- Macbook Pro Retina Goes To Sleep When I Download A Large File Smaller
- Macbook Pro Retina Goes To Sleep When I Download A Large File Folder
Take $100 off a new M1 MacBook Air or M1 MacBook Pro right now B&H Photo is selling he new M1 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro for $100 off today. Nov 27, 2020 8:08 AM By Jon Phillips. I have a mid 2010 macbook pro and started to have the freeze after sleep problem after a software update (I believe it included the update to 10.6.8, but I just did all what the 'software update' was offering without checking). Your solution, to 'Select a Startup Disk in System Preferences!' solved the problem! When I bought my 15' Macbook Pro 2015 retina with force touch, I experienced 20% battery drain when my Mac went to sleep during the night (8 hours). When I checked my logging files, I saw that my mac was constantly awake during sleep mode for reasons such as 'ARPT (Network)'. I tried everything to fix this but nothing helped. Why is My Macbook Pro so Slow? Whether you own an old 2012 MacBook Pro, or a shiny new 15-inch 2017 MacBook Pro with 512GB flash storage, over time it can run slowly. There could be so many causes, but in general, they all fall into the following four categories. Personal Habits. If you keep your Mac running all the time, let too many apps.
A first-generation MagSafe connector attached to a MacBook Pro | |
| Type | |
|---|---|
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Apple Inc. |
| Produced | 2006-2019 |
| Superseded | Apple Power Connector |
| Superseded by | USB-C |
| General specifications | |
| Hot pluggable | Yes |
| External | Yes |
| Pins | 5 |
| Pin out | |
| Male connector, front view | |
| Pin 1 | GND (0 V) |
| Pin 2 | V+ (14.5 / 16.5 / 18.5 / 20 V DC) |
| Pin 3 | Charge control pin |
| Pin 4 | V+ (14.5 / 16.5 / 18.5 / 20 V DC) |
| Pin 5 | GND (0 V) |
| Gray area indicates magnetic connector shroud |
MagSafe was a series of proprietarymagnetically attached power connectors for Mac laptops introduced by Apple Inc. It was introduced on January 10, 2006 in conjunction with the MacBook Pro, the first Intel-based Mac laptop, at the Macworld Expo. The connector is held in place magnetically so that if it is tugged — for example, by someone tripping over the cord — it will pull out of the socket without damaging the connector or the computer power socket, and without pulling the computer off of its surface.[1] A thinner and wider version, called MagSafe 2, was introduced in 2012. Despite its popularity with many users, it was discontinued across Apple's product lines between 2016 and 2019 and replaced with USB-C.
History[edit]
The basic concept of MagSafe is derived from the magnetic power connectors that are part of many deep fryers and Japanese countertop cooking appliances since the early 2000s in order to avoid spilling their dangerously hot contents.[2][3][4] MagSafe was introduced on January 10, 2006 in the first-generation MacBook Pro.[5] Apple was granted US Patent No. 7311526 for MagSafe ('Magnetic connector for electronic device', issued in 2007) as MagSafe was deemed to be a sufficient improvement due to the connector being symmetrical and reversible, and the fact that magnets within a connector are arranged in opposing polarities for improved coupling strength.
Apple phased out MagSafe with the release of the Retina MacBook and 2016 MacBook Pro that replaced it with USB-C for charging and data.[6][7] The last product with MagSafe, the 2017 MacBook Air, was discontinued on July 9, 2019.[8]
Apple reused the MagSafe trademark for a series of accessories based on the Qi standard for the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro.
Features[edit]
MagSafe has connector pins that are designed so the rectangular connector can be inserted in either orientation. Originally the connector was T-shaped, with the cable directed straight out; later it became L-shaped, with the cable directed along the side of the computer, but still capable of being inserted in either orientation, unless simultaneous use of neighboring ports such as USB required directing the cable toward the rear. LEDs on both the top and bottom of the connector show green if the computer battery is fully charged and amber or red if the battery is charging. MagSafe can be found on the MacBook (2006-11), MacBook Pro (2006-15) and MacBook Air (2008-17) notebook computers. The Apple LED Cinema Display and Thunderbolt Display include built-in MagSafe adapters.[9]
The MacBook and the 13-inch MacBook Pro use a 60 W MagSafe charger, whereas the 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro use an 85 W version. The MacBook Air used a lower-powered 45 W version According to Apple, an adapter with a higher wattage than that originally provided may be used without problems.[10]
Apple formerly offered a 'MagSafe Airline Adapter' for use on certain compatible airplanes. It had a DC input (instead of AC like the original MagSafe chargers) and would power the computer, but would not charge the battery.[11]
MagSafe 2[edit]
MagSafe 2 was introduced on the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro with Retina Display at the 2012 Worldwide Developers Conference on July 11, 2012. It was made thinner to fit the thinner laptops, and also wider to preserve magnetic grip force. The resulting shape is incompatible with the older MagSafe connectors; Apple released an adapter that was also bundled with the Thunderbolt Display. It also returns to the T-shaped design that points straight out, rather than the L-shape that runs along the side of the machine.[12]
Pinout[edit]
The MagSafe connector pins allow for the adapter to be inserted in either orientation. The first and second pins on each side of the tiny central pin have continuity with their mirror pins.
