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Apple Confesses First-Gen iPod Nanos Smoking and Sparking, Will Replace Them
Posted by Matt Buchanan at 8:20 AM on August 20, 2008
Thanks largely to those meddling kids at Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry--who were investigating cases of people burned by too-hot-to-handle nanos--Cnet says Apple admitted today that some first-gen iPod nanos were overheating and said that it will replace any first-gen iPod nano that smokes or sparks (or blows up).
Apple says the issue has been traced back to a single battery supplier, and affects less than 0.001 percent of first-gen nanos. So if yours is bubbling or you're using it as a space heater for your pet mouse, hit up AppleCare for a replacement. There's a big question here though: If Japanese officials hadn't gotten involved, would they have made this announcement? I don't think so, even though it's not like exploding iPod nanos are an undocumented phenomenon. [Cnet]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
OGHowie
Posted 8:55 AM 20/8/08
AppleCare currently says they have no idea what people are talking about when they call in.
OGHowie
shiftyeyedgoat
Posted 9:14 AM 20/8/08
You know, the only link to "Apple's statement" on this matter is this CNET guy's blog.
Apple is still actively denying this -- I called AppleCare and they said there's no such statement and they're not doing anything about it.
Anyone else hear anything different?
shiftyeyedgoat
OGHowie
Posted 9:07 AM 20/8/08
My 4GB 1st Gen Nano does get pretty hot since I keep it in my arm rest.....
OGHowie
hired_geek
Posted 9:04 AM 20/8/08
Here's hoping for a free new iPod.... my 4GB White nano is ready to be replaced right about now
hired_geek
Con Seannery
Posted 9:00 AM 20/8/08
Isn't it great to see a dead CrApple product? Gotta love 'em...
Con Seannery
BiZarRroBALlmeR
Posted 9:00 AM 20/8/08
maybe they're just scrolling too fast and heating up the nano.
BiZarRroBALlmeR
keebie81
Posted 8:57 AM 20/8/08
so when will they post what serial numbers are affected by this?
keebie81
AltonPanoptes
Posted 8:56 AM 20/8/08
This is one of the reasons why i have started to hate Apple ipods, People who say they are the best DAP/PMP are so delusional. My first ipod nano melted after i had it for a few months and my 5th generation ipod video went dead after 8 months. Also ipods you have to use itunes which is buggy at best and on top of that there is only on video codec on the ipod video. Pretentious over priced bull shit products thats all they are.
AltonPanoptes
Nickbee
Posted 9:41 AM 20/8/08
Mine started to overheat recently and scared the hell out of me when it emitted a small amount of smoke last month. I can't find anywhere on the UK service website anything about this - so I guess i'm SOL.
Nickbee
efenili
Posted 9:39 AM 20/8/08
This is the new trend with companies.
Make a product that eventually fails but fix it right away for brownie points. Its like getting praised for making a shitty product but admitting that you did and eventually fixing it. Alla Xbox 360.
efenili
matt buchanan
Posted 9:36 AM 20/8/08
@shiftyeyedgoat: All Things D has it too.
matt buchanan
Monty
Posted 9:35 AM 20/8/08
Here I thought everyone who bought Apple products did so because they are hot.
It is understandable Apple is not going to make a blanket "we will replace your iPod Nano" statement unless there is so much bad press on the issue that they have no choice. MobileMe -- yes, they need to essentially give customers a free year of use. Nano's overheating? Until it becomes a dinner table conversation, Apple is going to minimize the damage by denying as long as they can. And, honestly - so far, they have done pretty well given the fact that this was a problem with the original Nano.
Monty
shiftyeyedgoat
Posted 9:31 AM 20/8/08
@shiftyeyedgoat: Also, they're soldered on, so... there's that to consider.
shiftyeyedgoat
shiftyeyedgoat
Posted 9:31 AM 20/8/08
@Jhwk: Open your iPod, switch the connections on your battery.
You're welcome.
shiftyeyedgoat
Jhwk
Posted 9:24 AM 20/8/08
So... now I have to figure out how to get the old nano to "short out."
Anybody have any ideas, that won't end up as a video on youtub?
Jhwk
ljj
Posted 9:55 AM 20/8/08
I think that someone misunderstood a complement --
This iPod is smokin'!
This iPod is sparkin'!
You editors at Gizmodo don't understand contemporary street lingo.
Word to your mother.
ljj
Jrsy
Posted 9:51 AM 20/8/08
@efenili: Alla Xbox 360??
Do I have to go all Jihad to get one of those?
