The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has reviewed substandard batteries for Apple's 15-inch MacBook Pro notebooks and says they don't pose a safety threat. Apple had voluntarily launched an exchange program for batteries saying they "do not meet our high standards for battery performance" but claimed they were safe to use until replacements arrived.
Unconfirmed reports of bulging batteries were thought to had triggered the recall, although Apple began the exchange program after asking customers who heard "a high-pitched buzzing sound" in their MacBook Pros to contact them.
PSC spokesman Scott Wolfson declined to say whether Apple's voluntary exchange program arose in response to the bulging problem or whether the program stemmed from other battery issues. "We never allow a company to do an independent recall when there is a substantial potential hazard," Wolfson said.
Apple's battery assault comes hot on the heals of issues with Sony-made batteries that have lead Dell to call in 4.1 million laptop computer batteries because of a potential fire hazard.
News source: Macworld UK
