Apple accused of attempting to 'hush-up' exploding iPod Touch
by Stevie Smith - Aug 3 2009, 17:00
Hot, in so many ways... apparently. Image: odolphie/Flickr.
With Apple recently hit with accusations that its new iPhone 3GS smartphone is susceptible to serious overheating, the Cupertino-based gadget giant is again in the spotlight of negativity after claims it tried to ‘hush-up’ a story surrounding an exploding iPod Touch.
According to a report in The Times, 47-year-old Ken Stanborough contacted Apple with a view to securing a monetary refund after his daughter’s iPod Touch allegedly overheated and exploded.
In replying to Mr. Stanborough’s claim, Apple refused to accept liability for the exploding iPod Touch but said it would refund the full value of the device if he agreed to “keep the terms and existence of this settlement agreement completely confidential.”
The letter also threatened Mr. Stanborough, citing potential litigation “seeking injunctive relief, damages and legal costs against the defaulting persons or parties,” should he breach agreed confidentiality.
“I thought that was absolutely appalling,” said Mr. Stansborough, who refused to sign Apple’s letter. “We didn’t ask for compensation, we just asked for our money back.”
A spokesperson for Apple Inc. said the company could not comment on the matter as it had not had the opportunity to examine the Stanborough’s supposedly faulty iPod Touch.
Mr. Stanborough outlined to The Times that his daughter Ellie’s non-telephonic iPod Touch handset had begun hissing audibly after it had been accidentally dropped at home.
“I could feel it getting hotter in my hand, and I thought I could see vapour,” he said, before going on to explain that he quickly threw the smouldering device into the back garden, where it emitted a loud popping noise before spewing a puff of smoke and leaping around 10 feet into the air.
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