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AirTag Removable Battery Sparks Child Safety Concerns
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Well, it would be nice if they offered a choice - non-replaceable and replaceable. There'd certainly be a market for non-replaceable. And it'd be better than having a more complex locking mechanism for the battery or a screw.
But reading through some of the ideas in the thread it sounds feasible there'd be a lockable/secure tag to put the airbag inside to attach to a keyring or bag. This would prevent access to the battery.
I've got AirTags and a Tile Mate.
The Tile has a battery compartment in the upper right corner, so they're both accessible - although, being fair to Tile, theirs would require more force and when you do open it, the battery stays put. With AirTag, a simple rotation between two small hands and the battery falls out…
The Tile has a battery compartment in the upper right corner, so they're both accessible - although, being fair to Tile, theirs would require more force and when you do open it, the battery stays put. With AirTag, a simple rotation between two small hands and the battery falls out…
“Batteries should be user interchangeable. Stop creating waste apple”
“These replaceable batteries are dangerous”
what is seriously wrong with consumers and press these days?
“These replaceable batteries are dangerous”
what is seriously wrong with consumers and press these days?
Have removable battery: child safety concerns!
Have non-removable battery: environmental concern! Planned obsolescence! Landfill!
Have no battery: how would this thing power up with no battery?
People just find reason to whine and complain. Typical for 2021.
Can media tell what’s the best way to design these products? Can they?
Have non-removable battery: environmental concern! Planned obsolescence! Landfill!
Have no battery: how would this thing power up with no battery?
People just find reason to whine and complain. Typical for 2021.
Can media tell what’s the best way to design these products? Can they?
There seems to be quite a few people on here that put their Apple fanboy status above child safety concerns
For context, here is simulated example of what a coin battery could do.
Typical US media. Next, they'll be saying the US government has banned chocolate eggs because they have small toys inside that kids could eat. Oh wait....
Then again, Australia is King of the Nanny State so no surprise there.
Then again, Australia is King of the Nanny State so no surprise there.
Lithium button batteries have been fatal for many kids. The size is perfect to be swallowed then get stuck in the oesophagus (food pipe) which unfortunately sits millimetres away from the largest artery in the body.
The button design means the anode and cathode are separated also by only a few mm rather than at either end of a AA battery.
the voltage is higher (approx 3V) than AAs etc.
The battery sets up a local circuit with the tissue acting as conductor. This rapidly (within hours) erodes through the oesophagus into the aorta causing massive haemorrhage. Because of the kids age, they can’t tell you what’s wrong and it’s only when the damage is done and they’re very unwell that the battery is discovered on X-ray.
Keys and bags are dropped, things break, kids are persistent and violent destroyers and apple tags pop open and batteries are swallowed.
If apple sells 100m of these things, there is every chance that at some point in the next year or two a child will die from swallowing one of these batteries.
Would I buy this if I had an under 3yo? Probably not.
The button design means the anode and cathode are separated also by only a few mm rather than at either end of a AA battery.
the voltage is higher (approx 3V) than AAs etc.
The battery sets up a local circuit with the tissue acting as conductor. This rapidly (within hours) erodes through the oesophagus into the aorta causing massive haemorrhage. Because of the kids age, they can’t tell you what’s wrong and it’s only when the damage is done and they’re very unwell that the battery is discovered on X-ray.
Keys and bags are dropped, things break, kids are persistent and violent destroyers and apple tags pop open and batteries are swallowed.
If apple sells 100m of these things, there is every chance that at some point in the next year or two a child will die from swallowing one of these batteries.
Would I buy this if I had an under 3yo? Probably not.
Here you go. Problem solved.
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I think those of us who are worried just wish it was a little more difficult to remove the battery.
No one is complaining that the battery is replaceable. We are complaining that it’s too easy to replace.
For something that only needs a battery replacement once a year, it wouldn’t be a big deal to add a little screw or even just make the current mechanism tighter. It honestly took no effort to pop open my airtag. A child could definitely do it.
No one is complaining that the battery is replaceable. We are complaining that it’s too easy to replace.
For something that only needs a battery replacement once a year, it wouldn’t be a big deal to add a little screw or even just make the current mechanism tighter. It honestly took no effort to pop open my airtag. A child could definitely do it.
What about Airpods? What about the removable cap on the 1st gen Apple Pencil?
Insert a million more examples...
Insert a million more examples...
It's just as easy to swallow the whole thing. Nothing to see here.
Speaking of removing the cover - don't you think it's a slightly un-Apple feeling, the push and twist? There's no visual or tactile feedback, either to tell you you've pushed enough, or to tell you you've turned enough (or indeed are turning the right way), since it slipping against your skin feels quite similar to it turning). Could have done with some ridges internally to make a clicking feeling when you push/release, and another for when it locks/unlocks, I think.
Well that's because you're only talking to the survivors. Actually 60% of children in the 80s died from ingesting batteries.
I believe the problem with these cell batteries is that if they get stuck in the child's throat, they can become activated and literally burn a hole in the throat. It is something that was raised in recent years as awareness.
However many devices use these types of batteries and so a child can get access to one in various ways, the moral is don't let your child play with a device that contains these batteries unsupervised or at all. I certainly feel Apple should place a warning on the packaging but that should be as far as their responsibility goes.
However many devices use these types of batteries and so a child can get access to one in various ways, the moral is don't let your child play with a device that contains these batteries unsupervised or at all. I certainly feel Apple should place a warning on the packaging but that should be as far as their responsibility goes.
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Reminds me of this Onion article: Fun Toy Banned Because Of Three Stupid Dead Kids.
It's not an exclusive or situation, many devices containing button cells have a small PZ screw securing access to the battery.
Completely agree with the other parents voicing concerns. If it’s that easy to accidentally open one of these things then Apple have seriously dropped the ball.
Every other device I know using these types of batteries either has a little screw or is nigh on impossible to open without some other tool. With all Apple’s engineering and design prowess it should have been no challenge for them to implement something similar, especially on something that’s designed to operate continuously for a year or more on the same battery.
The childless fanboys may not like it but I can see a rapid recall and redesign coming on.
Every other device I know using these types of batteries either has a little screw or is nigh on impossible to open without some other tool. With all Apple’s engineering and design prowess it should have been no challenge for them to implement something similar, especially on something that’s designed to operate continuously for a year or more on the same battery.
The childless fanboys may not like it but I can see a rapid recall and redesign coming on.
Quote amazing that Apple put out something as stupid as this.
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Ohhh .. come on, don't give Apple ideas.. It's great to see a user-replaceable battery in an Apple product for once in a while. Don't give them reason to lock in your Airtag!
Simple solution: Hide your Airtags from your kids!!
Simple solution: Hide your Airtags from your kids!!