Tech Myths

Five tech myths busted

 

These tech myths are often employed by salespeople to convince you to splash out some extra cash. Find out whether there is any truth to these tech myths. 

Expensive HDMI cables

If you’ve recently bought a new TV, home theatre system or Bluray player, the salesperson has also probably tried to bundle in a $200 gold-plated HDMI cable which will supposedly give you a better quality picture. They might have even been generous enough to knock off $20 because they like the cut of your jib. Unfortunately, their jib is a bit less likeable, as there is absolutely no truth to this tech myth.

Unlike analogue cables you might use for sound systems, HDMI cables use digital signals, so you’ll either get the picture or you won’t; there’s no way a better quality cable will produce a better quality image. However, HDMI cables have trouble with long distances (over around 20 metres), and there are certain cables you can buy that include technology that allows the cables to run up to 60 metres. So unless your Bluray player and TV are on opposite ends of your house, buy the cheapest HDMI cable you can find.

Macs can’t get viruses

While this statement is false, Macs are much less likely to get viruses. This is because Macs are nowhere near as common as Windows computers, so it is not as profitable to target Mac computers with viruses. However, as Macs become more popular, they will also become a more popular target for malware attacks.

More megapixels means better pictures

When buying a camera or a smartphone you’ll probably hear about how many megapixels the camera has. It’s one of the biggest selling points, but what does it actually mean? Having more megapixels simply means is that the photos you take will have a larger resolution, it does not necessarily mean they will look better.

A bad quality camera with lots of megapixels is like an awful painter with a giant canvas and litres of paint to work with; whereas a good quality camera is like a talented painter who can still produce a beautiful painting on a small canvas (after all the Mona Lisa is only about 50cm across).

While having more megapixels can be good, you should look for some examples of photos taken by the camera online to see if it lives up to the hype.

Leaving your smartphone plugged in overnight will ruin the battery

Modern smartphones are smart enough to stop charging when they are full – to stop the battery from overcharging. So you can rest easy if you leave your phone plugged in while you sleep. However, if your smartphone has a case, leaving it charging overnight can cause it to overheat and damage the battery, so you might want to take your case off before plugging it in.

Mobile phone at petrol station

Despite widespread belief, there is absolutely no evidence to support the myth that using your mobile phone whilst fuelling your car at a petrol station can cause fires. However, it is true that a simple static shock from your finger can. Mythbusters put this to the test over a decade ago.

 

W10 Shortcuts

Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts

 

If you use a computer often, you’ve probably come across keyboard shortcuts in the past, or if you haven’t, this might explain how some people manage to fly through complex tasks on the computer without even touching the mouse.

Keyboard shortcuts allow you to quickly perform a function by pressing a combination of keys at the same time. 

To use any of the keyboard shortcuts below, simultaneously press the keys listed in bold – remember that these will only work on Windows 10.

Windows key + A: Opens the Action Center where you can view recent notifications and adjust some frequently used settings such as wifi, Bluetooth and screen brightness.

Windows key + I: Opens Settings where you can change the settings on your device.

Windows key + S: Opens Search, which allows you to search for files on your computer or on the internet.

Windows key + Tab: Opens Task View, which shows all of the programs you have open, allowing you to click on one to interact with it. This can be really handy when you feel like your programs are burying you.

Windows key + arrow key: Allows you to ‘snap’ a window on your screen. By pressing left or right you can snap to half of the screen, if you then press up or down you can snap to one quarter of the screen. You can also minimise the active window by pressing Windows key + down, or maximise the window to take up the whole screen by pressing Windows key + up.

The following keyboard shortcuts relate to the usage of ‘Virtual Desktops’. This new feature in Windows 10 allows your computer to pretend it has two or more screens, and you can choose which one shows on your computer screen. For example you can have your work activities on one virtual desktop and your personal activities on the other and then swap between them whenever you want.

Windows key + Ctrl + D: Creates a new virtual desktop.

Windows key + Ctrl + F4: Closes the current desktop.

Windows key + Ctrl + left or right arrow key: Switches between virtual desktops.

