iPhones dont Float...who knew

Question

Level 1

0 points

iPhones dont Float...who knew

OK OK, perhaps I'm a tad glib here...but I'm ****** at myself. You see I dropped my shiny slippery no strap attached iPhone 3G into the river saving a little kitten from drowning . My fault, yes. Rogers here in Canada suggested I let it sit in a box of rice for a while. I think I'm being had. Anyhoo...I'm suffering iPhone withdrawls BIG TIME. I'm back using my pearl and having serious apple iphone envy.
So, some words of wisdom to Applites with iPhones taking pics around water....iPhones are like that witch in Oz...they just die when wet. Even a drop.
A word to Apple...any chance you can design an iPhone with a rubber grip and perhaps somewhere to add a nifty strap...say, with a cool glow in the dark Apple apple on it...just so I can find it, if I should lose it?...OR...how 'bout one thats water proof up to say...50 metres like those watches?
(OK I'm lying about the kitten, but I needed a little sympathy here)

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.4)

Posted on Aug 19, 2008 5:36 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Rob2246

Level 2

215 points

Aug 19, 2008 6:36 PM in response to Chasearoo

You did a good thing there Chasearoo saving that kitten. There is only one of him/her but millions of iPhones. Perhaps a nice letter to Apple corporate will get you another iPhone or at least a discount. Pictures of the kitten could help.

Reply

Answer 2

Chas Hulme

Level 4

1,130 points

Aug 19, 2008 8:27 PM in response to Chasearoo

I'm a bit surprised that drying out the iPhone didn't eventually bring it back to life. I personally know two sheepish types that dropped theirs in toilets (flushed ones... ;-)), and the devices came back to life some two weeks (+/-) later... They did use a commerical dessicant, though...

Reply

Answer 3

deggie

Level 10

167,537 points

Aug 19, 2008 8:40 PM in response to Chasearoo

You weren't being "had" about the box of rice, it acts as a natural drying agent, but it needs to be raw rice. Let it dry for 5 to 7 days, charge it for at least 30 minutes, then Reset it while it is on the charger and see what happens. If it comes back to life, fully charge it.

Reply

Answer 4

Chasearoo Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 19, 2008 9:07 PM in response to deggie

Hmmm...interesting...so "Minute Rice" won't actually speed up the drying time?
😉

Well Rogers said I should just toss it into a recycle program. They had never seen an iPhone recover from water damage. At this time they have no "refurbished" to sell so I either wait out my contract or buy another at full price.

I've learned my lesson. iPhones 3G's don't float.

Reply

Answer 5

Chasearoo Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 20, 2008 7:03 AM in response to Joe91

Well...you've all given me a hint of hope here...so the iPhone is sitting down deep in a box of rice and now I wait. I will let you all know if it comes back online.

Now...anyone know how to get rice out of the sim card slot?

Reply

Answer 6

Aug 20, 2008 8:19 AM in response to Chasearoo

I don't know of many phones that have a rubber grip. All cell phones I've owned, including a Motorola RAZR v3, were pretty much plastic (and slippery) and I've always bought a case of some sort to protect it from falls and smudges; the iPhone is no different.

Seriously, you can't blame Apple for getting your iPhone dropped into the water and not being a flotation device. Any mobile phone is going to not work after it's been dropped into the water. I suggest you don't even turn on the phone right away b/c the moisture will definitely short out the phone once you turn it on. Allow the iPhone to dry after several days and see if it does turn on and still function. Otherwise, you're going to have to fork over money to buy a new iPhone b/c Apple is not going to replace it free of charge since it was your fault.

Good luck.

Reply

Answer 7

Aug 20, 2008 9:57 AM in response to Chasearoo

I have had two come back.
One after drying for a month in rice.
The other came back almost imediatly. But still needed drying in rice.
One note is even if the switch/buttons don't work place in dock and plug in to wall. the leave alone for hour. It may respond on own or then hit sleep button.
CHris

Reply

Answer 8

Chasearoo Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 20, 2008 10:17 AM in response to Chris Woodruff

Bryan...seriously ROFL...didnt see that one coming.

