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[PSA: Sony says counterfeit PS3 controllers could explode]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/23/psa-sony-says-counterfeit-ps3-controllers-could-explode/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/23/psa-sony-says-counterfeit-ps3-controllers-could-explode/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/23/psa-sony-says-counterfeit-ps3-controllers-could-explode/#comments We're not sure why anyone would buy a knock-off DualShock 3 or SIXAXIS gamepad, considering the trouble Sony's taken to make sure they don't work, but the PlayStation 3 manufacturer has another reason you might want to steer clear of counterfeit pads -- they could be tiny Li-ion bombs poised to explode. Talk about force feedback! Yes, the company that brought us exploding laptop batteries says that third-party products "which are practically identical in appearance to genuine PlayStation(R)3 wireless controllers" may burst into flame, and as you might expect, Sony suggests that you run out to your nearest retailer and purchase the real deal instead.

PSA: Sony says counterfeit PS3 controllers could explode originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Sep 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>controllerDualShock 3Dualshock3explodeexplodingexploding batteriesexploding batteryexploding controllerExplodingBatteriesExplodingBatteryExplodingControllergame controllerGameControllerknock-offknock-offsperipheralsPlayStationPlayStation 3Playstation3PSPS3PSAscarescare tacticsScareTacticssixaxisSonythird-partyThu, 23 Sep 2010 18:01:00 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[Exploding iPod blows up in Apple's face]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/03/exploding-ipod-blows-up-in-apples-face/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/03/exploding-ipod-blows-up-in-apples-face/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/03/exploding-ipod-blows-up-in-apples-face/#comments
Apple's got a lot of problems when it comes to overheating iPod batteries -- not only is the situation potentially dangerous, every move Cupertino makes is subject to sensational misinterpretation. Take today's Times UK story this morning about 11-year-old Ellie Stanborough, whose iPod touch blew itself up last month: when her father Ken contacted Apple for a refund, it seems he got a little bit of a runaround, but was eventually sent a settlement agreement offering a full refund if the family agreed to keep the deal confidential. That's actually totally standard practice when companies settle out-of-warranty claims, but since the agreement was written by lawyers, it contained a bunch of vaguely threatening language about how breaking confidentiality might result in Apple relentlessly suing everyone until Liverpool itself goes bankrupt and the populace is forced to resort to cannibalism and network television. Cue hysterical media coverage.

Now, it's no secret that lithium-ion batteries like those used in the iPod have a long history of overheating and exploding, and Apple's certainly had large-scale problems with defective cells -- the first-gen iPod nano has been recalled in Korea and Japan, for example. It's also obvious that the sheer number of iPods sold means there are more exploding iPods than anything else -- and while we're sure some accountant at Apple has a spreadsheet showing the exact failure rate is acceptable, all we've got right now is story after story of these things blowing up with zero context. So here's our suggestion to Apple: maybe instead of having lawyers draft individual settlement agreements full of impenetrable and scary legalese for each and every jilted iPod owner out there, why not simply fess up to the problem, let people know exactly how common it is and how to avoid it, and provide a dead-simple replacement option for people who've had their iPods go up in smoke? That would put everyone at ease, and make these types of stories much less likely to blow up in a media feeding frenzy. Or, you know, do nothing because overwhelming market share inevitably leads to arrogant laziness -- your call.

[Via TUAW]

Exploding iPod blows up in Apple's face originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleexplodingexploding batteryexploding ipodExplodingBatteryipodipod touchIpodTouchlithium ionlithium ion batterieslithium-ionLithiumIonLithiumIonBatteriesMon, 03 Aug 2009 14:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple recalls faulty first generation iPod nano players in Korea]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/09/apple-recalls-faulty-first-generation-ipod-nano-players-in-korea/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/09/apple-recalls-faulty-first-generation-ipod-nano-players-in-korea/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/09/apple-recalls-faulty-first-generation-ipod-nano-players-in-korea/#comments
While Apple may have moved on to selling the 4th generation iPod nano, consumer protection agencies are still focused on gen-1. For good reason too, apparently, as there's mounting evidence that those early white and black plastic players have a tendency to overheat, swell, and possibly burst into a nasty chemical fire. Responding to four formal consumer complaints made between December and June, the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards sent a request to Apple on June 25th recommending that Apple "aggressively" collects first generation iPod nano with Lithium Ion batteries made by the Chinese company ATL. Initially, Apple agreed to replace faulty units as they did in Japan upon request by the consumer. However, KATS is now reporting that Apple will recall the players under its own initiative making this the first formal iPod nano recall we can, uh, recall.