These keyboard shortcuts will work anywhere in Windows 10, in addition to these, most programs have their own built in. Here are some keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Word.

If you want to learn some more shortcuts or refresh your memory, why not read our Top 10 keyboard shortcuts? All of these keyboard shortcuts will still work on Windows 10.

 

 

Online language

The evolution of language online

 

You grow up believing that you have a good grasp of English and a firm understanding of what words mean. Then along comes the internet and suddenly words, such as ‘cloud’ and ‘troll’, are being used in entirely new contexts. Since the internet boom, many common words have been appropriated for online use.

Here are 10 words that now mean something different now, as compiled by Dictionary.com to mark its 20th birthday:

Block

Then: “to obstruct (someone or something) by placing obstacles in the way.”

What it means online: “to prevent someone from contacting you on a social network, such as Twitter, or from viewing your profile.”

Catfish

What it means: “any of the numerous fishes of the order or suborder Nematognathi (or Siluroidei), characterised by barbels around the mouth and the absence of scales.”

What it means online: “a person who assumes a false identity or personality on the internet, especially on social-media websites, as to deceive, manipulate, or swindle.”

Cloud

What it means: “a visible collection of particles of water or ice suspended in the air, usually at an elevation above the earth's surface.”

What it means online: “any of several, often proprietary, parts of the internet that allow online processing and storage of documents and data as well as electronic access to software and other resources (usually preceded by the).”

Follow

What it means: “to go or come after; move behind in the same direction.”

What it means online: “to subscribe to someone's updates on social media.”

Like

What it means: “to be suitable or agreeable to.”

What it means online: “to indicate one's enjoyment of, agreement with, or interest in website content, especially in social media.”

Meme

What it means: “a cultural item that is transmitted by repetition and replication in a manner analogous to the biological transmission of genes.”

What it means online: “a cultural item in the form of an image, video, phrase, etc., that is spread via the internet and often altered in a creative or humorous way.”

Tag

What it means: “to supply with an identifying marker or price; to attach as an addition.”

What it means online: “to link to someone else's profile in a social media post, commonly a photo or status update.”

Timeline

What it means: “a linear representation of important events in the order in which they occurred.”

What it means online: “a collection of online posts or updates associated with a specific social-media account, in reverse chronological order.”

Troll

What it means: “(in Scandinavian folklore) any of a race of supernatural beings, sometimes conceived as giants and sometimes as dwarfs, inhabiting caves or subterranean dwellings.”

What it means online: “to post inflammatory or inappropriate messages or comments online for the purpose of upsetting other users and provoking a response.”

Viral

What it means: “of, relating to, or caused by a virus.”

What it means online: “becoming very popular by circulating quickly from person to person, especially through the internet.”

See the fill list at Dictionary.com

 

 

Travel App

One tap travel help

 

Even with the best travel planning, things can sometimes go a little awry. Taking the panic out of travel, this clever app means help is only the touch of a button away.

The Travel Aware App connects travellers with overseas emergency services and embassies at the touch of a button and can translate critical emergency questions into the local language. For those nervous about travelling overseas, this app is a must-have.

In the vent of a major incident happening while you are travelling Travel Aware provides international travellers with important emergency information, contacts for 2172 embassies worldwide, translations of key emergency phrases in over 200 languages, and secure storage of passport and insurance details. 

Engineer and inventor Neil Wallace said he designed the app after identifying a need for people to seek help quickly and easily if they are caught up in an emergency situation overseas.

“The App has been in development for more than three years and the launch has been planned for months, however, the terrible situation with the recent terrorist attacks in Paris has highlighted how beneficial this app could be,” Mr Wallace said.

The app is currently available to those from the top 10 travelling countries in the world – Australia, USA, UK, Canada, Japan, China, France, Germany, Brazil and South Korea, and will be available to more countries soon, with additional upgrades already in development.

Travel Aware is available for Apple and Android phones for $3.99, which includes future upgrades, including additional countries and translation languages.

