Middle of Adventure : My (mostly) vegan 2016 so far

Middle of Adventure : My (mostly) vegan 2016 so far: I actually wanted to publish this post over a month ago already, but as my computer crashed (again!) I lost all my pictures so it had to wai...

11 common tech myths you should stop believing today

Business Insider, William Wei

Is it bad to charge your phone overnight? What about charging an iPhone with an iPad adapter?
Despite how often we use devices like smartphones and laptops, we have plenty of questions about how they work. And with so much information out there — not all of it true — it's hard to know if we're treating our electronics properly.
We're here to debunk some of the biggest misconceptions out there.

View As: One Page Slides

Mac computers can’t get viruses

Business Insider

Yes, Apple computers are susceptible to malware, too. Apple used to brag its computers aren't as vulnerable as Windows PCs to viruses, but the company quickly changed its marketing page after a Trojan affected thousands of Mac computers in 2012.

Private/Incognito browsing keeps you anonymous

Screenshot

There’s a misconception that “incognito” and “private” are synonymous with anonymous. If you’re using Incognito Mode in Google Chrome or Private browsing in Safari, it simply means the browser won’t keep track of your history, import your bookmarks, or automatically log into any of your accounts. Basically, it's good for keeping other people who use your computer from seeing what you've been doing. But it won’t keep your identity hidden from the sites you visit or your ISP — so keep that in mind if you’re visiting sites you shouldn’t be.

Leaving your phone plugged in destroys the battery

Business Insider, William Wei

If you’re like most people, you probably leave your phone plugged in overnight long after the battery is fully charged. Some used to say this would hurt your phone's battery life, but in fact, there's no proof that this damages your phone’s battery in any way. Modern smartphones run on lithium-ion batteries, which are smart enough to stop charging when they’ve reached capacity.

You should always let your iPhone battery completely die before recharging

Apple

This, too, is a popular myth. Apple points out that its modern lithium ion batteries mean that "You complete one charge cycle when you’ve used (discharged) an amount that equals 100% of your battery’s capacity — but not necessarily all from one charge."

More megapixels always means a better camera

Steve Kovach/Business Insider

What’s the difference between 12 megapixel cameras and 8 megapixel cameras? Not much, as it turns out. The quality of an image is determined in large part by how much light the sensor is able to take in. Bigger sensors may come with larger pixels, and the larger the pixel the more light it can absorb. So, it’s really the size of the pixels that matter as much or more than the sheer number of pixels. (A megapixel is simply shorthand for a million pixels.)

Here’s how TechCrunch’s Matthew Panzarino, who's also a professional photographer, describes the role of the pixel: “Think of this as holding a thimble in a rain storm to try to catch water. The bigger your thimble, the easier it is to catch more drops in a shorter amount of time." The thimble is a metaphor for a pixel — using a few buckets would be much more efficient than a bunch of thimbles for catching water.

Higher display resolution is always better on a smartphone

Antonio Villas-Boas/Tech Insider

Some have argued that at a certain point, screen resolution doesn't matter on a smartphone. Gizmodo cites experts in saying the human eye can't discern nitty-gritty detail when a display packs more than 300 pixels per inch. Earlier this year, LG unveiled its first quad-HD smartphone, the G3, which has a resolution of 2560 x 1440. That’s much higher than the average high-end smartphone, which usually comes with a 1920 x 1080 resolution display.

But it's unclear if those numbers really matter after a certain point, because the eye can't discern individual pixels beyond a certain resolution. When I tested the G3's display alongside the 1080 Galaxy S5's display, there was hardly a difference in terms of sharpness — that's why companies like Apple tend to focus on brightness, more so than ultra-dense displays.

It’s bad to use your iPad charger for your iPhone

Apple

This one is a little trickier than a standard "yes or no" answer. Apple’s official website says its 12-watt iPad adapter can charge both the iPhone and the iPad. However, Steve Sandler, founder and chief technical officer at electronics analysis company AEi Systems, told Popular Mechanics that this could stress your iPhone’s battery over time if you do it regularly. It would take about a year, however, to notice any changes in battery efficiency. 

You shouldn't shut down your computer every day.

CliveJames.com

While some may believe it’s harmful to shut down your computer every night, the truth is it’s actually good to turn off your computer regularly. It’s easy to get into the habit of putting your laptop in sleep mode so you can easily return to it without having to boot up. But, as Lifehacker points out, shutting it down when not in use conserves power and places less stress on its components, which could enable it to last longer.

Holding a magnet close to your computer will erase all of its data.

Flickr/Matt McGee

This technically isn't wrong — you may remember how easy it was to wipe a floppy disk using a magnet back in the day. But you would need a really, really big magnet to wipe out your computer's hard drive. Experts told PCMag that hard drives on modern computers would only be susceptible to really strong magnets with really focused magnetic fields. So your average refrigerator magnet wouldn't do the trick. 

