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'Safe' Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Explodes in China (cnet.com)

Rahil Bhagat, writing for CNET: The tendency of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 to catch fire has led to the company's global recall of around 2.5 million of the phones, to be replaced with new, safe units. Samsung could have another problem on its hands, though, as a Chinese man says a brand new Note 7 exploded on him, Bloomberg reported. Samsung had previously said Chinese models of the phone were safe as they use a different battery than Note 7 devices sold in the rest of the world. Hu Renjie, 25, claimed his brand new Note 7, bought over the weekend from JD.com, exploded while charging, burning two of his fingers and damaging a MacBook Pro. Hu said that a representative from Samsung paid him a visit concerning this incident and asked for the smouldering corpse of his phone to perform an autopsy, but he refused.

86 comments

  1. Refused to hand over "evidence" by thegarbz · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Hey look it blew up my macbook and burnt my finger. But no I won't give you the device so you can do a check to see what's wrong, if it was actually caused by the battery or if I intentionally rigged it to try and get you to buy me a new macbook.

    This smells fishy.

    1. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by krouic · · Score: 4, Funny

      Having both a macbook and a Galaxy Note 7 smells even fishier...

    2. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'd hand over the device to a 3rd party, in the presence of cameras and a lawyer. I don't want my only piece of evidence for a lawsuit to turn into a 100$ (or yuan equiv.) check.

    3. Re: Refused to hand over "evidence" by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 0

      I've heard of cases in China where parents do this with dead babies in hospitals, so this wouldn't surprise me.

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
    4. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or maybe the phone is embarrassingly full of porn.

    5. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Samsung rep: Could you please hand over the phone so we can see why it exploded?

      Mr. Burnt Fingers: Yeah, not going to do that. This is going to the police as evidence because I need to file charges against you so that I can sue you. I am not handing over the only evidence that it is your fault to someone who may have ulterior motives.

      I wouldn't hand it over to the Samsung rep either unless they are standing there agreeing to accept responsibility and my medical bills at a minimum.

    6. Re: Refused to hand over "evidence" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It was probably a fake Chinese replica.
      Or he had nude pictures on it.

    7. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You shouldn't give the corpus delicti to the people responsible for the problem. It's your only way to prove that they harmed you. You would be expected to hand it over to an independent party for examination though.

    8. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by vux984 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Pretty much exactly this. If I had a new anything and it 'exploded' on me then I'd expect the manufacturer to warranty the product, cover any medical costs, and cover any other damages. And if its not a shit fly by night company, I'd expect them to be volunteering a settlement without me having to sue them for one.

      But I'd also expect them to want the exploded product back. That's just a given. Not only to validate my claim that it exploded due to a fault in the device... (which they should do) but also to determine whether the fault is a one off or something that will affect other devices. At this stage, like you, I think he's at best trying to scam himself a new macbook, and at worst an apple fanboi trying to create some bad press for samsung... and scam himself a new macbook. Maybe he even shorted Samsung stock as well (what prescience!)... their equivalent to the SEC ought to check.

    9. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by mark-t · · Score: 1

      What, I may ask, could you expect an independent party to do? with it? Only Samsung is truly qualified to determine if the fault was in the design of their entire product line as it was with the vulnerable Note 7's, or if this was a one-off occurrence... or if the person sabotaged his own device and was simply claiming it had exploded.

      I'm not saying third parties shouldn't be involved here... someone needs to keep Samsung honest in all of this. Ultimately, however, it is Samsung that is going to have to examine the phone because anything that anyone else does will not be founded on the necessary expert knowledge that only Samsung will have about their product to make a deterministic evaluation.

    10. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No fuckin' way do I give up the device so Samsung can turn around and say, "What device?" I would certainly allow them to examine it as much as they wanted while I was present, but no way do they get to take it away.

    11. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by Calydor · · Score: 1

      Do you have the proper training to behave yourself in a clean room for hours while they do forensic testing?

      --
      -=This sig has nothing to do with my comment. Move along now=-
    12. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You'd be saying the same thing if he handed over said evidence and it mysteriously "disappeared" back into the company's hands, at which point they could make up any story they liked. If he handed it over to authorities on the other hand, they might actually find something that Samsung could be taken to court for...like selling products with FUCKING EXPLODING BATTERIES.

