1. Fix a customer-reported issue where a stray data point from the year 2000 would crop up in the Plugged in Percentage graph. This was caused by the system clock getting temporarily reset during low power situations.
2. Updated the Plugged in Percentage graph to, by default, show the last 30 days instead of the entire power history.

This update is recommended for all users. Choose “Check for Updates…” from the “FruitJucie” menu.

Have a nice weekend.

For those of you already running FruitJuice, we thank you for your support.

For those of you who downloaded FruitJuice for the first time using Mountain Lion, we apologize for not being ready for that until today. We kindly ask that you download the latest version and give it another try. The delay, unfortunately, was a drawn out series of events and red-tape getting ourselves actually registered as official Apple developers. In short, Apple now requires that non-individuals (we’re an LLC) have a Dun & Bradstreet DUNS number to enroll as an LLC. This took 1 week (for a $49 rush fee, otherwise it is 30 days) to get the number. It turns out, however, that it can take another 14 business days to get into Apple’s system. So we waited the 3 weeks and figured we’d be all set. We weren’t. Some information that we entered at Dun & Bradstreet didn’t stick. So we had to update our Dun and Bradstreet record. That takes another week. And then ANOTHER 14 business days to get into Apple’s systems (again).

In other words, thank you for your patience!

Please note that we only updated the download link from the website. We did not post an update for existing users, since they would not see any new functionality. They’d just see us asking for their admin password for “no reason”, which isn’t nice.

We’re nice people.

The seams have now been expanded and everything should be operating normally.

Steve

1. Fix issue where FruitJuice would appear to be “stuck” after first install or after an update. This should actually result in faster launch times.
2. We have determined that, in some cases, Mac OS X provides incorrect “Factory Cycle Count” information for the current battery. If this error occurred, the filled circle representing the percent of lifespan would be incorrect. We’ve been able to work around this issue and you will now see the correct number and lifespan percent in the Battery Info screen.
3. Official Apple name for machine now shows at the top of the sidebar. For example, instead of just “MacBook Pro”, it will say, “MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010)”.
4. Add links from the “Start Conditioning/Calibration” sheet to additional documentation on our website describing the calibration or conditioning process in further detail (including estimated times for each phase).
5. Fix cosmetic issue where, when starting FruitJuice, the title bar of the main window would show “Trial Remaining” or “Trial Expired” for a few seconds. This was true even for the fantastic people who have paid for subscriptions.
6. Fix an issue on machines with built-in batteries where multiple batteries would be displayed in the sidebar. This typically only impacted users that had migrated FruitJuice to new hardware.
7. Moved the “Open FruitJuice Application” item from the bottom of the Status Menu to a location next to the “Open Energy Saver Prefs…”. This helps avoid accidentally cancelling a calibration or conditioning.

In the Apple KnowledgeBase article #1490 it says that machines with built-in batteries are pre-calibrated and do not require the calibration procedure outlined therein.

However, if you read the About Notebook Batteries page, you will see that you do need to still use your machine on battery power. If your machine is plugged in most of the time, Apple recommends that you drain and recharge your battery about once a month.

The following is a description of how FruitJuice implements a process we call “Conditioning”, which follows the official Apple calibration process, but is modified for more modern machines. In summary, it is the same process, but with shortened “Pre-Charge Rest” and “Post-Discharge Rest” periods.

You can use your machine as you normally would in all phases except when your machine is forced to turn off after fully discharging the battery. Conditioning requires many hours of time. The time varies based on the type of machine you have and the condition of your battery.

Keep an eye on your phone and email, since we will be sending you messages every step of the way and let you know when we need your help to unplug or plug in your computer.

Please DO NOT close the laptop lid! This will interrupt the procedure and either delay or require you to restart your calibration.

Any scheduled sleep or wake events you have set up in the “Energy Saver” System Preference will be disabled at the start of the calibration and restored upon its completion (or cancellation).

In order to keep you informed of the state of your calibration, we require that you have an active internet connection.

On the machine currently running FruitJuice:

1. Open the main FruitJuice application.
2. Hold down the Option key as you choose “Quit” from the “FruitJuice” menu.
   This will prompt you for your admin password and then uninstall the low-level software. It will leave your data file intact.
3. Locate the “BatteryProject” folder inside the “Library” folder at the top level of your startup disk. You will need to move this folder onto the new machine (see next section).

If you HAVE NOT installed FruitJuice on your new machine:

1. Move the “BatteryProject” folder from your old machine to your new machine and place it inside the “Library” folder at the top level of your startup disk.
   It may ask you to authenticate, please allow it, otherwise this won’t work.
2. Download (or otherwise get) FruitJuice onto the new machine.
3.  Run FruitJuice and follow the prompts to authenticate.
   Once FruitJuice starts up, it should look like it did on your other machine, with your registration and subscription information intact.
   Please note that it will likely show you TWO batteries in sidebar (we’re working on a solution for this). In any case, the battery in the machine will have the little computer icon next to it.

1. Open the main FruitJuice Application.
2. Hold down the Option key as you choose “Quit” from the “FruitJuice” menu.
   This will prompt you for your admin password and then uninstall the low-level software. It will leave your data file intact.
3. Move the “BatteryProject” folder from your old machine to your new machine and place it inside the “Library” folder at the top level of your startup disk.
   It may ask you to authenticate, please allow it, otherwise this won’t work.
4. Download (or otherwise get) FruitJuice onto the new machine.
5.  Run FruitJuice and follow the prompts to authenticate.
   Once FruitJuice starts up, it should look like it did on your other machine, with your registration and subscription information intact.
   Please note that it will likely show you TWO batteries in sidebar (we’re working on a solution for this). In any case, the battery in the machine will have the little computer icon next to it.

This is because, as the battery ages, there is a decrease in capacity! Notebook batteries, like other batteries, do have a limited lifespan.

The before and after numbers are the percentages relative to the factory capacity of the battery. One of the main goals of FruitJuice is to make people more aware of their usage patterns so that they can treat their batteries properly and, thus, maximize this life. The number going down is merely a better representation of reality.

There are two pieces to the battery “puzzle” which calibration/conditioning helps to address. The first, as discussed already, is the raw “max capacity” number (and associated percentage of factory).

The second piece is “accuracy”. Proper treatment of your battery will keep your time remaining numbers more accurate, thus avoiding the situation where your machine reports that it has 45 minutes left and then suddenly goes to sleep without warning.

The reported decrease in capacity shows that the calibration/conditioning has helped the system become more aware of the battery’s actual capacity instead of using an overly optimistic estimate leading to the situation above. FruitJuice is keeping track of this so you know where your battery stands relative to Apple’s claims regarding capacity and cycle count.

Recommended for all users.