Apple issues a recall for its 'Ultracompact USB Power Adapter'
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted Sep 19th 2008 4:52PM
posted Sep 19th 2008 4:52PM
Hey, remember that tiny power adapter you got with your new iPhone? Well guess what? It could get a little dangerous -- so Apple wants you to swap it for a newer, less dangerous one. Apparently, the adapter's metal prongs can break right off, thus creating a "risk of electrical shock" and general mellow-harshing. The company issued a recall today for any of the "Ultracompact USB Power Adapters" which came with iPhone 3Gs in the US, Japan, Canada, Mexico, and "several Latin American countries" (don't worry, they've got a list). Check the read link to figure out if you've got the bad kind of adapter, and for goodness sake, be careful when unplugging that thing!
apple made a mistake.,. unpossable!
Oh yeah definately unpossable..
Cluster made a mistake.. Unpossable!!!
If you take your 1st generation iPhone and plug it into your computer's USB port to charge, take your finger and rub the apple logo ont he back and you will feel the electric charge pulse through your finger.
I learned a long time ago that metal cases can be really dangerous on plug in devices. I was in China and I plugged in my Jornada 525 PDA's AC adaptor into a typical travel adaptor to step down 220v to 110.
I didn't realize that the Jornada's adaptor already stepped down 220 - 110 and the damn thing shocked the hell outta me.
You guys not being able to spell the word "impossible" ?! Not that's a mistake.
@ Seth
That's kinda what I was trying to point out.. Apparently I wasn't quite clear enough ;).
screw-up after screw-up after screw up.
my 4 year old daughter called Apple Computer Company a "screw-up" the other day, I gave her a time out. Language like that is just not appropriate. She learnt her lesson, but now is being quite acidic in saying "Apple has a level of quality problems which can only leave the casual observer with the impression that they are less interested in the long terms satisfaction of their customer than with short term profits which can only be earned on the back of the a general public ignorance". She got another time out. i can't help but think that she may have point though.
What, you've never watched "The Simpsons"? That truly is unpossible!
http://www.thesimpsonsquotes.com/characters/ralph-wiggum-quotes.html
Hey so what was with the anti-Vista post? I'm spamming here because we can comment on it.
Can i get a refund of the entire iphone?
@kccboy2004
Stop with the whole the other day my four year old daughter" schtick. That's gotta be the third time you've said that in the last three days.
It's not funny and it pisses me off. If your four year old daughter could speak with such excellent grammar and startling candor, then I think she'd be doing something more important than being the daughter of kccboy2004.
SO shut up please.
kccboy2004: yes, you hate Apple, we get it. Every post you make on this board is about how much you hate Apple. You hate Apple, everything they do, anybody who likes them and even anybody who uses their products. You're an anti-Apple bigot who doesn't let facts get in the way, and that's just darling. But we get it already. Find a new hobby.
Yes @kccboy2004, behave more like @Zak and be balanced when you post. You don't see Zak posting like and anti-Microsoft bigot do you.
Flashpoint:
None of what you said makes sense electrically. If you got shocked either of those ways there is a lot more to the story. In effect, what you said is impossible.
Meh... if you are a real apple fan boi/grrl you wont pay heed to such product recalls. In a few more years this charger would be a collectors item and if you can make it through alive you would have an awesome story to tell. Apple products are so much fun.
he made a Simpsons' reference not a mistake.
"Me fail english? That's Unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
jakem: I would love for you to show me where I posted anything "anti-Microsoft". And defending kccboy when he's such an obvious troll is is kind of stupid on your part, don't you think? Or are you just a braindead Apple hater too?
@ Nick & Seth,
good to see you guys are so smart... now it's time for you to learn sarcastic talk...
Ever watched a show called the Simpsons???
Homer: impossible Unpossible; Nuclear Nucular; Jesus Jebus.......
what if I moved ??!!!
OMG they want serial number ... now they will find I screwed ATT !
What will I do ?!!!
@cluster
I got the reference.
@ Elijah
Do you really think he has the brains or the ability to create a 4 year old daughter?
Oh I'm sorry.. I never really watch the Simpsons.. Didn't know he was referring to a quote from one of its characters.
no.. that's ipossible!!!!
AMERICAN ELECTRICAL SOCKETS ARE FAIL.
British is well recognised as being "safe as fuck".
Yes, if you're a dirty Chav who no one likes. Sigh. And just to clear things up, yes our Health and Safety regulations are up to scratch, thank you very much.
