Apple launches an update of the SMC to discover if our laptop has a bug that has been detected in some computers of the brand and that affects the battery. The acronym SMC stands for in English System Management Controller It is a chip on the motherboard that controls the low-level functions of Intel-based Macs.
Released updates serve to resolve a unexpected shutdown problem in some of the MacBook batteries, with more than a thousand charge cycles. This update solves the problem that is otherwise rare, but is found in some Apple laptops and especially in those that accumulate more than 1.000 charge cycles. The update applies to NON-Retina MacBook Pro models (SMC Update 1.6 ), MacBook (SMC Update 1,5) and also the MacBook Air (SMC Update 1.8) can be downloaded through the automatic software update of our Macs or in the apple support page, for each of the previously exposed models.
Update: though Apple does not give a defined list of models in which we must update the SMC, on the MacRumors website we see one with the models in which Apple considers the update convenient, from the MacBook range.
It goes without saying that it is a highly recommended update and that no one should forget to install it, but the models listed below are the ones that can cause this failure:
MacBook
MacBook 7, 1 (13-inch, Mid 2010)
MacBook Air
MacBook Air 3, 1 (11-inch, Late 2010)
MacBookAir 3, 2 (13-inch, Late 2010)
MacBook Air 4, 1 (11-inch, Mid 2011)
MacBook Air 4, 2 (13-inch, Mid 2011)
MacBook Pro
MacBookPro 7, 1 (13-inch, Mid 2010)
MacBookPro 8, 1 (13-inch, Early 2011 or Late 2011)
For determine the number of cycles in our Mac's batteryHere are these simple steps: we hold down the Alt key and select the Apple menu () in the menu bar of our OS X, then select "System Information" and then "Power" in the list on the left. Battery cycles are displayed under Health Information> Cycle Count.
More information - Apple Releases SMC Update for MacBook Pro
Source - macobserver
A small paragraph, since I have not found the cycle count using the steps indicated in the post. I guess it will have changed a bit with Mountain lion. I imagine that the steps that I write below are equivalent to those that you tell us in the post.
We hold down the Alt key and select the Apple menu () in the menu bar of our OS X, then we select "System Information" and then "Power" in the list on the left. Battery cycles are displayed in
Battery information:> Status information:> Number of cycles.
If I'm wrong, Jordi correct me. Good post.
regards
True Daniel, the steps are equivalent, you are not wrong. Thank you very much for your contribution. a greeting