lol. Did they order batteries from Sony by chance?

On the bright side, at least it didn't happen while you were wearing it!

Don't send it in until you are assured a replacement, otherwise you'll get the "water damage" brush-off.

I think bluetooth headsets are ridiculous. People walk around wearing them all day and night.

I've even seen people wearing them around out at bars and lounges. You could never lose them in the crowd though because of that blinking light.

This may be the single best thing that has ever happened to Marc

@Mikestan: Yeah, I don't see a lot of use for them in public places - but they still have a use and a place. Plus, with the noise canceling this unit is supposed to have, it really would be a unit that could be worn in a bar or club!

Makes me wonder... if you have to ship it back to them, are they going to notice that it has obviously been wet and blame the fire on the fact that it was wet, thereby voiding your warranty? Or will they do the right thing and replace it?

@Mikestan: I agree that wearing a bluetooth headset in public makes you into an insta-douche, but there are reasonable times to wear one... Or at least one reasonable time to wear one.

I only wear mine while driving. I have occasionally worn it around the house while cleaning up, but I'm not usually on the phone while performing other tasks.

This may be the single best thing that has ever happened to Marc

@Mikestan: I hope not. He'd have to have a very sad life indeed if an expensive headset melting is the best thing to ever happen to him. It shouldn't even qualify as a good thing.

@Mikestan: I use one for handsfree while driving. Other than that, yeah, bluetooth is generally worn by douches in fairly douchey situations.

That being said... whatever product you buy, you expect it not to light on fire on you.

Not too long ago I saw a woman in church with her bluetooth still on, come on, seriously, in CHURCH!

@MrFalcon: The first weekend I got mine, I tested it out by using it in the concourse at a baseball game. The person I was talking to didn't realize I was using a headset.

If you connected it to your USB cable on your computer to charge it (although I'm sure you have many other times in the past), my guess is going to be that it was your USB that fried it and not an issue with the headset itself. But that would depend on your computer and what kind of output you were getting from the USB port.

I've had that happen to a Bluetooth headset before (Motorola H570, I believe it was) but I was able to get them to replace it. It was a iBook G3 that I later found was one that had a logic board issue.

Hope they'll replace it. Crazy photos though - melty plastic...

@pb5000: I know someone like that, but that's because she is an on-call nurse :-P

@Mikestan: Doesn't matter what you think of the product, it was faulty merchandise. No matter what you buy, you ought to get what you paid for.

@WiglyWorm: well, except for perhaps an oil burner...

That is the ugliest looking headset I ever seen...I thought I was looking at a shoe when I first saw the pic

@topernicus: I agree I think the only time you should wear one in public is when driving.

@mbz32190: I thought it was a bowl at first glance.

They said this was a "hot item." What did he expect?

I don't care if people think I'm a douche, or have no class or style. I wear it when and where I want to. Blinking blue LED and all. ESPECIALLY at the starbucks at the mall as I carry on a conversation so that it looks like I'm talking to myself!

Don't care about other's opinion in that regard AT ALL.

HA HA HA HAAAAA!!!!!

@shorty63136: USB has a maximum output of 5.25V at 500mA.

If it went over those specifications, windows starts warning you -in no uncertain terms- about power surges.

If your device fries on USB power and you're not recieving this message, it's almost certainly the device's fault, not the computer's.

@myself clearly I have no idea how to post an image in these comments. It's not just the HTML image tag? :(

@pb5000: Perhaps she has a direct line and bypasses the preacher? :)

No fashion accessory says "I'm an ass bubble" quite as well as a bluetooth earpiece.

@Mikestan: Yeah, when I see people using them walking down the street I just want to rip if off and throw it away. It's designed as a 'hands-free' kit. Using it when your hands are free just makes you look like a vain, lazy, doubebag.

