Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

This story is a little sketchy at best, but it seems that some of the team behind the MSI Wind may have been doing a little playing around during the process of building out the disk image. According to the details, some of the initial shipping delays that we saw with the Wind were caused by the fact that screener copies of movies along with some personal family photos found their way onto the netbooks. According to the reports the hidden files are “mostly corrupt” and need some extra effort in order to be played or viewed. Still playable or not, movies can take up a decent amount of space, anyone with an MSI Wind may want to do some digging around and check for some large files. You may be able to free up some precious hard drive space.

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When I was at CES last January, I had a very friendly salesperson introduce me to the Neonode N2.  I was amazed at this tiny device that was about the size of a flip-top cigarette lighter, and yet it was a phone. 

It wasn’t just any phone, but the kind with a full touchscreen interface.  All interaction with the screen is done with the user’s thumb, and in addition to the phone, there is email, camera, and calculator options.  So I guess the best description of the product would be a one-handed iPhone. 

Unfortunately, it may be quite a while before you can get a hold of one, because the company is recalling them.  Not just the ones that have problems, but all of them.  Apparently, the N2 is having reception problems of some kind. 

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Read [Game Biz] Via [BBC News] Read [Nintendo]

I mean seriously guys, we’re all really pleased that you’re admitting to your mistakes, but can’t you get the batteries right the first time?  After Dell, Apple, and Panasonic’s leads, Lenovo and IBM have announced plans to recall approximately 526,000 ThinkPad batteries - Sony ones of course.  Why are they doing this all of a sudden?  Well, that’s because 1 computer caught fire at Los Angeles International Airport yesterday.  I have to say Lenovo, I respect you.  I mean, it took Dell what - 6 exploding batteries to do a recall?  All I have left to say is Sony, are you just messin’ with us?

Photo courtesy Reuters.

Read [Reuters] Via [Gizmodo]

Last week, Virgin Atlantic issued a complete ban of any Dell and Apple laptop batteries on-board their flights.  Virgin has just announced that their ban no longer includes all laptops from those manufacturers, but instead just the affected models.  The company’s statement included the following:

“If the battery is identified as being from the affected batch as identified by Apple and Dell, the battery must be removed. In cabins where the seats are fitted with In Seat Power Supplies, leads/adapters will be offered. Where no ISPS is provided or no laptop leads/adapters are available, the use of these affected laptops is prohibited.”

Virgin’s laptop ban was covered here on Gadgetell back on September 18th, and is a result of explosive laptop batteries made by Sony.

Read [RegHardware]

Now I have to say, I’m getting a little annoyed with all of these companies recalling their defective products.  Ever heard of quality control? Canon has just announced that they’re recalling 800,000 desktop copiers for repair in the U.S.  The recall is due to an improperly fitted electrical connection inside the copiers that could cause them to overheat, emit smoke or even catch fire. 

According to CrissCross News, Cano’s recall includes 11 models of their copiers including the NP1020.

See Canon’s offical recall page.

Via [CrissCross]

If you weren’t worried about your laptop battery before, now you should be.  Florida man David Costello and his daughter were driving along in their truck - probably on a road-trip - and were watching a movie on their laptop.  All of a sudden, the laptop started smoking and went up in flames.  The Costellos luckily got out, but the truck wasn’t as fortunate.  Ready for the twist?  The Dell laptop was not listed in their recent recall of 4.1 million batteries.  Now that’s scary.

Read - Chinese [Creaders.net]

Since the laptop battery fiasco media attention has died down, we just wanted to be sure you didn’t miss the news.  If you have a Dell or Apple laptop computer with a Sony battery, make sure your battery wasn’t recalled.  After talking to several friends that have iBooks and such, I’ve realized that they all forgot, now there’s no media attention to remind them.  So if you want to be a true geeky friend, make sure your friends and family don’t have explosive laptops.  The battery program websites are listed below.

Apple: Battery Exchange Program iBook G4 and PowerBook G4
Apple: 15-inch MacBook Pro Battery Exchange Program
Dell: Battery Return Program

Apple has just sent out a notice to their customers concerning the battery recall issued last week.  If you didn’t receive the email and have one of the affected models (12-inch iBook G4, 12-inch PowerBook G4, 15-inch PowerBook G4), read on to find out what you should do.

> From: Apple
> Date: September 1, 2006 2:59:12 AM EST
> To: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx
> Subject: Important Safety Recall
>

> Dear Apple Customer:
>
> Apple has determined that certain lithium-ion rechargeable batteries
> containing cells manufactured by Sony Corporation of Japan pose a
> safety risk that may result in overheating. The affected batteries
> were sold worldwide, in systems and separately, from October 2003
> through August 2006 for use with the following computers: 12-inch
> iBook G4, 12-inch PowerBook G4, 15-inch PowerBook G4.
>
> Apple is voluntarily recalling the affected batteries and has
> initiated a worldwide exchange program to provide you with a new
> replacement battery, free of charge. This program is being conducted
> in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
> and other international safety authorities.

