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Water Sensor In iPhone, iPod touch?

Submitted by Edward Kirk on October 13, 2007 - 1:53am.
in

One of the worst things that can happen to an iPhone or iPod touch owner is to accidentally drop their device into water. In such a situation, one can always try to send it back to Apple Support for having it repaired under warranty. To avoid this, HardMac suggests that Apple has included a water sensor on the iPhone and iPod touch.

At the bottom of the jack plug you can see a white disc that will permanently change color when it comes in contact with water. This way they don't even need to open the device. All they have to do is turn it over.


You have to give them credit. They really thought of just about everything

[via HardMac]

Really?

Submitted by Wolfgang (not verified) on October 13, 2007 - 7:53am.
An interesting hypothesis. Can you prove your point? Show us sources, tests, indicate what material is used, heck just show us a youtube video where somebody removed the white thing, dropped water on it and made it black?

Thanks.

Submitted by bwilliams18 on October 13, 2007 - 8:24am.
wait so this thing shows apple that you droped it in water so they wont or they will replace it

Submitted by Matt Stewart on October 13, 2007 - 8:41am.
Basically, yeah.

I can't blame Apple for doing it.

Submitted by Saycarramrod on October 13, 2007 - 9:37am.
Well I dropped my iPhone in the toilet with one of the silicon cases on it. The case didn't protect the headphone jack but the attached belt clip protected the USB slot at the bottom. It was fully submerged and I grabbed it out and blew on every part that could get water in it and tried to turn it off. I thought it was fine until it said "please insert sim" and the screen turned bright white and turned off and on repeatedly. I tried to restore it but it kept turning off during the restore. I took it back to the apple store (obviously I didn't tell them what happened) and they restored it and said everything was cool. I tried to slide the slider for "unlock for emergency" in front of the genius, but the slider wouldn't move and the phone turned off again. He told meet that they would send it in for repair, but I was so nervous that they would see that it was water damage and they wouldn't fix it. I checked the status online religiously until I saw that it had been shipped. They replaced the entire phone. So either it was messed up beyond fixing and they didn't notice any internal damage or I got a nice technician.

that is crap

Submitted by bullshit (not verified) on October 13, 2007 - 10:40am.
it is simply a piece of shiny metal. take yours apart and you will see.

Work-around

Submitted by orion (not verified) on October 13, 2007 - 10:49am.
Ok, then the next question becomes... how would i make it look like it hasn't had contact with water if it really has? Couldn't I just stick a little piece of paper down there?

Rain

Submitted by eidolon (not verified) on October 13, 2007 - 11:59am.
Does this mean the iPhone is not usable in the rain? The earphone jack is certianly open to the elements.....

but but but

Submitted by *jojo (not verified) on October 13, 2007 - 12:30pm.
i had 2 t-mobile phones that had white dots that supposedly changed to red when exposed to "water"....
Swapping sims one day, i noticed both were red. Neither had been dunked etc...

Humidity, apparently is enough to void many a warranty....

Submitted by fun fun (not verified) on October 13, 2007 - 1:32pm.
i have the iPod and iPhone to me it looks like a contact not a water indocator. I also work at ATT and know what one looks like.

Submitted by unity on October 14, 2007 - 8:40am.
Scroll down for pics:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=368474

Submitted by iPodAddict on October 14, 2007 - 2:35pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by unity View Post
Excellent find. That proves it

Top half red bottom half white.

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on August 11, 2008 - 8:31pm.
I dropped mine in the lake today and its working but the wifi doesnt work and it doesnt connect to itunes. the water sensor is 50/50 red and white. what are they going to tell me if i take it to an apple store?

Submitted by xxx on August 11, 2008 - 9:58pm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
I dropped mine in the lake today and its working but the wifi doesnt work and it doesnt connect to itunes. the water sensor is 50/50 red and white. what are they going to tell me if i take it to an apple store?
They will tell you it got wet and you have to pay to get it fixed/replaced.

uh oh

Submitted by Unregistered (not verified) on August 28, 2008 - 9:17pm.
well i went home sick monday from work and i put my ipod and my phone touch in my lunch there must have been some moisture in the lunchbox my ipod was in my lunch box from about one til atleast 6 at night when i took it out to play some games i tried to slide it to unlock it it wouldnt budge it kept turning on and off and it kept flickering i immediately got on the computer and did some research and contacted apple they sent me a package to put my ipod in when i found out about the water sensor i goto a flashlight and made sure that the sensor thingy white and indeed it was i just need some advice i sent it into apple for them to repair it if the water sensor is still white do you guys think they will replace it? please someone help me out ive been praying to the sweet lord above that they will replace it ill keep you guys updated and the next week or so but please someone give me some advice

Submitted by absolute zero on September 13, 2009 - 10:14am.
Im playing football for my highschool. When I came into the locker room I took off my undershirt and threw it into my bag to take home and wash. When I threw it in my bag it was touching my ipod touch. I get home and try to get my mail via ipod, it didnt turn on. when i took off my case I discoverd that it was damp. Then I put 2 and 2 together about my shirt. But my question is, if my shirt was damp, not dripping water can it still get my ipod broken. I have checked the indacator strip and on the side there is a very small pinkish line. Would they still replace it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wyr_7I4Jtw
This may be able to help you "fix your problem". btw this isnt me