Free iPods to the Rescued Chilean Miners... But From Who?

**Michael Essany** · 10-18-2010, 10:50 AM

Assuming, of course, that you haven't been stuck in a hole yourself, there's a good chance you've heard about the thirty-three rescued Chilean miners who were recently plucked from the bowels of the earth following a harrowing two month arrest beneath tons of rock and equally insurmountable odds against their survival.

Well, amidst the deluge of public support from every corner of the globe, Apple CEO Steve Jobs is also showing his love to the freed miners through a free donation of iPods to each of the men who had been perilously trapped beneath the earth. In addition to other generous gifts and donations that have come from a wealth of both prominent and unknown contributors, each miner - who reportedly earns only $1,600 per month - is now being courted about everything from book deals to feature film offers.

But the free iPods seem to be generating the most attention, although there have been mixed reports as to whether the devices came directly from Jobs or the marketing people at Apple. Either way, the Cupertino tech-giant has netted some favorable headlines as a result of the donation, which - all things considered - is actually one of the smallest offers to the minors from a company the size of Apple. Still, it's understood that the rescued men greatly appreciate the gesture.

Reuters

**jeffhuys** · 10-18-2010, 10:53 AM

That's cool! And ofcourse they "appreciate the gesture"! Free iPods!

**Snozberries** · 10-18-2010, 10:57 AM

I'm trapped in the bowels of Springfield, MA and I don't see any iPod/iPod touch getting mailed to my sorry @$$!!

**dq13** · 10-18-2010, 11:01 AM

It was 3 months, not two (69 days) and it was more than a few tons of rocks, actually, the rock that trapped them was 700.000 TONS !!! holly crap!!

like said on the OP, a free ipod is the smallest donation they have gotten, but still free ipod is sweet and considering that apple has nothing to do with the news, its nice to see them getting involved

**Zokunei** · 10-18-2010, 11:05 AM

"minors". Lol.

**~Steve Jobs~** · 10-18-2010, 11:12 AM

Last weeks news on MacDailyNews.

**boxxa** · 10-18-2010, 11:13 AM

I am sure it would have been a lot better received if they did this while they were trapped and not after they are back on the surface.

**mirogster** · 10-18-2010, 11:16 AM

With all respect to Apple marketing team, this is pathetic and abusive expoitation of that case. Running on their 'fame', good luck and hype.
If'd they all die, then what....free ipods for families??

**alexevo** · 10-18-2010, 11:21 AM

Good story Mike

**TheYoungHustla** · 10-18-2010, 12:13 PM

Who CARES where they are coming from? Seriously

**Jahooba** · 10-18-2010, 12:13 PM

The joke is on the miners: none of them own a computer to link with iTunes...

**calebratm** · 10-18-2010, 12:40 PM

+1 ^ lol maybe jobs should have coughed up 33 mbp's that would have been a hell of a donation

**anekin007** · 10-18-2010, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by Jahooba

The joke is on the miners: none of them own a computer to link with iTunes...

Haha true most of my family in 3rd world countries wouldn't know what to do with one. What's the price of the iPod $100? Instead of a useless iPod why not give them a good meal? More cigarettes? Or even a hooker! lol

**EskimoRuler** · 10-18-2010, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by anekin007

Haha true most of my family in 3rd world countries wouldn't know what to do with one. What's the price of the iPod $100? Instead of a useless iPod why not give them a good meal? More cigarettes? Or even a hooker! lol

I agree, the gesture is nice don't get me wrong, but I hope they are getting support in other ways as well. Like on there houses or payments, being stuck for two month Im sure has put a toll on the families and their incomes

**macman05** · 10-18-2010, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by Jahooba

The joke is on the miners: none of them own a computer to link with iTunes...

I was thinking the SAME thing! lol - most of em sound like they live in third world living arrangements, some dont even have power or internet..

They will have a shiny ipod, a flat one that needs charging and then its just a shiny object with no computer to link it too.

Apple should of given em the macs to go with the dam things!

Disgraceful.

**nicolas9977** · 10-18-2010, 12:59 PM

Some of the comments here are just wrong. I was born and raised in chile and moved to the states in 1989 and I can tell you that as a society the chilean culture is much like Europe. Their love of electronics and gadgets is as strong as Americans. From experience I can tell you that the majority of the population there knows how to Skype and their cellular phone structure and plans would make any American jealous. There is a reason why those miners came out alive. The country rallied around and got the job done.

**madczech** · 10-18-2010, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by macman05

I was thinking the SAME thing! lol

whats so funny about that??

**tudtran** · 10-18-2010, 01:33 PM

Those guys are famous

**AnthonyGiola** · 10-18-2010, 02:00 PM

No really... Did Messany really misspell Miners?

"Minors"
LMAO

**whereswaldo** · 10-18-2010, 02:31 PM

Maybe I should go in a hole for 2 1/2 months...

Your favorite Apple, iPhone, iPad, iOS, Jailbreak, and Cydia site.

Thread: Free iPods to the Rescued Chilean Miners... But From Who?

iPod News

General iPod

Assuming, of course, that you haven't been stuck in a hole yourself, there's a good chance you've heard about the thirty-three rescued Chilean miners who were recently plucked from the

The Following User Says Thank You to Michael Essany For This Useful Post:

The Following User Says Thank You to jeffhuys For This Useful Post:

The Following User Says Thank You to anekin007 For This Useful Post:

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to nicolas9977 For This Useful Post: