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GoPro addresses Hero 10 overheating issues with new firmware
Some users had reported their cameras stopped recording after 20 minutes when testing battery life. The new firmware offers battery saver features and a specific mode to avoid overheating.
Canon EOS R5 review: A powerhouse of a camera with video compromises
Canon’s EOS R5 is an innovative high-resolution 8K mirrorless camera, but it’s not for everyone.
PlayStation 5 SSD expansion will reportedly be unlocked this summer
There's word that you'll finally be able to put another drive into the PS5's currently empty M.2 expansion slot starting in the summer of 2021.
Amazon updates Echo Buds to fix overheating issue
Amazon is asking Echo Buds owners to update the firmware on their true wireless device ASAP. The company says it has already released a software update that fixes the problem, eliminates any risk and improves the long-term battery performance of the Echo Buds.
Fujifilm’s X100V now warns you if the camera is overheating
The Fujifilm X100V is a solid choice for street photographers looking for a new digital camera. An update should avoid shutdowns caused by overheating.
Tesla working on a fix for dangerous Dog Mode flaw
Tesla is working to fix an issue with its Dog Mode that could put our pets at risk, says CEO Elon Musk. According to one user, setting the car's fan speed manually stops the EV from regulating the temperature for your furry companion.
US regulators recall refurbished Galaxy Note 4 batteries
The Galaxy Note line is having problems again. Don't worry, this is not a Note 7-level emergency. And the issues aren't Samsung's fault or even associated with the original phone model. However, batteries installed in refurbished Note 4 phones by FedEx Supply Chain and distributed through AT&T's insurance program could overheat and are now being recalled.
Samsung reportedly halts Galaxy Note 7 production (update: confirmed)
After more reports of replacement Galaxy Note 7 phones catching fire, Yonhap News reports that Samsung has temporarily suspended production. The Korean paper cited an anonymous source working at one of Samsung's suppliers, and the company has not yet commented. Already, AT&T and T-Mobile have said they will stop Galaxy Note 7 sales and replacements while investigations into the incidents continue.
RIP Basis Peak: The best wearable you've never heard of
If you don't already own a Basis Peak, then you'll probably never get the opportunity to see one up close and personal. The wearable has barely registered in market-share metrics but has suddenly made a name for itself after being recalled. Which is a shame, because history is likely to remember it as that watch that caught fire and burned its owners. That would be an enormous disservice to a gadget that's one of the most seriously underrated wearables on the market.
Basis recalls Peak smartwatch for burn risk from overheating
Back in June, Basis stopped sales of its fitness-focused Peak smartwatch following reports that the wearable was overheating. Today, the company issued a recall for the device, citing the risk of burns or blisters due the device running hot. When it first acknowledged the issue, Basis said it was working on a software update that would remedy the temperature problem and urged customers not to use the wearable until a solution was in place. However, the company revealed today that "despite our best efforts," it couldn't find a fix that wasn't detrimental to the overall user experience.
Basis halts Peak smartwatch sales due to overheating concerns
When we first reviewed the Basis Peak back in 2014, we noted the wearable's ability to track your activity while lacking some core smartwatch features. The company has continually added new features to the device, but today it announced that sales have been halted. Citing the wrist-worn gadget's tendency to overheat, Basis is putting sales of the Peak on hold until it can issue a software update to remedy the issue. What's more, it's recommending current owners avoid using the device until that patch is released.
Finally, a lithium battery that doesn't explode
When lithium-ion batteries overheat they expand and on some occasions, erupt into flames. It's the reason low-quality hoverboards keep exploding and can't be taken on flights. Thankfully Stanford researchers have created a Li Ion battery that shuts itself down when it overheats and turns itself back on when heat levels are at a safe level.
Apple recalls Beats Pill XL speaker due to overheating battery
While most of the internet was busy oogling the Fallout 4 trailer, Apple delivered some bad news to owners of Dr. Dre's super-sized speaker. The company is recalling the Beats Pill XL, citing the wireless speaker's battery tendency to overheat in rare cases and creating the risk of a fire. In the announcement, Apple points out that the audio gadget was announced in late 2013, long before it acquired the company last year. If you splurged for one, this website will guide your through the process of getting a refund in the form of Apple Store credit or an electronic payment of $325 -- $25 more than the original price tag. The Pill XL is said to be the only product that exhibits that overheats, and there's no word on a new version that remedies the issue going on sale at a later date.
Apple swapping older European iPhone chargers due to overheating risk
Apple recently launched a takeback program for faulty, third-party iPhone chargers, but should've looked inside its own glass house first. It has just issued an advisory that Apple-branded iPhone USB adapters sold between October 2009 and September 2012 could pose a safety risk by overheating. The affected model number "A1300" came with European versions of the iPhone 3Gs, 4 and 4s. The good news is that you can get it replaced free of charge with a redesigned adapter (A1400) at an Apple Store, authorized service provider or through Apple technical support. Apple has a full list of the affected countries (including most of Europe but not the UK), along with information about how to swap it at a dedicated support page. In case you've already purchased a third-party replacement adapter, Apple will also give you a full refund. Update: Apple has told us that it voluntarily introduced the program, meaning it's not a recall per se. We've update the post's headline to reflect that, and Apple's full statement is below. Apple has voluntarily introduced a program for customers to exchange the Apple 5W European USB Power Adapter which came with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S models through September 2012, because in rare cases the adapter may overheat and pose a safety risk. For full program details, visit http://www.apple.com/support/usbadapter-european/.
