9 Myths You Believe About Apple Products

Myth 1. There are no viruses on iPhone and Mac

Owners of Apple equipment traditionally pride themselves on the fact that their computers and smartphones are supposedly invulnerable to malware. And while Windows and Android users constantly suffer from various “spyware”, “encryptors” and other “Trojan horses”, lucky owners of devices on iOS and macOS need not worry about such trifles think.

Apple products are indeed somewhat safer than computers and smartphones from other vendors, but not because of any technical features, but because they less common. Therefore, most hackers are engaged in hacking the more popular Windows and Android.

But this does not mean that malware for Mac and iPhone does not exist in nature.

They exist, and their number is increasing as the popularity of Apple's creations grows. For example, according to reports from Malwarebytes, from 2018 to 2019, the total number of viruses for Mac

has grown by 400%. From 2019 to 2020 by 61% increased number of detected backdoors, data thieves and cryptocurrency miners. And from 2020 to 2021, there was a 200% increase in viruses on Mac.

Viruses also come across iPhones - most often they are picked up by those who install unverified applications on their smartphones. But sometimes malicious and fraudulent programs leak into the AppStore. For some reason, hackers especially love mask them under PDF readers.

In general, Apple machines cannot be considered completely immune to hacking and viruses.

Myth 2. Macs never break

Another misconception that makes Apple users feel superior to owners of other devices is the stability of the macOS system. Everyone knows that Windows sprinkles errors and “blue screens of death” at every opportunity (only in the 11th they turned black). But this doesn’t happen in macOS.

Yes, the latter is indeed more stable than Windows, because it only works on Apple computers. And, therefore, there are no problems with hardware compatibility - while Microsoft’s OS is installed on thousands of different configurations. Try it run macOS on any other computer - and the mentioned “stability” is gone.

But even on native Apple computers, this OS cannot boast of absolutely error-free operation. It happens to her too analogue “blue screen of death” - black screen Kernel Panic, “kernel panic”. Causes the same as with Windows: broken hardware, errors in writing to drives, incompatible equipment or programs.

But a Mac can also have other problems. For example, sometimes the system does not start, showing a question mark with a folder icon on a black background is a symbol that the computer's boot drive is not in order.

On Macbook, released from 2015 to 2019, the keys can easily break due to the imperfections of the first versions of the butterfly keyboard. Cover hinges, battery, connectors and power button are damaged due to rough handling, as well as exposure to heat, sand or dust.

So what, you can use a Macbook damage (fortunately, not critical) even with sweaty hands. The fact is that Apple paints the cases of its products by anodizing. The aluminum product is coated with a thin layer of oxide, which helps protect the metal from corrosion and gives the surface the desired color. But if your hands are sweaty, oily, or wet, you may discolor the case where you touch it. This problem is especially noticeable on laptops in “Space Gray” and “Midnight” colors.

Myth 3. Apple technology is a must for creative work.

It is traditionally believed that Apple computers are indispensable for creative people: artists, musicians, sound engineers, editors, designers and other creatives. A boring and banal PC with WIndows will not suit them, because the system from Microsoft does not provide all those incredible features that stylish Apple machines have.

This opinion applies not only to desktop computers, but also to tablets. Lots of digital artists draw on the iPad. Ask them to try an Android tablet or a Windows 11 convertible and they'll probably laugh.

The tradition of associating the Mac with the creative industry goes back at least three decades. In the 1990s, most creative software, like Photoshop or Final Cut, were issued exclusively for Macintosh. This was explained by the fact that the devices of that time were much faster than early PCs.

But now almost more creative programs have been developed and ported for Windows than for macOS. Photoshop has long ceased to be exclusive to Apple computers.

So the love of designers and editors for the Mac is more of a tradition than a real need for specific software.

As for the artists, the iPad didn’t shine like a wedge for them either. Nowadays, a lot of drawing software has been developed for Android tablets, such as Sketchbook, Clip Studio Paint or HiPaint. These programs cope with drawing no worse than the famous Procreate.

In addition, to create digital art, you do not need to buy an iPad or any other mobile computer with a screen. Graphic tablets for drawing are much cheaper and can be connected to any PC or laptop.

Myth 4. Unnecessary iPhone applications should be closed

This is a very old myth. Periodically opening the iPhone multitasking mode and manually closing programs that you are not using is necessary so that they do not devour system resources and smartphone battery power. For many users, swiping through apps is a calming ritual.

