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Dell battery explodes at Yahoo HQ, hundreds evacuate
We 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.
Toshiba recalls 340,000 Satellite, Dynabook batteries
Aight everybody, we've got a fresh one comin' through here. Sony's faulty cells apparently made their way into Toshiba Satellite and Dynabook machines -- apparently about 340,000 units in all -- which are being recalled. (For reference, thus far we've racked up Apple, Dell, and Panasonic.) The upshot is that according to Toshiba, no one's been hurt and no explosions have been caused by their machines (yet). Unfortunately not much other information is readily available at this time, but we'll be sure to hit you back with the exact models, dates, cell identification numbers, and the rest before somebody's Satellite falls out of orbit and we get massive guilt complexes for not doing our duty as servants to the battery-using public.[Thanks, Dave]Update: Thanks to everybody for the submitted link on Toshiba's site, but it looks like the company has still yet to get together a page outlining how the recall will work and which batteries it will affect. Stay tuned!
Segway recalls all 23,500 scooters sold due to software glitch!
It's not quite as exciting as, say, the idea of exploding Segways, but a software glitch that has those iconic Personal Transporters suddenly reversing torque and falling over ain't nothing to scoff at. Segway has today announced the recall of all 23,500 Segway units sold between March 2002 and now (as in, every single one), and involves the i167, i170, i180, p133, XT, GT and i2 models. It isn't Segway's first time around the old recall wheel, in September of 2003 they recalled all 6,000 Segways sold to date due to another falling glitch. This time apparently the Human Transporter "can unexpectedly apply reverse torque to the wheels," as in, go in reverse while the rider is leaning forward -- spelling certain doom for the nerd aboard. Segway has gotten six reports of head and wrist injuries so far, and is recalling the units to local service providers who can apply a simple software update and have you on your way in no time.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Panasonic joins the party, recalls laptop batteries (in Japan)
It's a drop in the bucket compared to Dell's and Apple's recalls, but Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. is nevertheless playing things safe and recalling some 6,000 batteries from its Panasonic Let's Note CF-W4G laptops sold in Japan. While the numbers are on the low-end, the recall is somewhat notable for the fact that the batteries being pulled back are not the same Sony-made ones that have given Dell and Apple headaches, although the company refuses to say who did make the batteries. Apparently, the problem with these batts lies in part with the cover, which can become loose causing the batteries to change shape when they heat up. Not exactly the fireworks we've come to expect, but probably still enough of a concern to get a replacement as soon as you can if you've got one of these models.
Apple sending battery recall emails to registered users
If there was ever a good reason to register a product like a notebook, being warned that it might catch fire, and getting the chance to avoid said fire, is as good as any in our book. We're receiving reports that Apple has begun sending emails to registered owners of iBooks and PowerBooks, announcing the recent recall and offering to get the party (of sorts) started. It would've been nice to hear this tactic being used when such a serious recall was first announced, but this is probably a good way to get the word out to any owners who might not keep up on Apple nerdery.
CPSC and Apple get recall battery lists synced
We've noticed around the web, and also received a number of reports from you observant readers, that the list of recalled batteries didn't quite match up between the CPSC (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) and Apple. Understandably, quite a bit of confusion was building over this, but fortunately, InsanelyMac News is reporting that the CPSC has updated their list to match Apple's, so everyone should be on the same page now.Also, we and others have been linking to various battery recall pages, missing the correct page for this most recent recall and causing even more trouble. This is the proper link for the most recently announced 1.8 million battery recall page, so we hope this helps clear things up.
Sony calls an end to battery recalls
Far be it from Sony to pre-announce future battery recalls and further dampen its Q3/4 financial woes even further, they're trying to get the word out that Sony's own laptop line won't be affected by the same battery recalls that have pulled back nearly six million Dell and Apple cells. Still, this isn't entirely good news for their business; does this mean that Sony's been keeping all the best manufactured batteries for their own machines, passing off lesser cells -- maybe even those that didn't pass muster -- to their partners? Yeah, we'd really want to get all cozy with a parts OEM that does that kind of stuff, one that might end up possibly endangering our own customers in the process. Cheers!
Sony announces price on battery recall, checks couch for loose change
Product recalls are certainly nothing new to the tech industry, but two significant PC players (Dell and Apple) having to recall a collective 5.9 million batteries has to sting just a little for Sony. Macworld is reporting that the Japanese company announced an estimate on the cost of said sting: between ¥20 billion to ¥30 billion (US$172 million to $258 million). The moral of this story? QA is a good thing.Let's hope the upcoming summit in San Francisco on li-ion battery manufacturing standards - jointly held by the likes of Apple, HP, Dell and Lenovo - helps cut down on the exploding notebooks so we can all get back to our daily routines.
