It's hard to call two incidents of some occurrence around the world a trend, but, when those incidents both involve an electrical device catching fire spontaneously, it creates a situation that's hard to ignore -- especially when that device is the iPhone. On Saturday, Italian blogger Tim Colbourne was charging his 3G handset and, after three hours, it sparked and caught fire at the base. Tim did a little investigation and found a case of a Swedish handset doing the same thing back in 2008, making us a little concerned that there could be more melted chargers out there. Apple replaced that earlier phone after something of a fight, and while we're hoping they'll be a little friendlier here, we're also hoping this gives Cupertino another bit of incentive to go ahead and switch over to micro-USB already. All the cool kids are
doing it, and you don't see their cables catching fire --
usually.
[Via
Cult of Mac]
posted Mar 4th 2009 9:29AM
iBurn?
Experiment
Take your 1st generation iphone, plug it into your computer's USB port to charge it and then touch the metal apple logo on the back.
Do you feel anything?
I get a very mild electric shock that is just strong enough to let me know current is moving through it.
When I was in Shanghai once, I plugged in my HP Jornada 525 and accidentaly plugged in a power transformer before it, not knowing it already could alternate between 110 and 220 - and the shit shocked the living daylight's out of me. Dropped it on the floor.
@iGoon
That's what you get for buying iCrApple products :)
iLowRanked
I call shenanegans! Why is only the plug burnt?
Flashpoint, if that is the case, there's no current moving through it until you touch it. Otherwise, it's just a built-up voltage.
@Flashpoint:
What you are feeling is a high impedence AC current at whatever half of your AC input voltage is -- probably ~55-60V in North America. You may have an extremely cheap PSU with terrible EMI filtering, your PSU is bad, or you have a bad or otherwise poor earth ground in your electrical system. If you are feeling it, there is enough current flowing where it shouldn't be to warrant finding the cause of the problem (particularly if it's bad grounding)
In overly simple terms, switchmode power supplies energize the common (ground) rails to half of the input voltage and then the various DC voltages are supplied relative to this. For safety reasons, the common return is also normally bridged to earth ground. In your description, this includes your computer's case, the shielding in the USB cable, and your iPhone's metal bits. When you touch the case of the iphone, your body is providing an alternative earth path and since the case is effectively energized to 60V relative to earth you can feel the tiny current.
John Laur
Good answer.
That's not an iPhone, that's a BATTLESTATION.
Mine did that exact same thing when I held a lighter under it...
John gave a great description. Let me emphasize two points -
1. It's your computer's ac power supply, not the iphone.
2. It could be bad wiring at the outlet - either a missing ground (make sure you're using a 3-wire plug) or miswired. You can buy an outlet checker to verify it.
No, actually its FireWire.
iDontCheckMyConnectorsForForeignObjects
@berger
didn't you mean iCALL?
I'm on my fourth iPhone. They're certainly not perfect.
four iphones!? I understand that they should be sturdy, but it's gotta be something your doing
My iphone lasted a year because I didn't use a protective case and I dropped it a couple times. Only problem was - the sleep/wake button broke. I just got a new one.
They are not perfect and yet people still call it the Jesus Phone.
I am convinced that the use of Jesus Phone is due to people's reaction when they see their bill...
Story of Ted, Maria and Mindy:
Maria: Hey honey, you see the new AT&T bill for Mindy's iPhone
Ted: No.
(Ted looks at bill)
Ted: JESUS!! MOTHER ****ING H. CHRIST.
Maria: I said the same thing. The sad part is that she didn't even go over her minutes or allotted text messages.
Ted: I'll be back.
Maria: Where are you going?
Ted: Going to sell a kidney and lung to pay this off.
@JAmerican
I don't think anyone calls it the Jesus Phone. Except you maybe?
If it is not something you are doing to cause the replacements, WHY GO BACK!?
@strat
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19297486/
http://www.google.com/search?q=iphone+jesus+phone
Strat, I think you need to get out of your bubble and read around a lot more.
Nah Man, they just dont call it the jesus phone on engadget. because then engadget would get SOOOOO much crap from apple haters it would clog the system. the referance to the iphone as jesus phone has been turned down alot on other sites though. rediculous apple fanboys might still use it.
I'm surprised you didn't give up after the second.
Ha Ha
2 out of how many? Certainly not a trend. I'd venture to say that out of a batch of a million electronic devices, a couple are going to short.
