The iPhone 3GS (“S” for Submersible)

Well, I’m sure most of you have heard by now.  One of the most loyal fans and addicted users of the iPhone, jumped into the lake with his brand new 3GS in his pocket.  Yes, that was me.  But, firstly, let me say, it IS just a phone.  I had a great day on the lake with the family.  Ok, now back to the phone deal… 

So, most of you know I’m never, NEVER, without my phone.  I use it constantly at work (remoting to servers, computers, checking e-mail, playing Stick Wars…  you know what I mean).  So, I’m very used to it being in my pocket.  And that is how it ended up in the lake.  Habits, they kill people and phones.  After about one minute in the water, panic quickly swept through me, followed immediately by shame.  Kayce dried it off the best she could and turned it off.  We swam, fished, and drove all over the lake.  Great day.  Oh, I got sun-burned, caught one blue gill, and did I mention the phone thing?  So, after getting home and getting everyone settled back in, I broke out my tools (and my camera, enjoy the below pictures). 

I found several guides to tearing down the iPhone, but it really wasn’t as hard as I had imagined.  I guess if you’re going to build hundreds of thousands of these things, it better be easy to put together.  So, I managed to get the water all cleaned that I could see, and per the suggestion of several folks, I’ve put all the components in a bag of rice, Calrose Rice.  Yes, the good stuff, but its all we had on hand.  We like our sticky rice!  I actually debated for a moment on whether I should use the good rice or not, but then common sense won out.  $200 phone versus $20 bag of rice, hmm… 

So, now my phone… I almost hate to call it that, it’s so much more.  My PDA, no.  My…  Ok, let’s just call it what it is…  Karen.  Her name is Karen.  True fans of Spongebob will know what I’m talking about.  Kayce actually gave my phone that name.  Anyway.  So, now my phone sits in pieces in a bag of rice.  I’m probably going to leave it there until Sunday afternoon.  I’m only worried about the battery.  I’m postive the other components will dry out.  But batteries are very sensative.  And this is an $89.00 battery.  If it doesn’t work, I’m tempted to mod my phone to run on AAA’s.  I’ll let you know how that turns out, if I have to go down that road. 

So, enjoy the pictures of the breakdown of my phone.  I actually enjoyed doing it.  Any excuse to take something apart.  I’m off to search the cars and sofas for change to replace my phone for when the rice trick doesn’t work, and my corrupted battery explodes and destroys the rest of my phone.  Have a great night everyone.  I’m so glad I took the day off.  Ah.

Oh, in the meantime.  I’m not without a phone.  I always have my trusty HTC 3125, better know at the Cingular 3125.  It is the best (Probably the only) flip phone/Smart Phone ever!