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Friendly Reminder: Do Not Place Your iPhone In a Microwave

Nerval's Lobster writes Placing your iPhone in the microwave will destroy the phone, and possibly the microwave. While that might seem obvious to some people, others have fallen for the "Wave" hoax making its way around online. The fake advertisement insists that the new iOS 8 allows users to charge their iPhones by placing them in a "household microwave for a minute and a half." Microwave energy will not charge your smartphone. To the contrary, it will scorch the device and render it inoperable. If you nuke your smartphone and subsequently complain about it online, people will probably make fun of you. (If you want a full list of things not to place in a microwave, no matter how pretty the flames, check this out.)

58 of 240 comments (clear)

  1. If you're not smart enough to realize this is BS.. by SirGeek · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Then you deserve to melt the iPhone, your microwave, home and possibly yourself.

  2. Also... by gurps_npc · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Don't put an unopened bottle or can of soda in a microwave. Or at least not in a microwave you ever want to use again.

    Also, don't put your phone in gas oven, or on a hot griddle.

    Similarly, don't touch anything hot enough to cook, and don't stick a knife into your gut.

    --
    excitingthingstodo.blogspot.com
    1. Re:Also... by Agares · · Score: 2

      I'm so glad I read you comment it is definitely going to save me in the future!

    2. Re:Also... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Induction only works on ferrous metals, and most (at any rate mine) cooktops have a sensor which won't allow the element to come on unless there is a certain amount of ferrous material present. So probably nothing would happen, unless there was also enough of a pot on at the same time to disable the sensor, and there are ferrous parts inside.

    3. Re:Also... by Khyber · · Score: 2

      "Don't put an unopened bottle or can of soda in a microwave"

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

      Try again. Don't put anything with ARC-CAPABLE POINTS in a microwave. Rounded-edge steel containers (like metal bowls and cans) are typically fine to use in a microwave.

      I've got a *HUGE* nichrome heating element inside my Microwave (it's a combo microwave/broiler.) That element is exposed at all times. Shit doesn't go sparking like mad or blowing up when I use the microwave.

      --
      Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
    4. Re:Also... by X0563511 · · Score: 4, Funny

      I don't think he was referring to arcing.

      Pop quiz: What happens when you boil water inside an sealed container?

      --
      For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
    5. Re:Also... by gurps_npc · · Score: 2
      Note, I speak from experience, that youtube video is only ONE of several possibilities. In my case, I had a high powered microwave and had it on high for five minutes.

      The liquid inside boiled to steam and the container (glass bottle) was not strong enough to contain it. It burst, sending shards of glass into the microwave. None came out the other side, but it deformed the structure of the microwave and broke it.

      --
      excitingthingstodo.blogspot.com
    6. Re:Also... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2

      Pop quiz

      I see what you did there.

    7. Re:Also... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      It doesn't even have to be sealed... If you got an oldie microwave that doesn't have a rotating turntable, just a simple glass of water will boil, boil, boil, then mysteriously stop (probably once it's finished expelling all the dissolved gasses). Then the bottom will superheat for a few seconds until it overturns and FOOM, water "explosion."

    8. Re:Also... by MaryAnnEvans · · Score: 4, Insightful

      We don't need to, Mythbusters already did. Metal cutlery did nothing interesting. Foil and CDs give a light show. But they don't harm the microwave unless they are close enough to the case to arc across to it.

      Trouble with technicians is that they believe their own myths.

    9. Re:Also... by TWX · · Score: 4, Funny

      Don't pull on Superman's cape...

      Don't spit into the wind...

      Don't pull the mask off of the Lone Ranger...

      And don't mess around with Jim...

      --
      Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    10. Re:Also... by m2shariy · · Score: 2

      I always leave spoon or fork on the plate when heating up food in microwave, just so I do not need to hold it in my hand. Nothing happens, it does not even get warm. And yes, it is made from metal. Speaking of which, the microwave walls are made from steel, so there is always a lot of it in the microwave, whenever you turn it on. Oh, horror!

