Japan investigates exploding first generation iPod nanos, again (update: issues consumer warning)

Look, it's pretty clear that the lithium-ion battery in the first generation iPod nano has the potential to burst into flames. Seriously, how many more cases do we have to see? Even after giving Apple a stern talking-to and ferocious wag of the finger back in March, Japan's government is once again investigating possible battery defects that caused a pair of Tokyo nanos to burn: nano model MA099 recently singed a piece of nearby paper while a model MA005 nano burned a traditional tatami mat in January (no injuries were reported).

Presumably Apple is calculating the cost-of-recall at this very moment. In other words, take the number of 1st gen nanos in the field, A, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, they don't do one.

Update: Japan has issued a warning to iPod nano users saying, "Users need to be careful about overheating of the machines," particularly when charging the players. Japan's government has reported a total of 14 similar incidents to Apple related to models MA004J/A, MA005J/A, MA099J/A and MA107J/A all sold between September '05 and September '06 -- two of which resulted in minor burns. NHK claims that Apple does not plan a recall but is ready to exchange defective parts.

[iEye @ Aug 19th 2008 7:37AM]

Cool , I still use my first Gen iPod nano that I bought end of season on sale for cheap... I could really go for a FREE replacement model He He He...

[kccboy2004 @ Aug 19th 2008 8:52AM]

Let me assure you that Apple is working tirelessly to get something right.

None of this is news. Go to a Genius Bar. This complaint comes up all the time.

[Almadi @ Aug 19th 2008 7:37AM]

Just send everyone with the first gen the new nanos being released next month with an extended 3 year warranty. This is Apple we are talking about...they care about people.

[Randy @ Aug 19th 2008 7:54AM]

"This is Apple we are talking about...they care about people."

BWAHAHA. Thanks for the laugh.
All Apple cares about, like most corporations, is their own bottom line. Their actions don't say otherwise.

[Almadi @ Aug 19th 2008 9:06AM]

And in other news, hoards of people are buying first generation Nanos on eBay as a cheap way to get the new Nanos.

1. Buy a 1st gen Nano real cheap from eBay.
2. Plug it, let it charge for 40 days and nights.
3. Have a sand bucket, glass of water, fire extinguisher on hand, use before fire gets out of hand.
4. Camera: click, click, flash, flash.
4. Write a letter.
5. Wait for your new 2008 Nano to arrive in the mail.

Total cost of new Nano: $50

[kjb434 @ Aug 19th 2008 9:30AM]

Trust me, Apple will do nothing if they see the potential loss is lest than their future gain.

When a company cares, they are caring because it affects the bottom line.

[Mike @ Aug 19th 2008 7:40AM]

The first rule about Fight Club is ... OK, I guess we can let this one slide.

[Chanzo @ Aug 19th 2008 8:49AM]

The Fight Club reference would have been funnier if it wasn't explicitly cited beforehand.

[Todd @ Aug 19th 2008 9:45AM]

OMFG! Best. blog. post. graphic EVAH!

[M.Samba @ Aug 19th 2008 7:44AM]

I want a nano that sings a nearby piece of paper, leave it to the japanese to have a singing piece of paper before be we do...have I made enough remarks about the typo yet? Probably not but i'll stop anyways

[Paul Dullford @ Aug 19th 2008 7:59AM]

That, I do not believe is a typo. It's the correct past form (whichever form it was I forget) of "singe."
If they did mean to use the verb "sing" they would have said "recently sang a piece of nearby paper."

[Joshwa @ Aug 19th 2008 8:03AM]

How else do you spell "singed"?

singe (snj)
tr.v. singed, singe·ing, sing·es
1. To burn superficially; scorch.
2. To burn off the feathers or bristles of (a carcass of a bird or animal) by subjecting briefly to flame. See Synonyms at burn1.
3. To burn the ends of (hair, for example).
4. To burn the nap from (cloth) in manufacturing.

