Slashdot Mirror


iPod Dangerous When Wet

puggsincyberspace writes "What do you do when your mom washes your iPod? Fix it, of course. A teenager in Australia found out the hard way that messing with the insides of his iPod is dangerous and needed medical attention after it exploded."

21 of 531 comments (clear)

  1. iPod Killer? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Or Killer iPod?

  2. iPod bombs... by The+Jabberwock · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...the primary choice of militant geeks everywhere.

  3. I heard somewhere that by PurpleXanathar · · Score: 5, Funny

    getting wet for electronic devices is a dangerous thing.

    1. Re:I heard somewhere that by RealityMogul · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yes, the scroll wheel turns in the opposite direction

    2. Re:I heard somewhere that by schtum · · Score: 5, Funny

      Mod parent down "WRONG". The iPod was not in his pocket, it was in his hand. His other hand had a screwdriver in it. The iPod was only defending itself. Seriously, he probably shorted the battery or something.

      If you really want to take your iPod apart, there are instructions all over the place online. I've never done it (don't even own one), so I can't vouch for how safe it is, but I'm thinking they should all add a new "step one": Wait for iPod to dry.

  4. The kid pierced the Li Ion battery with a screwdri by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The kid pierced the Li Ion battery with a screwdriver. It wouldn't matter if this was an iPod, rio, nomad, dell dj, mobile phone or the interior of a LiIon laptop battery from any manufacturer.

    The kid tried to argue with the laws of physics, and as always - lost.

  5. In other news... by JohnnyBigodes · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... playing with fire will get you burned, suprisingly!

  6. In other news.. by khrtt · · Score: 5, Funny

    ..if your cell phone falls into the toilet... duck and cover...

  7. Re:The kid pierced the Li Ion battery with a screw by t_allardyce · · Score: 5, Insightful

    No, all that matters now is that when the press runs a story with the words 'iPod' and 'exploded' it won't matter how much you talk about LiIon batteries, people are going to believe that iPods are the problem and that they randomly explode.

    --
    This comment does not represent the views or opinions of the user.
  8. This boy has a great future... by dpbsmith · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...as a Toyota Prius mechanic.

  9. Re:The kid pierced the Li Ion battery with a screw by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    The kid tried to argue with the laws of physics, and as always - lost.
    You don't always lose. In Kansas, the second law of thermodynamics is illegal. Apparently people there live for ever.

  10. Hey... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Guess what's going to put you on the no fly list when the Department of Homeland Security gets to work in a few hours.

    Somehow I don't think iPods will be making to an eBay auction either.

  11. Rumour has it... by OverflowingBitBucket · · Score: 5, Funny

    .. that the iPod is also a choking hazard if you attempt to swallow it.

  12. Re:All I have to say is by psavo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think this is where RFID could help a LOT. There's just no reason for electronics class device to be inside a washing machine.

    --
    fucktard is a tenderhearted description
  13. Re:The kid pierced the Li Ion battery with a screw by captain_dope_pants · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ah, if only they did explode randomly.

    I for one would spend my free time sitting in the park looking out for gyrating youths and betting with my friends whether they were dancing or in severe pain from their exploding portable music players.
    Hours of fun.... But then I don't get out much ;-)

    --
    while (true != false) process_more_stupid_code();
  14. nice title by Dr.Opveter · · Score: 5, Funny

    FTA (page title)
    Teenager's iPod goes boom - Breaking - Technology - theage.com.au

    That's breaking technology alright.

    --
    Sample this!
  15. Damn kids and their modern technology.... by cianduffy · · Score: 5, Interesting

    In my day, when you washed your (1st generation, flash-based) mp3 player, you just put it on top of your (17", radition levels that burn out brains) monitor with the memory card out for a few hours to dry

    Same with cellphones, flash keys, etc. But noooo, someone had to go and put rustable moving parts into mp3 players...

  16. Nice tabloid journalism there... by Harker · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Teenager's iPod goes boom

    You don't see what really happened until much further down the article (around 3/4 of the way through) emphasis mine:

    "It wasn't working, the young fella tried to undo it or fix it with a screwdriver and at that stage there was an explosion, or more of a pop.


    Gotta love the media. Anything for a sensational headline.

    H
    --
    When VCR's are outlawed, only outlaws will have VCR's.
  17. Lithium poly batteries the cause by inflex · · Score: 5, Informative

    The iPod uses lithium poly batteries, they're slim, they're powerful and they pack a punch when you rupture them.

    With model aircraft, we use them a lot for our electric motors however they carry with them a lot of cautions. If you should happen to rupture or over charge them it's time to STAND CLEAR.

    Typically a lipo will puff up for a bit then have a fairly impressive flame out (as the lithium starts burning). I'd personally be worried about the guy if he inhaled too much of the fumes, it's fairly toxic.

    Oh, he probably ruptured the battery with the screwdriver. Normally if we have a "dud" cell, we put the cells into a bucket of salt water and then puncture the cells (UNDER WATER), the cells will bubble quite a bit and eventually after a few hours settle down.

  18. This kid wouldn't perchance live in... by Demerara · · Score: 5, Funny

    ..Darwin, would he?

    --
    Backward%20compatibility%20is%20over-rated
  19. Re:The kid pierced the Li Ion battery with a screw by Hinhule · · Score: 5, Informative

    He might've just shorted the battery, which could also cause it to explode.

    There are 3 common ways for LiIon batteries to explode.

    1. Short circut.
    2. Overcharging.
    3. Physical.

    As explosions is a way to ask for being sued, most manufacturers have short circut tests as part of manufacturing. Charge regulators are also put into the casing of the battery or in the appliance (Ipod, cellphone etc). Just to make sure no law suits come from 1. and 2.

    The only thing they can't protect themselves from is physical abuse on the battery itself. Like screwdriver through it.