Prepare to be amazed at what passes for investigative journalism on television these days. Atlanta's WSB-TV Action News team ran a sensational iPod "nana" piece last night under the title "Man's Pants Catch Fire At Airport." To set the stage, WSB-TV says that the nano "uses the same technology as those troubled laptop batteries under recall due to the risk of fire." In steps Danny Williams -- mild mannered consumer, airport employee -- who claims that his iPod nano "burst into" chest-high flames while he was at work. So why isn't he covered in burns after exposure to such a serious chemical fire? We've all watched the horrifying video of a lithium ion battery explosion, right? Well, Danny claims that he was protected by a "glossy piece of paper" in his pocket at the time. Taking it up a notch, WSB-TV worries that Danny could have been mistaken for a terrorist due to his smoking airport trousers. Look, we're not saying that nothing happened, after all, we've written about an exploding iPod nano before. We're only saying that it didn't happen in the way described. Check the video of the hot-coffee-in-lap style legal preparation after the break.
1) This gentleman with the flaming iPod is a national hero. He may have saved millions of lives. He should be awarded some kind of medal and possibly made Director of Homeland Security.
2) Apple should pull all pre-September 2007 iPods from the market and fully reimburse the owners. As an added measure of safety I think Apple should probably also buy back any accessories that the iPod owners may have purchased over the years - even if they were not manufactured by Apple.
give it up to the national media to sensationalize ANY story and make it seem like an epidemic. Thats the funny thing about batteries, even if you can test them all, it doesn't mean that a very small number arn't slightly defective and won't show for a while.
keep in mind that was a first gen nano, so he must have had it for like a year or two. not to mention ipods are manufactured in the wonderfully health concerned china, we should just be glad the nanos arn't slathered in a "protective lead coating"
WOW, you have a low threshold for greatness. Not even the best comment of the thread.
Anyway, my personal favorite line is "it could have happened when he was driving" Oh really? Listening to a music player while driving? That would be Darwinesque if his ass got burnt by a Nana while driving and crashed.
That news lady reminds me of Wesley Snipes in Demolition Man
Oh, and iPods uses Li-ion batteries, the same tecnology used in the recalled burning laptop batteries. Also the same in every or handphone, every portable player, most rc-car, new electric screwdrivers and so on... WE ARE ALL IN DANGER!! Save the battery, save the world!
1) Go to Hardware store 2) Buy tack hammer 3) Hit yourself in the head with tack hammer for not realizing that she was talking about people who fell asleep listening to their iPod for some reason. Her comment was stupid, but you still edge her out.
Most journalists are simply not that bright and seek sensation, that's for sure.
In the modern days it's not enough to passively soak anything the TV throws at you without critical analisys, but it's still better than not having the information at all (it's same when researching for something in Internet).
At least you're made aware your Li-ion device may burst into flames for no apparent reason. The cumulative effect is positive.
a pr nightmare? anyone can see that this guy is full of crap. I mean chest high flames from a nano, he has no idea what he's talking about. Not to mention the little piece of glossy paper he showed in the news report was very slightly charred on the outside. If the flames didn't burn through that, how are they going to be chest high?
It looks like there possibly were not any flames to begin with and it was only heat that charred the paper. The paper smoked and he made the assumption that it was the ipod burning.
This guy is obviously going to sue Apple. Hopefully Apple sue WSB-TV. How ridiculous. "This isn't about what happened, it's about what could of happened." What a load of crap! I think they need some more what ifs? What if he was an airline pilot. He could have crashed the plan killing everyone! Better sue based on that "what if."
If he works in a kiosk at the Airport he is most likely selling $2 bottles of water, and crappy t-shirts. He thinks he has hit the lottery, with visions of a multi-million dollar settlement with Apple. He obviosly was not injured, if he had been, the "Nana" investigation would have been video taped outside a busy Trauma Center. Oh the agony and pain he must be suffering! PTNSS for sure (Post Traumatic Nana Stress Syndrome)
It's all about money. Biz Markee looking dude wants to make some easy money. Plus, the reporters themselves are morons. How many items out there use Lithium-Ion batteries? Millions, and millions. So, to say that the "iPod uses the same battery used on laptops that are under recall" is moronic, misleading, and ignorant. Sure they use the same technology in the batteries, but not the same batteries that have been recalled.
