Third party charger trouble sparks Apple trade-in plan

Fears of dangerous shocks caused by unsanctioned chargers for Apple gadgets prompted the company to announce a trade-in program. Beginning on August 16, people with counterfeit or third-party power adaptors will be able to swap them for certified Apple models for the local equivalent of $10. "Recent reports have suggested that some counterfeit and third party adapters may not be designed properly and could result in safety issues," Apple said in a blog post. "While not all third party adapters have an issue, we are announcing a USB Power Adapter Takeback Program to enable customers to acquire properly designed adapters." People must bring the unwanted chargers along with a corresponding iPod, iPad, or iPhone to an Apple Retail Store or to an authorized Apple service provider. Apple said device serial numbers need to be valid to qualify for the adapter trade-in program, which will continue until October 18. Last month, Apple began investigating reports that a woman in China was electrocuted while using an iPhone that was charging.