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Filed under: Bugs/Recalls

Filed under: Bugs/Recalls, Software Update

Time Capsule disk corruption issues? Base station firmware may fix it

by Victor Agreda, Jr. (RSS feed) on Mar 20th, 2009

If you've been having issues with corrupted Time Machine images either inside the Time Capsule or connected externally to your base station, the 7.4.1 firmware update (for all base stations from 2007 to today) plus the 10.5.6 update might help, according to TidBITS.

Apple says this update will fix problems that lead up to corruption issues, but TidBITS recommends you essentially start fresh just to make sure -- after using the Archive feature in Disk Utility to copy your previous Time Machine disk to an external drive. Don't have enough drives to do the data shuffle? You can always take your chances that you either don't have a corrupt Time Machine backup (which is pretty likely, honestly) or do a little soul/data-searching for anything you might want to preserve for posterity.

I don't use Time Machine as a sort of universal undo, but I understand some might. In either case: update your system and firmware as recommended by the manufacturer.

Tags: backup, disk, disk utility, DiskUtility, firmware, time capsule, time machine, TimeCapsule, TimeMachine, update

Filed under: Hardware, Peripherals, Bugs/Recalls, iMac, PowerMac G5, Bad Apple, Mac Pro

Seagate continues to communicate bad news

by Mel Martin (RSS feed) on Feb 5th, 2009

There has been plenty of confusion over the continuing saga of Seagate hard drives with firmware problems that can lead to eventual failure and data loss. We've followed the story here and here.

It hasn't been pretty for either Intel or non-Intel Macs. It would have been nice for Seagate to provide a Mac OS X-native firmware updater for older machines. There must be an awful lot of hard drives out there just waiting to fail. Many people who don't follow tech news don't even know what pain might strike them.

Mac users who had written Seagate about their problems did not get much information, but now there are some more details sent in an email to customers about the bad news for non-Intel based Mac owners. Full email reproduced below:
If you are trying to update your drive firmware with a MAC, you must have an INTEL MAC to allow you to perform this action. If you do not have an INTEL MAC, you will then need to take the drive to a PC, or a MAC with an Intel Processor. If you do not have either, you may need to warranty the drive with Seagate, and the return drive should have the updated firmware upon receipt.

If you have an INTEL MAC, you would simply need to burn the ISO file to CD using the burning utility that you have installed on your system. Once you have the CD created, you will then need to reboot the system with the newly created CD in the CD ROM bay while holding the "C" key on the keyboard to tell the system to boot to the CD rather than the internal hard drive. Once you have booted to the CD, simply follow the onscreen prompts to complete the firmware update. Older Macs that are PowerPC (PowerMac G3,G4,G5, iMac G3,G4,G5) based can not bootup to the FreeDOS. FreeDOS is the operating system that is booted to when booting to the firmware update CD. Please keep in mind that you should always backup the data on the drive before doing the update in case there is data loss. In most cases, the data on the drive should remain in tack and unaltered; however, things happen, and its always better to be prepared in case we come across any obstacles with the integrity of the data on the drive.
Instructions for updating firmware on a Intel based Mac.
1. Download and burn the Firmware ISO that has been provided to you by Seagate for your drive/s
2. Burn the ISO to a CD (how to: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.5/en/8729.html)
3. Insert the freshly burn CD back in to your Mac.
4. Reboot
5. After the Chime press and hold the Option key on the keyboard.
6. Once you see the Apple with the spinning gear beneath, release the Option Key.
7. At this point the system will come to a screen with pictures of hard drives and a CD, the CD should be named Seagate.
8. Click on the CD
9. Click on the arrow pointing to the right.
10. At this point FreeDOS will boot and the on screen instructions should be followed.
Once again, I want to thank you for your business.. If you still need further assistance, or the information provided was not of good use, please feel free to contact Seagate Technical Support at 800-SEAGATE ( 800-732-4283).

Translation: You are well and truly hosed if you don't have access to a Mac Pro or a Windows PC that can update the firmware. People who have returned their drives to Seagate got a refurbished drive, even if a brand new one was sent in for exchange. Worse, there are some scattered reports that the replacement drive still had the bad firmware! Way to go, Seagate: if your Mac-owning user base didn't feel completely screwed over before this, we all probably feel that way now.

Tags: firmware, hard drives, Seagate

Filed under: Hardware, Bugs/Recalls, Blast From the Past

Date/time bugs throughout the years for Apple

by Megan Lavey (RSS feed) on Dec 31st, 2008

As 30GB Zune owners deal with the sudden bricking of their systems after midnight this morning, hopefully they can take comfort in the fact they are not alone in this. Throughout the years, Apple products had their share of time & date problems.

