LG Screen Manager App for UltraFine Displays Updated for macOS High Sierra

[MacRumors]

Alongside its UltraFine 4K and 5K displays developed in partnership with Apple, LG offers an LG Screen Manager app for Mac that serves to manage various functions of the display, including handling firmware updates for the display itself, accessing windowing features such as automatic splitting of the desktop into up to four sections, and more. LG Screen Manager includes a menu item for quick access to its desktop splitting features, as well as a full app for more advanced features.

Recently, LG released an updated version of LG Screen Manager for macOS High Sierra, ensuring compatibility with the latest Mac operating system and debuting a new notification system that will automatically alert you whenever there are updates for your display.

In addition to the new compatibility and update notifications, the latest update to LG Screen Manager includes tweaks and enhancements for the display firmware that were rolled out earlier this summer. Among those tweaks is fine tuning of the volume curve, which addresses some early complaints about the volume control not being fine enough at the low end of the range with a significant increase in volume between even the first and second levels. The new volume curve allows for much finer adjustment at the low end.

Other features in the display firmware update include improvements to low-light performance of the camera and better compatibility for devices connected to the three downstream USB-C ports on the rear of the display.

The updated LG Screen Manager app, version 2.08, is available for download from LG's support site.

Article Link: LG Screen Manager App for UltraFine Displays Updated for macOS High Sierra

 

[Ohples]

Does it still require Accessibility permissions to just install firmware and configure stuff unrelated to that screen splitting stuff they have, also who thinks to download a separate app for your monitor?

Apple should of had them integrate the firmware update on into the normal software update tool. If Fedora can update the firmware on my RF keyboard module, that should be possible.

 

[km9898]

Still not working. Showing version of the monitors firmware as 3.01,1.11,5234,3.00,0.1d and the text "The Software is currently up to date". LG Screen Manager's "new version" is still not working to update the monitor. Screen Manager version 2.08 here.

 

[guzhogi]

Apple should of had them integrate the firmware update on into the normal software update tool. If Fedora can update the firmware on my RF keyboard module, that should be possible.

I agree. I really wish Apple would also allow plugins or something so that you can check different app stores from the App Store app. That way, if Apple rejects a certain app, you can still search other stores from the same app. Kind of like a mall or something. To make it better, maybe add a filter to the App Store to check the system requirements and only see apps that can run on your device. So many apps require a certain OS level, amount of RAM, type of CPU/GPU, etc.

 

[naujoks]

Haha! That ugly top heavy screen still makes me laugh!

 

[shareef777]

Haha! That ugly top heavy screen still makes me laugh!

Show me a screen with a camera on the top that doesn't look like that? You prefer the horrendous chin that Dell did?

With that said, these monitors SUCK. Constant cause of crashes on my laptop. A monitor shouldn't hang an entire computer. I'd elaborate, but there's already a 50+ page thread on this POS.

 

[jayhawk11]

This is now the fourth Mac "news" website that has posted this story, almost word for word from a sponsored post on 9to5Mac.com by LG. There is no firmware update for the display (the last update came out a couple months ago), and the last update to the Screen Manager software itself came out on September 22nd. All of this is easily findable info if anyone at these websites spent more than two seconds regurgitating what they saw somewhere else.

Do better, MacRumors.

 

[scholt]

Downloaded the software from the linked source, installed it, but no option in the software to adjust volume, or anything useful. Instead got a new ugly yellow icon. Basically you can arrange windows in the LG software

 

[Supacon]

I don't get the hate on this monitor.

I own one and it's generally pretty great. The display (you know, the part of the monitor you actually use) looks awesome. It works very elegantly with my MacBook, and the integrated hub is serviceable and useful, if limited. As far as looks, it sits in between a couple of Dell monitors and it looks nicer than just about any other PC monitor I've owned in my life. The five-head is no bigger than the bezel on some older Dells that don't even contain cameras and microphones. It's plain and gets out of the way which is what you want. I much prefer it to the giant chin and humongous bezels on an iMac, for instance.

That said, the speakers kind of suck and that volume curve is a friggin' joke (either way too loud or too quiet but no in-between unless you use the awkward shift+alt+volume shortcuts), so I'm glad they have fixed that. Unfortunately the software is showing me that the software is up to date—I bought on day one and have never updated before.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[km9898]

I don't get the hate on this monitor.

I own one and it's generally pretty great. The display (you know, the part of the monitor you actually use) looks awesome. It works very elegantly with my MacBook, and the integrated hub is serviceable and useful, if limited. As far as looks, it sits in between a couple of Dell monitors and it looks nicer than just about any other PC monitor I've owned in my life. The five-head is no bigger than the bezel on some older Dells that don't even contain cameras and microphones. It's plain and gets out of the way which is what you want. I much prefer it to the giant chin and humongous bezels on an iMac, for instance.