      You're seriously asking someone who's been seriously injured by the SECOND iteration of a product deemed to be "safe," to trust that same company to conduct a non-biased investigation into the cause? Samsung hasn't even been entirely clear on what caused the problem in the FIRST PLACE.

    13. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by Anubis+IV · · Score: 1

      Exactly. The only time I hand over equipment to the manufacturer is when they've already agreed to set things right in writing. Typically that's via an RMA or warranty replacement, but if I had been burnt as a result of a device exploding, there's no contract between me and anyone else saying that they're going to cover my medical bills and replace other equipment that was damaged, so why the hell would I hand a potential adversary my best piece of evidence against them?

      Maybe if the friendly Samsung rep shows up with a generous settlement offer...

    14. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Reportedly, the man didn't want to hand over the phone because he was actually pleased with the device - despite the fire that almost claimed his life.

      The man was quoted as saying: "I didn't hand over the device because I am still quite pleased with it. Yes, the device exploded into an engulfing inferno that nearly ended my life and slightly crisped my macbook, but the headphone jack is still intact. That's what's most important to me."

      "I just wanted to call Samsung's attention to the fact that these devices some times explode a little bit.", he remarked, "Which is quite annoying, especially at night, because of the bright lights and the potential to kill me while I sleep.".

      Samsung is, reportedly, paying attention. Sources inform us that they are working on a firmware update that will reduce the brightness of the explosions from "blinding" to "noticeable".

      "We take these reports seriously", said a Samsung representative earlier. "Samsung will continue to improve its products to fit customer expectations. The brightness issue of the explosions is something we take very seriously, and a resolution will be implemented soon.".

      Stay tuned for part two where our analyst explains Apple's bold plan to add a floppy drive into their iPhone:

      "We removed the headphone jack and people went bananas. The message is clear: people want obsolete technology on their devices. So we'll humour them. They'll buy it anyway, but we feel obliged to change a thing or two between versions."

    15. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Having both a macbook and a Galaxy Note 7 smells even fishier...

      Why? Both my wife and I use Macbook laptops and Android phones and tablets. A lot of people prefer Android over iOS and at the same time also prefer Mac OS over Microsoft Windows.

    16. Re: Refused to hand over "evidence" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      God, I know it's wrong to say but, just fuck the Chinese altogether.

    17. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by MachineShedFred · · Score: 1

      I was unaware it took special training to stand there in a bunny suit and not touch / do anything.

      --
      Slashdot still doesnâ(TM)t support Unicode after it was added to the HTML standard in 1997.
    18. Re: Refused to hand over "evidence" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Asso! I think he rying to them. He's a fucking riar. Chinky rittle bastard rying rike that.

      Asshole! I think he's frying them. He's a funny friar. Chicken little is better frying it like that.

      I fixed it for you, white ghost..

    19. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by Parafilmus · · Score: 1

      Maybe he likes Apple's product design, but doesn't like the walled garden of their phone OS?

      I have a macbook and a Note 5. They work fine together.

    20. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by Calydor · · Score: 1

      You don't know a lot of people, do you? Have you SEEN how hard it is for the average person to not touch stuff?

      --
      -=This sig has nothing to do with my comment. Move along now=-
    21. Re: Refused to hand over "evidence" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      16 One day two women[a] came to King Solomon, 17 and one of them said:

      Your Majesty, this woman and I live in the same house. Not long ago my baby was born at home, 18 and three days later her baby was born. Nobody else was there with us.

      19 One night while we were all asleep, she rolled over on her baby, and he died. 20 Then while I was still asleep, she got up and took my son out of my bed. She put him in her bed, then she put her dead baby next to me.

      21 In the morning when I got up to feed my son, I saw that he was dead. But when I looked at him in the light, I knew he wasnâ(TM)t my son.

      22 âoeNo!â the other woman shouted. âoeHe was your son. My baby is alive!â

      âoeThe dead baby is yours,â the first woman yelled. âoeMine is alive!â

      They argued back and forth in front of Solomon, 23 until finally he said, âoeBoth of you say this live baby is yours. 24 Someone bring me a sword.â

      A sword was brought, and Solomon ordered, 25 âoeCut the baby in half! That way each of you can have part of him.â

      26 âoePlease donâ(TM)t kill my son,â the babyâ(TM)s mother screamed. âoeYour Majesty, I love him very much, but give him to her. Just donâ(TM)t kill him.â

      The other woman shouted, âoeGo ahead and cut him in half. Then neither of us will have the baby.â

      27 Solomon said, âoeDonâ(TM)t kill the baby.â Then he pointed to the first woman, âoeShe is his real mother. Give the baby to her.â

      28 Everyone in Israel was amazed when they heard how Solomon had made his decision. They realized that God had given him wisdom to judge fairly.