In February 2000, Newton owners began reporting that they were having issues with the Newton being rather confused about what century it was in. Some users discovered that when they entered two-digit numbers as part of birthdays and other common abbreviated dates, things got wonky. For example, if I entered my birth date as 2-28-80 on the Newton, it interpreted the number as being February 28, 2080 rather than 1980. Entries of full dates in the 1900s were also affected. Other users stated that when they tried finding 20th century dates in the Find applet of the Newton, the system actually performed the search using 21st-century dates.

Fixes included resetting the system clock back to 1999 to enter those dates before resetting it again back to 2000 and applying software patches. Sadly, it's a bug that HAL-9000 forgot to mention. Apple even reported back in 1998 that the Newton was Y2K-compliant. Of course, this won't even begin to cover the problems that Newton owners still using the product will have in 2010. If you see our own Newton-sporting Steve Sande at Macworld, be sure to tease him about it.

A Tiger bug discovered in 2005 revealed that Safari's RSS reader would list some items as being an hour ahead of when they were actually posted -- news from the future is not catastrophic, but certainly could be confusing.

Our research this morning hasn't turned up any date-related iPod or iPhone hiccups, but if you know of any examples please let us know in the comments. As for the Zune bricks, there's been no word yet from Microsoft regarding the failures, but Engadget's readers have already come up with a number of theories including blaming it on Steve Jobs, the year 2008 being one-second longer, and other conspiracy theories that are sure to come throughout the day.

Tags: brick, bricked, bugs, date, newton, time, zune

Filed under: Bugs/Recalls, iPhone

iPhone bug a potential threat?

by Dave Caolo (RSS feed) on Nov 12th, 2008

There's a lot of "could" and "might" in this story, folks, so keep that in mind. MacNN is reporting that a group of iPhone developers has identified a bug in the current iPhone firmware that could lead to an exploit of the Default.png file.

Default.png is what's displayed when an application is launched in the iPhone. Typically it's a static image, but some of Apple's applications use a dynamic file, which could be fooled into granting access to third party code.

This sounds like conjecture to us, and MacNN's sources are not known, so keep that in mind. Plus, iPhone firmware 2.2 is rumored to be released on the 21st. Perhaps it will lock this down.

Tags: bugs, exploit, iphone, rumors

Filed under: Software, Bugs/Recalls

Microsoft releases Office 2008 update to fix Entourage issue

by Michael Rose (RSS feed) on Oct 30th, 2008

How long is two weeks? If you're vacationing someplace warm and sunny, it might seem to pass in a flash; if you're in bed with the flu, it probably seems like a lifetime. For Office 2008 users who got bit by a bug in the recent 12.1.3 update, chances are the latter assessment is more on target. Those who ran the 12.1.3 update and met a particular set of criteria (Entourage users connected to Exchange + a secondary POP or IMAP account for personal email) found themselves unable to send calendar invitations or reply to meeting requests. The most straightforward fix was a rollback to the 12.1.2 version; otherwise, using a webmail client or Outlook was the best way to manage calendars. Not fun.

Two weeks, though, is what it took for the Mac Business Unit to get a tested patch out the door that resolves this problem. Today, Product Manager Andy Ruff announced on the Mactopia support forum that Office 2008 12.1.4 is now available for download (16 MB, requires 12.1.3 installed), billed as follows:

This update fixes a calendar issue in versions of Microsoft Entourage that were updated with the Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac 12.1.3 Update. The issue prevents Exchange accounts in Entourage from sending meeting invitations and responses. This issue can occur when an Entourage identity is configured with more than one mail account. We strongly recommend that all Entourage users who installed Office 2008 for Mac 12.1.3 Update install this update.

While this particular fortnight may have been difficult for Entourage users, I will say that this is definitely the fastest response to an Office bug that I have ever seen from the Mac BU; in terms of the development cycle on a suite as large as Office 2008, it's an eyeblink. Kudos to the MBU for its quick action; now, the next prudent PR step is a little bit of transparency about why this bug -- which should have been fairly obvious to anyone who tested with both Exchange and POP accounts configured in the same identity -- managed to make it through to the release.

Update: Wow, talk about your rapid response... Andy has posted an explanation of the issue and the testing circumstances at the Mac Mojo blog. The missing piece of the puzzle, apparently, was account creation order: if the Exchange account was added to Entourage after the POP or IMAP setup, the problem got triggered -- a condition that never made it onto the testing radar. Points for transparency: awarded.

