Apple Faces Inquiries In the EU On iPhone Accidents

o'reor writes "As more cases of iPhone screen explosions emerge in the news on this side of the pond, Apple is now facing official inquiries and lawsuits in France. This situation has forced Apple finally to break silence and acknowledge the incidents: 'We are aware of these reports and we are waiting to receive the iPhones from the customers. Until we have the full details, we don't have anything further to add.' Following those reports, the European Commission had already decided last week to step in, while Apple tried to dismiss the problem as 'isolated incidents.' Meanwhile, iPhone explosion-related sites are now popping up on the Internet, releasing games such as iPop to chill out and relax on the subject, but also giving users advice on preventing iPhone accidents, or detecting imminent explosions."

Comments

It's a new app...

[Pezistential]

iExplode

Re:It's a new app...

[slazzy]

It's a feature to protect sensitive data. Activate self destruct sequence in 3-2-1..

Re:It's a new app...

[Pieroxy]

There's a funny story about an iPhone that actually flew away from its owner!!!

http://pieroxy.blogspot.com/2009/08/news-from-missouri-my-iphone-flew-away.html

Really?

[maxume]

Was it really necessary to link to the iPop advertisements 3 times?

Re:Really?

[ColdWetDog]

Sure. More revenue. What are you, new here?

Come on Slashdot. This is pretty lame. No wireless even. Not funny even.

FTFA:

* 4. Listen to your iPhone and get to know when the iPhone is about is explode in you hand on [sic] in the pocket. When you feel this is the time, the best thing to do is to throw it away and let the iPhone explode far from you. Later on, please collect all the pieces.

If you're going to make a goof ball web site, at least proof read your text. Even the Time Cube guy does that....

Lame.

Re:Really?

[IorDMUX]

I followed the link on "detecting imminent explosions", hoping to gain some insight about Li-Ion batteries or at least see some amusing stories about unusual system behavior shortly before an explosion. Instead, I found some of the most useless advice since I contacted Dell's tech support about a RAM issue.

The following are verbatim quotes from the page, taken from a section about 'steps you can take to be safer':

If the iPhone is getting hotter, if its start to make noises, raise smoke or shake un normally, it's a sign something is about to happen.

Or even worse...

Listen to your iPhone and get to know when the iPhone is about is explode in you hand on in the pocket. When you feel this is the time, the best thing to do is to throw it away and let the iPhone explode far from you. Later on, please collect all the pieces.

So... their advice on determining if your iPhone is at risk of explosion boils down to looking for smoke and then tossing the thing like a hand grenade. I particularly enjoy the fairly circular advice to "get to know when the iPhone is about is [sic] explode". Does one detonate and study a series of iPhones to gather this knowledge?

It has been a while since something on the internet actually struck me speechless, but this has done it.

Lithium Ion Batteries

[Monkeedude1212]

Are the cause I hear. Lots of devices use these kinds of batteries, simply because they are easily rechargable. It's said that if one gets too hot, and is under a certain amount of pressure on the inside, the battery can explode. I didn't RTFA I'm sure its mentioned somewhere in there. Things that use L I batteries have exploded before in the past, it's just become common that everyone owns either an iPod or an iPhone, so when 13 or more stories arise of exploding Apple devices people take notice.

But, like the summary says, Apple hasn't received the broken equipment yet, so the battery is not the CONFIRMED cause of the explosion.

Anyone want to take a bet?

Re:Lithium Ion Batteries

[Anonymous Coward]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5icQWJ2mlc--irCjF-iJMQTGfcIIQ

Apple is claiming that the screens were broken due to an external force according to their initial investigations.

Re:Lithium Ion Batteries

[commodore64_love]

>>>they are easily rechargable.

Not true. LiIon batteries are extremely difficult to recharge and are in fact the most-complex battery ever made for home use. But the reason companies put-up with them is because they can hold the same amount of charge as a NiCad or NiMH battery, but in 1/4 or 1/2 the space, respectively. Obviously saving space is important for phones and laptops.

Now contrast that with hybrid cars which almost-universally use the NiMH battery. Since space is no great concern, but safety is, they use the more-stable battery. NiMH also has the advantage of surviving the ~20 years that cars typically last, and also being environmentally neutral.