Drop It Like it's Hottt, Drop it like it's Hottt...
but, but if you drop it it'll brake
@web
Yea it'll definitely brake when it hits the ground.. However, I'm sure it'll also break
It'd be nice if they switched over to micro-USB, standard DisplayPort, or basically any current generation standard port. I say this knowing full well that every USB port on the next MacBook will be tinyUSB which will need a dongle for the low price of $25 each, only available on the Greenier MacBook*, coming to you in late 2009.
*Warning: Lab only tests. Lowest screen brightness level only with new SuperHigh Gloss coat.
Pleeeeeease don't change to micro-USB... I've only just amassed enough of the current cables to be able to leave one everywhere I need one... not to mention all the docks, iTrip, iPod Hi-Fi etc etc etc
iBurn
http://tw.apple.pro/?uid-21-action-viewspace-itemid-1919
This is why I'm hot, this is why hot, this is why, this is why, this is why I'm hot.
Do you honestly think they should switch to micro USB?
Of course... proprietary connections are BS.
Even ones that are much more widely adopted than micro USB, which are easily and widely licensed, which have supported myriad products over a period of many years and maintain backwards compatibility with almost all of them?
I still prefer miniUSB to microUSB. Although, microUSB says stuck to the device unless you really pull it free.
"Even ones that are much more widely adopted than micro USB, which are easily and widely licensed, which have supported myriad products over a period of many years and maintain backwards compatibility with almost all of them?"
Still yes, first off it's smaller (smaller form factor devices are now more likely), it's more durable (it can stand 10,000 connects/disconnects), and universal compatibility is always a good thing. Imagine one day only needing one cable to charge over a dozen different gadgets (cell phone, camera, camcorder, bluetooth headset, bluetooth watch, who knows what else).
Switching to USB is crazy talk. The iPhone has a dock -- I hate screwing around plugging in usb every day. Standardizing is great, but couldn't we have standardized on a dock form factor too?
@ Collin Jensen
And why can't a dock have microUSB? My storm utilizes microUSB and I have a dock for it. A dock is a dock no matter what connector it has.
Geez. The iPod dock connector carries lots of signals - including USB. It's a superset of connectivity. And even if micro USB is standardised, the only interoperability you'll be able to count on is power. Anything else implemented is still up to the device! That's why your hard drive doesn't record video when you plug a webcam into it.
That's hot!
Oh that has to be the newest feature.. the iFirewall!
Because it caught on fire.. and ..ehm., it was connected to the wall .. eh... never mind.
If it makes you feel better, I totally got it! :D
In before the iFanboys strike back.
The words "Apple" and "standard" usually don't end up the same sentence. Apple's MO is to be proprietary all the way, unless they're forced kicking and screaming into adopting an industry standard (from display connectors to peripheral connectors to networking to whatever). Being proprietary means they can make more out of any given product, and that makes good business sense, if not actually being good for the consumer. Just look at the iPhone as a whole, about the only thing "standard" is the SIM slot, and even that is a stretch.
If what all the Apple-fans say about Apple customer support is true, there should be zero problems in getting the burned product replaced in a jiff.
Yes, everything Apple does is proprietary. That's why their OS is based on an open source OS. That's why they use SATA hard drives, that's why they use actual standards like webkit for their web browser, MP4 for the music on the iTunes store, USB, DisplayPort, that's why they help improve and implement standards like OpenGL and OpenCL for everybody to use.
Because they're so "proprietary".
Zak, I guess you missed my comment, that Apple does use standards, if they're forced to. What did they use before OSX? What did they use before USB? What did they use before going the Intel route? Before displayport? The list goes on, since Apple was (and still is) king of proprietary. These standards were pretty much forced on them, when their proprietary stuff didn't work. Not only that, they broke compatibility with old hardware and software many, many times. Or have you just started using Apple products in the last year or so? Even then, it still doesn't make Apple free of proprietary stuff, far, far from it.
Like I said, it's good business practice, and Apple is there to make money. Apple also makes nice products, but they're far from perfect.
Is their OS proprietary or not? Psystar is on the phone and wants an answer.
apple created mini display port and OS X is not a standard its only found on apple products
Well, given that this guy has applied an easily scratched *plastic* screen protector to an almost scratch-proof tempered glass screen, I would say his intelligence is in question. Also, if he has a cat, and was not paying attention for even a second (likely), that would cause this kind of damage.
I question why Engadget is even bringing this up as a serious issue if all we have are two data points years apart in different countries when the iPhone has sold millions around the world. Those are some of the smallest odds that ever were.
My cat also spontaneously combusts.