MacBook Pro Intermittent Black Screen or Loss of Video

10/13/11 By 16 Comments
MacBook Pro

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010): Intermittent black screen or loss of video

Apple has determined that a small number of MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010) computers may intermittently stop displaying video on the built-in display or on an external display connected to the MacBook Pro. In this situation, you may also see a restart warning message before the video is lost or the display turns black or gray. Affected computers were manufactured between April 2010 and February 2011.

Via Apple Support

Update: This issue has been addressed with the release of MacBook Pro Video Update 1.0 — but it’s only good if you’re running Lion (10.7.2+). If you choose to remain on Snow Leopard, you should make a Genius Bar appointment at your favorite Apple store to have the problem addressed. Chances are you’ll get a new motherboard out of it. See the support article for more information.

It seems the MacBook Pro/Lion Black Screen of Death™ has not been solved yet has been addressed. The good thing is Apple acknowledges it really is a problem.

I updated my Lion partition to 10.7.2 yesterday, and it seemed more stable than it was before – though I didn’t get much of a chance to really push the system. I was planning to update my production system this evening, but I think I might hold off a little longer until there’s more info from Apple in the article.

Has this bug caused you grief? How have you dealt with it?

Filed Under: Apple Tagged With: , ,

Some Mac App Store apps already hit by easy piracy trick

1/7/11 By

Indeed, it is a pretty straightforward—if not evil—hack. However, as noted by Daring Fireball, the trick doesn’t work for all paid apps from the store. Developers who followed Apple’s instructions for validating App Store receipts should be unaffected; it’s only those who don’t check at all, or don’t do the right kind of check, that are finding themselves being taken advantage of.

Via Infinite Loop.

My question here is, if there’s an Apple recommended method for validating App Store receipts, why wouldn’t this be qualified during the App Store approval process, with paid apps that aren’t up to the standard being rejected? It seems obvious to me that Apple would be concerned with this since they’re losing out on their cut of the profits.

For the record, I have no plans to put anything I develop on the App Store — period. If the day ever comes where that’s the only option I have for distributing my software, then my days of Mac hobby development are likely over.

Filed Under: Apple, Software Tagged With: , ,

MacBook Pro NVIDIA Recall Extended

7/3/10 By

MacBook Pro: Distorted video or no video issues

In July 2008, NVIDIA publicly acknowledged a higher than normal failure rate for some of their graphics processors due to a packaging defect. At that same time, NVIDIA assured Apple that Mac computers with these graphics processors were not affected. However, after an Apple-led investigation, Apple has determined that some MacBook Pro computers with the NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics processor may be affected.

If the NVIDIA graphics processor in your MacBook Pro has failed, or fails within four years of the original date of purchase, a repair will be done free of charge, even if your MacBook Pro is out of warranty.

Via Apple Support

Since I have been affected by this issue, I thought I’d throw up a quick post for anyone else who may get bit by it. Apple has extended the NVIDIA 8600M GT graphics processor recall on MacBook Pros manufactured around 2007/2008 to four years from date of purchase.

Update: My son’s machine was in fact covered under the recall, and the local Apple Genius Bar was able to diagnose and replace the motherboard in the unit in a day, no questions asked. One thing to note, your video has to have failed before they will fix it though. If your MacBook Pro from that time period is still running okay, you’ll have to wait for it to fail before you’re covered.

Filed Under: Apple, Featured, Linked List Tagged With: , ,

Report: Verizon iPhone finally coming; will you switch?

3/29/10 By

Apple is reportedly developing yet another version of the iPhone for launch this summer, according to “people briefed on the matter” speaking to the Wall Street Journal. On top of this news, the company is also preparing a CDMA version of the new device that will work with Verizon Wireless.

(Via Ars Technica.)

The iPhone on Verizon has been speculative fodder for a long time now. While it seems like it could be plausible, I’m going to say not yet — but it will happen eventually.

AT&T service blows from what I continually read (I’m a satisfied Verizon customer), so I’m sure Apple wants to do something about that. For as much as AT&T service stinks, the next best GSM alternative is T-Mobile, which, as far as I can tell, doesn’t have anywhere near the infrastructure to handle the data needs of most iPhone users. So I say that a Verizon deal will eventually happen — but not this summer. It will only happen when Verizon rolls out more than two 4G cities, which means it might be closer to the end of 2010 (maybe in time for the holidays), or summer 2011.

Additionally, I really, really, really doubt Apple is making a CDMA based iPhone just for Verizon to sell for a year or two while 4G coverage rolls out. So on this point, I call total bull on the “people briefed on the matter” mentioned above. Apple doesn’t brief anyone on anything. We all know that. And if Verizon briefed anyone they may find themselves in hot water.

Admittedly, I’m far from well versed in wireless technology, and could be talking out of my left elbow. If you know more than me on the topic, please set me straight. At any rate, should the iPhone come to Verizon eventually, I might consider dumping my Blackberry in favor it. That is a big maybe, though. I still prefer the BB hardware keyboard over the software version on my iTouch hands down…

Filed Under: Apple, Linked List Tagged With: ,

Yasu 2.6.7 Released

3/24/10 By

I’m pleased to announce that Yasu version 2.6.7 has been released for public consumption. This update adds the following:

  • Added browser cache, history and cookie removal routines for Google Chrome.
  • Addressed a rare issue that caused the “Reset home permissions” option to fail on some systems.
  • Rebranding the software back to the “jimmitchell.org” name.

As always, it’s a recommended update for all users. Click on over to the Yasu page and download now if you haven’t already.

Speaking of releases, do you realize it was nine years ago today that the first version of OS X was released to the general public? Man, how time flies…

Filed Under: Apple, Yasu Tagged With: ,
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