O'Grady's PowerPage

Tag: August

  • Apple has yet to respond to 18,000+ signature regarding 2011 MacBook Pro GPU issues

    If you have a 2011 MacBook Pro that’s been suffering from GPU failures and glitches, odds are Apple won’t be doing anything about it in the near future, in spite of an impressive petition campaign to see the issue addressed.

    Per 9to5Mac, an online petition calling for Apple to fix or replace affected machines has reached more than 18,000 signatures.

    The petition reads as follows:

    To:
    Timothy D. Cook, Apple Inc
    Craig Federighi (Apple Inc) (Apple Inc), Apple Inc

    Replace or Fix All 2011 Macbook Pro with Graphics Failure

    The petition notes the premium spent to buy Apple laptops, and says that Apple’s only response to date has been to ask owners to pay for an extremely expensive logic board replacement …

    Owners of machines suffering from the problem have also been tweeting with the hashtag #MBP2011, and there are a number of websites devoted to the issue. Owners are reporting Apple repair costs of between US$300 and US$700, with diagnoses often pointing to failure of either the soldering or thermal paste on the AMD Radeon HD 6750M.

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  • Apple launches iPhone 5 battery replacement program for units experiencing poor battery life

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    This could come in handy.

    Per Macworld, Apple is offering a second replacement program for iPhone 5 users after offering to replace the sleep/wake button on some models in April. Apple has stated that a “very small percentage of iPhone 5 devices” may be experiencing poor battery life, requiring users to charge the device more frequently.

    Affected devices were sold between September 2012 and January 2013 and are within a specific serial number range, Apple says. You can check your serial number on Apple’s site to see if your phone qualifies for a free battery replacement.

    If you have an affected device you’ll have the choice to replace your battery free of charge at the Apple Store, an Apple authorized service provider, or you can send it off to Apple Technical Support.

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  • Detailed report highlights possible iPhone 6 spec list

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    A new report may point towards a final spec list for the iPhone 6 handset.

    Per MacRumors and VentureBeat, a detailed overview of features for the iPhone 6 has emerged from an unspecified source.

    According to the site’s source, Apple will introduce both the 4.7 and 5.5-inch iPhones at its upcoming September 9 event, but while the 4.7-inch version will ship in mid-September, the larger 5.5-inch iPhone won’t ship until up to a month later. This is in line with rumors suggesting the 5.5-inch iPhone isn’t entering mass production until August or September, a month to two months after production is said to have began on the 4.7-inch iPhone.

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  • Rumor: 12-inch Retina display MacBook Air could be delayed until 2015

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    You may have to wait a little longer for the 12-inch Retina display MacBook Air.

    Per AppleInsider and Taiwan’s Economic Daily News, current rumors have it that Apple’s 12-inch Retina display MacBook Air could be delayed until 2015 given processor supply constraints, while the release of the next-generation 11-inch and 13-inch models will be on time as partner suppliers in East Asia are receiving parts for mass production.

    The current stories claim a rumored 12-inch MacBook Air may see its release date pushed back to late 2014 or early 2015, while parts for Apple’s refreshed 11- and 13-inch MacBook Air models are now being shipped to partner supplier Quanta ahead of production next month.

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  • Apple TV out of stock on online store, next-gen units possible in near term

    When the stock runs out, the new stuff is on its way.

    Or that’s what one tends to hope.

    Per AppleInsider, Apple has either run out of stock or suspended sales of refurbished Apple TVs through its online store, possibly hinting that a new version of the device is in the offing.

    As noted by reader Brian, the Online Apple Store’s refurbished product webpage no longer shows the Apple TV as available for sale. Apple recently cut the price of the refurbished device to US$75 in early August, down from US$85 as seen in the above image.

    While it is possible that Apple has simply run out or suspended sales of refurbished units, the timing of the stockout jibes with recent rumors of a possible product refresh. A report on Tuesday noted Apple took receipt of three fairly large shipments from Chinese partner manufacturer BYD Precision in August, the contents of each described as “Set Top Boxes.” The information was discovered in bills of lading from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

    Until the past few days, there have been little to no rumors regarding a new Apple TV, as most media attention has been focused on an anticipated iPhone lineup refresh. However, Apple has been actively updating the existing set-top streamer’s content, adding channels like Vevo, Disney, Weather and Smithsonian in late August, while a beta of the next Apple TV software released in July was found to have reinstated iTunes purchasing.

    Apple last refreshed its Apple TV in March 2012, adding 1080p output to the unit while retaining the prior model’s design.

    The Cupertino, Calif., company has scheduled a media event for Sept. 10 which is expected to see the unveiling of new iPhone models. Although mere speculation, it is possible that Apple may be planning to announce a new Apple TV product alongside the handsets.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.