"Aluminum Keyboard Firmware Update 1.1
This firmware update improves battery performance of the 2007 aluminum Apple Wireless Keyboard when used in combination with other bluetooth devices (eg. Magic Mouse, some bluetooth headsets) and addresses an issue with the 2007 aluminum Apple Keyboard and the 2007 aluminum Apple Wireless Keyboard where a key may repeat unexpectedly while typing.
For detailed information about this update, please visit this website: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4010.
(About the Aluminum Wireless Keyboard Firmware Update 1.1)
System Requirements: Mac OS X 10.5.8 or 10.6.2"

Since Apple lists this for 2007 model keyboards, I don't think it applies to the latest (2009) models.
And BTW - I ran the updater on my 2007 AL iMac's wired keyboard (which IIRC I'd already applied an earlier AL keyboard firmware update on it) - the 1.1 updater said it wasn't needed. (I wonder if v1.1 is just an updated installer for later OS X version compatibility. I did a search here and found the AL Kbd firmware update 1.0 I posted in the April 8th, 2008 news page.)

"I generally don't like these sort of things either--I'm a plain-vanilla Mac OS guy, and have been for 26 years--but Bumptop is actually pretty cool. It seems an easier way to organize the desktop (being able to hang a few things on the "walls" is quite handy, in fact), and I'd like to see Apple try a more sophisticated version of it.
Admittedly, I rarely see my desktop because it's covered with Windows--when I use the desktop, it's as a list of files in Finder. But it's fun to hit Exposé every once in a while and see the Bumptop 3D look.
I've only had it a few hours, so maybe the novelty will wear off. But I've got it running on both my desktop and laptop. And one nice thing--it's just an app. It doesn't modify any system files and doesn't even require a restart to install. You turn it on and it sets itelf to automatically launch at startup.

(he later wrote)
Got an update on my BumpTop experience, and it's not good: For some reason, BumpTop appears to conflict with iPhone and iPod connectivity with iTunes and iPhoto. Since installing it, my iPod freezes iTunes when it attempts to sync, and my iPhone is unable to correctly transfer photos to iPhoto. I tried restarts, etc., but no luck.
(FYI - two other readers (below) later replied they've not seen any Syncing problems.-Mike)
But I then turned off BumpTop and the problems disappeared. Not sure what the problem is--the Finder's need to put the iPod and iPhone on the desktop?--but I'm switching my opinion of BumpTop from positive to very negative.

One good thing: When you turn off BumpTop, your old desktop is restored exactly where it was--in terms of icon positions--when you started.
Best, Mark"

I asked the other readers (below) if they'd seen this problem also. (Not sure they have iPods/iPhones, but asked - two other users replied they have no problems syncing.)

"Fun. More space to make messy. A little buggy, just crashed. I have 2 monitors and BumpTop only sees the main one. I am unable to drop stuff from the 2nd monitor into folders on the BumpTop. No problem dragging onto the BumpTop desktop, but to a folder, no.

One other problem the Find command doesn't seem to work when I am on the BumpTop interface, but perhaps there is something I am missing.
Overall the first real breakthrough in desktop interface. Really like the idea. of the 4 walls. Also, I wish the black part above the image on the walls was usable - can't leave anything there.

One last weird thing - but about being human. There are 4 walls in this world, and I am really uncomfortable with no door or window on any of them. I tried some custom ones and felt claustrophobic. I finally added a theme with one door just to breath a little easier. How strange.
-Doug"

"Hi Mike, I downloaded BumpTop and installed the demo to see how well it worked and what it did. I liked it enough that I purchased it within half an hour. Partly my response is based on liking eye-candy but more importantly is the organization aspect. Piles. Remember when piles were rumored to be an element of the Mac desktop to be found in one of the OS Upgrades? Well Bump Top implements the concept of piles so I can resume using my desktop for temporary organization of projects without getting it so cluttered that the area is a mess. The ease of writing notes is another feature which i really like as it will eliminate having a separate app open.

