http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Jun 25th 2009 11:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/
make a good product and people will buy it.. Just look what Apple did to the MP3 player market. Before we had all sorts of mp3 players that had excellent sound quality and took 1 AAA battery. Now we have sealed in batteries that.... OH WAIT!]]>Jun 25th 2009 12:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Jun 25th 2009 12:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Jun 25th 2009 12:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Your loss. Panasonic is arguably making the P&S cameras on the market right now. This battery issue is a pain, but, as AAAAAA1 Plumbing alluded to, at least you can still replace the battery. Or you could buy one of the many Panasonics that use standard AA batteries.]]>Jun 25th 2009 12:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Jun 28th 2009 12:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Jun 25th 2009 11:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Jun 25th 2009 11:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/
IDX, for example, just released an extended battery which "employs secured communication technology and works with specific Panasonic™ camcorders in the AG-HMC150 and AG-HMC70 series." It lasts about 25% longer than Panasonic's biggest OEM battery, and adds a 3-LED push-button charge level indicator.

Who knows what such a partnership entails, but the phrase "locked out" just doesn't apply. I'll definitely accept "restricted entry", though.]]>Jun 25th 2009 10:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/
Is it worth saving 20 box for all this?]]>Jun 25th 2009 11:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Jun 25th 2009 11:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Jun 25th 2009 12:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Jun 25th 2009 12:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Jun 25th 2009 12:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Check your own head. This is just another way for Panasonic to force consumers into buying a product that only they can manufacture.
Only a matter of time before the 3rd party guys figure this out.]]>Jun 25th 2009 12:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/
This seems like it will be easy to circumvent though, for both the end user and the battery companies.]]>Jun 25th 2009 12:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/I don't mean to be rude but I could only make your comment make sense when I put on a faux Mexican accent, one of the really bad ones.]]>Jun 25th 2009 12:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/
Do keep in mind that OEM batteries are usually made by a third party, too. And, that they leak, explode and burst into flames at least as often as non OEM batteries.]]>Jun 25th 2009 1:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Jun 25th 2009 11:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Jun 25th 2009 12:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Jun 25th 2009 11:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/
I'm a Canon user, and I always get my batteries on eBay for like $1 (instead of the outrageous $40 on Amazon). That'd be bullshit if I had to throw down $80 on two extra batteries, even if they do perform better than the crap eBay batteries.]]>Jun 25th 2009 11:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Jun 25th 2009 11:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/
But have no direct experience (I think Sony has done this on some products).

Printer manufacturers love to chip their cartridges too, which is a bit different to this but the same sort of 'don't-buy-anything-but-our-consumables' thing.

(but again I have no direct experience with a printer like that).]]>Jun 25th 2009 12:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Jun 25th 2009 12:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/
That's just comedy gold right there, considering Sony's track record for laptops...]]>Jun 25th 2009 12:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/
I am pretty sure Lexmark did this with chips on their toner cartridges. Then they went even further to sue the 3rd party refurbishers/manufacturers for violating the DMCA/copyright laws by using their chips over in refurbished cartridges or producing copies of the chips for use on refurbed toners.

http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-979791.html

Dick move all around and Lexmark ended up loosing. I doubt Panasonic will go as far to protect their battery reselling margins given the outcome of the Lexmark case.]]>Jun 25th 2009 1:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/
I heard it was HP who had done this and had won. I guess I now have one less reason to flatly refuse to buy HP products. Too bad there are other reasons and they are still on my Never Again list. As is Lexmark along with Panasonic now.]]>Jun 26th 2009 12:06AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Jun 25th 2009 12:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Jun 25th 2009 12:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Jun 25th 2009 1:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Jun 25th 2009 12:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/
]]>Jun 25th 2009 12:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Jun 25th 2009 12:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Jun 25th 2009 12:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Jun 25th 2009 12:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Then Kodak will summon forth the DMCA...
Closely followed legal beating in court (a la lexmark)

What will the end result be? The 3rd party batteries will end up costing slightly more to cover the cost of breaking the protection.]]>Jun 25th 2009 12:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Jun 25th 2009 12:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Jun 25th 2009 4:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/
Gee...I am so *wounded* I now only have 3928 other camera options to choose from.]]>Jun 29th 2009 2:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Jun 25th 2009 12:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/
To DRhouse. Keep practicing the English Bro. "The dogs bark but the caravan moves on"]]>Jun 25th 2009 12:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Jun 25th 2009 12:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/I hate things like this. I wouldn't update mine. But if there was a serious safety issue, that would be different. ]]>Jun 25th 2009 12:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Jun 25th 2009 12:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/]]>Jun 25th 2009 12:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Jun 25th 2009 12:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Jun 25th 2009 12:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/
If they're so worried about safety (which we all know isn't the real reason), then include a spare battery with the cameras. ]]>Jun 25th 2009 12:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/panasonic-starts-locking-out-third-party-batteries-with-new-firm/Jun 25th 2009 4:00PM