11 Oct
Blog

Getting Schooled on Building Muscle

Chris Barakat, MS, ATC, CISSN, is the founder of the School of Gainz and Competitive Breed. He's also a competitive natural bodybuilder, researcher, and educator who really guides the conversation.

In this episode we will discuss all things muscle building, including:

  • Whether DOMs are a useful indicator of effective training
  • What Makes a Good Muscle Building Exercise?
  • How much variety do you need in your training?
  • Is Periodization a Useful Tool for Building Muscle?

In addition to discussing Chris' exciting research and insight into the latest scientific findings on hypertrophy.

If you enjoyed this podcast and cared about it, rate and rate it so we can get the word out and motivate and inspire others to take their performance to the next level.

You can find more podcasts like this on the Breaking Muscle Six Pack of Knowledge page. Here you can find all podcasts for most of the available streaming services including iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, YouTube, Stitcher, PlayerFM and PodBean.

I am the host, Tom MacCormick, and I am a personal trainer and online coach whose goal is to be the curator of the greatest hypertrophy experts in the world. If you're interested in working with me or learning more about me, follow him on Instagram @tommaccormick.

10 Oct
Blog

1More True Wireless ANC Review: A Work In Progress

1More True Wireless ANC

"Their extremely cool design and great sound quality don't justify their price."

  • Smooth design

  • Excellent sound quality

  • Wireless charging

  • Average ANC

  • No custom controls or EQ

  • No water or dust resistance

  • So-so battery life

1More has a reputation for building affordable, high quality wired and true wireless earbuds that have features and sound quality that match products that cost much more. We like 1More products so much that they are regularly featured on our best-of lists.

When the company introduced its first true wireless active noise cancellation (ANC) earbuds – the $ 180 true wireless ANC, valued at $ 180 – we really wanted to try them out.

If history is a guide, these buds should turn out to be the AirPods Pro alternative we've been waiting for.

Has 1More delivered the goods? Let's look at them.

What's in the box?

1More True Wireless ANCSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

1More apparently expects you to keep the True Wireless ANC box for as long as you own it. That's the only explanation we can think of for the massive, thick-walled, coated cardboard container that the buds come in. Don't get me wrong, it's beautiful, with a magnetically closing hinged lid (something we see all too often) and colorful printing on every surface.

However, this jewelry box design and the heavy use of plastics and foam on the inside make it nearly impossible to recycle the packaging. I would like 1More to use less material.

This treasure chest contains the charging case, the earphones, a USB-C charging cable, a storage bag and a generous supply of earplugs and "O-hooks" (1More's name for the ear fins).

design

1More True Wireless ANC "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn2.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/1more-true-wireless-anc-00011-640x640.jpg " srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

1More True Wireless ANC "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn3.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/1more-true-wireless-anc-00005-640x640.jpg " srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

1More True Wireless ANC "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn4.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/1more-true-wireless-anc-00004-640x640.jpg " srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

1More True Wireless ANC "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn5.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/1more-true-wireless-anc-00010-640x640.jpg " srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Like the 1More Stylish they are very similar to, the True Wireless ANC isn't the smallest earbud you can find, but they do balance their slightly bulbous bulk with a cool, carbon fiber-like pattern beneath a clear shiny surface.

The charging case appears to contain a stealthy James Bond weapon, not wireless buds.

In combination with bright red hits in the microphone recesses and the earplugs, this looks like a Formula 1 racing car.

This high-end atmosphere is repeated in the wireless charging case with an ultra-smooth, satined aluminum cover. It looks like it is harboring a stealthy James Bond weapon, not wireless buds. Like a luxury coupe, the seams line up perfectly and the lid opens and closes with a satisfying click.

It's bigger than the AirPods Pro ($ 249) or the Jabra Elite 75t ($ 180), but thanks to its flowing, curved corners, it's still relatively convenient to tuck it in your pocket.

The earbuds can be easily pulled out of the charging corners and just as easily exchanged, regardless of the size of the O-hook you have installed.

Convenience, control and connections

1More True Wireless ANCSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

When it comes to getting the best sound out of a set of true wireless earbuds, a secure fit is key. That's why it's fantastic to see how 1More packages the True Wireless ANC with so many earbuds (seven sizes and two styles) and O-hooks (three sizes and one hookless option).

Unfortunately, after trying every single combination of earbuds and o-hooks, I couldn't get the buds to stay firmly in my ear canal. This came as a surprise, not only because of the many options I had to play with, but also because that rarely happens to me. Out of 30+ models I've tried in the past 24 months, I've only had two that just didn't fit no matter what I did.

Twisting them was easy enough – and very convenient – but not long after that they would work their way up. They use an oval-shaped earbud, which may be part of the problem, but the AirPods Pro and I also find them perfectly safe.

I suspect the real reason is that my ear canals are set quite deep relative to the outer parts of my ear. The tower of the True Wireless ANC (the part where the earbud attaches) is short, and the asymmetrical shape of the body means you can only rotate it until it is blocked by your ear.

As with any thing related to fit, your experience will likely be different from mine. However, if you've been having trouble finding a good fit for other earbuds, this is something you should consider.

The controls on the True Wireless ANC are a mix of pushbuttons that sit on top (or back, depending on how you sit them in your ears) and touch controls. The touch control is only used to manage the ANC mode. A double tap on the earbud takes you from ANC to ANC level 1, to ANC level 2, to ambient mode (passthrough) and then back to ANC.

This combination of touch and physical controls gives you everything you need including volume up / down, play / pause, call answer / end, track forward / backward skip and access to voice assistants. However, you cannot customize which key presses they trigger. This would be especially helpful with ANC: I'd like to quickly get in and out of ambient mode instead of flipping through all four modes.

Once you memorize the patterns, the controls are responsive and easy to use.

The wear sensors that allow you to automatically pause and play music when the buds are removed or inserted work very well, but there is no way to turn the feature off. In the 1More Music app, you can choose between "Auto-pause" or "Auto-pause and play".

Once connected, the True Wireless ANC maintained a very strong and stable radio signal, although that signal could only extend about 30 feet before it stalled. Unlike some other wireless earbuds, the True Wireless ANC tries to connect as soon as you open the charging case. I found that if I pulled them out before both earbuds indicated they were paired (the LED changes from blue to red), my phone will not always be paired again.

Battery life

I'm a little disappointed with the battery life of the True Wireless ANC. They are designed for an operating time of six hours with the ANC switched off and only five hours with the ANC switched on. Granted, that's still better than what Apple is promising for its AirPods Pro (4.5 hours with the ANC on, five hours with the ANC off), but when you look at the total playtime with the charging case included, the 1More top is at 22 hours versus 24 for the AirPods Pro.

On the one hand, that's enough juice to last you a full day without a charger, and the True Wireless ANC's quick 15-minute charge for two hours of play time definitely helps.

On the flip side, we see many inexpensive true wireless earbuds like the JLab Epic Air ANC that can work between eight and 12 hours before going back to their charging case and have total times of up to 48 hours.

Sound quality

1More True Wireless ANCSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The 1More True Wireless ANC is the first true wireless earbud to be THX certified. This means that THX rated the earbuds against some of its tech standards for things like left-right stereo sync and distortion. However, THX certification is not a guarantee of any particular sound quality. Think of this as sort of insurance: this means that THX has independently tested the transmission and determined that it had a base level of performance.

They have an incredibly balanced sound signature that doesn't favor highs or lows.

In the real world, there is no way of knowing what the True Wireless ANC would have sounded like before THX got involved, so I'm not going to attribute any part of the sound to THX that I heard.

THX or no, the 1More True Wireless ANC sounds excellent.

They have an incredibly balanced sound signature that doesn't favor highs or lows. Instead, you get clear and detailed performance across all frequencies. This clarity and precision exceeds what many products with comparable price can do, like the Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro, the Jabra Elite 75t and even the AirPods Pro from Apple.

