Apple issues AirPort Extreme, Mac Pro EFI updates

***AppleInsider*** · 03-27-2008, 08:55 PM

Not content with its Inkwell technology, Apple has started a search for a handwriting recognition engineer to improve Mac OS X and, potentially, the iPhone. Also, the company has issued separate updates for AirPort Extreme on Tiger systems as well as newer Mac Pro workstations.

Apple seeks handwriting engineer for Mac OS X, iPhone

The listing for a position at Apple's Cupertino headquarters, spotted by Mac Rumors, asks for a veteran programmer of neural net code and pattern recognition who preferably has experience with writing in Apple's Cocoa programming interface.

A successful candidate would primarily improve the main operating system, Apple says in its description. However, this and future developments may branch out to include both the iPhone and "other applications," according to the company.

Handwriting technology has mostly been left untouched in Mac OS X since the launch of version 10.2 Jaguar in 2002, when the Mac maker added its Inkwell technology for pen tablets.

Apple doesn't list specific goals in its posting, but is known to be rapidly expanding the amount of research conducted into touchscreen technology beyond that already found in the iPhone and iPod touch.

The company recently filed a patent application for a next-generation surface that would allow curved input areas capable of recognizing a user's grip on a pen, and is still slated to introduce a multi-touch handheld later this year that would support more advanced commands than those found in the two devices already on the market.

AirPort Extreme Update 2008-001 for Tiger

Apple has issued a software update (1.3MB) for the AirPort Extreme hardware on systems running Mac OS X Tiger.

The update is said to improve the reliability of wireless connections for Intel-based Macs running version 10.4.11 or later.

Mac Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.3

Also released is an EFI firmware patch for early 2008 Mac Pro systems (1.76MB).

The refresh improves the stability of the newer computers and requires Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.2 or newer.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

MsNly · 03-27-2008, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Not content with its Inkwell technology, Apple has started a search for a handwriting recognition engineer to improve Mac OS X and, potentially, the iPhone. Also, the company has issued separate updates for AirPort Extreme on Tiger systems as well as newer Mac Pro workstations.

Apple seeks handwriting engineer for Mac OS X, iPhone

The listing for a position at Apple's Cupertino headquarters, spotted by Mac Rumors, asks for a veteran programmer of neural net code and pattern recognition who preferably has experience with writing in Apple's Cocoa programming interface.

I told you guys that their would be handwriting recognition on the iPhone!

Booyah haha

mrsteveman1 · 03-27-2008, 09:53 PM

Apple needs to issue some EFI updates for older macs, like the ones where startup keys don't work with the aluminum keyboard. That, or fix the keyboards.

Xian Zhu Xuande · 03-27-2008, 09:57 PM

Applied the update to my Mac Pro. It didn't blow up. :P

Here's hoping it doesn't reboot after sleeping ever again.

Cubert · 03-27-2008, 10:15 PM

And the obligatory "EFI lets the government spy on us" comment from the tin-foil-hat-wearing member of the crowd in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.....

mrsteveman1 · 03-27-2008, 10:23 PM

mmmm

EFI TOOK YER JOBS!

MsNly · 03-27-2008, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cubert

And the obligatory "EFI lets the government spy on us" comment from the tin-foil-hat-wearing member of the crowd in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.....

Mines aluminum so, sorry I can't make that comment

Tofino · 03-27-2008, 11:16 PM

No 'MacTablets are coming' posts?

***audiopollution*** · 03-27-2008, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tofino

No 'MacTablets are coming' posts?

Just yours, so far, it seems.

8CoreWhore · 03-27-2008, 11:57 PM

Steve-O prolly just wants a guy to sign his checks for him.

**JeffDM** · 03-28-2008, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cubert

And the obligatory "EFI lets the government spy on us" comment from the tin-foil-hat-wearing member of the crowd in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.....

I've not seen that here.

bryanzak · 03-28-2008, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xian Zhu Xuande

Applied the update to my Mac Pro. It didn't blow up. :P

Here's hoping it doesn't reboot after sleeping ever again.

My machine reboot after sleep previously

No longer does that. That makes me happy.

blingem · 03-28-2008, 09:09 AM

"other software"
omgomgomgomg, apple is making more software! This is definitely newsworthy!

mbene12 · 03-28-2008, 09:51 AM

Just updated to the 1.3 EFI on my new MacPro and now the mouse is totally borked. On max tracking it is very slow and jerky. Everything else seems to be working at normal speed graphically such as scrolling and 3d but the mouse is definitely broken

It is sooooo painful watching the pointer limp and shudder across the 30" display.