- The inner large pins are V+ (14.5 / 16.5 / 18.5 / 20 V DC). Measuring with no load will give 6.86 V DC for MagSafe and about 3 V DC for MagSafe 2; the full voltage is provided after a ~40 kOhm load is applied for one second.[13]
- The outer large pins are ground.
- The tiny center pin is a data pin using the 1-Wire protocol. The computer uses this pin to change the LED's color and retrieve the serial number and wattage of the power supply.[13]
- Only two wires – power and ground – go to the charger unit. There is no data communication via the adapter sense pin with the charger unit itself.[13]
- The maximum voltage supplied is as follows:
- 14.5 V DC for the 45 W units supplied with MacBook Air
- 16.5 V DC for the 60 W units supplied with MacBook and 13' MacBook Pro
- 18.5 V DC for the 85 W units supplied with 15' and 17' MacBook Pro
- 20 V DC for the 85 W units supplied with 15' MacBook Pro Retina
The rectangular metal shroud surrounding the pins acts as shielding for the electrical pins and a ferrous attractor for the magnet in the laptop.
Third-party products[edit]
Although Apple does not license the MagSafe connector for use in third-party products, manufacturers have devised a workaround: their MagSafe items use the actual connector from Apple's AC adapter, grafted onto their own product. Since this uses an actual Apple product, purchased legally, manufacturers believe that no licensing agreements are needed (a principle referred to as the first sale doctrine) and the patents are not violated.[14] However, in 2010 Apple still sued one such manufacturer, Sanho Corporation for selling its very popular HyperMac battery extension products which Apple claimed violated their patents.[15] Sanho has since ceased to sell their connector cable for the HyperMac series of external batteries.[16]
Some fake MagSafe 2 chargers have appeared on sites such as Amazon. These chargers are often unsafe, have spelling mistakes on the charger itself, and/or have inconsistencies that the official product does not contain, e.g. the LEDs on the connector do not follow the correct colour code, or the charger is referred to as a MagSafe 1 charger rather than the second generation charger.
Defects[edit]
Many users have reported (as of 30 October 2011) problems with the quality of the construction of the MagSafe cords, giving the product low marks on the Apple Store's website.[17] Common complaints included plug separating from the cord, transformer shorting, and pin springs losing elasticity.[17]
Several methods have been devised to protect the MagSafe from failure, including wrapping the cable with tape or sliding protective plastic around the cable.[18]
In 2008, Apple posted an official response acknowledging problems with MagSafe adapters, which include incomplete circuit connection and adapter's white insulation separating from the magnetic end of the MagSafe connector.[19] Following the release of a Knowledge Base article, a class-action lawsuit was filed on May 1, 2009, in the US District Court for the Northern District of California's San Jose office, alleging that the MagSafe power adapter is prone to frayed wires and overheating, and as such represents a fire hazard.[20]
Apple released a firmware update in October 2010 that it claims resolves this issue.[21] However, the installer for the firmware update will not run on certain older MacBooks, which means that the firmware can not be updated. This, in turn, means that it is not possible to use the new MagSafe power adapter with these MacBooks. However, as of 2017, Apple still sells the older MagSafe power adapter.[22]
In 2011, Apple posted a support document about the strain-relief problems with the MPM-1 ('T')-style MagSafe power cables, and issued settlement offer for buyers of Apple 60 W or 85 W MagSafe MPM-1 adapter within the first three years of purchase.[23]
Earlier power systems[edit]
| Close-up view of the brick plug on the left, and the puck plug on the right, with tip ring sleeve plugs and a metal ring around the plug. The puck charger simply had a dark gray shroud, while the brick added the clear plastic charge indicator ring. |
Before MagSafe, Apple laptop computers used a shell and socket/pin arrangement, or coaxial power connector. The iBook series introduced a charger that resembled a mini-stereo plug with an additional metal ring. The first puck-shaped iBook chargers simply had a silver plug body, but the square white chargers introduced a color-changing illuminated ring that indicated charging status.
Tripping on an iBook cord or yanking the cord out at an angle could bend the spring contacts inside the connector or break the solder pads under the connector, resulting in a laptop that would fail to charge when connected to the cord, or would only charge if the inserted plug were propped up or pushed down at an angle. An especially forceful yank could flare the outer flange or even break the tip of the power plug.
