Apple today released a third Studio Display 17 firmware beta, with the update coming two weeks after the release of the second beta. All Studio Display models are able to receive over-the-air firmware updates, but this firmware update is limited to Macs that are running the new macOS Sonoma operating system at the current time. Studio Display owners running macOS Sonoma can go to System Settings > Software Update to install the firmware.

Apple has not provided details on what's included in the firmware update and no new features were found by those running the betas. Release notes will be available when the beta sees a launch this fall alongside macOS Sonoma.

Article Link: Apple Releases Third Studio Display 17 Firmware Beta

Remember the days when your display was just a display?

I’m super curious about what this software updates add to a display.

I’m not going to be sold on the Studio Display until it has more than one input, but you gotta respect how well Apple seems to support it. That’s a pretty good selling point compared to (just about) every other monitor out there.

Populus said:

I’m super curious about what this software updates add to a display.

or fixes? mine is still on 16.4

In what sense of the word is this kind of update "over the air"?

Mr. Dee said:

Remember the days when your display was just a display?

Those days literally never existed, not even in the 90s. Apple has been including updates to monitors as part of the OS updates for at least 15 years (probably longer). In the 90s and before, monitors were upgraded it just happened on the manufacturing line and consumers were none the wiser.

If only it could run tvOS native I’d buy it in a heartbeat. Heck even if I could plug my aTV in it would be something.

Did Apple ever really fix the issues with the Studio Display's webcam? I'll be in the market for a new Mac desktop when the M3 chip comes out. But I am not predisposed to buy a Studio Display.

Still waiting for the update that'll turn the webcam into something usable.

Mr. Dee said:

Remember the days when your display was just a display?

And what about the days when your phone was just a phone?

So has the webcam ever been fixed or did they really used old inventory that needed to be used in these displays?

Populus said:

I’m super curious about what this software updates add to a display.

future code for forced upgrades.

MacRumors said:

All Studio Display models are able to receive over-the-air firmware updates

Not really... they can't update on their own. I guess the updates appear in software update on a connected Mac?

So do these monitors receive every iOS update just because they use an A series chip? That would drive me nuts.

autistic-savant said:

If only it could run tvOS native I’d buy it in a heartbeat. Heck even if I could plug my aTV in it would be something.

Would explain the A-chip added etc. would be nice if released something “New” as a software upgrade in the future. Maybe to aTV. Would make your display that you bought before a “New” product.

But I am ok with a monitor being just a monitor without all of the fluff. Just make the monitor nice, with speakers and camera working good and I am good.

Biro said:

Did Apple ever really fix the issues with the Studio Display's webcam? I'll be in the market for a new Mac desktop when the M3 chip comes out. But I am not predisposed to buy a Studio Display.

erikkfi said:

Still waiting for the update that'll turn the webcam into something usable.

t0rqx said:

So has the webcam ever been fixed or did they really used old inventory that needed to be used in these displays?

Same here. I've had reservations about the Studio Display since those early reports of deficiencies with the webcam. I haven't really followed progress since then.

I have bought two Studio Displays and actually find the webcam pretty good! No joke. I used to hate the center stage feature but have come to enjoy it and find that it counters the fisheye effect of the webcam. So as long as you’re okay with center stage it’s actually pretty good.

G46&Fbnth5 said:

And what about the days when your phone was just a phone?

I don't see how the two relate here and its not like this has been off to a great start either.

AppleTO said:

So do these monitors receive every iOS update just because they use an A series chip? That would drive me nuts.

No. There have been 4 so far, same amount as the XDR.

jlit said:

I have bought two Studio Displays and actually find the webcam pretty good! No joke. I used to hate the center stage feature but have come to enjoy it and find that it counters the fisheye effect of the webcam. So as long as you’re okay with center stage it’s actually pretty good.

I just bought a Studio Display last week and the camera looked better than before. It was not bad actually, center stage is not a big deal to me, but I got use to it and it is ok. No fan noise either. The speakers are good, but maybe a little muffled and a little on the bass-y side, but good compared to the other tin-y speakers on other plastic monitors and is ok.

Since I am on macOS Ventura, when I first plugged it in, the update kicked in and wanted me to upgrade the firmware. I noticed before the upgrade a slight fan noise, but acceptable. But after the upgrade, it became silent.

Very happy with the monitor, hope they continue to improve it with firmware updates.

I wonder if there will be a refresh with mini-LED at some point... it's a lovely monitor but at that kind of price I'd like some newer tech...

I just wish they’d bring out an HW update with an improved camera. It’s the only reason I haven’t bought one.

I wish Apple would have not removed support for the 27" LED Cinema Display. I bought a new Mac and this perfect display was working just fine. On top of that, it still has an amazing resolution.

I had to change it, because Apple released an update (Monterey I believe) that removed brightness support for the display. That's very funny … a few months later, the Apple Studio Display was released.

Some people I asked don't think there's anything to it. There might be nothing to it. But from a purely theoretical perspective, you can kill a display per software update. Who is going to use a display on which you can't change the brightness? 😂

I could have downloaded a 3rd party app to control the brightness. But first, I don't want such apps on my computer (I have no idea what these apps do in the background and don't trust them), and second, when I installed them on the brand new (empty) Mac in order to test them (before wiping the whole drive and making a fresh install) they didn't work anyway.

So Apple achieved what they wanted I guess, I bought an Apple Studio Display. Now I hope this new update doesn't make our brand new Studio Displays suddenly have no sound anymore 🤣 You know, now that there's rumours of Apple working on a new display …

Mr. Dee said:

Remember the days when your display was just a display?

Even my 10-year old Dell has firmware that needs updating for security/stability. And it's a really painful process to do it. I need a USB thumbdrive formatted the right way, a Windows PC to install the update, and then have to keep my fingers crossed that the firmware update doesn't bork it when installing.

Biro said:

Did Apple ever really fix the issues with the Studio Display's webcam? I'll be in the market for a new Mac desktop when the M3 chip comes out. But I am not predisposed to buy a Studio Display.

erikkfi said:

Still waiting for the update that'll turn the webcam into something usable.

t0rqx said:

So has the webcam ever been fixed or did they really used old inventory that needed to be used in these displays?

Woah! People really think the webcam sucks! It's absolutely fine for FT/Teams/Zoom calls. My boss doesn't need to see my stubble.

jlit said:

I have bought two Studio Displays and actually find the webcam pretty good! No joke. I used to hate the center stage feature but have come to enjoy it and find that it counters the fisheye effect of the webcam. So as long as you’re okay with center stage it’s actually pretty good.

Center Stage is a questionable call, but I can see why they went with it. I'm looking forward to MacOS Sonoma which will finally give us some granular controls to adjust center stage.