That said, the speakers kind of suck and that volume curve is a friggin' joke (either way too loud or too quiet but no in-between unless you use the awkward shift+alt+volume shortcuts), so I'm glad they have fixed that. Unfortunately the software is showing me that the software is up to date—I bought on day one and have never updated before.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Same here. I own a LG 5K and I really like the monitor. It's 99.9% like my iMac 5K and you get your Mac portable with the hub. I have 0 serious issues with it and use it everyday for work (Graphics, Video, Audio). The only thing, besides that it costs way too much, is the volume curve thing and this should be fixed with the new update. But same as you, I have no update in the "new" software that they pushed out a couple days ago. Still have the same version of the monitor itself. And yes, it sucks that you need to download a separate app for it, should be integrated with the App Store as the Thunderbolt Display did - Apple is still selling it as the only external monitor in their shops.

 

[mlody]

Does LG actually do anything that is good and lasts? It would have been 10x better is Apple contracted with Dell to make a monitor for them.

 

[WildCowboy]

This is now the fourth Mac "news" website that has posted this story, almost word for word from a sponsored post on 9to5Mac.com by LG. There is no firmware update for the display (the last update came out a couple months ago), and the last update to the Screen Manager software itself came out on September 22nd. All of this is easily findable info if anyone at these websites spent more than two seconds regurgitating what they saw somewhere else.

Do better, MacRumors.

It's not simply regurgitating other sites. LG has been in touch with all of the sites to provide information on the update.

They are having some issues with the latest firmware distribution and are looking into it. One of my UltraFine 5K displays saw the 3.04 version and updated fine, but the other one is still on 3.01 and showing as up to date. Not sure what the problem is.

Yes, the display firmware itself has been out for a while...I've been trying for weeks (months?) to try to get them to confirm what was changed beyond the obvious things like the volume curve tweak that helps quite a bit at the low end. Even since we've been in touch about the update to LG Screen Manager for High Sierra, it's been a couple weeks of back-and-forth trying to get the details.

 

[johnfrombeyond]

It's not simply regurgitating other sites. LG has been in touch with all of the sites to provide information on the update.

They are having some issues with the latest firmware distribution and are looking into it. One of my UltraFine 5K displays saw the 3.04 version and updated fine, but the other one is still on 3.01 and showing as up to date. Not sure what the problem is.

Yes, the display firmware itself has been out for a while...I've been trying for weeks (months?) to try to get them to confirm what was changed beyond the obvious things like the volume curve tweak that helps quite a bit at the low end. Even since we've been in touch about the update to LG Screen Manager for High Sierra, it's been a couple weeks of back-and-forth trying to get the details.

This is the first time I saw published anywhere what the latest version should be, thank you. That should have been in the info provided by LG, and this article. I ran the LG app and nothing apparently happened, it says I'm up to date, but there is no change in monitor behavior and the version is still 3.01. I don't see anything on the LG site that says what the latest firmware is, and I'm just assuming that this app will find it when it's available? Not a very intuitive app, and the LG site needs more info.

 

[cult hero]

Virtually no one that hates this monitor actually uses it. It’s a bunch of people pining for something in aluminum that, if it ever comes out, they’ll complain is overpriced and post links to something made by Dell.

I own two. After I got my first I knew it’d be a while before a monitor of this caliber was available for under a grand. So I got another. (Thank and after working on a 5K at my office, returning home to a 1440p Cinema Display was painful.)

These monitors aren’t perfect by any means by where it counts most, the display, they have few competitors.

The “five head” looks worse in pictures and honestly, I like having the camera. The main annoyances are:

1. The the volume control (maybe if I install this it’ll be better) or lack thereof.

2. I’ve had issues with a lot of cheaper USB devices that don’t wake with the monitor at my office. At home it’s all
Apple and Belkin from the Apple Store and I never have those issues.

3. The 13” MacBook Pro is BARELY powerful enough to drive one.

Same here. I own a LG 5K and I really like the monitor. It's 99.9% like my iMac 5K and you get your Mac portable with the hub. I have 0 serious issues with it and use it everyday for work (Graphics, Video, Audio). The only thing, besides that it costs way too much, is the volume curve thing and this should be fixed with the new update. But same as you, I have no update in the "new" software that they pushed out a couple days ago. Still have the same version of the monitor itself. And yes, it sucks that you need to download a separate app for it, should be integrated with the App Store as the Thunderbolt Display did - Apple is still selling it as the only external monitor in their shops.

 

[ABCDEF-Hex]

It's not simply regurgitating other sites. LG has been in touch with all of the sites to provide information on the update.