Cellphones give you brain cancer

REUTERS/David Gray

Although cell phones emit radiation that can be absorbed by human tissue, there isn't any conclusive evidence showing that cell phones actually cause cancer, as Business Insider's Lauren Friedman reported last year.
Here's what a report from the National Cancer Institute says:

Although there have been some concerns that radiofrequency energy from cell phones held closely to the head may affect the brain and other tissues, to date there is no evidence from studies of cells, animals, or humans that radiofrequency energy can cause cancer.

More signal bars guarantees great cell service

Business Insider

While having more bars helps service, it doesn't necessarily guarantee excellent reception. The bars just indicate how close you are to the nearest cell tower. But there are other factors that impact how fast the internet on your phone performs, such as how many people are currently using the network.

Be more productive on the go with this Bluetooth keyboard that can fit in your pocket

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships so we may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.]

Amazon

Your everyday tablet is good for movie viewing, magazine reading, or game playing, but to get any sort of work done, you probably need to pair it with a keyboard. The problem is that, most of the time, adding an external accessory robs a tablet (or smartphone) of its portability. At that point, if you’re going to carry a keyboard and screen around to get stuff done, why not just use a laptop?

You could have a hybrid like the Surface Pro 4 replace your notebook entirely, but if you don’t want to pay the premium for that shift, something like the iClever Foldable Bluetooth Ultra-Slim Mini Keyboard will let you do lighter work without making your mobile devices too annoying to take on the go.

As its clunky name suggests, this is a small standalone keyboard that you can fold up when it’s time to move. It can get especially compact when you do fold it, essentially getting to the size of a slightly thicker iPhone 6s Plus. At less than 0.4 pounds, it’s also fairly light.

All of this means it’ll fit in many pants pockets, or, if nothing else, take up very little room in a bag. But despite its airiness, the board’s back is composed of a smooth brushed aluminum, which comes off as higher-grade than you might expect from something this affordable.

The device pairs over Bluetooth with both iOS and Android devices (but not Macs, and it can be finicky with Windows PCs), and iClever rates its battery as lasting more than 80 hours with regular use. It automatically turns on whenever it’s unfolded, but, while it’d be nice to have an on/off switch or built-in battery light, it does go into a sleep mode when it’s left alone for 15 minutes.

Actually typing with the iClever isn’t as luxurious as using a more spacious board, but that’s to be expected. For what it is, it’s fine. Its keys are fast, quiet, and sturdy, and its Function key gives you access to a handful of useful shortcuts; it’s totally usable for the casual tasks it’s meant for. Just try to use it on a flat surface.

It’s worth noting that this looks like a white-label situation — a quick search for “foldable keyboards” on Amazon will bring up a wave of seemingly identical devices, all of which are taking after the Kickstarted Jorno keyboard, which goes for $100. So it’s hard to give iClever too much credit here. 

Nevertheless, this model’s been received well by PCMag, BetaNews, and others, and it currently holds a 4.5 rating after 210 Amazon user reviews. It works. If you want to make your tablet or smartphone a little more productive, this looks like a good, cheap way to start.

iClever Portable Ultra-Slim Mini Bluetooth Keyboard, $31.99, available at Amazon.

These tiny flashlights fit in a matchbox so you'll never be without a light

Facebook/MBI - MatchBox Instruments
When the power goes out, it usually takes me at least 10 minutes and three stubbed toes to locate a flashlight in the apartment. But a new invention by "exotic flashlights" startup MatchBox Instruments makes lighting up as easy as digging in a purse.
The MBI MatchBook fits eight flashlights, no bigger than a matchstick, into a portable paper sleeve. To turn them on, the user pushes the plastic-coated LED bulb against a hard surface. Each provides eight hours of light.
Unlike traditional flashlights, these contain magnets at the base so users can stick them to the refrigerator or other metal objects. You might, for example, create a runway from the kitchen to the bathroom by laying all eight out across the floor.
Facebook/MBI - MatchBox Instruments
While we appreciate the novelty, it's unclear how powerful the MBI MatchBook is. As one of my colleagues asked, "Are these flashlights for ants?" The company does not state the flashlight's range of light on its Indiegogo page.
The MBI MatchBook is available for pre-order for $28 on Indiegogo, and begins to ship in July. It's worth noting that you can buy two "real" flashlights for that price on Amazon, and stick them wherever is most convenient.

Oresegun Olumide Takes Art To Another Level (Photos)

We are amazed by the depth of reality in these paintings by Oresegun Olumide, a Nigerian painter. Wow, he is sure talented and world class

I came across some lovely artwork by Oresegun Olumide yesterday on facebook and I saw the true definition of dedication and perfection..... May God continue to inspire him.

This is the true definition of talent .