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Sony offers repair on 416,000 Cyber-shot cameras
Sony announced plans today to offer repairs on the casings of 416,000 Cyber-shot DSC-T5 digital cameras the company has sold, as the bottom plating can warp and create a sharp edge which can cut or scratch user's hands. The repairs will affect 66,000 of the cameras sold in Japan, and another 350,000 which have been sold in the US, Europe, and China. A Sony spokesperson says about 30 customers in Japan and several others overseas reported "finding" the defect, which probably means a trip to the ER after trying to take a family photo. The company suggests checking model and serial numbers to see if your camera is affected -- we suggest leather gloves.
Sauder Woodworking recalls over 400k TV stands
The Consumer Product and Safety Commission has just issued a voluntary recall on two models of Sauder Woodworking television stands that have caused 43 reports of injury. Some 414,000 of the stands, sold at Wal-marts nationwide from January 2005 until May of this year, can collapse if the legs on the lower shelf aren't assembled properly. Consumers should stop using the stand if it begins to move "side-to-side," although we'd probably recommend grabbing a pair of pliers and throwing a little elbow grease into those bolts, just to make sure.
Toshiba waves the recall flag again on Sony laptop batteries
Groundhog's Day ain't got nothing on this. Yet again, we're faced with another recall on potentially defective laptop batteries, and yet again, these cells in question could catch fire when you least expect it. The latest round of recalls by Toshiba allows for some 10,000 Sony-made batteries to be replaced after a trio of fire incidents over the past ten months got its attention. Of course, Sony noted that the financial impact of this wave should be minor, particularly compared to the recall-related costs it's already trying to swallow.
Counterfeit flashlight batteries recalled due to fire hazard
Unfortunately 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.
UK Mario Party crashed for 'spastic' reasons
We can't help but wonder if people aren't getting a little too sensitive. First Ubisoft's Mind Quiz for the DS and PSP was yanked, and now Mario Party 8 suffered the same fate right after its UK release. So what was the offense? An infamous four-letter word? Dirty insults that would make nuns and sailors alike blush down to their toes? Hot coffee level mistakes?No, in both cases, it was the word "spastic."Now, there's more at work here below the surface than is obvious at first glance. First, in Mind Quiz, the spastic label was applied to those who couldn't manage much in the game, and so yes, it was a little insulting. Second, while "spastic" is pretty tame as far as slang goes on this side of the proverbial pond, in the UK, it's apparently a little more insulting. It's the equivalent of calling someone a drooling retard, if you will (we use this phrase for the purposes of example here, so please, don't issue a Wii Fanboy recall). So we can understand that it maybe shouldn't have been used to identify lower-caliber players.But in Mario Party 8, the word seemed rather more innocent. Here's the direct quote, including the offensive word, from Kamek: "Magikoopa magic! Turn the train spastic! Make this ticket tragic!" So, apparently, we're to make the train shake. It's not necessarily insulting, though we suppose if someone were in the mood to take offense, they could. Admittedly, we're not British, so maybe we're missing the level of insult inherent in the word "spastic" here, but it seems that there are a number of words in every video game ever that could be interpreted as possibly, potentially offensive to someone, somewhere. Should we start recalling those as well? We'd love to hear from some of our UK readers on the matter.
Mario Party 8 recalled in Europe
The Nintendo releaseth, the Nintendo taketh away. Mario Party 8, which finally was supposed to release in Europe today, has been recalled. According to Ninendo, "Unfortunately we have discovered that a small number of games contain the wrong version of the disk due to an assembly error." We can't help but wonder what's on the disk ... perhaps something naughty? That would just be too much fun. Nintendo says they'll re-launch Mario Party 8 as soon as they can. Guess Europe is going to have to wait even longer now, but, you know, aren't they kinda used to it by now? [Thanks JaSoN]
Law & Order game pulled from shelves, image of murdered child to blame
The PC game Law & Order II: Double or Nothing has been withdrawn from retail shelves, due to the inclusion of a CCTV image of James Bulger, a two-year-old who was abducted and brutally murdered in England in 1993.Sky News reports that the image appears on a bulletin board in the game's police station, as seen above, and the murder case is directly referred to by one of the detective characters during gameplay. The victim's mother, Denise Fergus, recently became aware of the inclusion of the image, and complained to Legacy Interactive, the California-based developer responsible for the Law & Order games.According to GamesIndustry, Legacy has since issued a formal apology to the Bulger family, and has release a patch to remove the image from the game. They also promise to remove the photo from future printings of the title. Law & Order II: Double or Nothing was originally released in the UK and US in 2003.[Via Evil Avatar]
Dell fesses to more vertical line issues -- offers free replacements
Get 'em while they're hot, Dell's offering up free (labor and parts) replacements for laptop LCD screens with vertical line issues. Owners of Inspiron 6000 and 8600, Latitude D800 and D810, and Precision M60 and M70 machines exhibiting one-pixel wide vertical line(s) are now eligible for a free LCD replacement or cash money refund if Dell already repaired your box sometime in the past. According to Dell, all the affected machines shipped between December 2004 and December 2006. Apparently, this is the same issue already corrected on the 17-inch LCDs shipped with their Inspiron 9200, 9300 and Dell XPS Gen 2 laptops back in April. Your slab not exhibiting the problem? No worries, if it gets ugly in the future, you're still eligible for a replacement within three years of purchase. The issue has been tracked back to one specific component used on a small number of LCDs across Dell's Lineup. Hey Dell, care to share that information with Apple to see if it's the cause of their 17-inch LCD woes? Wouldn't be the first time you two sourced the same OEM panels. Dell users, click the read link below to get yours.
