FOIA Documents Detail iPods Overheating, Catching Fire

suraj.sun passes along a report from a Seattle TV station that has been investigating reports of Apple iPods overheating and bursting into flames. "An exclusive KIRO 7 Investigation reveals an alarming number of Apple brand iPod MP3 players have suddenly burst into flames and smoke, injuring people and damaging property. It's an investigation that Apple has apparently been trying to keep out of the public eye. It took more than 7 months for KIRO 7 Consumer Investigator Amy Clancy to get her hands on documents concerning Apple's iPods from the Consumer Product Safety Commission because Apple's lawyers filed exemption after exemption. In the end, the CPSC released more than 800 pages which reveal, for the very first time, a comprehensive look that shows, on a number of occasions, iPods have suddenly burst into flames, started to smoke, and even burned their owners. ... Apple refused to comment, and refused to answer all of the other questions [the reporter] has been asking of the company since November."

Comments

Company policy

[Goffee71]

Apple just said it had a smokin' quarter...

Meanshile, in Redmond...

[91degrees]

Microsoft scramble to add explosion functionality to the Zune.

Things we can learn from this?

[gcnaddict]

The nature of things hasn't changed.

Apples can and do still go bad.

Blown Totally Out Of Proportion!

[SQL Error]

I mean, my iPod's only exploded what, three times? Okay, four, but that last time my girlfriend loaded some Celine Dion on it, so that falls squarely under self-defence.

That's a far better track record than most of my electronic devices.

The parable of the burning ipod

[sir_eccles]

...and the burning ipod did speak unto Jobs and appointed him to lead the users out of Vista and unto the promised land of OSX.

Re:Don't expect to see this in mainstream news

[Hurricane78]

Reminds me of Fight Club:

Narrator: A new car built by my company leaves somewhere traveling at 60 mph. The rear differential locks up. The car crashes and burns with everyone trapped inside. Now, should we initiate a recall? Take the number of vehicles in the field, A, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, we don't do one.
Business woman on plane: Are there a lot of these kinds of accidents?
Narrator: You wouldn't believe.
Business woman on plane: Which car company do you work for?
Narrator: A major one.

Re:Mentioning "Fire" gets the attention of Appleca

[jollyreaper]

Suddenly the whole tone of the conversation changed, and I was immediately transfered to a supervisor. I went through about 10 minutes answering a series of questions off a script. "Did the Fire cause any property damage?" "Was there any bodily injury caused by the fire?" "Have you suffered any loss of income due to this problem?" etc etc etc.

I answered no to everything, but simply mentioning "Fire" got me a new power brick, when no other method did. It is something Apple is clearly concerned about.

"Hi, Applecare. I bought a mac mini and a month later you released a better one with more specs. I'd like to return and upgrade."

"No."

"Did I mention it, ah, burst into flames?"

"Fire?"

"Fire fire fire!"

"Holy fuck, we'll get a new one out immediately, just promise not to talk to the press!"