On tracks like Fleetwood Mac's Little Lies, this precision lets background vocals inhabit the ethereal space a little above and a little outside the main soundstage – things that reliably give goose bumps.

My only complaint is the lack of an adjustable EQ. As nicely balanced as they are, I'd prefer to play a bit more bass to warm up the sound a bit, but there's no way to do that. If you're a bass player, you're probably better off with the Jabras.

However, for much better sound quality than the True Wireless ANC, take a look at the $ 200 Sennheiser CX 400BT or the $ 230 Sony WF-1000XM3.

Noise cancellation

1More True Wireless ANCSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

If there's one thing I've learned from reviewing real wireless earbuds with ANC, there is a huge spectrum of quality. Some earbuds that offer this feature, like the JLab Epic Air ANC, do almost no significant improvement, while others, like the Apple AirPods Pro, create an incredible cone that has to be heard to be silenced.

The ANC function produces an audible hiss when no music is playing.

I was hoping the 1More True Wireless ANC would be closer to the AirPods Pro end of the spectrum, but they're actually in the middle.

With two stages of ANC, they can cut down some external sounds quite a bit, with a noticeable sweet spot in the lower frequencies, but it's nowhere near as consistent as the Sony WF-1000XM3 or AirPods Pro. What is unfortunate, however, is that the ANC feature produces an audible hiss when no music is playing. This prevents the True Wireless ANC from being a good tool to simply drown out the hustle and bustle of an office or coffee shop.

Another area of ​​tradeoff is the environmental or pass-through mode of the ANC. The goal of an ambient mode is for you to hear the outside world to speak to someone or to become more aware of your surroundings. Equally important, however, is the ability to hear your own voice clearly so that you don't accidentally raise it too loud. Plus, phone calls sound a lot more natural. Ambient mode definitely lets in outside noise, but your voice remains noticeably muffled.

Call quality

Call quality is a bright spot for the True Wireless ANC. Callers said my voice remained clear even if there was a lot of background noise to deal with like passing traffic. Every now and then my voice got louder, but I couldn't tell what was causing it.

Even so, the lack of an ambient mode that could effectively make me hear proved annoying.

Our opinion

I really wanted to love the 1More True Wireless ANC and its sleek design and sound quality are sure to set high standards. However, the average battery life, lack of custom EQ or button functions, and the disappointing ANC prevent those buds from breaking free from a very crowded backpack.

Is there a better alternative?

While they don't have wireless charging, Jabra's Elite 75t costs the same, has bigger bass-forward sound, great comfort and fit, generous battery life, and soon even ANC. When you add in the insane amount of customization the Jabra Sound + allows, and its IP55 dust and water rating, most people will happily trade a bit of sound clarity and precision for the Jabra's many strengths.

How long will they last?

1More includes a one-year warranty on the True Wireless ANC. The earbuds and charging case look very nice and I assume they will be used for many years. Without an official IP rating for water resistance, however, you need to be extra careful not to expose them to water or sweat.

Should you buy it?

No. As good as the sound quality is, 1More is asking for a lot of money for a feature set that just isn't as good as other companies'.

Editor's recommendations




10 Oct
Blog

HP Spectre x360 15 2020 Review: Less Size, More Power

HP Specter x360 15 2020 review p1012378

"The Specter x360 15 offers a lot of performance and a nice display in a smaller case."

  • Tiny for a 15-inch 2-in-1

  • Spectacular appearance

  • Excellent keyboard

  • Solid productivity performance

  • Excellent OLED display

  • Modest performance in creative apps

  • Bad battery life

The 2020 HP Specter x360 15 is a 360-degree convertible 2-in-1 that is considerably smaller than its predecessor, but still offers the option for reasonably powerful components and a beautiful OLED display.

I have the high-end model with a sixth generation Intel Core i7-10750H CPU with six cores, 16 GB RAM, a 1 TB solid-state drive (SSD), an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Max Q and a 4K OLED tested display. This configuration is priced at $ 1,850 at HP.com and is intended for creatives who want the power of a 15-inch laptop with the flexibility of a 2-in-1. Let's dive in.

design

HP put the Specter x360 13 under a scalpel in 2019 to shed the fat and get a really small 2-in-1 ratio with a screen-to-body ratio of 90% thanks to tiny bezels. Earlier this year, HP did the same with the 2019 Specter x360 15, resulting in a much less unwieldy 15-inch 2-in-1. It also has a screen-to-body ratio of 90% and is significantly smaller than its predecessor. It looks a lot more modern and retains the gem aesthetic that makes the Specter line one of the best looking and most distinctive you will find.

I will find that the size difference is not as noticeable as it is on the 13-inch model. While this laptop feels tiny when in use, the 15-inch Specter x360 only feels smaller. HP says they built a 15-inch 2-in-1 into the chassis of a 14-inch model, but that seems a bit difficult to me – especially since 14-inch laptops are falling off too. I like the size of the Specter x360 15, but it still feels like I'm using a bigger laptop.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Part of it has to do with thickness. It's 0.79 inches thick, more than the 0.75 inches of the 2019 model, and it doesn't match the 0.71 inches of the Dell XPS 15, which feels a bit thinner. The HP, however, weighs 4.24 pounds, which is less than the XPS 15's 4.5 pounds and much less than last year's 4.81 pounds. Of course, any laptop over four pounds will come across as a large laptop. I emphasize this point to make sure no one thinks they are getting a thin and light 2-in-1 device that is convenient to use as a tablet – unless it rests on a surface.

One thing that hasn't changed is the build quality of the Specter x360 15. It's made from machined aluminum, as before, and HP makes sure that it exudes quality. The Specter x360 15 has no bend, bend, or twist in the lid, keyboard deck, or case. It's as solid as a laptop. The hinge is a bit stiff, which means you open it with two hands, but it stays in place in whatever mode you choose – clamshell, tent, medium, or tablet.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Connectivity also remains a strength. The Specter x360 15 has a competent mix of old and modern connections, so dongles are reduced to a minimum. On the left is a full-size HDMI 2.0 port and a 3.5mm audio jack. On the right side are two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 3, a USB-A 3.1 port, and a microSD card reader (though a full-size reader would have been preferable for the creative types). As with previous designs, one of the Thunderbolt 3 ports is in a corner notch on the case so you can connect it without a cable in the way. It remains a nice gesture. The wireless connection is via Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0.

performance

The Specter x360 15 is another laptop targeting creatives. Still, it doesn't emphasize creative power as much as some other 15-inch laptops. The Dell XPS 15 and HP Envy 15 offer faster CPUs (and GPUs in the case of the Envy 15), more RAM, and more storage. In essence, the Specter x360 15 is a fast 2-in-1 device, but it's not in the same class as today's fastest 15-inch clamshell laptops.

I'd like to directly compare the Specter x360 15 to the XPS 15, but we tested the Dell with a Core i7-10875H, which means it benefits from two additional cores and four additional threads. The XPS 15 had the same Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti, although the HP uses the Max-Q version. The Envy 15 is a more direct comparison in terms of its CPU, which is identical to the Specter, but our review unit was equipped with an Nvidia RTX 2060 Max-Q.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Looking at Geekbench 5, the Specter x360 15 scored 1,237 in single-core tests and 5,013 points in multi-core tests. That's well behind the Envy 15's 1,274 and 5,542 points, and in fact, most of the laptops we tested with the same CPU are faster than this HP.

The same applies to our handbrake test, in which a 420 MB video is converted to H.265. Here the Specter x360 15 took a little over 2.5 minutes. The Envy 15 finished the test 21 seconds faster and 40 seconds less in performance mode with the HP Command Center utility. Note that this utility had virtually no effect on the Specter x360 15's performance as I saw in the previous version. The Specter x360 15 didn't perform badly here, but it doesn't quite match the standard of other laptops with similar equipment.

