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This is a huge problem for Samsung. Individual recalls don't usually damage companies permanently; people understand that sometimes shit happens, and they quick

This is a huge problem for Samsung. Individual recalls don't usually damage companies permanently; people understand that sometimes shit happens, and they quickly forget about it. But two in a row, when the replacements were supposed to be safe, is the kind of thing that etches itself much more deeply into public consciousness. Popular culture is now going to be associating "Samsung phone" with "time bomb" for a long time to come.

molecule 10y ago
And the event taking place on an airplane is close enough to the nightmare scenario of catching fire during a flight that it will be firmly placed into the public consciousness.
- r00fus 10y ago
  So are Li-ion battery fires considered metal fires - if so, the instinctual reaction (apply water to extinguish) would be unfortunate...
  - mmagin 10y ago
    Lithium ion batteries do not contain significant amounts of elemental Lithium.
    - spdustin 10y ago
      But water can react with the electrolyte used in many Li-ion cells to form hydrofluoric acid.
  - seanp2k2 10y ago
    Probably lithium polymer but yeah: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yD_Eal1_5NI https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yD_Eal1_5NI My RC aircraft group has a 55 gallon drum with salt water at our flying field. RC aircraft pretty much exclusively use lithium polymer packs, sometimes 2 the size of bricks in larger models / big helis. If a lipo starts smoking, you chuck it in the salt water and it shorts it out + cools it down. The reaction when they short internally (such as when they malfunction or get damaged e.g. When a heli crashes and smashes the pack -- they're not super rigid) is more thermite than dynamite, but it can still burn through things like flying tin can aircraft. Here's what happens when you overcharge a few on purpose and beat them with a stick: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=coX0SwubG4A https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=coX0SwubG4A Typically there's quite a bit of warning in the form of smoke first. Not sure if the chemistry in the Samsung batteries but they're likely lithium polymer. There are tons of different chemistries though: http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/types_of_lithium_ion http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/types_of_lithium_...
    - detaro 10y ago
      I thought LiFePO4 was common in RC circles? Or only for ground vehicles, or already outdated knowledge?
      - extrapickles 10y ago
        They aren't as high capacity (per cost/weight/volume) as LiPoly, so they aren't as common. Flying vehicles even less so as they are more sensitive to power/weight ratios.
- Twirrim 10y ago
  You can already use it as a grenade/bomb in GTA 5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55Vaj33RYkI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55Vaj33RYkI
  - jdormit 10y ago
    That's the funniest thing I've seen all day.
- roel_v 10y ago
  I flew Emirates last week, and the preflight announcement about electronic devices said use of all devices was ok, except Galaxy Note 7 which need to stay turned off during the whole flight. I can't imagine much worse PR, when yoir products are routinely called out by neutral third parties for being an actual hazard source.
  - thesimon 10y ago
    It was also mentioned on my recent flights in the USA and Europe on various OW airlines as well. Heck even in pre-boarding announcements at the gates. Really not the publicity you want.
    - saryant 10y ago
      I've flown 25k miles in the last three weeks across 5 countries. Every airline mentioned this. American, Japan Airlines, Dragonair, Cathay Pacific, Etihad, JetBlue and Southwest.
      - Archio 10y ago
        Do you mind if I inquire what your career is? I would love a technology-related job that allows me to travel like that.
        saryant 10y ago
        Most of that was vacation followed by a week of domestic work travel when I got back.
        csomar 10y ago
        Just travel. Focusing on travel-related jobs is not a great goal. Focus on highly rewarding work, and pay your fares.
        OkGoDoIt 10y ago
        I second this. Work trips are very different from personal travel, and much less fun than people assume. A well paying job with generous vacation time (real vacation, not "available via email" vacations) is better, in my opinion.
- stesch 10y ago
  A switched off phone. Now airlines need to ban all Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones. This hurts.
obtino 10y ago
This isn't their only appliance that has been catching fires. There are several washing machines in Australia, made by Samsung, that have caused house fires.
- JumpCrisscross 10y ago
  Source?
  - jurip 10y ago
    Dunno about Australia, but this was about washing machines in the US: http://money.cnn.com/2016/09/28/news/samsung-cpsc-washing-machine-explosion-reports/index.html?sr=twCNN092816samsung-cpsc-washing-machine-explosion-reports0540PMVODtopLink&linkId=29299325 http://money.cnn.com/2016/09/28/news/samsung-cpsc-washing-ma...
  - andymurd 10y ago
    Here you go, AU gov notice: https://www.productsafety.gov.au/recall/samsung-samsung-top-loader-washing-machines https://www.productsafety.gov.au/recall/samsung-samsung-top-...

