Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget 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/<![CDATA[USPS goes postal on lithium ion batteries, refuses to ship smartphones overseas]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/11/usps-battery-ban/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/11/usps-battery-ban/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/11/usps-battery-ban/#comments Image

The USPS has announced that it'll refuse to ship any gear containing lithium ion batteries overseas. The postal service believes combusting power packs have caused two fatal cargo plane crashes since 2006 -- hence the ban, which takes effect from May 16th. Anyone wishing to ship the latest tech to those living or serving overseas will have to use another shipping company -- although the ban might be relaxed in 2013, once safety testing has been carried out.

USPS goes postal on lithium ion batteries, refuses to ship smartphones overseas originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 May 2012 07:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BatteryBattery ExplosionBatteryExplosionExplosionFireLithium IonLithium Ion BatteriesLithium Ion BatteryLithiumIonLithiumIonBatteriesLithiumIonBatteryPlane CrashPlaneCrashPostal ServicePostalServiceUnited States Postal ServiceUnitedStatesPostalServiceUSPSFri, 11 May 2012 07:15:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone 4 combusts on Australian flight, looks madder than a spurned Qantas employee]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/28/iphone-4-self-combusts-on-australian-flight-looks-madder-than-a/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/28/iphone-4-self-combusts-on-australian-flight-looks-madder-than-a/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/28/iphone-4-self-combusts-on-australian-flight-looks-madder-than-a/#comments On an airline that's actually serving the great country of Australia these days, an iPhone 4 decided enough was enough. Shortly after Regional Express flight ZL319 landed in Sydney from Lismore, "a passenger's mobile phone started emitting a significant amount of dense smoke, accompanied by a red glow." What happened next is a bit of an Aussie mystery, but it seems at some point that the glow was "extinguished successfully." No one onboard was harmed, and the handset in question has been handed over to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau for "analysis." It suffered only mild reception issues prior to its final collapse, and if faced with a similar situation, Siri reportedly stated that it would consult a therapist before discharging hot fury.

Update: Ross let us know that officials from the Australian Transport and Safety Bureau are investigating the incident.

Continue reading iPhone 4 combusts on Australian flight, looks madder than a spurned Qantas employee

iPhone 4 combusts on Australian flight, looks madder than a spurned Qantas employee originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleAustraliabatterybattery problembattery problemsBatteryProblemBatteryProblemscombustionexplosionfireheathotiphoneiphone 4Iphone4mobilepostcrossregional expressRegionalExpresssmokeMon, 28 Nov 2011 14:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple ordered to make public iPod nano battery fix in Japan]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/apple-ordered-to-publish-statement-on-receiving-replacement-ipod/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/apple-ordered-to-publish-statement-on-receiving-replacement-ipod/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/apple-ordered-to-publish-statement-on-receiving-replacement-ipod/#comments
 We had an eerie feeling it'd come to this, and come it has. Nearly two full years to the day after the government of Japan began a thorough investigation into the spontaneous combusting of iPod nano devices, that same entity is now mandating that Apple publish an "easy to understand" statement on the web that explains how customers can "receive replacement batteries and obtain advice." So far, these volatile Li-ion cells have been blamed for four cases of minor burns in the Land of the Rising Sun, and while Apple has been replacing first-generation iPod nano batteries since 2008 for those that complained, it seems that Japan wants the company to make the option readily apparent to consumers. Be sure to keep an eye on Apple's Japanese site for more, but as of now, we're not seeing any such PSA posted.

Apple ordered to make public iPod nano battery fix in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 08:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Appleapple ipodAppleIpodbatteryburnschargerchargingexplodingexploding batteryExplodingBatteryexplosionfirefire hazardFireHazardfixgovernmenthazardipodipod nanoIpodNanojapanlithium ionLithiumIonMA004JAma005MA005JAma099MA099JAMA107JAnanooverheatoverheatingportable audioportableaudiorecallsafetyFri, 06 Aug 2010 08:51:00 EST<![CDATA[MacBook Pro battery flies off the handle, busts wide open]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/11/macbook-pro-battery-flies-off-the-handle-busts-wide-open/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/11/macbook-pro-battery-flies-off-the-handle-busts-wide-open/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/11/macbook-pro-battery-flies-off-the-handle-busts-wide-open/#comments Here's the thing: that horrifically swollen, completely destroyed battery you're peering at above isn't as rare a sight as it should be. If you'll recall, we've personally covered at least four MacBook Pro battery explosions, and we've also seen a similar amount of volatility over on the PC side. The story behind this one is as follows: a 17-inch (non-unibody) MBP owner was using his machine on a desk (thankfully), when suddenly an odd noise began to increase in volume; following that, the entire machine "jumped up" slightly and turned off, and this battery is to blame. Oh, and if this all-too-commonplace occurrence happens to you next, let's hope you aren't actually using your laptop on your, um, lap.

Gallery: MacBook Pro battery flies off the handle, busts wide open

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MacBook Pro battery flies off the handle, busts wide open originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Appleapple macbook proAppleMacbookProbatterydangerdangerousexplodeexplodedexploding batteryExplodingBatteryexplosionmacbook proMacbookProMBPswolen batterySwolenBatteryWed, 11 Nov 2009 12:23:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC Touch Pro battery goes rogue, lights up an otherwise fine pair of pants]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/21/htc-touch-pro-battery-goes-rogue-lights-up-an-otherwise-fine-pa/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/21/htc-touch-pro-battery-goes-rogue-lights-up-an-otherwise-fine-pa/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/21/htc-touch-pro-battery-goes-rogue-lights-up-an-otherwise-fine-pa/#comments
Just a note to everyone who carries around a spare smartphone Li-ion in their rear pocket: buy thicker underwear. The scene you see above was all caused by an obviously volatile HTC Touch Pro battery, one that the pants-wearer claims is an authentic HTC cell and not a cheap-o alternative from eBay. As the story goes, a foul odor led him to a laundry pile, where he uncovered eight moist socks, a torched battery and a ruined pair of pants. Look, we're glad this guy's okay and all, but seriously, can you imagine what this testy little thing would've done when tossed into the dryer? It's a blessing in disguise, kiddo.

