This article is intended for oral disclosure only.
In a narrow sense, the AF speed itself has not changed.
The improvement in AE accuracy in the A1v121 firmware enabled the DiMAGE 7 to detect subject's contrast faster than before. As the result, it heightened the probability of focus confirmation, eventually shortening the lead time.
à Several forums on web or magazines comment about AF improvement as a result of the firmware upgrade.
This is a unified view of Minolta to respond to user inquiry about the change in AF speed.