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Nasty macOS flaw is bricking MacBooks: Don't install this update

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Re: Nasty macOS flaw is bricking MacBooks: Don't install this update

#161

Post by j4yav »

gregmac wrote: post #45
ObsoleteNerd wrote: post #4

It's not "bricked" if you can fix it in Recovery Mode. Still bad that it's happening, but the term "bricked" is thrown around so flippantly these days. If a piece of tech is bricked, it's not recoverable at all.

"Bricked" is relative, depending on your skill level. For some consumers, if recovery mode doesn't work that might be the end of line. However, there are more advanced users that can access the storage via another system and fix it there, hook up via serial port or JTAG and flash new firmware, or even desolder and replace chips. On the far other end of the spectrum, there's going to be people that consider "doesn't s…

Is the power system in your house bricked if you don't know how to reset the fuse? Is your car bricked if your battery dies and you need help to replace it?

Maybe, but this sounds really strange to my ears. I think for me the difference between bricked and non bricked is the expense of the repair, and maybe if it's more than the value of the device. If the wiring in your house is all melted after lightning strike then it's bricked. If you total your car it's bricked.

Re: Nasty macOS flaw is bricking MacBooks: Don't install this update

#162

Post by tedunangst »

sv9 wrote: post #67

I'm consistently amazed by HN's ability to take the most meaningless, inconsequential part of an article (the scroll behavior, the whitespace, the usage of the word "bricked"), and nitpick it to hell and back instead of actually discussing the article. Bravo.

If only there were some way for article writers to avoid this trap.

Re: Nasty macOS flaw is bricking MacBooks: Don't install this update

#163

Post by kiwijamo »

Joeri wrote: post #147
encom wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What OS X and Windows, IOS, Android and probably lots of others need, is Long Term Support releases. I'm so sick and tired of my phone and computer switching up major features and UI every year, because some UX person wants to not get fired. Releasing a new major version of your OS yearly is insane.

On windows you can choose to get feature updates with a 4 month delay if you have windows pro (set updates to "Semi-Annual Channel" instead of "Semi-Annual Channel (Targeted)", and yes microsoft are indeed terrible with naming things). I never had issues with windows updates on that branch. There is also windows enterprise long term servicing branch (LTSB), which gets feature updates every 3 years (but is meant more…

Second the recommendation to stay on Mojave. I do this for my $WORK laptop and it still gets back-ported security updates. $WORK's IT department has advised Apple users to hold off upgrading to 10.15 and it seems they have good reason to continue dispensing that advice, still...!

Re: Nasty macOS flaw is bricking MacBooks: Don't install this update

#164

Post by jeroenhd »

tmh88j wrote: post #139
bryanrasmussen wrote: post #137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess I'd go with "bricked means the device is no longer usable, due to some problem the cause of which lies with the manufacturer", so most often devices are bricked because of hardware issues because manufacturer software issues are generally recoverable from.

Sure, but this is in the context of Macbook Pro's which can be fixed by someone with a bit of technical prowess, or literally anyone if you bring to to an Apple store. They're not locked down by hardware and unable to be restored like the Sonos smart speakers. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-51768574

If I want to go to the nearest Apple store from my home, that's about 3 hours of travel time. Traveling 6 hours to fix a buggy update in the middle of social quarantine because of a pandemic it not something to look down upon.

Especially since countries other than mine have called out a complete lockdown. You can't just walk into an Apple store right now or call a techie friend over.

Chrome and Firefox, as well as Microsoft, have announced that they will only distribute stability fixes to prevent people working from home from having trouble.

In any normal year, I'd say "shit happens" (or "that's the risk of buying Apple", given that they don't even offer to do pickup of your >€2000 machine like most businesses selling laptops in that price range do). Right now, any disruption in computer performance is debilitating.

Apple needs to confirm these cases ASAP and/or pull the update for the devices affected. Apple isn't the only one releasing bricking updates by the way, Samsung has pulled an update for their A70 phone because of bricking issues two days ago.