I will say you have a point, British electrical sockets are über-secure it would seem. three ginormous prongs AND a fuse on the male connector of whatever you're plugging in. I always wondered though why in addition to the standard outlet there are the outlets with the round prongs...
Do you mean the shaver sockets in bathrooms?
This is nothing to do with the sockets. It's the plug. I have plenty of safe US plugs, I guess this just isn't one of them.
finally apple does SOMETHING wrong
microsoft fanboys will be talking about this for ages
or we'll be like normal people and realize that it could happen to any company... not all fanboys are obnoxious people that need to go through puberty *cough*
Robert: That's true, but if you hang out on these boards long enough you'll realize that most of the Apple haters are in fact obnoxious people who need to go through puberty. That's just the way it is here.
FINALLY done something wrong? You mean like the melting MagSafe adapters and the expanding batteries?
Oh sorry, not being immature am I?
@ Zak
Accusing people of the opposite view of being obnoxious and 'needing to go through puberty', simply for being of the opposite view point as you, has to be the most childish and illogical argument I've seen in quite a while (and I've watched creationist videos recently!).
Juxtah: Why do you think I'm being contrary and nothing else? What I said is absolutely true. The Apple haters on this board are immature and obnoxious. Unless you're going to try to tell me their arguments are well reasoned and logical, which would be funny.
Robert said "... or we'll be like normal people and realize it could happen to any company". Now look at kccboy's post near the top and you tell me if it seems to you that he realizes it could happen to any company. See my point here? Also, tell me his "argument" is not "childish and illogical", since you seem to think mine is but nobody else's is, apparently.
True, a lot of Apple haters can be obnoxious, however since we're stereotyping, a lot of Apple lovers are blind.
And yes it could happen to any company, what I find mildly amusing about this particular situation is the fact that Apple markets itself as a perfect corporation that cares and doesn't cut corners and only releases stuff that 'just works'. Yet the reason these adapters are failing is because they decided to skimp on manufacturing that would save them pennies and later cost them a hundred times as much in recalls.
I'm not saying no ones but your argument is childish and illogical, but I think the most childish insult known to man (perhaps only surpassed by mum jokes) is attacking someone because you believe they are pre pubescent, it doesn't matter what the content or motivation behind you post is, stooping to that level makes you just as if not much worse then the very people you are trying to 'prove' are childish.
So is Apple just like any other company now?
@Zak
"but if you hang out on these boards long enough"
That line proves that you're a complete retard. People like Jubei(?) or supersexyerik(who knows what he goes by now) have caused a lot of comment arguments around here in about every apple story a while back. Those guys, the anti-microsofts, and you now share one thing in common... stupidity.
Now I feel extremely paranoid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjgrADPB7q8
Electronics do think they're complicated.
@samboini
Well played.
the quality of Apple Products has been going downhill for some time
- iphones and ipods that need replacing after a few months -
APPLE U SUX
yah, but ive had my 1G iPhone for a year now, and its the best still. i will probably last me another year or soo. at least one of their newer products is built well. =l
These adapters also come with iPod cables (e.g. component cable).
I find this funny cause Apple called this recall about 2 days ago and you guys are saying today. haha it was even on the news 2 days ago and I think they also have a battery recall going on now too but I could be wrong about that.
Why we we need to wait til Oct 10?
3 words:
Made in China.
China "doesn't care about black people"
by flextronics
2 words:
Poor Design
One word: Fail
Hi, I'm an Apple Ultracompact USB Adapter and I... aw f%$ it.
Yes yes I'm here...
(pause)
Apple is one cheap a** of a company!
The original iPhone was made out of metal... this one plastic, cheap plastic that cracks...
The original iPhone came with a charging dock, cheap as it was Apple bean counters saw it fit to go even lower and contract this cheap-o wall iProng so that 'ol S.J. can buy a few more $1,000 turtle necks...
ugh...
1. Plastic was a design choice to help reception.
2. The original iPhone cost $399, the new on costs $199.
Here's another one:
The blue tooth earpiece used to come with a dock too. It was $129. Now it's $99 and no dock.
Personally I'd rather pay the lower price for the phone and then get the dock, if I need it. That way I don't pay for something I don't necessarily want.
Maybe if Apple annoys you so much you should avoid Apple altogether. Or do you enjoy being pissed off all the time?
