Apple issues a recall for its 'Ultracompact USB Power Adapter'

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!

[cluster @ Sep 19th 2008 4:58PM]

apple made a mistake.,. unpossable!

[Nick @ Sep 19th 2008 5:00PM]

Oh yeah definately unpossable..

Cluster made a mistake.. Unpossable!!!

[Flashpoint @ Sep 19th 2008 5:08PM]

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.

[Seth @ Sep 19th 2008 5:12PM]

You guys not being able to spell the word "impossible" ?! Not that's a mistake.

[Nick @ Sep 19th 2008 5:16PM]

@ Seth

That's kinda what I was trying to point out.. Apparently I wasn't quite clear enough ;).

[kccboy2004 @ Sep 19th 2008 5:19PM]

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.

[Galley @ Sep 19th 2008 5:32PM]

What, you've never watched "The Simpsons"? That truly is unpossible!
http://www.thesimpsonsquotes.com/characters/ralph-wiggum-quotes.html

[Abuzar Baloach @ Sep 19th 2008 5:33PM]

Hey so what was with the anti-Vista post? I'm spamming here because we can comment on it.

[Manuel @ Sep 19th 2008 5:46PM]

Can i get a refund of the entire iphone?

[Elijah @ Sep 19th 2008 5:46PM]

@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.

[Zak @ Sep 19th 2008 5:57PM]

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.

[jakem @ Sep 19th 2008 6:23PM]

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.

[happy_penguin @ Sep 19th 2008 6:31PM]

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.

[vcx @ Sep 19th 2008 6:32PM]

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.

[Deoc84 @ Sep 19th 2008 6:38PM]

he made a Simpsons' reference not a mistake.

"Me fail english? That's Unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum

[Zak @ Sep 19th 2008 6:40PM]

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?

[deepBLUE @ Sep 19th 2008 6:40PM]

@ 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.......

[Bobby @ Sep 19th 2008 6:52PM]

what if I moved ??!!!
OMG they want serial number ... now they will find I screwed ATT !
What will I do ?!!!

[jupiterthunder @ Sep 19th 2008 8:01PM]

@cluster

I got the reference.

[mymaclife @ Sep 20th 2008 3:47AM]

@ Elijah

Do you really think he has the brains or the ability to create a 4 year old daughter?

[Nick @ Sep 20th 2008 7:00AM]

Oh I'm sorry.. I never really watch the Simpsons.. Didn't know he was referring to a quote from one of its characters.

[iphoney @ Sep 22nd 2008 12:08AM]

no.. that's ipossible!!!!

[Christy McGrory @ Sep 19th 2008 4:58PM]

AMERICAN ELECTRICAL SOCKETS ARE FAIL.

[Samboini @ Sep 19th 2008 5:04PM]

British is well recognised as being "safe as fuck".

[Christy McGrory @ Sep 19th 2008 5:08PM]

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.

[Valicore @ Sep 19th 2008 5:50PM]

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...

[jakem @ Sep 19th 2008 6:25PM]

Do you mean the shaver sockets in bathrooms?

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Sep 19th 2008 6:44PM]

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.

[blah blah @ Sep 19th 2008 4:58PM]

finally apple does SOMETHING wrong

microsoft fanboys will be talking about this for ages

[Robert @ Sep 19th 2008 5:03PM]

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*

[Zak @ Sep 19th 2008 6:00PM]

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.

[jakem @ Sep 19th 2008 6:28PM]

FINALLY done something wrong? You mean like the melting MagSafe adapters and the expanding batteries?

Oh sorry, not being immature am I?

[Juxtah @ Sep 19th 2008 6:35PM]

@ 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!).

[Zak @ Sep 19th 2008 6:48PM]

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.

[Juxtah @ Sep 19th 2008 6:57PM]

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.

[Decoy @ Sep 19th 2008 9:18PM]

So is Apple just like any other company now?

[allislost @ Sep 20th 2008 10:17AM]

@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.

[Bassir @ Sep 19th 2008 5:02PM]

Now I feel extremely paranoid.

[Samboini @ Sep 19th 2008 5:08PM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjgrADPB7q8

[BigD145 @ Sep 19th 2008 7:41PM]

Electronics do think they're complicated.

[dvsbstrd @ Sep 20th 2008 1:18PM]

@samboini

Well played.

[gabe @ Sep 19th 2008 5:03PM]

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

[Engadgetier @ Sep 19th 2008 6:21PM]

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

[Andrew @ Sep 19th 2008 5:04PM]

These adapters also come with iPod cables (e.g. component cable).

[Steve Jobs @ Sep 19th 2008 5:10PM]

3 words:

Made in China.

[sean @ Sep 19th 2008 5:21PM]

China "doesn't care about black people"

[flowerpower @ Sep 19th 2008 5:22PM]

by flextronics

[steven @ Sep 19th 2008 5:54PM]

2 words:

Poor Design

[Christy McGrory @ Sep 19th 2008 6:45PM]

One word: Fail

[Eric @ Sep 19th 2008 5:10PM]

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.