iPod: media player, cultural icon, and rescue beacon?

Sure, we've heard the heartwarming stories of SMS savings a boy's life and TiVo preventing a man from heading to prison, but this round of "Gadgets Saving Lives" features none other than the token iPod as the center of attention. While Griffin has long since had the idea of using the iPod to power a flashlight-type device, a mushroom hunter (yes, they do exactly as the title describes) resorted to the backlit LCD in his Apple in order to lead rescuers to his location. While enjoying a presumably thrilling evening of picking 'shrooms from the wild brush in Vancouver, Washington with his mother, Pini Nou somehow found himself off the beaten path and lost under a cover of darkness (and wild grass, too). By phoning in authorities and faintly describing his surroundings, troops were able to get close enough to view the white glow emitted from his PMP, and 20 minutes later he was safe and sound, albeit "cold, tired, and aching." So, there you have it kids, the ultimate excuse to get an iPod for the holidays -- safety.

[Thanks, Napo M.]

[Kutanks @ Nov 19th 2006 2:57PM]

So thats why they made the screen 60% brighter on the new 5.5G ipod. Now theres a 60% better chance of being rescued so that you can buy more lifesaving products from apple in the future.

[peter @ Nov 19th 2006 2:59PM]

Oh wow! An iPod light "saved his life"! He used a cellphone to contact the authorities, which has a backlight he could have used if he did not have the iPod. Also, his life was not in danger, so I do not know how it "saved his life" he could have just went to sleep and awoken when sunlight was back. Too much apple fanboyism on this site.

[Jonathan Keim @ Nov 19th 2006 3:13PM]

I agree that he could have used his cellphone and that is a good point. But you shouldn't go off because so many people love the ipod.

[tiuk @ Nov 19th 2006 3:32PM]

I don't know about you, but my iPod's screen is way brighter than my cell phone's.

[Joy @ Nov 20th 2006 5:50PM]

Cell phone was dead. Temperatures were close to 30F that night, damp. Inadequate clothing - likely would have gone to sleep and not woken up!

[Brian @ Nov 19th 2006 3:02PM]

dude, thats where i live. i didnt know we had mushroom hunters.

[crescentdavid @ Nov 19th 2006 3:04PM]

Well there you have it: proof positive an iPod can save it's iDiot owner. Go tOol! And kudos to Nou for keeping the presence of mind to remember concepts like "on" and "off"- it saved his life now, didn't it? Hope his mum made him some hot chocky. Now all he needs to do is carry iFlares with him next time he goes out mushroom hunting with mommy.

[GeNnOve @ Nov 19th 2006 3:11PM]

Just iMagine what an iPhone can do wow

apple take notes and listen and execute.

[metal @ Nov 19th 2006 3:22PM]

Mushroom hunter? did this remind anyone else of mario for a second?

okay I'm a nerd get over it.

Anyways so this guy goes mushroom hunting at night without a flashlight but with an ipod? sounds to me like it wasnt the ipod that saved his life but his own stupidity that got him in trouble.

[lyl545646 @ Nov 19th 2006 4:08PM]

Next time, remember bring your laptop, because the screen is like 300% bigger, seriously.

[tekdroid @ Nov 19th 2006 4:47PM]

wouldn't the fact that we can pinpoint the location of mobile phones with great accuracy have much more to do with the rescue than the light of the ipod? Seems to me the light made only the last few steps a little easier.

In other news, one recommends Petzl headlamps for late-night mushroom pickings with mother dearest.

[Scott @ Nov 19th 2006 7:01PM]

Get the facts straight!

The person got lost near Monroe, Oregon. The article here got the wrong state, let alone city...

[sammy mazola jr @ Nov 19th 2006 8:46PM]

Did you hear the story of the boy who went mushroom picking with his Zune?

He died!

[DM @ Nov 19th 2006 10:31PM]

LoL. What a lame story. Whether it is just a made up story or not, i don't know whether the ipod saved his life or just proof that there are too many stupid people who owns an ipod.

[Aaron @ Nov 19th 2006 11:29PM]

Tracking cellphones takes too much paperwork. Law enforcement agencies are weary of using it because it just takes too much work. Also it takes three towers for accuracy which might be kind of hard in the wilderness.

I agree with Peter though. I mean honestly, if you have cell phone reception you can't be that desperately lost to need troops to come find you in the middle of the night.

[GMZ @ Nov 20th 2006 12:00PM]

Never thought of using iPod as a flashlight or a life-saving device, and this is another aspect why I should choose iPod instead of Zune.
Recently iPod made a partnership with a few airline companies, to offer iPod connection support on flights, so you can connect the iPod to the planes media center, and wathcing videos on the front seat screen.
Here is the full article:
http://blog.mobtal.net/anki/2006/11/take-your-ipod-with-you-on-the-next-flight/

[Joy @ Nov 20th 2006 5:54PM]

Get better info from the locals - where it *really* happened.
http://www.gtconnect.com/articles/2006/11/18/news/community/2loc09_ipod.txt