If you’ve ever been dancing to a funky beat while listening to your iPod and felt that the music has literally reached out to grab you… maybe it has.
Apple has released a consumer warning on its website saying that while using your iPod or iPhone, "it's possible to receive a small and quick electrical (static) shock from your earbuds".
Apple goes on to say that there is a heightened chance of these shocks for users subjected to extremely dry air, so any trips to the desert looks like they’re fraught with even more danger.
While this all sounds shocking, the experienced shocks aren’t as ear-drum threatening as they sound and are the equivalent of those experienced when someone rubs their feet on a synthetic surface before touching you, or that funny shock when you stick your tongue on a battery (so I hear…).
Apple does have a range of precautionary ideas so you’re not left zapping your co-workers left, right and centre.
You could start by changing your wardrobe as a charge can be generated by the earphone cord rubbing across certain types of clothing. If that’s too much trouble or you have a penchant for lycra, you could also try to touch a grounded unpainted metal object before inserting the headphones.
If you don’t live in the UK, you would have a chance at the next idea which involves keeping your iPod device out of the wind.
You can also slather your palms in “anti-static hand lotion” (does it come in lavender?) or buy some anti-static spray that can be spritzed into the air. There is the chance that you would look like you’re making use of chemical warfare with this option though.
While Apple users in particular seem to be bearing the brunt of an electrically charged situation, as this static phenomenon can potentially build up on other hardware and could be discharged through any brand of earbuds. Perhaps this is one of the downfalls of Apple saturating the market- any general problems become specific to the device everyone has, the iPod.
Source: reghardware
2 thoughts on “Apple Shocks Users Through iPod Earphones”
This is really interesting as my ear phones have been giving me a shock for a while now.
I though it was because my ipod was really old and battered.
Great post and keep up the good work.
To be honest, my Sennheiser headphones on my Sansa Fuze have been doing the same thing, so I think it’s really more of a widespread problem. Not sure about some of the recommended solutions!