Katie MarsalSome MacBook Pro users applying Apple's most recent firmware are finding themselves with blank LCD screens. Also, the Mac maker is readying its first Maine retail store; Vodafone may carry the iPhone for India; and AT&T may be planning for a new emphasis on the iPhone in June.
Early adopters of Apple's latest MacBook Pro EFI update are finding themselves without a usable screen, according to a growing discussion in the company's support forums.
Some users applying the update, particularly those with an external display attached, find that their computer screen refuses to display an image even if the system itself is completely responsive.
"From as best I can tell, the MBP is booting up with no problem, I just have a black screen," says one report. "I let the computer start up, and run for several minutes. I then sent the keyboard command to log off, and I could hear the computer activity increase."
Most common solutions fail to resolve the problem, including resetting the PRAM. A small number have successfully recovered by finding workarounds to restore firmware and deleting display sleep preferences, though some also report trying the same without success.
Apple hasn't commented on the matter, which so far has affected mostly mid-2007 MacBook Pro systems.
Apple hiring for Maine retail stores
Covering one of the few vacancies left in its retail strategy, Apple is hiring for its first retail store in Maine, Portland's Press Herald reports.
Position listings both at Apple's official jobs site as well as at Monster.com ask for employees to staff a location at Maine Mall in the south end of the city.
Previously, the closest official store to most state residents has been a Salem, New Hampshire outlet.
iPhone for India rumored for September
Indian retail connections to Apple allege that the firm will bring a version of the iPhone to the south Asian country in the first week of September.
These purported sources also claim that international provider Vodafone will be India's sole distributor for the handset and that the price will vary between 27,200 and 28,000 Rupees ($680-700) for an 8GB model. A 16GB version is also due but may be delayed to as late as mid-2009 to accommodate demand.
Apple has declined comment on the very specific rumors, which may depend on Apple India working to introduce a more official presence in the country. The US-based company is teaming with local retailer Reliance Digital to open semi-official stores known as iStores; while one already exists in Hyderabad, a second in Bangalore is also expected and will be followed by a third in Chennai.
AT&T asked to prep for iPhone's second wave?
In what seems a repeat of its approach last year, AT&T appears to be asking its retail stores to emphasize the iPhone in June, AppleInsider has heard.
People familiar with the matter indicate that there are substantial plans to rearrange store layouts to better highlight Apple's device, including more attention given to the iPhone demonstration area and cardboard stands at the front of the locations.
The changes should ideally be completed by mid-to-late June, according to sources. Apple is scheduled to open its Worldwide Developer Conference in mid-June and has confirmed that it expects to launch its version 2.0 iPhone firmware the same month.
There is no word as to whether AT&T is taking extra steps to accommodate any new launches, and thus far has not called for temps to serve as crowd control as it did during last June's iPhone launch.
Christine McKee
AppleInsider Staff
Malcolm Owen
Andrew Orr
Andrew O'Hara
William Gallagher
30 Comments
It seems to me that Apple has grown larger and faster than it is prepared to support. Every time I perform a software update some new, debilitating problem arises with .mac or wireless connectivity or computer responsiveness. there is clearly insufficient testing occurring before these updates are released. I try to be a responsible consumer and operator. I have owned or still own 7 macs over the last 5 years and my partner has two others and we both are plagued by different issues and have been ever since upgrading to Leopard and religiously installing updates.
iPhone for India rumored for September
Indian retail connections to Apple allege that the firm will bring a version of the iPhone to the south Asian country in the first week of September.
These purported sources also claim that international provider Vodafone will be India's sole distributor for the handset and that the price will vary between 27,200 and 28,000 Rupees ($680-700) for an 8GB model. A 16GB version is also due but may be delayed to as late as mid-2009 to accommodate demand.
Apple has declined comment on the very specific rumors, which may depend on Apple India working to introduce a more official presence in the country. The US-based country is teaming with local retailer Reliance Digital to open semi-official stores known as iStores; while one already exists in Hyderabad, a second in Bangalore is also expected and will be followed by a third in Chennai.
apple products have always been too expensive in India. every authorized reseller or service provider i've spoken to (in India) claims a Government imposed import duty of 40% on Apple products!!
I wonder why the other hardware/software companies (read: those selling / servicing) windows do not ever mention about this 40% tax!
i mean, how blatantly, selfish & shameless can apple be? it appears that they're just dumping all the left-over 8GB phones from the American / European markets in India - that too for almost double the price! WTF!
grey market iPhones are already, all over the country... needless to say, even the "official" iPhone is gonna be lapped up by customers!
it's a shame though about the prices they are claiming to charge for a soon-to-be-phased-out" model.
Small typo "The US-based country" should be The US-based company
it appears that they're just dumping all the left-over 8GB phones from the American / European markets in India - that too for almost double the price! WTF!
It seems a little early for this accusation. We don't know what model phone they are talking about, do we? Does India lack the 3G infrastructure that would support the expected 3G iPhone?
I agree that selling the surplus iPhones at high prices would be galling (though it would make awesome business sense if people would buy it like you say) but I think it is not likely to be the case.
Apple hiring for Maine retail stores
Covering one of the few vacancies left in its retail strategy, Apple is hiring for its first retail store in Maine, Portland's Press Herald reports.
Position listings both at Apple's official jobs site as well as at Monster.com ask for employees to staff a location at Maine Mall in the south end of the city.
Previously, the closest official store to most state residents has been a Salem, New Hampshire outlet.
WOW ? Finally!
Maine at one time, (for what it's worth) - had a highest rate of Mac users to population in the country.
Maine was (I believe) the first state to purchase powerbooks for school students, and still does.
Maine DOES have a very large Mac base, and this will be a lot of fun.
As former President of Maine's (once) largest Users Group, I and many others will welcome them with open arms.
Heck we use to put on a Computer Expo, after MacExpo here in Maine, that was very well attended by those who couldn't get to MacExpo (NCEE)
Now "Largest Users Group, Largest base of users to population - I know is a bit deceiving seeing how small Maine is in general, but it will still be nice to have a Mac store closer then NH, or NY (Which is where I go a lot on Business).
I never made it to any of the stores in MA.Skip