Kiburn....Yes...what can you do but laugh. My fault. But the rice thing is just so weird. I was just about to toss it into a recycle program...so maybe there is some hope.

_*Tenacious MC*_...YEP...all my fault, I admitted it. Not blaming Apple, HOWEVER, I did spend about 20 minutes looking over the iPhone, upon it's arrival wondering where and why it didnt have a strap hole. All my cells do (I have many...LOVE GADGETS)...Even BLACKBERRY's. And as far as the rubber grip?...well...why not? I was merely throwing out my 'patent pending' idea for a waterproof, strap enhanced, rubber grip iPhone. (Ok I lied about the patent...but if there's an entrepreneur with cash and strong ties to Apple, out there with a factory in Asia lookin for a product to make...call me)

Chris....you give me great hope!

Reply

Answer 9

Chasearoo Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 27, 2008 7:23 AM in response to Chasearoo

Update...not my summer.

My pup just knocked me, causing my Blackberry Pearl into my full cup of coffee. So, lets see comes out of the dunk dry. Both iPhone and Blackberry in a box of rice. However the iPhone has had a week start.

I'm thinkin of just stickin with two cans and a whole lotta string.

Reply

Answer 10

Nathan C

Level 5

6,266 points

Aug 27, 2008 8:03 AM in response to Chasearoo

Chasearoo,

Your iPhone's warranty is voided by liquid damage, there are a couple of indicators that would let the depot know it had been in water if sent in for repair.

The suggestion of rice, particularly of the "Instant" variety is that it acts like a natural desiccant. It may or may not work, and would be a matter of your own decision to try.

However, I probably would have left the SIM tray in the iPhone.

Thank you,

Nathan C.

Reply

Answer 11

Chasearoo Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 27, 2008 8:27 AM in response to Nathan C

Hey Nathan...way ahead of you on this...well aware of the warranty issue, didn't even inquire. Well aware of the 50/50 on the rice now.I left sim tray in but needed the sim card in my bb pearl. This forum gave me info on the rice and a 50% chance that it might work. This forum also allowed me to share with others...so, to quote ONJ on her 1981 Physical album "Dolphin" song...

if I can make one person aware, one person care, then I'll have done what I set out to do.

nuff said

😉

Reply

Answer 12

Chasearoo Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 27, 2008 9:29 AM in response to Bryan Mick

there's only so much rice...and I still have a sony-eric K850i cel, and a Nohia 8320 cel...and there's always a chance I'll go swimming with my MacBook Pro...

two cans and a string...those were the good ole days.

Reply

Answer 13

ukfe11a

Level 1

60 points

Aug 27, 2008 12:43 PM in response to Chasearoo

So..... you've got Apple and Blackberry with rice, how about adding some milk and sugar, maybe a couple of eggs top with pastry.......... and voila.......... it still won't work but it will taste a whole lot better 🙂

Reply

Answer 14

Chasearoo Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 28, 2008 8:31 AM in response to ukfe11a

I had the perfect cell combo...
iPhone for internet and Email
Blackberry Pearl for one on one real time with my fellow blackberrians and superb voice dial
Sony Eric K850i for 5 mpix camera and video

I only wish i could have mixed the three into one phone...

Reply

Answer 15

Aug 28, 2008 8:40 AM in response to Chasearoo

I know of a Moto Razor that a scuba diver found on the bottom of the Colorado River. He placed it on his dashboard for the drive home across the SoCal desert, thinking the heat might dry it out.

When he arrived home, he turned it on and it worked without any apparent defects. Using the phone's phonebook, he was able to track the owner down and return the phone to a very surprised owner (who admitted to loosing it over the side of a boat).

I haven't heard of the rice technique, but what have you got to loose (except a partial meal).

Reply