It's just a waste of time. When you do not use an application for a long time, the system itself pauses it in RAM. It will be there without disturbing anyone. “Suspended” applications do not take up any system resources or battery power at all, about which speaks Apple in its manual.

If the RAM becomes full, iOS itself will unload unnecessary programs from it, leaving instead only screenshots in multitasking mode. If you swipe these pictures, nothing will change in the system. But if you swipe away active programs and then open them again, you will only increase the consumption of system resources. The system will have to not resume the “suspended” application, but start it again, increasing the load on the RAM.

So the advice to “swipe” apps to save battery leads to exactly the opposite result. Apple recommends do this only if the program is frozen and not responding - then the system will reboot it.

Myth 5. Macs should only work with Apple accessories

Mac computers look great, and they look best when paired with other Apple technology accessories. Wireless Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, AirPods Max, NAS for Time Capsule backups, a proprietary Pro Display monitor... All this is designed in the same style, instantly connects to the Mac and is easy works.

It's no surprise that many Apple device owners are dedicated collectors. They simply need not only a MacBook, iPhone and iMac, but also other accessories, no matter how much they cost. There is an opinion among many Apple fans that if you use a Mac, then all its peripherals should be made by Apple. And third-party equipment either won’t work, or it will, but not like that due to compatibility problems.

After all, how can a non-Apple device be of high quality?

Yes, Apple accessories do look very aesthetically pleasing, but they have two drawbacks. First of all, they are very expensive. Secondly, they are often inferior to simpler analogues from third-party manufacturers.

The Magic Mouse, for example, boasts a built-in touchpad for zooming and swiping gestures, just like on a MacBook. But otherwise, it's a pretty run-of-the-mill battery-powered Bluetooth mouse that's awkward to hold due to its low profile. Wireless devices from Logitech and Razer, although not as beautiful, hold a charge longer and are cheaper. And it’s more pleasant to hold them.

You can absolutely safely use third-party keyboards, mice, headphones, speakers, monitors and other peripherals with your Mac - there is no need to buy only Apple products. Unless you want all your equipment to look the same.

Myth 6. iPhone can only be charged with original charger

There has long been an opinion circulating on the Internet that the iPhone can only be charged with an original cable from Apple. A non-original one will probably kill the battery and cause your smartphone to explode. Therefore, when you buy a smartphone from Apple, you need to grab a charger with the Apple logo, because the company no longer supplies cables.

That's just Apple itself in plain text asserts, that you can charge your iPhone using cables and power adapters with the “Made for iPhone” logo from third-party manufacturers. In addition, power adapters without the "Made for iPhone" logo are acceptable as long as they support USB 2.0 or later and meet current safety standards.

That is, you can absolutely safely buy third-party chargers from trusted manufacturers like Anker, Ugreen, Baseus and others like them. But you really don’t need to use adapters from nameless vendors from the nearest underground passage. They may not damage the battery, but they will charge your smartphone too slowly because they will not be able to deliver the stated voltage.

Myth 7. Apple designs its products to quickly become obsolete

The fact that Apple specifically creates smartphones that cease to be relevant after a few years in order to force consumers to constantly buy new ones is on the Internet talked back in 2007. It started the moment the company announced its first iPhone. Later, in December 2017, Apple itself added fuel to the fire, recognizing, which slowed down older iPhones with iOS updates to extend battery life.

Yes, an old iPhone with newer versions of the operating system can indeed run slower than it initially did. This is partly connected with battery saving function: the OS reduces the frequency of the device’s processor to save the aging battery. If you're annoyed that your old iPhone is lagging after updating, tap Settings → Battery → Battery Health → Peak Performance and select Turn Off. The smartphone will stop slowing down, but its battery life will decrease.

Another reason for the “brakes” is that new versions of operating systems are usually more resource-intensive: new features and functions require more and more power of the device’s hardware.

This not only affects the iPhone, but also all other electronic devices. The point here is not the malicious intent of the Apple corporation, which stimulates the cult of consumption, but the fact that optimizing new OSs for old hardware at some point becomes simply expensive, and support is neglected.

Analyst Horace Dedue from Asymco countedthat on average Apple users own their iPhone, iPad, Mac, iPod Touch and Apple Watch for 4 years and 3 months before upgrading to a new one. It's less than official The period of support for the same iPhone (5 years), and even less the period for receiving system updates for Mac. Therefore, most Yabloko users change their devices when they want new ones, and not when the company makes their smartphones slow down.