The Specter x360 15 achieved 469 points in the single-core test and 2523 points in the multi-core test in Cinebench 20. Here, the Specter was almost the same as the Envy 15, which scored 436 and 2593 (487 and 2830 in performance mode). That was a surprising result and could have something to do with the extensive work HP has done to improve the thermal design of the Specter x360 15.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Finally, I also ran our Premiere Pro test, which rendered a two-minute 4K video. In this test, which uses the GPU to speed up the process, the Dell XPS 15 took five minutes to complete compared to the Specter x360 15's nearly 7.5 minutes – those extra cores are important. The Envy 15 was done in under four minutes in performance mode and showed the performance of the RTX 2060.

Overall, the Specter x360 15 is a fast productivity laptop that can do creative work on the side. It is not as fast as its 15-inch competitors for demanding creative tasks like editing photos and videos. However, it's still a capable machine if you're not looking for the absolute best performance for creative applications.

Play

Of course, with a GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q on board, you'll be tempted to play with the Specter x360 15. I've gone through our series of gaming tests, and in general, it's a step or two behind other laptops with the same GPU.

For example, the Specter x360 15 achieved 2,963 points in the 3DMark Time Spy test. Compared to the Dell XPS 15 at 3860 (although the Dell may have the standard GPU, this is not always clear). The Microsoft Surface Book 3 13 achieved 3,214 points in the test with the GTX 1650 Max-Q from Nvidia.

When playing real world games, the Specter x360 15 managed 89 frames per second (FPS) in Civilization VI at 1080p and medium graphics, compared to the XPS 15 at 114 FPS and the Surface Book 3 13 at 68 FPS. The Specter kept 60 fps in Ultra graphics compared to the XPS 15 at 64 and the Surface Book 3 at 41. In 4K, the Specter x360 15 reached a high 55 fps in medium graphics and 30 fps in Ultra, with the XPS 15 at 51 fps and the Surface Book 3 reached 30 fps.

Ultimately, the Specter x360 can play 15 modern titles with 1080p and medium to high graphic details at reasonable frame rates.

In Assassin's Creed Odyssey, the Specter x360 reached 15 playable 40 fps at 1080p and high graphics, but dropped to 25 fps at ultra high. The XPS 15 was at 47 fps and 26 fps. None of the laptops in this title are fast enough for 4K.

When switching to Fortnite, the Specter x360 15 ran at 67 fps with 1080p and high graphics and 47 fps with the epic graphics preset. This is comparable to the XPS 15 with 74 fps and 60 fps and the Surface Book 3 with 55 fps and 43 fps. Here, too, the laptops fell significantly at 4K.

In Battlefield V, the Specter x360 15 finally managed 55 fps in 1080p and medium graphics and 44 fps in Ultra. The XPS 15 hit 60 fps and 50 fps, and the Surface Book 3 hit 41 fps and 32 fps. As before, 4K was out of reach.

Ultimately, the Specter x360 can play 15 modern titles at 1080p and medium to high graphic detail at reasonable frame rates, which is not bad for a 2-in-1 device. Overall performance on the Dell XPS 15 is poor, but the Specter x360 15 generally outperforms the Surface Book 3 in real world games.

display

HP offers the Specter x360 15 with three display options, all 4K. The entry-level model is the same 340 nit display that they have been providing on the 2-in-1 device for a few cycles. The middle option is a new 400 nit panel with low power consumption (2 watts). The premium option is a 400 nit OLED display. I checked the latter, and like all of the OLED displays we tested, it was largely excellent.

First, according to my colorimeter, it was very bright at 426 nits and exceeded HP's specifications. That's not as bright as the Dell XPS 15's excellent IPS display, which shipped at 442 nits. However, HP uses anti-reflective glass, so the Specter x360 15 makes optimal use of its brightness. Next, as always with OLED, the contrast of 426.180: 1 compared to the XPS 15 (excellent for an LCD screen) 1480: 1 was unfamiliar. The difference isn't as dramatic as it seems on paper, but the OLED display offers significantly better black tones and punchy contrast.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The color gamut of the Specter x360 15 was very wide with 98% of AdobeRGB and 100% of sRGB and was close to 100% of both color gamuts of the XPS 15. However, the HP fell slightly behind in color accuracy and achieved DeltaE 1.21 (the human eye can see in the Generally not perceive an error below DeltaE 1.0), while the XPS 15 achieved a value of 0.65. Both laptops are great for creatives who crave broad and accurate colors, but the Dell is a bit better.

In real use, the OLED display is a dream. Colors pop, but they're not unnatural. Black text on a white background is crystal clear, and movies are a great experience. However, I will find that it does not support Netflix HDR as well as the Dolby Vision enabled Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 2, which also has an OLED display. This laptop is the king of Netflix HDR.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Audio was incredibly loud and undistorted at full volume. The mids and highs were excellent and there was even a hint of bass. The Specter x360 15 benefits from its two upward and two downward facing speakers as well as the Bang & Olufsen tuning. You don't have to use headphones or external speakers to binge Netflix, although, as with all but the MacBooks' superior speakers, you'll want to plug something in for the best music performance.

Keyboard and touchpad

If you've read any of my other reviews, it should come as no surprise that the Specter x360 has one of my favorite keyboards. I love the spring travel, the size and the distance between the keycaps and the light mechanism, which still ensures a precise floor effect. It's the same keyboard on all Specter models, and HP has apparently started adding it to the Envy lineup too. The only keyboard that I like better is Apple's new Magic keyboard on the latest MacBooks.

The touchpad isn't that great, mostly because of its small size. Dell managed to fit a bigger touchpad onto the latest XPS 15, and I'd love to see HP do the same. Dell benefited from the extra keyboard deck space thanks to its 3: 2 aspect ratio, but I still think HP could manage to fit into a larger version. The Specter x360's touchpad works well, however, as after so many years of using Synaptic drivers, it's a Microsoft Precision touchpad and supports Windows 10 multitouch gestures with aplomb.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The touch display is precise as always. Windows 10 laptop manufacturers have this one slap. The 2020 Specter x360 15 also benefits from a welcome anti-fingerprint coating. I've found it stays cleaner than most other touch displays. The display supports HP's active pens, which provide 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt assistance. However, on this model, this is an option and I haven't received one to test.

Finally, Windows 10 Hello is provided by both an infrared camera for facial recognition and a fingerprint scanner. I prefer the latter, but both worked quickly and accurately during my tests. Further security is provided by a physical switch that electronically removes the webcam from the system, making it invisible to hackers, and a special keyboard key to turn off the microphone.

Battery life

One stat that has suffered from the downsizing of the Specter x360 15 is the battery capacity, which has dropped from 82 watt hours to 73 watt hours. Throw in some powerful components and a very power hungry OLED display, and battery life expectations should be tempered from the get-go.

First, the Specter X360 15 lasted little more than two and a half hours in our demanding Basemark web benchmark test, which was 42 minutes less than the XPS 15, and one of the worse results we've seen from a productivity laptop. If you plan to do CPU-intensive or GPU-intensive work with this 2-in-1, you should carry your power supply with you.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

In our web browser test, the Specter x360 15 shut down after just six hours. That's an hour less than the XPS 15 and again a bad score for a productivity laptop. This test gives an idea of ​​how long the laptop will run for less demanding tasks, and it is unlikely to last a day even just browsing the web and running Office apps.

After all, the Specter x360 15 lasted just under six and a half hours in our video test, which grinds a Full HD Avengers trailer until the battery is empty. The XPS 15 lasted an hour longer, and that score is again lower than what we're used to from productivity machines.

If you want the form factor of the Specter x360 15 with better battery life, go for the version with a quad-core Intel Core i7-10510U 10th generation CPU and a 4K display with low power consumption. Each of these tests get you hours longer, but of course you give up on the power and great OLED. As it is, our test device is not a good choice for street fighters.

