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Microsoft formally recalls Surface Pro power cords
Microsoft said it would recall Surface Pro power cords to head off potential fire risks, and it's following through on that promise. The Redmond crew has officially recalled about 2.25 million AC power cables for Surface Pro tablets sold before March 15th, 2015. If you own a Surface Pro 3 or earlier, you're likely due for a free replacement. There haven't been many reports of these cables catching fire (56, to be exact), but it's safe to say that you don't want to take a chance if you can avoid it.
Microsoft to recall Surface Pro power cords over fire risks
If you own a Surface Pro, you might want to be careful using it for the next little while. Microsoft tells Channelnomics that it's planning a voluntary recall for the power cords on every Surface Pro tablet released before the Pro 4 and sold before a certain period (March 2015 in the US, July 15th in Europe). The tech giant warns that the AC power cable could trigger a fire if it's wound too tightly or otherwise damaged. Only a "very small" number of people have reported problems, Microsoft says, but the company isn't taking any chances.
HP recalls 6 million laptop power cords after reports of burns
Heads-up: if you're holding on to an HP or Compaq laptop sold between September 2010 and June 2012, you may need to swap out its power cord. HP has recalled the cabling for about 6 million of these older portables (5.6 million of which reached the US) after 29 incidents where the cord either burned or melted. As is usually the case with these kinds of programs, you just have to prove that you're using an affected system to get a free replacement. This certainly isn't what you want to hear if you're bringing one of these computers to school, but it beats losing your power cord to a fire in mid-semester.
Escort's SmartCord Live brings radar detection, KRS-One to your smartphone (video)
Evading the long arm of the law, as we all know, is infinitely easier with a radar detector onboard -- and even easier if said detector is hooked up to a cloud. That's the idea behind the SmartCord Live, a new power cord from the eagle-eyed folks at Escort. Once connected to your car's radar detector and lighter socket, this Bluetooth-enabled bundle will communicate with your iPhone or Android handset through a specialized app. Once that's taken care of, you'll be hooked up to Escort Live -- a so-called "social network for the road." There, you'll find access to Escort's Defender database, full of real-time geographic information on verified speed traps, red light cameras and other roadway surveillance systems. Once your detector picks up a threat, you can press a "report" button on the cord or app to instantly send out a big "five-oh" to all other Escort users in the area, while boosting your Karma quotient, in the process. Find out more about the cord and its corollary system, after the break.
Apple considering MagSafe charger on iPad
Here's something to get your mind wondering this Monday afternoon. Patently Apple is reporting that Apple may be considering integrating the MagSafe Power Port to its portable products, like the iPad. The continuation patent, published on October 7th 2010 by the US Patent and Trademark Office, clearly depicts what looks like an iPhone / iPod touch / iPad with figure 62 revealing what appears to be a power connector. This power connector, expanded upon in greater detail in further diagrams, depicts what appears to be, according to Patently Apple, a MagSafe Power Port. And here at TUAW, we'll concur. It does look remarkably like a MagSafe Power Port. The MagSafe power adapter and port (first introduced in 2006 and then quietly updated in April of this year), are designed to connect the power cable to your MacBook / Pro / Air magnetically, allowing for a solid connection, but providing an immediate disconnection if the power cord is strongly pulled on. The idea is to stop your MacBook from flying off the table when you accidentally trip over the power cord. I can't imagine Apple introducing a lone power port for the iPad, but I can see the advantage in adding the MagSafe's magnetic qualities to, say, the 30-pin connector currently used with all iPods, iPhones and iPads. What do you think, readers? I know I've yanked my iPhone off the desk by inadvertently pulling on the 30-pin connector cable. A release mechanism like the MagSafe would certainly come in handy. Apple first filed this patent in June of this year. With this follow up continuation patent being filed in October, Patently Apple seems to suggest that Apple maybe trying to rush through the patent for an upcoming product release. But, with patents, it's hard to know whether these ideas will actually see the light of day in released products. It could just be another case of Apple securing its intellectual property.
The JerkStopper keeps your power cord in place, does little else
You. Yes, you. Someone knows your darkest fears, your deepest regrets, your most painful memories... and they know they're all related to your power cord being yanked violently out of your laptop. Well thankfully, that someone has taken the law into their own hands, and is attempting to halt further infractions against your personage and / or computers. Enter the JerkStopper: a tough, tempered steel ABS device that cannot be cut or broken... wait, it also keeps your cord in place. Apparently, all you needed to do was fasten the thing into an innocent USB, RJ11, or RJ45 port, and clamp it down with metal teeth. Sure, you won't get that annoying spark anymore when your power cord wiggles, but you might dislodge a USB jack from its rightful home (though the makers say it will pop out with ease). Hey -- that's the chance you take when you play with the JerkStopper.
Microsoft says Xbox 'abuse' caused baby killing fire
Microsoft has finally responded to the lawsuit filed by an Illinois couple who lost their baby in a fire allegedly caused by an Xbox. Microsoft, in court papers filed last Friday, says, "Losses and damages, if any, resulted from misuse or abuse of the Xbox console at issue." Microsoft is asking the court to dismiss the lawsuit.Microsoft did have to replace power cords on the original Xbox back in 2005 due to fire concerns. These cord fire stories even make the rounds at local news stations years after the original incident occurred. Details are still weak as to what's going on here. We know that an original Xbox cord can burn down your house, but we don't really know what the family of the dead infant did to cause the fire like Microsoft claims. Microsoft tried blaming consumers for RROD incidents for the last two years and we know how that ended up.[Via Engadget]
Microsoft, Wal-Mart sued over baby's death
While the figurative jury is still out as to whether video games harm our youth by inciting them to commit violence, loiter unnecessarily, and utter profanities, a real flesh-and-blood jury may soon be deciding if one faulty Xbox was to blame for the December 2004 death of an Illinois baby. The family of young Wade Kline is suing Microsoft, retail giant Wal-Mart, and an unnamed power supply manufacturer in state court for damages "in excess of $50,000," claiming that their console -- the suit cites a 360, though it's more likely that the it was a first-gen unit sporting one of those recalled power cord -- overheated and caused the attached wall outlet to spark what turned out to be a fatal fire. This isn't the first time we've seen Xboxes and fire go to bed together, but it may be the first attempt to hold someone accountable for the damage done, so it'll be interesting to see how the culpability gets doled out here.
Anything goes (so long proprietary peripherals) (PS3 delight #002)
Microsoft's been doing the talking, Sony is doing the walking. PlayStation 3 is the console for those that value choice. From a standard three-pronged power cord to a standard hard drive bay, Sony's hardware is compatible with a vast range of products, including additional operating systems (e.g., Linux).Already own a USB headset? What about a web cam? As Microsoft forces us to buy into -- often inferior -- proprietary devices, Sony welcomes us to use those peripherals we might already have lying around. Bravo!PS3 delights vs. PS3 annoyancesWii delights vs. Wii annoyancesXbox 360 delights vs. Xbox 360 annoyances