Myth 8. Apple owes its success only to Steve Jobs

Some Apple fans believe the company's golden days were over when CEO Steve Jobs died in 2011. Allegedly, under him, Apple released innovative products every couple of years that turned the world upside down. And without Jobs, the company took a wrong turn.

One of the company's former employees, Bob Burrow, toldthat Steve encouraged each employee to take personal responsibility for improving products. Cook, on the contrary, allegedly adheres to the principle “I’m the boss - you’re a fool.” Now Apple only introduces stupid emojis and broken butterfly keyboards.

Obviously, this would not have happened under Steve - he was a revolutionary and a visionary, not a boring corporate boss. Apple won't be the same without him...

Steve really was a cool guy who determined the direction of Apple's development and made the company a phenomenon in the technology industry. But because of Jobs's brilliant charisma, many people miss the fact that he was not the author of many of Apple's greatest developments.

So, the first iMac, the legendary iPod with a control wheel and the iPhone 3G, as well as the Titanium PowerBook G4 and MacBook created Apple Vice President of Industrial Design Jonathan Ive. First iPod creation Tony Fadella. Apple Store branded stores were designed by Vice President of Retail and Online Commerce Ron Johnson, branded advertising, including those legendary commercials Mac vc PC — Phil Schiller, Vice President of Global Marketing. And the company's very first hits, Apple I and Apple II, were created by Steve Wozniak.

Myth 9. Apple only makes masterpieces

For many, Apple is a company that creates exceptional products. It's hard not to be fascinated by Apple technology because of its gorgeous, thoughtful design. Therefore, the company's loyal fans believe that Apple produces real masterpieces of the technology industry, and it simply cannot be better than theirs.

Of course, iPnone, iPod, iPad and Mac are devices that determined the development of the modern electronics industry. But besides them, Apple’s history also had its share of failures.

For example, the Apple III is a computer released in 1980. Steve Jobs banned add fans to the system to keep the machine as quiet as possible, and limit the size of the case for aesthetic reasons. As a result, the Apple III suffered from overheating and failed in sales.

Or another device - Power Mac G4 Cube. This computer was compact and beautifully designed, but too much expensive and not particularly productive for its price. It didn't last long on the market.

More Apple in 1995 tried create a game console, calling it Pippin - to this day it is considered one of the most unsuccessful consoles in history. Add to this the company's first tablet computer, the Newton MessagePad, released in 1993. It was sort of like the iPad of its time. But he was slow and did not recognize handwritten input well.

Another example is like this called washer (Apple USB Mouse) - a round-shaped mouse with a single button, which was very inconvenient to use. Or the music recommendation social network iTunes Ping, which Steve compared to “something like Facebook and Twitter.” It was introduced in 2010, but lasted only two years.

All sorts of annoying mistakes have happened in the recent history of the company. For example, the first fanless MacBook, released in 2015, worked silently, but at the same time noticeably warmed up under load. He was supplied a low-power Intel Core M processor, which was not enough for tasks more complex than browsing the web or composing documents. But was worth it this gadget is almost the same as the significantly more powerful MacBook Pro, starting at $1,299.

Let's take the Apple Magic Mouse - it's a very beautiful mouse with a touch surface. But due to its low profile, owners get sore hands when used for a long time. You can even sell find silicone pads that are attached with an adhesive surface to the Magic Mouse. They help make it a little more convenient.

The non-ergonomic shape is not the only drawback of the Apple mouse. First version of Magic Mouse discharged batteries lasted an average of 30 days, while cheap analogues from other manufacturers lasted for months. The new version doesn't have this drawback, but the mouse has to be charged through a port on the bottom, making it impossible to use while it's charging.

The first generation Apple Pencil was excellent - except for one small thing. His should have charge by plugging it into the iPad, which should first be turned over so as not to accidentally break off the pen plug.

Only the lazy did not remember the butterfly keyboard of the MacBook, which broke at the slightest speck of dust. Laptop models released from 2015 to 2019 suffered from sticky or unresponsive keys. After numerous user complaints, Apple returned to a more standard membrane keyboard in subsequent models.

Airpods Max released in 2020 criticized for the fact that at a fairly high price they offer very standard sound quality, and cheaper headphones from Sony and Bose are superior to them.

In general, as you can see, even Apple has made mistakes.