> Issue: The affected batteries could overheat, posing a fire hazard.
> Apple received nine confirmed reports in the United States of these
> batteries overheating. Apple urges you to stop using your battery and
> to order a replacement battery immediately. After removing the
> recalled battery from the iBook or PowerBook, you should plug in the
> AC adapter to power the computer until a replacement battery arrives.
>
> Product: Please use the chart below to identify the battery model and
> serial numbers that apply to your iBook or PowerBook. If the first 5
> digits of your battery’s 12-digit serial number fall within the noted
> ranges, please order a replacement battery immediately. To view the
> model and serial numbers labeled on the bottom of the battery, you
> must remove the battery from the computer. The battery serial number
> is printed in black or dark gray lettering beneath a barcode.
> No other Apple notebook computers are affected by this recall.
>
> Computer model
>
> Battery model number
>
> Battery serial number range
>
> 12-inch iBook G4
>
> A1061
>
> ZZ338 - ZZ427
> 3K429 - 3K611
> 6C519 - 6C552 ending with S9WA, S9WC, or S9WD
>
> 12-inch PowerBook G4
>
> A1079
>
> ZZ411 - ZZ427
> 3K428 - 3K611
>
> 15-inch PowerBook G4
>
> A1078 and A1148
>
> 3K425 - 3K601
> 6N530 - 6N551 ending with THTA, THTB, or THTC
> 6N601 ending with THTC
> Note: If your battery’s serial number does not match any of the ranges
> listed above, you do not have to exchange your battery.
>
> What to do: To begin the battery exchange process, go to the Apple
> website at http://support.apple.com/batteryprogram. You will be asked
> for the serial number of your computer, the serial number of your
> battery, and a ship-to address. After serial number verification, a
> new battery will be shipped to you free of charge. You may exchange up
> to three batteries through the website. When you receive the
> replacement battery, please use the same shipping packaging and the
> included prepaid shipping label to return the recalled battery to
> Apple for proper disposal. If you do not have access to the website
> listed above, you can call Apple at 800-275-2273 between 8:00 a.m. and
> 8:00 p.m., central standard time, seven days a week, for further
> assistance.
>
> Thank you for your cooperation with this exchange program.
> Apple
>
> Copyright © 2006 Apple Computer, Inc. 1 Infinite Loop, MS 303-3DM,
> Cupertino, CA 95014.
> All Rights Reserved / Keep Informed / Privacy Policy / My Info

[Thanks Monster]

It seems like the battery problem has finally gone beyond Dell’s walls.  Today, Apple confirmed that they are issuing a worldwide battery recall (a phrase we’ve come to be familiar with) for none other than “certain previous iBook G4 and PowerBook G4 notebook computers only"..."with [battery] cells manufactured by Sony.” Check out the details of the recall below...and more after the break.

Name of Product: Rechargeable, lithium-ion batteries with cells manufactured by Sony for certain previous iBook G4 and PowerBook G4 notebook computers only.

Units: About 1.1 million battery packs (an additional 700,000 battery packs were sold outside the U.S.)

Battery Cell Manufacturer: Sony Energy Devices Corp., of Japan

Computer Manufacturer: Apple Computer Inc., of Cupertino, Calif.

Hazard: These lithium-ion batteries can overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Apple has received nine reports of batteries overheating, including two reports of minor burns from handling overheated computers and other reports of minor property damage. No serious injuries were reported.

Description: The recalled lithium-ion batteries were used with the following computers: 12-inch iBook G4, 12-inch PowerBook G4 and 15-inch PowerBook G4. Consumers should remove the battery from the computer to view the model and serial numbers labeled on the bottom of the unit.

Computer model name Battery model number Battery serial numbers 12-inch iBook G4 A1061 ZZ338 through ZZ427 3K429 through 3K611 6C510 through 6C626 12-inch PowerBook G4 A1079 ZZ411 through ZZ427 3K428 through 3K611 15-inch PowerBook G4 A1078 and A1148 3K425 through 3K601 6N530 through 6N551 6N601 No other Apple notebook computers are involved in this recall.

Sold Through: Apple’s online store, Apple retail stores nationwide, and Apple Authorized Resellers from October 2003 through August 2006 for between $900 and $2300. The batteries also were sold separately for about $130.

Assembled in: Japan, Taiwan and China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled batteries immediately and contact Apple to arrange for a replacement battery, free of charge. After removing the recalled battery from their iBook or PowerBook, consumers should plug in the AC adapter to power the computer until a replacement battery arrives.

Consumer Contact: : Contact Apple at (800) 275-2273 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. CT Monday through Sunday or log on to Apple’s Web site at http://support.apple.com/batteryprogram to check the battery’s serial number and request a replacement battery.

Read
Via [CrunchGear]