Xbox One will automatically adjust when overheating
The Xbox One will automatically detect if it is overheating and will make adjustments to cool the system down, General Manager of Console Development Leo del Castillo told Gizmodo. As is common with some PCs, Castillo said the development team can "dial back the power of the box considerably," forcing the system into a low-power state to correct issues. Of course, the primary method for cooling the system down revolves around how the fan inside the box operates. "The way we designed the box, we don't actually intend it to ever have to go to maximum speed under normal environmental conditions," Castillo said. "But there is overhead. So we'll allow the fan to go all the way up to its maximum speed and if that solves the condition without the user having to do anything." The Xbox One will launch this November in 13 regions, but will arrive in eight others in 2014.
Friday Favorite: How iStat Menus saved my MacBook Pro from burning up
Early last week, my 2011 MacBook Pro started acting up. The fan was spinning wildly and the aluminum case was hot to the touch. So hot that it left red marks where it was resting on my legs and the laptop shut itself down. I fired it back up again, shut down some of the extra apps that usually run in the background and kept working. Things cooled down inside my MBP, so I just brushed it off as an unusual combination of warm weather and excess apps. I was wrong -- the next morning and again the next evening I experienced the same overheating. To help diagnose the problem, I turned to iStat Menus from Bjango to see what was going on underneath the hood of my Mac. iStat Menus is perfect for diagnosing problems as it tracks a wide variety of statistics for your Mac. The app sits in your menu bar and can track your CPU & GPU usage, memory usage, disk activity, network activity, battery level and sensor readings like temperature. I picked iStat Menus because it was the first one I found that measured hardware as well as software. I was interested in fan speed, which is measured by iStat and not by built-in tools like Apple's Activity Monitor. My previous laptop overheated due to a bad CPU fan, so I initially thought I was dealing with a hardware problem again. I was able to put CPU die temperature (which once climbed to 99°C before my MBP shut down), CPU proximity temperature and exhaust (fan speed) in my menu bar and monitor them simultaneously. This let me watch the fan speed ramp up as the temperature went up, so I knew something else was awry. I then watched the CPU usage using iStat Menus and in just a few minutes, I was able to determine it was a software issue. I singled out TweetDeck as the culprit that was maxing out my CPU and driving my temperature upward. As soon as I force quit the Twitter client, I watched my MBP CPU temperature fall back down to a comparatively cool 50°C. My problems started soon after Tweetdeck was updated on June 14, 2013, but I can't lay the blame on Tweetdeck as I am running OS X Mavericks. I expect wonky behavior like this when I am using beta software. For a few days, I stopped using Tweetdeck and started using it again when OS X Mavericks beta 2 arrived. I am happy to report that this latest build of OS X is Tweetdeck-friendly, and my MBP is now running like a champ again. iStat Menus is available for US$16 from Bjango's website. There is a free 14-day trial so you can check it out before you buy it.
Cinema rig takes the heat out of your NEX-5N, lets you slide in the accessories
The Sony NEX-5N, with it's goodly APS-C sized sensor and decent video quality, still has a couple of knocks against it as a video cam: its bitty size makes it hard to rig up and it doesn't dissipate heat well. Tinkerer Richard Gale has addressed those tics with his prototype NEX-5N cinema housing, by adding a heat sink and fan to stop the overheating problem and a possible anamorphic adapter and matte box to accommodate filters and gels. The provisional £1,500 price ($2,400) would get you the housing, NEX-5N with kit lens, 5" Sony LCD, and accessories, while the anamorphic kit with the matte box is still just a concept with no price tag. Neither idea will happen unless he gets enough orders, but wearing the boxy black outfit might finally give the petite mirrorless cam a shot of big-boy film cred. %Gallery-160155%
Apple addresses supposed iPad heat issues
Apple contacted The Loop with a statement about the iPad heating issue that is making the rounds this week. Apple representative Trudy Muller said, The new iPad delivers a stunning Retina display, A5X chip, support for 4G LTE plus 10 hours of battery life, all while operating well within our thermal specifications. If customers have any concerns they should contact AppleCare. I've had the new iPad since launch and my experience with it mirrors that of Jim Dalrymple. I've used it with games like Asphalt 6: Adrenaline HD, iPhoto, iMovie and more without any noticeable change in temperature. Temperature-wise, it feels just like my iPad 2. New iPad owners, chime in the comments with your experiences. Do you notice any overheating or is your new iPad as cool as a cucumber?
Apple: don't worry about hot iPad reports, it's cool
All this talk about overheating iPads isn't getting Apple all that excited, apparently. The company issued a fairly noncommittal response on the matter, stating that in spite of the tablet's LTE support, fast processing, battery life and resolutionary display magic, it still "operate[s] well within [Apple's] thermal specifications." That said, if anyone happens to have concern with regards to an overheated lap, "they should contact AppleCare." There may be a chance, after all, that you've been holding it wrong.
Visualized: new iPad burns 10 degrees hotter than its predecessor
We wouldn't exactly be going out on a limb by suggesting that the new iPad is Apple's hottest tablet to date -- even before Tim Cook confirmed as much earlier today. But while Apple has plenty of reason to brag about the device's sales figures, it's slightly less motivated to be forthcoming about its tendencies to create more heat. 10 degrees more, in fact, according to infrared camera confirmation obtained by Tweakers.net. After five minutes of running GLBenchmark, the site used its infrared cam to confirm what many of you have already suggested: the new iPad runs a little hot. According to the site's measurements, Cupertino's flagship slab reached 33.6 degrees centigrade (92.5 Fahrenheit), compared to 28.3 centigrade (82.9 Fahrenheit) with the iPad 2. That's certainly not enough heat to cause a tablet to spontaneously combust, but if you happen to be one of those new iPad owners that noticed a difference, you can now rest assured that your internal thermometer hasn't missed a beat.