    22. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by vux984 · · Score: 2

      Yeah, not going to do that. This is going to the police as evidence because I need to file charges against you so that I can sue you.

      "+5 insightful"

      The police would only be collecting it into evidence if there was a likelihood of the state pursuing a criminal prosecution. For a simple defective product, causing a mild injury the police would not be involved.

      I wouldn't hand it over to the Samsung rep either unless they are standing there agreeing to accept responsibility and my medical bills at a minimum.

      And Samsung would agree to accept responsibility and offer a damage settlement before verifying that the unit exploded due to a fault of the unit? As opposed to you exploding it by placing it the microwave...?

    23. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You do know that fires existed before Samsung got into the business of starting them, right? Electrical fires also. Even lithium battery fires predated the Galaxy Note 7.

      There are many technicians who could identify whether the fire began at the battery, whether the battery had been punctured, and how hot the fire must've burned to cause the other alleged damages.

      Now, if you want to know why a battery overcharged and ignited in a device that should've been safe, then you might need someone who can compare the electronics to that of a properly working device. Which could be anyone with an unmelted Galaxy Note 7 and a screwdriver.

      There are a few things Samsung has that independent technicians may not have access to: Original design specs. Serial number records to confirm that this was actually a "safe" Note 7. The source code for their hardware drivers.

    24. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by mark-t · · Score: 1

      Just because the fire started at the battery does not mean that the person did not do something that caused it to happen. An independent party may be able to determine this, but they also may not. More importantly, even knowing that it started at the battery would not generally be helpful to other parties in determining if the underlying cause was a one-off occurrence on the so-called "safe" note 7's, or is symptomatic of a deeper issue that Samsung was not yet aware of. Samsung is the only company that can make this determination, and in the interests of the safety of all owners, it is imperative that they analyze the phone.

    25. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by Jason1729 · · Score: 1

      I have a macbook and a note 7. I would have bought an iPhone but I couldn't bring myself to pay $1000 for a phone with 5 year out of date hardware.

    26. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by Anubis+IV · · Score: 2

      Here's a quote from an article about Samsung's washing machines exploding.

      The lawsuit, filed in federal court in New Jersey, references similar reports collected by local news and filed online with regulators. It also claims Samsung "has moved aggressively to collect and destroy all evidence of the defective machines" after they exploded.

      Given that this is a company that's trying to silence news of this sort, it isn't fishy in the least to hang onto the only evidence you have so that you can either hand it over to the police or use it in a lawsuit against them. That's called common sense.

    27. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by ChunderDownunder · · Score: 1

      Or maybe he should be suing Apple. Connecting their machine to his phone and hey presto the latter exploded!

    28. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by chmod+a+x+mojo · · Score: 2

      Sorry but no. Just no.

      Your whole premise is extremely flawed. There is absolutely nothing, and I mean nothing super special about any of the phones on the market that makes it so any competent Electrical Engineer can't do a post mortem AND competently indicate to the maker what exactly the order of events were. Samsung knows what was where and can piece together scenarios from that, and request further clarifications.

      Samsung is not the only company that can make determination about devices, any competent EE can. An EE from Nokia / LG / SpaceX / any damn company that Employs competently trained EE's could tell you the what where and reasonable hypothesis of why of the failure.

      --
      To err is human; effective mayhem requires the root password!
    29. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And how does the Electrical Engineer examine the software inside that controls how the battery charges? If the user changed the software on the phone how is the Electrical Engineer going to demonstrate that?

    30. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Police don't do "evidence" in China. They do "we don't want to hear about this problem, can you resolve it yourself?" And then allow a claimant to engage in nothing less than endless extortion.

    31. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No fuckin' way do I give up the device so Samsung can turn around and say, "What device?"

      Oh for fuck sake, go away you paranoid retard. Have you ever RMA'd anything before? Obviously not because you'd be too scared that once you sent it off they'd say "What device?". Valet parking? No because they'd just say "What car?". Travelled with checked in bags? No of course not, "What luggage?".