Replacing a damaged 'DC-In Board' in an early 12 inch G3 iBook typically involved an expensive 50-step disassembly of the laptop.[24]
Gallery[edit]
The first generation MagSafe Power Adapter that shipped with original MacBook and MacBook Pro
The second generation MagSafe Power Adapter that shipped with 2012-onwards MacBook Pro and post-2012 MacBook Air models.
L-shaped MagSafe connector, broken off its power cord
MagSafe with both frayed wires and melted casing, as alleged in the 2009 class action lawsuit
Pre-MagSafe iBook G3 brick and yo-yo chargers.
Example of a damaged pre-MagSafe plug due to being pulled forcefully out of the socket sideways. This strain is severe enough to damage the power socket as well.
References[edit]
- ^'Apple Unveils New MacBook with Intel Core 2 Duo Processors' (press release). Apple Inc. 8 November 2006.
- ^Vallese, Julie (4 July 2001). ''Break-Away' Cord Aims To Make Deep Fryers Safer'. CNN. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- ^'Break Away Power Cords, Durez 152'. www.dowell.com.hk. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
- ^Prior art for Apple's Magsafe – Patents Stack Exchange
- ^Bowe, Tucker (28 May 2020). 'What Ever Happened to One of the MacBook's Best Features?'. Gear Patrol. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
- ^Fleishman, Glenn (12 March 2015). 'Will your new MacBook crash to the ground without MagSafe? (Yes.)'. Macworld. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ^Kastrenakes, Jacob (27 October 2016). 'Apple is killing off MagSafe, one of the MacBook's best features'. The Verge. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ^July 9, Phillip Tracy |; Am, 2019 09:23. 'Apple Just Killed the MacBook Air with Good Keyboard and 12-inch MacBook'. www.laptopmag.com. Retrieved 13 July 2019.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
- ^'MacBook'. Apple Inc.
- ^'Intel-Based Apple Portables: Identifying the Right Power Adapter and Power Cord – US'. Apple Inc.
- ^'Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter'. Apple Inc. Archived from the original on 14 May 2011.
- ^'One of Apple's Best Ideas Ever — Made Worse', The New York Times, 30 July 2012, archived from the original on 1 June 2020
- ^ abcShirriff, Ken. 'Teardown and exploration of Apple's Magsafe connector'. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
- ^Frakes, Dan (15 June 2007). 'A Third-Party MagSafe Solution?'. Mobile Mac (blog of Macworld). Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- ^'US District Court for the District of Northern California, Apple Inc. v Sanho Corporation'(PDF format).
- ^Cheng, Jacqui (18 October 2010). 'HyperMac To Halt MagSafe Sales, Hopes To Appease Apple – Sanho Corporation, Which Owns the Ever-popular HyperMac, Has Decided To Give …'. Ars Technica. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- ^ ab'MA538LL/B'. Apple Inc. Archived from the original on 19 February 2008.
- ^Frakes, Dan (29 August 2008). 'Mac MagSaver Protects Your MagSafe Connector'. Mobile Me (blog of Macworld). Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- ^Smykil, Jeff (20 August 2008). 'Some MagSafe Adapters Being Replaced by Apple – Apple Is Replacing Certain MagSafe Adapters That Have Proven Not To Be All …'. Ars Technica. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- ^Foresman, Chris (5 May 2009). 'Apple Sued over Reputed Fire Hazard of MagSafe Power Adapter – A Class Action Lawsuit Filed Last Week Claims Apple Has Been Negligent in …'. Ars Technica. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- ^'MacBook SMC Firmware Update 1.4'. Knowledge Base. Apple Inc.
- ^'Power & Cables - Mac Accessories'. Apple. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
- ^Cheng, Jacqui (8 November 2011). 'Frayed MagSafe Power Connector? There's Now a Settlement for That – If You're an Owner of a T-Style MagSafe Connector That Has Frayed Through no …'. Ars Technica. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- ^'Installing iBook G3 12-Inch DC in Board' (repair guide). iFixIt.
External links[edit]
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to MagSafe. |
- 'The Power of Magnets'. Ars Technica (review). MacBook Pro. 1 March 2006. Part of the Ars Technica review of the MacBook Pro is dedicated to the MagSafe connector.
- 'Where Are the MagSafe Adapters for Cars and Airplanes?'. ZDNet. 28 June 2006.
- 'MagSafe' (patent). Apple Inc.
The MacBook Retina display on the MacBook Pro and the new MacBook with a 12-inch Retina Display looks beautiful. However, because of the way Apple designed them, the effective MacBook screen resolution doesn't show as much on the screen as user might expect from a screen with a 2304×1440 resolution. That's why many users want to change their MacBook screen resolution. This results in smaller text and things like buttons or borders. It also shows more on the screen at once.