Our opinion

The HP Specter x360 15 is smaller and more powerful. It's the most powerful 2-in-1 you can buy, and while it can't quite compete with the fastest 15-inch laptops for creative professionals, it can meet the needs of everyone but the most demanding of users. HP has succeeded in developing a 2-in-1 system that is characterized by productivity tasks and also offers some creative possibilities.

The laptop is well built, beautiful, and has one of the best displays you can buy today. It's also cheaper than some other laptops like the Dell XPS 15, so the HP is a good choice.

Are there alternatives?

The Dell XPS 15 is the most straightforward alternative to the Specter x360 15 as there has been no other 15-inch 2-in-1 that matches HP's pace for speed recently. The Dell can be configured as a much faster laptop and has its own great display. It is an excellent choice for the more discerning creative type. It's also more expensive, costing over $ 2,000 for similar specs, and only going up in price from there.

Another option is HP's own Envy 15, which is cheaper than the Specter but much more powerful. In fact, it's difficult to choose the XPS 15 over the Envy 15. So if a clamshell suits your needs and you're a creative power user, the Envy 15 is a great choice.

How long it will take?

The Specter x360 15 is durable and has relatively modern components. It should be productive for years. However, we would like the guarantee to be longer than a year.

Should you buy it?

Yes. If you want a powerful laptop with the flexibility of a 2-in-1 device, the Specter x360 15 is your best bet.

Editor's recommendations




10 Oct
Blog

Level Touch Review: Tap-to-Go Convenience

Level touch the lock

Level touch review: convenience to take with you

"The best looking smart lock is enhanced by touch access and NFC key cards."

  • Minimalistic design

  • easy installation

  • Comfortable touch of touch

  • Programmable NFC key cards used as a backup

  • Expensive costs

  • Touch Unlock only works when you leave your home border

Without a doubt, Level has redefined our perception of what a smart lock should look like. Instead of a clunky keyboard that was visible to all, Level wanted something far more graceful – and one that didn't distract or detract from the existing look of a door. The Bolt Lock level was an engineering marvel, but now the company intends to take the next step.

The Level Touch is the continuation of the company's approach of integrating seamlessly into the smart home. With the same discreet design as before, combined with the power of the touch, it's supposed to be a complete all-in-one system that makes accessing your Smart Lock even more convenient.

A contemporary design that blends in

Similar to its previous Smart Lock, the Level Touch is not far away with its ingenious design that stows all components. So the end result is a smart lock that looks horribly like an ordinary lock. It is available in four finishes: satin nickel, satin chrome, polished brass and matt black, so it goes with almost any door finish.

Level Touch the outer button housingJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

Installation is still child's play and takes no more than 10 minutes. In contrast to the bolt, when you touch you have to replace your original lock with a new one. This is important because the bolt was set up as a system that could turn any lock into a smart one. However, this is not the same situation here as with the Level Touch. So you will have to use a new set of physical buttons after setting it up. I really prefer the other implementation, but I understand that this is supposed to be an all-in-one out of the box solution.

Even more ways to unlock

As the name suggests, the Level Touch can be operated with touch power – in addition to the usual method of using the Level app on a smartphone or via GPS proximity. Now you can set it up so that you can lock and unlock it by touching the outer key housing. Initially this was a tricky experience as the unlocking mechanism could not be initiated. Luckily it was short lived and after a few changes to the settings it started to work like a charm. You can rest assured that no one can simply touch and unlock the lock. That's because you still need your smartphone in close proximity for this to work.

In addition to being touched, Level introduces these NFC key cards, which serve as another way to access the lock – a useful option if you want to give access to a caregiver, family member, or other person. It comes with two NFC key cards that can be programmed via the app. It definitely reminds me of a hotel key as it works the same way by placing it flush with the keyhole and slightly above it. My only minor complaint is that it takes more than five seconds for the card to be recognized instead of being instantaneous.

You can set the app to automatically lock itself after a preset interval. This is useful when you're just rushing out the door to get somewhere. There is also the option to automatically unlock. This comes in handy when you are busy with food. This function is of course based on GPS and is only activated when you cross and enter your home limit for the first time. In my situation, the app shows the home border in such a way that it covers almost a block. So I would call it a radius of 150 feet. This is a bit alarming considering that this is still a considerable distance that could give someone plenty of time to get into your home before you get there. In reality, however, the Level Touch will automatically unlock when I'm about 3 meters from the lock. So there is nothing to be concerned about.

The only mistake

While I enjoy simply tapping the lock to operate the mechanism, there is one particular situation where it won't work – and it's an issue that I hope will fix. Unfortunately, the touch unlock feature won't start until you step outside the house and rent it again. So if you forget something at home after you have touched it, you won't be able to use Touch Unlock right away.

A smart lock that looks terrible like an ordinary lock

This is due to the fact that everything is monitored by GPS coordinates. You'll need to venture out of the zone and re-enter the area before it detects you've left and re-enables touch unlock. I was outside the door when I forgot something inside so I can't touch the lock to unlock it. Instead, I had to open the app and unlock it there.

Fortunately, there are several other methods to unlock it. As I mentioned earlier, you can always have an NFC key card on hand, but you can access the Level app and HomeKit controls by asking Siri to open the door or, as a last resort, the physical keys. While there is an Android app for using Level Touch, Apple users get more controls thanks to HomeKit support, so they can be linked to other automations via the Home app for iOS. However, Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant are not yet supported.

Level Touch with the NFC key cardJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

Battery power comes in the form of a single CR2 battery that fits snugly into the screw. It is designed to provide more than a year of battery life with normal use, but that will of course vary.

Our opinion

The Level Touch costs $ 329, which is an increase of $ 100 over the Level Bolt. It's not cheap, but the high cost is the price to be paid for all of the technical challenges of such a minimalist-looking smart lock – as well as introducing some new lock / unlock methods.

How long it will take?

All components are carefully made from metal and have a robust build quality. I am therefore confident that they will hold up very well. In the event that a malfunction occurs due to a defect, there is a two-year guarantee that covers defects in material and workmanship.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes and no. There are few who can compete with the minimalist design, as many of them are bulky and imposing figures on doors. The Smart Lock from SimpliSafe corresponds exactly to Level's philosophy of not being a disruptive element on a door.

In terms of functions, the Lockly Vision continues to be the Swiss Army Knife for smart locks with a keyboard, fingerprint sensor and integrated video camera that effectively turns it into a doorbell camera too. If you're looking for something that doesn't cost a huge amount and is easy to install, consider the Wyze Lock and August Wi-Fi Smart Lock.

Should you buy it?

If you really want to keep the look of your door so that it stays that natural, the Level Touch is the logical choice. Not only does it look like a traditional lock, but I also appreciate the new ways to unlock it.

Editor's recommendations




09 Oct
Blog

Getting Schooled on Building Muscle

Chris Barakat, MS, ATC, CISSN, is the founder of the School of Gainz and Competitive Breed. He's also a competitive natural bodybuilder, researcher, and educator who really guides the conversation.

In this episode we will discuss all things muscle building, including:

  • Whether DOMs are a useful indicator of effective training
  • What Makes a Good Muscle Building Exercise?
  • How much variety do you need in your training?
  • Is Periodization a Useful Tool for Building Muscle?

In addition to discussing Chris' exciting research and insight into the latest scientific findings on hypertrophy.

If you enjoyed this podcast and cared about it, rate and rate it so we can get the word out and motivate and inspire others to take their performance to the next level. You can find more podcasts like this on the Breaking Muscle Six Pack of Knowledge page. Here you can find all the podcasts on most of the streaming services available, including: iTunes, Google play, Spotify, Youtube, Stitcher, PlayerFM, and PodBean.

I am the host, Tom MacCormick, and I am a personal trainer and online coach whose goal is to be the curator of the greatest hypertrophy experts in the world. If you're interested in working with me or learning more about me, follow him on Instagram @tommaccormick.

