Apple: "Exploding" iPhones succumbed to external pressure
There's been much news of "exploding" iPhones lately. If you're unfamiliar with the story, the European Commission formally asked Apple to investigate a series of reports that users' iPhones were abruptly cracking and/or catching fire. According to the French periodical Les Echos, an iPhone in Aix-en-Provence, France, started to "crackle and pop like a deep-frier" before breaking violently apart.This past Friday, Apple said that, in all cases, the iPhones in question were damaged by an "external force," not a faulty battery or glass screen:
"To date, there are no confirmed battery overheating incidents for iPhone 3GS and the number of reports we are investigating is in the single digits. The iPhones with broken glass that we have analyzed to date show that in all cases the glass cracked due to an external force that was applied to the iPhone."It does seem odd that at least four cases have been reported in France in short order. Still, it's even stranger that iPhones would suddenly turn into Molotov cocktails. We'll keep you updated on this story.
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There's been much news of "exploding" iPhones lately. If you're unfamiliar with the story, the European Commission formally asked Apple to...
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This is quite talked about news, since last week everywhere on the blogs.. I think now they must let it go..
September 01 2009 at 6:58 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyIt's amazing that you Apple stooges haven't tried to blame AT&T for this yet.
August 31 2009 at 7:13 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replydon't be blinded my the allure of Apple fandom, and please, in a search for truth, don't blame the user it so smacks of fandom interfering with information.
It is so Apple to blame the user. the back cracking issue is also not been adressed, I had one 3Gs replaced immediately and now a second one they booked me in the 'genius' and was told "it is not bad enough, the phone still works, no replacement" the back cracking was supposed to be a 3G thing. and don't try to tell me its the users fault.
How is it "Apple" to blame the user, precisely? What previous actions of theirs would qualify as 'blaming the user' when it was Apple's fault?
Don't be blinded by the allure of Apple-bashing, and please, in a search for truth, don't blame Apple it so smacks of your prejudice interfering with information.
See? It works both ways.
There is not enough info available to exonerate the users (or Apple), and there is not enough info to implicate Apple (or the users). Simple as that. You blaming Apple is no different from, and no better than, other people blaming the users.
Dave, I congratulate you for correctly using "catching fire" rather than "catching on fire" which is a glaring misuse that seems to be spreading like wildfire lately. It's just as bad as pronouncing "route" as "rout". At least nobody has yet sung "Rout 66". But just wait.
Signed, Anal Grammar Guy :-)
Lest we not forget the king of all internet grammar issues:
"I hope he didn't LOOSE his receipt so he could get a refund...."
There are bound to be defects in manufacturing when you are turning-out thousands of these each day......and it makes sense that the defects would show-up in one geographic location (a bad run that day on the assembly line in China). Hence the warranty.
August 31 2009 at 9:07 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI think the aliens did it
August 31 2009 at 8:36 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyThey're not acknowledging the "exploding" problem.
This note is simply saying that all the phones with problems that they received was those who falled and cracked the screen, not those reported as exploded.
Actually I've read that the complete report explains that having four cases isn't so odd and says they're still investigating further, tracking serial numbers, as this applied "external pressure" could be the consequence of a conditioning / transport accident.
(That would also explain why a completely new device could be able to do this overnight)
I don't know about exploding iPhones but I can get my 3GS to give me electric shocks on demand. Not that I want them, but when plugged in to charge under certain conditions it's like the whole phone becomes an electrical conduit. Feels like little needles sticking into you if you try to use it.
I'm still testing before I contact Apple.
You might want to check that the outlet you're plugging into is properly grounded. I had a problem with my Macbook Pro shocking me and it turned out to be the outlet. Google "macbook pro shock" and you'll see what I mean.
August 31 2009 at 2:30 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyThat's a fair call. I don't think that is what is causing it. It's via the USB cable, not plugged into the wall charger.
August 31 2009 at 3:30 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHot Apps on TUAW
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