USB port power management issue on apple aluminium wired keyboard after upgrade to 10.8.5

Apple support article.

USB and FireWire Troubleshooting

Sorry, but just linkiing to a support article that hasn't been updated since May 2012 is pointless and lazy.

The problem that the thread starter is talking about is definitely tied to the 10.8.5 update. My guess is it's not going to be fixed without another update. Hopefully it'll be the next one and it'll be soon.

You're not alone. This is definitely because of the update.

The exact same thing has happened to me. After getting the 10.8.5 upgrade (18/09/13) last week for my imac (2012) I can no longer use my ipod or iphone to sync to the USB port of the wired keyboard anymore ( I never used to leave them to charge via the keyboard). These ports have worked all along with my iphone and ipod and now suddenly I'm getting the message 'A USB device needs more power' following this new system update. I even took the keyboard to my job and tried on my older work imac and it worked as usual without a problem with my ipod and iphone - so I think it is certainly related to the 10.8.5 upgrade.

Exact same issue for me. I could even plug my ipad into the keyboard port and synch but the ipad would just not charge. My nano and iphone 4s would charge and synch. Now I get the error message noted above. Interestingly, if I unplug my superdrive, which is plugged into a separate port on back of computer, the ports on keybord suddenly work.

There is a supplemental update to 10.8.5 coming out in next couple of days that hopefully addresses this.

I just did what you mentioned and unplugged my superdrive from a back port on my imac as well and got your result - the ports on the keyboard suddenly work again! I hope the supplemental update comes with the bug fix for this.

Send Apple feedback. They won't answer, but at least will know there is a problem. If enough people send feedback, it may get the problem solved sooner.

Feedback

Or you can use your Apple ID to register with this site and go the Apple BugReporter. Supposedly you will get an answer if you submit feedback.

Feedback via Apple Developer

Interestingly, if I unplug my superdrive, which is plugged into a separate port on back of computer, the ports on keybord suddenly work.

I tried it too and got the same result. Will send feedback to Apple as Eric suggested.

Same problem here - my USB ports are completely messed up - power management seems to be the issue, but it definitely started with 10.8.5 update!

FYI...

I tried reporting the bug but so far have had no luck being able to do so.

I went to the developer center as Eric suggested and signed in with my Apple ID.

Once there I clicked on "Bug Reporting".

That took me to a Bug Reporting page with the heading "Submitting Bugs and Feedback".

On the side of that page is a little box that says "Apple Bug Reporter: Sign in with the Apple ID you used to register as an Apple Developer to submit a bug."

(This step seems somewhat ridiculous since I had to sign in with my Apple ID just to get this far. Now it wants me to sign in again.)

When I click the the "Sign in" button I get this:

An error has occurred. Please report the error to Apple Inc. by emailing the error detail to bugreportersupport@apple.com.

So, it seems the bug reporter doesn't work. This has been going on since the time of my last post here.

Just did supplemental update and issue is not fixed.

Not that I expected a different result, but same here.

There's a good chance they don't even know it's an issue. Perhaps that's because the bug reporting option doesn't even funtion properly. (see my previous post here)

I just hope there's another update that fixes this before Mavericks–which I have no intention of installing–is released.