Warning: Exploding iPods and iPhones May Cause iNjury

You may want to download the Hospital Locator app for the iPhone or add "Stayin' Alive" to your iPod playlist, because there have been isolated incidents of exploding Apple products in Europe.

Yahoo! Tech reported an incident in France where an overheated iPhone exploding, sending cover glass into a teenager's eye. The Register also reports an incident in Britain involving an iPod Touch in which the iPod hissed before jettisoning itself into the air; nobody was harmed.

These are not uncommon, it seems. Amy Clancy of KIRO 7 of Seattle uncovered a little more than a dozen incidents of iPods (including Nanos and Shuffles) combusting from an 800-page report by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

This is nothing revolutionary, there have always been incidents of computer users being burned by their batteries, or their laptops bursting into flames due to poor circulation. However, Apple appears to be in steadfast denial of design mishaps that may cause user harm.

Not every automobile on the assembly line is going to have the same life span. Some crap out faster than others. However, the Apple situation appears to be a symptom of the gadget race... to cram as much application into one gadget as possible (and, at the same time, making it as sleek as possible).

Perhaps fearing a need for a recall of all of their iPod and iPhone devices (if you thought Amazon pulling Orwell off the Kindle was bad...), the Apple lawyers seem to be eager to quash the story. The Times reported have Apple offering full refunds to these customers in exchange for their silence.

This may be one of the dangers of outsourcing gadget production to China. Accountability is a factor. It's understandable for Apple to want to cut their production costs. After all, it faces competition on both fronts, with the Zune music player versus the iPod and many smartphone options versus the iPhone. Now is not the opportune time to admit failure, especially with the Christmas season fast approaching.

What's the best strategy for avoiding iPod/iPhone-related injury? Some have speculated that these explosions have occurred because the gadgets were exposed to direct sunlight. On Apple's own iPod support site, it warns "Do not leave iPod exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods of time."

Monitor your device while the battery charges. If your device feels especially warm during playback or while in charge mode, immediately turn off the device. Make sure the device is properly ventilated and you keep a safe distance from the device. If the device explodes, burns, or takes off into the atmosphere like a rocket, take some photographic evidence and contact Apple customer support.

No, there is no such thing as the Handling A Hot Potato app.

Yahoo! Tech, "French teenager hurt by shattering iPhone"
The Register, "Exploding iPhone injures French teen"
Amy Clancy, KIRO, "Apple Downplays Fiery iPod Incidents"
The Times UK, "Apple tried to silence owner of exploding iPod with gagging order"