09 Oct
Blog

Apple Pencil 2 Review: Everyone’s New iPad Sidekick

Apple pencil no longer for graphic designers 2

Apple Pencil (second generation)

“Like a good wine, the apple stick got better with age. An improved design goes perfectly with iPadOS 14 improvements. "

  • Classy, ​​comfortable design

  • Magnetic loading is cool

  • Works great with iPadOS 14

  • Useful for more than art

  • Expensive

  • Not compatible with basic iPad

The Apple Pencil has been a go-to for digital artists and graphic designers for years. The second generation of the Apple Pencil is compatible with all iPad models. However, the model you have determines which Apple Pencil model you can use.

Given the plethora of new features made available to the Apple Pencil in iPadOS 14, we felt it was time to revisit the Apple Pencil, especially given the fact that these new features mean anyone can use the device.

Now that features like Scribble are available, should you buy the second generation Apple Pencil for your iPad Pro or the new iPad Air? We put it to the test to find out.

A natural design

The first generation Apple Pencil featured a completely round design, and while some may appreciate the look, I find that the new Apple Pencil 2 looks and feels a little more natural with its flat edge. Something about letting my index finger rest on that flat edge gives it a better grip.

Of course, the reason Apple added the flat edge has less to do with gripping the pen and more to do with charging. Gone are the incredibly unintuitive and cumbersome charging technology with which the pen is connected to the Lightning connector on your iPad. With the second generation Apple Pencil, simply place the device on the magnetic charger at the top of your iPad and it will be charged. This is also a good place to keep when you are not using it. However, if you don't stick it out of the Lightning connector when you're not using the original pen, then you're going to be crazy.

The second generation pencil is slightly thicker than your average pen or pencil, but not excessive and not enough to keep it uncomfortable. It's also pretty light without feeling cheap or thin.

The magnets in pencil and iPad keep it in place nicely most of the time. During a weekend trip where my iPad Pro and Pencil were put in and out of my backpack several times, it only came out when I didn't even want it. It stayed firmly in place the rest of the time – and it's generally a good place to keep your pencil on the go.

The only downside to the new Apple Pencil is that it only works with a few select iPad models. It works with all iPad Pro models from 2018 and with the 2020 iPad Air (4th generation). The hope is that the Apple Pencil will be universal again as soon as Apple gives the rest of its iPad line the latest flat, modern design with the base iPad and iPad Mini.

Tools for everyone

Design is an important aspect of the Apple Pencil, but perhaps one of the best things about it is that, like fine wine, it gets better with age. This has proven itself with iPadOS 14, which saw Apple introduce a variety of features that frankly make the pencil a tool for everyone – not just graphic designers.

We're focusing a little more on hardware than software in this review, so we won't go into depth about these new features. The standout feature here, however, is Scribble, which allows users to write and automatically convert it to text using Apple's fancy word-recognition technology. This works across the operating system – anywhere you can type, you can now write.

This means you can use the device to jot down while still getting searchable text afterwards. This recognition text can come into play without actually having to use Scribble. For example, you can select the writing, copy and paste, and even paste it as direct text. If you enter a URL, address, phone number, or email address, iPadOS can use that data to make calls, navigate you to an address, and so on. It's convenient.

All Apple Pencil models have the same 9 ms latency, which has more to do with iPadOS than the Pencil itself. Combined with the 120 Hz refresh rate on the iPad Pro display, you get an incredibly smooth, natural experience.

Of course, there are still features that are hardware-based and not software-based. The most obvious of these is the ability to double-tap to switch tools or turn off the device. This is a handy shortcut. You can customize the function depending on the app used. Most apps, however, switch to the eraser tool by default. It will definitely be useful for graphic designers and artists – though perhaps less so for everyone else without adjustments.

Our opinion

The Apple Pencil isn't a perfect tool, but it's getting closer. It's a little expensive, but given the new features in iPadOS 14, it has features that pretty much anyone can use.

But it's still a luxury item for those who aren't graphic designers or artists. That said, you probably don't need an Apple Pencil to take notes. You can just type your notes with a keyboard if you have one, or use the old-fashioned pen and paper. That said, even if it's a toy to some, it's a really pretty toy, and if you have the money to spend on the pencil, you probably won't regret it.

Is there a better alternative?

No. Other companies offer their own pen, e.g. B. Samsung with its S-pen. However, this only applies to Samsung devices. The second generation Apple Pencil is second to none.

How long it will take?

As long as you take care of it, the Apple Pencil should last at least a few years. It's hard to know if Apple will ever release a third generation pencil, but as long as the company updates iPadOS with new pencil features, it should become more and more useful over time.

Should you buy one?

Yes. You may need one if you're a graphic designer or an artist, but even if you're not the Apple Pencil 2, it has a number of features that you can find useful.

Editor's recommendations




09 Oct
Blog

The Cossack Squat: Reclaiming Your Baseline Balance

This straightforward exercise not only strengthens the strength and coordination of each leg, but also removes the instability of the hips that inevitably creeps in after years of training heavy bilateral movements like squats and deadlifts.

We are not perfectly balanced machines. One side of our body has more prominent organs than the other side in different places. We have one dominant side that will always be a little stronger and more coordinated than the other.

So when we start doing heavy bipedal or bilateral movements like squats and deadlifts, it makes sense that we develop a tendency to push harder, toward our dominant side, or to prefer it.

It's part of the business to be human, and no amount of one-sided focused remedial action or exercise will balance us perfectly.

There is no point in thinking about it because we are naturally unbalanced.

We should always focus on the basics that are beyond any movement and practice. If you want to know what these core principles are, check out this new course I am offering.

When the imbalance is too great

However, sometimes the space between the sides and segments can get a little too big. In this case, we need smart exercises that train all of the variables to move the gauge back towards your baseline. This is a reasonable asymmetry.

The Cossack Squat requires you to move into positions that can be difficult at first, but the movement itself is simple and straightforward.

It can be done anywhere with body weight or loaded in different ways with whatever type of weight is available to you.

Why The Cossack Squat?

Any one-legged exercise can improve stability and physical awareness. What makes the Cossack squat valuable is that you have the slight support from your hind leg.

With this support, you can focus on controlled movement over the entire range of motion available to you, while building more mobility and strength at the end of your range.

The Cossack Squat: Restoring Your Basic Balance - Fitness, Fitness, Balance, Squats, Mobility, Strength Training, Range of Motion, Posture, Stability, Deadlifts, Hip Abduction, Levels of Motion, Movement Patterns, Coordination, Asymmetry, Cossack Squats, Imbalances, Adductors, Core Stability

If you fall, you are at the limit of your hips and ankles. Just look at the picture above. I crouch on one side of my body as low as I can.

We all tend to emphasize linear movements in which we move straight up and down. If you want a big squat and deadlift, that's fine. However, you need to make sure that you move in different directions and movement patterns, at least at times.

The Cossack squat is an exercise that you can add to the end of your workout to help you move in a different plane.

It is best if you move through these different patterns to avoid overloading the pattern (injuries to your soft tissues cannot move in just one pattern or restrict your free range of motion for too long).

It would be helpful if you moved in these different positions to keep all of the connective tissue in the body healthy.

The longer we've been training, the more we may need this.

The older we get, the more we have to move in every possible way.

And the more we sit for work, the more we should move in every possible movement pattern.

Use any movement pattern

  • Place your feet a foot or two outside shoulder width. You may need to adjust your feet wider. Play with your posture to find out what is comfortable and strong.
  • Ground the foot on the side that you will be crouching on first. Press your big toe firmly into the floor and apply pressure to the floor outside of your foot just below the outside edge of your ankle.
  • You can curl your toes out at first but eventually work towards keeping them straight as this will challenge your mobility and stability to new levels.
  • Use your other foot on the opposite side to help you and push you into a crouch.
  • Sink into a crouch without your heels or any part of your feet losing contact with the ground. With some variations, your toes may lift and twist up on your back leg. However, if you keep them down, it is better to question the mobility of your adductors.
  • Squeeze the foot you were squatting on to push your hips up and back, center.
  • Let yourself sink to the other side without a break, taking into account the same points of contact and ideas.

