Note to #iPhone users: That microwave charging thing is a hoax http://t.co/EOmip6SGv9 pic.twitter.com/WhXpLrWv13
— CTV Vancouver (@CTVVancouver) September 23, 2014
As advertised, using the new “Wave” technology in iOS 8 will quickly fill your phone’s battery—with fire, smoke, and explosions, that is. Who knew that putting metal objects into the microwave wouldn’t end well? These people need more Jennifer Lawrence in their lives.
Important life lesson learned.
The hoax follows a similar one from last year, when 4Chan users tried to convince iPhone owners that iOS 7 could sense when a phone was submerged in water and automatically protect itself by shutting off the phone’s power. When the iPhone 6 was announced, 4Chan users began brainstorming a new hoax as shown in screenshots on a Reddit thread. From there, the idea of “wave” charging caught on and was passed around Twitter with an Apple-inspired ad for the feature under the hashtag #AppleWave.
Damn, making me want an iPhone so i can use #AppleWave !!!!! pic.twitter.com/kODmNQ6UP4 — Skinny (@ben_bruzz) September 22, 2014
Just like the waterproofing, they make it sound like the feature can be enabled through software alone and will work on any iOS 8 device, and, well, it looks like people have believed them (which I know is what you’re really here for).
“@BOSSman____: just charged my iPhone in my microwave. all it took was 30 seconds and it was fully charged. “wtf bro pic.twitter.com/g0olFrDoYw
— Juanye. (@jwill254) August 13, 2014
Don’t put your iPod or iPhone in the microwave to charge. It doesn’t work…. pic.twitter.com/tQXw0c3mcF
— kitty (@kassy_shinee) June 20, 2013
I put my iPhone in a microwave because someone said it would fully charge … bad idea pic.twitter.com/mv5QrZxHzL — Alexis Buzie (@A_Buzzers) June 7, 2013
Of course, there’s no way to know whether or not these people actually microwaved their phones or are just playing into the joke, which there’s also no shortage of.
@SwagdaddySlansk I’m totally kidding hahaha my phone is completely fine, I didn’t do it… I got that pic from google
— lorena terroba (@lore1306) September 19, 2014
ITS WORKING #AppleWave pic.twitter.com/e4SGBHRler
— Benny baggadonuts (@suppyben) September 19, 2014
WARNING: You must enable bluetooth before using Apple’s new iOS 8 Wave feature! #AppleWave @tim_cook, retweet this! pic.twitter.com/QEEGu4dRWz — Leon Smith (@Aztec_Killer) September 19, 2014
While my initial reaction to this was definitely a laugh at how gullible people would have to be to try microwaving their iPhones, you’d also have to be a fairly large jerk to deliberately spread a hoax that you know is costing people expensive technology. Being a jerk is not better than being gullible. Please remember the power of the masses, which you can also learn about through movie GIFs.
(via CBC News)
- Apple gave iTunes users a way to permanently delete that U2 album
- Apple’s phones do have plenty of actual new features… if this were 2012
- Samsung’s “It Doesn’t Take a Genius” pokes fun at Apple
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Published: Sep 23, 2014 03:45 pm