We like the iPods that go boom

So some teen in Melbourne, Australia thought it'd be a smart idea to use a screwdriver to repair the water damaged iPod that he'd accidentally put through the wash. Probably wouldn't be a good idea to try and fix your iPod your damn self even if it hadn't just been soaked and agitated in sudsy water for 45 minutes (at least not unless you work at PortalPlayer), but apparently poking at a leaky iPod with a screwdriver is a most excellent way to get it to explode (which is totally unlike cellphones, which sometimes explode without human intervention). Everyone's ok, but the teen did manage to set his bed on fire.

[Thanks, Rakuza and Richmond]

[joe black @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

ha! am the first post here ...


and yea i own an ipos shuffle but i don't wear my headphones out like all the poseurs out there ...

[joe black @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

stop wearing your ipod headphones outside your shirts ... poseurs.. be original

[chris @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

1) first post on engadget isnt a big deal
2) learn to spell
3) grow up.

[chris @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

so, are you guys plugged into, like, an international exploding electronics notification network or something? how do you hear about all these exploding gadgets?

[Zach @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

This should have been obvious to anyone who knowsthe chemical properties of Lithium and water (not that I'd expect the kid to know that, but he could have at least exercised enough common sense to wait before trying to fix his iPod.

[allan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

The REAL question is : which makes mp3 player makes the bigger explosion?

[Sheldon @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

I wonder if Creative will try and trump this 'feature' as well?!

-SHeldon

[Patriot @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

Ahh that's stupid australians for you. Too bad he didn't die, would be another scumbag convict out of the gene pool.

[Ben @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

yeah, we still get to work on the back of a kangaroo. And vegemite (tihnk salt, except saltier) is great on pizza!

[GLN @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

re; #10
I see biggoted natioalism has reared it's ugly face on my favourite site, rather disheartening.
Oh Patriot my son, we Australians welcome you with open arms to come and experience the the warmth of a nation that is actually a strategic allie in your phony war in Iraq and so too it was in the past in Vietnam (neither of which I support), Korea and the South Pacific, we can go right back if you like.
I haven't actually seen a 'convict' in Australia in my lifetime of 38 years but I have heard of them, apparently they existed some 200 years ago.
I hold no contempt for your nations people but let's get some perpective here.
I read with great interest last week that it was America that has the worlds highest incarceration rate and the figure is some 20 times greater than other Western countries.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0818/p02s01-usju.html

Please, read on for reference to national intellect.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/13/opinion/13friedman.html?th&emc=th

Oh, if someone's coming to NY from Oz, I'd love a medium jar of Vegemite and a pack of Tim Tams please...

[Asher @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

GLN

I've backpacked up the Gold Coast before and feel sorry for yet another myopic view from America. I don't know if you can find the store in NY but a place called World Market sells several sizes of both Tim Tams and Vegemite (which I've grown fond of for brekkie). Many healthfood/alternative food stores often sell them as well. And many Kroger's foods stores sell them in their "international isle." Which is not terribly international.

cheers.

[GLN @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

Asher

Was thinking we should get together and buy Patriot a ticket out there (maybe on a slow boat) so he can just sit back and and read the links I posted, it'll take him that long to read 'em.
Thanks for the heads up on the Vegi, I'll finish the last scrapings of this jar and head over.

All the best.

GLN

[Asher @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

GLN;

Best just to keep his kind out. They're usually those tourists with the flags on their shirts and jeans, got plenty of 'em as it is.

World Market sells a good deal of Aussie foods. Occasionally some sweets too. But no Pavlova.

Enjoy the taste of home.

[Karl @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

> but apparently poking at a leaky iPod with a screwdriver is a most
> excellent way to get it to explode

I thought the correct term for this sort of event was "asplode" (like the correct term for "laser beam" is "fricking laser beam").
-- The Gadget Blog Terminology Police

We now return you to the Australia sucks/doesn't suck discussion, already in progress.

[GLN @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

I saw Patriot's argument "asplode": a little while back!
He went quiet, must be a confederate - keep him in The South.
"Zipp-it!"

[jem @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

oi #10 suck a dick
no wonder why no chick wants to blow you because you've taken the bottom two ribs to blow yourself. no wants a suck ass....im sorry for people who were expecting a reply with any relation to the topic. ok heres one: there should have signs for slow people about exploding batteries. back to patriot, dude why dont you get your fist and shove it up your ass, any forms discrimination don't belong on our engadget!

[Scott C. @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

Dig the L'Trimm reference: http://www.thelyricarchive.com/lyrics/welikecarsthatgoboom.shtml

[stevecrozz @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

what would you guys do throw it out? ya gotta at least crack it open and look don't you?

[Chadillac @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

hmmm after reading this first off

1.Sorry about patriot.. he voted for Bush (I can tell), we're not ALL like that... just most of the idiots here ;)

2.honestly I don't know the chemical reaction between water and lithium ... and if I just ruined my iPod by putting it through the wash I agree with stevecrozz I would def. wanna crack it open and look at the guts, see what makes it tick ya know, however ... doing it on your bed certainly seems a little .... uhhh... not intelligent

on that note kangaroos are cute, so are kowalla (spell check me) bears ... and vegimite is kinda gross

<3 to engadget

[Chadillac @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

hmmm after reading this first off

1.Sorry about patriot.. he voted for Bush (I can tell), we're not ALL like that... just most of the idiots here ;)

2.honestly I don't know the chemical reaction between water and lithium ... and if I just ruined my iPod by putting it through the wash I agree with stevecrozz I would def. wanna crack it open and look at the guts, see what makes it tick ya know, however ... doing it on your bed certainly seems a little .... uhhh... not intelligent

on that note kangaroos are cute, so are kowalla (spell check me) bears ... and vegimite is kinda gross

<3 to engadget

[sam @ Dec 19th 2005 12:14AM]

re #20 Chadillac
spelling is koala. but more importantly, its just koala, not koala bear. they are not bears at all.