MacOSX: don't switch to the dedicated graphic card

[ffissore]

It looks like the IDE is triggering the more powerful GPU of the two some Macs have installed.
AppBundler supports a flag that disables such switch
https://bitbucket.org/infinitekind/appbundler/pull-request/6/add-support-for/diff

[ffissore]

#3225 closed because of lack of feedback. Apparently, too few users are affected by the issue

[kriegsman]

Actually @ffissore, I think that basically ALL Mac laptop users are affected by this issue, but since 'graphics card switching' is automatic and invisible under OSX, 99% of users can't tell WHY running the Arduino IDE is draining their battery so quickly. (Installing "gfxCardStatus" makes it abundantly clear where the power is going.)

I'd like to suggest that we re-merge the fix for this. If you'd like more feedback, I will happily round up a dozen Mac laptop Arduino users and get them to report what they're finding.

Please let me know what would help get the patch re-merged and tested for acceptance.

Thanks -Mark.

[kriegsman]

Actually, using the built-in Activity Monitory, you can see which applications are demanding use of the 'high performance GPU' (which is what also draws much more power). Attached are a couple of screenshots, showing the Arduino IDE sitting 'idle' but still using significant power. Also worth noting that many MacBooks have these dual graphics chips: one energy-efficient one, and one high-performance one. I believe they introduced this hardware first in 2008, and it's still present in the the lastest higher-end MacBook Pros.

I'd love to help out all the Arduino developers who are using MacBooks improve their battery life, and let them hack longer between charges.

Thank you so much for all your hard work. It's hard to express how fantastic the whole Arduino project and ecosystem is.

[ffissore]

Happy to see you back.
First two tests I need you to perform:

1. download latest hourly, edit file Arduino.app/Contents/Info.plist: locate row

<string>-Xmx512M</string>

and, below, add row

<string>-Dsun.java2d.opengl=false</string>

Does you mac still flag the IDE as requiring a high perf GPU?

2. Download latest Processing and start it. Does you mac flag it as requiring a high perf GPU?