Apple today announced that under certain conditions the new ultracompact Apple USB power adapter’s metal prongs can break off and remain in a power outlet, creating the risk of electric shock.
The ultracompact USB power adapters were supplied with every iPhone 3G sold in the following countries, and may also have been purchased separately as an accessory:
• US
• Japan
• Canada
• Mexico
• Several Latin American countries (detailed list here)
Apple has received reports of detached prongs involving a very small percentage of the adapters sold, but no injuries have been reported.
Users with ultracompact power adapters should immediately stop using them until they exchange them for a new, redesigned ultracompact adapter.
In the meantime, users should charge their iPhone 3G by connecting it to their computer with the USB cable that came with their iPhone or by using a standard-sized Apple USB Power Adapter (with fold up prongs) or with a third party adapter designed to work with the iPhone, such as a car charger.
Apple, in a statement said, “Customer safety is always Apple’s top priority so it has voluntarily decided to exchange every ultracompact power adapter for a new redesigned adapter, free of charge.”
Note: Apple USB power adapters supplied with original iPhones or supplied with iPhone 3G units sold in other countries are not affected.
Replacement adapters will be available starting Friday, October 10, 2008.
There are two ways to exchange your current ultracompact Apple USB power adapter for a new, redesigned adapter:
• Order a replacement adapter via the web. These replacement adapters will ship within three weeks of your order, starting on Friday, October 10.
• Exchange your adapter at an Apple Retail Store starting on October 10.
More details on the exchange program here.
[Attribution: MacBlogz.com]
Never used mine – in fact, I forgot I had one of these power adapters. I’ve always charged the iPhone via the computer.
Peace.
aapl am i allowed to?
Mine just stays plugged on the wall. When I travel, just use my MBP to charge in the hotel. Doesn’t take long to charge up…
I’ll still fill out the form and get the replacement, but no rush for me.
Short – you are mentally challenged.
my shorts are on fire
It would be nice if the replacement ones have retractable prongs. Not too wild about the mini connector that came with it.
apple really has crappy quality control…
Stuff – Your mother has crappy quality control
Maybe some jail time for you and your soap bar pals would make you think before you type.
Apple does not make this power adapter moron.
Too bad that massacre clown thinks a power supply is for sticking his miniature salami in.
It’s not an exchange, it’s a recall.
Even a monkey could design a power adapter. Apple needs to hire more monkeys instead of whatever they have now trying to be power adapter designers.
It is NOT a recall. Where do these msft butt heads train at?
They are all idiots.
It IS a recall. When Apple advises to immediately stop using it and bring it to an Apple store to be turned in and exchanged, that is the definition of a recall. And Apple DOES make it.
It Walks like Recall and Quacks Like a Recall, but it’s probably an Exchange Program.
Do you know any other vendor who offers you a great benefit like the ability to exchange the power adapter for your phone after only months of use? Another great move by Apple! Steve is a Genius! I’m sure this was planned from the start!
And if you keep it, you yet other great undocumented iPhone feature, fatal electric shocks. The iPhone hardware team never cease to amaze me by the number of features they’ve packed into this device. No other phone vendor produces power adapters that kill you! Thanks Apple for thinking different and including this feature!
MOST of the adapters are fine – a very FEW of them MIGHT break, so Apple is taking precautions.
WTF is wrong with that?
As for the cost, these things cost about 0.20c each, so maybe $1 mil to sort this out.
This is no big deal, and is common with all companies.
Normal consumers will just heed the recall and get it replaced.
One hidden benefit about fanboys in denial is that they won’t get their “perfect” generation 1 adapters replaced and evolutionary pressure will kill off a few.
So this “faulty” adapter is probably a master plan by Steve to change the composition of the Apple user base from rabid fanboys to normal people.
Thanks Steve for trying to clean up that particularly grimy end of the gene pool.
“Maybe some jail time for you and your soap bar pals would make you think before you type.”
Getting screwed over by these endless product recalls is the only reason I buy from Apple. So there’s a place where I can get f**ed up the A*s without having to buy Apple products?
Where do I sign up.
These anti apple butt buddies should be sticking theirs into a light bulb socket instead of each other.
Apple does make it (or at least contract to have it made) , it is a recall, and they are doing the right thing, even if maybe for the wrong reason. (I dunno, maybe its easier to recall than get bad press for a teenager geting shocked, and yet another lawsuit)
And whats with the great MS butt monkey apologist massacre screaming for jail time and complaining about the silence for? No product is perfect, recalls happen all the time, and just like rebates, a very small percentage of people actually do it.
Nothing to see here, move along.
nice Star Wars reference..
To GAFM and all the other MS Trolls here:
OMG, only Apple has hardware issues. MS never made the X-BOX fire trap, or VISTA or…… hey, my point is made.
And notice how Apple is quickly starting a program to fix the issue, hmmm, all Microsoft does is spend $300 million to convince you that its not really their problem. Its yours. you bought their crap.
Nuff said.
Just a thought.
en
I’ve been trying to get my electrical prong out of the socket but my fork and pliers are still stuck in the toaster from this morning’s breakfast. (I’d rather no go into why I needed a pliers.)
“To GAFM and all the other MS Trolls here:”
What does Apple being unable to design a simple power adapter possibly have to do with Microsoft?
Why do fanboys have to try to frame every Apple screwup with comments like “Well Apple may have screwed up royally, but Microsoft would have done worse”.
Who cares how Microsoft might have designed a USB power adapter for an iPhone? All that matters to iPhone customers is how badly Apple screwed up designing a power adapter for the iPhone.
Why is it the BBC decide to give prominence to this issue on their website ?
Especially as it doesn’t affect the UK iPhone adapters !!