Liquipel

While I was in San Diego for Cisco Live 2012 this year, I rented a car and drove up to Santa Ana to get my iPhone and iPad weatherproofed at Liquipel.

With my trip coming up, I figured I'm assured to get drenched at least a couple times, and I was concerned about keeping my phone alive throughout.

Their service isn't necessarily cheap, and they have limitation with what they can do with non-openable platforms like the iPhone and iPad. They're coming out with a scale to describe devices and the level of waterproofing they can offer. I heard that the iPhone would rank a level 3 on their scale. Not waterproof, but "weatherproof".

Normally, you would ship your device to them, and you can select (and pay) for the level of urgency you want your device processed and returned. However, if you can stop by their location in Santa Ana, California, they have a 1.25 hour (1 hour 15 minute) while-you-wait service. I wasn't willing to lose my phone for a week, so the Cisco conference offered me a good opportunity to get it taken care of in person.

In the end, it wasn't cheap, but I also got extra stuff done; in addition to the weatherproofing on both my devices, I had a new screen protector applied to the phone (seemingly hot-applied and better quality than the usual stick-ons from the electronics stores, still removable though), and a screen protector and a "stylish" backing applied to the iPad 3. It was somewhere around us$212 once I was done.

As part of their "weatherproof" instructions, they say if the device does get wet, you need to let it dry for 24 hours. ahem.

A few weeks ago, I inadvertently tested the water survivability of my iPhone when I accidentally dropped it into a pot of cold water. It spent a good 4 seconds or so at the bottom of the pot, little bubbles coming out of the phone, while I sorted out setting the pot down without dumping it all over my counter.

As I reached in to grab the phone, the screen came on. For note, a lit-up iPhone under water is kinda pretty and sparkling. Ahem. Anyway, I pulled the phone out, put it back into sleep (hitting the sleep button on top), then proceeded to "throw" water out of it for a good 5 minutes. Every arc I made at the wall, I could hear more and more water droplets hitting said wall, coming out of its headphone jack.

Eventually, I held the sleep button long enough to power it off. I think I managed to let it dry for 24 minutes (not the 24 hours they recommend) before I powered it back on and tested it. Worked fine!

Since then, I've seen no issues with the phone. I'm pretty pleased. :)

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