After two years of pushing and shoving by the Japanese government, Apple has finally relented, agreeing to replace those first generation iPod nano music players sold in Japan at risk of overheating. The player exchange goes beyond the battery replacement program already in effect for consumers concerned enough to complain directly to Apple. According to Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, of all the plastic black and white iPod nano players sold between September 2005 and December 2006, it confirmed 27 overheating incidents that occurred during recharging, including 6 fires that left four people with minor burns. On Sunday, Apple added 34 other “non-serious” overheating incidents to the tally — a delay in disclosure that Japanese officials called “truly regrettable.” Of course, today’s news begs the question of how Apple will handle this issue for all the affected iPod nanos sold outside of Japan.

Apple offers first generation iPod nano replacements in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 04:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We had an eerie feeling it’d come to this, and come it has. Nearly two full years to the day after the government of Japan began a thorough investigation into the spontaneous combusting of iPod nano devices, that same entity is now mandating that Apple publish an “easy to understand” statement on the web that explains how customers can “receive replacement batteries and obtain advice.” So far, these volatile Li-ion cells have been blamed for four cases of minor burns in the Land of the Rising Sun, and while Apple has been replacing first-generation iPod nano batteries since 2008 for those that complained, it seems that Japan wants the company to make the option readily apparent to consumers. Be sure to keep an eye on Apple’s Japanese site for more, but as of now, we’re not seeing any such PSA posted.

Apple ordered to make public iPod nano battery fix in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 08:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We had an eerie feeling it’d come to this, and come it has. Nearly two full years to the day after the government of Japan began a thorough investigation into the spontaneous combusting of iPod nano devices, that same entity is now mandating that Apple publish an “easy to understand” statement on the web that explains how customers can “receive replacement batteries and obtain advice.” So far, these volatile Li-ion cells have been blamed for four cases of minor burns in the Land of the Rising Sun, and while Apple has apparently traced the problem to a single battery supplier, it looks like they’ll soon be working their repair factories to the bone. Or their shipment factories, with boxes filled with newer, shinier, less fickle iPods. Be sure to keep an eye on Apple’s Japanese site for more, but as of now, we’re not seeing any such PSA posted.

Apple ordered to make public iPod nano battery fix in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 08:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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