Weighted Cossack squat

To add weight to this exercise, you usually hold the weight in front of you to use as a counterweight to keep you upright, or you can hold it close to your body.

The Cossack Squat: Restoring Your Basic Balance - Fitness, Fitness, Balance, Squats, Mobility, Strength Training, Range of Motion, Posture, Stability, Deadlifts, Hip Abduction, Levels of Motion, Movement Patterns, Coordination, Asymmetry, Cossack Squats, Imbalances, Adductors, Core Stability

If you want to change it, try keeping a weight behind your head.

The Cossack Squat: Restoring Your Basic Balance - Fitness, Fitness, Balance, Squats, Mobility, Strength Training, Range of Motion, Posture, Stability, Deadlifts, Hip Abduction, Levels of Motion, Movement Patterns, Coordination, Asymmetry, Cossack Squats, Imbalances, Adductors, Core Stability

Holding a weight behind your head will test your dexterity to stay upright.

You will train the strength and flexibility of your upper back, and your core will work even harder to hold the posture and stabilize you. Win, win and win.

Watch your limit

This exercise is not about bending and creasing into a position that you cannot yet reach. It's about finding the edge of your flexibility and stability in this movement and slowly challenging it without losing posture and stiffness or compensating in any way.

If you practice it consistently you will get to this bottom position, but your adductors, knees, and ankles won't like you very much if you try to force it too soon.

Ready for more trouble?

There are several different ways to load this exercise to make it more challenging. Holding a weight behind your head, which I described earlier, is one of them. Keeping the weight above your head with your arms outstretched is another matter.

However, there is something else you can do to test your mobility and stability that doesn't necessarily require weight.

The Cossack Squat: Restoring Your Basic Balance - Fitness, Fitness, Balance, Squats, Mobility, Strength Training, Range of Motion, Posture, Stability, Deadlifts, Hip Abduction, Levels of Motion, Movement Patterns, Coordination, Asymmetry, Cossack Squats, Imbalances, Adductors, Core Stability

Choose the side you squat on and place a small plate or similar flat object under this foot. Do the number of repetitions you choose, then switch sides.

If you lift your foot just a few inches, you will struggle to hold the position as you lower yourself into a lower position.

09 Oct
Blog

LG Wing Review: This Novelty Can’t Quite Get Off the Ground

LG Wing Review Open Screen Hand

“You won't find another smartphone that looks like the LG Wing, and it's a real eye-catcher. However, the swivel screen struggles to find a way to be useful. "

  • Well crafted hardware

  • Satisfactory screen rotation

  • The gimbal camera mode works fine

  • Too little use for the swivel screen

  • Screen with a refresh rate of 60 Hz

If the LG Velvet LG was reasonable, then the LG Wing LG is pretty, pretty insane. The insane swivel screen hardware is fundamentally different from any other phone you can buy, and while it might be considered a quirky alternative to a folding smartphone, it really isn't.

I'm actually not exactly sure what the LG Wing is. While the hardware is fun, the software can't keep up with the innovative design. This means that I have found very few reasons to rotate the screen and that is a real shame. Let's go into more detail.

design

The LG Wing has two screens, with the large 6.8-inch P-OLED main screen swiveling to a 180-degree landscape orientation to reveal a smaller 3.9-inch secondary screen underneath. The phone will assume a T shape at this point. The result is a phone that you can naturally hold with one hand while watching videos in landscape mode.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

First, the phone is made superbly. Forget the wing feels fragile – it doesn't. Also, don't worry about the rotated screen breaking with regular use as it has been tested to 200,000 revolutions. The action is delightful, with expertly weighted damping to slow the rotation of the screen. And the hinge is set in the perfect point to take over when you move it with your thumb.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The LG Wing is not a concept phone. The hardware feels absolutely final and durable. It corresponds to the toughness standard MIL-STD-810G and is splash-proof according to IP54 (not to be confused with the usual high-end IP68). The shape and comfort in the hand when folding the phone are reminiscent of the LG Velvet. This is a seriously heavy phone at 260 grams – the Velvet weighs only 180 grams – and at 10.9mm, it's thick too. The result is a phone that pulls your pants down.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I like the color Illusion Sky. The blue shimmers in the light and then turns into purple, silver, green and pink at different angles. When the screen is rotated, there are some ergonomic problems, mainly with the volume and power buttons. These are too close to the rotated screen and are very difficult to press in this orientation. The fingerprint sensor on the display is also difficult to reach. This isn't very helpful when the phone goes to sleep or a video is playing at a deafening volume. The main screen also takes its smooth, curved edges with it when flipped, so you can grab the far less convenient sharp edges of the lower screen.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Yes, the phone is to be kept in T mode of course, but every time I did it I wondered if it was really any different from holding any other phone in landscape mode. Well done and really out of the ordinary, the LG Wing is a flashy phone that will make people double take a picture, but you may not be using the flip screen too much.

Using the LG Wing

I love LG's ideas. Ever since we let the crazier designers back into the lab after a period of boredom, we've got the sleek new Velvet, several dual-screen phones, and now a swivel phone. It is wonderful. As cool as the design is, it's all free if the software doesn't keep up or app developers aren't on board. As with LG's dual-screen cases, the current status of the Wing's app support doesn't convince me to use the swivel screen more often.

LG wing opening "width =" 640 "height =" 480

For a new type of phone to be successful, it has to fit into our lives. The Galaxy Z Fold 2 does this very well – with the vast majority of apps working instantly on the big screen, there was no real adjustment phase. All of the Samsung folding phones make me want to open and close the phone, and as much as I want to pan the LG Wing's screen, it often doesn't make much sense to do so.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Why? An example is when you come across an embedded video on Twitter. With the phone closed. It will play as usual and when you pan the screen. It switches to landscape mode, but the Twitter app doesn't automatically appear on the bottom screen so you can keep browsing. When you open the Twitter app on the small screen, the video will be pulled from the panned screen and played there instead.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The menu on the panned screen shows YouTube as an option. However, when you open it, it shows YouTube in landscape orientation. This is a terrible mobile experience. It would have been better to toggle this to the lower portrait screen. So when you have selected a video, it will play on the panned screen. It does this using the Naver Whale browser pre-installed on the phone when accessing the mobile site.

I like it when you play a video, controls appear on the bottom screen, and how the Gallery app shows your selected photo on the rotated screen. Playing Asphalt 9 Legends shows that it was customized for the wing. A map of the trail is displayed on the lower screen. While the Naver Whale browser improves the browsing experience on both screens, you will have to be prepared to use it instead of the usual browser of your choice.

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If you're using the Wing with a properly customized app or feature, you can see what the LG Wing could look like with wider app support. Otherwise, it is often a little confusing and not very user-friendly. friendly. The result of all of this is that I just kept using the phone closed as it was often impossible to figure out what could happen if I turned the screen. Unfortunately, this tends to miss the mark.

camera

The main camera on the back has 64 megapixels and optical image stabilization, a second camera has 13 MP and records at wide angle, and a third camera also has 64 MP, but only records when the screen is panned and is mainly intended for video. This third camera is rotated to match the orientation of the panned screen for landscape photography. Very smart. This is where LG's clever digital gimbal system is activated, which stabilizes your recordings and enables a variety of movements without causing camera shake or blurring.

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This feature is probably the most successful on the LG Wing, but ease of use probably doesn't depend on the rotation of the screen. The stabilization – which is completely digital and not using hardware like a real gimbal or the Vivo X50 Pro – is very effective and keeps the image stable while walking or running, as well as tracking moving objects. However, the benefits are only seen in certain situations.