BumpTop seems solid. I hasn't caused any issues with my system which has many other enhancements. I did check the Activity Monitor to see how it dealt with system resources, being particularly interested in CPU usage. I found that it is rather processor intensive when used actively hitting nearly 18% total CPU Cycles use when used. However this returns to .2% when the desktop/app isn't being addressed so that is not a consideration for me. That's on a 2006 MacPro and with a flashed ATI 4870 (1GB VRAM) 16GB RAM, running OS 10.6.2

I found that following their suggestion of creating an Exposé Desktop hot spot was very handy.
Other notes: I've been accustomed to using Desktopple Pro to blanket the desktop with a 60% gray screen when I use color critical apps such as Photoshop. That doesn't work so I've contacted both developers to see if that might get sorted. I found that a simple app called Desktop Curtain does work so although it isn't nearly the sophistication of Destopple Pro. There are a number of other accommodations I've made from my former work habits. None have been a stretch and the functionality is worth the changing my habits.

The most difficult habit to break is clicking on the desktop to bring up the Finder. It doesn't. That one is annoying enough I'm going to mention it to the developers. All in all I'm very pleased with BumpTop and will keep modifying my work habits to make it a part of my work flow.

(I asked if he's using an iPod or iPhone and if so, if he'd seen any issues syncing that one user did)
Yes I use an iPod Touch 3rd gen with the latest software updates applied. Since I started using BumpTop a few days ago I've synced a half a dozen times to add music, play lists, a couple of new apps and small photo collection updates without any issues.

In fact after intense computer use since the BumpTop installation I've not had a single problem or any instability. During that period I've caught myself with twenty or more apps open and have been working on a scene in Vue 8 Infinite which meant I'd be running Poser, Vue, Photoshop CS4, VMWare Fusion for GeoControl and Genetica, Safari, Mail, Acrobat and a bunch more concurrently without problems.
I just read the poster who had problems syncing his iPod with iPhoto. (but also iTunes syncing) When I first replied to your inquiry and reported no problems I hadn't read his note. I don't use iPhoto for syncing, preferring just to have a couple of folders in my Pictures folder which are designated for my iPod sync. I wondered if the problem might be iPhoto syncing? (but syncing is still done via iTunes)

One more obscure aspect of my setup is my use of ASM with the 'special features' turned on in the pref pane. (ASM is Applications Switcher Menu - a feature I miss (a lot) since OS X was released. I think it should be a std feature personally.) This means that only windows of the foreground application are visible unless a key command is used to add more apps. This is by solution for gaining a Spaces-like functionality with Adobe apps. I really like Spaces but Adobe apps don't work with Spaces worth a darn and work perfectly with the ASM work-around. I felt that the combination of BumpTop and ASM could well be problematic but both worked together without problem.
-Welles"

"i usually avoid these things as well, but so far the free version is actually pretty fun... I could get used to it. Works great, does not seem to have any system overhead, simply runs like an app. I might actually get the pro version. To have a little thumbnail gallery up against the back wall is fun. So far no drawbacks/problems/crashes at all. I don't think it can really mess anything up (unlike other things I usually avoid..)
(reply regarding question on iPhone/iPod syncing
I have both and am doing a sync right now, no problems at all.
OS X 10.6.2, MacBook Pro, vertex 256GB SSD, 6GB ram.
-Paul"

"I just want to mention an issue recently discovered with the Radeon HD3870 and Snow Leopard running on a 2008 Mac Pro - It seems as though the second DVI port and Svideo port no longer function after moving to SL. Leopard worked well, but SL makes adding a second monitor impossible and video out a fantasy.

I applied the usual bag of tricks, (assuming Combo updater reinstall, pram zap/smc reset, trashing related prefs, etc. and of course cable(s) good/tight.) and endured a 30 min call with Apple without success. My case is open and pending. But I noticed two other mentions of this issue on Apple's site - both recent, so I'm not sure if 10.6.1 broke it or 10.6.2. Just FYI.
(Update - from a later mail tonight)
I am pleased to report that everything now works as it should. Not sure if it was dust, a loose connection that reached the breaking point with my SL updates, or what, but after removing the card and giving it a good cleaning, it worked!
Cheers, RM"

I suspect either reseating or the fact AC power was disconnect (resetting SMC) solved it. (I hope it wasn't just reseating the DVI cable connection, he swears it wasn't that.) I also asked him if the Svideo out was working now but he said he's not had a chance to test that yet - as earlier today I had written an ATI support contact to ask if this was a known issue - here's his reply:

"Hi Mike, The Svideo issue should be addressed in an upcoming OS update. The DVI issue hasn't been reproduced here, but we'll continue to look into it.
Thanks for forwarding the report, Trev"

(I removed the replies from early Mac Pro model/3870/10.6.2 users noting no problems with dual displays (both ports worked) - thanks to all that replied.

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