[Via phoneArena]

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HTC Touch Pro battery goes rogue, lights up an otherwise fine pair of pants originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 May 2009 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just a note to everyone who carries around a spare smartphone Li-ion in their rear pocket: buy thicker underwear. The scene you see above was all caused by an obviously volatile HTC Touch Pro battery, one that the pants-wearer claims is an authentic HTC cell and not a cheap-o alternative from eBay. As the story goes, a foul odor led him to a laundry pile, where he uncovered eight moist socks, a torched battery and a ruined pair of pants. Look, we're glad this guy's okay and all, but seriously, can you imagine what this testy little thing would've done when tossed into the dryer? It's a blessing in disguise, kiddo.

[Via phoneArena]

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HTC Touch Pro battery goes rogue, lights up an otherwise fine pair of pants originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 May 2009 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterybattery explosionBatteryExplosionburnerexplodingexploding batteryExplodingBatteryexplosionfirefire hazardFireHazardhazardHTCoverheatoverheatingsmartphonetouchtouch proTouchProThu, 21 May 2009 10:04:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone overheats while docked, fight for replacement begins]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/03/iphone-overheats-while-docked-fight-for-replacement-begins/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/03/iphone-overheats-while-docked-fight-for-replacement-begins/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/03/iphone-overheats-while-docked-fight-for-replacement-begins/#comments
Not even a month after three iPods got all hot and bothered on separate occasions, along comes images showing that even Apple's iPhone isn't immune to melting itself. Purportedly, the handset was purchased from Carphone Warehouse in December, but was never activated for one reason or another. Just this week, the owner's son slapped it in a dock with intentions of activating, walked downstairs to catch the last few minutes of Magnum, P.I. and returned to his room to find a "stupidly hot" iPhone which had already melted in some parts and had its screen cracked from the reaction. Not surprisingly, he's currently in the middle of a runaround trying to get someone to remedy the issue, but thankfully no Earthlings, carpets or IKEA desks were harmed.

Update: Thanks to Logan5's quick eyes, it appears we've discovered a scammer in our midst. Essentially, this bloke posted the real story here noting that the crack (more on that here) actually appeared after it was mishandled and dropped. Haven't we learned this approach doesn't work by now?

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iPhone overheats while docked, fight for replacement begins originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applebatteryexplosionfireiphonemobileoverheatoverheatingThu, 03 Apr 2008 09:26:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone overheats while docked, fight for replacement begins]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/03/iphone-overheats-while-docked-fight-for-replacement-begins/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/03/iphone-overheats-while-docked-fight-for-replacement-begins/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/03/iphone-overheats-while-docked-fight-for-replacement-begins/#comments
Not even a month after three iPods got all hot and bothered on separate occasions, along comes images showing that even Apple's iPhone isn't immune to melting itself. Purportedly, the handset was purchased from Carphone Warehouse in December, but was never activated for one reason or another. Just this week, the owner's son slapped it in a dock with intentions of activating, walked downstairs to catch the last few minutes of Magnum, P.I. and returned to his room to find a "stupidly hot" iPhone which had already melted in some parts and had its screen cracked from the reaction. Not surprisingly, he's currently in the middle of a runaround trying to get someone to remedy the issue, but thankfully no Earthlings, carpets or IKEA desks were harmed.

Update: Thanks to Logan5's quick eyes, it appears we've discovered a scammer in our midst. Essentially, this bloke posted the real story here noting that the crack (more on that here) actually appeared after it was mishandled and dropped. Haven't we learned this approach doesn't work by now?

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iPhone overheats while docked, fight for replacement begins originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Apr 2008 09:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applebatteryexplosionfireiphoneoverheatoverheatingThu, 03 Apr 2008 09:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung P10 laptop battery "melts" in South Korea]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/24/samsung-p10-laptop-battery-melts-in-south-korea/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/24/samsung-p10-laptop-battery-melts-in-south-korea/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/24/samsung-p10-laptop-battery-melts-in-south-korea/#commentsMerely days after LG put the brakes on sales of its Z1-AE007 laptop due to suspicions of a faulty battery within, yet another lappie in South Korea is making headlines for its overheating, er, abilities. Reportedly, the battery in a P10 computer, produced in 2002, "melted" after inexplicably emitting smoke during use. The device managed to burn a bed and a certain part of the floor, but thankfully, no "big fire" was started. According to company spokesman James Chung, Samsung is now "checking details of the incident," but the actual manufacturer of said battery has yet to be revealed.

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Samsung P10 laptop battery "melts" in South Korea originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Feb 2008 21:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[Via FarEastGizmos]

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LG halts sale of Z1-AE007 laptop, suspects defective battery originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentbatteriesbatteryexplosionfirelaptop batteryLaptopBatterylgproblemrecallZ1-AE007Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:01:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T U-verse batteries going supernova]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/atandt-u-verse-batteries-going-supernova/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/atandt-u-verse-batteries-going-supernova/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/atandt-u-verse-batteries-going-supernova/#commentsAT&T U-verse batteries going supernovaAT&T is looking to replace 17,000 backup batteries in U-verse equipment cabinets all over the country over concerns that they can explode. Those are confirmed concerns, too, as there have been four confirmed incidents since October 2006. Explosions have occurred in Houston, Cleveland and Wisconsin; the Wisconsin incident reportedly was strong enough to blow the 50-pound cabinet door off its bolts. The bad news for AT&T is that the battery manufacturer, Avestor, filed for bankruptcy in October 2006 and is no longer in business. What's worse is that a consulting firm hired to examine the first incidents deemed the battery design ok, and chalked up the explosions to "manufacturing defects." So now AT&T has taken it upon itself to spend some big bucks to locate and replace the already-in-service (and obviously widely dispersed) lithium metal polymer batteries.