Controlling the camera in gimbal mode is easy with a precise and responsive virtual joystick and other controls on the lower screen. The LG Wing's T mode also helps you hold the phone more naturally when shooting, and gives you more control over position, just like a real gimbal – but there's no reason why the technology isn't on a regular phone too can be used.

Taking still images with the standard camera shows some great HDR effects and lots of pop, but the wide-angle camera tends to look washed out and drab. A digital 2x zoom is highlighted in the camera app and the photos taken have a reasonable level of detail, although it is not an optical zoom.

The camera also has various gimmicks. For example, you can record videos simultaneously with the rear and selfie cameras, record audio for ASMR videos, and choose from various bokeh effects in portrait mode. Video editing tools are displayed on the second screen in T mode. Oddly, however, there are no tools at all for editing still images. The Gallery app will open either Google Photos or Snapseed if it's installed.

Performance, screen and battery

The LG Wing has a Snapdragon 765G 5G processor and 8 GB of RAM as well as Android 10 with LG's own customizations of the user interface. It's quick and reliable. While technically not a flagship, you probably won't notice much of a difference between this one and a Snapdragon if you normally use your phone for typical apps and communication rather than constantly playing high-end games on your 865.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Here are some benchmark results:

3DMark Sling Shot Extreme: 2992 (volcano)

Geekbench 5: 1888 multi core / 602 single core

This corresponds to the OnePlus Nord and is a moderate improvement over the results of the Velvet and Motorola Edge, but not as high as the OnePlus 8 or OnePlus 8 Pro equipped with Snapdragon 865. I didn't notice any drastic performance issues, although the animations and switching between screens when opening and closing the screen tend to stutter and introduce a little lag.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It's a shame the Wing's screen, like the Velvet, doesn't have a high refresh rate and stays at 60Hz rather than a clearer, more eye-friendly 90Hz or higher. However, in the positive column, the 4,000 mAh battery lasts a full day and is typically around 30% including a few hours of video calls. Without this it would easily take two days. It supports both Quick Charge 4.0 and wireless charging.

Price and availability

All details on the availability of the LG Wing will be confirmed after release. We do know, however, that Verizon will be selling the phone for $ 999 and that pre-orders are already live and will be released on October 15th.

Our opinion

The smartphone world would be less interesting if it weren't for the LG Wing, but this unusual take on the multiscreen phone trend doesn't impress like the Galaxy Z Fold 2 or the Motorola Razr, as the software struggles to ensure everyday use is innovative Hardware. It's technically very impressive, but when you use it like any other bar-shaped smartphone, it's hard to justify spending $ 1,000 on it.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. The high price of the LG Wing hurts it, especially since there are many excellent mid-range phones with the Snapdragon 765G processor this year, including the new Google Pixel 5 for $ 699, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE for $ 699, the OnePlus Nord and the Nokia 8.3 5G. If you're looking to spend $ 1,000 on a phone, the OnePlus 8 Pro is far higher spec for the money, and the upcoming list of iPhone 12 models is always available if you want something completely different.

If you want something different, the Asus Zenfone 7 Pro's rotating camera probably offers more versatility and everyday functionality than the LG Wing's swivel screen, and offers higher spec at a lower price.

How long it will take?

The LG Wing is surprisingly tough on paper for such a complex piece of hardware. The MIL-STD-810G standard does not make it insensitive to damage, but it definitely contributes to safety and has a splash-proof coating for protection class IP54. There's even a custom case in the box.

LG's software updates aren't as fast as we'd like them to be, and the Wing launches with Android 10 on board. Since no Android 11 update has been announced for the Velvet yet, the Wing will probably wait until the beginning of 2021 see the new software. The phone has 5G on board which adds to its longevity, although it's not a big selling point today.

There's no reason the LG Wing won't keep you on a two-year funding plan. With luck, LG will make the swiveling screen and associated apps more useful during this time.

Should you buy one?

No. I like the hardware finish, but if I only use the phone when it is closed it is not worth paying extra for the swivel screen.

Editor's recommendations




09 Oct
Blog

The Cossack Squat: Reclaiming Your Baseline Balance

This straightforward exercise not only strengthens the strength and coordination of each leg, but also removes the instability of the hips that inevitably creeps in after years of training heavy bilateral movements like squats and deadlifts.

We are not perfectly balanced machines. One side of our body has more prominent organs than the other side in different places. We have one dominant side that will always be a little stronger and more coordinated than the other.

So when we start doing heavy bipedal or bilateral movements like squats and deadlifts, it makes sense that we develop a tendency to push harder, toward our dominant side, or to prefer it.

It's part of the business to be human, and no amount of one-sided focused remedial action or exercise will balance us perfectly.

There is no point in thinking about it because we are naturally unbalanced.

We should always focus on the basics that are beyond any movement and practice. If you want to know what these core principles are, check out this new course I am offering.

When the imbalance is too great

However, sometimes the space between the sides and segments can get a little too big. In this case, we need smart exercises that train all of the variables to move the gauge back towards your baseline. This is a reasonable asymmetry.

The Cossack Squat requires you to move into positions that can be difficult at first, but the movement itself is simple and straightforward.

It can be done anywhere with body weight or loaded in different ways with whatever type of weight is available to you.

Why The Cossack Squat?

Any one-legged exercise can improve stability and physical awareness. What makes the Cossack squat valuable is that you have the slight support from your hind leg. With this support, you can focus on controlled movement over the entire range of motion available to you, while building more mobility and strength at the end of your range.

The Cossack Squat: Restoring your basic balance - fitness, fitness, mobility, strength training, range of motion, posture, stability, deadlift, hip abduction, planes of movement, movement patterns, coordination, asymmetry, Cossack squat, imbalances, adductors, core stability

If you fall, you are at the limit of your hips and ankles. Just look at the picture above. I crouch on one side of my body as low as I can.

We all tend to emphasize linear movements in which we move straight up and down. If you want a big squat and deadlift, that's fine. However, you need to make sure that you move in different directions and movement patterns, at least at times.

The Cossack squat is an exercise that you can add to the end of your workout to help you move in a different plane.

It is best if you move through these different patterns to avoid overloading the pattern (injuries to your soft tissues cannot move in just one pattern or restrict your free range of motion for too long).

It would be helpful if you moved in these different positions to keep all of the connective tissue in the body healthy.

The longer we've been training, the more we may need this.

The older we get, the more we have to move in every possible way.

And the more we sit for work, the more we should move in every possible movement pattern.

Use any movement pattern

  • Place your feet a foot or two outside shoulder width. You may need to adjust your feet wider. Play with your posture to find out what is comfortable and strong.

  • Ground the foot on the side that you will be crouching on first. Press your big toe firmly into the floor and apply pressure to the floor outside of your foot just below the outside edge of your ankle.

  • You can curl your toes out at first but eventually work towards keeping them straight as this will challenge your mobility and stability to new levels.

  • Use your other foot on the opposite side to help you and push you into a crouch.

  • Sink into a crouch without your heels or any part of your feet losing contact with the ground. With some variations, your toes may lift and twist up on your back leg. However, if you keep them down, it is better to question the mobility of your adductors.

  • Squeeze the foot you were squatting on to push your hips up and back, center.

  • Let yourself sink to the other side without a break, taking into account the same points of contact and ideas.

Weighted Cossack squat

To add weight to this exercise, you usually hold the weight in front of you to use as a counterweight to keep you upright, or you can hold it close to your body.

The Cossack Squat: Restoring your basic balance - fitness, fitness, mobility, strength training, range of motion, posture, stability, deadlift, hip abduction, planes of movement, movement patterns, coordination, asymmetry, Cossack squat, imbalances, adductors, core stability

If you want to change it, try keeping a weight behind your head.

The Cossack Squat: Restoring your basic balance - fitness, fitness, mobility, strength training, range of motion, posture, stability, deadlift, hip abduction, planes of movement, movement patterns, coordination, asymmetry, Cossack squat, imbalances, adductors, core stability

Holding a weight behind your head will test your dexterity to stay upright.

