Technology myths are very common. From one source to another, even what is not a myth, apparently becomes one. Here is debunking 7 tech myths that are actually facts.
Myth 1
Freezing Hard Drive To Restore It
Yes, this is not a myth. Hard disk crashes are nothing unheard of, and most of us would have experienced it ourselves. So, next time your HD crashes on you, just throw it in a zip top freeze bag and stash it in your deep freezer for near about 12 hours. The process has been reported as a success with IDE drives and that too, with phenomenal recovery rate. But don't expect it to turn into an out-of-the-box like HD as the drive will not make it beyond 24 hours. But that is just about enough time to scoop out important files.
Myth 2
Yes, this is not a myth. Hard disk crashes are nothing unheard of, and most of us would have experienced it ourselves. So, next time your HD crashes on you, just throw it in a zip top freeze bag and stash it in your deep freezer for near about 12 hours. The process has been reported as a success with IDE drives and that too, with phenomenal recovery rate. But don't expect it to turn into an out-of-the-box like HD as the drive will not make it beyond 24 hours. But that is just about enough time to scoop out important files.
Myth 2
Internet Service Provider Can Track Your Moves
ISP is our local link to access the internet. And just in case you are not aware - every mail we send or page request we make, are patched through these ISPs first. So this makes us vulnerable to being probed by ISP providers and further, by the government.
Myth 3
ISP is our local link to access the internet. And just in case you are not aware - every mail we send or page request we make, are patched through these ISPs first. So this makes us vulnerable to being probed by ISP providers and further, by the government.
Myth 3
Laptop And Smartphone Radiations Cause Impotency
When this news broke out, it set the world of technology ablaze. The media jumped on it, pseudo-tech haters hailed it and the normal users freaked out. But this was somehow brushed off a myth, which it is not. Extensive studies on this topic have revealed that placing heated laptops near the pelvic area kills sperms and men who extensively use cell phones end up dealing with less fertile sperm.
Myth 4
When this news broke out, it set the world of technology ablaze. The media jumped on it, pseudo-tech haters hailed it and the normal users freaked out. But this was somehow brushed off a myth, which it is not. Extensive studies on this topic have revealed that placing heated laptops near the pelvic area kills sperms and men who extensively use cell phones end up dealing with less fertile sperm.
Myth 4
Plasma TVs Don't Do Screen Burn Or Image Persistence
Well, yes they do. For those who don't know, Wikipedia defines burn-in/screen burn image as "a permanent discoloration of areas on an electronic display such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) display or computer display monitor or television set caused by cumulative non-uniform usage of the pixels". As television technology revolutionized, screen burn got buried as a myth. But it is actually true that even the LED and LCD TV sets are very much vulnerable to image persistence or screen burns. This happens when you keep a static image on your plasma screen for long durations.
Myth 5
Well, yes they do. For those who don't know, Wikipedia defines burn-in/screen burn image as "a permanent discoloration of areas on an electronic display such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) display or computer display monitor or television set caused by cumulative non-uniform usage of the pixels". As television technology revolutionized, screen burn got buried as a myth. But it is actually true that even the LED and LCD TV sets are very much vulnerable to image persistence or screen burns. This happens when you keep a static image on your plasma screen for long durations.
Myth 5
Smartphones Can Be Remotely Hacked
Yes, this is true. Our smatphones are very much hackable from remote locations. The internet is flooded with news pieces about how NSA is working with Apple and other manufacturers to break into phones intentionally. The 2006 Genovese crime family case is one startling example where the FBI remotely activated a cell phone and connected its microphone to an FBI listening post. It's 2014, now just imagine what all they would have become capable of doing.
Myth 6
Yes, this is true. Our smatphones are very much hackable from remote locations. The internet is flooded with news pieces about how NSA is working with Apple and other manufacturers to break into phones intentionally. The 2006 Genovese crime family case is one startling example where the FBI remotely activated a cell phone and connected its microphone to an FBI listening post. It's 2014, now just imagine what all they would have become capable of doing.
Myth 6
There Is A Code To Boost Cellphone Battery Life
The predecessors of our smartphones were immortal bricks and flip phones. But very less people know that there were a couple of handsets that required a mere code (most possibly #4720#) to be punched in to squeeze out maximum battery life from these phones. The code drastically restricted the ringing ability of the phone, hence providing extra talk time. Try this with one of your haggard Nokia or Siemens and who knows, it might just work.
Myth 7
The predecessors of our smartphones were immortal bricks and flip phones. But very less people know that there were a couple of handsets that required a mere code (most possibly #4720#) to be punched in to squeeze out maximum battery life from these phones. The code drastically restricted the ringing ability of the phone, hence providing extra talk time. Try this with one of your haggard Nokia or Siemens and who knows, it might just work.
Myth 7
Rice And Silica Gel To Dry Cell Phones
Yes, most of you would probably know this by now. But for those who don't, no need to panic if you drop your mobile in a puddle. Just detach your battery from your phone and put it in a rice container for over 24 hours. Rice is an excellent moisture absorbing substance and will dry the phone pretty well. The same can be done with silica gel granules as well.
By Shantanu Prasher
Yes, most of you would probably know this by now. But for those who don't, no need to panic if you drop your mobile in a puddle. Just detach your battery from your phone and put it in a rice container for over 24 hours. Rice is an excellent moisture absorbing substance and will dry the phone pretty well. The same can be done with silica gel granules as well.
By Shantanu Prasher