Jrsy
twoeightnine
Posted 9:50 AM 20/8/08
Mine hasn't sparked or smoked or anything yet but the plastic warped and expanded and is pulling away from the backing.
twoeightnine
missedmyexit
Posted 9:47 AM 20/8/08
"Apple decides to seed the market with the first biofeedback iPods to test response to touch feedback with touch-screen devices. First feedback algorithm is 'heat'"
missedmyexit
Charging_Mooses
Posted 10:23 AM 20/8/08
@Monty: "Apple is not going to make a blanket"
why not? it could be called the iBlanky! then they could claim the over heating problem as being a feature!
Charging_Mooses
Charging_Mooses
Posted 10:20 AM 20/8/08
@AltonPanoptes: GASP!! HERETIC!!
seriously though... my ipod has survived a lot of shit, and its still kicking.... i know people with minis that work great. my ipod is the only apple product i own so i cannot claim fanboiysim...
Charging_Mooses
RP747
Posted 10:16 AM 20/8/08
I messed my 1st gen up so much it probably wouldn't have worked long enough to spark.
RP747
shiftyeyedgoat
Posted 11:24 AM 20/8/08
@Charging_Mooses: @citylights5: @ab3: To you clowns how often do you use your iPods? I have 3 3rd gen iPods and they all work, technically, but on the original one I have, it's gone through three batteries and now only stays on around 2 minutes on a charge.
I also have a nano 1st gen that's been through a washing machine, but still worked afterwards, that belonged to my mom.
These products were not made with the intention of "getting better as they age". They were meant to be used as gizmos for around a year and then just naturally crap out.
shiftyeyedgoat
ab3
Posted 11:10 AM 20/8/08
@AltonPanoptes: Yea I've had three iPods and now an iPhone all of which never failed on me. I'll give you the slightly overpriced but they are certainly are not shitty products, maybe your just a shitty consumer who doesn't know how to take care of electronics...
ab3
citylights5
Posted 11:01 AM 20/8/08
@AltonPanoptes: I would disagree with you. I have an iPod 5th Generation video that I bought two years ago, a few months after it came out. It still works fine (not excellent) after being repaired from dropping it in the middle of a road and multiple times elsewhere...
citylights5
The Sword Master
Posted 11:30 AM 20/8/08
I need to get mine to do that. Though I have a Zune now (and love it), a brand new iPod for free would be nice.
The Sword Master
Kev50027
Posted 12:22 PM 20/8/08
I think the iPod looks better like that, all melted and stuff. They should make a new iPod, the iPod handwarmer.
Kev50027
chrstphr
Posted 2:56 PM 20/8/08
Mine's been fine since I first got it when it came out. If it does decide to melt...I could use a new one since the battery is slowly dying.
chrstphr
Neverkilled: zombiefied, in the summertime
Posted 3:59 PM 20/8/08
i prefer listening to tapes in soundwave's chest.
Neverkilled: zombiefied, in the summertime
mikail511
Posted 5:07 PM 20/8/08
so r they going to replace them with new nanaos, or the first gen ones? becuz i dont know where there would be any
mikail511
bitgod
Posted 6:11 PM 20/8/08
I have a 3rd gen, or rather, my old 3rd gen is now with my sister, it needs it's battery replaced, but it's still working. I'm still using my 5th gen in my car, don't see ever replacing it unless it dies some day.
bitgod
markarian
Posted 10:38 PM 20/8/08
My 5.5Gen 30GB iPod Video still works like new. Interesting question, tho. If you claim your old Nano (say, a 2GB model) is sparking or smoking and ask for a replacement, wouldn't they have to give you a brand, spanking new 3Gen 4GB Nano Video?
markarian
kwicherbichin
Posted 10:45 PM 20/8/08
I've had a mini, a nano, a shuffle, and an iphone. The mini died immediately after the warranty ran out (battery...which i replaced myself). The nano died TWICE, both because of a battery.
I swore off apple products after the nano, but then I got the shuffle, which has taken a serious ass-kicking since I use it for my morning runs every single day. Still going strong. I then got an Iphone, which I haven't had any problems with (although my wife's seems to be kicking the bucket). Its a crapshoot as to whether they will last or not.
kwicherbichin
Joolz
Posted 6:10 AM 21/8/08
@The Sword Master: Zune Lovers Unite!!! Seriously, I was a bit disappointed that my music-playing brick was going to start stressing out my back with it's weight, but at least I won't have a fire start in my pants!
Joolz
stupidjerk
Posted 12:35 AM 22/8/08
what a relief! it's good to know that if my nano explodes in my pocket and blows my left nut off that apple will be so kind as to give me a brand new nano with which to potentially blow off my right nut..
...everybody wins!!!
stupidjerk