  3. Why is this on Slashdot? by Moof123 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I mean really, this is a new low for story quality.

    1. Re:Why is this on Slashdot? by aardvarkjoe · · Score: 2

      If you search for "microwave iphone", at least you end up with some articles with evidence that people actually tried this.

      The dice.com article doesn't even manage that.

      How the hell does this company manage to make any money with this kind of ineptitude running the show?

      --

      How can we continue to believe in a just universe and freedom to eat crackers if we have no ale?
    2. Re:Why is this on Slashdot? by Cederic · · Score: 2

      For me it's not news, just entertainment. I can cope with a little entertainment amongst my news.

      Shit, one of my favourite articles on Slashdot for years was the link to some professor lighting his barbecue with liquid oxygen. Sure, it's all over youtube now but back then it was novel, interesting and highly amusing.

      Kind of like watching someone microwave their brand new iphone.

  4. Trolls are bad people by EmperorOfCanada · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I think that this article is psychologically linked to the recent article about internet trolls actually being very bad people. I love a good prank but this is just wanton sadistic behaviour. My phone provides me with much joy so anyone who would take that away from me and cost me hundreds of dollars for a laugh is wired seriously wrong; I'm lucky to have enough understanding to not fall for this sort of thing but it makes it just that much meaner to prey upon those who would.

    1. Re: Trolls are bad people by EmperorOfCanada · · Score: 4, Insightful

      What if I dressed up as a doctor, had an air of gravitas, videoed from what looks like an ivy covered university and gave terrible terrible medical advice about Tylenol maximum dosages? Or if I dressed as a garage mechanic used all kinds of mechanical words and gave horrible advice such as sugar in the gas tank eliminates the squeal when you hit the brakes?

      We all can't be experts in everything. Some people are really really not technical while not actually being stupid people. This sort of thing might not fool many slashdotters but which fork to use during which course during a fancy dinner with a potential investor in our tech startup might confound many of us; and end up costing us a whole lot more than a replacement phone.

    2. Re: Trolls are bad people by KiloByte · · Score: 2

      which fork to use during which course during a fancy dinner

      Whichever fork does the job. Any smart person will realize using fork X only for dish Y is an old fad.

      --
      The creatures outside looked from Alt-Right to Antifa; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
    3. Re: Trolls are bad people by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      What if I dressed up as a doctor, had an air of gravitas, videoed from what looks like an ivy covered university and gave terrible terrible medical advice about Tylenol maximum dosages? .

      Dr. Oz, is that you?

    4. Re: Trolls are bad people by Obfuscant · · Score: 2

      Let me get this straight. So if somebody you don't actually know, who is probably located thousands of miles away from you, makes an obviously harmful suggestion that isn't directed at you,

      Most arguments where the word "obvious" plays a critical part are usually not so obvious. Just as "common sense" isn't.

      Many of the things we take for granted today are magical black boxes to many people, based on the simple Clarke assertion: "any technology sufficiently advanced will be seen as magic". Remember that just a few years ago the simple analog cell phone was viewed as magic and people expected that the conversations they were transmitting in the clear over radio waves were private and they had some expectation of privacy. Infomercials routinely sell us small convection ovens as miracle cooking devices, and any man who has trouble peeing should buy this magical remedy.

      In this hoax, we're combining the magical microwave oven and mystical cell phone made by the shamans at Apple. It would take a necromancer of the upper levels to realize that combining the white magic of the microwave with the black magic created by The Fruit That Cannot be Spoken would result in Bad Things.

    5. Re: Trolls are bad people by sexconker · · Score: 2

      which fork to use during which course during a fancy dinner

      Whichever fork does the job. Any smart person will realize using fork X only for dish Y is an old fad.