Gateway issues recall for 400VTX and 450ROG Li-ion batteries
Just 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.
Microsoft and Wal-Mart sued over Xbox-related fire
An Illinois family blames a faulty Xbox system for the death of their child in December 2004. The console overheated and caused the wall outlet to spark a fire, likely due to one of the recalled power cords. The family is suing Microsoft, retail giant Wal-Mart, and an unnamed power supply manufacturer for damages in excess of $50,000. Pocket change to these companies, but the press is sure to incite cries from myopic pundits in the industry. It's interesting to note that the suit names an Xbox 360 as the culprit, though according to our records the 360 wasn't available in 2004. [Via Engadget]
Microsoft, Wal-Mart sued over baby's death
While the figurative jury is still out as to whether video games harm our youth by inciting them to commit violence, loiter unnecessarily, and utter profanities, a real flesh-and-blood jury may soon be deciding if one faulty Xbox was to blame for the December 2004 death of an Illinois baby. The family of young Wade Kline is suing Microsoft, retail giant Wal-Mart, and an unnamed power supply manufacturer in state court for damages "in excess of $50,000," claiming that their console -- the suit cites a 360, though it's more likely that the it was a first-gen unit sporting one of those recalled power cord -- overheated and caused the attached wall outlet to spark what turned out to be a fatal fire. This isn't the first time we've seen Xboxes and fire go to bed together, but it may be the first attempt to hold someone accountable for the damage done, so it'll be interesting to see how the culpability gets doled out here.
Acer finally gets sucked into Sony battery recall
You've got to hand it to Acer for holding strong while lesser manufacturers folded in the face of cries over "consumer safety," but the Taiwanese giant has finally caved and issued a voluntary recall of about 27,000 Sony-made laptop batteries over eight months after Dell pulled back the first four million,and half a year following its initial consultations with Sony. Affected models include a slew of TravelMate and Aspire notebooks sold between May 2004 and November 2006, so Acer owners should hit the Read link to match up serial numbers -- and then shutdown immediately in favor of AC power if they do happen to sport one of the explosion-prone packs. As usual, the company will replace your battery for free as long as you visit the proper site or dial the toll-free blah blah blah...can we finally put this meme to bed already?
Coby recalls boomboxes due to potential fire hazard, crappiness
Coby's quest to become more than the de facto house brand of street vendors and pharmacies worldwide by shipping semi-respectable PMPs and DAPs has always been held back by the company's insistence on making chinzty little boomboxes and CD players, and now it looks like it's paying the price: Coby is being forced to recall nearly 15,000 MP-CD475 boomboxes because they sound like tin cans pose a fire hazard. You may remember the MP-CD475 as the legendary unit that redefined the dual-voltage AM/FM/CD/MP3/USB boombox market with its iconic design featuring the word DIGITAL on the top in huge letters. If you were desperate in a Walgreen's, um, we mean lucky enough to buy one of these between August and December of 2006, Coby says you should unplug it immediately and call them to arrange a refund. Hit up the read link for contact info and a list of affected serial numbers.
Toto's Z-series toilets recalled due to fire hazard
Sure, spontaneous combustion has occurred in a bevy of consumer electronics over the past year or so, but if there was one place even we thought you could count yourself safe, it'd be on the john. Apparently, this assumption is no longer valid for Toto toilet owners, as 180,000 of the company's Z-series units are now being recalled "after wiring problems caused three to catch fire over the past year." The electric bidet accessory is being shown the blame, as the faulty wiring not only torched a trio of units, but also caused smoke to come flowing out of 26 others. As expected, the firm will "repair the potentially fiery units manufactured between May 1996 and December 2001 for free," but we've no idea if Toto will be reimbursing the outhouse rentals for those sans a backup commode.