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Apple recalls faulty first generation iPod nano players in Korea originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 02:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atlbatteryexplodeexplodingfireipodipod nanoIpodNanokatskorealithium ionLithiumIonnanoportable audioportableaudiorecallsouth koreaSouthKoreaswellingThu, 09 Jul 2009 02:05:00 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.

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While some of the details still seem to be up in the air at the moment, it looks like that exploding cellphone battery that killed a man shopping at a Lenovo store in mainland China a couple of weeks back was actually not a cellphone battery at all, but rather an actual firearm of some sort. According to some roughly translated reports from Sohu.com, the "imitation firearm with bullets" suddenly fell to the ground at one point, which caused the bullets to fire up into the man's chest and neck arteries, leading to massive blood loss. The Telegraph newspaper further adds that the gun, which they describe as a home-made pistol, also damaged the man's cellphone when it went off, leading to the initial suspicion that the battery may be to blame. So there you have it, folks, while cellphones may or may not kill people, guns (makeshift or otherwise) certainly do.

Read - Sohu.com
Read - Telegraph.co.uk

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Exploding cellphone battery that killed Chinese man was actually a gun originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While some of the details still seem to be up in the air at the moment, it looks like that exploding cellphone battery that killed a man shopping at a Lenovo store in mainland China a couple of weeks back was actually not a cellphone battery at all, but rather an actual firearm of some sort. According to some roughly translated reports from Sohu.com, the "imitation firearm with bullets" suddenly fell to the ground at one point, which caused the bullets to fire up into the man's chest and neck arteries, leading to massive blood loss. The Telegraph newspaper further adds that the gun, which they describe as a home-made pistol, also damaged the man's cellphone when it went off, leading to the initial suspicion that the battery may be to blame. So there you have it, folks, while cellphones may or may not kill people, guns (makeshift or otherwise) certainly do.

Read - Sohu.com
Read - Telegraph.co.uk

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Exploding cellphone battery that killed Chinese man was actually a gun originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Look, it's pretty clear that the lithium-ion battery in the first generation iPod nano has the potential to burst into flames. Seriously, how many more cases do we have to see? Even after giving Apple a stern talking-to and ferocious wag of the finger back in March, Japan's government is once again investigating possible battery defects that caused a pair of Tokyo nanos to burn: nano model MA099 recently singed a piece of nearby paper while a model MA005 nano burned a traditional tatami mat in January (no injuries were reported).

Presumably Apple is calculating the cost-of-recall at this very moment. In other words, take the number of 1st gen nanos in the field, A, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, they don't do one.

Update: Japan has issued a warning to iPod nano users saying, "Users need to be careful about overheating of the machines," particularly when charging the players. Japan's government has reported a total of 14 similar incidents to Apple related to models MA004J/A, MA005J/A, MA099J/A and MA107J/A all sold between September '05 and September '06 -- two of which resulted in minor burns. NHK claims that Apple does not plan a recall but is ready to exchange defective parts.

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Japan investigates exploding first generation iPod nanos, again (update: issues consumer warning) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Aug 2008 07:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleexplodingexploding batteryExplodingBatteryfireipod nanoIpodNanojapanlithium ionLithiumIonMA004JAma005MA005JAma099MA099JAMA107JAportable audioportableaudiorecallTue, 19 Aug 2008 07:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Ghana man killed by exploding handset?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/28/ghana-man-killed-by-exploding-handset/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/28/ghana-man-killed-by-exploding-handset/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/28/ghana-man-killed-by-exploding-handset/#comments
Truth be told, we aren't exactly inclined to believe this here article is entirely accurate, but nevertheless, Modern Ghana is reporting that a resident was recently killed by an exploding cellphone. Notably, this unfortunate accident wasn't due to a faulty battery, or at least that hasn't been blamed just yet. Rather, the young man simply answered his ringing mobile while it was still plugged into the wall, and seconds later, electricity flowed into the cellphone unrestricted and threw the man back. Reportedly, he was pronounced dead on arrival at a local hospital, and we're sincerely hoping that investigators get to the root cause of all this if indeed the tale is true.

[Via textually]

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Ghana man killed by exploding handset? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Jan 2008 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>deathelectricityenergyexplodeexplodingexplosionghanakillmobileMon, 28 Jan 2008 18:02:00 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.