Re:Lithium Ion Batteries

[Monkeedude1212]

Now THAT -IS- interesting.

I mean, it appears to me as though Apple found a couple of cases where it wasn't the battery and they're trying to promote the idea that their product is safe before admitting that there is a defect.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the batteries went through alot of QA before they were shipped, and they were much safer then previous batteries used. But its still the same technology, and there will be rare cases where users will put strain on their devices that weren't tested. And by that I don't mean excessive pressure to the screen, I mean having the iPhone in a dusty environment, things start overheating, lots of stuff like that.

Re:Lithium Ion Batteries

[VoiceInTheDesert]

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Things that use L I batteries have exploded before in the past, it's just become common that everyone owns either an iPod or an iPhone, so when 13 or more stories arise of exploding Apple devices people take notice.

I'm not sure this is a correct assumption. Surely laptops and netbooks and hundreds of other models of phones all run on the same kind of Li+ battery, but only these ones are the ones that are exploding (or at least the ones that are reported). You can say what you want about which ones do and don't get reported, but exploding phones/computers I would think would get covered regardless of brand, leading me to believe that THIS particular Li+ battery (the iPhone) is at least somewhat more suspectible to explosion.

Re:Lithium Ion Batteries

[Monkeedude1212]

Well. Yes. I didn't mean "Easy" as in we've mastered it, I meant it as in, since they're so small, I don't need an Alternator the size of a head to recharge it. My mistake for poor word usage. Should've said because of their size AND the ability to be recharged.

Re:Lithium Ion Batteries

[Monkeedude1212]

I worked at Laptop shop with in-house technical support.

Guess what two pieces AREN'T covered for in the Warranty? Battery and power supply. Even the Manufacturers warranty for the battery is shorter than the manufacturers warranty for the laptop. This is simply because they are succeptable to ALOT of failure. Now the great thing about laptop batteries is that they are usually completely encased in plastic, and if one "explodes" - its pretty difficult to tell. These explosions aren't like the ones you see on TV, they're small, probably no bigger than your thumbnail.

You see how slim the Apple Devices are? That pinhead explosion is enough to break the screen, just because the battery is RIGHT next to the screen.

Re:Lithium Ion Batteries

[Aphoxema]

Who in their right mind would send the murder weapon to the murderer, first class?

It's not the best analogy, but the fact is these people can not trust Apple with the evidence, it might get "lost", and no matter what Apple says the problem is they sure as hell aren't sending back the unit.

Re:Lithium Ion Batteries

[mpe]

.Guess what two pieces AREN'T covered for in the Warranty? Battery and power supply. Even the Manufacturers warranty for the battery is shorter than the manufacturers warranty for the laptop. This is simply because they are succeptable to ALOT of failure. Now the great thing about laptop batteries is that they are usually completely encased in plastic, and if one "explodes" - its pretty difficult to tell

Also the battery in a typical laptop (even a typical phone) is an easily replacable part. Which isn't the case with the Apple devices.

Re:Lithium Ion Batteries

[aristotle-dude]

Now THAT -IS- interesting.

I mean, it appears to me as though Apple found a couple of cases where it wasn't the battery and they're trying to promote the idea that their product is safe before admitting that there is a defect.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the batteries went through alot of QA before they were shipped, and they were much safer then previous batteries used.

Why are you assuming that this has anything to do with the battery being defective? How do we know that this was not caused by either the backlight exploding directly from pressure or from the backlight exploding and causing damage to the lithium battery which then exploded?

Re:Lithium Ion Batteries

[Monkeedude1212]

Battery or not - its defective if its not the user applying too much pressure. Point is that Apple is denying that its their fault.

I just wagered it was the battery because those have been the cause for exploding mini devices in the past.

Re:Lithium Ion Batteries

[SBrach]

Yeah, because a cell phone that explodes under too much pressure is the fault of the owner. It's not like these things ever get sat on or dropped. Exploding is a perfectly reasonable failure mode for these rare, 1-in-a-brazillion scenarios.

Re:Lithium Ion Batteries

[BronsCon]

What, exactly, do they do, that is easier than sliding a latch, sliding out the old battery, and sliding the new one in? That's how every laptop I've ever had was set up.

Serious question here, I really want to know.