Apple changed the way users control their MacBook screen resolution a few generations ago. Users no longer see raw resolution numbers like 1920 x 1080. For example, the 13-inch MacBook Pro that I'm using now offers an actual resolution of 3840 x 2160. However, the computer ships set at 1280 x 800. The screen looks crisp and sharp at this lower MacBook screen resolution. However, less content fits on the screen at once and constrains productivity. I don't use two windows open side-by-side because each window only displays at 640 pixels wide. If I could raise the resolution, since the MacBook supports three times the resolution density, then I could see more in each application window. Look at the comparison below to see the difference.
I took the above screenshot on my 13-inch MacBook Pro at the default screen resolution of 1280 x 800. Text looks sharp and images look beautiful. However, I don't see as much on the screen as I do when the resolution displays the content at 1920 x 1200 as we see below. The browser window wasn't resized. There's space to put a Twitter or Slack window to the right of my browser without seeing less in Chrome. Also, I can increase the vertical size of Chrome to see more of the GottaBeMobile home page.
Now, look at the screen shot below. This shows how much smaller the same sized browser window looks at the highest possible resolution on my MacBook Pro. This MacBook screen resolution probably makes on-screen controls and text almost unusable. However, in some situations it might make a lot of sense, like those times when I want to hook it up to a projector and mirror the built-in display with the projector's display.
How can we adjust the MacBook screen resolution to make it look the way we want? Users may prefer using a lower resolution if their eyesight isn't as good. Younger people may prefer using a higher resolution since they can see small text and buttons easier. We will need to adjust the resolution to make it work the way we want. See the four options below, the built-in controls in OS X Settings and three app options.
Change MacBook Screen Resolution Using System Settings
OS X includes a built-in way to control screen resolution. To find it open the computer's Settings app either from the Dock or by clicking on the Apple menu button in the upper left corner of the screen.
Click on the Display tab to show the MacBook screen resolution settings. By default OS X comes with Default for display selected. This sets it at a lower resolution of 1280 x 800 (on the 13-inch MacBook Pro) which many say looks the best on most MacBooks. However, users can change this by selecting Scaled.
When the user selects Scaled four options show up below it. The arrangement goes from the lowest resolution option on the left to the highest resolution option on the right. Apple labels them Larger Text, Default and More Space. A fourth option sits between the Default and More Space options. I've listed the numerical resolutions for these four options on my 13-inch MacBook Pro.
- 640 x 480 or VGA resolution labelled Larger Text.
- 1280 x 800 or close to 720p resolution (the Default option).
- 1440 x 900 is the unlabeled option of the four.
- 1680 x 1080 is the option labelled More Space.
I prefer the unnamed 1440 x 900 option most of the time. However, what if someone wants to change it to the native 1080p resolution of 1920 x 1080 or even higher? They will need to install an app that will change the MacBook screen resolution.
The three apps listed below offer their own benefits and deficiencies. Let's start with the best option because it's free.
DisableMonitor – the Best Free Option
Most people can look no further than the free DisableMonitor app available on GitHub for free.
Download the zip file and double-click it to extract the self-contained app. Move it over to the Applications folder in your Home folder on OS X. Double click it to run it.
OS X will probably ask the user to confirm that they want to open the app since it comes from the Internet. It's safe to install the app. If the app doesn't run, thanks to Apple's draconian security settings, open OS X Settings to change one setting in the Security & Privacy section of OS X Settings. To find this, click on the Settings app in the OS X Dock or click on the Apple icon in the menu bar on the top left corner. Then choose System Preferences.
First, click on the lock icon in the lower left corner labelled Click the lock to make changes. Then, click on the Anywhere option under Allow apps downloaded from: at the bottom of the box. Now try to open DisableMonitor by double-clicking it again and it should open.
DisableMonitor runs in the background and puts an icon in the Menu bar in the upper right corner of the screen. It looks like a monitor. Click on it to show the drop down box.
The drop down menu of DisableMonitor shows four menu items. The first shows the monitor or monitors connected to the MacBook. If the user didn't connect an external display, the menu only shows the built-in Color LCD display.
The Lock Screens menu item lets users turn off the display immediately. Use this to quickly hide the screen when you want to step away from the computer. If you've set the Require password security setting to Immediately, the user must enter a password each time she wakes her monitor. This secures the computer when you step away from the MacBook for a second.
The Detect Monitors option will do as it says. The operating system will detect a new monitor that the user hooked up if the OS didn't detect it automatically.
The About option gives info about the app and offers a Check for Updates option.
The arrow pointing to the right next to the connected displays shows that there's a flare out menu that lists all the possible resolution choices.