 

 

Internet Deletion

How to delete yourself from the internet

 

The internet has made it possible for just about anyone to access information about you with the click of a button. But if you’re a security-conscious person, this may not sit well with you. Fear not, erasing yourself entirely from the internet can be a big task, but it is possible.

Delete or deactivate your online accounts

This includes:

·         social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, blogs, etc.)

·         online shopping accounts (eBay, CatchOfTheDay, Amazon, etc.)

·         web services accounts (email, Dropbox, Flybuys, etc.)

All sites vary, by you’ll find the option to delete or deactivate under a title such as Security or Privacy.

Contrary to popular belief, your Facebook account can be permanently deleted (not just deactivated). All you need to do is head to Delete My Account and click the blue button.  Be warned, however, that this is a permanent step. So if you wish to keep your Facebook history, be sure to download it onto your computer first. Do this by clicking on Account Settings > General > Download a copy of your Facebook Data > Start My Archive.

When it comes to blogs, you may need to contact the webmaster if you want to have an old blog post removed.

Tip: you’ll want to leave deactivating your email until last so that if you need to resend passwords to yourself to complete the deactivation process, you have somewhere to send them.

Remove your information from data collection websites

You might have noticed ads running across your computer screen that seem to be tailored to you – this is not a coincidence. Some sites collect and store your information in order to promote products to you while you’re browsing online.

Rather than tracking down all these websites (how would you know!) the most effective way to remove yourself from their databases is to fork out a bit of money. For the one-year membership of $130, services like DeleteMe do the hard work for you, and make sure your name is never re-added to any lists. 

Deleting yourself from the internet means backtracking through your history and erasing your online footprint. It can be difficult to really know whether your data will be permanently removed, but by following this guide you will do more than enough to disappear from the online world – if that’s your wish. 

Read more at gizmodo.com and cnet.com

 

Tech Travel Tips

Tips for travelling with technology

 

Technology can make travelling so simpler and more enjoyable, but it can also make travel frustrating and clutter your suitcase. Find out how to make tech work for you while travelling.

Prepare ahead of time

Unless you’re going to an undeveloped country, it’s quite likely you’ll be able to pick up some basics, such as power adapters and local simcards, when you arrive. But why not try to get it out of the way while you’re still at home? It’ll cost you less than buying things at the airport, but the real savings come into effect when you can sit down and relax at your destination while unprepared travellers have to dig through their phrasebooks to find out where they can buy a travel adapter. 

Travel adapters and chargers
While we’re on the topic, if you’ve got a few devices that you travel with (smartphone, camera, tablet) you may be able to just bring one wall charger with you, along with the USB cords for each device. PCCaseGear.com has a four USB port wall charger which could save some space in your suitcase. 

You might also want to invest in an international travel adapter. This one from SKROSS even has two USB ports built in. 

Portable battery charger

Whether you want to take a few more pictures or look at some maps and figure out where you are, these little devices are ideal, and you can charge it using your smartphone or tablet. 

You can charge these devices just as you would your smartphone, then when you find yourself stranded and out of battery, just plug the device into your smartphone or tablet, and it will charge as if it were plugged into a wall outlet. 

The chargers come in all different shapes and sizes; generally the larger they, the more charge you will get out of them and the more expensive they will be. JB Hi-Fi has a large range of wall chargers and portable battery chargers in all different shapes and sizes. 

App-ly yourself

Get on the iTunes app store or Google Play and load up your phone with travel apps before you head off. Many countries have government-funded apps to ensure tourists have a good time to keep them coming back. So why not take advantage? To get you started, here are some of the best travel apps around: 

Tripadvisor – One of the most popular travel websites, that offers detailed user-reviewed information on everything from hotels to local attractions. Tripadvisor also runs SeatGuru, which can help you choose the best plane seats. Available for iPhone, iPad, Android or web. 

Google Translate – Offers translations of over 90 different languages but does require an internet connection to use. Android users can download language packs to allow for offline text translation. Available for iPhone, iPad, Android and Web. 

Skype – One of the hardest parts of travel can be leaving behind the people you love at home. Skype offers free voice and video calls between devices, and affordable international phone calls. Available for iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows, Mac and more.