NCAA being recalled
A while back, we reported that NCAA was "busted up." We thought that a patch was going to be released, but EA has decided to replace those faulty discs with new ones. This is one of the more recent recalls that can't be blamed on Sony. Ironic that it only afflicts a Sony handheld...If you have a copy of the game and would like a replacement, send your UMD (without the game box) to: EA Customer Warranty Attn: NCAA PSP 209 Redwood Shores Parkway Redwood City, CA 94065 Make sure you include your name, address, e-mail address and phone number. Your new disc should reach you within 10 days.[Via Joystiq]
Sony claims battery recalls will cost them $200m
In a brief but pointed statement by Sony, hygienically entitled "Statement Regarding Sony's Support of Apple's Recall of Lithium Ion Battery Packs Used in Apple Notebook Computers," the mass manufacturer of defective batteries announced that the recalls we've been hearing so much about in the past few days are due to "microscopic metal particles in the recalled battery cells [that] may come into contact with other parts of the battery cell, leading to a short circuit within the cell. Typically, a battery pack will simply power off when a cell short circuit occurs. However, under certain rare conditions, an internal short circuit may lead to cell overheating and potentially flames." Ok, got it, we're with 'em, especially on the bit where they announced they're taking additional measures to ensure the safety of future batteries manufactured. So, howsabout putting a pricetag on all this carnage, eh? Well, between Apple's and Dell's six or so million units that are about to be recalled, it's going to set Sony back between ¥20 and ¥30 billion, or in dollar terms, between $134.2 and $201.3 million (or in per-unit terms, that's roughly $22 and $33 per battery). Now that, dear friends, is a spicy damned meatball.P.S. -Ok, so howsabout that markup on those batteries? Even after shipping, support costs, and costs per unit, your $100-$150 battery is still only going to cost Sony as much as $33 per. As if we weren't already angry enough.[Thanks, Tim]
BREAKING NEWS: Apple recalls 1.1 million batteries
CNN is reporting Apple, who, like Dell, relies on Sony-manufactured batteries, is jumping on the recall wagon and recalling a whopping 1.1 million of the fire-prone beasties. There's no link yet on CNN's site, but here's the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's page on the matter. Just when you think Sony couldn't get any worse... And weren't we all so smug when we heard about Dell's misfortune?UPDATE: This covers G4-based iBooks and PowerBooks only at this point.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in, although I happened upon it at CNN first]
Dell recall prompts inquiry into all Sony laptop batteries
Just as we suspected, Dell may not be the only manufacturer recalling countless batteries due to fire hazards, as the Sony-made lithium-ions are also found in laptops from Apple, HP, and Lenovo, not to mention a variety of other consumer electronics products. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission acknowledged on Tuesday that the batteries "are not unique to just the Dell notebook computers," and have launched a review of all Sony laptop cells manufactured between April 2004 and June of this year. Some manufacturers, like Apple, claim to be looking into the matter on their own, while others -- namely HP -- have publicly distanced themselves from the affair by stating that "It's a Dell issue." Sony itself also believes the problem is limited to batteries in Dell PCs, while Lenovo seems to be side-stepping the recall with claims that "we have not seen any unusual pattern of problems in our notebooks." Although it's true that the recent spate of toasty lappies does indeed seem confined to machines from the Texas-based manufacturer, we have a hard time believing that Sony was only sending crappy batteries to Dell while everyone else got quality product. That being said, we're anxious to hear the results of the CPSC's inquiry, but until that time, we certainly won't be so cavalier about keeping our notebooks powered up 24/7, regardless of branding.
12-inch PowerBook batteries can catch fire, too
It looks like Dell isn't the only company who can have a little fun with laptops that get just a little too hot. Apparently, the battery of a Norwegian design firm employee's 12-inch PowerBook worked just a little too hard and caught ablaze itself, resulting in the image you see here. Let's hope this is not much more than an example of what can happen if you don't participate in those battery recalls that Apple's issued in the past.[via Engadget]
Apple initiates Macbook Pro battery recall program
Well, at least somebody's doing something about their faulty batteries. Looks like after the "silent" MacBook Pro battery recall has officially turned into a full blown 15-inch MacBook Pro Battery Exchange Program. So, got a MacBook Pro from between February through May of this year? Check your battery out, because if you've got a model A1175 cell with a 12-digit serial number that ends in U7SA, U7SB or U7SC, then sign up, get that replacement shipped out, and send your old one back. Because who knows what might happen if you don't, right? Just kidding, we wouldn't want to alarm anyone, but seriously, check it out, ok? Companies don't issue battery recalls for their damn health.
