Ultracompact USB Power Adapters Recalled

by Eric March on September 20, 2008 at 3:46 pm

Whoops! Seems like Apple’s tiny new USB power adapters (y’know, the ones that shipped with the iPhone 3G) as shown to the left have a bit of a character flaw. Evidently, its metal prongs have the potential to break off, thus, per Apple, creating a “risk of electrical shock.” (To say nothing of the risk of the power adapter ceasing to be of any use.)

To rectify this problem, Apple has issued a recall to all and sundry who have these adapters, whether received with the iPhone 3G or purchased separately. All adapters for devices released in the United States, Canada, Japan, Mexico, and several Latin American countries that have no markings on the prong end of the adapters are subject to the recall. If yours has a green dot in one corner then you’re safe. If you’re saddled with a gimpy one however, Apple is making it easy to get a free exchange for a newer, stronger, less trigger happy one.

Starting October 10th, you can take yours into any Apple store and make the swap with no hassle. If you don’t have an Apple Store in your area however, or don’t want to bother fighting the crowds that invariably congregate there, you can fill out an exchange form on the web and they’ll ship your new adapter to you along with prepaid return packaging for your old one. New adapters will be shipped around the same time they become available at brick and mortar stores.

For either exchange method, Apple will require your device’s serial number to make sure it was released in a qualifying country. You can find your serial number in your iTunes device info panel or on your device in Settings->General->About.

You’ll also need to create an iTunes account if you haven’t already — and I’m sure most of you have. The process is pretty painless; I went through the web exchange method for both of my iPhone 3Gs (one being my wife’s) and was done in just a couple of minutes.

The new adapters, when they arrive, will sport the aforementioned green dot on the corner of the prong end to indicate that it is a new model.

(via Engadget)

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