[Via TVOver, image courtesy of LightReading]

EDIT: Spelling error fixed (thanks, Bryce!) and photo credit changed (thanks, Phil!).

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AT&T U-verse batteries going supernova originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attbatteryexplosionWed, 16 Jan 2008 08:51:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T U-verse batteries going supernova]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/atandt-u-verse-batteries-going-supernova/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/atandt-u-verse-batteries-going-supernova/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/atandt-u-verse-batteries-going-supernova/#commentsAT&T U-verse batteries going supernovaAT&T is looking to replace 17,000 backup batteries in U-verse equipment cabinets all over the country over concerns that they can explode. Those are confirmed concerns, too, as there have been four confirmed incidents since October 2006. Explosions have occurred in Houston, Cleveland and Wisconsin; the Wisconsin incident reportedly was strong enough to blow the 50-pound cabinet door off its bolts. The bad news for AT&T is that the battery manufacturer, Avestor, filed for bankruptcy in October 2006 and is no longer in business. What's worse is that a consulting firm hired to examine the first incidents deemed the battery design ok, and chalked up the explosions to "manufacturing defects." So now AT&T has taken it upon itself to spend some big bucks to locate and replace the already-in-service (and obviously widely dispersed) lithium metal polymer batteries.

[Via TVOver, image courtesy of LightReading]

EDIT: Spelling error fixed (thanks, Bryce!) and photo credit changed (thanks, Phil!).

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AT&T U-verse batteries going supernova originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>attbatteryexplosionfiberhdu-verseWed, 16 Jan 2008 08:51:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM sues Shentech for selling volatile counterfeit batteries]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/30/ibm-sues-shentech-for-selling-volatile-counterfeit-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/30/ibm-sues-shentech-for-selling-volatile-counterfeit-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/30/ibm-sues-shentech-for-selling-volatile-counterfeit-batteries/#commentsIt's not like ThinkPads have been immune to the notorious overheating battery issue, but a fiery incident in Ohio may not be IBM's fault. In a somewhat bizarre tale, it's reported that an Ohioan purchased a replacement battery from Shentech for his ThinkPad, only to later have it overheat, catch on fire and damage his machine. After discovering that the faulty cell was actually a counterfeit, IBM took the liberty of ordering a dozen batteries from the Flushing, New York-based company, and it soon discovered that all twelve received were indeed fakes. As you can probably guess, IBM has filed suit against the outfit and has asked the court to require Shentech to hand over all of its batteries for destruction, profits it made from selling the fakes and a million dollars "per counterfeit mark per type of item sold." That'll teach 'em to mess with Big Blue.

[Via TGDaily]

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IBM sues Shentech for selling volatile counterfeit batteries originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterycounterfeitexplodingexploding batteryExplodingBatteryexplosionibmlawsuitlegallenovoShentechsuesuitThinkPadFri, 30 Nov 2007 15:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Exploding phone battery not blamed for Korean's death]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/29/exploding-phone-battery-not-blamed-for-koreans-death/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/29/exploding-phone-battery-not-blamed-for-koreans-death/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/29/exploding-phone-battery-not-blamed-for-koreans-death/#commentsThis certainly won't be the first time that an exploding cellphone battery has been pegged with blame before all the facts shook out, but now it seems that the South Korean worker who perished yesterday was in fact not killed by his mobile. Reportedly, the National Institute of Scientific Investigation "said the injuries were too substantial to have been caused by a battery explosion," and an unnamed medical examiner was quoted as saying that it was "difficult to conclude that the damage of internal organs was caused by [the explosion]." Details are still likely to unfold in the coming weeks, as it will be about a fortnight before autopsy results are analyzed and a final conclusion is drawn. Seems that "virtually impossible" notion from LG may be accurate after all, eh?

[Image courtesy of Yonhap News]

Exploding phone battery not blamed for Korean's death originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Nov 2007 10:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterycellphone batteryCellphoneBatterydeathdieexploding batteryExplodingBatteryexplosionkillkoreamobilesouth koreasouth koreanSouthKoreaSouthKoreanThu, 29 Nov 2007 10:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Exploding phone battery not blamed for Korean's death]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/29/exploding-phone-battery-not-blamed-for-koreans-death/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/29/exploding-phone-battery-not-blamed-for-koreans-death/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/29/exploding-phone-battery-not-blamed-for-koreans-death/#commentsThis certainly won't be the first time that an exploding cellphone battery has been pegged with blame before all the facts shook out, but now it seems that the South Korean worker who perished yesterday was in fact not killed by his mobile. Reportedly, the National Institute of Scientific Investigation "said the injuries were too substantial to have been caused by a battery explosion," and an unnamed medical examiner was quoted as saying that it was "difficult to conclude that the damage of internal organs was caused by [the explosion]." Details are still likely to unfold in the coming weeks, as it will be about a fortnight before autopsy results are analyzed and a final conclusion is drawn. Seems that "virtually impossible" notion from LG may be accurate after all, eh?

