Posted: May 20, 2009 at 1617 hrs IST
New York Technology
giant Apple has warned of possible small and quick electrical
shocks from the headphones while using iPods and iPhones. According
to the company, people could experience the electrical shock when
they are using headphones to listen to these devices in areas where
the air is very dry.
"It's possible to receive a small and quick electrical (static)
shock from your ear buds while listening to iPod or iPhone," Apple
said in a statement posted on its website.
The possible static shock could be experienced in iPod, iPhone
and their accessories. "When using headphones in areas where the
air is very dry, it is easy to build up static electricity and
possible for your ear to receive a small electrostatic discharge
from the headphones.
"Receiving a static shock from a pair of ear buds does not
necessarily indicate an issue with the iPod, iPhone, or ear buds,"
the statement noted. iPod is a high-end music player while iPhone
is a touch screen phone with advanced features.
Apple pointed out that this condition is not limited to Apple
hardware and static can potentially build up on almost any hardware
and could be discharged using any brand of ear buds.
Apple said that the condition is similar to dragging one's feet
across a carpet and receiving a static shock by touching a door
knob. Instead of the static charge building up on one's body, the
charge accumulates on the devices that the ear buds are connected
to.
Likewise, the firm pointed out that instead of the static
build up discharging through your finger when you touch a door
knob, it discharges through the ear buds. The technology major has
also suggested ways to minimize the risks of static discharge such
as avoiding the use of headphones in "extremely dry environments or
touch a grounded unpainted metal objects before inserting the
headphones".