The user can select Disable to turn that monitor off if it's no longer connected. There's also the list of available resolutions with the screen aspect ratio in brackets next to each resolution. The Manage option opens a dialog box that lets the user turn on or off the menu items. Select it and uncheck any resolutions you don't want to see on the menu.
Notice that I unchecked the lowest resolution options and the highest resolution options.
When the user selects a resolution, the operating system changes within a couple of seconds.
A few other options come with a few more bells and whistles like SwitchResX (14 Euros from Madrau) and Resolution Switcher ($3.99 in Mac App Store). SwitchResX will rotate the display and handles color profiles from the program's menu bar drop down box. It also lets the user set specific displays tied to programs installed on the Mac. If someone wants a high-resolution for running Photoshop, but they'd like a low resolution for surfing the web, they can specify that in the SwitchResX Preferences. For the price, the user gets a lot more control over resolutions.
Resolution Switch also handles rotation and puts a mirroring option in the drop down menu.
The basic concept of MagSafe is derived from the magnetic power connectors that are part of many deep fryers and Japanese countertop cooking appliances since the early 2000s in order to avoid spilling their dangerously hot contents.[2][3][4] MagSafe was introduced on January 10, 2006 in the first-generation MacBook Pro.[5] Apple was granted US Patent No. 7311526 for MagSafe ('Magnetic connector for electronic device', issued in 2007) as MagSafe was deemed to be a sufficient improvement due to the connector being symmetrical and reversible, and the fact that magnets within a connector are arranged in opposing polarities for improved coupling strength.
Apple phased out MagSafe with the release of the Retina MacBook and 2016 MacBook Pro that replaced it with USB-C for charging and data.[6][7] The last product with MagSafe, the 2017 MacBook Air, was discontinued on July 9, 2019.[8]
Apple reused the MagSafe trademark for a series of accessories based on the Qi standard for the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro.
Features[edit]
MagSafe has connector pins that are designed so the rectangular connector can be inserted in either orientation. Originally the connector was T-shaped, with the cable directed straight out; later it became L-shaped, with the cable directed along the side of the computer, but still capable of being inserted in either orientation, unless simultaneous use of neighboring ports such as USB required directing the cable toward the rear. LEDs on both the top and bottom of the connector show green if the computer battery is fully charged and amber or red if the battery is charging. MagSafe can be found on the MacBook (2006-11), MacBook Pro (2006-15) and MacBook Air (2008-17) notebook computers. The Apple LED Cinema Display and Thunderbolt Display include built-in MagSafe adapters.[9]
The MacBook and the 13-inch MacBook Pro use a 60 W MagSafe charger, whereas the 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro use an 85 W version. The MacBook Air used a lower-powered 45 W version According to Apple, an adapter with a higher wattage than that originally provided may be used without problems.[10]
Apple formerly offered a 'MagSafe Airline Adapter' for use on certain compatible airplanes. It had a DC input (instead of AC like the original MagSafe chargers) and would power the computer, but would not charge the battery.[11]
MagSafe 2[edit]
MagSafe 2 was introduced on the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro with Retina Display at the 2012 Worldwide Developers Conference on July 11, 2012. It was made thinner to fit the thinner laptops, and also wider to preserve magnetic grip force. The resulting shape is incompatible with the older MagSafe connectors; Apple released an adapter that was also bundled with the Thunderbolt Display. It also returns to the T-shaped design that points straight out, rather than the L-shape that runs along the side of the machine.[12]
Pinout[edit]
The MagSafe connector pins allow for the adapter to be inserted in either orientation. The first and second pins on each side of the tiny central pin have continuity with their mirror pins.
- The inner large pins are V+ (14.5 / 16.5 / 18.5 / 20 V DC). Measuring with no load will give 6.86 V DC for MagSafe and about 3 V DC for MagSafe 2; the full voltage is provided after a ~40 kOhm load is applied for one second.[13]
- The outer large pins are ground.
- The tiny center pin is a data pin using the 1-Wire protocol. The computer uses this pin to change the LED's color and retrieve the serial number and wattage of the power supply.[13]
- Only two wires – power and ground – go to the charger unit. There is no data communication via the adapter sense pin with the charger unit itself.[13]
- The maximum voltage supplied is as follows:
- 14.5 V DC for the 45 W units supplied with MacBook Air
- 16.5 V DC for the 60 W units supplied with MacBook and 13' MacBook Pro
- 18.5 V DC for the 85 W units supplied with 15' and 17' MacBook Pro
- 20 V DC for the 85 W units supplied with 15' MacBook Pro Retina
The rectangular metal shroud surrounding the pins acts as shielding for the electrical pins and a ferrous attractor for the magnet in the laptop.
