Apple isn't recalling the batteries out of safety concerns, but because of "performance" problems. One could assume that means they don't last as long, or have the milliamp-hour rating, as specified. But because of the statement, "The affected batteries do not pose a safety risk," it's obviously wrong to word this as a safety recall.

Macobserver do not sink to the level were you create false headlines just to get hits. This headline is shabby. In fact, Apple insisted it was not a safety recall. It went further and said it was OK to continue using the batteries until the replacements arrived. There is no way Apple would state this if there was any safety concerns.

Go check out MacCentral, they did the story correctly.

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Terrin wrote:
Macobserver do not sink to the level were you create false headlines just to get hits.

Now you go back and read the whole article, and the reference under "Reports". Also read Jeff's sentence and understand its content: "Although Apple's Web site says that the batteries are still safe to use, defective batteries can pose a potential fire hazard." He acknowledged, as you pointed out, that Apple said they were safe; the key word is "although". Whether they are safe or not is not necessarily true. If the swollen batteries have been making cases split, I would suggest that they are not safe.

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LaurieF wrote:
Now you go back and read the whole article, and the reference under "Reports". Also read Jeff's sentence and understand its content: "Although Apple's Web site says that the batteries are still safe to use, defective batteries can pose a potential fire hazard." He acknowledged, as you pointed out, that Apple said they were safe; the key word is "although". Whether they are safe or not is not necessarily true. If the swollen batteries have been making cases split, I would suggest that they are not safe.

Then Jeff is inferring things that may or may not be true. That's not reporting.

Inferring? I completely disagree. You're begging the question that what Apple says is always gospel and that it can't be wrong. What Jeff was doing (and I hope I'm not putting words in his mouth) was going beyond that and disagreeing with Apple: that the bulging batteries are not safe.

Apple said it was recalling them because of performance problems. Jeff countered that by saying that they were unsafe. If my battery started swelling, I would stop using it, not because it wasn't performing well, but because I'd be seriously concerned that I'd do me (or my coffee table) some damage. That equates to being unsafe, to me.

I say that it is reporting; that it is journalism. Good on him.

If Jeff independently verified that the batteries were swelling, that they posed a fire risk, and that Apple was, in fact, recalling the batteries because of this risk, then I'd echo your "good on him" sentiment. Exposing a "cover up" would, indeed, be good journalism.

But instead, he links to a previous article he wrote, which itself links to individual reports on an Apple message board. That's not journalism. That's linking. There may be a genuine problem with Apple's batteries. They may indeed be a safety hazard that warrants investigation. But these two articles (this one and the one it links to) don't indicate to me that Mr. Gamet has done this investigation. Instead, he points to an Apple recall notice that clearly states that this is not a safety recall, and then choses the headline "Apple Issues...Safety Recall." Bad on him.

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LaurieF wrote:
What Jeff was doing (and I hope I'm not putting words in his mouth) was going beyond that and disagreeing with Apple: that the bulging batteries are not safe.

I have to disagree with you here. The problem with your argument is that you seem to be assuming that all of the recalled batteries are bulging and are therefore unsafe. But that is not the case. My battery is part of the recall. This makes sense since the performance of the battery is quickly starting to go downhill. But my battery is not showing any signs of bulging and is therefore still safe to use. The performance issue and the bulging issue do not seem to be connected.

I have yet to hear any facts that support a claim that all of the batteries are being recalled because of safety issues. So the headline that Mr. Gamet chose to use is inaccurate and misleading.

...but not the headline.

"TMO spoke with representatives from Apple that confirmed the batteries in this recall do not pose any fire hazard or a safety risk."

But STILL, the headline reads "safety recall." I hate to harp on this, but thats really an irresponsible headline. How much clearer does Apple have to make it that this is not a safety recall?

Thanks for the discussion, folks.

Firstly, the title should have been changed when we updated the story Tuesday afternoon.

Secondly, the lack of a change was an unfortunate oversight, not an attempt to increase traffic. In addition, the information we included in the story about swelling is relevant to the story, whether or not the official reason for recall is performance. It's information that you, the reader, should have, and was presented in an appropriate light.

Thirdly, the title has now been changed to reflect the nature of the story.

Fourthly, thanks again for the notes and the discussion.

Bryan
Editor
TMO

Thanks!

So, in light of recent developments, is it a safety recall or not? or are there two separate problems?