      Wrong, because as the server comes and takes away your plate from the first course he takes the used utensils along with it.
      If you used table spoon for the grape fruit you'll be slicing the corners of your mouth every time you're forced to use the grapefruit spoon in another course.
      If you used your dessert spoon spoon for the soup, the coffee spoon for your pasta, you'll look like a fucking retard when you have to use the soup spoon for dessert and the table spoon for coffee (or vice versa) later on. Hell, a proper set may not even allow your soup or tablespoon to fit inside the sugar bowl when it comes time for coffee. That kind of gaffe is the difference between taking the evening train home and staying in the guest suite with a pleasant visit from the countess.

      We're already starting the 5th season (or "series") of Downton Abbey and you fools don't know this shit?!

  5. Dare to be stupid by halivar · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Put your head in a microwave, and give yourself a tan..."

    1. Re:Dare to be stupid by TechyImmigrant · · Score: 3, Funny

      "Put your head in a microwave, and give yourself a tan..."

      Doesn't work. You have to stick a screwdriver in the door interlock so it will come on while your head is in there and the door is open.

      --
      I should use this sig to advertise my book ISBN-13 : 978-1501515132.
    2. Re:Dare to be stupid by X0563511 · · Score: 2

      Still might not work, without the door being closed you might not get standing waves.

      --
      For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
    3. Re:Dare to be stupid by Opportunist · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Reference.

      You may quietly drop your geek card in the box provided on your way out.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    4. Re:Dare to be stupid by tom17 · · Score: 2

      Cut it off first and put it in there. Bonus points if you can still pull a different face on every rotation of the turntable!

  6. As a wise man once said... by Black+Art · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Put your head in a microwave and get yourself a tan."

    You must dare to be stupid.

    --
    "Trademarks are the heraldry of the new feudalism."
  7. Jokes aside by slazzy · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I can't wait until wireless charging is standard. Combined with bluetooth headphones, we can finally start making phones really water resistant or even waterproof. Be nice not to fumble with little charging connectors late at night or drunk when your phone needs a charge too.

    --
    Website Just Down For Me? Find out
  8. Jealous Android users by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    You can't trick me. You're only jealous because your cheap Android doesn't support Wave charging.

    1. Re:Jealous Android users by jaymz666 · · Score: 4, Funny

      as with most of the features in iOS 8, android had it years ago

  9. Anyone reporting a microwaved iPhone by jpellino · · Score: 4, Funny

    gets bumped up to a 23 digit /. UID.

    --
    "Win treats sysadmins better than users. Mac treats users better than sysadmins. Linux treats everyone like sysadmins."
  10. User error by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm guessing people were using 800W microwaves. The Wave Charge feature is only intended for 700w microwaves. Anyone using a powerful microwave should lower the power percentage to compensate. It worked fine on mine, although 1,30 only gave me 72% battery not 100%.

  11. Lifehacks! Infographics! by mythosaz · · Score: 4, Informative

    I see someone out there has been browsing 4chan again.

    The "microwave your phone to charge it" fake infographic/lifehack has been posted countless times before, but nicely updated for the new iPhone. Plenty of kids have iPhones, and plenty of kids are ignorant.

    The "microwave your phone to charge it" infographic has been posted next to such informative graphics as:
    - Put a drop of gasoline in the corner of your eye to see rainbow colors.
    - Mix ammonia and bleach in a dish, put a penny in the bottom, and blow into a straw to grow crystals.
    - Ice cream too hard? Microwave the spoon!

    ...and countless others, largely centering around poison gas, microwaves, and putting the red-hot spoon in your hand under running water. :/

    Back my day we just TP'd houses.

  12. Trolls, salt of the Erf by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Trolls are good people. They teach the public the importance of exercising their critical thinking skills. Additionally, they provide endless amusement for the few not stupids of the world.

  13. Wow -- thanks Slashdot! by l0ungeb0y · · Score: 3, Funny

    I was just about to try out Wave on my new iPhone after I finished deleting system32 to make my PC go faster

  14. Re:If you're not smart enough to realize this is B by Richy_T · · Score: 4, Funny

    Haha, too true. No way Apple is this advanced. Now, my Samsung, on the other hand, charges a treat. Just don't run it on full power as that overclocks the CPU and causes instability.