Did a PRam zap and mouse seems to work ok now. Was a little scary though after the PRam zap it couldnt find the mouse at all, but after about 5 or so minutes and a couple times of pulling the batteries out of the mouse it found the mouse and is back to working.

nvidia2008 · 03-28-2008, 10:33 AM

mmm fresh cheese for the rumour mill... nom nom nom nom nom

ripnetuk · 03-28-2008, 12:58 PM

I hope the firmware update enables hardware virtualization... bought a mac pro recently for a vmware host, and was disapointed it couldnt use Intel Hardware Virtualiztion because Apple dont enable it in their bios...

g

SpamSandwich · 03-28-2008, 02:27 PM

I dunno, but handwriting recognition is such a drag compared to good old reliable keyboard input. I used the handwriting recognition on the Palm for a while but give me real keys any day... too much wasted motion.

mrtotes · 03-29-2008, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tofino

No 'MacTablets are coming' posts?

Should be ready by MWSF09!

03-27-2008, 08:55 PM	#1
*AppleInsider* Kasper's Automated Slave Join Date: Nov 1997 Posts: 6,151	Apple hiring for Mac, iPhone handwriting; AirPort, Mac Pro updates Not content with its Inkwell technology, Apple has started a search for a handwriting recognition engineer to improve Mac OS X and, potentially, the iPhone. Also, the company has issued separate updates for AirPort Extreme on Tiger systems as well as newer Mac Pro workstations. Apple seeks handwriting engineer for Mac OS X, iPhone The listing for a position at Apple's Cupertino headquarters, spotted by Mac Rumors, asks for a veteran programmer of neural net code and pattern recognition who preferably has experience with writing in Apple's Cocoa programming interface. A successful candidate would primarily improve the main operating system, Apple says in its description. However, this and future developments may branch out to include both the iPhone and "other applications," according to the company. Handwriting technology has mostly been left untouched in Mac OS X since the launch of version 10.2 Jaguar in 2002, when the Mac maker added its Inkwell technology for pen tablets. Apple doesn't list specific goals in its posting, but is known to be rapidly expanding the amount of research conducted into touchscreen technology beyond that already found in the iPhone and iPod touch. The company recently filed a patent application for a next-generation surface that would allow curved input areas capable of recognizing a user's grip on a pen, and is still slated to introduce a multi-touch handheld later this year that would support more advanced commands than those found in the two devices already on the market. AirPort Extreme Update 2008-001 for Tiger Apple has issued a software update (1.3MB) for the AirPort Extreme hardware on systems running Mac OS X Tiger. The update is said to improve the reliability of wireless connections for Intel-based Macs running version 10.4.11 or later. Mac Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.3 Also released is an EFI firmware patch for early 2008 Mac Pro systems (1.76MB). The refresh improves the stability of the newer computers and requires Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.2 or newer. [ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

03-27-2008, 09:57 PM	#4
Xian Zhu Xuande Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 311	Applied the update to my Mac Pro. It didn't blow up. :P Here's hoping it doesn't reboot after sleeping ever again. “The true measure of a man is how he treats someone that can do him absolutely no good.” —Samuel Johnson

03-27-2008, 11:16 PM	#8
Tofino Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 334	What? No 'MacTablets are coming' posts? Tofino

03-27-2008, 11:57 PM	#10
8CoreWhore Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 457	hand writing engineer Steve-O prolly just wants a guy to sign his checks for him.

03-28-2008, 09:51 AM	#14
mbene12 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 32	Just updated to the 1.3 EFI on my new MacPro and now the mouse is totally borked. On max tracking it is very slow and jerky. Everything else seems to be working at normal speed graphically such as scrolling and 3d but the mouse is definitely broken It is sooooo painful watching the pointer limp and shudder across the 30" display. Did a PRam zap and mouse seems to work ok now. Was a little scary though after the PRam zap it couldnt find the mouse at all, but after about 5 or so minutes and a couple times of pulling the batteries out of the mouse it found the mouse and is back to working. Last edited by mbene12; 03-28-2008 at 09:59 AM..

03-27-2008, 09:53 PM	#3
mrsteveman1 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 28	Apple needs to issue some EFI updates for older macs, like the ones where startup keys don't work with the aluminum keyboard. That, or fix the keyboards.

03-27-2008, 10:15 PM	#5
Cubert Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 472	And the obligatory "EFI lets the government spy on us" comment from the tin-foil-hat-wearing member of the crowd in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.....

03-27-2008, 10:23 PM	#6
mrsteveman1 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 28	mmmm EFI TOOK YER JOBS!

03-28-2008, 09:09 AM	#13
blingem Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 91	"other software" omgomgomgomg, apple is making more software! This is definitely newsworthy!

03-28-2008, 10:33 AM	#15
nvidia2008 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 3,700	mmm fresh cheese for the rumour mill... nom nom nom nom nom

03-28-2008, 12:58 PM	#16
ripnetuk Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1	I hope it fixes the VM-X issue... I hope the firmware update enables hardware virtualization... bought a mac pro recently for a vmware host, and was disapointed it couldnt use Intel Hardware Virtualiztion because Apple dont enable it in their bios... g

03-28-2008, 02:27 PM	#17
SpamSandwich Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 8,453	I dunno, but handwriting recognition is such a drag compared to good old reliable keyboard input. I used the handwriting recognition on the Palm for a while but give me real keys any day... too much wasted motion. "The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield, and government to gain ground." —Thomas Jefferson Proud AAPL stock owner.

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