The Intricacies of Installing the Apple Bluetooth Module Firmware Update 1.2.

It is out and available for download via the Software Update preference pane or from this Apple web page as a stand-alone updater. The updater is for Apple's internal Bluetooth module or an external D-Link USB Bluetooth adapter (rev B2 or later). But folks, pay attention because this is a weird one. Here is what the Software Preference pane says:

The Apple Bluetooth Module Firmware Update 1.2 improves Bluetooth performance and reliability.

When this Update package is downloaded, it will install the software updater (listed below) for the Apple Bluetooth Module in the Applications/Utilities folder. Double click the installer and follow the on screen directions.

Yes, that's right. When the Software Update download is complete you still have to go to the Applications -> Utilities folder and click on the updater to install it despite what the Software Update preference pane says after the download is complete. The updater can take quite some time to finish. Our PowerBook G4 took almost 7 minutes with many 15-second pauses and two final 36-second pauses to install. On the other hand, our Power Mac G5 zoomed straight through the updater in less than a minute.

The firmware updater appeared in the Software Update preference pane of our PowerBook G4 because it has a built-in Apple module. It did not appear there on our Power Mac G5 that has an external D-Link USB module. For it we had to download the stand-alone updater. Once again, after the package installer finished, we had to go to the Applications->Utilities folder and click on the Bluetooth firmware updater.

After the updates, our Bluetooth wireless devices, i.e. Apple mice and keyboards, worked fine. [Bill Fox & Dana Baggett]