  15. Re:If you're not smart enough to realize this is B by dysmal · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Darwin would be ashamed that these people are still breathing.

  16. Re:If you're not smart enough to realize this is B by Smidge204 · · Score: 4, Funny

    To charge your iPhone you need a $150 crisper... ere "Inductive charging" pouch that your phone goes into before putting it into the microwave.

    Keeps it clean, you see. Not using the "Inductive charging" pouch may void the warranty.
    =Smidge=

  17. From the real article by XxtraLarGe · · Score: 3, Informative

    Linked to by the Dice non-article, can be found here. There appears to be exactly one victim that they can identify. Given the rest of the junk the guy tweets, my guess is it's a troll, done on an older, non-working phone. Sounds like some people are trying to create a news story where none exists.

    --
    Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
  18. You'll be amazed! by Daetrin · · Score: 3, Funny

    Power companies hate Apple for this one weird trick!ï

    --
    This Space Intentionally Left Blank
    1. Re:You'll be amazed! by Bob+the+Super+Hamste · · Score: 2

      But was it discovered by a single mother?

      --
      Time to offend someone
  19. Re:Why is this here? by Opportunist · · Score: 3, Funny

    Oh c'mon, from time to time having a laugh at the expense of the bullies that beat us up during high school really helps coping with it.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  20. Not just the ad - the entire story is BS by QuasiSteve · · Score: 4, Informative

    The summary says that 'others' have fallen for it. That makes you think there's got to be at least half a dozen idiots in the world that have tried this, right?

    The article (at DICE) says "others have fallen".

    Their source is The Independent:
    http://www.independent.co.uk/l...

    What does that story say?

    Pictures have followed the advert that (also fake) showing the outcome of attempting to charge your phone in the microwave:

    So there's really only 1 person who said they tried it - and the article itself points out that this, too, is fake (as admitted - he was doing it for the exposure, RTs, etc.)

    Maybe there's hope for people yet - though I wouldn't put it past some to actually try it, there's no reason to believe that it has already transpired.

    1. Re:Not just the ad - the entire story is BS by ShaunC · · Score: 2

      Maybe there's hope for people yet - though I wouldn't put it past some to actually try it, there's no reason to believe that it has already transpired.

      Never "misunderestimate" the average idiot. Hundreds of people have been happy to pour rubbing alcohol on their bodies and light themselves on fire this year, and there's no shortage of YouTube/Vine/LiveLeak videos to prove that this is going on. Believe it, there are people who are putting their new iPhones into their microwaves. They just can't prove it because they're too busy nuking the only camera they own.

      --
      Thanks to the War on Drugs, it's easier to buy meth than it is to buy cold medicine!
    2. Re:Not just the ad - the entire story is BS by RandomAdam · · Score: 2

      I believe this is the only correct way to use "misunderestimate".

      "Never misunderestimate the average idiot" .... just perfect :)

      --
      @Random_Adam

      Sometimes a sig doesn't have to be funny!!
  21. Re:Lifehacks! Infographics! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    The best practical joke I've ever done was to draw a cock on a friend's forehead with a UV marker when he was already somewhat drunk and decided to take a nap before we were going to a club. Now, this was in Finland where there's an expression "to have cock on your forehead", which means that you're pissed off, upset, sad or such. Hilarity ensued when it became visible in the club's UV lights but he could not see it when checking in the bathroom mirror. Many random strangers that noticed it asked him "hey, what makes you upset, why do you have a cock on your forehead?" and he constantly had to say "no, no, I'm having a great time" and even went a little overboard to look happy thinking that he had to show it. Ah, sweet memories of my days as a student :)

  22. Re:If you're not smart enough to realize this is B by ahaweb · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Good point. The article mis-labelled as "others have fallen for the Wave hoax" doesn't mention anything about anybody actually falling for it.