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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]]>accidentbatteriesbatteryexplodeexplodedexplodingexplosionfirehazardMatsushitamishapmobilenokiaperipheralsMon, 03 Sep 2007 18:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Japanese government orders Nokia to report on overheating batteries]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/17/japanese-government-orders-nokia-to-report-on-overheating-batter/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/17/japanese-government-orders-nokia-to-report-on-overheating-batter/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/17/japanese-government-orders-nokia-to-report-on-overheating-batter/#commentsThe Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has ordered Nokia's Japan unit to "report by next Friday on details of a series of accidents" involving Matsushita's li-ion batteries that were recently found to have, shall we say, toasty tendencies. Reportedly, the ministry had phoned up Nokia Japan President Tyler McGee to hear his explanation, but apparently, it has deemed that more details are necessary. It seems the purpose here is to examine whether there were "any problems with Nokia Japan's handling of the overheating accidents," and considering that it purportedly took 16 days (6 more than the limit) for that unit to report initially on the problem, it may already be in a bit of hot water.

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Japanese government orders Nokia to report on overheating batteries originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Aug 2007 20:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteriesbatteryexplisionexplodingfinlandgovernmentjapanli-ionMatsushita'reportmobilenokiaoverheatingperipheralssoftbank mobilesoftbankmobileFri, 17 Aug 2007 20:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia-branded batteries at risk of overheating -- 46 million devices affected]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/14/nokia-branded-batteries-at-risk-of-exploding-46-million-devic/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/14/nokia-branded-batteries-at-risk-of-exploding-46-million-devic/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/14/nokia-branded-batteries-at-risk-of-exploding-46-million-devic/#comments Here we go again kids. After all those notorious fires related to the batteries used by the world's largest handset manufacturer, Nokia has issued a product advisory for the BL-5C, Nokia-branded battery. That's right, Nokia branded, not just those third-party knockoffs everyone had been pointing the finger at previously. A staggering 46 million batteries in fact, all manufactured by Matsushita (aka, Panasonic) between December 2005 and November 2006, are said to be at risk of "dislodge." According to the release, "in very rare cases" the Nokia-branded BL-5C batteries could short circuit leading to an explosive burn. Nokia goes on to say that the danger only exists while charging the battery and of the 100 or so reported incidents, "no serious injuries or property damage have been reported." Oh really? So the loss of a leg no longer constitutes serious injury? The BL-5C is one of just 14 different batteries used in Nokia products so be sure to check the list below to see if your phone is one of the 52 Nokia handsets affected. If you're unlucky (or lucky, depending upon your viewpoint) enough to be affected, then Nokia will provide a replacement battery free of charge.

Update: We just received word from Nokia that the "overheating" referred to in their advisory will not result in an explosion or even a fire. At worst, batteries will "overheat, expand, and pop out of the phone (due to the expansion of the battery)." Of course, it states right on the battery that it "may explode if damaged" and "do not short circuit" so this little clarification likely won't make you feel any better now will it?

Read -- Product advisory for BL-5C battery
Read -- List of affected Nokia phones and Battery IDs

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Nokia-branded batteries at risk of overheating -- 46 million devices affected originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Aug 2007 04:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advisorybatterybl-5cbreaking newsBreakingNewsexplodingexploding batteryExplodingBatteryMatsushitanokiaTue, 14 Aug 2007 04:37:00 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.

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Toto's Z-series toilets recalled due to fire hazard originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Apr 2007 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No doubt there's a few outfits at CeBIT doing little aside from blowing hot air, but a number of firms are seeking to extract all the warm oxygen it can from critical data centers. Oxygen-deprivation systems have seen a lot of interest in Germany, as both Wagner Alarm and Security Systems GmbH's OxyReduct and N2telligence GmbH's not-yet-named system remove a vast majority of the surrounding oxygen from rooms full of servers in an effort to greatly reduce the risk of overheating and fire. Although each company's approach had its own special twist, reducing the oxygen level within notoriously toasty data centers is certainly something enterprises and even medium-sized businesses will take note of, as just about everyone and their great-grandparents are now terrified of components spontaneously combusting. Unfortunately, neither outfit was willing to disclose general pricing information, as they seem to work on a per-job basis based on the area that needs do-oxygenated, but if you're studio apartment looks anything like this, you should definitely look into a consumer edition if it ends up on the market.

