Like iPad, blistering in the sun: Temperature issues reported

With all deference to the Violent Femmes, there's nothing upbeat about the cases of overheating that some iPad users are facing in the early days with the device. We've heard directly from two readers about the dreaded 'iPad needs to cool down before you can use it' message; Henry in Colorado and John in Tampa Bay both reported that their units went into thermal standby after being used outside. John noted that his iPad was in the (black, heat-collecting) Apple case... perhaps there's a market for reflective or liquid-cooled models.

Both Cult of Mac and Next Web cite similar stories from users who have, in some cases, resorted to popping their iPads into the fridge to chill them out. Of course, the iPhone has sometimes suffered from similar thermal challenges, but there's a difference between roasting your phone in the glove compartment (bad idea) and reading a book on the porch or at the beach (perfectly reasonable activity). iPads that can't take the heat are likely to tick off outdoorsy users.

Apple's thermal guidelines for the iPad cite a maximum operating temperature of 35º C / 95º F, but they also note that you might see the temperature warning with "some conditions and activities" like leaving the iPad in direct sunlight for extended amounts of time, or "[u]sing certain applications in hot conditions or direct sunlight for long periods of time, such as GPS tracking in a car on a sunny day or listening to music while in direct sunlight."

A few predictions: Apple's first firmware update or hardware revision for the iPad will address overheating issues. Some clever accessory makers will make a pretty penny on sunshades and chill packs (too bad the iBrella name is already taken). And it won't be long before Amazon's ads are set in the actual Amazon rain forest. We'll see spiking thermometers and intrepid explorers frantically looking up remedies for anaconda bites on their burnt-out iPads, before turning to their cool-as-a-cucumber Kindles.

Note to Amazon's ad agency: Call me.

[Image from Amazon.com]