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

And sales of the iPhone 7 spike

[ArtemaOne]

I can hardly wait to dongle the dongle.

Re:And sales of the iPhone 7 spike

[goombah99]

Some phones bend in your pocket, other kill you in your sleep or bring down a 747 when they catch fire. Seems sort of all the same to me.

Yeah but,

[Silver Surfer 1]

At least it has a headphone jack! ;)

I have no trouble charging mine

[Dunbal]

Right here next to my Hoverboard...

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]

Well, you're assuming that I don't already know about batteries. Which is wrong. And hey, a bit arrogant.

I am not talking about today's cells, which is why this is the tip of the iceberg. The market is pushing for new chemistry like lithium-air, and improvements in current chemistry like increasing the surface area of the electrodes without increasing their size, using nano texturing such as nanowires. All of these technologies are speculative and might not be productized, but we're going to end up with more powerful batteries eventually. The market demands it and these new batteries will not be less trouble.

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.

You just noticed the Koolaid drinkers?

[thesupraman]

On Slashdot? Have you just arrived on the planet or something?

Have you not noticed that there are a whole 'type' of people out there for whom, if it competes with
an Apple product, it must be stopped? I think we just identified a group within the FAA.
Interesting that they were not trying to ban Sony etc laptops back in the days where their much larger
batteries were catching fire ;)

The Samsung batteries are behaving badly, and unlike Apple with their touchscreens, etc Samsung are
doing the right thing, and actually replacing them all (the whole phone) even though it is a small %age
- good on them.

I would be quite astounded if it had not been standard on aircraft for quite a long time to carry a fireproof
containment bag for just such situations, because as you say, many types of LiIon batteries can catch
fire for a number of reasons. I am surprised we are allowed them on planes at all - because TERRORISTS!
After all, they cause a major fire if you hammer a nail in to one, and some laptops have big batteries.

Buy hey, since Apples 'hey, look no headphone socket! dont think about the lack of other innovation!' 7
release, they need something to pick up sales.

Totally overhyped!

[Gravis Zero]

My Galaxy Note 7 works just fine. I'm using it while it's charging but it's still not bursting into flam#OP*qe! B89*#()*13!B89*#()*13!B89*#()*13!

CARRIER LOST

Re:Totally overhyped!

[shanen]

I'd give you a funny mod if I ever got a point. However, my favorite joke of that type is still:

Yip yip yip yip yip yip yip
BANG

NO TERRIER