noise posts

Filed under: Software

smcFanControl 2.0 supports all Intel Macs

by Erica Sadun (RSS feed) on Feb 16th, 2007

Hendrik Holtmann's smcFanControl, a free (but donation-friendly) program released under the GNU public license, just got upgraded to version 2.0. The new version, which now works with all Intel Macs, controls your fan speed while monitoring your computer's internal temperature.

The new version sits in your menu bar (unlike version 1.0, which was a regular dock-based application) and introduces fan setting presets and the ability to detect whether you're running on A/C or battery power. This is a great way to keep your Mac cool while controlling the noise from your fan.

Thanks, Mark Fleser.

Tags: fans, intel, laptops, noise, noise reduction, NoiseReduction

Filed under: Software

Mac and Mobile: tips for Notebook Users

by Mat Lu (RSS feed) on Dec 19th, 2006

Samuel Cohen over at theappleblog has a nice post up on ten top apps for laptop-toting Mac users. Many of his selections are old favorites (Quicksilver), but there are a few here that are new to me. The CornerClick Preference Pane allows you to assign various actions to the corners of your screen. According to Sam, fKeys lets you "remap the enter key (not the return key. The enter key. It's the one that's in between the command key and the arrow keys on the right-hand side of your laptop keyboard) to an option key, just like on a full-size keyboard." Finally, Noise is a simple app for generating pink noise for when you want to tune out the Muzak at your local coffee house. Check out the original post for the rest, while I go play with CornerClick.

[Edit: Corrected CornerClick description; thanks Dan. I was probably thinking of the replacement trackpad driver SideTrack which does allow for assigning functions to corner clicks on the trackpad].

Tags: CornerClick, fKeys, Noise, notebook, utilities

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Macbook Pro, MacBook

TUAW Poll: Your MacBook/Pro experience

by Dave Caolo (RSS feed) on Jun 29th, 2006

Yesterday, we pointed out an article at Infinite Loop that was describing yet another (allegedly) melting MagSafe connector. Many of you wrote in to state that your MacBook/Pro experience has been trouble-free. Still, the issues people are having are very real, so let's take a brief (and informal) poll.

How has your MacBook/Pro experience been? Is it noisy, hot, discolored...melting? Is it a dream come true, the best laptop you've ever used? Leave your answer below, and check back tomorrow for the results.

Tags: discoloration, heat, macbook, macbook pro, MacbookPro, magsafe, noise

Filed under: Hardware, Macbook Pro

Litany of MacBook Pro woes

by Scott McNulty (RSS feed) on Apr 13th, 2006

Daniel Jalkut has been writing about the noise issues with his MacBook Pro for awhile now, and he has had enough. The small problems he is having with his MacBook Pro (ordered very soon after they were announced) have become too much for him, and he hopes to convince Apple to send him a replacement unit.

He lists 10 things that are wrong with his MacBook Pro, anyone else seeing similar things with MacBook Pros purchased more recently?

Tags: applecare, macbook pro, MacbookPro, noise, whine

Filed under: Hardware, Macbook Pro

High pitched squeal defect on some MacBook Pros

by Fabienne Serriere (RSS feed) on Mar 13th, 2006

While I certainly can't vouch for this problem myself as I don't own a MacBook Pro, there seem to be quite a few owners of the new laptop with complaints over a high pitched noise emanating from their machines. Our own Dan Pourhadi had a whine on his new MacBook Pro, even though it may not be the whine being heavily discussed on Digg today. Dan seems to have solved his whine by disabling the second core of his processor (described in Update 3 on his post).

I no longer see this thread Digg links to on the Apple Forums, however I did find another active thread about the high pitched squeal/noise/whining. Some Apple users on the Digg thread and the Apple Discussions thread seem to think this may be repairable in firmware by Apple at a later date.

I am by no means dissing Apple (or the Digg crowd) with this post, but simply would like to remind everyone about early adopter syndrome. The first revision of a new hardware platform or change in manufacturing is bound to engender certain flaws or bugs. Please, let us reflect for a moment on the Mirrored Door G4 and the PowerBook 667MHz (aka The "666") computer lines.

This current flare in comments on Digg and the Apple Forums doesn't mean that all MacBook Pros will be affected by this noise, and certainly does not mean that people shouldn't be entitled to a worry-free machine when purchasing a Mac. I hope this all gets cleared up quickly and with some sort of patch or replacement from Apple. We at TUAW are bound to keep you posted.

Update: Please see Dan Pourhadi's new follow-up post about his MacBook Pro woes.

Tags: defect, highpitched, macbookpro, noise, problem, squeal, whine

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