Clearly

[VoiceInTheDesert]

This is all lies and slander. Don't you guys watch Mac adds? They don't HAVE any issues. They work all the time and never glitch up, much less explode! Psh to all this microsoft propaganda.

Re:Clearly

[geekoid]

Actually it's my shadow. He sneaks off and steals my iPod and dances like a fool.
I need to talk to Wendy about getting my shadow sewn back on.

iPhone, it's the hottest phone on the market

[alen]

my 3GS tends to heat up a lot more than my blackberry. when i use the cell phone app i can feel the back getting warm

Re:iPhone, it's the hottest phone on the market

[sexconker]

The cell phone app?
You mean, when you use the FUCKING PHONE as a FUCKING PHONE?

On a side note, I think I need a new phone.
Mine is starting to get hot whenever I make calls. Never used to before.

Re:iPhone, it's the hottest phone on the market

[ColdWetDog]

Mine is starting to get hot whenever I make calls. Never used to before.

You might want to cut down on those 900 numbers. I'll bet your phone cools off after that.

Dante's iNferno?

[fimchick]

If your iPhone explodes and kills you, do you go to Apple Hell where everything runs on Windows?

Re:Dante's iNferno?

[maxume]

Isn't that where we are now?

Whatever, this is MS fud!

[Em Emalb]

Obviously this strategic move by Apple to created a 7 in one device (phone, email, text, game platform, camera, photo album, grenade) and MS can't handle it.

Video of lithium battery explosion

[bzzfzz]

Something to keep you entertained until we get actual video of exploding devices.

It is difficult to imagine that an explosion could be caused by any other components in the device. The battery is supposed to be double fused which limits the amount of power to other components, but if there is a failure within the battery itself, the results can be dramatic.

Don't Panic

[Drakkenmensch]

I'm typing this on my iPhone right now, and everything is just fi

suspicious

[TRRosen]

these latest reports sound just a bit funny to me. I know the iPod is built well but I just don't see the screen breaking before the back deforms. Remember these batteries don't explode they expand and then off gas flames. The description of the events just don't match what you would expect from a battery of this type failing in this device.
the first one in britain - yes
1 device is damaged by a drop
2 device begins to overheat
3 device shoots short burst of flames
this is how you would expect this device to fail.
But the last couple -- It just went pop and the screen shattered -- strange indeed, especially since the second seemed like he was reading the account of the first one line by line rather then telling something that happened to him.

Re:Manufacturing?

[commodore64_love]

>>>I wonder if the price saved is worth the lawsuits?

Well Ford performed this analysis in the 70s when they had a rash of exploding Pintos, and their accountants determined "yes" it's cheaper to pay-off the families of dead drivers than to spend the million-or-so on reengineering and fixing the problem. Besides the Pinto would eventually be phased-out anyway and replaced with a new 80s model, so the problem would solve itself, therefore just keep paying-off the victims to be silent (sound familiar?).

I suspect today's accountants are saying the same thing - "The money saved by shipping cheap goods from China or India is cheaper than the money paid-out to people with burned hands." Of course this is why we have a government - to protect our individual rights from those persons who would do us harm.

Re:How many have actually exploded?

[sexconker]

Damned external forces.

Gravity.
Atmospheric pressure.
Radiation pressure from the light of your mackbook pro's lcd.

I thought the reality distortion field was supposed to block such harmful forces.

a few things to add to that list

[v1]

(*) Do not place ipod back in your pocket if it's on fire
(*) Do not huff fumes if your ipod is smoking
(*) Do not overheat your ipod to start your campfire
(*) Do not eat your ipod
(*) Not certified for use as a shark repellent

anything else you need to tell us?

Re:Like Sharks

[oneirophrenos]

The EU smells money.

Will Apple escape? Or will the EU leech off of them endlessly like they do with MS?

Should the EU not intervene on behalf of its citizens? I think this is exactly the kind of thing a governmental body should do, step in to protect people when corporations decide to do something stupid.

Re:Manufacturing?

[CannonballHead]

The sun doesn't rise, either. I enjoy a good morning earth turn.

Re:Manufacturing?

[StikyPad]

The money saved by shipping cheap goods from China or India is cheaper than the money paid-out to people with burned hands.

