If you own the recently released MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, there should be a notification to download two firmware updates for your machine. These include the EFI and SMC Firmware updates that improves stability and improves the sensing and accuracy of the MagSafe Power Adapter indicator light and the battery charge indicator lights respectively. Not much details from Apple, as usual, about such updates. But always good to apply them.

As always whenever you do such updates, make sure you are connected to the AC Adapter and remove any external devices that are connected to your machine. Lastly, close all applications and ensure you have your data backed up before you do the updates.

During the EFI Firmware update, do note the following:

• Double-click the appropriate .pkg file to start the firmware update process. (The installer puts the Firmware Updater in the /Application/Utilities folder and opens it automatically.)
• Read the onscreen instructions and click Shut Down to proceed with the update. The firmware image will be loaded onto your computer. Your computer will shut down, but the update will not be installed until the next step.
• Turn on your computer but do NOT hold the power button down. The screen will turn black and remain in that state for up to 40 seconds. A gray screen will appear and a status bar indicates the progress of the update.
• Important: Do not unplug, shutdown or restart your computer while the update is taking place.

For the MacBooks:

• MacBook EFI Firmware Update 1.3 – download link
• MacBook SMC Firmware Update 1.2 – download link

For the MacBook Pros:

• MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.6 – download link
• MacBook Pro SMC Firmware Update 1.2 – download link

For the MacBook Airs:

• MacBook Air EFI Firmware Update 1.1 – download link
• MacBook Pro SMC Firmware Update 1.2 – download link

Do let us know if you observed any improvements or problems doing this firmware updates.

Apple also released the 2.2 firmware for both iPhone and iPod Touch. Some of the updates includes:

• Enhancements to Maps – not available for iPod Touch
  • Google Street View
  • public transit and walking diretions
  • display address of dropped pins
  • share location via email
• Enhancements to Mail
  • resolved isolated issues with scheduled fetching of email
  • improved formatting of wide HTML email
• Improved stability and performance of Safari
• Podcasts are now available for download in iTunes application (over Wi-Fi and cellular) – read Apple Tech Note – not available for Singapore iTunes Store accounts
• Decrease in call set-up failures and call drops
• Improved sound quality of visual voicemail messages
• Pressing the Home button from any Home screen takes you to the first Home screen
• Preferences to turn on/off auto-correction in Keyboard settings
• For iPod Touch, also fixes the secure WPA WIFI login bug (feedback seems to be problem fixed)
• details about the security fixes

iPhone update – 246Mb,
iPod Touch update – 277Mb – download user manual

Do share your updating experience, or problems if there are any.

some screens of the updates

A “Get More Episodes…” link is added at the bottom of individual Podcast page which when clicked, will open up the Music Store app and goes straight to that particular Podcast’s page. The Podcast section also only lets you download episodes but you can’t yet Subscribe them from the device. Once you download an episode and sync to your Desktop, it will appear in your Podcast window with the option to subscribe. Also note that this is not available if you have a Singapore iTunes Store account.

The App Store now supports multiple screen shots like how you see in the iTunes App Store. Click on the image and you get to see full screen versions of those screen shots

The search bar has also been shifted up to the right of the Link bar, like how the desktop Safari looks now.

Other notes elsewhere:

• Do read iLounge’s comprehensive walkthrough of the new update here
• There seems to be a bug in how the new iPhone 2.2 firmware does the saving of images