Closing the lid on your MacBook Pro with Retina display is going to get a bit more useful thanks to an update that brings Power Nap to the laptop. The feature — which is only available for those running Mountain Lion on select laptops — lets the machine periodically check for updates as well as new Calendar, Contacts, Mail, Notes, and Reminders while asleep. Power Nap also updates your iCloud documents, Find My Mac location, Photo Stream, and Time Machine backups.
By default the feature only works when plugged into the power source, but you can enable it in the Energy Saver system settings menu to operate when on battery, too. For those not yet running Mountain Lion on their Retina MacBook Pro, the system management controller (SMC) firmware update is said to increase stability and fix "several sleep/wake issues" on the machine. The update is available now in the Mac App Store, and a similar upgrade for 2011 and 2012 MacBook Airs was released earlier this week.
Comments
My MBA had to get this before I could use Power Nap, too.
By jeshuacloud on 07.28.12 1:04pm
I don’t understand why this is useful. If you’re not there to see it, why do you even need a reminder when you’re computer’s not even open?
By jmlares on 07.28.12 1:04pm
Your* Stupid auto-correct.
By jmlares on 07.28.12 1:04pm
You had it right before.
By jeshuacloud on 07.28.12 5:44pm
“You are stupid computer”? Nope. It’s “your”.
By marcusds on 07.28.12 7:29pm
There’s more than one “your” and that confused our poor friend.
By MikehMike01 on 07.28.12 11:24pm
Disclaimer: I don’t use a Mac.
Personally, I don’t know how many times I’ve read an email on my phone, but Outlook still displays them as unread for the first few seconds after I turn my screen on because it’s waiting for my Wifi to reconnect. Features like Power Nap and Microsoft’s Connected Standby will fix this for me, so I’m all for them.
Or what if you have an important document in iCloud, that is being edited on a desktop computer or something and you need to have the most up-to-date version on your laptop which won’t be around Wifi? Like I said, I only see it as a positive
By jhoff80 on 07.28.12 1:08pm
Yup, especially considering it’s set by default to only be enabled when on a power source (as per the article).
By MikehMike01 on 07.28.12 11:25pm
I think this feature was primarily designed by Intel and Microsoft for Win8 tablets. You know, so they would work just like an ARM tablet, getting notifications and updates instantly accessible on the lock screen. But it’s probably useful on regular laptops as well.
By Hans Pedersen on 07.28.12 1:17pm
If so, there is no mention of it on Intel’s Smart Connect technology webpage. The references to supporting technology are all conventional PC technology rather than tablets, although I presume 80×86 tablets will share some of this.
Does anybody know of there are any existing Windows machines that support this?
By RobotPi on 07.28.12 2:21pm
I don’t think any windows machines support similar functionality at all.
You shut the lid and they suspend completely to RAM.
By chrishind10 on 07.28.12 3:03pm
Probably coming in 8 in.
By RobotPi on 07.28.12 3:04pm
Now, if you had read my post, you would have saved yourself from writing two replies. :)
By Hans Pedersen on 07.28.12 4:24pm
I read your post, you said “I think”. And I did google to see if I could find any mention of Smart Connect being used with Windows 8 (desktop of tablet) and couldn’t find anything :)
By RobotPi on 07.28.12 4:33pm
Well, when I put my windows 8 desktop to sleep, its CPU fan slows down but continues running, I will try sending an email to myself later and see if it appears on my lockscreen.
By chrishind10 on 07.28.12 5:01pm
Cool!
By RobotPi on 07.28.12 5:04pm
Try to use common sense while you read my post then.
Can you buy Windows 8 devices yet? Maybe that’s why they’re not advertising compatibility with Connected Standby? Just maybe?
By Hans Pedersen on 07.28.12 5:41pm
Here’s a good olde video from last year, when they revealed the tech: http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/BUILD/BUILD2011/HW-456T
By Hans Pedersen on 07.28.12 5:43pm
Interesting vid. This isn’t using Intel Smart Connect, it’s using aggressive ultra-low power management enforced by the power management system but the certification goals are very impressive – no more than 5% battery drain over an 16 hour connected standby period. Not as efficient as Smart Connect but the advantage of being always connected is compelling.
By RobotPi on 07.29.12 3:53am
Don’t read up on the tech if you don’t want to. But I really don’t get why you keep replying.
By Hans Pedersen on 07.29.12 11:21am
??? I watched the Microsoft presentation. I’m just saying, it’s not using Intel’s Smart Connect technology which is what Power Nap is based upon.
By RobotPi on 07.29.12 11:31am
Try not to be condescending. Intel’a Smart Connect technology is fairly widespread in their current processors. If this were a killer tablet feature you’d expect Microsoft to be talking about it, you know, matce because there are a lot if people skeptical of battery life of 80×86 via-a-via ARM. Maybe?
By RobotPi on 07.29.12 3:03am
It’s hard not to, when someone does their best at not wanting to understand what other people are saying.
I’m not being condescending, I’m making you aware of your own behaviour.
By Hans Pedersen on 07.29.12 11:22am
Actually it’s very easy not to be condescending. Billions of people manage it every day.
By RobotPi on 07.29.12 11:33am
Yes, they do. My XPS 13 that came out in Feb does this. It’s called Intel Smart Connect in the PC world. So yes, some Windows 7 laptops do this today.
By pusta80 on 07.28.12 4:26pm