Samsung Issuing Update to Kill Every Note 7 Left in the Wild

Samsung is preparing to release a software update that will turn every Galaxy Note 7—excellent fire starter, less good smartphone—into a very expensive paperweight, Gizmodo reports. Samsung issued a full recall of its once-heralded new smartphone two months ago because they wouldn't stop exploding, but some people are still using them. Samsung will roll out the new update, which will keep Note 7s from charging or working, starting Dec. 19.

But US carriers are rebelling, according to the Verge. Verizon says it won't pass the update along to its Note 7 users because it could keep them from contacting family and emergency services "in the heart of the holiday travel season." (Never mind that the phones have been banned on flights due to the whole exploding thing.) And AT&T and Sprint say they won't be releasing the doomsday update until the holidays are over in January. (More Galaxy Note stories.)