So where is the recall announcement? No word from Apple except the news on engadget. What if people don't read this blog? Apple is BS...Apple should be sending out emails like they do with the iPhone updates.
Actually, there's a PR announcement....
Check it here.
http://www.macblogz.com/2008/09/19/breaking-media-alert-apple-exchanging-adapters-due-to-electric-shock/
Actually, there's a PR announcement.
Check it here:
http://www.macblogz.com/2008/09/19/breaking-media-alert-apple-exchanging-adapters-due-to-electric-shock/
Well, I know its a lot to ask, but if you actually read more on it they are not releasing and shipping the replacement adapters until October 10th, so while I am sure they will notify people within the coming days, its obviously not such a life or death issue that it requires people who freak out over nothing to run to the Apple store. A recall can happen when less than 1% have experienced an issue, and they find its a manufacturing problem, so they fix it. It doesn't mean the sky is falling chicken little.
I was jealous of the small size of the American adapter when compared to massive UK one.
However I must now activate "smug mode"
"Well, I can't hang around here saving your necks all day; I guess I'll go and make a start on that ironing."
Be careful, inhaling one's own farts excessively can be bad.
Sorry,
here's a link straight to the PR announcement on Apple's site:
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2008/09/19alert.html
Good god - is it just me, or is it the height of self narcissistic egotism to have a last paragraph at the end of a RECALL ANNOUNCEMENT bigger that all the paragraphs before it talking about how really great and innovative they are?!!!
I'm gob-smacked at the nerve of this company sometimes.
miker: It's like you've never seen PR statement before. Apple puts that paragraph at the bottom of every PR statement they make. Every single one. And every other company, including Microsoft, does the same thing. It's a standard PR thing, so you can stop being gobsmacked now.
i thought the sparks when I'm plugging it in is a feature... :)
I like that this is "breaking."
Big deal, faulty materials and/or manufacturing happen sometimes with ANYTHING.
Good to know, though.
Good thing I've been using my old one. Jeeez
Ultracompact USB **FIRE STARTER**
Guy at Apple: Oh f*ck we just made something dangerous again.....R R R R Recall
I'm not really sure if anything I just said makes sense but I'm tired... perpetually tired.... as all struggling musicians are.
*predicts low ranking for mentioning "struggling musician" & high ranking for the reply to this comment that just says "nobody cares if you're a musician or struggling" or something in similar vain... perhaps something wittier than that...
Leo: Just let go. Your music will improve if you don't anticipate what folks are thinking. Be you and fuck everyone else.
nobody cares if you're a musician or struggling.
"It Just Works."
Or doesn't?
Using a tagline from an ad campaign that aired 10 years ago and had nothing to do with the current products. Brilliant.
Zak: So what are you saying: It not longer "just works"?
I'm sure you meant
Using a tagline from an old ad campaign: priceless
It was actually meant to send subtle electrical signals to your brain to make you believe that you are, in fact, a slave to your white majority electronics. They forgot to punch in that one resistor to make it subtle.
Are there cheaper alternatives for this? Aren't these $30 in stores? Its really just a usb port and a power adapter, right?
if this is so important they would have replacements available immediately....october 10th....guess i've got a few more weeks of a possible fire hazard with apple!!!!
Apple quality is running real low lately. I had an iPhone 2G and it was a solid product, when decides to get the 3G my problems started: dust under glass, dead pixels, lines of fracture on the plastic cover. For God's sake, where the hell is Apple building these things? China is not to be blamed, it has to be the cheap chinese partner Apple decided to deal with.
WOW when a apple/microsoft news comes up people become really assholes
are you speaking because of your own experience? ;)
Oh. So that's how it got started.
http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/13/3-alarm-fire-burns-at-apples-cupertino-campus/
*facepalm*
Did you notice how Joshua was kind "sweet" about the recall. If were... lets say Sony they would start a riot. I guess all the eletronic sites/blogs are bought by Apple, their main products are Macbook, iPhone and iPod, nevertheless there's like articles every hour about them. I just wish things could go back in time where that were no bias towards any company.
Apple products don't all just work? What will the fanboys do?
Defend, e.g. "This could happen to any company"
This "any other company" sentiment will be forgotten when Apple does well.
china is broken.
OK, Mr. Topolsky, I'll say it: "general mellow-harshing" FTW.
Mine doesn't look like the picture. It has just a slit for the USB connector; not a little L shaped opening. I guess I'm good (who the f knows!)