[Image courtesy of Yonhap News]

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Exploding phone battery not blamed for Korean's death originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Nov 2007 10:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterycellphone batteryCellphoneBatterydeathdieexploding batteryExplodingBatteryexplosionkillkoreasouth koreasouth koreanSouthKoreaSouthKoreanThu, 29 Nov 2007 10:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Tektronix oscilloscopes could catch fire due to volatile Li-ion]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/16/tektronix-oscilloscopes-could-catch-fire-due-to-volatile-li-ion/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/16/tektronix-oscilloscopes-could-catch-fire-due-to-volatile-li-ion/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/16/tektronix-oscilloscopes-could-catch-fire-due-to-volatile-li-ion/#commentsWe've seen some strange devices catch fire due to faulty batteries, but this one just may take top honors. Apparently, a pair of Tektronix oscilloscopes (model numbers TDS3000 and TDS3000B) have the potential of catching fire; according to the company, it has received two reports of the units "burning at customer sites." Upon closer inspection, it was noticed that the machines both relied on a TDS3BATB Li-ion battery, which is now carrying the blame for the unexpected blazes. If you or a loved one just so happen to own or use one of these rigs in your everyday life, Tektronix is suggesting that you power it down and stop using the battery until further notice.

[Via TheInquirer]

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Tektronix oscilloscopes could catch fire due to volatile Li-ion originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Oct 2007 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteryexplodeexploding batteryExplodingBatteryexplosionexpolodingfirehazardli-ionoscilloscopeoscilloscopesTDS 3000BTds3000bTDS3BATBTektronixTEXTRONIXTue, 16 Oct 2007 03:01:00 EST<![CDATA[The fun never ends: another Dell up in flames]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/04/the-fun-never-ends-another-dell-up-in-flames/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/04/the-fun-never-ends-another-dell-up-in-flames/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/04/the-fun-never-ends-another-dell-up-in-flames/#comments
Every time we think we've had our fill of these, somebody goes and one-ups the competition with a Dell-fueled inferno of doom. Apparently this one is coming at us from Shanghai, and while we're not sure what anyone is saying on the forum to which these pictures are posted, we're guessing a chorus of "sucks to be you!" and "recalled for a reason" is a solid guess. Check after the break for a couple more pictures, including the stark beauty of the aftermath.

[Thanks, Steve Du]

Continue reading The fun never ends: another Dell up in flames

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The fun never ends: another Dell up in flames originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Sep 2007 12:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterydellexplosionfirerecallTue, 04 Sep 2007 12:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Non-recalled Nokia phone battery explodes, injures woman]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/03/non-recalled-nokia-phone-battery-explodes-injures-woman/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/03/non-recalled-nokia-phone-battery-explodes-injures-woman/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/03/non-recalled-nokia-phone-battery-explodes-injures-woman/#commentsWhile Nokia and Matsushita were busying settling the disputes that arose when the phone maker had to recall some 46 million handset batteries, a lady in India has been injured by a Nokia-branded cell that's not on that list. Located in eastern India, the woman noted that the BL-D3 series battery "blew up about 10 minutes after it was put on charge," resulting in a "ball of fire" that led to minor burn injuries to the user. According to Nokia, the incident was "isolated," and if it finds that the handset, battery, and charger are original, the 30-year old victim will supposedly be compensated.

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Non-recalled Nokia phone battery explodes, injures woman originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Sep 2007 18:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentbatteriesbatteryBL-D3explodeexplodedexplosionfirehazardMatsushitamishapnokiaMon, 03 Sep 2007 18:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Non-recalled Nokia phone battery explodes, injures woman]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/03/non-recalled-nokia-phone-battery-explodes-injures-woman/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/03/non-recalled-nokia-phone-battery-explodes-injures-woman/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/03/non-recalled-nokia-phone-battery-explodes-injures-woman/#commentsWhile Nokia and Matsushita were busying settling the disputes that arose when the phone maker had to recall some 46 million handset batteries, a lady in India has been injured by a Nokia-branded cell that's not on that list. Located in eastern India, the woman noted that the BL-D3 series battery "blew up about 10 minutes after it was put on charge," resulting in a "ball of fire" that led to minor burn injuries to the user. According to Nokia, the incident was "isolated," and if it finds that the handset, battery, and charger are original, the 30-year old victim will supposedly be compensated.

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Non-recalled Nokia phone battery explodes, injures woman originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Sep 2007 18:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia holds Matsushita responsible for faulty batteries originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteriesbatteryexplosionexplosivefightMatsushitamobilenokiaperipheralsThu, 23 Aug 2007 14:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia holds Matsushita responsible for faulty batteries]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/23/nokia-holds-matsushita-responsible-for-faulty-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/23/nokia-holds-matsushita-responsible-for-faulty-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/23/nokia-holds-matsushita-responsible-for-faulty-batteries/#commentsC'mon, you didn't think Nokia was just going to sit around with 46 million bum batteries on its hands and not play the blame game, didya? Reportedly, when Nokia's worldwide CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo was asked whether Matsushita (the batteries' manufacturer) would be held liable for the fiasco, he responded by saying that the firm was "investigating" the issue, and noted "...of course they are responsible to us." Currently, Nokia has yet to divulge what kind of financial impact this whole mess will have on the company, but it's apparently planning to pass along at least some of the connected costs to Matsushita. Furthermore, Nokia's chief refused to comment when asked about the future relationship between the two outfits, but we're sure true feelings will become evident in due time.

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Nokia holds Matsushita responsible for faulty batteries originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteriesbatteryexplosionexplosivefightMatsushitanokiaThu, 23 Aug 2007 14:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Counterfeit flashlight batteries recalled due to fire hazard]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/18/counterfeit-flashlight-batteries-recalled-due-to-fire-hazard/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/18/counterfeit-flashlight-batteries-recalled-due-to-fire-hazard/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/18/counterfeit-flashlight-batteries-recalled-due-to-fire-hazard/#commentsUnfortunately for those 4,400 or so owners of the Xenon Aluminum flashlight sold at Sportsman's Warehouse, the recall wagon has come your way, and unless you have no fear of exploding batteries, we'd suggest you power it off at your earliest convenience. Interestingly enough, this case involves more than just a faulty design, as the Panasonic CR123A Industrial Lithium batteries packed within are believed to be counterfeits, and it comes as no surprise that these knockoffs "can overheat and rupture, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers." So, if you happen to own the six-, nine-, or twelve-volt version of these here devices, it looks like you'll be making an unwanted trip out to Sportsman's Warehouse before long.

