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Iphone Idle

Friendly Reminder: Do Not Place Your iPhone In a Microwave 240

Posted by samzenpus from the bad-ideas dept.
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.)
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Friendly Reminder: Do Not Place Your iPhone In a Microwave More

Friendly Reminder: Do Not Place Your iPhone In a Microwave

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

  • Also... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by gurps_npc ( 621217 ) on Monday September 22, 2014 @12:32PM (#47965561) Homepage
    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.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Agares ( 1890982 )
      I'm so glad I read you comment it is definitely going to save me in the future!
    • I wonder what putting an iPhone on an inductive cooking element would do? Would it only cook certain parts or is there enough metal to scorch the whole thing?

      • Re: (Score:2, Informative)

        by Anonymous Coward

        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.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Khyber ( 864651 )

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

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

      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.

      • Re:Also... (Score:5, Funny)

        by X0563511 ( 793323 ) on Monday September 22, 2014 @01:07PM (#47966051) Homepage Journal

        I don't think he was referring to arcing.

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

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by Anonymous Coward

          Pop quiz

          I see what you did there.

        • Re: (Score:2, Informative)

          by Anonymous Coward

          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."

        • A whole lot of AWESOME!

      • Unopened... Container of liquid... As in sealed pressure vessel... Being heated past boiling.

        In case you missed a physics class, that's a bomb, my friend.
      • 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.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by Richy_T ( 111409 )

        I also believe that there's an egg boiler that has a metal container that surrounds the egg. The theory being that the microwaves heat the water but not the egg directly (which can have quite explosive consequences). On the other hand, I have seen gold edging on dishes cause arcing, presumably because the metal is not actually continuous.

    • 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.

      You forgot: Never play Russian Roulette with an automatic....

    • You forgot "Never put salt in your eyes."

  • Why is this on Slashdot? (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Moof123 ( 1292134 ) on Monday September 22, 2014 @12:32PM (#47965573)

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

    • Anyone reporting a microwaved iPhone (Score:5, Funny)

      by jpellino ( 202698 ) on Monday September 22, 2014 @12:37PM (#47965661)
      gets bumped up to a 23 digit /. UID.

    • Look at where it's coming from - Dice.com

      The ultimate in click bait. As for making the rounds on the Internet - yep, it's at 4chan.

      Some viral meme, that.

      • 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?

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by plover ( 150551 )

      Because to some of us it is news. It's not that I need the warning, but it helps me to know that my sister-in-law might be exposed to this kind of rumor, because she's pretty gullible and falls for trolls like this. I would like to be able to tell her preemptively "Yeah, this new lie is going around, don't do that."

      If I bring it up around the dinner table before she (or anyone) asks, it may also save her some embarrassment. Better, if the local TV news picks up on a story like this and broadcasts a hoax

      • Ah, what would you say had you not seen this? "Hey, never heard of that, sounds legit, let me get back to you."

        I submit that you would have lost your lunch through your nose had you been forewarned or not.

        • If I bring it up around the dinner table before she (or anyone) asks, it may also save her some embarrassment.

          Ah, what would you say had you not seen this? "Hey, never heard of that, sounds legit, let me get back to you."

          Why yes, that's how I always bring things up at the dinner table. "Hey, I never heard of that". "What didn't you hear about?" "I dunno, what haven't you asked about yet?"

          I think the OP was talking about making a pre-emptive comment, as in "bringing it up around the dinner table before [stackexchange.com] she asks", as in "hey, did you hear the latest hoax about...". Not responding to someone else bringing it up as something they'd already done, also known as "AFTER she asks".

      • Re: (Score:3)

        by Cederic ( 9623 )

        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.

  • Trolls are bad people (Score:3, Insightful)

    by EmperorOfCanada ( 1332175 ) on Monday September 22, 2014 @12:33PM (#47965595)
    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.

    • Trolls, salt of the Erf (Score:2, Funny)

      by Anonymous Coward
      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.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by fermion ( 181285 )
      Not to defend trolls, but only to say this is not an internet problem, people should be able to make critical judgements of what they here. For instance, television is full of statements that make no sense. Infomercials, opinion shows masquerading as news, daytime talk shows. Dr. Oz makes false claims, has even been called in front of congress, almost every week. I don't see how rational people are going to believe that gold is long term investment strategy for the small investor. At least with commerc

  • Dare to be stupid (Score:5, Funny)

    by halivar ( 535827 ) <bfelger&gmail,com> on Monday September 22, 2014 @12:33PM (#47965597)

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

  • As a wise man once said... (Score:5, Funny)

    by Black Art ( 3335 ) on Monday September 22, 2014 @12:33PM (#47965607)

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

    You must dare to be stupid.

