8 Most Popular Tech Myths that Just Won’t Die

An average consumer does not dive into the details of how his/her devices run. Although they use it every day, such people don’t understand how that particular technology works. This lack of knowledge gives way to tech myths, and we have to agree that some of them are very convincing.

A myth usually exists to explain the views of a group of people. For example, someone may have damaged his/her phone by charging it overnight. Even if the damage was caused by something else, it gives the impression that overnight charging is bad. Now, he/she will spread this newfound ‘idea’ to others, and it may, ultimately, result in a new myth. Let’s take a look at some of the tech myths that just won’t die.

Internet2 will Replace the Internet

People often confuse the private network group, called Internet2, with the actual Internet. The Internet is a network of computers linked together, creating a giant interconnected web through which devices can communicate. The Internet is always getting better as new technologies are being developed. And believe us, it has nothing to do with the company Internet2.

Internet2 is a testing-ground environment for networks. Different universities and companies use it to develop better technologies for the existing Internet. It’s highly unlikely that Internet2 will be freely available for public use because speeds there can exceed 10 Gbps. Providing such speed would be extremely costly for internet service providers.

PC Gaming is Dead

PC gaming has been declared to be dying ever since the first console was launched. It has seen a decline over the past few years, but it is nowhere near dead. PCs consistently outperform every console, but at the same time, people are attracted to the accessibility and price of consoles.

An average consumer just wants a product that works. If you just want to game or watch videos, you can get a console and do all that. Consoles are extremely convenient because you just need to buy a console, plug it in, and you’re done. The newly-launched PlayStation 5 costs around $400, and it’s almost impossible to build a comparable gaming PC for this price. Despite all these factors, suggesting that “PC gaming is dead” is nothing more than a tech myth.

Apple is Working on a MacTablet

For a long time, it has been rumored that Apple is working on a MacTablet. Although it doesn’t make sense for numerous reasons, this is another one of those tech myths that don’t die.

If you look at available tablet PCs, most of them are from two or three years ago. It wouldn’t make sense for Apple to invest in tablet PCs while the iPad does the same thing. In fact, it is actually better at them too!

Other than that, the idea of MacTablet does not make sense even from a business perspective. The market share for tablet PCs is so small that a MacTablet doesn’t sound like a good idea. The latest iPad now supports external keyboard and mouse inputs that make it a tablet PC itself.

MacBook can’t get Viruses

It is a fact that MacBooks tend to get fewer viruses than Windows. The main reason for that is the restrictive nature of the MacOS. Most of the Mac users use Apple’s proprietary software that is virus-free, and not everything can be installed on it. However, on Windows, you can install almost everything, and this opens up more vulnerabilities.

Devices usually get infected due to the carelessness of users. Some people are more gullible than others and their computers can get viruses even if they are from Apple. MacBooks are NOT virus-proof, and they have their share of vulnerabilities and infections. However, they do carry an advantage because these viruses are much less in number than those of other operating systems.

Better Specs Mean Better Devices

Nowadays, technology is evolving so quickly that even the top of the line smartphones become ‘outdated’ in a few months. This does not mean that these phones become obsolete. It’s just the people’s mindset that urges them to buy the latest products.

For example, spending thousands of dollars on a gaming laptop does not make sense if you are going to use it for basic tasks, such as word processing. However, it is easy to get caught in the game of the latest and greatest. Therefore, be mindful of that and always try to buy things that are functional for you.

More Megapixels Mean Better Cameras

Megapixels play an important part in how a camera performs, but they are NOT the only thing. The analysis of several other factors (aperture, shutter speed, etc.) is also necessary for judging a camera’s performance.

More megapixels means more pixels per square inch are in a photo. This is useful when printing out large, detailed images. The actual quality of the pictures depends on the expertise of the user, lighting conditions, lenses used, and camera settings.

A smartphone camera with 30 megapixels will not be better than every camera with lesser megapixels. The post-processing power of a smartphone plays a huge role in determining the actual result. This is why a 12-megapixel iPhone 12 selfie camera will be better than most other smartphone cameras with 20+ megapixels. Likewise, Android users can install Google Camera on their phones and get exceptionally detailed photos, even on older smartphones.

Charging Your Phone Overnight Ruins the Battery

Modern smartphones can regulate the current they receive. When a smartphone gets closer to a 100% battery, it reduces the current it takes and slows down charging. Likewise, the phone will stop charging once it reaches the 100% mark.

The tech myth that charging your phone overnight ruins the battery has been around for a long time. Although it is TRUE that you shouldn’t charge your phone overnight, the reason for this is completely different.

Batteries have a limited lifespan or cycles. This means that a battery can be charged for a limited number of times before it starts to degrade slowly. Overnight charging causes your phone to repeatedly go from 99% to 100% as charging stops at 100%. However, this degradation does not ruin your battery. It just reduces the time before a battery needs replacement, and this time is usually NOT significant.  

Third-Party Chargers Can Damage the Battery

Third-party chargers DO NOT damage your phone’s battery unless they are faulty. Even the actual charger for your phone will damage the battery if there is some problem with it.

In most cases, third-party chargers are cheaper and work just as well. Therefore, this tech myth holds no water at all. However, be sure to use a reputable third-party charger. A poor-quality knockoff is sure to damage your battery or even your phone. If you buy a decent charger, it will get the job done.

In most cases, charger specifications do not matter. Having said that, it is always better to buy a charger like what is recommended for your phone. For example, buying a simple charger for fast charging won’t give you any benefits, but it won’t harm your phone either.

Summary

People are often ill-informed when it comes to technology. Word of mouth is a strong tool, and it doesn’t take much to spread rumors these days. Because tech myths are extremely common, you should always do some research before accepting anything as truth.