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Counterfeit flashlight batteries recalled due to fire hazard originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteriesbatterycounterfeitexplodingbatteriesexplosionexplosivebatteriesfire hazardFireHazardflashlighthazardknockoffoverheatoverheatingpanasonicrecallsportsman's warehouseSportsman'sWarehouseWed, 18 Jul 2007 00:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Chinese welder killed by exploding cellphone battery]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/05/chinese-welder-killed-by-exploding-cellphone-battery/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/05/chinese-welder-killed-by-exploding-cellphone-battery/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/05/chinese-welder-killed-by-exploding-cellphone-battery/#commentsIt's all fun and games until someone gets hurt, and unfortunately, the latest case of exploding battery syndrome led to something far worse than a minor injury. Reportedly, a 22-year old Chinese welder actually perished after a cellphone battery residing in his pocket exploded. The eruption was so violent, in fact, that it "broke a rib and drove the remnants of the pack into his heart," and while rescue crews were able to get him to a hospital, he passed away shortly thereafter. Currently, the manufacturer of the phone and battery are being withheld, but expects in Jinta were dispatched in order to conduct an investigation.

[Via Inquirer, image courtesy of ABC]

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Chinese welder killed by exploding cellphone battery originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Jul 2007 05:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterycellphone batteryCellphoneBatterychinesedeathexplodingexploding batteriesexploding batteryExplodingBatteriesExplodingBatteryexplosioninjurykillmishapweldingThu, 05 Jul 2007 05:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Chinese welder killed by exploding cellphone battery]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/05/chinese-welder-killed-by-exploding-cellphone-battery/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/05/chinese-welder-killed-by-exploding-cellphone-battery/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/05/chinese-welder-killed-by-exploding-cellphone-battery/#commentsIt's all fun and games until someone gets hurt, and unfortunately, the latest case of exploding battery syndrome led to something far worse than a minor injury. Reportedly, a 22-year old Chinese welder actually perished after a cellphone battery residing in his pocket exploded. The eruption was so violent, in fact, that it "broke a rib and drove the remnants of the pack into his heart," and while rescue crews were able to get him to a hospital, he passed away shortly thereafter. Currently, the manufacturer of the phone and battery are being withheld, but expects in Jinta were dispatched in order to conduct an investigation.

[Via Inquirer, image courtesy of ABC]

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Chinese welder killed by exploding cellphone battery originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Jul 2007 00:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterycellphone batteryCellphoneBatterychinesedeathexplodingexploding batteriesexploding batteryExplodingBatteriesExplodingBatteryexplosioninjurykillmishapmobileweldingThu, 05 Jul 2007 00:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Gateway issues recall for 400VTX and 450ROG Li-ion batteries]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/19/gateway-issues-recall-for-400vtx-and-450rog-li-ion-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/19/gateway-issues-recall-for-400vtx-and-450rog-li-ion-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/19/gateway-issues-recall-for-400vtx-and-450rog-li-ion-batteries/#commentsJust when you were absolutely certain the voluntary recalls regarding potentially explosive Li-ions were finally complete, here comes yet another vendor claiming that your lappie just might have a problem. This time around, Gateway has proclaimed that "about 14,000" of the lithium-ion battery packs that shipped with its 400VTX and 450ROG series machines "could possibly overheat and pose a fire hazard to consumers." The packs can reportedly be identified by 6500760 or 6500761 part numbers and a "made by SMP" label on the underside of the Li-ion. To date, four reports of "overheating" and a case of minor property damage have been accounted for, so if you just happen to be viewing these very words on one of the aforementioned devices, it's time to get your RMA on.

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Gateway issues recall for 400VTX and 450ROG Li-ion batteries originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Jun 2007 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteryexploding batteryExplodingBatteryexplosionfiregatewayhazardli-ionrecallwarningTue, 19 Jun 2007 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[The 2006 Engadget Awards: Vote for Worst Gadget of the Year]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/16/the-2006-engadget-awards-vote-for-worst-gadget-of-the-year/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/16/the-2006-engadget-awards-vote-for-worst-gadget-of-the-year/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/16/the-2006-engadget-awards-vote-for-worst-gadget-of-the-year/#comments Ready to get your hater on? We're at the end of the line, and your chance to cast your ballot for the 2006 Worst Gadget of the Year! (Note: nominees were not necessarily selected for having outright bad or defective gadgets -- the disappointment / let-down factor also plays a big role.) Our Engadget Awards nominees are listed below, and you've got until 11.59PM EST on Wednesday, April 18th to file your vote. You can only vote once, so make it count, and may the best tech win! The nominees: Defective Apple MacBooks (see here, here, here, and here), Exploding Sony batteries (see here, here, here, here, here, and many more), Microsoft Zune, Motorola Q, Nintendo Wiimote straps (see here, here, here, and here), and Sony PlayStation 3.

