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Apple Says Improvements to Studio Display's Webcam Coming in Software Update After Several Poor Reviews

Daring Fireball is saying it’s definitely a software bug, a last minute issue, that can and will be fixed. Expect display webcam to be as good as iPad Pro.

if I had ordered one, I’d still cancel until this is verified. One can’t have a display with a crap webcam in today’s day and age. But if fixed, I’m going to buy two of them….here’s hoping this situation gets solved.
 
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BWhaler said:
Some pundits have speculated it can't be fixed via software. No idea if this is true, but I really hope it's not.

I was going to buy 2 of these for $4,600+ tax. (Then, the inevitable additional $4-6K for Studio Pro)

So glad I waited. Sad that given how long the refresh cycle for displays is, I'm now probably never going to buy these Apple displays. I've been waiting for years and years for Apple to bring back displays, only for them to fall flat on their face with a very expensive, crappy offering.

Pretty crestfallen.
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I wonder how one would push an update to the monitor. And even if that's possible, I assume only Macs can do it (so people using the display with iDevices or non-Apple computers are screwed). Or will people buying such expensive monitor need to bring them back to Apple stores for the update?
 
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kc9hzn said:
Here’s a modest proposal: anyone who unironically uses the -gate suffix should immediately be permanently banned from their social media accounts (and should be fired and blacklisted, if they’re a professional journalist).
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Controversygate!
 
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IIGS User said:
Apple "MAD LIBS"

Apple says improvements to ___________ coming in _________ update after several poor reviews.

"We discovered an issue where __________ isn't behaving as expected. We'll be making improvements in future _________ updates."


This is becoming absolutely expected for just about every product Apple pushes out anymore. It used to be you couldn't expect to buy the first year's production run of a re designed automobile without buying a quasi-lemon or at minimum rolling the dice.

Automobiles have vastly improved in quality in this respect. While I still avoid first year production runs when acquiring a new vehicle, the problems have become less prevalent. Just the opposite seems to be the case with Apple.


So one has to wonder. Why a company that is the world's largest by market capitalization (approx. $378.3 billion) and 6th largest by revenue ($274 million in revenue) can't get something as simple as a WEB CAM right before shipping product?

I once saw a sign hanging in a business that stated "Don't sweat the small stuff.. and it's all small stuff". It was my mechanic.

I changed mechanics.
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The new Apple: "It Just Doesn't Work!"
 
ian87w said:
You're looking at your webcam wrong. ?
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“You’re looking at your webcam wrong. But as a added mitigating element, for when you look at it wrong, Apple is pleased to announce we’re supplying a free bumper (to the first 1000 people who can find the link we’ve hidden on our website).”
 
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SebCohen said:
“You’re looking at your webcam wrong. But as a added mitigating element, for when you look at it wrong, Apple is pleased to announce we’re supplying a free bumper (to the first 1000 people who can find the link we’ve hidden on our website).”
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There is nothing wrong with the webcam. But Apple acknowledges that some people might be more aesthetically challenged. As such Apple will supply free makeup kit for the first 1000 people who are willing to acknowledge their deficiency.

/s
 
Apple really needs to cancel doing major OS releases annually anymore. Wait 1.5 to 2 years and release something that's actually good to hit the ground running.

What's really the point if we just replace one buggy mess with a new buggy mess every year?
 
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w5jck said:
You don't become a 3 trillion dollar company by turning out the best quality at an affordable price. Apple has a bad reputation lately of churning out rushed garbage at a premium price, and as long as the fan clubs keep supporting that nonsense we will get overpriced garbage, but Apple will get wealthier. I honestly don't think Apple cares about quality anymore. They need more spirit of Woz and less spirit of Jobs.
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I regret that I have only one thumb-up to give to this post.

For those who own stock in Apple (I don't), this is a good and wise business decision. Apple spent nearly 2 decades cultivating a boutique brand... now is the time to cash in on that. The "momentum of reputation" will allow them to do this for quite a few years before their reputation tarnishes. And even THEN, the hooks of an ecosystem dig deep and will keep most customers in the fold.