They are having some issues with the latest firmware distribution and are looking into it. One of my UltraFine 5K displays saw the 3.04 version and updated fine, but the other one is still on 3.01 and showing as up to date. Not sure what the problem is.

Yes, the display firmware itself has been out for a while...I've been trying for weeks (months?) to try to get them to confirm what was changed beyond the obvious things like the volume curve tweak that helps quite a bit at the low end. Even since we've been in touch about the update to LG Screen Manager for High Sierra, it's been a couple weeks of back-and-forth trying to get the details.

I did notice this on the bottom of the monitor update window - "If multiple monitors are connected, you cannot check the monitor software version or update status. To check for new software versions or view update status information, please be sure only one monitor is connected."

That being said my single monitor still shows that it is 3.01 and is currently up to date?

 

[macs4nw]

Such a nice display. Real shame LG couldn't do a little better on the enclosure, but granted, that's purely subjective.

 

[Supacon]

It's not simply regurgitating other sites. LG has been in touch with all of the sites to provide information on the update.

They are having some issues with the latest firmware distribution and are looking into it. One of my UltraFine 5K displays saw the 3.04 version and updated fine, but the other one is still on 3.01 and showing as up to date. Not sure what the problem is.

Yes, the display firmware itself has been out for a while...I've been trying for weeks (months?) to try to get them to confirm what was changed beyond the obvious things like the volume curve tweak that helps quite a bit at the low end. Even since we've been in touch about the update to LG Screen Manager for High Sierra, it's been a couple weeks of back-and-forth trying to get the details.

I was pretty happy to see this article. This is pretty relevant to Apple as this is a product designed specifically for Apple computers and, as I own it, I was pretty glad to see that there has been an update. If not for this, I probably never would have installed that software and have run with the old firmware for years.

 

[driveman]

Downloaded the software from the linked source, installed it, but no option in the software to adjust volume, or anything useful. Instead got a new ugly yellow icon. Basically you can arrange windows in the LG software

Same here. Was anyone able to do a firmware update?

 

[joelisfar]

This is now the fourth Mac "news" website that has posted this story, almost word for word from a sponsored post on 9to5Mac.com by LG. There is no firmware update for the display (the last update came out a couple months ago), and the last update to the Screen Manager software itself came out on September 22nd. All of this is easily findable info if anyone at these websites spent more than two seconds regurgitating what they saw somewhere else.

Do better, MacRumors.

I have the 5K but didn’t even realize this app existed. Thanks for the heads up, MR!

 

[rick987611]

5k here. On 3.01 and no update. Be great to get that volume thing sorted out.

 

[alexanderjulo]

My monitor is showing (3.06,3.4,5226,2.14,0.28) whatever the hell is that and shows it's up to date, too. I have the 4k here.

Obviously it's also completely impossible to find the firmware update as a download so that I can't use the "update monitor by using a file" functionality.

 

[Xteec]

Still not working. Showing version of the monitors firmware as 3.01,1.11,5234,3.00,0.1d and the text "The Software is currently up to date". LG Screen Manager's "new version" is still not working to update the monitor. Screen Manager version 2.08 here.

I can confirm I'm in the same situation.
[doublepost=1507118755][/doublepost]

It's not simply regurgitating other sites. LG has been in touch with all of the sites to provide information on the update.

They are having some issues with the latest firmware distribution and are looking into it. One of my UltraFine 5K displays saw the 3.04 version and updated fine, but the other one is still on 3.01 and showing as up to date. Not sure what the problem is.

Yes, the display firmware itself has been out for a while...I've been trying for weeks (months?) to try to get them to confirm what was changed beyond the obvious things like the volume curve tweak that helps quite a bit at the low end. Even since we've been in touch about the update to LG Screen Manager for High Sierra, it's been a couple weeks of back-and-forth trying to get the details.

I found this post helpful.

It never even occurred to me LG would issue a firmware update for their stupid volume curve cr@p!

 

[barrettj]

Another person here with a monitor that won't actually update the firmware - which is the only reason anyone would ever actually install this software.

I also have to replug in all usb devices to the monitor after connecting my computer for the past three weeks or so (with no change in configuration that could account for that).

 

[redheeler]

Apple just needs to release a Cinema Display with an LG panel instead of relying on LG for everything, including software support and requiring users to download third-party software. I don't understand why releasing an Apple-branded display is such a hard thing to do.

 

[e-coli]

Went to the Apple Store today to look at these. I was shocked to find out neither the 13” or 15” MacBook Pro will drive these displays at their native resolution. Additionally the 5K display was hooked up to a trashcan Mac Pro which also could not drive the 5K display at its native resolution.

I discussed this with multiple Apple Store employees and geniuses. All confirmed the machines would not drive the displays. I’m left wondering what makes Apple’s products compelling at all. They seem to be just thin, well-painted toys.