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Oxygen-deprivation systems showcased at CeBIT originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Mar 2007 19:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Just when you thought we were done with those sensational photos of burned out laptop husks and smoking keyboards, along comes an Australian MacBook to resuscitate this dying meme. Normally we wouldn't even bother posting yet another set of these pics -- after all, recalls have been issued, apologies have been offered, and we've all moved on to complaining about other stuff, right? -- but the fact that this particular Mac's battery was reportedly not on any recall list is just a little bit worrisome. According to MacTalk forum member mattyb, he and his girlfriend were awakened around 3:00 A.M. Sunday night by the smell of smoke, which they quickly traced to a smoldering MacBook and the magazines it had set ablaze. It's clear from the images who the culprit is here, and sure enough, Matty claims that his battery had been acting flaky and draining more quickly than usual for the past few weeks. As much as we hope that this is some isolated incident which won't force the lucky ones from Recall Round One to lose precious computing time, we'd rather transition to our desktop for a few weeks instead of waking up to an apartment full of flames and a crispy hard drive. Keep reading for a close up of the disconcerting damage from Down Under...

[Via digg]

Continue reading MacBook catches fire Down Under

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MacBook catches fire Down Under originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Mar 2007 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleaustraliabatteryexplodingfiremacbookMon, 12 Mar 2007 10:35:00 EST<![CDATA[When good toys go bad IV: explicit CD player triggered during mass]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/23/when-good-toys-go-bad-iv-explicit-cd-player-triggered-during-ma/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/23/when-good-toys-go-bad-iv-explicit-cd-player-triggered-during-ma/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/23/when-good-toys-go-bad-iv-explicit-cd-player-triggered-during-ma/#commentsWhile we've seen quite a few toys pulling stunts that they should definitely be ashamed of, the latest edition ups the ante by doing its dirty deed in a Roman Catholic cathedral. Following the "if it blinks, obliterate it" mentality so well exemplified at various Boston transit arteries, a team of Santa Fe bomb squad experts were called onto the scene after three CD players were triggered to start blasting "sexually explicit language in the middle of an Ash Wednesday Mass" at the Roman Catholic Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. Reportedly, the players were "duct-taped to the bottoms of the pews," apparently causing the innocent church dwellers to assume the worse -- you know, like C4 explosives camouflaged as a mid-range driver. Nevertheless, the bomb squad removed the devices, took them outside, and probably had a thrilling experience whilst detonating two of the players as a safety measure. Once the crew realized the only explosive tendencies were captured in the inappropriate lyrics, they salvaged the third unit to comb for fingerprints and hopefully arrest the perpetrator(s). Now, which cop is going to cave in and post the fireworks on YouTube?

[Via BoingBoing]

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When good toys go bad IV: explicit CD player triggered during mass originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Feb 2007 10:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bombbomb squadBombSquadcatholiccdcd playerCdPlayerchurchCOPSeasterexplodingexplosiongood toysgood toys go badGoodToysGoodToysGoBadlentmassPOLICEportable audioportableaudioreligionFri, 23 Feb 2007 10:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Intel seeks light sensors to halt laptop scalding]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/19/intel-seeks-light-sensors-to-halt-laptop-scalding/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/19/intel-seeks-light-sensors-to-halt-laptop-scalding/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/19/intel-seeks-light-sensors-to-halt-laptop-scalding/#commentsHaving an overheating laptop nestled on your legs isn't exactly the most comfortable way to work, but even if your Li-ion doesn't erupt on your mid-section, other forms of damage can still ruin your day life. In an effort to quell the scalding that so often occurs on today's lap-burners, Intel has issued a patent application "which uses light to sense when a computer casing is getting too hot, and automatically throttles back the power" to cool things off. Considering that hot spots emerge in various locales on the casing, a light sensor would be used to detect changes on an internal thermochromic coating, which would then relay a signal to the processor to clock down a bit in order to keep the temperatures within reason. Of course, we fully expect a taskbar icon to disable this CPU-limiting procedure for those rocking flame retardant pants, but this should work just fine for those who prefer not to dress accordingly while computing on the go.

[Via NewScientistTech]

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Intel seeks light sensors to halt laptop scalding originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Feb 2007 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[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.

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Explosive data mining robots could be sent to hazardous asteroids originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Jan 2007 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asteroidsdangerousearthexplodinggalaxyharmfulhazardousnasaorbitplanetsciencesolar systemSolarSystemspaceMon, 22 Jan 2007 14:20:00 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.