I'm not saying that it couldn't happen. All I'm saying is that the reporters are the typical "Yellow Press" clowns out for attention and ratings, and the guy and his girl, well, they wanted to be on tv.
"Good morning, Mr. Jobs. Bit of a problem already this morning."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, a news station in Atlanta is reporting that some guy's first-gen iPod nano burst into flames while in his pocket."
"Oh, wow. Well, I guess we'll just have to stop manufacturing the first-gen iPod nano OH WAIT WE ALREADY DID. We don't make the product anymore and the guy wasn't injured. End of story, nothing to see here. I'll send him a black turtleneck just in case his shirt was damaged in the fire, whatever. Next?"
Nana is not a surprise from Monica. She misspeaks about 5 times a newscast. Its as much a part of channel 5 news here in Atlanta as Coke is a a part of the cities history.
As for the ipod, despite this being the second melted nano publicly photographed, has anyone proven it was due to a lithium discharge? Sounds like Fox5 may be in in for a little smackdown. And one other problem remains, there has been no forensic analysis of the ipod. Was it bent before it melted applying pressure to it, was he sweating, did he spill coffee on his lap?
Sorry one melted pile of electronics and a scorched piece of paper with no other corroborating evidence doesn't make a news story. I'm sure there were no witnesses at all as he was only in the busiest airport in the country (depending on who you talk to).
I assume the “hot-coffee-in-lap style legal preparation” is a reference to the infamous McDonald’s coffee case (Liebeck vs. McDonald’s). Although this case has become the poster child for so-called “frivolous lawsuits” most people don’t seem to know the facts of that case.
Oh and one thing the author forgot to mention in his speech: the day after the jury verdict, McDonald’s lowered the temperature of its coffee. So if you ever happen to spill McDonald’s coffee on yourself, you won’t end up in the hospital having skin grafts (and you can thank Stella Liebeck of that!)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
NG @ Oct 5th 2007 5:55AM
nana?
404error @ Oct 5th 2007 6:00AM
The new iPod Nana. It gives new meaning to hot pockets.
Finnschi @ Oct 5th 2007 6:02AM
Hot pockets are nasty... just like a burning iPod... i have about 25 iPods.. and never had a problem with any
enzo @ Oct 5th 2007 1:28PM
I live in Atlanta... that news channel is a joke. The sensationalist garbage they try to pass off as news, it's embarrassing
carl @ Oct 5th 2007 4:21PM
Why the hell do you have 25 ipods?
Zeus the God @ Oct 5th 2007 4:36PM
Because he's an iPod shill, trying to give it a good name. Hes likely to be lying.
Michael L. @ Oct 5th 2007 5:59AM
Well, that "nana" says it all. He had a chineese knockoff! :P
martin @ Oct 5th 2007 6:01AM
woah it happened TWO known times? thats proof enough to say they are dangerous.
scarcasm is hard in writing.
JoeX @ Oct 5th 2007 8:10AM
I agree with you. Two times is proof!
Let me just add these two points:
1) This gentleman with the flaming iPod is a national hero. He may have saved millions of lives. He should be awarded some kind of medal and possibly made Director of Homeland Security.
2) Apple should pull all pre-September 2007 iPods from the market and fully reimburse the owners. As an added measure of safety I think Apple should probably also buy back any accessories that the iPod owners may have purchased over the years - even if they were not manufactured by Apple.
Sincerely,
JoeX
Grant @ Oct 5th 2007 10:17AM
haha.
seriously.
give it up to the national media to sensationalize ANY story and make it seem like an epidemic. Thats the funny thing about batteries, even if you can test them all, it doesn't mean that a very small number arn't slightly defective and won't show for a while.
keep in mind that was a first gen nano, so he must have had it for like a year or two. not to mention ipods are manufactured in the wonderfully health concerned china,
we should just be glad the nanos arn't slathered in a "protective lead coating"
Ian @ Oct 5th 2007 2:11PM
"give it up to the national media to sensationalize "
Except it was not national. And you need to figure out waht the shift key is for.
Finnschi @ Oct 5th 2007 6:02AM
Americans ARE stupid... wtf "chest high" yea right... dumbass
blade417 @ Oct 5th 2007 8:10AM
go piss on an electrical fence
LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Oct 5th 2007 9:55AM
w3rd UP!
melloncollie @ Oct 5th 2007 11:06AM
Yeah, that's right, because all Americans are this sensationalist.
