Technology
Exploring "Why" questions about Technology
491 articles
Why cant the internet version of youtube “minimize” the current video into the corner while I browse for another one, like it does on the app?
I use the chrome extension [Seek n Play](_URL_0_), which adds this feature. I also have [AlienTube](_URL_2_), which replaces the YouTube comments with any reddit posts it finds that link to that video
why does streaming something take less bandwidth/data than downloading that same thing?
It doesn't assuming you really are getting the same thing. YouTube and many other video players can reduce quality on the video before transmission, and some may use more compact encoding than some vi
Why are smartphones coming out with a 64 bit processor but < 4GB ram?
Well if you've already hammered out your 64bit support before you need it for the RAM that's always nice, of course. There are some other advantages, though none I would imagine are Earth-shattering.
why don’t the laws against opening others’ mail apply to digital content?
The laws were put in place before things such as text messaging and e mail were even invented, they are outdated and have loopholes to exploit
Why don’t we see TV ads that are totally silent and display nothing more than a company’s logo for the 30 second spot?
I believe Ford did that during the intermission of the first network showing of Schindler's List. The first showing was somewhat controversial... obviously painful and adult subject material, very som
Why do downloads and updates sometimes go really slow from 1-10%, then really fast from 10-20%, for example? Is there a reason they are so inconsistent?
Because different progress bars work different ways. Some are just for show. Most count tasks to be finished, without any thought to how fast those tasks are.
why do computers use exponents of 2? ie 32, 64, 128, 256 etc
Because computers are all based around binary (base 2) math. Computers use binary, as oppose to base 10 or any other style, because the simplest form of data transport and storage is a system that onl
Why does almost every app you download on the android app store have permissions where they can delete folders, access your contacts and turn your phone on and off among other things?
Pretty much any app needs to have folder access. That's how it stores its data. Contacts?
Why can’t games and other graphics programs use a circle?
A computer screen is composed of a bunch of tiny square pixels. Circles end up looking jagged. Through anti aliasing, you can make the circle appear much smoother, but it takes much more rendering pow
Why do my computer speakers occasionally pick up radio or (phone?) conversations?
A piece of wire can be used as a radio antenna, as a conductive material can pick up the electromagnetic radiation that makes up radio waves. Your car radio, for example, has an antenna that picks up