Apple Faces Lawsuit Over iPad Overheating

[NoSmokingBandit]

Lol at the fanboys in this thread. The law suit isnt about using the iPad in an over/micromave/surface of the sun. Its about using the iPad outside on a warmer than average day. What about those in Texas where its 90ºF+ every single day of the year? Are they just supposed to never take their ipad outside?

If apple shows people using their ipads outside, and even promotes it as a portable device you can use anyway, it should be able to handle a warm day. Make jokes about using it in the Sahara all you want, it doesnt change the fact that the ipad cant even handle a warm summer day.

My friend was over a few days ago when it was 90º out (the northeast is getting hammer with heat. it sucks). He pulled his iphone out of his pocket to txt his girlfriend and it had the whole "too hot to do anything" screen on it. Simply from keeping it in his pocket on a warm day. Good thing it wasnt an emergency.

 

[wescravn]

The nerve! I heard it can also break if dropped.

LIES! I dropped mine, and it works perfectly.No screen break or anything.

 

[gumbyx84]

I find it funny how everyone here who hasn't had the issue is calling everyone who has stupid. If enough people are having a problem and Apple won't respond, then a class-action lawsuit makes sense. Based on how you guys are acting, I assume you don't think Toyota is at fault for all those break petal issues because you never had a problem with them.

If this isn't a problem, then Apple should win without issue. Its not like its going to affect your lives any. Stop being such **cks and leave people be.

... Just like my dad's black charcoal grill. I just wouldn't use it in direct sunlight then.

.... So I'm supposed to use my charcoal grill indoors? I thought they were made to be used outside.......

No computer is designed to work in extreme heat.

Obvious nonsense case.

Didn't think 70-90 degrees Fahrenheit was considered extreme heat. Is it always below 50 where you live?

 

[iphaedrus]

There was a thread about this happening Here to a user in the UK. It wasn't as hot over here as it gets in the US so maybe its just a few units which are acting up.

Nah ... It's an L10n software problem! This line of code has a bug in it:

if ([self convertToCelsius:currentTemp] > 100) {[self powerdown];}

 

[wescravn]

Lol at the fanboys in this thread. The law suit isnt about using the iPad in an over/micromave/surface of the sun. Its about using the iPad outside on a warmer than average day. What about those in Texas where its 90ºF+ every single day of the year? Are they just supposed to never take their ipad outside?

If apple shows people using their ipads outside, and even promotes it as a portable device you can use anyway, it should be able to handle a warm day. Make jokes about using it in the Sahara all you want, it doesnt change the fact that the ipad cant even handle a warm summer day.

HMMM....does using mines on the beach in Curcao count too? It didn't get hot, but I certainly was hot!

 

[shartypants]

Its a feature

Its a feature, just crack an egg on it and you have breakfast! Maybe Apple should add a see-thru Teflon coating

 

[muchadoaboutnot]

I'll agree that it was real disappointing that first time I took my ipad outside to show my friends and within a couple minutes the temp warning screen popped up for the first time. Definitely wasn't expecting that especially since the commercial shows it being used outdoors and my iphone and all of my ipods over the years have never had that issue.

This is the key point. Even if Apple commercials don't have the narrator going "What is iPad? iPad is usable in direct sunlight for hours on end without issue" there is a reasonable expectation that the device will perform in the sunlight both relative to competing devices, other Apple devices, and electronics in general.

There is a reasonable expectation that the iPad will work in the sun. Not all of us are nerds who comb through the support databases and tech specs of everything we buy. (Although, for most people here, myself included, that's a much safer bet )

 

[GQB]

I'm sure Amazon could take advantage of this issue in their Kindle commercials. They're already using one of their commercials to show off the readability of the screen in broad daylight. Now they could just add, "And it won't shut off, either!"

Exactly HOW do you know that Kindle's don't shut down in high heat in direct sunlight? They are, after all, just dumb computers, with the same parts... microprocessor, memory, etc.

 

[TMay]

Ok my question should have been formed like this:

"the only thing that might change over 10,000 feet is pressure. But, I don't think that pressure affect electronics, does it? If it's not pressure, then what is the other factor, since it happens every time we flight".

The only other thing I could think of is cosmic radiation.

The reduction in air density (density is about 2/3 at 10000 feet as at sea level) would mean less mass for cooling and reduced fan efficiency. Both factors would together impair active cooling. Passive cooling would be affected (different coefficient of heat transfer), but at the top of my head, I couldn't give you an amount.