Red Octane responds to Xbox Guitar Hero II guitar issues
Red Octane has responded to reported issues with the guitar for the Xbox 360 version of Guitar Hero II. Speaking to Joystiq, Red Octane states, "In regards to the controller, we're currently in the process of having our internal QA and production teams look into this possible issue, and are working to quickly isolate this if there is one. In the meantime, we suggest our fans try to replug in their guitars without holding down any buttons or the whammy bar, and that may help immediately resolve the issue."In regards to the Target "recall," Red Octane confirms our information that there was and is no recall. The Target street date lock out caused the system to ring up as "Recall for Sale." As things stand currently, there is no recall and Red Octane is looking into the issue of a faulty Xbox 360 guitar controller.
Rumor: Guitar issues with Xbox 360 Guitar Hero II
Today we received two separate tips from readers telling us that Target stores wouldn't sell them Guitar Hero II on the Xbox 360 because there was a "recall." We couldn't get in touch with Target corporate, but numerous local Target stores we contacted said they hadn't received anything from corporate about a recall. However, they did say that it may take a day and to check back tomorrow. Best Buy and Gamestop also have nothing in their system about a recall. Red Octane wouldn't return our phone call and an Xbox spokesperson at Edelman says they don't "directly handle third-party relationships" for Microsoft.Based on a Gamespot message board GameStooge is reporting that the guitar is having issues with an unresponsive whammy bar. Apparently there were two different guitars manufactured (pictured above) for the game and the problems allegedly exist in the guitar with the pedal jack next to the power cord. We're awaiting word from Red Octane on whether or not there is an issue with their Xbox 360 guitar controller and we'll follow up with Target tomorrow to see if the "recall" is official.
Maytag repairman panics as company recalls 250,000 washers
It looks like the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has plenty of hazardous products to keep itself busy with these days, today announcing recalls of a pair of washing machines just a day after they sent out word of some flammable keyboards. The washers in question are Samsung and Maytag front-loading models sold between April 2005 and August 2006, totaling some 270,000 units in all (almost all Maytags -- click on through for the specific model numbers affected). Apparently, they have the nasty habit of leaking water onto the electrical connections inside, potentially causing a short and a fire as a result. While there's been reports of five such incidents so far, none have resulted in injuries or damages beyond the washing machine itself. Those stuck with one of the washers are advised to contact Maytag or Samsung for information on getting a free repair.Read - Maytag recall informationRead - Samsung recall informationRead - CPSC announcement
Swollen batteries affecting 17-inch MacBook Pros too?
The engorged battery photos you see above and in the gallery below were sent to us by a reader named Brian. He claims that he was watching a movie on his 17-inch MacBook Pro (core duo) when it suddenly shut off. This happened twice before, only this time with a notable difference: his battery was fit to burst. As we have all learned, swelling is typically the final stage before explosion. We've held off on publishing these bloated 17-inch MBP battery stories for a few months now due to sketchy claims, but this is about the fourth seemingly valid case we've come across which could be a sign of a worrisome trend. It certainly wouldn't be the first time that Apple had to recall batteries. So what's up, anyone else out there experiencing battery bloat on their 17-inch MBP?%Gallery-2216%[Thanks, Brian M.]
Watch yer fingers: Casio recalls CTK-710 keyboards
Five reports of too-hot-to-handle CTK-710 keyboards have spurred Casio's recall of 12,000 units that pose a potential fire hazard. The reported overheating cases have caused property and keyboard damage, but lucky for Casio and its customers, nobody's gotten hurt (yet). If you just so happen to be tickling these ivories, Casio urges you to quit jammin', unplug it, remove the batteries and ship it off for a free repair -- but if you're rocking so hard that you miss this message, we wish you and your digits the best of luck.
Lenovo recalling 200,000 Sanyo Thinkpad batteries
Somewhere at Sony headquarters, someone is breathing a big sigh of relief right now; because when there's a big battery recall going on, and the packs weren't made by Sony, it's a red-letter day indeed. This time around the culprit happens to be Sanyo, and the batteries in question are extended life cells sold with certain R, Z, and T Series Lenovo / IBM Thinkpads between November of 2005 and February of this year. Unlike the 500,000+ Sony batteries affected by the last recall, however, these 200,000-odd packs (100,000 in the US, about 105,000 abroad) don't suffer from any internal problems, but instead are prone to "overheating" if "struck forcefully on the corner" (like when you slip and drop your lappy on the ice). Concerned owners should check to see if their extended battery sports part number FRU P/N 92P1131, and then head here to start the replacement process if necessary. Meanwhile, we're gonna ring up Sony and suggest that they send a nice sympathy bouquet / thank you note over to their colleagues at Sanyo. [Via ZDnet, thanks Greg]
