Apple warns of static shock from iPhone, iPod
Apple warns that iPhone and iPod users may experience a small static shock through their earbuds.
(Credit: Amazon)iPhone and iPod users may experience a "small and quick" shock via their earbuds due to a buildup of static electricity, Apple warned Monday.
People listening to one of the devices in extremely dry air are most at risk of receiving a static electricity shock through the ear buds, according to a warning posted on Apple's Web site. The post likened the condition to the discharge that occurs when a person drags his or her feet across a carpet then gets a shock by touching a door knob.
However, Apple asserted that this condition did not necessarily indicate that Apple's equipment was malfunctioning.
"This condition is not limited to Apple hardware and static can potentially build up on almost any hardware and could be discharged using any brand of earbuds," Apple said.
Apple's warning didn't mention what prompted the company to issue the warning, but a discussion thread on the company's support site showed a few users had voiced concern about the condition.
"Maybe it's just me but for a couple of weeks now my earphones are delivering little electric shocks into my ears," wrote one reader. "I just wonder if anyone else is going through this issue."
Apple made several suggestions in the warning on how to remedy the condition when indoors, including the use of a humidifier to raise the moisture level of the air, hand lotions to moisturize dry skin, or an anti-static spray. The site also recommends users wear clothes made of natural fibers instead of synthetic fibers. When users are outdoors, Apple suggests users keep their device in a bag or a case to keep it out of the wind and refrain from frequently removing it from pockets as the rubbing may cause static buildup.
Steven Musil is the night news editor at CNET News. Before joining CNET News in 2000, Steven spent 10 years at various Bay Area newspapers. E-mail Steven. 
Sounds like Apple is due for a class action...
Buy a humidifier,
Use Jergens,
And buy new clothes, (preferably black turtlenecks)
a reasonable solutions to the problem.
Hey, wasn't there a South Park episode warning us of the dangers of curse words? ;-)
and don't you get the physics of it?!
this can happen with lots of personal electronics, especially with head phones...
just another click ad driving article w/apple in the name.
for shame.
In this case I happen to agree with Apple. Anything can cause static shocks in dry environments. A class action law suit over static shocks would be the epitome of stupidity and a massive waste of money. Is that the barking of lawyers I hear in the background?
As for anyone who says anything can cause shocks...only if it can conduct electricity or has a strong electric field near it (CRT Tv's and Monitors). Plastic doesn't conduct electricity, thus static will be below the "noticeable" level.
Clearly Apple screwed up and asking us to spend money to fixed the situation caused by their poor design is a rather disappointing response.
Obviously you need a refresher in the fundamentals of electronics. Plastic does not conduct electricity (mostly true), however, it does store a charge quite well. It's the plastics that actually initiate the static electricity and the metal simply provides an escape for that charge. Metal does not have to be touching your skin for electricity to flow, the small gap between your moist, salty skin and the frame or driver of the ear-bud headphones doesn't require a large voltage to ionize the air between and complete the circuit of the plastic housing => your ear => conductive metal => ground or low voltage.
Now, if the entire ear-bud was encased in a non-conductive, the speaker cone was non-conductive and the frame for the speaker cone was non-conductive; then, you might never be subjected to a shock. I'm fairly certain that this is only accomplished by the high-end headphones and in that case, I don't view the slight protection from shocks and the slight improvement in audio reproduction to be worth the typical price hike which at least doubles the price of the low-end.
Might wanna read first next time before making a comment
His response was unfortunately needed. Maybe you should read the comments directly above his.
No wonder you use an Apple.
But it DOESN'T. Plastic-housed IEMs using neoprene tips provide a measure of insulation from static discharge. It's easy to be dismissive by saying "any" can have the problem, and be so totally wrong.
This is not to say that this is actually a harmful issue. This is only to say that not all products can be equally grouped into the same boat that Apple's cheap azzed earbuds are in. They chose to use a metal screen on their buds, they've confessed that it has a static discharge issue. They should NOT be able to say "but anyone else's has the same flaw" and use that as an excuse to justify what they're continuing to sell.
Apple fanboyz...your own precious Apple released the statement themselves; obviously THEY thought enough about it to at least say something official. Did you really think that no one should take notice?
for example. by apple limiting the product, when the product is virtually unlimited - this go make ppl mad, and the more ppl that become mad ( all together as one ) zap! zap! zap! zap! zap!
to my mind anyway, this product has become cursed.
I have to think of her well being. Amongst other things.
Imagine if people replaced their doorknobs every time they got a shock?
Although it does bring to mind the scene in "Office Space" where Ron Livingston dismantles the door handle to stop it from shocking him.
I use Sony earbuds and never got a shock from them.
Nevertheless, almost all the earbuds I have ever used had the same static shock problem. From skull-candy buds to phillips buds, I have always had the static shock issue. I don't think that this problem is specifically an apple-only issue.
Like the overheating video cards... they wont fix the problem... just run the fan at 100 percent all the time...
but I guess with all that humidity under your bridge, you wouldn't know about static electricity.
@ ikramerica: He's not really a troll, just someone who wants to make a negative comment. I agree that the comment on video cards is going too far, but he should be allowed to make a reasonable comment without being called a troll. As for you, I might consider you a fanboy, with your snide remarks to anyone who cares to make a negative comment.
On a side note....I wonder what getting a static shock to the ear would feel like O_O that must be interesting....
My point is when you disconnect all souces such as the power cord or the battery from consumer electronic devices and hold down any button on the main circuit board. You can discharge all the static in the device. So think before you speak.
Please note also it was in winter in my early days of iPod touch, during which we see a high dry in Korea; in contrast now i'm at the early summer with high humidity in Korea.
- by adi_d May 19, 2009 11:12 PM PDT
- well, we should all sue Apple for shocking us... and Sony... and Phillips... and the maker of that bed someone was mentioning... and the people we touch in the street or in malls or whatever, who sometimes shock us too (same principle of static electricity...)
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- by Dalkorian May 20, 2009 8:48 AM PDT
- Hey look, a PC masquerading as a human!
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Showing 1 of 2 pages (84 Comments)hell, we should sue everyone and everything in the universe. i'm sure there are enough reasons to do it if we look hard enough :)
seriously, now... this is the laws of physics in action. you can say maybe that apple should change the design of their devices (earbuds included) so they use materials that are less conductive for the outside shell. but i really like the metal back plate of my iPod nano 3g and even the metal "grills" on my earbuds. i've never got shocked by it, but i hate synthetic clothes and never wear them, so maybe that helped.
PS: i am not an Apple fanboy. I'm a PC :P
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Uh oh, Skynet? Cyberdyne systems 101? Artificial intelligence? KILL IT NOW, BEFORE IT DESTROYS US ALL!
;-) (just kidding, of course)