"The 10.2.3 Update delivers enhanced functionality and improved reliability for the following applications, utilities, and technologies: AppleScript, Classic compatibility, Disk Copy, Disk Utility, Image Capture, Mail, OpenGL, Print Center, and Rendezvous. It provides audio, disc recording, graphics, printing improvements, as well as AFP and WebDAV networking improvements.
The update also provides updated security services and includes the latest Security Updates.

For detailed information on this Update, please visit
http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n107263

The above Kbase doc has a lot more details on the changes. (One of the many details noted was improved compatibiliy with the HP Communications app for instance, which was a performance issue with 10.2.2). That doc also links to a 10.2.3 Combo Update (from 10.2.0-10.2.3) (but no download link there - searching for 10.2.3 combo update at the linked software updates page didn't find anything tonight, but on a hunch I found it under the same URL as the past 10.2.2 combo update - http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=120164. 59.7MB download, page as of tonight notes 10.22 required, but I applied it over a 10.2.0 fresh install.) If you apply the 10.2.3 combo update over a 10.2.0 install, run software updates afterwards, as that showed a lot of updates (QT 6.02, Airport 2.11, IE 5.2.2 security update, Stuffit Expander 7, etc.) - and run Disk Utility's repair permissions after those updates.

(Anyone know what the changes in OpenGL 1.4 are?)
Note: If you're using a modified Plugin file for a CDRW/Combo drive - it may get overwritten by OS X updates like this (and require reinstalling unless the update adds support for your drive). Also to owners of PCI macs that did the Quartz Extreme hack for PCI Radeons, the 10.2.3 update will overwrite the file (disabling the mod).

" RADEON 7000 Mac ROM v208 Update
Requirements: Mac OS 9.x or Mac OS 10.2 or higher
Supports: RADEON 7000 MAC EDITION
Download Filename: R7000-ROM-208.hqx
File Size: 1.6 MB, Posted: 12/17/2002
Release Notes

Reported Issues
* Simulscan resolutions listed differently in Mac OS X using RADEON 7000 Mac ROM v208 Update

Here's a clip (not all info) from the Release Notes:

"Release Notes
This update brings the retail RADEON 7000 board firmware up to date with the latest enhancements introduced with ATI's other retail board products.
Enhanced resolution/mode support for newer monitors with DDC (Display Data Channel) information. Provides expanded mode lists with useful ranges of refresh rates. Support added for VESA Generalized Timing Formula (GTF).

Expanded NON-DDC mode lists
Non DDC mode list expanded to include a wider range of refresh rates at resolutions up to 2048x1536. Displays lacking DDC include older models as well as professional series displas with BNC connections. Refresh rates of up to 200Hz are supported at some resolutions. Please see the section below for Mode Tables.

Digital Flat Panel Extended Support
Version 208 of the RADEON 7000 Mac Edition firmware offers higher resolution support and corrects issues some customers were having with specific LCD brands/models. Some specific models affected include: Apple Cinema HD (23" LCD with DVI adapter), Dell 2000FP (20" DVI LCD) and Formac Gallery (17" & 20" LCDs with DVI adapter).

10 Bit Gamma & Color Look Up Table (CLUT) Improvements
Full and accurate support is provided for 10-bit color spaces and gamma curves. This offers a more versatile and smoother gradation for displa calibration and special-purpose imaging.

Support for Mac OS X's "Detect Displays" Feature
By using the Detect Displays feature in Mac OS X's Displays preferences, a new display connection can be made and activated without restarting the computer. example: While using a CRT or LCD, connect a TV to the RADEON 7000 and then select the Detect Displays command. The TV is now recognized as a secondary display and its resolution options are available in the Displays preferences and title bar menu. "

See the full release notes page for details on Simulscan modes. Here's the first Radeon 7000 owner report on the update:

ATI has released a new bios for the Radeon 7000 Mac Edition video card that supports m KL-W9000's widescreen modes and are available in Mac OS X and Mac OS 9. The new bios is available from ATI's site.
After flashing to the 208 bios, I now get 720x480, 864x484, and 1072x603, in addition to 1376x768 and 1376x774. 640x360 is also listed, but doesn't work with m KL-W9000 as I get an "Out of Range" error. These are all 60Hz and the widescreen modes are built from the monitor's built-in DDC info. In addition, the bios adds support for 1920x1080 up to 120Hz.
I'm not sure if other displays, such as widescreen plasmas and projectors, will have better support with this new bios, but this allows me to get very good DVD playback with widescreen modes plus be able to use the display for readable web browsing.
Dennis"

I didn't see any firmware update for the previous (no longer made) Radeon PCI model this morning, but I'm not sure if that firmware required a fix.

" Hello Mike,
I noticed the note on the main page regarding the noise of the MDD G4's and am glad many people have found my power supply fan replacement article helpful. I wanted to add (and maybe you can post for your readers) that after searching high and low I have replaced my 120x120x38mm case fan.

