News for Thursday, 21 June 2007

Following our previous news about the yellowish rendering of the LED-backlighted-LCD panel found in the new MacBook Pro, we have received numerous reports which allow us to better understand the problem.
In summary, most MacBook Pro owners noticed a slight yellowish rendering, called warm color by professional users without being annoying or a true issue.
However, a group of users have reported a strong yellowish rendering which can be eliminated by calibrating the panel. The photograph Nikita Erphene is one of them and sent us additional information:

Yesterday, I tried to calibrate (again) my display with the EyeOne probe. I tried all options and features available, even playing with color temperature, gamma value and brightness. I could not get a proper white rendering, depending on the calibration I obtained a bluish, greenish or dirty pinkish rendering. By using the "simple" mode I could get true black and white rendering, but then browsing through pages of a document, the text in black was greenish...
The last monitor profile by EyeOne Pro is 19-06-07_3.icc, the one provided by Monaco is Monaco22-natif.icc (leading to a rather pinkish rendering, but maybe the best for everyday usage).
Last but not least, when discussing with Apple Support about the problem, they confirm that LED-backlighted LCD panels have a yellowish rendering. So far no solution... I would have tried to exchange my MacBook Pro for a new one, but there was no more in stock

Both monitor profiles are available here:
Profils_calibres.zip
It seems that some panels were not as good as most of them. A fresh report, which could not be validated by a second source, seems to confirm a problem with some LED-LCD panels:

When talking to a Tech support from Apple, he told me that the increased shipping time for the MacBook Pro is directly linked to a problem with LED-backlighted panels needing to be replaced... so one could expect the strong yellowish rendering is now history, but a light yellowish rendering will remain as it is part of the technology (delivering warmer color than the standard LCD).

Shipping time for the 15" MacBook Pro moved from 3-5 days to 7 days.
To conclude if some owners of the freshly introduced LED-backlighted LCD MacBook Pro 15" have experienced a strong yellowish rendering, this was limited to a small number, and should find a solution in the coming days/weeks. But before purchasing this model, you should have a look at it, to evaluate if you like this new LCD panel and its warmer color rendering.

Following the lack of PowerBook top case part, Apple seems to have problem to deliver 500GB HD to the certified Apple Centers to replace the faulty ones found in iMac 24".
One of our team members has his iMac stacked in a French Apple Center for more than a month simply because Apple can not deliver a 500GB HD... And still no date for a potential replacement...
In addition, when discussing with other Apple Center, this is not an exception, as a single Apple Center could report more than 20 iMac 24" waiting for a replacement 500GB HD. Apple might be facing a reliability issue for a batch of 500GB HD; and Cupertino is probably testing a new batch and securing enough units to be distributed worldwide to Apple Centers.
If you are one of those unlucky iMac 24" owners, we would like to hear from you (post your comment in the forum: here). In addition, do not forget that when your computer is away for repair the warranty is paused. Do not forget to keep the forms or documents stating the period when your iMac was away for repair. As usual with apple it might go well, or you might have to fight to have them following the local regulations.
To conclude on a more optimistic tone, hereafter is part of an email exchange between two of our team members:

A: "Goo luck B. My experience with Apple Support or Apple Care: it is either heaven or hell. You are currently experiencing hell..."
B: "Indeed, but at least with Apple when you call them to reach Hell, they ask you to hold on till they transfer you to the right person..."

Sad but true, it is either a real perfect service dedicated to consumer satisfaction, or a true and long fight with numerous representatives who try to drop or pass away the problem.

During the European night, Apple released Mac OS X 10.4.10

The 10.4.10 Update is recommended for PowerPC and Intel-based Mac computers currently running Mac OS X Tiger. This update includes general operating system fixes, as well as specific fixes or compatibility updates for the following applications and technologies:
- RAW camera support
- Mounting and unmounting external USB devices
- Support for 3rd party software applications
- Security updates
Mac OS X 10.4.10 Update (Intel) SHA-1 Digest:
MacOSXUpd10.4.10Intel.dmg=
0d3abab73af3370699bbe5389513511a1ba8b8fd
For explanation of what a SHA-1 digest is, please visit this website: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n75510.
For detailed information on this update, please visit this website: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n305533.
For detailed information on security updates, please visit this website: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n61798

This update is available from the software update panel or from Apple Support.
Direct link to the different versions:
10.4.10 Intel
10.4.10 Intel Combo
10.4.10 PPC
10.4.10 PPC Combo