 

[old-school]

Not only that, I've heard it can break if you hit it with a hammer. Quality control my arse!

 

[repeters]

Too many stupid lawsuits

It looks like EVERYBODY wants to sue the new Big Dog!

 

[GQB]

I find it funny how everyone here who hasn't had the issue is calling everyone who has stupid.

Oh god... here come the trolls again, just when we thought they'd gotten their rocks off with the BS 'antennagate' garbage.

 

[legacyb4]

And in other news, toaster oven makers are being sued because temperatures reached high enough to burn taco shells and car makers are being sued because temperatures inside the car reach levels high enough to kill pets...

 

[Spanky Deluxe]

This doesn't come as much of a surprise to me. My better half has been complaining about exactly this issue with her iPhone 4.

 

[muchadoaboutnot]

False advertising?! It's supposed to be "ice" cream at all times.

The fact that ice cream melts is common sense and well known by the average person. It is not a reasonable expectation that ice cream will not melt.

The fact that the iPad doesn't work in direct sunlight when many other electronics do and Apple depicts it being used outdoors in advertising, and other electronics work fine makes it a reasonable expectation that, like other electronics with touchscreens, such as the iPod, iPhone, etc., it will work fine in the sun too.

 

[nagromme]

I like this one

Darn the color black and that pesky physics thing!

My laptop and phone screens seem to take on heat from the sun, too... and my black jeans... it’s weird

 

[gumbyx84]

Oh god... here come the trolls again, just when we thought they'd gotten their rocks off with the BS 'antennagate' garbage.

Funny. Said the same thing to myself when I read your posts. I'm not trying to start a flame war, just hoping to bring some common sense and understanding to the thread as it seems to be lacking.

 

[Vulpinemac]

Frivolous lawsuit

Nearly every electronic device made for the last 30 years has come with a warning: Do not leave object in direct sunlight or closed vehicles.

All Apple has to do is present paperwork to prove they have a similar warning to completely invalidate this lawsuit. It's common knowledge that any object left out (or used) in direct sunlight is going to get hot.

 

[muchadoaboutnot]

Exactly HOW do you know that Kindle's don't shut down in high heat in direct sunlight? They are, after all, just dumb computers, with the same parts... microprocessor, memory, etc.

I've used the Kindle in direct sunlight before without issue, and I used my nook for 3 hours on the Jersey shore this past weekend in 96F weather and scorching sunlight beating down upon me.

I have the sunburn to prove it too!

 

[dave1812dave]

Hard drives require a cushion of air to keep the head floating above the surface of the platter as it spins. Above a certain altitude, the atmospheric pressure is too low to facilitate this cushion. Obviously, this is only an issue for spinning hard drives. Wouldn't make a difference when it comes to flash memory.

Congrats! Nice to see someone here actually KNOW what they are talking about instead of talking out of their posteriors like so many. Kudos!

 

[kernkraft]

I suppose, Apple can always release a bumper with a fridge built in it...

 

[Porco]

At Apple we want to make all our customers happy. So the new iPad 2 won't get hot in direct sunlight, because it's made from a single piece of expertly super-finely shaved ICE.

Completely coincidentally we're also launching our new super-refrigerated cases! made from a fast spinning fan and recycled bubble gum, the iFridgeBumperCases are just $949.99 each, and come in a range of colors!

I suppose, Apple can always release a bumper with a fridge built in it...

lol, funny coincidence/timing.

 

[dave1812dave]

LIES! I dropped mine, and it works perfectly.No screen break or anything.

Drop it six more times on pavement, and get back to us.

 

[renewed]

This doesn't come as much of a surprise to me. My better half has been complaining about exactly this issue with her iPhone 4.

Bless her soul then. An electronic device shouldn't come in direct contact with the sun for more than a few minutes tops.

I'm assuming these people are out tanning in the sun and then wondering why their device overheats. I don't understand what these parents taught these people.

 

[gumbyx84]

Nearly every electronic device made for the last 30 years has come with a warning: Do not leave object in direct sunlight or closed vehicles.

All Apple has to do is present paperwork to prove they have a similar warning to completely invalidate this lawsuit. It's common knowledge that any object left out (or used) in direct sunlight is going to get hot.

Where does it say in the suit that they left it out in the sun? I thought the issue was them using the device during normal weather conditions in the sun as shown in almost every commercial for the iPad and it overheating. Guess I'm not reading the same article as you guys are.......