    32. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If he handed it over to authorities on the other hand, they might actually find something that Samsung could be taken to court for...like selling products with FUCKING EXPLODING BATTERIES.

      What "authorities"? Who are you talking about? And who is funding this lawsuit? Sounds more like an extremely costly exercise that is likely to result in more effort than it's worth than to just take some pictures and give it to Samsung who will probably find that it was a grey import somewhere along the line and reimburse the guy.

    33. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It also claims Samsung "has moved aggressively to collect and destroy all evidence of the defective machines" after they exploded.

      Were they really behaving in an offensive and violent way when they came and destroyed the evidence in front of those people? Or did they promptly arrived to take it away for analysis? But I suppose the lawyer with the vested interest said it's the former so it must be true and we need not look any further at it, just take it as a fact.

      Given that this is a company that's trying to silence news of this sort

      What? How do you even arrive at that conclusion? Even if the unsubstantiated claim in that quote were indeed true how do you get from that to them trying to "silence news of this sort"? It's been widely reported and Samsung haven't tried to stop news agencies or individuals from reporting it.

      Maybe everything you're saying is true and I am certainly not saying that it isn't because it may well be, but you are very quick to jump to conclusions despite the distinct lack of any evidence for those claims.

    34. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by rtb61 · · Score: 1

      So would a competing manufacturers pay some one to do this, yes. Would corrupt elements in the supply and in this case return chain, take bad units worth very little and put them back through as brand new units at full price, yes. Will Samsung try to sneak back rebuilt units as new to recover some of the losses, yes.

      Reality is, safe bet is, wait for the next note with a user removable battery, the note 7 is a dead loss and to be avoided, you just don't know whether or not you will get stuck with a dud, well, 'er' not a dud, I suppose you want the dud, not the non-dud, the exploding one. The easiest way for Samsung to rebuild the reputation of the Note as a premium machine is to go back to a user removable battery.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    35. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So you just want them to give you money on your word?

      The device might not even be a note 7! It may not even be a local chinese Note7. In fact, who wants to bet that this was a grey import Note7 that the guy didn't want to get replaced because he was too fucking lazy.

      What do you want samsung to do, take everyone at their word and just give replacement phones/money/computers without any evidence?

      And no; a burnt phone and scorched macbook is not proof that the phone definitively did anything other than get set on fire.

    36. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, Samsung are totally trying to cover up this exploding batteries thing.

      That's why they pushed a software revision for "fixed" note7's with special dispensation from google to violate google design guidelines for Android.
      That's why they are recalling every single non-chinese-region galaxy note 7 across the fucking globe.
      That's why they are pushing a software update to vulnerable phones that reduces battery capacity to 60%.

      Yep, they are totally sweeping this under the rug, can't trust them!

    37. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What is the opposite of "trying to silence the news" of exploding batteries?

      Perhaps it is: "Leading a sustained global recall of an entire product line, publicly asking users to return potentially defective devices so that they may be given a replacement known-good device in its place"

      Perhaps it is: pushing software updates to potentially susceptible phones that reduces their maximum battery life to 60% of the rated capacity along with displaying messages asking for the device to be returned for a complete free replacement.

      But no, you are right; they are totally trying to silence news of this sort. Totally with you on that point.

    38. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by mark-t · · Score: 1

      It's not so much that there is anything "special" about it, as much as there is that there are things about it that only the manufacturer will know, because a product manufacturer doesn't necessarily disclose enough information about their product for independent parties to be able to repair or even diagnose issue that might arise with the device. Product manufactures do this a lot, often to discourage people from using independent repair services if something goes wrong, and I'd be honestly surprised if the Note was not similarly incomprehensible to third parties that might try to analyze it

    39. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Mr. Burnt Fingers: Yeah, not going to do that. This is going to the police as evidence because I need to file charges against you so that I can sue you. I am not handing over the only evidence that it is your fault to someone who may have ulterior motives.

      Yeah laughable. The world doesn't work that way. You don't need the device as evidence in your suit against them, and it will actually work against you in this regard. All you're doing is pissing away your chance at settlement and compensation.

    40. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah. You have never been to China, nor had any interaction with the legal system there have you?

      For those that have the magic phrase "Pay fine now?" will be very familiar.

    41. Re:Refused to hand over "evidence" by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Yes some random person claims a company is trying to destroy evidence while filing suit against them. No ulterior motive what so ever. No sireee.