Tags: breakingnews, bug fix, BugFix, entourage, microsoft, office, update

Filed under: Peripherals, Software, Bugs/Recalls

Sprint SmartView for Macs incompatible with broadband cards

by Steven Sande (RSS feed) on Oct 10th, 2008

TUAW reader John T. alerted us to an issue with Sprint's SmartView application, version 1.85.0007.0. SmartView for Mac is a recently released (August 28, 2008) application which is used with Sprint's Mobile Broadband cards and USB modems.

The issue, which occurs with the ExpressCard cards used with MacBook Pro notebooks running Leopard, causes the card to stop working. To get the card working again, it's necessary to reinstall an older version of the SprintView software or previous software such as Sierra Wireless Watcher.

This problem does not occur when using the Sprint Mobile Broadband USB connectors such as the Sierra Wireless 595U, Sierra Wireless Compass 597, or Ovation U727. John noted that Sprint's tech support team is aware of the issue, but that the faulty software is still available on the download page.

Update: Some commenters have taken offense to the use of the word "brick" in the post title [since changed -Ed.]. Note that SmartView, when run under Mac OS X 10.5, does not permanently damage the Sprint cards. Reverting to a previous version of the software resolves the issue.

Thanks for the tip, John!

Tags: breakingnews, mac

Filed under: Bugs/Recalls, iPhone

Apple ships replacement USB power adapters

by Cory Bohon (RSS feed) on Oct 6th, 2008

It has been a couple weeks since Apple started the recall process for USB iPhone power adapters. According to Apple, these adapters have the risk of their metal prongs breaking off inside the power outlet, creating a shock risk.

Many TUAW readers have noted that their replacement power adapters have been received. In addition, Mac|Life has posted some pictures of their replacement, noting that they're shipped in a huge box. They also have a side-by-side comparison of the defective adapter and the replacement -- the only difference being a green dot on the new one.

You can order a replacement on Apple's website, or visit an Apple store starting on Oct. 10. If you exchange your adapter at an Apple retail store, you will need to have your iPhone 3G and your affected adapter.


Thanks, Sean!

Tags: adapter, iPhone, power, recall, USB

Filed under: iPod Family, Bugs/Recalls, iPhone

Apple's tasty calculator mistake

by Cory Bohon (RSS feed) on Aug 26th, 2008


In a recent tip, TUAW reader Dr. Drang told us about a bug he found on the iPhone/iPod touch's calculator. According to his research, when you type π × 2 + 5 = into the calculator you get 11.283... (the correct answer). However, when you reverse the Pi and 2, entering 2 × π + 5, the answer given is 7.

This error can be demonstrated by entering Pi (3.141592654) manually, instead of using the Pi button -- you will get the correct answer each time. Therefore, this error only shows up when you use the Pi button.

So, be sure to read up on this bug from the tipsters website before you use the calculator for anything too important.

Update: Reader Vineet writes in the comments to note that he believes this behavior is typical of stack-based calculators and should be considered more of an operator-expectations issue than a true bug. Dr. Drang responds (with a little bit of attitude) to disagree, maintaining that the behavior is a legitimate bug.

Thanks for the tip, Dr. Drang!

Tags: bug, calculator, iPhone, iPod, pi

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Desktops, OS, Education, Bugs/Recalls, Apple, Leopard

NYC Dept. of Education suspends Mac orders pending wireless issue fix

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on Apr 18th, 2008

Apple Insider is reporting that the New York City Department of Education has put all shipments of Macs to schools on complete hold while they're apparently waiting for Apple to fix a Wifi connectivity issue with OS X (which should be fixed with the 10.5.3 update). And Apple is apparently scrambling to get it worked out -- they've sent an apologetic email to faculty and have asked schools to try and separate any orders of computers that won't need wireless (that will use a regular ethernet hookup) to ship now.

Unfortunately, there's no hint of exactly how many Macs we're talking about here, but if this is a substantial number of computers, and word gets out causing other organizations to delay shipments as well, Apple will feel more and more pressure to get the problem fixed ASAP. Bad news for the kids who want Macs in New York City (that's the DoE's seal on the right, in case you didn't recognize it), but good news for anyone else having this problem -- Apple's working hard on a fix.

Thanks, Rich!

Tags: 10-5-2, 10-5-3, apple, apple-insider, bugfixes, department-of-education, doe, issue, kids, macs, schools, wireless

Filed under: iPod Family, Cult of Mac, Bugs/Recalls, iPhone

Found Footage: iPhone Stopwatch 1,000 hour "memory loss"?

by Cory Bohon (RSS feed) on Mar 3rd, 2008


In this trivial video, someone shows what happens to the iPhone when the stopwatch has been running for over 1,000 hours. You may ask yourself, "Who runs their iPhone's stopwatch for over 41 days?" And we asked ourselves the same thing. But what happens is most definitely surprising -- and brings a whole new meaning to geek.

