In this latest episode of The Gadget Man, Matt unravels the long-standing myth about using rice to dry out wet mobile phones.
Despite its popularity, this method is debunked as ineffective and potentially harmful.
The Gadget Man – Episode 178: Rice, Phones, and Chili Con Carne: Debunking Tech Myths with Malcolm Boyden
Apple itself has issued guidance against it, warning that rice grains can damage the device by blocking ports and causing corrosion. Instead,
Matt suggests allowing the phone to dry out naturally in a dry, airy place, highlighting modern phones’ water resistance capabilities and the importance of gentle care in case of water exposure.
Rice can damage devices
The conversation takes a lighter turn with a humorous suggestion for the best use of rice: making chili-con-carne, adding a flavourful twist to the tech discussion.
Dropping your phone in water is now not the disaster it used to be
This episode not only clears up a common misconception but also serves up a side of humour, making it a must-listen for tech enthusiasts and foodies alike.
It’s a common myth that burying your iPhone (or other brand) in rice is the go-to solution for liquid mishaps. The theory is that rice acts as a desiccant, drawing out the moisture and saving your precious device from a watery grave. But, let’s separate the wheat from the chaff here.
Drying Out the Myths: Why Rice Might Be Your iPhone’s Worst Enemy After a Swim
The reality is, while rice may absorb some moisture, it’s not the most efficient or safest method for your tech. The tiny particles of rice can be quite mischievous. They’re small enough to sneak into your iPhone’s charging port, headphone jack, or speaker grills. Once inside, they can act like mini trojan horses, potentially causing more havoc than the liquid itself.
These stowaways can interfere with your phone’s connections, leading to distorted audio or charging woes. Even worse, during the drying process, these rice particles can absorb moisture and swell, becoming lodged in the nooks and crannies of your phone’s interior, where they can cause shorts or corrode circuits.
Drying Out the Myths: Why Rice Might Be Your iPhone’s Worst Enemy After a Swim
So, while it might be tempting to use rice as a DIY rescue, it’s a grain of caution to remember that the potential damage from rice particles could leave your iPhone in a real sticky situation, possibly even voiding warranties or leading to costly repairs. Trust me, it’s a whole different kind of ‘rice cooker’ scenario you want to avoid!
For the tech-savvy and the gadget lovers out there, it’s best to stick to recommended practices for drying out your device.
Drying Out the Myths: Why Rice Might Be Your iPhone’s Worst Enemy After a Swim
Apple advises against using external heat sources or compressed air and suggests gently tapping the phone against your hand with the Lightning connector facing down to remove excess liquid. Keep it upright and let it air dry in a well-ventilated place. And if you’re unsure, it’s always wise to consult with a professional who can handle your device with the care it deserves. After all, your iPhone is more sushi-grade tech, not something to be tossed into the rice bowl!
Hello, tech enthusiasts and language lovers! Today, I’m thrilled to unveil something truly groundbreaking at The Gadget Man – a fusion of cutting-edge AI technology with the art of language translation.
This isn’t just any ordinary video. A few years back, I recorded a clip that has now been transformed into a multilingual marvel, thanks to the brilliant minds at San Francisco-based AI company Sync-labs. My voice, originally in English, has been meticulously analysed and cloned. The audio was transcribed and then translated into an array of languages, and here’s the really clever bit – the translated audio has been engineered to sound exactly like me, but in each respective language.
From Swedish to Urdu, each version maintains a natural tone and inflection unique to its language. The result? An impressively accurate lip-synced video of me speaking to the camera in English, Swedish, Dutch, French, Japanese, German, Ukrainian, Italian, Welsh, Urdu, Arabic, Spanish, Thai, Turkish, and, of course, a special digital voice rendition.
The goal here is not just to showcase the wonders of AI but to connect with our diverse audience. We’re breaking down language barriers while keeping the essence of communication – the personal touch.