I couldn't find anything of this size locally with the specs I was looking for, so finally decided to try a few mail order places listed elsewhere on other fan mod pages on your site. I first tried a Sunon 120mm fan that claimed to move 84CFM of air at a dBa rating of 35. This was okay, but just a little too loud for my tastes (but still quieter than the Delta fan at 'medium' speed). I opted for a Panaflo L1A from http://www.2cooltek.com/ that claims 69CFM at only 30dBa. This was less air movement, but I found the noise to be very tolerable.

The amount of air the L1A puts out is MORE than the stock Delta fan puts out at low speed, so I figure that the L1A, putting out this same moderate amount of air continuously, would be adequate cooling. Subjective tests after running the computer for hours under a heavy load seemed to show no problems with heat.

That's the mods I've made to my MDD G4 and am very happy. I sure wish Apple would spend the few extra bucks to put decent fans in these PowerMacs.
Martin Kaufmann "

If you missed yesterday's last news update, there's a long post/link list of related articles, including some movies from owners. (The http://www.G4noise.com/fans/drswitch.mov movie I think best illustrates the noise the fans make even without the large case fan on high speed. Some are not bothered by it, many others clearly are.)

" This is the third release of the PowerDomain 29160 and 29160N driver for Mac OS X 10.1, Mac OS X Server 10.1 and later. Improvements in this release include better support for removable media (including CD-ROM, CD-R/W and MO), more reliable mounting of hard drives and full compatibility with Dantz Retrospect and Media 100. "

There were some comments in the past about adaptec OS X driver issues with Retrospect as I remember - hopefully this solves based on the change comments.
The 39160 support/downloads page (had to search for it) notes the same changes as above.

" I sent an email to Acard regarding my OS 9 booting problem, and this is what they had to say:

"Mac OS 9.X can only support around 190G hard drive volume, this is the limitation of Apple Mac OS9.x, we can not do anything to help. This issue was fixed at Mac OS X.

You can partitioned the striped disk to a smaller size less than 190G, and install your OS9.X onto it, everything will be fine."

I had never heard of this limitation before, but I went ahead and partitioned the drive into 2 partitions, giving the main partition 185 GB. Sure enough, I now have no problems booting into OS 9.
Peter I. Lin "

I had two 120GB WD (8MB cache) drives raid striped (switch setting) on a Acard ATA/66 RAID card and I could have sworn they were seen as a single 200+GB volume - but I never tried booting from it.

• Other World Computing G4/450 in Beige G3 (rated 7)
• Powerlogix G4 1GHz in G4 Cube (rated 9)

(Warning - Overclocking may not be reliable and could lead to hardware failure or corrupted data.) You can find the full reports by searching the database selecting the indicated Mac model and upgrade card brand/type. If you've upgraded the CPU on your Mac, please post an entry in the database. Search the database for entries from most every upgradable Mac model *before* you buy. (Searchable by mac model/upgrade brand). For detailed reviews with performance tests and install tips, see the CPU Upgrades page.)

DVD-R DVD Recorder Drive Reports:
• IDE Pioneer DVR-105 in G4/AGP (OS X)
  (some problems noted - perhaps media related)
• Firewire (IDE drive in FW case) Pioneer DVR-105 used w/G4/AGP (OS X)
• IDE Pioneer DVR-105 in Dual G4 DDR (OS X)
  (noted only 1x DVD write speeds available in Toast 5.2)
  
  IDE CDRW Drive Reports:
• Lite-On LTR-40125S (40x12x48) in Dual G4 (OS X)
  (noted cd left in drive for long periods resulted in drive inaccessable w/o reboot - suggested setting drives to never sleep in ES)
  (FYI - Illustrated CD drive install guide here covers G4 towers up to the Digital Audio Model, Beige G3 MT, B&W G3 and 8600/9600 Macs.)
  
  SCSI CDRW Drive Reports:
• Yamaha 4416S (4x4x16x) in Beige G3 (OS X)
  (problems noted)
  
  Firewire CDRW Drive Reports:
• Samsung W-248B (48x16x48) in FW case used w/B&W G3 (OS X)
  (no itunes/db burn support)
  
  IDE Hard Drive Reports:
• IBM Travelstar 40GNX in PowerBook G4 (OS X) (PowerBook G4 illustrated Hard Drive install guide here)
• Seagate ST340016A 40GB in G4 Cube (OS X)
• Western Digital WD800JBRTL (8MB cache) 80GB in Beige G3 (OS 9.2)
  (Beige G3 MiniTower illustrated HD upgrade guide here)

You can find full owner reports (latest shown first) by searching the database by drive/brand/interface/mac models (the latest reports are shown first in searches). For guides to installing CD/CDRW/DVD drives or Hard drives in many mac models, see the IDE Articles page. The Firewire articles page also has guides on case kits, installing drives, etc.
If you've added a IDE, SCSI, Firewire or USB hard drive, CDRW, tape drive, etc. make sure you add a report to the database. [If you post an updated entry - make sure you use the same name, etc. as you did before so I can find your past entry. Thanks.]
(Entries today will be added the following newsday. Incomplete entries are deleted. Do not post questions in the database, it's for drive reports not questions on what drive to buy - for that try searching the database for reports from owners of your mac model on the drive type/brand/interface, etc. you're interested in.)

• 1 year ago today
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