Several Samsung Galaxy Note 7's lay on a counter in plastic bags after they were returned to a Best Buy on Sep 15, 2016 in Orem, Utah. (Photo : Getty Images/George Frey)
Samsung was again the center of comedy when President Barack Obama publicly made fun of exploding Note 7 smartphones. This came shortly after parody videos of the Note 7 exploding batteries started circulating the internet.
During a recent speech presented in Miami, Obama mocked the South Korean tech giant for choosing to replace the Note 7 models instead of stopping production. He gave an analogy comparing the Obamacare with Samsung, saying that if there is a problem with the phones, they should fix it instead of going back to rotary phones.
According to CNET, Obama added that when the phone catches fire, it should be pulled off the market. Samsung did not respond to the mockery.
The South Korean tech giant reportedly blocked parody videos of exploding Note 7 gadgets from YouTube. This incentive was not taken lightly by the parties responsible for the hilarious imitations, BBC reported.
One of the parody videos was a modification of the video game "Theft Auto V." In the game, exploding smartphones were used in place of sticky bombs. These funny videos were, however, short-lived as most of the gamers' accounts were restricted from YouTube, following Samsung's complaint.
Critics have since termed Samsung's move as a bad decision because blocking negative content would only attract more media attention. Some viewers even compared the situation to Barbra Streisand's failed attempt to sue a photographer who posted a picture of her home.
Meanwhile, rumor has it that the Tech Giants will use battery packs from LG for their next flagship phone. The company is expected to diversify its battery production following the malfunction witnessed with the Note 7.
There have been various theories regarding the cause of the explosions. Most of them, however, point at faulty batteries. One of the speculated reasons suggests that the industrial design of the Note 7 exerted too much pressure on the battery hence causing it to bend and overheat, and ultimately exploding.
Analysts suppose that the company has a long way to go in order to regain its reputation. In the meantime, it has set up shops at many airports for Note 7 owners to exchange their phones before getting on planes.
Here is a sample Note 7 parody video:
