A ‘quieter’ keyboard is reportedly exclusive to the 2018 MacBook Pro

iFixit

The new MacBook Pros are getting a new “quieter” keyboard that is also said to protect against damage from dust. Unfortunately, if you have an existing MacBook that did suffer some damage by dust, you won’t be getting this new keyboard. CNET reports that both Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers won’t be permitted to replace the old keyboards with the new one because these are considered to be exclusive to the 2018 model.

It isn’t clear why this is the case but one theory is that it just won’t fit. A teardown done by iFixit of the 13-inch model found the top case has been shaven down, which is said to make more room for the larger battery on the laptop.

‘Limited number’ of non-Touch Bar 13-inch Apple MacBook Pros need to have batteries replaced

Apple has just launched a free battery replacement program for some non-Touch Bar-toting Apple MacBook Pros. The company claims a “limited number” of these units have had their batteries expand. These supposedly affect those that were manufactured between October 2016 and October 2017 and is due to a fault component that causes the battery to expand.

The linked page above will ask you to submit your computer serial number to check if you’re eligible for a replacement. Those that qualify can bring their MacBook Pro to an authorized dealer or retail store or mail the unit to Apple’s repair center. If you’ve already gotten the battery replaced, you can contact Apple to see if you can get a refund. Apple notes that any damage that might inhibit the battery’s replacement will need to be fixed first and this program does not extend the computer’s standard warranty.

Spotify for macOS gets Touch Bar support

The latest update for Spotify on macOS brings with it some important features for MacBook Pro users. Those with the Touch Bar now gain similar controls to iTunes. It’ll let you “scrub” through a track, play, pause, shuffle, and induce a search box. Aside from that, the app will also pause a track when you take out one of the AirPods from your ears and will resume once you re-insert it.

Source: Apple Insider

Apple takes out ‘time remaining’ battery life estimate to address MacBook Pro battery complaints

It seems like a weird fix to the battery life complaints the new MacBook Pro has been receiving but there is logic behind Apple’s decision to take out the “time remaining” battery life estimate from these machines. According to an internal investigation by Apple, the battery issue isn’t a hardware flaw but more of a prediction inaccuracy of the time the MacBook Pro remains usable. This unreliability issue is seen to be caused by the latest low-power processors and how it switches between tasks. The battery life status menu couldn’t keep up with the CPU when it switches between low-power and high-performance modes, thus causing the erratic predictions.

Another cause seen is the use of iCloud syncing, especially when first using the machine. Some users don’t realize that the process of syncing kicks into overdrive when the new Mac is first set up so it can sync all your data. This works in the background and it’ll greatly affect battery life. It would take a few days for battery life and its estimate to normalize. What Apple has decided to do is just put the percentage of the remaining battery life on the screen.

Source: 9to5Mac