Apple acknowledged the problem on October 13th in a KnowledgeBase article that described the problem and said Apple was working on a fix. that KBase article has been updated with links to the software update linked above. The article also has information for Snow Leopard users:
For computers with OS X Snow Leopard, v10.6
Select one of these service options:
- Apple Retail Store. Set up an appointment with a Genius.
- Apple Authorized Service Provider. Find one here.
- Apple Technical Support. Contact us for local service options.
Apple will run a software diagnostic test to determine if your computer qualifies for service for this issue.
Furthermore, the note added that, “Apple will service affected 15-inch MacBook Pro computers free of charge until two years from date of purchase. Apple will provide further extensions to this program as needed. This worldwide Apple program does not extend the standard warranty coverage of the affected MacBook Pro.”
The patch should be available in Software Update if you have a mid-2010 15” MacBook Pro, or you can download a standalone updater from Apple’s download site (70.97MB download).