10technology myths busted
10 Technology Myths Busted
All this while, did you think that old wives' tales and campfire stories existed only for traditions and history? Think again! The tech world has its own set of stories that have been passed down over the years.
Higher Processor Speed Is a Must
More emphasis should be given to the number of cores in a processor than the processor speed. You will hardly notice any difference between a 2.5 GHz CPU and 2.0 GHz processor. However, a dual-core and quad-core processor will have noticeable difference while working.
Technological development over the years has a parallel development of myths. These stories constantly do their rounds in the techie and non-techie circle alike. These fabricated stories are nothing but myths that are mistaken to be real facts. These myths are a result of poor understanding of tech basics and misinterpreted study results.
We at Buzzle have put forth a consolidated list of such myths and the reality behind them. We finally have some common technology myths busted!
Tech Myths and Reality
Myth #1: Macs are Immune to Viruses
Mac computers are based on UNIX, and thus, many people, including Apple, claimed that their computers were least susceptible as far as malware was concerned. They even had this claim written on their website. However, when Apple recently updated their website, they removed this claim due to increasing malware attacks on Mac computers. Even the anti-virus software maker, Sophos confirmed that about 2.6 percent of Macs were infected due to malware attacks.Myth #2: Closing iPhone Apps Saves Battery
Well, well ... I don't think people who have used an iPhone for a few days will fall for this myth! The apps that are seen when the home button is pressed are the ones that are recently used. They are already terminated, and removing them from the home screen bar will make no difference to the battery. The main feature of an iPhone is that if you have exited the app and started working on the home page, it will shut down the app on its own, after a few seconds. How much battery life are you gonna lose in 5 seconds or so?Myth #3: Charge the Laptop/Smartphone Only After Draining Out the Entire Battery
If you are using nickel-cadmium or nickel-metal hydride rechargeable batteries, then this statement may hold true. However, the new lithium-ion polymer batteries don't have the concept of recharging until full charge and discharge cycle. They can be charged anytime, and the drained battery will be recharged. Moreover, waiting till the battery completely drains out, and then charging it can be harsh on the battery, thus decreasing its performance.Myth #4: Wait for 15 Seconds Before Rebooting
Most of us follow this myth while using our computers. However, experts differ on this point. According to them, the waiting period before the reboot is necessary to restore the health of the hard drive. We all know that hard drive plates run at super speeds of 7200 rpm or even higher. For these plates to come to a halt, waiting before the reboot is necessary. However, the "exact 15 seconds rule" is not defined.Myth #5: Deleting Files from Hard Drive Means They Are Gone Forever
Everything that we do with our computers is stored on the hard drive. If you have just used the personal banking website and entered confidential data there, this data is stored on the hard drive. When we delete some data from our computer, it may no longer be visible to the user, but it is present on the hard drive. Only the memory space that this data occupied is deleted and reallotted to other data. So, when you plan to sell off your old computer, there are chances that your data is still present on the hard drive, which is pretty much retrievable. One solution suggested by Geek Squad Agent Ismael Matos is to remove the hard drive from the machine and drill holes through it, in a scattered manner. This will solve the problem.Myth #6: Keeping Your Laptop Plugged In Is Dangerous for the Battery
This statement remains a myth, unless you are using an old computer. The new lithium-ion polymer batteries don't get damaged by continuously plugging it to the AC power source. In fact, it is better to keep the laptop plugged in rather than continuously draining the battery to zero power and then recharging it.Myth #7: Digital Storage Is More Durable Than Analog Storage
We have long since ditched analog storage devices and moved on to the world of 1s and 0s, thinking that data on the digital storage medium is safe and lasts for a longer time. However, the contrary holds true. Data on the digital storage media is at a higher risk of getting corrupted, and CDs can start breaking in about three years.Myth #8: You Can be Tracked Via GPS Even When Your Phone Is Switched Off
The simple fact here is that any signal will need power to get transmitted. This means that if your phone is switched off, the GPS signals cannot be transmitted. However, if you have intentionally introduced a malware that keeps your phone powered on, even when it is presumed to be switched off, the statement holds true. So, you are practically untraceable if your phone is switched off.Myth #9: Cell Phones Cause Cancer
It is believed that radio frequency signals that the cell phones emit are carcinogenic, if one uses them for a long time. According to the 2008-2009 Annual Report of the President's Cancer Panel, "Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk," no direct relation between cell phone usage and cancer was found out. Scientists do not have any proof about this statement, and thus, it can be safely termed as a myth.Myth #10: Laptops Make Men Sterile
This one actually took me by surprise. A few people believe that placing laptops on a man's lap will reduce his fertility! First and foremost, no one can ever place the laptop close to his testes and be comfortable enough to use the laptop. How can he ever type having the laptop so close to his waist? Research shows that radio frequencies cannot break DNA modules and thus, reduction in fertility is not possible.