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PowerNap

Troubleshooting PowerNap in OS X Mountain Lion

Apple's latest 2011-2012 MacBook Air and 2012 Retina MacBook Pro systems support a new power-saving mode called PowerNap, which allows the systems to perform a number of background tasks when in Sleep mode, thereby maintaining low power but preventing a flurry of synchronization and update activity when the system is woken up.

When activated, the system should go into Sleep mode as usual, but periodically you should see activity with an attached Time Machine drive, and also see received e-mail messages, updated contacts, iCloud content, and also be able to use Apple's Find My Mac remote access features. … Read more

Firmware update for Retina MacBook Pro adds PowerNap

Apple has issued a firmware update for its latest Retina MacBook Pro systems that adds support for the new PowerNap feature in OS X Lion.

PowerNap allows the system to save energy by maintaining Sleep mode but still allow the system network access for updates and synchronization, as well as allowing backups to happen in the background. This feature is only available on the 2011-2012 MacBook Air systems and in the MacBook Pro with Retina Display; however, these systems did require a firmware update to use the new feature.

Apple issued the required firmware updates for the MacBook Air systems … Read more

Mountain Lion's PowerNap feature requires firmware update

One of the new features in OS X Mountain Lion is the PowerNap energy-saving option that allows newer MacBook Pro and MacBook Air systems to continue to use network and backup services when in sleep mode. However, even after installing the OS X Mountain Lion upgrade, qualified systems may not be able to use the PowerNap feature.

When activated in the system's Energy Saver system preferences, PowerNap will perform hourly checks for new e-mail and updates to Contacts, Calendars, Reminders, Notes, iCloud documents, and Photo Stream. It will also maintain a connection for Apple's Find My Mac service. … Read more

Apple's Power Nap lets Macs update while asleep

Apple's newest Macs will be able to accomplish updates, data refreshes, and more -- all while the computers are asleep.

At its Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco today, Apple unveiled a feature called Power Nap. Available on second-generation MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros with Retina Displays, Power Nap is all about keeping Macs up to date even while they're snoozing.

The computers will be able to fetch data while in sleep mode, do an iCloud sync, update system software, get e-mail, and even do a Time Machine backup.

This could be a very useful feature for heavy … Read more