View Poll

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The 2006 Engadget Awards: Vote for Worst Gadget of the Year originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Apr 2007 13:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2006 engadget awards2006EngadgetAwardsapplebatteryengadget awardsEngadgetAwardsexploding batteriesExplodingBatteriesexplosionmacbookmicrosoftmotorolanintendoplaystation 3Playstation3ps3qsonystrapswiiwii remotewiimoteWiiRemotezuneMon, 16 Apr 2007 13:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Exploding iPod dies gruesome death]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/12/exploding-ipod-dies-gruesome-death/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/12/exploding-ipod-dies-gruesome-death/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/12/exploding-ipod-dies-gruesome-death/#comments
Oh dear, just when we thought we'd had our fill of exploding Apple devices, along comes an Australian forum member named eeno who saw his first generation iPod nano go up in flames, and has some snuff-esque pics of the aftermath. As is usually the case with these things, eeno's iPod was charging when it happened. He says the force of the battery's explosion sent the iPod off his PC onto the floor, where it continued to smoke and spark until he unplugged the USB charging cable from the back of his computer. Since his iPod is out of warranty, the local computer repair shop didn't do him much good, but they did take a few pics to send to Apple. Hopefully this iPod was just an anomaly, and we won't be seeing a whole wave of these explosions as 1G nanos exit their warranties and head towards retirement -- but somehow we fear the worst.

[Thanks, Kip HT]

Gallery: Exploding iPod dies gruesome death

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Exploding iPod dies gruesome death originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Apr 2007 15:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteryexploding batteryExplodingBatteryexplosionipodipod nanoIpodNanoportable audioportableaudioThu, 12 Apr 2007 15:19:00 EST<![CDATA[When good toys go bad V: RC planes going down in smoke]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/01/when-good-toys-go-bad-v-rc-planes-going-down-in-smoke/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/01/when-good-toys-go-bad-v-rc-planes-going-down-in-smoke/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/01/when-good-toys-go-bad-v-rc-planes-going-down-in-smoke/#commentsPSA: If you just so happen to be one of the incredibly unlucky 66,000 owners of either a Sky Squadron Model 4153 (pictured after the jump) or Sky Rangers Model 4161 radio-controlled aircraft, we'd highly recommend not making them part of your Sunday afternoon fling. Unfortunately, the overheating (and potentially explosive) Li-ion curse has reared its ugly fiery head once more, and this time two RC planes distributed by Estes-Cox through Radio Shack and Wal-Mart are being promptly recalled. There have already been nine reports of eruptive behavior, including one craft that actually caught fire and somehow inflicted "a minor burn injury" to the unsuspecting user, triggering the US Consumer Product Safety Commission to take action. So if you're not exactly interested in the possibility of getting toasted by your not-so-innocent toy plane, be sure and hit the read link to initiate that always fun RMA process.

[Via Gearlog]

Continue reading When good toys go bad V: RC planes going down in smoke

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When good toys go bad V: RC planes going down in smoke originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 Apr 2007 17:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircraftbatteriesbatteryestesestes-coxexplosionexplosiveheatli-ionoverheatingplaneradio controlRadioControlremote controlRemoteControlSun, 01 Apr 2007 17:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia 6280 overheats, erupts in smoke on video]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/17/nokia-6280-overheats-erupts-in-smoke-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/17/nokia-6280-overheats-erupts-in-smoke-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/17/nokia-6280-overheats-erupts-in-smoke-on-video/#commentsWe've seen dozens and dozens of aftermath photos from laptops and other random batteries suddenly possessing violently explosive tendencies, but we all know full motion video is more satisfying than simple stills. In this particular case, we're thrilled that the smoking, fizzing Nokia 6280 was filmed while in a location where humans couldn't be harmed, and initial reports are (unsurprisingly) tagging the battery or charger as the culprit. The 3 customer reported that his new handset "began fizzing white smoke" just hours after switching it on for the first time, and Nokia is reportedly investigating the issue. Of course, this isn't the first time a Nokia battery has been blamed for a fire, but unlike the previous case, we kind of doubt the firm will get off as easy here. So if you've actually hung around to read this far, we'll let you get to the fun stuff now, so go on and hit the read link for the final moments of the mobile's smoky death.

[Via Inquirer]

Nokia 6280 overheats, erupts in smoke on video originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Feb 2007 20:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>36280Advanced MobileAdvancedMobilebatterychargerexplodedexplosionfirehazardli-ionnokiaoverheatingsafetysmokesmokingvideoSat, 17 Feb 2007 20:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia 6280 overheats, erupts in smoke on video]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/17/nokia-6280-overheats-erupts-in-smoke-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/17/nokia-6280-overheats-erupts-in-smoke-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/17/nokia-6280-overheats-erupts-in-smoke-on-video/#commentsWe've seen dozens and dozens of aftermath photos from laptops and other random batteries suddenly possessing violently explosive tendencies, but we all know full motion video is more satisfying than simple stills. In this particular case, we're thrilled that the smoking, fizzing Nokia 6280 was filmed while in a location where humans couldn't be harmed, and initial reports are (unsurprisingly) tagging the battery or charger as the culprit. The 3 customer reported that his new handset "began fizzing white smoke" just hours after switching it on for the first time, and Nokia is reportedly investigating the issue. Of course, this isn't the first time a Nokia battery has been blamed for a fire, but unlike the previous case, we kind of doubt the firm will get off as easy here. So if you've actually hung around to read this far, we'll let you get to the fun stuff now, so go on and hit the read link for the final moments of the mobile's smoky death.

[Via TheInquirer]

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Nokia 6280 overheats, erupts in smoke on video originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Feb 2007 20:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6280batteryexplodingexplosionfiremobilenokiaoverheatingsmokesmokingvideoSat, 17 Feb 2007 20:25:00 EST<![CDATA[California fire not sparked by defective cellphone battery]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/18/california-fire-not-sparked-by-defective-cellphone-battery/http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/18/california-fire-not-sparked-by-defective-cellphone-battery/http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/18/california-fire-not-sparked-by-defective-cellphone-battery/#commentsJust two days ago California fire department authorities pinned the blame of damaging hotel fire on a malfunctioning cellphone battery, but after further inspection, it seems that the mobile's battery isn't the culprit after all. Engineers from 2125i could not have sparked the blaze that resulted in $75,000 worth of property damage and severe burns to Luis. Upon testing the phone, they discovered that "the electronic circuitry in the phone was undamaged and that the battery was still functioning," with a Vallejo Fire Department investigator adding that the battery performed flawlessly after surviving the fire, which eliminated it from being a suspect. Unfortunately, it looks as if the real case of the blaze may "have been destroyed in the fire," but thankfully, Mr. Picaso is in "critical but stable condition" in a Sacramento hospital.

