CPSC: Stop Using The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 (techcrunch.com)

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 can not seem to catch a break. In addition to the recall issued by Samsung over faulty batteries that have the potential to burst into flames, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is urging Galaxy Note 7 users to avoid turning on or charging the devices while flying on planes. Most recently, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a statement "urging all consumers who own a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 to power them down and stop charging or using the device." TechCrunch reports: "The government body is 'working quickly to determine whether a replacement Galaxy Note 7 is an acceptable remedy for Samsung or their phone carriers to provide to customers.' In other words, they may still decide that the problem is of a scale sufficient to issue a complete product recall. This could be the case should the problem causing the fire prove to be in the phone itself as well as the battery. The CPSC and Samsung are working together on a more official notice with advice on what to do (other than turn it off), so until then, stay safe."

Comments

Only the tip of the iceberg

[Bruce Perens]

One in 42,000 phones is estimated to have the problem by Samsung. Now, this is the problem with high energy density. If there's a problem, you get a release of high energy all at once.

Now, the whole world is moving toward better batteries. Meaning denser, and even more likely to fail catastrophically unless the makers can somehow contrive a chemistry with higher internal resistance (and thus harder to charge and less efficient). Otherwise, more efficient batteries are all going to make pretty good bombs.

Re:Only the tip of the iceberg

[Bruce Perens]

Companies will go to great lengths to avoid being forced by government regulation. Voluntary recalls are a common means to do this.