You're a moron.
DarkAardvark @ Oct 5th 2007 4:30PM
americans are from countries all over the world. that said, you must be stupid too
waiownsyou @ Oct 5th 2007 6:03AM
It's funny because she said NANO right the second time a few secs later
Thomas Hayes @ Oct 5th 2007 6:04AM
Ah yes, we all know the life saving properties of a "glossy piece of paper". After all it's what all flak jackets are made of.
ryantrevisol @ Oct 5th 2007 7:11AM
BEST COMMENT EVER!!!!!!!!
PDubNYC @ Oct 5th 2007 9:09AM
"BEST COMMENT EVER!!!!!!!!"
WOW, you have a low threshold for greatness. Not even the best comment of the thread.
Anyway, my personal favorite line is "it could have happened when he was driving" Oh really? Listening to a music player while driving? That would be Darwinesque if his ass got burnt by a Nana while driving and crashed.
That news lady reminds me of Wesley Snipes in Demolition Man
KH @ Oct 5th 2007 6:05AM
It looks more like one of those iPod nano knockoff (still made in China)...
waiownsyou @ Oct 5th 2007 6:05AM
LMAO @ End of video. It said Apple called back but refused to say anything about it, so Apple basically called to ask what's up
Lukino @ Oct 5th 2007 6:37AM
Oh, and iPods uses Li-ion batteries, the same tecnology used in the recalled burning laptop batteries. Also the same in every or handphone, every portable player, most rc-car, new electric screwdrivers and so on... WE ARE ALL IN DANGER!! Save the battery, save the world!
raymie @ Oct 5th 2007 6:38AM
i wonder how a nano would burst into flames while they're sleeping when the ipod is off
PDubNYC @ Oct 5th 2007 9:12AM
1) Go to Hardware store
2) Buy tack hammer
3) Hit yourself in the head with tack hammer for not realizing that she was talking about people who fell asleep listening to their iPod for some reason. Her comment was stupid, but you still edge her out.
sentencieuse @ Oct 5th 2007 9:58AM
4. ???????
5. PROFIT!
suv4x4 @ Oct 5th 2007 6:50AM
Most journalists are simply not that bright and seek sensation, that's for sure.
In the modern days it's not enough to passively soak anything the TV throws at you without critical analisys, but it's still better than not having the information at all (it's same when researching for something in Internet).
At least you're made aware your Li-ion device may burst into flames for no apparent reason. The cumulative effect is positive.
srhn1261 @ Oct 5th 2007 6:56AM
i live there.
i watched that.
and i thought "engadget's going to talk about that."
Grant @ Oct 5th 2007 10:19AM
then i thought:
"my neighborhood is doomed with stupidity"
Paul @ Oct 5th 2007 11:13AM
Me too! Another reason I'm trying desperately to transfer out of Atlanta.
Run Scoob! Like zoinks, this place gives me the creeps!
Lee @ Oct 8th 2007 6:25PM
ROOOBEEEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
bob e @ Oct 5th 2007 7:16AM
holy flaming nano's!
I wait to see one of the big boys burst into flames. Apple has a PR nightmare on their hands with this one.
Rob @ Oct 5th 2007 1:36PM
a pr nightmare? anyone can see that this guy is full of crap. I mean chest high flames from a nano, he has no idea what he's talking about. Not to mention the little piece of glossy paper he showed in the news report was very slightly charred on the outside. If the flames didn't burn through that, how are they going to be chest high?
It looks like there possibly were not any flames to begin with and it was only heat that charred the paper. The paper smoked and he made the assumption that it was the ipod burning.
cory @ Oct 5th 2007 7:24AM
This guy is obviously going to sue Apple. Hopefully Apple sue WSB-TV. How ridiculous. "This isn't about what happened, it's about what could of happened." What a load of crap! I think they need some more what ifs? What if he was an airline pilot. He could have crashed the plan killing everyone! Better sue based on that "what if."
JM @ Oct 5th 2007 2:02PM
What if he crashed the plane into a school bus? Think of all the children he could have...that is to say APPLE could have (tortured and) killed.