[Design @ Aug 19th 2008 7:54AM]

Heh, after reading this I won't ever be able to sleep comfortably with my Nano plugged in despite the odds so far being almost negligably low. Ignorance truely is bliss :(

[Paul Dullford @ Aug 19th 2008 7:57AM]

No! I have a first-generation iPod nano!
Seriously, though, am I the only person that thinks that these gadgets burst into flames only because they've been overheated one way or another? Apparently I am.
Additional remark: Apple must have seriously poor taste in choosing their batteries, if these stories are to be representative of a larger population of gadgets. First exploding MacBooks, now spontaneously combusting iPods...

[Michael @ Aug 19th 2008 8:09AM]

Honestly Apple put out a lot of iPods out, there's bound to be a few with dodgy batteries. The only reason other devices don't get the publicity is the chance is so much smaller since there is less devices being sold. Giving the age of the devices, I can't even believe the batteries still work.

Lithium Ion Batteries by memory have a small chip to stop the device if it's trying to draw the last little bit of the battery or if it's over charging it. It only takes one of those faulty chips to fail, and then whole device can be blown up. Give some lean way to apple, this is 2 or 3 cases that can't even be confirmed that they didn't have previous damage (water or heat damage is hard to detect some times)

[TareX @ Aug 19th 2008 8:39AM]

He looks like a young Brad Pitt.

[Carl Vitullo @ Aug 19th 2008 8:53AM]

I'm pretty sure that's a picture of Brad Pitt from Fight Club.

In which case it IS a young Brad Pitt.

[Das Boot @ Aug 19th 2008 9:25AM]

I remember my ipod nano exploded when i had it in my back pocket. It was a painful yet kinky experience. Thank you Steve Jobs for letting third world countries and their sweatshops make your batteries.

[PabUK @ Aug 19th 2008 8:46AM]

I'm still happily using my first-gen nano. With Rockbox installed, it has been receiving regular feature updates for nearly 3 years. It's a brilliant pairing and it will be hard to replace when the battery finally dies (or heck, if this arcticle indicates a real problem, sets on fire).

[Mile @ Aug 19th 2008 8:57AM]

Now the time is right to start selling my metal "Charge Safe Nano iBox". Let it burn - the metal box protects you and your loved ones while you safely sleep through the meltdown.

[Mark @ Aug 19th 2008 9:05AM]

So one nano explodes out of how many million sold?

[Blayed @ Aug 19th 2008 9:39AM]

Still, lets put this in perspective. Sure "only" one nano spontaneously combusts out of a million (as an example), but compare it to other products. How many cars have been known to ignite on the high way? How many planes spontaneously fall from they sky? How many toy robots with basic AI decide their bored of following their programming and try to take over the world? (Okay, that one's a stretch.. or is it.. >.>).

Anyhow my point is, for a device being released to the public, having ANYTHING that spontaneously combusts, no matter how small the chance, is a HUGE issue.

[webterractive @ Aug 19th 2008 9:27AM]

And people talk about DELL, tsk tsk... like I've said on other sites (ehmac.ca) it doesn't matter what device, company, or software if the device has defective hardware then it will do something out of the normal like explode. People just like to turn everything into an Apple vs Windows fight.

[Mark Alexander @ Aug 19th 2008 9:33AM]

Weapons of nano destruction.

[icepop4who @ Aug 19th 2008 10:10AM]

You take some electricity, a power cord, and an ipod nano. And you got yourself a homemade bomb. All sorts of explosives can be made from household items.

[olsonick @ Aug 19th 2008 11:13AM]

like kjb434 before me, I must point out that replacing the defective units is "...less than the cost of a recall..."





Which computer company do you work for?

A major one.

[icepop4who @ Aug 19th 2008 11:44AM]

Everytime my ipod nano gets hot, I pray for an explosion.
Life insurance pays off double if you die with an ipod in your pocket.

[James G. @ Aug 19th 2008 12:25PM]

Am I like the only one that thinks that the guy looks a lot like Brad Pitt, that is if its not him. Surprisingly no one else mentioned it.

[tony @ Aug 19th 2008 12:40PM]

Wait you've never seen Fight Club?

[Sporkinum @ Aug 19th 2008 1:38PM]

Fight Club recall reference for the win. I love the way Engadget works appropriate pop-culture references into articles.