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While Apple may have moved on to selling the 4th generation iPod nano, consumer protection agencies are still focused on gen-1. For good reason too, apparently, as there’s mounting evidence that those early white and black plastic players have a tendency to overheat, swell, and possibly burst into a nasty chemical fire. Responding to four formal consumer complaints made between December and June, the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards sent a request to Apple on June 25th recommending that Apple “aggressively” collects first generation iPod nano with Lithium Ion batteries made by the Chinese company ATL. Initially, Apple agreed to replace faulty units as they did in Japan upon request by the consumer. However, KATS is now reporting that Apple will recall the players under its own initiative making this the first formal iPod nano recall we can, uh, recall.

Filed under: Portable Audio

Apple recalls faulty first generation iPod nano players in Korea originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 02:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canon’s just unveiled its new augmented reality display in Chiba, Japan, and we have to say, we’re thinking about heading over there to check it out… and hopefully experience what it’s like to be eaten (virtually) by a T-Rex. Featuring 260 dinosaur specimens, the display makes us of a virtual reality viewer — one for each person roaming round the exhibit — putting the dinosaurs at a “distance” of about 5 meters. The exhibit will make use of various Canon products, including an inkjet printer, an LCD projector and several different cameras. The dinosaurs will be on display starting July 18th until August 1st, so you probably want to just go ahead and book a flight right now.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Canon unveils augmented reality dinosaur show in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While the original Sputnik burnt out after only 3 months in orbit, here’s an homage that promises to be rather more resilient. IDEA, Japan’s answer to you know who, is offering a 30cm tall (11.8-inches) self-sufficient ambient light that pretty much does its own thing. Integrated sensors detect when the light should be on, while inconveniences like power cords and on/off switches are completely done away with. The light’s batteries are recharged by the sun at a rate of 2 to 5 hours sunlight for 8 hours operation, while its waterproof design means it can be dumped outside to collect rays during the day and even provide garden lighting at night. It’s quirky, to be sure, but the obvious design cues taken from the Russian satellite should make true geeks smile with glee. You can find a gallery of the various color choices courtesy of Engadget Japanese below, and if you’re passing by the land of the rising sun later this month you can snap up your very own solar light ball for ¥1575 ($16).

[Via Engadget Japanese]

Filed under: Household

IDEA’s Solar lamp glows like a Sputnik heatshield originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s already out in Japan and a few select countries in Europe, now Toshiba’s skinny TG01 is hitting London on Thursday, July 9th. Presumably the invite will be met with an official UK launch of Tosh’s deftly skinned Snapdragon handset with a Windows Mobile 6.1 core. Then again, it could be a lot of tech reporters eating mini triangular sandwiches slathered with pickle spread discussing the HTC Hero for four hours. We’ll let you know next week.

Filed under: Cellphones

Toshiba’s TG01 stepping out in London on July 9th originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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