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Apple Recalls Almost 2 Million Batteries

Apple Computer Inc. on Thursday recalled 1.8 million lithium-ion batteries that can overheat and pose a fire hazard, the second major recall involving the Sony batteries in a week.

The voluntary recall was announced through the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which said the batteries were used in iBook G4 and PowerBook G4 laptops. Sony Corp. also made the 4.1 million batteries recalled last week by Dell Inc. for the same reasons. Dell's action was the largest consumer electronic recall ever.

The CPSC said the recall covered 1.1 million batteries sold in the United States, and an additional 700,000 batteries sold outside the country.

Sony said in a statement that it supported the Apple recall, and said that it "anticipates no further recalls of battery packs using these particular battery cells."

The problem sparking the Apple and Dell recalls were the same. Microscopic metal particles in the battery cells could come into contact with other components, leading to a short circuit that could cause the unit to overheat and potentially burst into flame.

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