Third-party products[edit]
Although Apple does not license the MagSafe connector for use in third-party products, manufacturers have devised a workaround: their MagSafe items use the actual connector from Apple's AC adapter, grafted onto their own product. Since this uses an actual Apple product, purchased legally, manufacturers believe that no licensing agreements are needed (a principle referred to as the first sale doctrine) and the patents are not violated.[14] However, in 2010 Apple still sued one such manufacturer, Sanho Corporation for selling its very popular HyperMac battery extension products which Apple claimed violated their patents.[15] Sanho has since ceased to sell their connector cable for the HyperMac series of external batteries.[16]
Some fake MagSafe 2 chargers have appeared on sites such as Amazon. These chargers are often unsafe, have spelling mistakes on the charger itself, and/or have inconsistencies that the official product does not contain, e.g. the LEDs on the connector do not follow the correct colour code, or the charger is referred to as a MagSafe 1 charger rather than the second generation charger.
Defects[edit]
Many users have reported (as of 30 October 2011) problems with the quality of the construction of the MagSafe cords, giving the product low marks on the Apple Store's website.[17] Common complaints included plug separating from the cord, transformer shorting, and pin springs losing elasticity.[17]
Several methods have been devised to protect the MagSafe from failure, including wrapping the cable with tape or sliding protective plastic around the cable.[18]
In 2008, Apple posted an official response acknowledging problems with MagSafe adapters, which include incomplete circuit connection and adapter's white insulation separating from the magnetic end of the MagSafe connector.[19] Following the release of a Knowledge Base article, a class-action lawsuit was filed on May 1, 2009, in the US District Court for the Northern District of California's San Jose office, alleging that the MagSafe power adapter is prone to frayed wires and overheating, and as such represents a fire hazard.[20]
Apple released a firmware update in October 2010 that it claims resolves this issue.[21] However, the installer for the firmware update will not run on certain older MacBooks, which means that the firmware can not be updated. This, in turn, means that it is not possible to use the new MagSafe power adapter with these MacBooks. However, as of 2017, Apple still sells the older MagSafe power adapter.[22]
In 2011, Apple posted a support document about the strain-relief problems with the MPM-1 ('T')-style MagSafe power cables, and issued settlement offer for buyers of Apple 60 W or 85 W MagSafe MPM-1 adapter within the first three years of purchase.[23]
Earlier power systems[edit]
| Close-up view of the brick plug on the left, and the puck plug on the right, with tip ring sleeve plugs and a metal ring around the plug. The puck charger simply had a dark gray shroud, while the brick added the clear plastic charge indicator ring. |
Before MagSafe, Apple laptop computers used a shell and socket/pin arrangement, or coaxial power connector. The iBook series introduced a charger that resembled a mini-stereo plug with an additional metal ring. The first puck-shaped iBook chargers simply had a silver plug body, but the square white chargers introduced a color-changing illuminated ring that indicated charging status.
Tripping on an iBook cord or yanking the cord out at an angle could bend the spring contacts inside the connector or break the solder pads under the connector, resulting in a laptop that would fail to charge when connected to the cord, or would only charge if the inserted plug were propped up or pushed down at an angle. An especially forceful yank could flare the outer flange or even break the tip of the power plug.
Replacing a damaged 'DC-In Board' in an early 12 inch G3 iBook typically involved an expensive 50-step disassembly of the laptop.[24]
Gallery[edit]
The first generation MagSafe Power Adapter that shipped with original MacBook and MacBook Pro
The second generation MagSafe Power Adapter that shipped with 2012-onwards MacBook Pro and post-2012 MacBook Air models.
L-shaped MagSafe connector, broken off its power cord
MagSafe with both frayed wires and melted casing, as alleged in the 2009 class action lawsuit
Pre-MagSafe iBook G3 brick and yo-yo chargers.
Example of a damaged pre-MagSafe plug due to being pulled forcefully out of the socket sideways. This strain is severe enough to damage the power socket as well.
References[edit]
- ^'Apple Unveils New MacBook with Intel Core 2 Duo Processors' (press release). Apple Inc. 8 November 2006.
- ^Vallese, Julie (4 July 2001). ''Break-Away' Cord Aims To Make Deep Fryers Safer'. CNN. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- ^'Break Away Power Cords, Durez 152'. www.dowell.com.hk. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
- ^Prior art for Apple's Magsafe – Patents Stack Exchange
- ^Bowe, Tucker (28 May 2020). 'What Ever Happened to One of the MacBook's Best Features?'. Gear Patrol. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
- ^Fleishman, Glenn (12 March 2015). 'Will your new MacBook crash to the ground without MagSafe? (Yes.)'. Macworld. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ^Kastrenakes, Jacob (27 October 2016). 'Apple is killing off MagSafe, one of the MacBook's best features'. The Verge. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ^July 9, Phillip Tracy |; Am, 2019 09:23. 'Apple Just Killed the MacBook Air with Good Keyboard and 12-inch MacBook'. www.laptopmag.com. Retrieved 13 July 2019.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
- ^'MacBook'. Apple Inc.
