Google Maps is now available as a standalone app for the iPhone and iPad.
This new version of the app brings vector based maps which allow for faster loading, better scaling and more offline caching. Also included are voice guided turn-by-turn navigation, public transit directions and Street View.
If you were waiting to upgrade to iOS 6 because you didn’t want to rely on Apple’s Maps, upgrade away.
[ Google Maps App ]
A developer has been able to get Apple’s new Fusion Drive technology working with 3rd party drives. Fusion Drive is the technology that uses a separate SSD (solid state drive) and traditional hard drive to create one “hybrid drive” to boost overall machine performance. The SSD portion loads commonly used files while the traditional hard drive stores the larger, less used ones.
The new iMacs are the first Macs to offer Fusion Drive built-in, but any Mac running OS X Mountain Lion with a SSD and HD should be able to support it. It requires some formatting in the terminal, but if you’re comfortable with the instructions it’s relatively straightforward to get working.
MyService now offers a full line of replacement keyboards for all models of MacBook Pro.
Previously, when the keyboard went bad or was damaged from a liquid spill, the entire top case (aluminum housing with speaker grills, keyboard and palm rest) would have to be replaced as the keyboard was not available as a separate part.
By replacing just the keyboard, we’re able to drastically lower the price of most liquid spill repairs where the keyboard or power button was damaged. The new keyboards include the power button.
These new keyboards are brand new and come with a 1 year warranty. All models are now in stock including those for the new Retina MacBook Pro.
Our new Nest thermostat.
We’ve been doing some sprucing up here at MyService HQ and decided to try out one of the Nest smart thermostats for our front lobby.
The Nest thermostat was created by the same team behind the original iPod. It was super easy to install, works with wifi and the iOS app looks great.
Probably the most useful features for energy savings are the auto-off feature and a function that utilizes the fan to reduce the amount of time the compressor runs.
After about a month of use we’ve determined that the device should pay for itself ($250) in a little over a year. A new model was just announced that is about 20% thinner. Since the first generation has the same functionality (via a free software update) you may want to pick up the first gen for a few bucks less.
[ Nest on Amazon ]
Bottom of trackpad shown, T6 adjustment screw circled.
If the trackpad for your MacBook Pro (black keyboard) is not clicking properly, you can adjust the set screw located on the underside of the trackpad.
The bottom case and battery will need to be removed to access this screw. You may need a tri-tip screwdriver to remove the battery.
At the bottom of the underside of the trackpad you’ll see a T6 set screw (circled above.) Loosing or tightening this screw will affect the amount of travel of the trackpad clicker.
Over time this screw can become loose and you’ll notice a lack of spring in the trackpad. We’ve found that by applying a small amount of thread locker to the screw helps keep it in place and maintain the sensitivity of the clicker.
MyService now carries the Momentus XT 750GB hybrid drive by Seagate. This upgrade delivers the capacity and value of a traditional hard drive combined with speeds that are close to that of a solid state drive.
These drives are in stock now and are compatible with MacBooks, MacBook Pros and Intel Mac minis.
These drives work by combing a 7200RPM hard disk with a 8GB solid state buffer. The drive’s firmware assigns commonly used files to the solid state portion in order to boost the overall speed of the drive. Boot and system files get stored in the buffer while files like your iTunes library are kept in the traditional portion.
We did a real world test where we installed OS X Lion on two identical 13″ MacBook Pros. One had the hybrid drive and the other a standard 5400RPM HD. The hybrid drive booted the MacBook Pro in 17 seconds vs. 34 seconds with the traditional drive. Boot times were twice as fast with the hybrid and only a couple seconds slower than that of a full solid state drive.
These drives are great for users who want more speed out of their Mac but need the larger capacity of a traditional hard drive. The lower price point versus high capacity solid state drives delivers great performance for the value.
[ 750GB Hybrid Mac Upgrade ] [ Purchase the drive for self install here ]
We’ve just finished putting together another batch of refurbished 2.26Ghz MacBooks.
These polycarbonate unibody MacBooks are now available individually and in packs of 5.
These units are extremely clean and are in “Grade A” condition. All units have been thoroughly restored and come with a 1 year MyService warranty.
These MacBooks can be configured with either Snow Leopard or OS X Lion and are compatible with the latest version of OS X Mountain Lion.
MyService now offers a full range of repairs for the new 15″ Apple MacBook Pro Retina.
We’ve had some time to check out the new Pro and now that Apple has released a full list of available service parts we’ve got more details on repairs.
We’ll update this post if any changes are made to the service procedures.
Similar to the newer models of MacBook Air, the LED panel is not available separately. This means that to replace a cracked or damaged screen, the entire upper section will need to be replaced. The cost of the replacement will vary depending on the issue. If the screen is physically damaged or suffered from a liquid spill, the replacement cost will be higher than if the screen suffers from a component failure outside of the warranty period.
