Some iPod Nano Owners Could Be In for a Pleasant Surprise [UPDATED] (Mashable)

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UPDATE: We've made three attempts to contact Apple officials, trying to find out what this "replacement unit" will be if you send in a first-generation iPod Nano. There has been no response. We called Apple support, asking if a new iPod Nano would be sent to replace the 5-year-old Nanos. Here's the response the company is giving to its customers: "Your guess is as good as mine." Stay tuned for a full story, whether Apple officials respond or not.

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UPDATE 2: Confirmed (finally): First-generation iPod Nanos will be sent as replacements. Read the story here.

Do you have an old first-generation iPod Nano lying around? If so, Apple wants to replace it for you, 5 years after you bought it. Such a deal.

But watch out: There's a slight risk of your old Nano overheating, and possibly even catching on fire because of a defective battery. Apple says if you own one of the Nanos with this problem, you should stop using it immediately. The good news is, newer iPods aren't affected by the battery defect.

Writes the company on its website:

"Apple has determined that, in very rare cases, the battery in the iPod nano (1st generation) may overheat and pose a safety risk. Affected iPod Nanos were sold between September 2005 and December 2006.

This issue has been traced to a single battery supplier that produced batteries with a manufacturing defect. While the possibility of an incident is rare, the likelihood increases as the battery ages."

Apple's providing a place to check your Nano's serial numbers and order a "replacement unit." So far, it's unclear exactly what Apple will send you if you have the correct serial number on your old Nano. We presume the company wouldn't dig up old iPod Nanos from the distant past, nor would it swap out the batteries in the one you have now.

So if our guess is correct, you'll be able to trade in that old beat-up and scratched-up iPod for a shiny new one. We've contacted the company to find out, but we can't imagine Apple sending anything but the Read our story here.

We'll update this post if and when we hear from Apple. In the meantime, start digging around in those old dresser drawers -- there might be an old iPod in there for you to cash in on a new one.

This story originally published on Mashable here.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/applecomputer/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/mashable/20111112/tc_mashable/some_ipod_nano_owners_could_be_in_for_a_pleasant_surprise_updated

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