Japan Demands Probe of iPod Nano Flameouts

iminplaya sends in an item from TechNewsWorld that begins, "Several incidents of iPod Nanos bursting into flames have created consumer jitters in gadget-happy Japan. Apple is downplaying the problem, pointing out that no major injuries or damage have been reported. The problem is due to defective batteries, the company said, and only a tiny percentage of the devices have caught on fire." Japan has seen 14 such incidents so far, two in recent days. iminplaya adds, "I like that. Only a 'tiny percentage'... Is anybody beginning to understand why I would prefer that these devices not be allowed on airplanes?"

Comments

The end of apple as a name of "quality".

[plasmacutter]

Between their replacement of true color displays with crappy TN models which push their own calibration tools off the charts, their terrible all around macbook quality (mine's 1.5 years old and literally falling to pieces, including the graphics unit), and now these exploding batteries (again!, even dUll didn't pull the same mistake twice!), I say the days of apple as a quality brand are over.

Anyone have suggestions on where to buy quality hardware i can load osx86 on?

Re:The end of apple as a name of "quality".

[x2A]

I have to say I was pretty shocked looking at my friends macbook pro as it was getting incredibly hot, with only a tiny amount of ventilation at the back and a single solid piece of metal covering the bottom. Her system fan was getting very noisy with no easy way to clean it. I could've taken off the whole of the bottom casing, and would've if it was my laptop (leaving aside that if it was mine, it wouldn't be a mac), but it was still under warrenty and she was concerned that doing so could complicate that - better just to take it to an apple shop and let them deal with it. Incidentally this added to the whole pc-vs-mac debate, as whenever a pc of hers has had any kind of trouble, she has been able to sort it herself, but I won't get too much into that as I know many people on here are quite passionate about the whole macs-vs-pcs. So leaving all that aside, all I'm saying is it could at least have some vents on the underside :-p

Re:The end of apple as a name of "quality".

[Anonymous Coward]

Caught in the act...

I'm a service provider, and if you're telling me you were about to remove the bottom case of a MacBook Pro, I'm calling you out.

It can't be done, Macbooks (Pro or otherwise) aren't built that way.

Also... If you want a PC/Mac debate, I'll throw 10 overheating Toshiba's your way for every 1 MacBook complaint.

Re:Why banned on airplanes?

[Stormwatch]

How many planes caught fire and crashed when smoking was still legal on planes?

I can mention at least one: Varig flight 820.

Lithium Batteries

[maz2331]

It sounds like poor-quality lithium batteries or possibly a defective charging circuit are to blame here.

Lithium batteries have a very high energy density due to the use of highly reactive lithium in metallic and/or ion forms. Overcharging or too-rapid discharge can easily overheat them and result in a fire or even an explosion in extreme cases.

If the quality control is not excellent, they can be incredibly dangerous.

Re:Why banned on airplanes?

[iminplaya]

FYI: The cargo area is pressurized Heh, was

Re:In Soviet Russia

[The_Wilschon]

Apples and oranges. GP said "the luggage compartment is unpressurized". You said "Aircraft cabins are usually pressurized". Unless I'm mistaken, those are two different things. If they are not, then you should have said so.

Re:In Soviet Russia

[mspohr]

No difference between cabin and baggage. This also is basic science. The entire fuselage tube is pressurized. It would be very difficult to pressurize only the cabin (floor is flat, not a cylinder, lots of holes in floor, etc.)