If the unit is undamaged and still under the Apple warranty, the upper section can be replaced under AppleCare at no charge. MyService can perform both in and out-of-warranty upper section replacements.
Logic Board Repairs & Replacements
The logic board for the new Retina MacBook Pros is also similar to the current generation of Airs. The RAM is soldered to the logic board so upgrading the board just to get more RAM would not be cost effective.
If the logic board is replaced due to component failure, only the exact same board with the same processor and RAM will be available for exchange. If the board has suffered from a liquid spill, MyService may be able to repair the board. In the event that the board cannot be repaired and the repair is not covered under AppleCare, we can order a replacement board from Apple in any processor speed/RAM combo.
The SSD is a separate card that MyService can replace under AppleCare. Only the same exact capacity SSD can be exchanged with Apple. If you wanted to get a bigger SSD card, it would make fiscal sense to wait and see if 3rd party cards come out in the future.
Here’s where the new MacBook Pro gets a little tricky. The top case, trackpad and battery are all treated as one unit. This means that to replace one component, you have to replace them all. For repairs that are covered under AppleCare this is actually good, as you’ll be getting a new battery if say the trackpad fails. If the repair is not covered under warranty “i.e. liquid spill and some keys stop working,” the entire top case/battery assembly will need to be replaced.
There is a separate I/O board that houses the DC-IN and left side ports. So if say your audio jack stops working or is damaged, this board can be replaced separate from the logic board. The newly designed fans are also available for replacement. We’ll need to see how well they hold up over time, but so far they seem very solid.
Another first for the Retina MacBook Pro is the way the speakers work. Apple strongly advises replacing both speakers when one fails. The speakers are paired and the syncing may be off if they are replaced independently.
AppleCare and Warranty Service
The new Retina MacBook Pro is great to use, but difficult and expensive to repair. We highly recommend getting AppleCare when purchasing this unit. MyService can perform both AppleCare and out-of-warranty repairs for these models. For more info on issues with your Retina MacBook Pro or to get a detailed repair quote you can contact one of our Service Advisors.
We’ve added new models of refurbished Macs to the MyService Store.
All units are in stock and carry a 1 year MyService warranty.
MacBook Air – from $6991.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
11-inch Display
2GB 667MHz DDR Memory
64GD SSD
OS X Lion
MacBook Pro – from $8992.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
13.3-inch Display
4GB 1066MHz DDR Memory
250GB 5400 RPM HD
8x Double-Layer SuperDrive
OS X Lion
iMac Aluminum – from $6992.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
20-inch Display
2GB 800MHz DDR Memory
320GB 7200 RPM HD
16x Double-Layer SuperDrive
OS X Lion
This week Apple announced the next generation 15″ MacBook Pro. This new Pro has forgone the optical drive and adopted a more streamline profile with a new high resolution “Retina” display.
The inside of the new MacBook Pro is very similar to the current MacBook Air. While this makes for a super thin profile, the repair and upgradability of the computer becomes more of a challenge.
Let’s do a quick breakdown of common repairs and upgrades and see where we stand:
The new Retina display is assembled using the outer case and bezels as part of the panel. This is similar to the way that the current MacBook Air screen is assembled. Instead of just replacing the cracked panel, as in previous MacBook Pros, the entire upper section will need to be replaced. This of course adds cost and limits the options for where to get the screen replaced. You’ll have to go through the Apple Store or an Authorized Service Provider like MyService.
Once Retina displays and panels start to become available in other laptops, we may see a way to replace the inside of the screen without the entire upper section (bringing the cost down).
The RAM on the new Retina MacBook Pro 15″ is soldered directly to the logic board. There is an almost zero chance that you’ll be able to upgrade that RAM later on, so we recommend buying it with the maximum amount of RAM you can afford.
The cost of replacement logic boards that have more RAM will likely be way too high to be feasible. You almost certainly won’t be able to get an exchange price for your old board from Apple.
As with the new Airs, the solid state hard drives are a new proprietary card that attaches to the logic board. While this will make upgrading to a larger drive more costly than an industry-standard form factor; 3rd party drive manufacturers will probably provide cards that can be used. Wait time will probably be at least 6 months for a 3rd party option to appear.
We’re still waiting for an update from Apple on availability of case parts and battery replacement procedures. From the early tear downs, it appears that the battery is glued to the top case. The top case (keyboard and palm rest) may come with the battery attached as a part or there may be a new procedure for service providers to remove the battery. We’ll keep you updated on this.
AppleCare and Warranty Service
Once we get word on the availability of parts and the repair procedures from Apple we’ll update our site on what repairs will be available and at what price.
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