iMac flickering diplays get fix from Apple

2 Feb 2010

Apple posted a new firmware update for its 27-inch iMacs still suffering from flickering displays. While the Intel-running powerhouses have been enormously successful, they also shipped with a surprising number of issues.

Apple has issued yet another firmware update for customers whose new 27-inch iMacs are still suffering from flickering displays.

Posted on Feb. 1, the update is intended for 27-inch iMacs that shipped in late 2009 and are running Mac OS X 10.6.2.

On Dec. 21, Apple released an update for the graphics firmware on ATI Radeon HD 4670 and 4850 graphics cards, also in response to flickering displays.

Apple introduced the 27-inch iMacs on Oct. 20, and the orders poured in. However, Apple was slow to ship the desktops — with an Apple spokesperson uncharacteristically telling a CNET reporter on Dec. 13 that, "The new iMac has been a huge hit and we are working hard to fulfill orders as quickly as possible. We apologize for any inconvenience or delay this may cause our customers."

Once the iMacs began to arrive, however, support forums on the Apple site gradually filled with customers complaining of various problems, including flickering screens, displays tinged yellow in areas and instances of the all-in-ones arriving with cracked screens.

This newest firmware update — which Apple instructs should be installed while the iMac is powered on — will hopefully address the first of those issues for good.

On Jan. 25 Apple announced the results of its fiscal first quarter of 2010, which included a quarterly profit of $3.38 billion and sales of 3.36 million Macintosh computers — which was 33 percent more than it sold a year ago.

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