iPhone explodes

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SAN FRANCISCO - A French teenager's claim that an Apple iPhone shattered in his face is the first involving the device but similar incidents have occurred with the iPod according to a US television station.

Ms Marie-Dominique Kolega, whose 18-year-old son was struck in the eye by a piece of glass when the screen shattered on his girlfriend's iPhone, has threatened to file a complaint against Apple. The phone began making a hissing noise and the screen suddenly broke, sending pieces flying in the air.

"My son was frightened but he did not lose an eye," said Ms Kolega.

The report is the first such incident involving an iPhone.

But US television news station Kiro reported in July that an "alarming number" of iPods "have suddenly burst into flames and smoke". There were no serious injuries, and the cause appeared to be overheated lithium ion batteries.

The number of incidents is low considering the tens of millions of iPods sold and that such reports diminished after Apple evidently changed the battery technology.

--AFP

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Apple looking into reports of exploding iPhones

BRUSSELS - Apple is investigating media reports that one or more of the company's iPhones have exploded in Europe, a European Commission spokeswoman said Tuesday.

The spokeswoman for the EU executive, which oversees the safety of consumer products sold in the 27-country bloc, said Apple had described the reported incidents as isolated.

Apple said it was aware of the media reports, which include a case in which a teenager in France said he was slightly injured when his iPhone made a hissing noise and shattered, but did not comment on any contacts with the commission.

"Apple have come back to us ... and what they've said to us is that they consider these are isolated incidents. They don't consider that there's a general problem," commission spokeswoman Helen Kearns told a news briefing.

"They're trying to get more information on the specific details of those incidents and they will do tests as necessary to investigate the possible cause," she said.

Apple did not comment on the commission spokeswoman's remarks.

But a spokesman for Apple Europe Ltd. said: "We are aware of these reports and we are waiting to receive the iPhones from the customers. Until we have the full details, we don't have anything further to add."

--Reuters

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Frenchman hurt by 'exploding iPhone'

MARSEILLE, France (AFP) - - A French security guard said Tuesday he had received a faceful of glass when the screen of his iPhone exploded, the second such reported incident in France.

Yassine Bouhadi, a 26-year-old supermarket watchman from the southeastern town of Villevieille, said he was typing a text message on Monday afternoon when the screen exploded.

Bouhadi, who says he was hit in the eye with a glass shard, said he was "very angry" and planned to consult a doctor and file suit for damages.

"I want an explanation about this damned telephone," said Bouhadi, who bought the hugely-popular smartphone device for 600 euros (850 dollars) three months ago and now wants his money back.

France's official competition, consumer affairs and fraud watchdog, the DGCCRF, said Tuesday it had opened an investigation after a French teenager suffered an eye injury in a similar iPhone incident earlier this month.

"An investigation is under way. We have been alerted to the problem and we are looking into it closely," said a spokesman from the agency.

The US technology giant Apple, which makes the iPhone and the iPod music player, assured the European Union on August 14 that the exploding screen cases reported so far were "isolated incidents."

The French cases come a few weeks after an uproar in Britain over an exploding iPod owned by an 11-year-old girl.

And a US television station reported last month that an "alarming number" of iPods had burst into flames, though without causing serious injury, a problem apparently caused by overheated lithium ion batteries.

A spokesman for France's consumer rights group, UFC-Que Choisir, called on Apple to "communicate a bit more with its customers" about reported glitches with its iPod and iPhone devices.

"We want to know if this is an isolated incident as they claim, or a real problem involving the iPhone -- in which case, what are they planning by way of compensation and to prevent it happening again?"

--AFP

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Apple in hot water in France over 'exploding iPhones'

Half a dozen new cases of "exploding iPhones" have emerged in France.

An 80-year-old pensioner from the Paris suburbs said yesterday his iPhone screen cracked up in his hands.

His complaint came a day after a supermarket watchman claimed he was hurt in the eye when his screen suddenly shattered this week.

Ten French consumers have now come forward saying their iPhone screens exploded or cracked without explanation.

This included a first case in which a teenager suffered an eye injury.

France's official competition, consumer affairs and fraud watchdog has launched an investigation to find out whether the Apple smartphone could pose a threat to consumers.

The US technology giant is facing an official inquiry and calls to come clean over possible risks linked to its wildly popular smartphone.

Apple is accused of trying to hush up 15 cases of iPod music players heating up and bursting into flames in the US and in one similar British case.

They have been attributed due to overheated lithium ion batteries.

--938Live

ditzy SG

This will not stop my determined acquisition of one. There is a wait list if you wanna get from singtel, so if no wait, you pay more to get without contract.