[gkoberger]

Clearly it has nothing to do with the device being charged, but rather eliminating an excuse as to why the device doesn't have the ability to be powered on. (Allegedly proving it's a real device, and not a bomb being made to look like a laptop or phone.)

That being said: http://xkcd.com/651/

[rcthompson]

Yeah, my first thought upon reading the title was that this was about ensuring access to the data on any device coming into the country.

[NoMoreNicksLeft]

Is there any evidence that terrorists are capable of constructing a device that plausibly looks like a cell phone but is a bomb? Have they ever done this in the past?

What about laptops?

I do not think this is about security, so much as it is about punishing people who make it impossible for the relevant officials and spooks to snoop on the devices.

[lucaspiller]

Maybe that's a good excuse for why Apple no longer make devices with user serviceable batteries :)