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[Via Hello Kitty Hell]

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An alternate solution to the Hello Kitty toy recall originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Oct 2006 19:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>explodingexplosionfirefire extinguisherFireExtinguisherhello kittyhello kitty fire extinguisherHelloKittyHelloKittyFireExtinguisherrecallWed, 04 Oct 2006 19:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Exploding Hello Kitty toys recalled]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/03/exploding-hello-kitty-toys-recalled/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/03/exploding-hello-kitty-toys-recalled/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/03/exploding-hello-kitty-toys-recalled/#comments Although a Hello Kitty toy might not seem quite as dangerous (read: life threatening) as the notebooks and cellphones we're toting these days, the explosive tendencies have somehow veered from batteries to stuffed animals. In the latest episode of spontaneous combustion, Takara is being forced to recall specific Hello Kitty dolls which featured a heatable disc that could be warmed and stuffed within the lining to keep kids toasty while resting. Apparently the microwavable pad housed a chemical substance (manufactured by ADEKA) not quite stable enough to handle the heat, sparking a lengthy list of of cases where the liquid erupted from its container and provided an uncomfortable surprise to the poor soul embracing the creature's volcanic warmth. It was noted that this has "nothing to do" with the scapegoat-of-the-year (Li-ion cells), but if you (or your offspring) just loves to cuddle with this volatile critter, you should probably ice the situation before it unleashes something a bit more serious than a cat's meow.

[Via Engadget Japanese]

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Exploding Hello Kitty toys recalled originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Oct 2006 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wouldn't you know it? Right after we got done throwing away recycling all of our laptop PCs in favor of an explosion-free, desktop computing environment, Consumer Reports comes along with the disturbing news that some of our other favorite gadgets may have been tainted by Sony's huge batch of crappy batteries as well. In its On Safety blog, CR quotes Consumer Product Safefy Commission spokesperson Julie Vallese as saying that "the upcoming Sony recall [in October] could very well expand beyond notebook computers and could include DVD players and portable gaming devices." That's right folks, not only is it unsafe to use a laptop anymore, there's also a slight chance that all your battery-powered devices are ticking timebombs that could totally ruin a quiet night of Grand Theft Auto or Kill Bill. We'll keep you posted on the latest developments here, but if you just can't get enough of this inflammatory (ahem) fear-mongering, head on over to our new spin-off -- Engadget Recalls -- for round the clock coverage of what has now become the defining issue of our time.

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Upcoming Sony recall could expand to non-laptop gadgets originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Oct 2006 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteriesbatterycpscexplodingportable dvdportable gamingportable videoPortableDvdPortableGamingportablevideorecallssonyMon, 02 Oct 2006 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Alan Cox's ThinkPad battery explodes]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/22/another-thinkpad-battery-explodes/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/22/another-thinkpad-battery-explodes/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/22/another-thinkpad-battery-explodes/#comments It appears that the exploding IBM ThinkPad that we spotted last week at LAX may not have been a fluke after all. Telsa Gwynne, wife of famed Linux kernel programmer Alan Cox, describes on her website how her husband's ThinkPad battery suddenly exploded last night (see the photo on the next page), after which "a couple of fires started where the (presumably) boiling battery landed," with one of the fragments taking out a nearby LCD monitor. Alan sustained a few minor burns, but other than the laptop itself there were no serious injuries, thankfully. Telsa does note, however, that the battery was third-party and was bought on eBay, so it may not be an authentic IBM pack at all. Still, somebody needs to get to the bottom of this, like, now -- after the Apple, Dell, Panasonic, and Toshiba recalls, the public demands and deserves complete and rapid disclosure.

Update: We traded emails with Alan Cox and have posted some of our questions and answers with him on the next page.

Continue reading Alan Cox's ThinkPad battery explodes

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Alan Cox's ThinkPad battery explodes originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Sep 2006 15:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[Thanks, Jason Taylor]

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Sony gets theirs: flaming Vaio brings the firefighters originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Aug 2006 21:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There were some rumblings a couple of months ago that Dell had known about its laptop battery issues for a while, but now InfoWorld reports that a Dell spokesperson has confirmed that they had been discussing the issue with Sony (the maker of the batteries) since October of last year and had decided to hold off on issuing a recall "until those flaws were clearly linked to catastrophic failures causing those batteries to catch fire." Sony did make some design changes to help alleviate the problem (like strengthening the lining of battery cells), but that doesn't do much for batteries that are already in the market. We can understand not wanting to issue a recall until it's clear that there truly is a problem (rather than just a potential problem), but let's just say that Dell and Sony are lucky that no one's been killed or seriously injured by an exploding battery.

[Thanks, Emanuel]

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Dell and Sony knew about laptop battery defects back in October 2005 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Aug 2006 09:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell knew about "dozens" of burned laptops two years before recall? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Jul 2006 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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