Now, here’s where you come in. I invite you, our valued visitors, to be part of this exciting journey. Watch the video and let us know what you think of each translation. How well does the AI capture the nuances of each language? Does it sound natural to you? Your feedback is invaluable, as it helps us understand the effectiveness of this technology from a real-world perspective.
Rate each translation and share your thoughts in the comments below. Whether you’re a native speaker or a language enthusiast, your insights will contribute to a broader understanding of AI’s role in breaking down linguistic barriers.
As we embrace this new era of technological advancements, it’s crucial to remember that at the heart of all innovation lies communication and connection. So, let’s explore together the fascinating intersection of technology and language.
Here’s me telling a joke translated to Chinese
and the same joke in German
Stay tuned for more tech explorations and insights right here on The Gadget Man.
There are pros and cons to almost any type of technology. Take social media, for example; it’s a fantastic tool to help people connect with others, but it also brings out the worst in people. You can apply this line of thinking to just about anything tech-related; it will have lots of pros, but also some cons.
Speaking of which, data centres are recently coming under fire from a lot of environmental activists. Indeed, governments are looking to clamp down on these centres because of the damage they are doing to the environment. On the one hand, data centres are excellent as they allow us to store lots of data and keep it protected. But, the flip side of this is that there are some ecological concerns…
Why Data Centres Are Coming Under Fire From Environmental Activists
Large greenhouse gas emissions
You associate greenhouse gasses with factories and manufacturing plants. But, did you know that data centres account for 2% of the total greenhouse gas emissions on the planet? That’s a massive amount and it all comes down to the sheer level of electricity produced every single day.
Think about it, there are hundreds, thousands of servers inside a data centre that all need to be powered at all times. This uses so much electricity, causing serious harm to the planet.
Big contributors to toxic waste
Another key reason these places are under fire is that they contribute to toxic waste. This is mainly via the sheer amount of e-waste generated by data centres. In fact, some reports suggest that e-waste is accountable for 70% of global toxic waste.
Again, it’s a significant issue that’s leading to loads of people demanding that action is taken!
What can be done to solve these tech problems?
Like all tech issues, the problems with data centres can be solved with some clever thinking. For starters, steps must be made to improve the efficiency of data centres. This begins with the databases themselves. The goal is to maximise each system to ensure that more items can be stored on one server at any given time. One way to do this is through things like MySQL Performance Tuning. Ideas like this are designed to tune database systems to make them more efficient, ensuring they use up less energy and fewer data servers are required in any given centre.
Performance tuning can also increase the longevity of servers within a data centre, meaning they last for longer before being thrown away. As such, less waste is generated in these facilities.
Another obvious move is to power these places with as much renewable energy as possible. Solar panels can be very helpful, subsidising non-renewable energy and keeping greenhouse gas emissions to a minimum.
It’s not hard to understand why people are getting angry about the environmental impact of technology, particularly in facilities like data centres. However, the good news is that steps can be made to address the issues. Thus, we get the benefit of data centres without worrying about what they do to the planet – everyone’s a winner!
We’re now on the home straight with the Retro Gadgets Series and what better classic gadget to feature but the legendary Nokia 3310 mobile phone.
This is certainly a gadget that needs very little introduction, after being introduced in 2000, the handset went on to sell more than 126,000,000 units. What’s more, the handset continues to be used in many households today. I previously discussed the handset in Episode 98 with James Hazell.
Nokia’s new owners HMD relaunched the device in 2017 with a homage to the original device, attempting to capture a new market of low-cost mobile phones. This too was covered in Episode 102 with Mark Murphy.
The Original Nokia 3310 and the the 2017 HMD Nokia 3310 reboot
Today, however, it was the turn of Matt Marvell to listen to my lament about this classic piece of technology history.
You can listen in to the recording by clicking at the top of the post. Don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, SHARE and most importantly COMMENT. I’ll catch up with you next time
We all have to start somewhere and so did some of the biggest tech companies. Play our quiz and see if you can guess what their first products were? You might be surprised at some of the answers!
Don’t forget to comment with your score and don’t forget to like and share!!
