May 31th, 2000

[9:30 AM] Apple Updates Firmware, Better FireWire And USB Support Among Improvements by Staff Apple Computer has released a series of firmware updates for their current active line of computers. The new PowerBook, the iBook, the G4, and iMac have each had their firmware version bumped to 2.4. The new firmware offers a variety of enhancements for each machine. According to Apple: PowerBook Firmware Update: The PowerBook Firmware Update 2.4 improves support for using a USB storage device, such as an external hard drive, as a startup disk. For PowerBooks with built-in FireWire ports using Mac OS 9.0.4 or later, this update also allows you to use a FireWire storage device, such as an external hard drive, as a startup disk. There is also improved support for FireWire target disk mode. iBook Firmware Update: The iBook Firmware Update 2.4 features support for 256 MB memory expansion modules and improved support for using a USB storage device, such as an external hard drive, as a startup disk. iMac Firmware Update: This update addresses issues that, in rare cases, prevented iMac from starting up correctly, and better handles temporary AC power fluctuations where iMac may have shutdown unexpectedly. On iMacs running Mac OS 9.0.4 or later, it also allows a FireWire mass storage device to be used as the startup disk. G4 Firmware Update: The Power Mac G4 Firmware Update 2.4 fixes a startup issue with some third-party memory modules and a problem recognizing when more than one gigabyte of memory is installed. On some early Power Mac G4 models, this update also allows a USB or FireWire storage device such as an external hard drive to be used as a startup disk. You can find more information, and a list of download links, at the Apple web site. Apple