[via Daring Fireball]

Tags: iPhone, iPod touch, IpodTouch, stopwatch

Filed under: Software, Bugs/Recalls, Leopard

10.5.2 breaks Linotype FontExplorer X, or vice versa

by Brett Terpstra (RSS feed) on Feb 12th, 2008

Users of Linotype FontExplorer X may want to hold off on the 10.5.2 update ... if it's not already too late. It seems to start up fine, but once you do, clicking a stack will cause the Dock to hang; that's just one symptom, there are problems reported with several applications crashing while FontExplorer X is running.

Suspicions are circulating that a change in font handling may be the culprit, but FontExplorer X is the common thread in most complaints. There are discussions going on at creativebits, Apple.com and at the FontExplorer X discussion board. If you're a Leopard user and a heavy user of FontExplorer, you'll probably want to watch those discussions to see the solution when it surfaces.

Thanks Ivan!

Update: Seems like the problem is solved, version up. And let's have a round of applause for responsive developers while we're downloading.

Tags: 10.5.2, FontExplorer, Leopard, Linotype

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Bugs/Recalls, iTunes, Apple, iPhone

Apple: Nine ringtones is too much

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on Oct 9th, 2007

Now this is just getting silly. Apparently there is a bug with the iPhone where if you try to automatically sync more than eight ringtones up, only the first eight will sync. Nine, according to Apple, is too many ringtones to automatically sync up at one time. To get more than nine on, you've got to select the actual ringtones in iTunes, and set the iPhone to manually sync "selected ringtones."

We can't see how there's any feasible reason for that-- except that somehow, in Apple's contracts with AT&T or the record companies, it was specified that only eight ringtones can be synched at any one time. Loony. Either that, or this a just plain passive-aggressive swipe at the folks actually trying to get ringtones past Apple on the iPhone.

At any rate, slow down on the ringtone syncing, there, buddy. Nine is way too many.

Tags: apple, bug, eight, itunes, nine, passive-aggressive, ringtones, sync

Filed under: Software, Bugs/Recalls

Keynote bug: Spontaneous reboots

by Dave Caolo (RSS feed) on Aug 30th, 2007

Despite Keynote's maturity, a significant bug remains. Several users are reporting that pressing the "Play" button after composing a project causes the machine to immediately reboot.

From what's been reported so far, it seems to be limited to laptops, specifically iBooks and MacBooks, with and without an external monitor attached. At this point, no fix has been found.

Have any of you experienced this problem? Can you lend a hand in the troubleshooting?

Thanks, tipster!

Tags: bugs, keynote

Filed under: Bugs/Recalls, Troubleshooting, iPhone

AppleHound rounds up iPhone bugs

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on Jul 24th, 2007

AppleHound has posted a list of all the (supposedly) reproducible bugs they could find in iPhone 1.0. There's 68 in total, and they range from various system hangs (the Phone app will hang if you start a sync while editing a contact photo) to many different UI/Usability bugs. Some of the usability bugs are a little iffy if you ask me-- many of them, like the "bug" where photo albums with less than 20 images don't display an actual number of images, seem to be "working as intended" (because why would you need an image count when you can easily see how many images are there?), and others have already been shot down according to the Apple HIG.

But on the other hand, I can't really fault AppleHound for being such sticklers. First of all, this is a cell phone that costs $600, and you should get what you pay for-- quibbling about interface quirks now means there's a much better chance of getting them fixed in a future firmware update. And second, this is Apple we're talking about. While other cell phone companies get complaints about call reception and service outages, these are complaints about tiny, half-a-second visual inconsistencies. Heck, I love my Razr, and the screen goes nuts without reason almost daily. There's nothing wrong with holding Apple to a higher standard, and maybe if Apple is kept on their toes with the iPhone, hopefully other cell phone companies will find themselves with their feet held to the fire as well.

Thanks, Leonard Nimrod!

Tags: applehound, buglist, bugs, crash, hang, iphone, iphone10, system, ui, usability, workingasintended

Filed under: Bugs/Recalls, Bad Apple, Developer, iPhone

Submit Your iPhone Bugs to Apple

by Dan Lurie (RSS feed) on Jun 30th, 2007


There are bound to be bugs in any first generation product, and unfortunately this has been especially true for new Apple devices. It's only been a day since the iPhone went on sale, but already we're hearing of some nagging issues. But fear not, for you the user have the power to change the iPhone world for the better. If you already have an ADC account, you're all ready to start submitting bugs to the iPhone team. Head on over to bugreport.apple.com and go crazy– just make sure you submit responsibly and stick to the official description format, because someone has to read through each bug you submit.

Tags: adc, bugreport, bugs, developer, firstgeneration, iphone

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