  • Jokes aside (Score:4, Interesting)

    by slazzy ( 864185 ) on Monday September 22, 2014 @12:33PM (#47965609) Homepage Journal
    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.

    • There are already a number of waterproof phones on the market. Google brings up several hits. Here's one that is made for filming under water...
      http://www.sonymobile.com/us/p... [sonymobile.com]

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Richy_T ( 111409 )

      Wireless charging is very lossy and not needed anyway in order to make a device waterproof.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Ksevio ( 865461 )
      My samsung s5 is allegedly water proof - I've seen people use them under water, just don't feel like drowning mine. It has a little cap that goes over the charging ports that makes it that way.

  • Jealous Android users (Score:5, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 22, 2014 @12:35PM (#47965637)

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

  • User error (Score:4, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 22, 2014 @12:40PM (#47965693)

    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%.

  • Lifehacks! Infographics! (Score:5, Informative)

    by mythosaz ( 572040 ) on Monday September 22, 2014 @12:40PM (#47965705)

    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.

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

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

  • I had thought Slashdot was a bastion for the (mostly) technically competent and (mostly) intelligent. Thanks for dragging it down mods....

  • Wow -- thanks Slashdot! (Score:4, Funny)

    by l0ungeb0y ( 442022 ) on Monday September 22, 2014 @12:50PM (#47965835) Homepage Journal
    I was just about to try out Wave on my new iPhone after I finished deleting system32 to make my PC go faster

  • From the real article (Score:4, Informative)

    by XxtraLarGe ( 551297 ) on Monday September 22, 2014 @01:06PM (#47966029) Journal
    Linked to by the Dice non-article, can be found here [independent.co.uk]. There appears to be exactly one victim that they can identify [t.co]. 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.

  • You'll be amazed! (Score:4, Funny)

    by Daetrin ( 576516 ) on Monday September 22, 2014 @01:06PM (#47966033)
    Power companies hate Apple for this one weird trick!ï

  • It's not like they can kill themselves that way (sadly, but something we can't change). At least let them fry their toys, hoping that this will teach them that learning can keep you from doing stupid things.

  • What idiots! Everyone knows this only works on Windows phones!

  • Of course you don't put an iPhone in a microwave! Everyone knows that a blender [youtube.com] is the appropriate kitchen appliance for an iPhone. Id-jiots.

  • Ironically, you CAN put metal in a microwave. Maybe a lot of you are not old enough to remember when Microwaves first became popular in the early 80s but at the time there were warnings all over the news about the horrors of putting metal in a microwave. It will catch fire! Your microwave will explode! etc... etc...

    Fast forward to a few years ago, the Mythbusters did a show where they did it. And, to my amazement, nothing happened. Metal is entirely safe to put in a microwave, though you should be aware tha

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by ledow ( 319597 )

      It depends what metal, in what amount, and what configuration.

      I can tell you know that a metal-rimmed bowl I put into a microwave sparks like fuck, cracks and crackles, destroys the metal on the rim and makes the kitchen smell of burning metal for a day.

      Maybe it's "safe". But it's not a bright thing to do and entirely opposite to the function of a microwave - to heat food quickly. There's no point in heating food quickly if it all tastes of tin (the metal was gold, I think, but the smell was burning tin)

    • Re:Metal (Score:4, Informative)

      by ihtoit ( 3393327 ) on Monday September 22, 2014 @02:08PM (#47966695)

      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.

      • 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).
  • Somebody actually thought Slashdot readers would fall for this? What has the world come to... maybe Beta has made everybody dumb.
  • Yes. Yes they do. [youtube.com]

  • Only Works in Airplane Mode (Score:3)

    by realperseus ( 594176 ) on Monday September 22, 2014 @01:59PM (#47966619)
    It only works in Airplane mode. Read the instructions! ;-)
  • Actually, let me break it to you. Nobody toasted his phone ... it's a hoax, there's your proof http://youtu.be/7p1B6cj1hMQ?t=... [youtu.be] ... We should all thank samzenpus for the warning here. We'll all a bunch of retards toasting phones for breakfast.

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