  23. Re: Trolls are hilarious people by plover · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Your comment reminds me of an old joke.

    Q: What's the difference between a computer salesman and a used car salesman?
    A: The used car salesman knows when he's lying.

    So how does someone know who to believe is a genuine "Computer Professional"? I don't normally* wear a set of test leads around my neck like a stethoscope; I don't have a "Mr. GoodBytes" patch sewn to my work uniform; I don't wear a lab coat or even carry a clipboard. What cue would you recommend people trust? A pithy T-shirt? A club tie? An expensive car in the driveway? An imperial conditioning tattoo on my forehead? Trust is always the problem.

    * Yes, I do occasionally drape test leads around my neck, but that's beside the point.

    --
    John
  24. Only Works in Airplane Mode by realperseus · · Score: 2

    It only works in Airplane mode. Read the instructions! ;-)

    --
    "Trusting every aspect of our lives to a giant computer was the smartest thing we ever did.." Homer Simpson
  25. Re:If you're not smart enough to realize this is B by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative
  26. Re:Metal by ihtoit · · Score: 3, Informative

    secret to metal in a microwave: eliminate exposed sharp edges.

    That funky little HTC with the one-piece machined aluminium chassis is probably safe.
    Some microwaveware is metal (I have steel bowls that are specifically designed for safe use in microwaves).
    I have an uberbudget oven that has steel pins in the turntable runner.
    Combination ovens (micro/grill jobbies) have steel grilles and NOWHERE does it say in the manual to remove these before you operate the oven in microwave mode.

    The thing all these have in common is that any exposed metal surfaces are devoid of sharp angles and the edges are rolled back on themselves. Rod points (ie on the grilles) are filed back as far as possible to eliminate those areas as a RFE sink. Also note that on those, the wires are thicker than you'd find in a conventional oven.

    --
    Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
  27. Re:Lifehacks! Infographics! by Surak_Prime · · Score: 2

    Believe it or not, they make spoons that you ARE supposed to microwave for ice cream:

    http://www.ideastage.com/Food-...

    --
    :::The Spear in the heart of the Other is the Spear in the heart of You; You are He - Surak of Vulcan:::
  28. Re:If you're not smart enough to realize this is B by Jose · · Score: 5, Funny

    The first tip-off that this story is BS is that this charging technique doesn't even require an Apple-branded microwave.

    There is no way that Apple would introduce a new feature that does not require new Apple hardware.

    --
    The basic sleazeware produced in a drunken fury by a bunch of UCBerkeley grad students was still the core of BIND. --PV
  29. Re:If you're not smart enough to realize this is B by jellomizer · · Score: 3, Funny

    Gullibility unfortunately is a survival mechanism.
    Part of our nature to form communities and work as a group. Gullibility allows us not to waste time thinking about consequences if someone else seems to know the answer. We use less brain power, increasing our energy level needing less food, and could survive the next day.

    --
    If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
  30. Citogenesis by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    Doesn't matter, we now have two reliable sources claiming it did, so we can put it on Wikipedia, dispute anyone pointing out the discrepancy and fabricate the story from whole cloth.

  31. Re:If you're not smart enough to realize this is B by Saithe · · Score: 2

    Abuse of the system might lead to someone that actually needs help to not get help because all the operators are busy with prank calls, hence it's an offence to call the number when not in dire need. You can be fined for it.

  32. Re:If you're not smart enough to realize this is B by Cederic · · Score: 2

    Being charged with a crime is different to being charged for a service which is different to being charged by a rhinoceros which is different to being charged with polar energy which is different with being charged with a commission.

    Useful word, charged.

  33. Can melt gold in a microwave oven by dbIII · · Score: 2

    Gold can be melted in a graphite crucible in a microwave oven, however if you want the interior of the microwave to survive it has to be lined with the sort of material that is used to line furnaces (eg. certain types of clay).