Note 7 recall already 70% complete in Canada, the rest to be annoyed into compliance

While the majority of users in the US and abroad are still brazenly using their explodable Note 7 devices, Samsung has confirmed that, only days into the recall proper, fully 70 percent of Note 7s sold in Canada have participated in the recall. Somehow this seems in-character for the world’s least offensive nation.

Of the 22,000 Note 7’s shipped to Canada, 15,400 are already tagged to be replaced. The remaining 30 percent in the field will soon begin pestering their owners to be responsible and participate in the recall.

Although the recall works differently in different nations, Samsung has reached an agreement with Canadian carriers regarding an update that will soon rollout to all Note 7 devices. If the device is a safe Note 7, it will receive a mint-green battery icon instead of the usual white one. Although this technically goes against Google’s design standards, Samsung recently secured permission to make such an aesthetic alteration.

The green battery icon will indicate that a Note 7 is safe. Unsafe Note 7’s will receive a rather more drastic update. Whenever the device is powered on or plugged into a charger, the user will receive a notification that this is a known fire hazard. Canadian users will also receive notifications every three hours reminding them to exchange their recalled device.

This update will be forced. Users will not be able to opt out of it, and Samsung has agreed to cover the cost of updates taking place over mobile networks. That way, this update won’t count toward anybody’s data caps.

Unsafe Note 7 devices will not be capped at 60 percent charging like we’ve seen with other regions. Samsung believes that this has sent the wrong message, and that some Note 7 owners have been content to continue using their handsets in spite of the truncated battery life under the impression that this makes the device safe. Instead of hampering usage with limited battery life, Samsung’s approach in Canada is to constantly remind users that they are dealing with a dangerous piece of hardware until they finally turn it in.

This seems like a savvy move on the part of Samsung – if annoying for reluctant users – as it would seem to provide them with a greater ability to disavow responsibility if a user claims they weren’t aware that their device was being recalled, as was the case with the Florida man whose Jeep got destroyed by a Note 7.

What are your thoughts regarding Samsung’s approach to the Note 7 recall in Canada? Let us know in the comments below!