| Toshiba Recalls More Sony Batteries
Toshiba is recalling 5,100 laptop batteries sold around the world after three instances of the batteries catching fire, two in Japan and one in Australia. Affected batteries were manufactured by Sony in December 2005 for Toshiba's Dynabook, Dynabook Satellite, Satellite and Tecra lines. The computer maker said the batteries in question were not part of last year's massive recall of Sony batteries, which affected over 10 million units shipped by Dell, Lenovo, Apple and Sony itself. The problems are caused by metal particles falling into a battery during production, causing it to short circuit. Toshiba previously recalled 340,000 batteries, and the latest recall follows one from Gateway last month. .
Hot Shots: Tech That Keeps You on the Move
Even in the dog days of summer there's always some new tech tool to help a small business run more efficiently. Here's a quick look at a few of the latest products that can help keep you rolling along. Fresh Batteries for Old Laptops
Unleash your laptop you know, the older model that hasn't been further than three feet from a wall socket since its battery went to lithium ion heaven back in 2003. Even a thorough search on eBay failed to find a replacement for it. FreshBattery.com wants to get you mobile again, and so it recently launched its Legacy Power line of batteries designed for more than 1,500 models of aging laptops including those from HP, Compaq, IBM/Lenovo, Apple, Toshiba, Sony and Dell. Most batteries start to lose their full charge capability at about two years.
Yet another Toshiba battery recall
Toshiba has been forced to issue yet another battery recall due to safety fears, its fourth in barely a year. The recall, issued through the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, recalls some of Toshiba's Satellite A100, Satellite A105 and Tecra A7 ranges that are powered by batteries manufactured by Sony. Some 1,400 laptops are thought to be affected. "Over a relatively short period, certain incidents occurred where certain battery packs installed in Toshiba portable computers caught fire," said the company in a statement. "Based on its investigation, Sony Corporation, supplier of the subject batteries, concluded that certain battery cells manufactured in a specific manufacturing lot could be affected by a certain issue that could potentially lead to a safety issue." It's been a bad year for Toshiba and other laptop manufacturers that use batteries manufactured by Sony.
Toyota puts new hybrid technology on hold
Toyota will delay by the introduction of new high-mileage hybrids with lithium-ion batteries by one or two years because it's scared they might explode. The Wall Street Journal quoted unnamed Toyota executives as saying the decision was prompted by fears that the batteries could overheat, catch fire or even explode and said such concerns were heightened by problems with similar batteries made by Sony for laptop computers that prompted a huge recall in 2006. The report said Toyota had planned to launch a dozen hybrids using the new lithium-ion battery technology in the US market between 2008 and 2010 and noted the delay would give rivals such as General Motors a chance to catch up in hybrid development .
Toshiba recalls 10,000 Sony-made batteries
Japanese electronics company Toshiba Corp. began recalling about 10,000 Sony-made batteries for laptop computers in Japan and overseas, company officials said Thursday.
Toshiba spokesman Keisuke Omori said there have been three cases in which the batteries caught fire between September and June. There were no injuries from the three fires; two in Japan and one in Australia, he said.
The battery models to be recalled are different from those involved in a massive recall of Sony Corp. lithium-ion battery packs last year. Sony announced that recall after it was found that they could overheat and catch fire.
In the latest case, company investigations found batteries manufactured on December 3, 2005, were a cause of the problems, and there were about 5,100 of them sold in Japan, the U.S., Europe, Australia, China, the spokesman said.
'Toyota to delay launch of new hybrids'
TOKYO: Japan's Toyota Motor Corp. will delay by one or two years the rollout of new high-mileage hybrids with lithium-ion batteries because of safety concerns, reported a newspaper.
Toyota's decision was prompted by worries that the batteries could overheat, catch fire or even explode, the Wall Street Journal on Thursday reported in its online edition, quoting unnamed Toyota executives.
It said such fears were heightened by problems with similar batteries made by Sony Corp. for laptop computers which prompted a massive recall last year.
The Japanese auto giant, which is enjoying brisk sales of its fuel-efficient vehicles, was planning to launch a dozen hybrids using the new lithium-ion battery technology in the US market between 2008 and 2010, the report said.
Toshiba Recalling Laptop Batteries
Laptop owners before you log on, a recent recall might have you checking your battery power. In this Nine on Your Side consumer alert, Toshiba is recalling the Sony made batteries in four of its models. There are three cases of the batteries catching fire between September of June to this year. The models are Dynabook, Dynabook Sateliite, Satellite and Tecra. .
Sony, 3M settle battery patent dispute
3M Co. said Monday it has reached agreement in patent settlement with Sony Corp. over the technology in a type of battery used in laptop computers and cell phones. St. Paul, Minn.-based 3M said in a statement that Sony's Sony Electronics unit is now a licensed source of lithium ion batteries containing 3M cathode technology. .
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