Dell knew about "dozens" of burned laptops two years before recall?
We know you've all been following closely as Dell investigates the case of their exploding laptop, so you'll probably be interested to hear about a report claiming that Dell knew dozens of their laptops had sustained extensive heat damageat least two years before initiating any kind of recall. The source, who is claimed to be someone "close to the company," has said that Dell execs were provided with documents and photographs in 2003 and 2004 showing lappies described as "burned," "melted" and even "scorched." Of course we can't vouch for the legitimacy of the source's information, but if it's true, the danger that could be involved makes "dozens" sound like a lot, even compared to the millions Dell sells every year.
Lexar recalling 66,000 defective JumpDrives
Here's a new one for you: we've all seen product recalls stemming from overheating batteries, defective CCDs, and faulty power cords, but this is the first we've heard of a USB thumb drive being called back for "posing a risk of burns to consumers and property damage." Actually, Lexar -- in conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission -- is recalling a total of five different models when all is said and done: the 256MB, 512MB, 1GB, and 2GB flavors of the JumpDrive FireFly and the 1GB version of the JumpDrive Secure II. According to the CPSC, 66,000 of the faulty units were sold between April and May of this year -- check the Read link for specific serial number ranges -- and although so far no injuries have been reported, consumers are advised to stop using affected models immediately. As usual, the company will hook you up with a new model free of charge if you ask very nicely; as for us, we're probably gonna hold onto ours and use them to brand new interns with the Lexar logo as part of our geeky hazing ritual.[Via The Inquirer]
Apple starting to swap out those dirty MacBooks?
As with many things when it comes to AppleCare support, your mileage may vary, but AppleInsider apparently started to receive word that the Macbook discoloration issue is starting to result in some few-or-no-questions-asked returns, Apple simply offering up whole laptop replacements just like that. Now, we're not guaranteeing results or anything should you march that blemished MacBook into an Apple Store and foist it upon the first Genius you see, but it's a start, right? Anyone else having good luck getting their laptop taken care of?
HP "recalls" 679,000 cams, issues firmware update
So even though Hewlett-Packard is "recalling" some 679,000 Photosmart R707 digital cameras (224,000 of which are in the US), there's no real need to panic, because instead of having to send your model back, performing a simple DIY firmware update will keep your shooter from becoming a flame thrower. Like so many other recalls of the past, this one also involves batteries that can potentially overheat and start a fire, but the problem only occurs if you feed power to the camera when it contains non-rechargeable batteries. Therefore, if you always use rechargeables in your R707, it sounds like you have nothing to worry about, but you single-use AA users shouldn't plug in your cams until you've completed the update, 'kay?
TabletKiosk recalls eo UMPCs
Ouch -- first the issues with the fans grinding against the chassis on the eo kept TabletKiosk's UMPC out of the hands of consumers until just recently, but now those early adopters who finally have their eo v7110 are being asked to part with theirs in a voluntary recall due to a "battery life that did not perform as advertised." Battery life not as long as advertised in a UMPC? Welcome to the club, TabletKiosk. (We kid, we kid!) At least peeps won't be without their machines more than 72 hours (or so TK claims), and for their trouble they're offering 25% off "any single eo accessory." Well, gee, thanks. But hey, good on TabletKiosk for nipping this in the bud early instead of pretending the problem didn't exist until consumers either shut up or stopped buying.
Self heating Wolfgang Puck lattes recalled en masse
Looks like the worlds most beloved slightly wonky Austrian chef extraordinaire is soon to have a PR fiasco on his hands. Those self-heating single serving Wolfgang Puck branded packs are being pulled from the market faster than you can say Spago. Puck's namesake company demanded brand-licensee BrandSource Inc. pull the products from stores nationwide after complaints of incidents where the cans overheated, leaked, or the calcium oxide found its way into the hot coffee beverage, resulting in some severely burned consumers. It gets sticky though, because BrandSource only licensed the name; OnTech was the company who provided the cans, and they apparently shoddily subcontracted, which has resulted in litigation between the two companies over some very shady dealings. In other words, if you see one of these cans, steer clear, people. The silver lining is, of course, that the recall couldn't have happened at a better time, what with spring officially sprung, and summer just around the corner. Perhaps Wolfgang should start looking into self-cooling Frappucino knockoffs, eh?[Via Slashdot]
