According to a lengthy investigation by Amy Clancy of KIRO 7 Eyewitness News in Seattle, users of both first- and second-generation iPod shuffles have reported having the devices overheat. The reports, from 2006 and November 2008, respectively, come from information obtained by Clancy using the Freedom of Information Act. After seven months of delays due to blocks by Apple’s lawyers, who allegedly filed “exemption after exemption,” she eventually received access to more than 800 pages of Consumer Product Safety Commission documentation relating to iPod overheating incidents—which in turn offered information about 15 burn- or fire-related incidents, a number described by the CPSC as relatively small given the number of devices that have been sold. The report goes on to document several previously publicized fire and overheating reports of first- and second-generation iPod nano units; Apple has offered to replace units with faulty batteries in both Japan and Taiwan.
Charles Starrett
Charles Starrett was a senior editor at iLounge. He's been covering the iPod, iPhone, and iPad since their inception. He has written numerous articles and reviews, and his work has been featured in multiple publications.