Apple Japan offers to replace overheating iPod nano

Apple's Japanese unit has offered to replace its first-generation iPod nano music player in the event of it overheating after reports of fires led to criticism from the government in Tokyo.

Apple confirmed "very rare cases of overheating" in the battery of the iPod nano sold between September 2005 and December 2006, which distorted the shape of the device or made it unusable, the company said on its Japanese website.

It offered to replace affected units, adding that concerned customers using the first-generation iPod nano can now get the battery replaced, it said.