[Thanks, DeShaun]

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California fire not sparked by defective cellphone battery originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Jan 2007 22:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2125ibatterycaliforniaexplodedexplosionfireheatmobilenokiaoverheatoverheatingvallejoThu, 18 Jan 2007 22:14:00 EST<![CDATA[California fire not sparked by defective cellphone battery]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/18/california-fire-not-sparked-by-defective-cellphone-battery/http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/18/california-fire-not-sparked-by-defective-cellphone-battery/http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/18/california-fire-not-sparked-by-defective-cellphone-battery/#commentsJust two days ago California fire department authorities pinned the blame of damaging hotel fire on a malfunctioning cellphone battery, but after further inspection, it seems that the mobile's battery isn't the culprit after all. Engineers from 2125i could not have sparked the blaze that resulted in $75,000 worth of property damage and severe burns to Luis. Upon testing the phone, they discovered that "the electronic circuitry in the phone was undamaged and that the battery was still functioning," with a Vallejo Fire Department investigator adding that the battery performed flawlessly after surviving the fire, which eliminated it from being a suspect. Unfortunately, it looks as if the real case of the blaze may "have been destroyed in the fire," but thankfully, Mr. Picaso is in "critical but stable condition" in a Sacramento hospital.

[Thanks, DeShaun]

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California fire not sparked by defective cellphone battery originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Jan 2007 22:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2125ibatteryexplodedexplosionexplosivefirehandsetli-ionmobilenokiaoverheatoverheatingThu, 18 Jan 2007 22:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Canadian lawsuit pegs Dell for knowingly selling defective laptops]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/14/canadian-lawsuit-pegs-dell-for-knowingly-selling-defective-lapto/http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/14/canadian-lawsuit-pegs-dell-for-knowingly-selling-defective-lapto/http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/14/canadian-lawsuit-pegs-dell-for-knowingly-selling-defective-lapto/#commentsSure, it's a new year, but it's the same ole problems for Dell. Yet again the Texas powerhouse is facing a lawsuit claiming that the company knowingly and willingly sold laptops to loyal buyers even though they were defective, and this time it's coming from our northerly neighbors. A group of Canucks who purchased toasty Dell lappies have slapped some legal action on Dell through the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, and the filing claims that "Dell was negligent in designing the computers and sold them even though the company knew of the problems." The models in question reportedly include the 1100, 1150, 5100, 5150 and 5160 models of the Inspiron, and rather than focusing on batteries that erupted in their laps, it claims that the "notebooks suffer from design defects that cause premature failure of the motherboard due to overheating just after the one-year warranty expires." As expected, a Dell spokesperson didn't have a comment on the pending suit, but we're sure it'll be a bit more diligent to show up in court than in previous scenarios.

[Via Inquirer]

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Canadian lawsuit pegs Dell for knowingly selling defective laptops originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 14 Jan 2007 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterycanadaCanadiandefectdefectivedellexplosionexplosiveinspironlawsuitlegalli-ionmotherboardnotebooksoverheatingsuesuitSun, 14 Jan 2007 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Clarion's N.I.C.E. P200 in-car navigation batteries recalled]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/14/clarions-n-i-c-e-p200-in-car-navigation-batteries-recalled/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/14/clarions-n-i-c-e-p200-in-car-navigation-batteries-recalled/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/14/clarions-n-i-c-e-p200-in-car-navigation-batteries-recalled/#commentsNo, the word "recall" isn't entirely synonymous with "battery," but in this case, we're afraid the dreaded overheating Li-ion curse has struck again. This time the recall is hitting Clarion's N.I.C.E. P200 in-car navigation / entertainment unit, and the problem seems to be the same as nearly every other recall currently out -- it's too hot for comfort. Reportedly, about 2,500 units are potentially problematic, and with "four reports of the unit melting or overheating" due to a faulty Li-ion cell, the company isn't taking any chances. So if you've got the 4-inch flavor of Clarion's do-it-all with a serial number ended in "UE" or "UF," you should power that bad boy down immediately (and call for a free replacement) before that "NAVBATTERY" gets a little hot under the collar.

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Clarion's N.I.C.E. P200 in-car navigation batteries recalled originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Dec 2006 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiobatteriesbatteryburningclarionconsumercpscdangerousentertainmentexplosionexplosivefirehazardoushazardsheadunitin-carN.I.C.E.navigationp200portable audioportableaudiorecallrecallsstereoThu, 14 Dec 2006 19:29:00 EST<![CDATA[NTT DoCoMo recalling 1.3 million Sanyo batteries]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/07/ntt-docomo-recalling-1-3-million-sanyo-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/07/ntt-docomo-recalling-1-3-million-sanyo-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/07/ntt-docomo-recalling-1-3-million-sanyo-batteries/#commentsJust when we thought things couldn't get any worse, and we actually believed (ever so slightly, mind you) that these battery recalls had reached their end, here's another 1.3 million that are being returned to sender. Japanese mobile giant NTT DoCoMo has recalled 1.3 million Sanyo-derived batteries due to multiple reports of the Li-ion cells generating "excessive heat" and causing "ruptures" in some instances. The batteries are reportedly found in claims made by Sony, but doesn't exactly provide for happy holidays when you consider that the company actually lost users (17,500 to be exactly) overall last month, which hasn't happened since the firm opened in July 1992.

