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Nokia Investigating Reported Cell Phone Explosions

Iphtashu Fitz writes "C|Net's news.com is reporting that a man in the Netherlands suffered burns to his leg when the Nokia phone in his pants pocket exploded. This is the second reported incident of Nokia phones exploding, the first one being back in August when a Dutch woman's phone exploded in her hand. Nokia blamed the first incident on a third party battery that the woman was using and warned customers to only use Nokia parts and accessories with their phones. However this most recent explosion involved a new Nokia phone with a Nokia battery installed."

18 of 379 comments (clear)

  1. Hey... by The+Human+Cow · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is that an exploding cell phone in your pants, or are you just happy to see me?

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    The Human Cow - bringing you scrumtrelescence since 1995
  2. Verizon by damiena · · Score: 5, Funny

    Can you hear me now?

    *BOOM*

    1. Re:Verizon by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      *BOOM*...

      Can you hear me now? Cause I sure as hell can't hear you now...

  3. N-Gage by BigDork1001 · · Score: 2, Funny

    One things for sure, the N-Gage sure isn't exploding off the shelves.

    --
    "Armed forces abroad are of little value unless there is prudent counsel at home" - Cicero
  4. Big Deal!! by whiteranger99x · · Score: 4, Funny

    So you can say the message will self-destruct in 5 seconds.....

    They've been doing that in Mission Impossible for YEARS! :P

    --
    Join the TWIT army now!
  5. If this were America... by wrinkledshirt · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...you know those two poor souls would be getting sued by the company right about now.

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    Bleah! Heh heh heh... BLEAH BLEAH!!! Ha ha ha ha...

  6. IMPORTANT by I+don't+want+to+spen · · Score: 5, Funny

    Don't set your ring tone to the 1812 overture ....

    --
    Don't go to a brothel if you want to buy broth
  7. Re:This is scary by Richard_L_James · · Score: 5, Funny
    > It can get Really Hot when I talk for a long time(>20 minutes).

    Does this have anything to do with the type of calls you are making ??

  8. Okay... by Pig+Hogger · · Score: 1, Funny

    What's the DTMF sequence to make the phone explode, so I can blow the next telemarketer's phone?????

  9. That hurts, by TLouden · · Score: 2, Funny

    now Nokia can't use explosions as an excuse to sell more of their parts. And they thought putting 'prizes' in some of the phones would help them sell more.

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    -Tim Louden
  10. hmmm by the_other_one · · Score: 2, Funny

    Perhaps they should ban these things on airliners.
    At least untill they have safe alchohol filled fuel cells.
    Instead of these new fangled battery things.

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    134340: I am not a number. I am a free planet!
  11. Re:This sounds like ... by eggmit · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think it blew off more than his ear. If all they wanted was a removed ear, they could enlist the aid of Mike Tyson.

  12. Singin' Soprano by MeauxToo · · Score: 2, Funny

    Sure hope he ain't singin' soprano with a cell phone exploding so close to the family blueprints.

  13. Re:This is scary by Lost+Penguin · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Any links on what signs to look for before your cell phone battery explodes?"

    If the caller ID says "Mossad", do not answer.

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    I am the unwilling control for my Origin.
  14. Terrorism! by Aardpig · · Score: 4, Funny

    Obviously the work of the Teleban...

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    Tubal-Cain smokes the white owl.
  15. Sorry! by PHAEDRU5 · · Score: 3, Funny

    The IDF deliveries to Fatah (et al.) got delivered elsewhere by mistake!

    Whoops! Next: Suicide murderers in Helsinki.

    (Where's Mannerheim when you need him?)

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    668: Neighbour of the Beast
  16. So THAT'S where they went! by The+One+and+Only · · Score: 2, Funny

    I wondered where the designers of the PowerBook 5300 went...

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    In Repressive Burma, it's not just your connection that dies. slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=314547&cid=20819199
  17. Re:This is scary by lgftsa · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yes, long distance calls use more power, as they have transmit the signal further.

    Talking loudly can mitigate this, as the AGC(automatic gain control) detects the higher volume, and so doesn't need to amplify the radio signal quite as much. Not a big saving, but every bit counts.

    You can also (if you have a phone with an external antenna) lean the tip of the antenna against a metal object(street sign, light post, scaffolding, etc) and the signal will be inducted into the object and act like a really big antenna. You can see this on those car antennas which are mounted on rear windows without drilling a hole - they use electromagnetic induction as well.

    Finally, if the signal is really boarderline, you can try changing the polarization of the signal from vertical to horizontal by holding the phone parallel to the ground. This is a trick used by people on the edge of TV coverage areas, and especially on campervans and RVs. Some antennas are even motorized so you don't have to get out and fool about with a spanner and the U-bolt.

    If nothing else works, try circular polarization. This is tricky, as you have to spin around with the phone's antenna as the center of rotation.