      Common sense would be realising that you don't need the device to file a claim against the company and realising that if they can't produce the device in court that it would work very VERY strongly in your favour.

      But oh hey look corporation = evil so let's just throw common sense out the window and side with the guy making the fishy claim.

  2. Them by Tablizer · · Score: 0

    Bah, blame it on Russia, it's what we do

    1. Re:Them by guestapoo · · Score: 1

      Ha ha, in fact, Samsung, and Korea techs companies have history tied with Russian/E.European professionals/scientists. They transformed from low quality outsourcing for Japanese to hightech country with Russian "helps".

  3. Hu's lying by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    >> a representative from Samsung paid him a visit concerning this incident and asked for the smouldering corpse of his phone to perform an autopsy, but he refused
    that says it all right there

  4. Allegedly by Edweirdo · · Score: 1

    Aren't reports suppose to use this word when describing events?

    --
    Life is too short and too important to { take seriously | use windows }.
    1. Re: Allegedly by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

      Not when the story has been sponsored by Apple.

    2. Re: Allegedly by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Was supposed to be a joke rather than a troll. Sorry to whoever I offended by painting apple in a negative light.

  5. Why would you refuse to let Samsung do an autopsy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    that just seems stupid.. I assume so he can make sure he can sue for Millions.

  6. Ordered from where? by phorm · · Score: 2

    What's to say a local supplier didn't import models from out-of-country?

  7. Re:Why would you refuse to let Samsung do an autop by hcs_$reboot · · Score: 1

    Why would you want to give up your piece of evidence to the very company that will try anything to hide any problem the device may have?

    --
    Slashdot, fix the reply notifications... You won't get away with it...
  8. Re:Another Apple agent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    More likely has to do the updated macOS platform. Here's a snippet of the code:

    if (self.usb.vendor == 'Samsung') {
            self.usb.amp = 1000;
            self.usb.volt = 1000;
    }

  9. Heh by XSportSeeker · · Score: 2

    I was expecting this to happen sooner or later, and now we'll see the media reaction to it.

    There are just too many factors concerning possible smartphone explosions in this generation (faulty USB Type C cables, more power going into charging making any shoddy accessory a potential cause for thermal runaways)... and now that the press knows these stories sell, they'll bank on them more heavily creating a warped sense that these things started happening now.

    Reports so far have been incredibly superficial, with no previous investigation and not many details about investigations whether the allegations are true or not.

    Just weird to see how things changed this fast in the past few months.

  10. I assume there is a lucrative market by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    selling defective Galaxy 7's as fixed. This is China after all, a land filled with swindlers.

  11. Re:Why would you refuse to let Samsung do an autop by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Why would you want to give up your piece of evidence to the very company that will try anything to hide any problem the device may have?

    Is that a serious question? Because any company would just be foolish to believe you and replace alleged damage without proof. Hey MS, your Xbox blew up and destroyed my $10k tv. Give me a new one. You can't possibly not see how that would be a problem.

  12. Re:Why would you refuse to let Samsung do an autop by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    They are in the middle of the largest and most widely-publicized recall in the history of cell phones. I think we are a tad past the point of "trying anything to hide problems," don't you?

  13. But he refused... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...I can sorta understand...but also makes it smell fishy.

    The fact that it blew up a crApple product, however, was a nice thing.

  14. Re:Why would you refuse to let Samsung do an autop by ChoGGi · · Score: 1

    Proof? They visited him, easy enough to see if it blew up or not.

    A Samsung representative visited him soon afterward and asked to take away the phone, he said, but he declined the offer

  15. ...and damaging a MacBook Pro by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Well done, Sir!

  16. Re:Why would you refuse to let Samsung do an autop by hcs_$reboot · · Score: 1

    No, this phone was supposed to be "safe".

    --
    Slashdot, fix the reply notifications... You won't get away with it...
  17. You sure it wasn't an iPhone 7 that went poof? by Overzeetop · · Score: 1
    --
    Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
  18. I'm curious by PRMan · · Score: 2

    Since he just bought it, I'm curious to see if it is an old, returned phone that somebody shipped to China to alter and resell. Hopefully the Samsung rep was at least allowed to get the serial number.

    --
    Peter predicted that you would "deliberately forget" creation 2000 years ago...
    1. Re:I'm curious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not keeping up much on the Samsung 7 issue, can they be repaired easily or are they landfill devices from the get go?