[Thanks, kaztm]

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NTT DoCoMo recalling 1.3 million Sanyo batteries originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Dec 2006 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteryD902iSexplodedexplodingexplosionmobilentt docomonttdocomorecallsanyoThu, 07 Dec 2006 18:06:00 EST<![CDATA[NTT DoCoMo recalling 1.3 million Sanyo batteries]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/07/ntt-docomo-recalling-1-3-million-sanyo-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/07/ntt-docomo-recalling-1-3-million-sanyo-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/07/ntt-docomo-recalling-1-3-million-sanyo-batteries/#commentsJust when we thought things couldn't get any worse, and we actually believed (ever so slightly, mind you) that these battery recalls had reached their end, here's another 1.3 million that are being returned to sender. Japanese mobile giant NTT DoCoMo has recalled 1.3 million Sanyo-derived batteries due to multiple reports of the Li-ion cells generating "excessive heat" and causing "ruptures" in some instances. The batteries are reportedly found in claims made by Sony, but doesn't exactly provide for happy holidays when you consider that the company actually lost users (17,500 to be exactly) overall last month, which hasn't happened since the firm opened in July 1992.

[Thanks, kaztm]

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NTT DoCoMo recalling 1.3 million Sanyo batteries originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Dec 2006 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteryD902iSdocomoexplodingexplosionjapanMitsubishinttrecallsanyoThu, 07 Dec 2006 18:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Tesla Motors' looking to license Roadster's battery technology]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/01/tesla-motors-looking-to-license-roadsters-battery-technology/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/01/tesla-motors-looking-to-license-roadsters-battery-technology/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/01/tesla-motors-looking-to-license-roadsters-battery-technology/#commentsAfter the glamorous unveiling of Tesla Motors' ultra-speedy, purely electric vehicle, it didn't take long for deep-pocketed believers to throw down their deposits for the yet-to-be-released Roadster. But apparently appeasing head honchos isn't all that Tesla's about, as it's now considering licensing the outlandish (albeit very remarkable) battery technology to other firms looking to jump in the EV game without all those up front R&D costs. In an exclusive interview with AutoblogGreen, the firm stated that Tesla "had been in talks with other companies" in an effort to get their 7,000 Li-ion cell pack out to other companies. While they couldn't pry much deeper than that, the biggest upshot to grabbing its technology is the UN-approved label that's been slapped on the 56 kWh, 366V Li-ion pack; its proprietary "redundant active / passive safety features" help prevent propagation of a "thermal runaway event" (read: an explosion), which certainly helps when trying to get your electric vehicle past those pesky regulators. Nevertheless, Tesla Motors is currently testing crashing "10 to 20 vehicles" in Europe to make sure all systems are go, and we can't help but hope a few more muscle car competitors that don't drink octane show up real soon.

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Tesla Motors' looking to license Roadster's battery technology originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Dec 2006 16:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteryelectric carelectric vehicleElectricCarElectricVehicleenergyEVexplosionhybridinterviewli-ionroadsterteslavehicleFri, 01 Dec 2006 16:46:00 EST<![CDATA[The stages of an exploding laptop battery]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/14/the-stages-of-an-exploding-laptop-battery/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/14/the-stages-of-an-exploding-laptop-battery/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/14/the-stages-of-an-exploding-laptop-battery/#comments Beware young and old -- want to know exactly what stages your poor little laptop battery will go through when it ignites? We kind of didn't either, but that didn't stop us from fighting our compulsion to watch the above YouTube vid. Scary, sobering stuff. You did return your recalled battery, right?

[Thanks, Chris and Drakonen]

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The stages of an exploding laptop battery originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Nov 2006 01:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteryexplosionTue, 14 Nov 2006 01:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Fujitsu recalls 287,000 notebook batteries]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/04/fujitsu-recalls-287-000-notebook-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/04/fujitsu-recalls-287-000-notebook-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/04/fujitsu-recalls-287-000-notebook-batteries/#commentsFujitsu has put a number on its recent recall of Sony-manufactured notebook batteries, with 287,000 Fujitsu notebook owners being affected. This latest figure brings the total number of Sony battery recalls in recent months to more than 7.5 million, of which the vast majority (5.9 million) are from Dell and Apple. Although this appears to be a pre-emptive recall -- as far as the company can tell, no Fujitsu laptops have actually exploded -- the company is still recommending that its users give them a call if their machine is one of the 20+ models listed.

Read - Affected models
Read - Fujitsu announcement

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Fujitsu recalls 287,000 notebook batteries originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Oct 2006 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ApplebatteryBattery recallBatteryRecallDellExploding BatteryExplodingBatteryExplosionFujitsuRecallSonyWed, 04 Oct 2006 11:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Dell battery explodes at Yahoo HQ, hundreds evacuate]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/20/dell-battery-explodes-at-yahoo-hq-hundreds-evacuat/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/20/dell-battery-explodes-at-yahoo-hq-hundreds-evacuat/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/20/dell-battery-explodes-at-yahoo-hq-hundreds-evacuat/#commentsWe just got word that a Yahoo employee's laptop went up in flames today at their Mission College campus down in Silicon Valley, causing hundreds of Yahoo employees to be evacuated from an 8-story building. The culprit: you guessed it, a Dell machine whose faulty cell that should have been replaced (don't they have corporate memos at those big companies?) instead caught fire. From what we now know it doesn't seem like anyone was hurt, but let this be a lesson, people: you have the means, now take Dell up on the freaking recall before something disastrous happens.

Update: So it looks like Yahoo uses HP and Mac laptops -- not Dells -- making it very likely this was someone's personal machine that they brought to work. Wrong day to bring your laptop to the office, man.

Dell battery explodes at Yahoo HQ, hundreds evacuate originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Sep 2006 16:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterybreaking newsBreakingNewsdellexplosionrecallyahooWed, 20 Sep 2006 16:11:00 EST