Uh, what you are seeing is the straight up USB slot at an angle. There is a white plastic piece inside the slot. This pic is on an angle, and that's what you are seeing as an 'L' shape. If yours doesn't have the green dot in the corner, then exchange it.
Take THAT, Apple!
Man, there are a lot of whiny bitches on this site. This stuff happens all the time with all kinds of products, but at least they are being quick to correct it. This shouldn't inconvenience you in the slightest. I guess the trend of Apple bashing knows no bounds. Ridiculous. And again, to people who complain about the amount of Apple stories, they serve a very important purpose. I'm willing to bet at least half or more of the people who read this site have an Apple product, and letting us know about a recall isn't Apple bias. Get a life, shut the hell up, and go praise horrid MS marketing or something.
Maybe if Apple fucktards wouldn't act so high and mighty and piss themselves when something has the basic shape of whatever iHype of the quarter that Apple releases; then maybe people would lay off. The handful of dickwads in your cult bring this on yourselves. If you would slap the zealots in your ranks down and get them to let up this would be a better world. But no. You encourage them. You are enablers because it makes you feel part of something that is special, think gang for people without any self confidence. The reality is Apple is just another computer manufacture who makes pretty shit that fails, has a crappy warranty for their hardware, and focuses on superficial OS updates that they now need to dedicate an entire OS to cleaning up under the hood. But hey. I still like Leopard. No matter how many zealots also use it.
@Jon Doe.
Do you think it's possible that there are people imitating Apple fucktards (clak, iEye, etc.) in order to make people hate Apple etc? I mean, iEye for example either is a complete Apple zealot and sometimes a utter dick about the stupidest of things. Depends on the day I guess.
But Apple's sparks are much cooler than any of their competitors' sparks!
Yep, yep, yep. Best hardware on the market!
First we had reception problems, then we learned about all the security holes and now a poorly designed mains plug.
Next we'll find that the OS is not flexible enough to support multi-tasking requiring applications like A2DP and true Sat Nav.
I just want to point out that, as a helpdesk employee that deals with about 12,000 laptops and desktops from Lenovo and Apple, I've seen far too many (that is, more than a few -- we're talking electrical hazards here) instances where Apple's power adapters melt or break.
In one instance, a unplugged her laptop, and the prongs that go into the outlet came off and stuck in the outlet, but of course the melting was much more common.
Kccboy, a person after my own heart! Apple products are contemporary pieces of junk and I deeply regret switching from PC to Mac less than on year ago when I got my Powerbook Pro. I was so enthusiastic about the change that I also got a 1TB Time Capsule and a 160GB Apple TV. Not to mention the iPhone 3G.
What crap! The Powerbook is far less stable than my eight year old Dell Lattitude. The Apple TV requires a hard reset every time I want to use it if more than a few hours lapse between uses. The Time Capsule is virtually worthless because it connects intermittently and is so incredibly slow that a 1G backup can take 24 hours.
I have come to the conclusion that Mac devotees don't mind spending hour after hour hour, day after day, getting these beautiful looking machines to actually perform reliably and do something useful. You have to do it on your own because Apple has such lousy tech support. Kccboy is right -- Apple doesn't care about the long term, only about the spike in valuation the company gets each time it introduces a cool looking, but unreliable, new product. Every Mac product I own is a piece of junk and I've come very close to throwing this garbage out the window -- and I'm not kidding. I will probably list the crap on craigslist for 10 cents on the dollar just to get rid of it, and then switch to something boring looking, but considerably more stable, such as a Dell.
It was fun to think the change to Mac would be a life-simplifying experience. Instead, I entered a hellish world I am eager to escape from. Mac is junk. Junk.
I have to disagree with you, DaveSD. I've owned a lot of Apple products and the only only that I have regretted was the iPhone 3G - even with the updates I dropped between 5 and 10 calls per day. It's the ONLY Apple product I've owned that pissed me off enough to sell on eBay and thankfully there are overly excited people out there who will pay double what I did to get the iPhone 3G....LOL. (It could be do to the fact that AT&T's network is overloaded too)
But seriously...MacBook Pro, MacBook, 80GB iPod - Had them for years now - NEVER AN ISSUE. However, I had a POS Dell PC for less than a year that I had to throw away. It's all relative. We can all get crap products from any manufacturer. And it sounds like you have CRAPPY luck.
What drives me crazy about Apple is that just as I settle into a product they have to release one that blows it out of the water...ugh.