I think you meant it's cheaper to pay out people with burned hands than to correct a design flaw. Presumably the product would still be assembled in China, regardless.

Re:Manufacturing?

[fiannaFailMan]

I don't know where they were manufacturing before, but I have noticed a huge drop in the quality of Apple's hardware. I've bee a Mac aficionado since the early 1990s but my latest computer from them, a Macbook, is the first Mac I have actually hated. First there are the sharp edges that hurt my wrists. Then there are the edges that soon broke off. Then there's the fact that it freezes and applications seem incapable of quitting without crashing. Then there's the power adapter that heats up so much I have to use an oven glove to unplug it. Then there's the battery that heats up so much I can't even set the damn thing in my lap. I never thought I'd say this, but I hate my Mac!

You can't be too rich or too thin

[zogger]

Modern fashion with gadgets is ultra thin and light, which is dangerous when it comes to lithium batteries. They are *delicate* and dangerous. This marketing decision leads to being not as good from an engineering standpoint (on being safe I mean) in designing the batteries, they are too subject to being smashed/bent, or have design and manufacturing screwups, and that leads to simple failure or catastrophic failure.

    This utter fixation on having the smallest most powerful batteries combined with their basic chemistry of heating and catching fire and having runaway reactions will inevitably lead to a lot of failures when you are making millions of units.

    And look at all this constant kvetching about battery life on laptops and so on. Geez, what a freekin non problem theoretically. If people could be content to carry the same weight they did just a few years ago, as if their girly man muscles could even handle the strain, oh the horrors, they could have *bigger and longer lasting and safer batteries*, probably cheaper as well, but every generation of new gadgets they insist on shaving some ounces and inches off. Well, you can do that to excess it appears. Battery tech has not quite kept up with other electronics miniaturization tech here, so you get problems. They can make the batteries smaller plus more powerful at the same time, but obviously it raises the risk factor. They are pushing it too close to the exploding edge.

Small, powerful, safe, pick two

Form is not necessarily your friend always over function. Perhaps if they take a few tens of million$ in cost in recalls and lawsuits this lesson of marketing versus engineering quality standards will sink in better. And any company that did that could turn it around in the market, use their new designed safer and more powerful batteries, albeit larger and heavier, as a marketing edge over just smaller and lighter. There could be some rather humorous ads along these lines showing the victim of the teeniest gadget walking around on fire and all charred all the time, just so he can stupidly brag how cool his new .5 ounce and 1/64th inch thick iXploder is...

Re:You can't be too rich or too thin

[indiechild]

Thick and heavy gadgets won't cut it in today's market. My 1st gen iPhone is at the "barely tolerable" size, weight and thickness -- any bigger and I would be loath to carry it in my pocket when I don't have a shoulder bag with me.

Nobody wants to go back to the 90s when people were carrying around brick phones.

Can I be the only one?

[perlmangle]

Does no one else find the makeipodsafe.com site to be an obvious (and hilarious) parody?

* There are millions of Apple products out there at the customers...
* According to the last ones which already explode and went on fire...
* How to avoid iPhone from exploding
* Lots more...

And this?

C'mon people; that's comedy gold.

Re:Did you hear the one about

[spamking]

Spray some Windex on it!

France..

[kevinNCSU]

There's been several exploding iPhone incidents in France. While Apple claims they are isolated unintentional incidents the French Government issued a formal Surrender to Apple just in case.

Re:Manufacturing?

[HockeyPuck]

I don't believe the parent is a troll. I have one of the Macbook Pros with the coreduo processor. These are the ones that Apple said "we never intended for them to be used on your lap." When people complained that the bottom became to hot to put it on your lap. I'm not talking about bare legs here, I'm talking about resting the laptop on your lap when wearing jeans.

One can install 3rd party plugins/apps like smcFanControl, but why won't apple fix this? Because they removed the term "laptop" from the manual :)

Now if Apple could just invent a docking station... so corporate users wouldn't have to plug in half a dozen cables every day. Of course you could go out an buy the Apple Monitor, which would eliminate 1 cable...

Re:Manufacturing?

[Anonymusing]

What is Apple's resistance to a docking station? One with built in physical security/power/networking/extra USB ports/monitor

Maybe because it tried that before and didn't do very well?