Apple Japan offers to replace overheating iPod nano

Apple confirmed "very rare cases of overheating" in the battery of the iPod nano sold between September 2005 and December 2006, which distorted the shape of the device or made it unusable, the company said on its Japanese website.

It offered to replace affected units, adding that concerned customers using the first-generation iPod nano can now get the battery replaced, it said.

The company noted the fault had been traced to a particular battery supplier, adding that other iPod nano models had no such recharging problems.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has said the recharging problems caused 27 overheating incidents, including six fires, which left four people with minor burns.

The ministry last week said Apple had separately notified it of 34 other "non-serious" overheating accidents related to the device. The ministry called Apple's delay in doing so "truly regrettable."

The Japanese unit had put information on its website about the problems, including recommending battery replacements. However, the lack of prominence given to the warnings provoked criticism.

The company has since promised to improve its website.

On Wednesday, the ministry said it was "aware of the amendment" on the Apple site.

"But we have yet to receive any formal report from the company about it. So we cannot make any comment at this stage," said Naotake Fujushiro, a product safety official at the ministry.

Apple has sold about 1.8 million units of the 2005 iPod nano in Japan since September 2005.

The latest setback for Apple follows the launch of its iPhone 4, which has been dogged by reception problems linked to its new design and manufacturing issues that have led to the delay of the white version.

(c) 2010 AFP