molecule 10y ago

And the event taking place on an airplane is close enough to the nightmare scenario of catching fire during a flight that it will be firmly placed into the public consciousness.

r00fus 10y ago
So are Li-ion battery fires considered metal fires - if so, the instinctual reaction (apply water to extinguish) would be unfortunate...
- mmagin 10y ago
  Lithium ion batteries do not contain significant amounts of elemental Lithium.
  - spdustin 10y ago
    But water can react with the electrolyte used in many Li-ion cells to form hydrofluoric acid.
- seanp2k2 10y ago
  Probably lithium polymer but yeah: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yD_Eal1_5NI https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yD_Eal1_5NI My RC aircraft group has a 55 gallon drum with salt water at our flying field. RC aircraft pretty much exclusively use lithium polymer packs, sometimes 2 the size of bricks in larger models / big helis. If a lipo starts smoking, you chuck it in the salt water and it shorts it out + cools it down. The reaction when they short internally (such as when they malfunction or get damaged e.g. When a heli crashes and smashes the pack -- they're not super rigid) is more thermite than dynamite, but it can still burn through things like flying tin can aircraft. Here's what happens when you overcharge a few on purpose and beat them with a stick: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=coX0SwubG4A https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=coX0SwubG4A Typically there's quite a bit of warning in the form of smoke first. Not sure if the chemistry in the Samsung batteries but they're likely lithium polymer. There are tons of different chemistries though: http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/types_of_lithium_ion http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/types_of_lithium_...
  - detaro 10y ago
    I thought LiFePO4 was common in RC circles? Or only for ground vehicles, or already outdated knowledge?
    - extrapickles 10y ago
      They aren't as high capacity (per cost/weight/volume) as LiPoly, so they aren't as common. Flying vehicles even less so as they are more sensitive to power/weight ratios.
Twirrim 10y ago
You can already use it as a grenade/bomb in GTA 5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55Vaj33RYkI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55Vaj33RYkI
- jdormit 10y ago
  That's the funniest thing I've seen all day.
roel_v 10y ago
I flew Emirates last week, and the preflight announcement about electronic devices said use of all devices was ok, except Galaxy Note 7 which need to stay turned off during the whole flight. I can't imagine much worse PR, when yoir products are routinely called out by neutral third parties for being an actual hazard source.
- thesimon 10y ago
  It was also mentioned on my recent flights in the USA and Europe on various OW airlines as well. Heck even in pre-boarding announcements at the gates. Really not the publicity you want.
  - saryant 10y ago
    I've flown 25k miles in the last three weeks across 5 countries. Every airline mentioned this. American, Japan Airlines, Dragonair, Cathay Pacific, Etihad, JetBlue and Southwest.
    - Archio 10y ago
      Do you mind if I inquire what your career is? I would love a technology-related job that allows me to travel like that.
      - saryant 10y ago
        Most of that was vacation followed by a week of domestic work travel when I got back.
      - csomar 10y ago
        Just travel. Focusing on travel-related jobs is not a great goal. Focus on highly rewarding work, and pay your fares.
        OkGoDoIt 10y ago
        I second this. Work trips are very different from personal travel, and much less fun than people assume. A well paying job with generous vacation time (real vacation, not "available via email" vacations) is better, in my opinion.
stesch 10y ago
A switched off phone. Now airlines need to ban all Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones. This hurts.

obtino 10y ago

This isn't their only appliance that has been catching fires. There are several washing machines in Australia, made by Samsung, that have caused house fires.

JumpCrisscross 10y ago
Source?
- jurip 10y ago
  Dunno about Australia, but this was about washing machines in the US: http://money.cnn.com/2016/09/28/news/samsung-cpsc-washing-machine-explosion-reports/index.html?sr=twCNN092816samsung-cpsc-washing-machine-explosion-reports0540PMVODtopLink&linkId=29299325 http://money.cnn.com/2016/09/28/news/samsung-cpsc-washing-ma...
- andymurd 10y ago
  Here you go, AU gov notice: https://www.productsafety.gov.au/recall/samsung-samsung-top-loader-washing-machines https://www.productsafety.gov.au/recall/samsung-samsung-top-...