    2. Re:I'm curious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Battery can be replaced. For a phone this expensive it is probably worth it to have someone open it and swap in a safe battery. Cheaper phones would likely be scrapped and replaced by newly manufactured ones.

  19. Re:Another Apple agent by MachineShedFred · · Score: 0

    If there was ever an appropriate time:

    [citation needed]

    Seriously, just shut the fuck up unless you can actually point to a single person or document showing that Apple is paying people to falsely claim phone fires.

    --
    Slashdot still doesnâ(TM)t support Unicode after it was added to the HTML standard in 1997.
  20. Not enough evidence by foxalopex · · Score: 1

    It's hard to have complete faith in this report because technically if you accidentally crush a phone with a lithium battery or you somehow manage to punch a hole into it, there's always the risk of it exploding or catching on fire. Samsung likely wants the phone to ensure they're not being blamed for something they are not responsible for. With the number of Samsung 7 owners in China having one or two explode from consumer mis-use or accidents isn't entirely surprising. I recall a few years ago a student blew himself up with an ipod after he accidentally put a screwdriver through the battery trying to fix it.

  21. Says common sense.... by gatfirls · · Score: 1

    That won't stop the media from reporting it as fact because no one really reads past the headline. It's kind of shameful for Cnet to even report on this since the previous case was external issues and this story is little more than that.

  22. Permanent Batteries Suck by slacka · · Score: 1

    My Samsung SG S5 was the last Galaxy to have a user removable battery and will be the last Galaxy that I buy. Even today's top of the line phones only last about 4 hours when under heavy load like video calls and 3D gaming. And there's the fact that every charge cycles reduces the battery's capacity. The extra 1mm that having a permanent battery may shave off the thickness is not worth it. Never mind the fact that nearly everyone that drops $800 for a phone puts it in a fat protective case totally negating the slim argument.

    So am I alone in taking pleasure from watching Samsung have to recall millions of phones for this idiotic move? I hope this serves as a reminder to Samsung that this was a terrible trade off for us consumers. And I hope it costs them more than the "planned obsolescence" will bring then in future profits.

    1. Re:Permanent Batteries Suck by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I like removable batteries too. I still have and use my Galaxy S5.

      But I have to disagree that "everybody" uses protective cases.

      I never use protective cases, and I work sheet metal and get it covered in oil and grease and metal dust on a daily basis.

      I found that dust and sand work their way under cases and fuck up the phone even more rubbing back and forth against the phone.

      My phones also last many years despite the abuse, I am on my second battery with my S5 and may go for a third.

  23. Re:Why would you refuse to let Samsung do an autop by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    But not easy to see why it blew up. I know, I know... China has no word for fraud. :)

  24. I don't see the contradiction. by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

    'Safe' Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Explodes in China

    I don't see the contradiction. Then again, I'm nowhere near China.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    1. Re:I don't see the contradiction. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It'd be hilarious if your entire family died. I don't think I know any of them.

  25. "explode"? by markdavis · · Score: 1

    >"'Safe' Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Explodes in China."

    Catching fire is not "exploding", it is "burning". But I know that is not sensationalist enough.

  26. Re:Why would you refuse to let Samsung do an autop by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Many phones are "supposed" to be safe, but they are not:

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/02/exploding-iphone-leaves-man-with-third-degree-burns/

  27. ..but he refused... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So he has no leg to stand on, and i call scam.

  28. Oversight!!! by ctw181 · · Score: 1

    I think we are missing the main point here... an Apple product was damaged. Only a billion to go.

  29. Re:Why would you refuse to let Samsung do an autop by Swave+An+deBwoner · · Score: 1

    Modern Shopping.

    1975: I'd like a red phone please. Do you have one?

    2016: I'd like a phone that won't kill me or burn down my house please. Do you have one?

  30. Headphone jack? by Latent+Heat · · Score: 1

    'spose someone tried the user-applied fix to give it a headphone jack?

    1. Re:Headphone jack? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's the Apple iPhone 7, not the Samsung Note 7. One has no headphone jack, the other catches fire.

  31. When in China by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Do as the Chinese do and Explode! I mean, c'mon!

  32. Yeh, right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No one but an idiot would believe this story. It certainly is not newsworthy.

  33. Don't you think that I know that? by Latent+Heat · · Score: 1

    I beamed my crew down to the 3rd planet.

    Matt, there is no 3rd planet.

    (sobbing) Don't you think that I know that?