HouseholdHacker

HouseholdHacker is a YouTube channel and website that posts videos of various "hacks", or quick solutions, to common everyday problems. As of April 2020, the channel has 4.99 million subscribers and over 912 million views. The group is primarily known for its 2007 hoax video which claimed one could charge an iPod battery using an onion and Gatorade. The video fooled normally reliable sources, and drew the attention of the MythBusters among others. A couple of additional hoax videos followed, but drew less attention.

HouseholdHacker
HouseholdHacker Logo
Personal information
OriginSan Jose, California, U.S.[1]
NationalityAmerican
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2007–present (YouTube)
GenreHow-to
Subscribers5 million
Total views921.4 million
NetworkAlveum
Updated: June 5, 2020

Background

According to the HouseholdHacker YouTube channel page: "At HouseholdHacker, we solve your common everyday problems and create things utilizing items you find around your house. You might say we try to bring out the MacGyver in all of us. From kitchen hacks and tricks to getting rid of ants; we do it all."[2] HouseholdHacker was started by Dylan Hart and Traveler.[2]

HouseholdHacker was launched in November 2007 and quickly attracted interest, becoming YouTube's most subscribed channel for the month of December 2007.[3] By January 2009, HouseholdHacker was the 22nd most subscribed YouTube channel.[4] As of April 2018 they have over 4.8 million subscribers.[2]

iPod Onion

In November 2007, HouseholdHacker released a video entitled "How to Charge an iPod using electrolytes and an onion". The video, which claimed to demonstrate how one could recharge an iPod using little more than Gatorade and a white onion, was an overnight success. The video drew the attention of The Unofficial Apple Weblog, which reported it as fact.[5] Within its first week, the video had been viewed over 4 million times.[6]

The Household Hacker setup for charging an iPod

By the following November, the video had been viewed more than 7 million times (currently over 10 million) and attracted the attention of ABC News, who asked "Can an Onion Charge an iPod?"[7] ABC put the video to the test, but failed to obtain the promised result. Reporter Emily Friedman remarked "this appears to be an iFraud."[7]

The TV show MythBusters also put the onion video to the test in 2008. In a segment dubbed "iOnion", Grant Imahara was unable to get any charge from the onion setup found in the HouseholdHacker video.[8] He explained that the setup lacked the crucial anode and cathode that would be required to get the electrolytes found in Gatorade moving and concluded the video was a complete hoax.[8] In an interview with ABCNews, Adam Savage called the video "complete horseshit."[7]

Appeal

The iPod onion video fooled a number of normally savvy folks, or at least had them trying the technique out for themselves,[9] which has led to several theories as to why it was so appealing. Farhad Manjoo of Salon speculates that it is the style in which the video was delivered. "He's got a friendly, helpful voice, but he's not casual – he speaks in the formal, confident manner of a TV how-to guy," says Manjoo.[9] Anna Solana of La Vanguardia, on the other hand, speculated that it was the "science" itself that attracted the viewers, remarking that something so magical "freaks" people out and makes them want to believe.[6]

Follow-up videos

Following the iPod onion video, HouseholdHacker has released a number of videos that have generated some attention. A March 2008 video entitled "How to Cheat on any Test" has attracted 8 million views and the ire of some school teachers. Another video entitled "How to Create a High-Def speaker for under a buck" again drew the attention of the show MythBusters. Tory Belleci followed the instructions in the video, but when it came time to plug in the speakers nothing happened. In addition to disproving the video, he pointed out that the "under a buck" part of the claim was also false, noting that a single minijack alone typically costs about $10 retail.[10] However, it is possible to get minijack cables for under a dollar online.[11]

References
  1. Swift, Mike (September 20, 2011). "YouTube becomes entertainment destination". San Jose Mercury. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  2. "HouseholdHacker". HouseholdHacker. Retrieved May 19, 2016 – via YouTube.
  3. Sayer, Peter (December 26, 2007). "British monarchy makes YouTube debut". Mobilize. InfoWorld. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved July 14, 2009.
  4. Milian, Mark (January 11, 2009). "YouTube video creators make money, but not a fortune". Technology: The Business of our Digital Lives (Blog). LA Times. Retrieved July 14, 2009.
  5. Schramm, Mike (November 14, 2007). "Charge an iPod with an onion". TUAW. Archived from the original on January 31, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2009.
  6. Solana, Anna (November 29, 2007). "¿Es posible cargar un iPod con una cebolla?" [Is it possible to charge an iPod with an onion?] (in Spanish). La Vanguardia. Retrieved July 14, 2009.
  7. Friedman, Emily (November 26, 2008). "Can an Onion Charge an iPod?". ABCNews. Retrieved July 14, 2009.
  8. iOnion. Discovery Channel videos. August 13, 2008. Retrieved July 14, 2009.
  9. Manjoo, Farhad (November 21, 2007). "How to power an iPod with an onion (not really)". Machinist (Blog). Salon. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved July 14, 2009.
  10. "Homemade Surround Sound". Discovery Channel videos. April 29, 2009. Retrieved July 14, 2009.
  11. "Cinchkabel 2x Cinch St an 3,5 mm Klinke St 0,5m". Planet4One Technology store.
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