- ^'Intel-Based Apple Portables: Identifying the Right Power Adapter and Power Cord – US'. Apple Inc.
- ^'Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter'. Apple Inc. Archived from the original on 14 May 2011.
- ^'One of Apple's Best Ideas Ever — Made Worse', The New York Times, 30 July 2012, archived from the original on 1 June 2020
- ^ abcShirriff, Ken. 'Teardown and exploration of Apple's Magsafe connector'. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
- ^Frakes, Dan (15 June 2007). 'A Third-Party MagSafe Solution?'. Mobile Mac (blog of Macworld). Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- ^'US District Court for the District of Northern California, Apple Inc. v Sanho Corporation'(PDF format).
- ^Cheng, Jacqui (18 October 2010). 'HyperMac To Halt MagSafe Sales, Hopes To Appease Apple – Sanho Corporation, Which Owns the Ever-popular HyperMac, Has Decided To Give …'. Ars Technica. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- ^ ab'MA538LL/B'. Apple Inc. Archived from the original on 19 February 2008.
- ^Frakes, Dan (29 August 2008). 'Mac MagSaver Protects Your MagSafe Connector'. Mobile Me (blog of Macworld). Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- ^Smykil, Jeff (20 August 2008). 'Some MagSafe Adapters Being Replaced by Apple – Apple Is Replacing Certain MagSafe Adapters That Have Proven Not To Be All …'. Ars Technica. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- ^Foresman, Chris (5 May 2009). 'Apple Sued over Reputed Fire Hazard of MagSafe Power Adapter – A Class Action Lawsuit Filed Last Week Claims Apple Has Been Negligent in …'. Ars Technica. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- ^'MacBook SMC Firmware Update 1.4'. Knowledge Base. Apple Inc.
- ^'Power & Cables - Mac Accessories'. Apple. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
- ^Cheng, Jacqui (8 November 2011). 'Frayed MagSafe Power Connector? There's Now a Settlement for That – If You're an Owner of a T-Style MagSafe Connector That Has Frayed Through no …'. Ars Technica. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- ^'Installing iBook G3 12-Inch DC in Board' (repair guide). iFixIt.
External links[edit]
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to MagSafe. |
- 'The Power of Magnets'. Ars Technica (review). MacBook Pro. 1 March 2006. Part of the Ars Technica review of the MacBook Pro is dedicated to the MagSafe connector.
- 'Where Are the MagSafe Adapters for Cars and Airplanes?'. ZDNet. 28 June 2006.
- 'MagSafe' (patent). Apple Inc.
The MacBook Retina display on the MacBook Pro and the new MacBook with a 12-inch Retina Display looks beautiful. However, because of the way Apple designed them, the effective MacBook screen resolution doesn't show as much on the screen as user might expect from a screen with a 2304×1440 resolution. That's why many users want to change their MacBook screen resolution. This results in smaller text and things like buttons or borders. It also shows more on the screen at once.
Apple changed the way users control their MacBook screen resolution a few generations ago. Users no longer see raw resolution numbers like 1920 x 1080. For example, the 13-inch MacBook Pro that I'm using now offers an actual resolution of 3840 x 2160. However, the computer ships set at 1280 x 800. The screen looks crisp and sharp at this lower MacBook screen resolution. However, less content fits on the screen at once and constrains productivity. I don't use two windows open side-by-side because each window only displays at 640 pixels wide. If I could raise the resolution, since the MacBook supports three times the resolution density, then I could see more in each application window. Look at the comparison below to see the difference.
I took the above screenshot on my 13-inch MacBook Pro at the default screen resolution of 1280 x 800. Text looks sharp and images look beautiful. However, I don't see as much on the screen as I do when the resolution displays the content at 1920 x 1200 as we see below. The browser window wasn't resized. There's space to put a Twitter or Slack window to the right of my browser without seeing less in Chrome. Also, I can increase the vertical size of Chrome to see more of the GottaBeMobile home page.
Now, look at the screen shot below. This shows how much smaller the same sized browser window looks at the highest possible resolution on my MacBook Pro. This MacBook screen resolution probably makes on-screen controls and text almost unusable. However, in some situations it might make a lot of sense, like those times when I want to hook it up to a projector and mirror the built-in display with the projector's display.
How can we adjust the MacBook screen resolution to make it look the way we want? Users may prefer using a lower resolution if their eyesight isn't as good. Younger people may prefer using a higher resolution since they can see small text and buttons easier. We will need to adjust the resolution to make it work the way we want. See the four options below, the built-in controls in OS X Settings and three app options.
Change MacBook Screen Resolution Using System Settings
OS X includes a built-in way to control screen resolution. To find it open the computer's Settings app either from the Dock or by clicking on the Apple menu button in the upper left corner of the screen.
Click on the Display tab to show the MacBook screen resolution settings. By default OS X comes with Default for display selected. This sets it at a lower resolution of 1280 x 800 (on the 13-inch MacBook Pro) which many say looks the best on most MacBooks. However, users can change this by selecting Scaled.
When the user selects Scaled four options show up below it. The arrangement goes from the lowest resolution option on the left to the highest resolution option on the right. Apple labels them Larger Text, Default and More Space. A fourth option sits between the Default and More Space options. I've listed the numerical resolutions for these four options on my 13-inch MacBook Pro.
- 640 x 480 or VGA resolution labelled Larger Text.
- 1280 x 800 or close to 720p resolution (the Default option).
- 1440 x 900 is the unlabeled option of the four.
- 1680 x 1080 is the option labelled More Space.
I prefer the unnamed 1440 x 900 option most of the time. However, what if someone wants to change it to the native 1080p resolution of 1920 x 1080 or even higher? They will need to install an app that will change the MacBook screen resolution.
The three apps listed below offer their own benefits and deficiencies. Let's start with the best option because it's free.
DisableMonitor – the Best Free Option
Most people can look no further than the free DisableMonitor app available on GitHub for free.
Download the zip file and double-click it to extract the self-contained app. Move it over to the Applications folder in your Home folder on OS X. Double click it to run it.
OS X will probably ask the user to confirm that they want to open the app since it comes from the Internet. It's safe to install the app. If the app doesn't run, thanks to Apple's draconian security settings, open OS X Settings to change one setting in the Security & Privacy section of OS X Settings. To find this, click on the Settings app in the OS X Dock or click on the Apple icon in the menu bar on the top left corner. Then choose System Preferences.
First, click on the lock icon in the lower left corner labelled Click the lock to make changes. Then, click on the Anywhere option under Allow apps downloaded from: at the bottom of the box. Now try to open DisableMonitor by double-clicking it again and it should open.
DisableMonitor runs in the background and puts an icon in the Menu bar in the upper right corner of the screen. It looks like a monitor. Click on it to show the drop down box.
The drop down menu of DisableMonitor shows four menu items. The first shows the monitor or monitors connected to the MacBook. If the user didn't connect an external display, the menu only shows the built-in Color LCD display.
The Lock Screens menu item lets users turn off the display immediately. Use this to quickly hide the screen when you want to step away from the computer. If you've set the Require password security setting to Immediately, the user must enter a password each time she wakes her monitor. This secures the computer when you step away from the MacBook for a second.
The Detect Monitors option will do as it says. The operating system will detect a new monitor that the user hooked up if the OS didn't detect it automatically.
The About option gives info about the app and offers a Check for Updates option.
The arrow pointing to the right next to the connected displays shows that there's a flare out menu that lists all the possible resolution choices.
The user can select Disable to turn that monitor off if it's no longer connected. There's also the list of available resolutions with the screen aspect ratio in brackets next to each resolution. The Manage option opens a dialog box that lets the user turn on or off the menu items. Select it and uncheck any resolutions you don't want to see on the menu.
Notice that I unchecked the lowest resolution options and the highest resolution options.
When the user selects a resolution, the operating system changes within a couple of seconds.
A few other options come with a few more bells and whistles like SwitchResX (14 Euros from Madrau) and Resolution Switcher ($3.99 in Mac App Store). SwitchResX will rotate the display and handles color profiles from the program's menu bar drop down box. It also lets the user set specific displays tied to programs installed on the Mac. If someone wants a high-resolution for running Photoshop, but they'd like a low resolution for surfing the web, they can specify that in the SwitchResX Preferences. For the price, the user gets a lot more control over resolutions.
Resolution Switch also handles rotation and puts a mirroring option in the drop down menu.
MacBook Screen Resolution Changing App Recommendation
Which app should you use? The free DisableMonitor makes the most sense unless you need or want more options. Of the two paid options, SwitchResX offers more but costs almost four times as much. So, here's our recommendation:
Macbook Pro Retina Goes To Sleep When I Download A Large File Smaller
- Stick with the built-in Settings resolution changing options if that's all you need.
- If you want more, get DisableMonitor first and try it out. Most people will find plenty of features that fit their needs with this free app.
- People who need to rotate a screen from portrait to landscape and back or who want to use a different resolution for a special app should pay for SwitchResX, the most complete option available in our round up of apps.
- If you think about $15 or 14 Euros is too much to pay for this kind of utility, then grab Resolution Switch from the Mac App Store for $4 as your last choice.
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