Having said that, if one looks outside of the tech media bubble and beyond their hyperbole, the entry level Apple products offer a legitimate bargain. As one moves up their product line, quality and value decline.
 
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KPOM said:
It seems like it’s affecting most reviewers, and even a recipient of the display today in Australia. Some of the reviewers noticed a slight difference between the appearance between macOS 12.2 and 12.3. It’s possible that 12.3 was supposed to include some code to adjust the image quality but the code in the final version isn’t working properly.
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You'd think they'd double and triple check the review units before shipping them too. Of all of them, those should work.
 
krell100 said:
Well... not many 5K displays with a beautiful aluminium enclosure...
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Don't care about the enclosure. But not many non-ultrawide 5K's at all.

And...on the camera display in general. For $1500 it should have been 4K. I get that there isn't room in a macbook for a 4K system, but the display certainly has enough room.
 
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Pilot Jones said:
Apple really needs to cancel doing major OS releases annually anymore. Wait 1.5 to 2 years and release something that's actually good to hit the ground running.

What's really the point if we just replace one buggy mess with a new buggy mess every year?
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This won't change in the near term because:
  1. An annual release helps them maximize the iPhone revenue stream, their primary money-maker.
  2. They have to have a new iOS release every year if they're pushing out new iPhones every year. In part to generate interests, in part to add new (exclusive) features on the OS level.
  3. The release cycle of macOS needs to match that of the iOS, i.e., every year.
TL;DR this will continue as long as iPhone is their cash cow. You just need to wait till .5 release to upgrade your macOS. I personally would wait a full year since I use my computer for work and I can't afford to have any downtime. Trust me when I tell you that the majority of the people who upgrade don't even use 10% of the new features.
 
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12MP sounds like a lot of pixels but that's for the entire massive range of the camera—the cropped/zoomed in view you get while actually using the cam is far less (might be 1080P but doubt it).

Small UW sensors are naturally grainy and washed out, and when you crop in on an ugly noisy image it's gonna look even worse.

I'm really curious to see how much Apple can enhance it in software, though.
 
lysingur said:
This won't change in the near term because:
  1. An annual release helps them maximize the iPhone revenue stream, their primary money-maker.
  2. They have to have a new iOS release every year if they're pushing out new iPhones every year. In part to generate interests, in part to add new (exclusive) features on the OS level.
  3. The release cycle of macOS needs to match that of the iOS, i.e., every year.
TL;DR this will continue as long as iPhone is their cash cow. You just need to wait till .5 release to upgrade your macOS. I personally would wait a full year since I use my computer for work and I can't afford to have any downtime. Trust me when I tell you that the majority of the people who upgrade don't even use 10% of the new features.
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True. This just isn't going to stop. That $$$ is too precious.

I had a disastrous experience with updating to Monterey, even though I waited for a few months after it was released. I have never ever had a software update brick my hardware before (at least partially). My speakers, touchpad & keyboard all spontaneously died right performing the update. It was so weird that even the people at the Apple store were baffled. Had to get all of those components replaced and of course, Apple made money from that too.

I've always been at least a bit cautious with the Mac's software updates, but now I'm just outright paranoid.
 
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BWhaler said:
Daring Fireball is saying it’s definitely a software bug, a last minute issue, that can and will be fixed. Expect display webcam to be as good as iPad Pro.

if I had ordered one, I’d still cancel until this is verified. One can’t have a display with a crap webcam in today’s day and age. But if fixed, I’m going to buy two of them….here’s hoping this situation gets solved.
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Hope they release fix this week, before my return period closes upcoming Saturday.
This studio display got basics (5k screen, good build quality, nice speakers and webcam(TBD quality). While Mini LED would have been nice, don't want to deal with blooming effect on every day monitor/use. Hopefully they fix webcam by Tuesday (apple update date)
 
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