderbolt Display instead!

Have you asked this question of Apple? They would know better than anyone else.

 

[redheeler]

What about Thunderbolt 2?

Mini DisplayPort 1.2 (Thunderbolt 2) doesn't support 5K at 60Hz in a single stream.

 

[SouthMountain]

I can't seem to get this update - nothing showing in the App Store and nothing happening when I click the link above ?

Update is available through Software Update via App Store

 

[Blue Sun]

About time, although too late for me. I returned my (brand new) Thunderbolt Display 6 months ago because the screen would go black every hour or so when using my Mac Mini. I bought an iMac instead.

This firmware update is long overdue, there is an epic thread on the Apple boards about this very issue!

 

[gijoeinla]

Oddly enough I have a Thunderbolt and yea I have this issue. Glad it's resolved ##

 

[AlecZ]

I read the first line, "Apple Releases Thunderbolt Display," got excited, then was let down.

 

[cppguy]

As many of you know, the current Thunderbolt technology doesn't support 5K. You'd have to use two Thunderbolt cables to transmit 5K resolution data. Thus why Apple didn't launch a 5K Thunderbolt Display alongside the "iMac with Retina 5K".

Yes, but they could do 4K, which would be a great improvement to the current Thunderbolt Display already.

 

[BWhaler]

How about instead of releasing a Thunderbolt Display firmware update, Apple releases a 4K Thunderbolt Display instead!

Here, here. It doesn't even have the correct dongle.

Doesn't need to be 5K, but an upgrade is long overdue. (And work out the kinks and glitches in the current edition.)

 

[tbrand7]

Caught the bae slippin...

 

[8CoreWhore]

"...and addresses a rare issue that may cause the display to go black."

And once it goes black, it don't go back.

 

[Acronyc]

I know the TBD is old in tech terms, but I've been very happy with the refurb I bought earlier this year. It's still a great display and works as a very nice docking station for my rMBP. Looking forward to when they release a new one, though!

 

[zorinlynx]

It is very possible to build a 5K Thunderbolt display.

The solution is to integrate a GPU into the display, then connect that GPU to the Mac via Thunderbolt. Thunderbolt supports GPUs; it is essentially a PCI Express bus.

The GPU in the display can then privately drive as many pixels as you want, and the performance will be more than adequate since you basically have a PCI express bus equivalent between it and the computer. This way you're not having to send every pixel on the screen to the display 60 times a second.

Apple isn't releasing a 5K Thunderbolt display either because they don't want to, or don't think it will sell.