Re: Nasty macOS flaw is bricking MacBooks: Don't install this update

#165

Post by mmcnl »

cygned wrote: post #148
sv9 wrote: post #67

I'm consistently amazed by HN's ability to take the most meaningless, inconsequential part of an article (the scroll behavior, the whitespace, the usage of the word "bricked"), and nitpick it to hell and back instead of actually discussing the article. Bravo.

Brown M&Ms ( https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/232420 ). How am I supposed to assume your content is of any quality if you cannot get the details right?

Typical HN response, there is no multi-million dollar exchange going on here. How about filling in some of the blanks or correct the wrong parts yourself? This is such an unnecessary defensive response.

Re: Nasty macOS flaw is bricking MacBooks: Don't install this update

#166

Post by cageface »

trevyn wrote: post #153
andrekandre wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Xcode 11.4 your probably not missing much, there are some serious regressings in that release, for example [0] [0] https://forums.swift.org/t/swift-5-2-struct-property-wrapper... (for me, cant make release builds because the compiler crashes... sigh...)

You’re missing the ability to connect to and debug on iOS 13.4 devices, I believe: https://forums.developer.apple.com/thread/130988 So now I’m stuck on 10.14.6 and iOS 13.3.1, one of which is not getting security updates. Really hoping Fuschia or someone steps up and displaces Apple.

My stress level has gone down dramatically since I gave up iOS development and went back to the web. I think it’s a better career move long term too.

Re: Nasty macOS flaw is bricking MacBooks: Don't install this update

#167

Post by b15h0p »

I had a problem with the latest iOS update too: after installing 13.4.1 it booted to a white screen with „swipe up to upgrade“ at the bottom. Swiping up crashed the device. Every couple of minutes it would reboot and be back to the white screen.

I did a factory reset via finder and that worked. As soon as I restored the iCloud backup: back to the white screen.

I had to revert to 13.4 and could then restore the backup. Now I’m afraid to update again … I guess I’ll have to wait until 13.4.2 or 14 are released. Luckily 13.4.1 does not seem to contain security relevant fixes.

Re: Nasty macOS flaw is bricking MacBooks: Don't install this update

#168

Post by UweSchmidt »

sv9 wrote: post #67

I'm consistently amazed by HN's ability to take the most meaningless, inconsequential part of an article (the scroll behavior, the whitespace, the usage of the word "bricked"), and nitpick it to hell and back instead of actually discussing the article. Bravo.

I'd love to complain about all the meaningless parts of the article, but this website seems to detect my basic safety browser addons (uBlock Origin, uMatrix and Privacy Badger) and refuses to show me the content, giving me a lecture instead.

Most content is also available on non-spammy, ethical websites, and we shouldn't support bad actors.

Re: Nasty macOS flaw is bricking MacBooks: Don't install this update

#169

Post by ct520 »

irjustin wrote: post #47
gregmac wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Bricked" is relative, depending on your skill level. For some consumers, if recovery mode doesn't work that might be the end of line. However, there are more advanced users that can access the storage via another system and fix it there, hook up via serial port or JTAG and flash new firmware, or even desolder and replace chips. On the far other end of the spectrum, there's going to be people that consider "doesn't s…

Granted there's no formal definition of "bricked" it usually means a hardware requirement to restore functionality. I'd like to keep it this way even to the general lay person. Because if you need hardware the barrier to entry goes up significantly. Agreed that 'bricked' is not the right term here.

I agree. From the modding days bricked always ment hardware hack was required.. I have the same gripe about how the word is used now. Glad to see it’s not just me

Re: Nasty macOS flaw is bricking MacBooks: Don't install this update

#170

Post by qqssccfftt »

sv9 wrote: post #67

I'm consistently amazed by HN's ability to take the most meaningless, inconsequential part of an article (the scroll behavior, the whitespace, the usage of the word "bricked"), and nitpick it to hell and back instead of actually discussing the article. Bravo.

No technology is discussed.
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