Okay, so here’s the scenario … It’s Saturday night, and a fellow journalist’s party by the pool is starting to get pretty festive. We’ve reached the stage where everyone believes they are looking fabulous and the pool is calling loud and clear.
I suppose it was kind of my fault, because I got the ball rolling by pushing my darling wife into the pool … and the next thing you know, Bob’s your uncle, I’m taking a swim along with my wallet, BlackBerry and my favourite trail running shoes etc.
It was one of those moments when you know you’re in the #@X*&, even as it’s happening. But, it being a festive occasion, I merely pulled the BlackBerry out of my jeanpant and giggled as the water poured into the ground … Pool 1 – BlackBerry 0.
Fast forward to the next day, and a mild hangover and case of sleep deprivation … suddenly I’m faced with the reality that my phone is probably wrecked forever (the shoes, the wallet and rest were not a problem, of course). There is no light, and absolutely no sign of life from the phone at this stage.
Like those okes in the classic Mafia flicks, my BlackBerry was “Swimming with the fishes”.
But to the rescue came a knight in shining armour … the one and only “Geekbeard”, a technology columnist for the Sunday Tribune’s SM magazine. His advice: Take the battery out, take out the SIM and remove memory cards, shake out as much water as possible and wipe it off with a paper towel. Then PUT THE DISASSEMBLED PHONE IN A BAG OF UNCOOKED RICE. Leave it buried for at least 24 hours.
Ja, I hear you say … Right. Way to go Beardy.
But people, I am here to tell you that I can personally vouch for this incredible technique, in which the rice absorbs moisture from the sodden phone. After 24 hours my phone’s light came on for the first time, I plugged the battery back in for a good old charge. AND IT WORKS. It makes phone calls, it BBMs, it sends and receives SMSes and it is connecting to the internet.
Let me be clear, I don’t even like the blerrie thing, the internet browsing experience is painful, the battery life has always been pathetic, but it works. At least it works and I don’t have to go missioning around trying to get a new one.
Thank you Geekbeard … you are my hero. You’ve saved me some cash and a whole lot of schlep.
Geekbeard on Twitter: @alanqcooper
7 Comments
well you can’t help but love it now! it came back from the dead 🙂
I can assure you, the thing was totally dead. An it got completely soaked. Clearly rice is amazing stuff.
Perhaps BlackBerry should think of renaming the phone WhiteRice?
Success! Now you can go to all the pool parties you like, with no fear!
fan-TASTIC news bro! Long live the Beardy Man.
Glad it worked for you, Garth. You and I were probably quite lucky. From what I’ve read, bringing a cellphone and any other drowned electronic gizmo back to life is almost always a long shot. But the rice cure does seem to offer you the best chance.
El Beardo delivered the goods this time. Will have to see what he comes up with next. Check out the blog. http://geekbeard.posterous.com/rice-cure-for-drowned-cellphone#