Oscar @ Oct 5th 2007 7:32AM
An iPod Nana is just an iPod for grandparents, that or an iPod SHUFFLE around!
haha.
granny down east @ Oct 5th 2007 11:52AM
hell yeah to the ipod nana. my grandkids think that's me
doggydoo @ Oct 5th 2007 7:44AM
His pants were on fire, so, I would guess he's a liar.
id @ Oct 5th 2007 6:05PM
omg that is f'ing brilliant. this comment wins and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise.
Dimplemonkey @ Oct 5th 2007 7:51AM
I live in the Atlanta area, so I stopped reading after I saw WSB-TV. Your preaching to the choir when it comes to their "investigative journalism".
Jersey @ Oct 5th 2007 8:34AM
More importantly, this guy works at a kiosk at the airport, and thats his neighborhood? I knew those sunglasses were really marked up, but damn.
Steve Adams @ Oct 5th 2007 8:47AM
If he works in a kiosk at the Airport he is most likely selling $2 bottles of water, and crappy t-shirts. He thinks he has hit the lottery, with visions of a multi-million dollar settlement with Apple. He obviosly was not injured, if he had been, the "Nana" investigation would have been video taped outside a busy Trauma Center. Oh the agony and pain he must be suffering! PTNSS for sure
(Post Traumatic Nana Stress Syndrome)
Ben H @ Oct 5th 2007 8:55AM
Engadget getting mad at people creating sensationalist Apple stories? Those who throw stones...
Kevin @ Oct 5th 2007 9:16AM
Now, that... is some horrendous news reporting.
Rob @ Oct 5th 2007 9:16AM
It's all about money. Biz Markee looking dude wants to make some easy money. Plus, the reporters themselves are morons. How many items out there use Lithium-Ion batteries? Millions, and millions. So, to say that the "iPod uses the same battery used on laptops that are under recall" is moronic, misleading, and ignorant. Sure they use the same technology in the batteries, but not the same batteries that have been recalled.
I'm not saying that it couldn't happen. All I'm saying is that the reporters are the typical "Yellow Press" clowns out for attention and ratings, and the guy and his girl, well, they wanted to be on tv.
Andy S. @ Oct 5th 2007 9:18AM
"Good morning, Mr. Jobs. Bit of a problem already this morning."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, a news station in Atlanta is reporting that some guy's first-gen iPod nano burst into flames while in his pocket."
"Oh, wow. Well, I guess we'll just have to stop manufacturing the first-gen iPod nano OH WAIT WE ALREADY DID. We don't make the product anymore and the guy wasn't injured. End of story, nothing to see here. I'll send him a black turtleneck just in case his shirt was damaged in the fire, whatever. Next?"
John @ Oct 5th 2007 9:32AM
Living in Atlanta and having to suffer the hellish cluster fuck that is the airport, this story makes me happy.
Richard Ahlquist @ Oct 5th 2007 9:45AM
Nana is not a surprise from Monica. She misspeaks about 5 times a newscast. Its as much a part of channel 5 news here in Atlanta as Coke is a a part of the cities history.
As for the ipod, despite this being the second melted nano publicly photographed, has anyone proven it was due to a lithium discharge? Sounds like Fox5 may be in in for a little smackdown. And one other problem remains, there has been no forensic analysis of the ipod. Was it bent before it melted applying pressure to it, was he sweating, did he spill coffee on his lap?
Sorry one melted pile of electronics and a scorched piece of paper with no other corroborating evidence doesn't make a news story. I'm sure there were no witnesses at all as he was only in the busiest airport in the country (depending on who you talk to).
FermitTheKrog @ Oct 5th 2007 9:47AM
That is why I am perfectly happy with my Microsoft Zing.
Philly Lawyer @ Oct 5th 2007 9:55AM
I assume the “hot-coffee-in-lap style legal preparation” is a reference to the infamous McDonald’s coffee case (Liebeck vs. McDonald’s). Although this case has become the poster child for so-called “frivolous lawsuits” most people don’t seem to know the facts of that case.
http://www.okbar.org/public/judges/mcdonaldsspeech.pdf
Oh and one thing the author forgot to mention in his speech: the day after the jury verdict, McDonald’s lowered the temperature of its coffee. So if you ever happen to spill McDonald’s coffee on yourself, you won’t end up in the hospital having skin grafts (and you can thank Stella Liebeck of that!)