Full Text (283 words)
(Copyright Financial Times Ltd. 2008. All rights reserved.)
Kevin Allison, Jonathan Soble. Financial Times. London (UK): Aug 20, 2008. pg. 14
TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE
Japan yesterday warned consumers over Apple's iPod nano portable music player after one of its ministries received three reports of minor fires caused by overheating devices.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said it had begun an investigation into the incidents, which involved nanos sold in the first year after the player's launch in 2005. "There have been multiple cases of overheating and fire damage, in particular during recharging, so please use caution," it said on its website.
According to the ministry, Apple has recorded 14 similar problems with nanos sold in Japan, including two which caused minor burns.
Apple yesterday confirmed that "in very rare cases", batteries in first generation iPod nanos sold between September 2005 and December 2006 can overheat causing failure and deformation of the iPod nano. The company said there had been no reports of serious injuries and that it would replace the faulty iPods.
The nano - a smaller version of Apple's original iPod - uses a rechargeable lithium ion battery, a power source that has has been known to overheat on rare occasions in personal computers and mobile phones. Meti made two of the Japanese cases public for the first time yesterday, after disclosing a previous case in March. It said the machines were sold between September 2005 and September 2006.
Two years ago, Apple and several other computer makers recalled millions of lithium ion laptop batteries amid reports that they could cause computers to overheat, and in rare cases burst into flames. Apple sa ...