@WiglyWorm:

For those wondering, the maximum heat you can generate with 2.5 watts (ie: The above) is equivalent to the heat output by a flashlight lightbulb. Place anything on there and see if it will melt. Even M&Ms. :-)

@WiglyWorm: No - I haven't figured out how to post an image either.

@theblackdog: She was waiting on her call from Jesus. Duh.

@WiglyWorm: I wonder what kind of roaming charges are incurred for a direct call like that. :)

@WiglyWorm: As does the Mac side (just noting since the parent post indicated it happening on a Mac)

@Mikestan: OK, I wear my BT headset a lot. I guess that makes me an insta-douche from the moment I step out of my house. I guess its the fact that I might - just might - get a call while I'm doing something that would require the use of both hands. I also attribute it to the fact I have a really oily face and I like to avoid getting the screen on my phone dirty.

@Mikestan: I'm pretty sure using your bluetooth to poke smot in would void you warranty!

The photo and the headline make perfect sense... but I confess thinking: "That is one ugly looking shoe, but shouldn't the risk be to the ankle instead of the jawbone?"

These things do come in handy though. I contemplated getting my mom one for her CrackBerry but I think she wants to hold the phone...I think to her, there's a surrealness about having a headset, but I'll see if she wants one if there are good deals around.

@SecureLocation: If you wear it all the time, yes. Mine stays in my car for the times my boss decides to have a conference call when I'm on my way to work or during the time I'm normally driving home.

@shorty63136: Jesus don't call collect!

I have read that studies done on cell phone use while driving have shown that it's not using a hand-held set that is the problem; it's the CONVERSATION that is the distraction. And what's the number one cause of accidents?

Inattention.

That's why they restrict the amount of people that are in the car for teenage drivers. Cell phones have voice mail. Let it take a message.

That said, Bluetooth sets remind me of "Farenheit 451," where the protagonist's wife and everyone else walked around with the little shell thing in their ears and paid no attention to the people around them. People were afraid Big Brother would come true, but the "Farenheit 451" thing DEFINITELY did!

I have the same headset. It was a birthday present from my GF when california pased the handsfree driving law. I plug mine into the wall though. BTW This particular model has a white LED.

@Mikestan: @Mikestan:

Living in California, I don't have much of a option anymore since it's the law while driving, so just about everyone has one.

@pb5000: Ha. It wouldn't be the first time an idiot was seen in a church!

@shorty63136: It basically just HTML. < img src="http://www.URLHERE.com/Picture.jpg"

Obviously no space between the first bracket and "img." The tricky part is leave out the last > that you think should be there at the end. It's bizarre but it works. "Preview Comment" is your friend.

@Mikestan:

You must be one of those people who drives with cellphone attached to your ear and a cigarette in the other hand then.

These devices do a have a time and a place for usage. I use mine when I am carrying a lot of things after shopping or I am working.

I work in IT so in order for me to do some tasks I need both hand free. I wish my work would go to some sort of bluetooth solution for the phones, then I could stop getting a crick in my neck each time a customer calls and I have to make a change.

@Fist-o™: Yep, you're a bona fide douche.

Welcome to the world of lithium battery technology. It charge the batter had an issue and nearly caught fire. Lucky.

I was rather hoping this would be a story in which some hapless prescription-drug user had their actual jawbone melted in a hideous reaction to the chemicals, and that the black thing in the photo was the prosthetic cyber-jaw they had to stick in their face so they could go out in public again.

Whenever you see a guy wearing one, you never see him near any goodlookin broads, I think there's a reason for that

@HogwartsAlum: Driving a 5-speed with failing power steering...it's the cell phone that's the problem, not the conversation. I can assure you.

I'm surprised that there are so many negative reactions to wearing a bluetooth headset. Here in NY, a headset or some other hands free solution is the law when driving. Frankly, I'm glad it is, too.
I don't make a habit of always having mine on but if I'm on the road and have to make a few stops, I leave it on.
Do the flashing blue lights really bug everyone that much? Come on...

@Schizohedron:

Seconded.