Well, there are two things that come out of this story.

One is the tone of the Apple fanatics reaction. Aggressive denial, hysterical and paranoid. The other is the reaction of the Apple legal team, which must have come from instructions from the top, to the prospect of publication: stonewalling and coverup.

Now you may, some of you, recall what happened when Proctor and Gamble had an issue of similar magnitude many years ago with toxic shock, which might or might not have been caused in a small number of cases by super absorbent tampons? What P&G did was immediately to put the responsible product manager on TV, in paid for commercials, to explain the situation and state what they did or did not know. They recalled all the ones in the supply chain as a precaution. They told everyone who had stock at home to take them back to their retailer for refunds, also as a precaution. This took them days, not weeks. Not months. Or years.

Then they studied the facts at their leisure and arrived at a conclusion and product modification. It cost a lot of money at the time, and it made a lot of money later.

That was how a mature, quality, consumer products company with a brand and reputation, a customer base, and a house style, reacts. They don't have to think, they know exactly 'what we do' in cases like this. This is how you earn your customers' trust and deserve it.

What they did not do was fill the media with postings and letters from P&G devotees all proclaiming that this was a plot of P&G haters and sue to prevent publication of the data.

Proctor and Gamble, you are all choking over your morning coffee as you read this, he is speaking favorably of Proctor and Gamble, that Dell of consumer products. Right, a company that can give Apple a number of lessons.

I have no idea whether this is a real or significant problem. What I know is that the company reaction to it speaks volumes. It is not a class act.

I'm downright shocked by learning about this type of misconduct by Apple Computer, Inc.

It's sickening.

Should Apple take responsibility... for faulty products? Absolutely. Should Apple compensate anyone injured by a faulty product? Absolutely. Should Apple recall all iPods because some have overheating battery issues?

...but is there any indication of the number of confirmed cases of iPod battery explosion?

I think we hear more about the Apple issues because Apple hating with cheerleaders like Thom seems to have become a sport following the resurgence of the company after Jobs' return - something we just don't see for other vendors.

Looking at the likelihood of a Lithium Ion battery actually burning me, and the benefits of the gadgets I use, I'll take my chances.

I would like to know what the warning signs are, though. As an informed consumer, I should know that if my phone feels extra hot for a couple of hours, I might not want to put it into my pants pocket. Or if it starts to smoke, I should stop charging it.

What other electronics company goes to such questionable lengths to cover-up a dangerous problem with their products?

I think we hear more about the Apple issues because Apple hating with cheerleaders like Thom seems to have become a sport following the resurgence of the company after Jobs' return - something we just don't see for other vendors.

Apple on the other hand try to use edgy hardware technology
( which is bound to be risky ), add to that that it depend on the
batch of production, combination of material and condition of use,

About a year ago, I purchased an electric scooter powered with really fancy Li-ion "nano-phosphate" LiFePo4 type:"rediculous" batteries.

What other electronics company goes to such questionable lengths to cover-up a dangerous problem with their products?

The answer there is every company that wants to make a profit.

Other than Apple, name one.

Dell, Toshiba, HP, Sony etc..they all hid the exploding battery issue until the Media got a hold of it.

Actively hiding an issue and not mentioning it have very different ethical implications. Actively hiding an issue in a sinister manner is even more damning.

So, are you claiming that Dell, Toshiba, HP and Sony filed "exemption after exemption" with the Consumer Product Safety Commission to prevent the public from learning of the problem, as did Apple?

Are you also claiming that Dell, Toshiba, HP and Sony discredited online those who attempt to warn others of the problem, as did Apple?

The fact is they all hid it like Apple did with this... I am just saying that businesses do this type of crap all the time... and they all do it. It is just a matter of who gets caught.