You will train the strength and flexibility of your upper back, and your core will work even harder to hold the posture and stabilize you. Win, win and win.

Watch your limit

This exercise is not about bending and creasing into a position that you cannot yet reach. It's about finding the edge of your flexibility and stability in this movement and slowly challenging it without losing posture and stiffness or compensating in any way.

If you practice it consistently you will get to this bottom position, but your adductors, knees, and ankles won't like you very much if you try to force it too soon.

Ready for more trouble?

There are several different ways to load this exercise to make it more challenging. Holding a weight behind your head, which I described earlier, is one of them. Keeping the weight above your head with your arms outstretched is another matter.

However, there is something else you can do to test your mobility and stability that doesn't necessarily require weight.

The Cossack Squat: Restoring your basic balance - fitness, fitness, mobility, strength training, range of motion, posture, stability, deadlift, hip abduction, planes of movement, movement patterns, coordination, asymmetry, Cossack squat, imbalances, adductors, core stability

Choose the side you are on Crouch down and place a small plate or similar flat object under this foot. Do the number of repetitions you choose, then switch sides.

If you lift your foot just a few inches, you will struggle to hold the position as you lower yourself into a lower position.

09 Oct
Blog

Lenovo G27c-10 Review: 165 Hz curved gaming monitor For $200

lenovo g27c 10 review dsc01909

"The Lenovo G27c-10 is a great entry-level option to get into the fluidity of high FPS games."

  • Affordable

  • 165 Hz: Smooth playing

  • Remarkably accurate colors

  • Immersive size and curve

  • Bare minimal I / O

  • Low-maximum brightness

  • Limited color gamut

  • No DisplayPort cable included

If you are buying a fast gaming monitor on a budget, there is a good chance that you will or will come across the Lenovo G27c-10 in your efforts. It is a 27-inch full HD gaming monitor with a VA panel and a refresh rate of 165 Hz. This is a promising start to a great gaming experience.

The display's biggest selling point, of course, is its price, which comes in at $ 219 MSRP but often drops below $ 200, which is absolutely outstanding value for a 165Hz monitor.

How does it work in practice? Can the panel keep up with the refresh rate of 165 Hz? Is the picture quality good? And will it end up on our list of the best monitors? Let's find out.

design

When you unpack the G27c-10, you will find that it is an extremely simple monitor. The stand plugs into the bottom with a hand-turned screw and the monitor simply falls onto it. The locking mechanism takes care of the rest. The stand comes with height and tilt adjustments – and that's it – but you probably didn't intend to use this in portrait orientation. A cutout to pass cables through would have been nice, but no big deal.

Then there is the curve. Lenovo doesn't provide a curve radius, but we estimate it's in the range of around 1500R. It's certainly not as aggressive as the 1000R curve on Samsung's G7 monitors, nor as subtle as LG's curved displays either. Overall, it offers a good balance for its panel size and should please most gamers. The bezels are slim, which is very much appreciated at this price point, although we would have preferred not to see the pointer and performance graphics for the on-screen display (OSD) on the lower bezel as it adds no value and is a nuisance otherwise causes a clean design.

Other than that, the G27c-10's design doesn't offer much to comment on – it's about as clean as possible.

Connections and controls

Like the general design of the monitor, Lenovo didn't go to great lengths to give you extensive connectivity. The G27c-10 has an HDMI port and a DisplayPort port (which you need to use if you want G-Sync on an Nvidia GPU) and an audio-out jack in case you decide to run your headphones over your monitor.

The G27c-10's OSD is simple but has everything you need for a budget gaming monitor. Operation is via a direction switch at the lower right end of the monitor and is divided into four main sections: image settings, color settings, inputs and system settings. Inside you will find basic color controls, color temperature adjustments, brightness and contrast, FreeSync on / off, overdrive settings, game mode and a dark gain setting to brighten dark areas and gain a competitive edge in gaming.

picture quality

For the G27c-10, Lenovo opted for a VA panel with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, which is not particularly high for a 27-inch panel. This means that you will not get a sharp picture that is good for photo editing, although it will be enough for everyday use. Also in the game you are more interested in the high refresh rate of 165 Hz (keep in mind that most "normal" monitors are updated at 60 Hz), and the lower resolution means your GPU can pump out more frames and actually produce more frames using that high one Refresh rate.

We released our Spyder X Elite colorimeter on the G27c-10 and it was reported that the panel covered 96 percent of the sRGB space and 75 percent of the AdobeRGB. This isn't impressive and certainly won't please the photo editors, but it is enough. If you're buying a $ 200 gaming monitor, you probably won't mind that this isn't a wide range. If you're looking for a large color space, then you should check out something like the Acer ConceptD CM2.

The G27c-10 is remarkably color accurate with a Delta E of just 1.32.

However, when we tested the panel for color accuracy, the G27c-10 achieved a surprising Delta E (difference to the real) of 1.32. Any Delta E below 2 is considered good enough for image editing programs. Although the G27c-10 does not cover a large color space, the colors displayed look accurate.

The G27c-10 doesn't offer retinal-scorching brightness, which can be a problem depending on usage. We recorded a maximum of 328 nits, which is below the 350 nits stated by Lenovo, and subjectively the display wasn't very bright. For a good experience, make sure you're in a relatively dark room with maximum brightness play. For example, we don't want to use this monitor directly across from a window.

VA panels are known for their impressive ability to darken dark colors and create ink blacks rather than the dark gray that IPS panels create. Unfortunately, the G27C-10's best contrast ratio was 2350: 1, which is below the expected 3000: 1 value. Even so, most VA panels don't even come close to the 3000: 1 specification. In that regard, 2350: 1 is a reasonable achievement and for the most part leads you towards black and white. It's also better than you'd expect from a TN or IPS panel, especially at this price point.

The calibration of the G27c-10 had little to offer – it is as good as ex-factory.

We calibrated the display with the Spyder X Elite, but only lost more contrast, failed to achieve any color gamut and actually deteriorated the color accuracy. So it's safe to say that calibrating the G27c-10 is challenging. However, the out-of-the-box color accuracy is solid so this is less of a concern.

Gaming performance

As you'd expect from a 165Hz monitor, games look silky smooth when you have a GPU powerful enough to handle high frame rates. You want to dive into Windows settings and configure the panel to run at 165 Hz (Windows is 60 Hz by default on new monitors). Once you've done this and checked in the monitor's OSD and Nvidia's GeForce Control Panel (or AMD's Radeon Control Center) that G-Sync or FreeSync are running properly, your games will run smoothly with no stuttering or tearing . Note that to use G-Sync on an Nvidia card you need a DisplayPort cable, which is not included in the scope of delivery.

Since this is a VA panel, it can easily lag when bright objects move across a dark screen (like a mouse on a black background image). However, for the price of the display, the blurring is quite acceptable. If you want close to zero VA pollution levels on a gaming monitor, you'll have to increase your budget significantly for something like Samsung's 27-inch G7, but that monitor costs a whopping $ 650, which is just not worth it at that most buyers.

It's also worth noting that the display doesn't support HDR, which together with the relatively low brightness and limited color space means it won't blow you away with its image quality.

Once you stop pecking, the G27c-10 provides an extremely enjoyable gaming experience

Once you stop looking over the little flaws, the Lenovo G27c-10 is a good monitor. The curve is great for immersion and at 27 inches, it's the right size for most desks.

A great GPU to pair with this monitor would be Nvidia's GTX 1650 Super or AMD's RX 5500XT, which while not flagships, will get most of the games on this monitor into high frame rate areas without breaking the bank. You don't need the latest Nvidia RTX 3000 series card for this monitor unless you want to play a game like Metro Exodus with maximum ray tracing capabilities.

Our opinion

The Lenovo G27c-10 is by no means a perfect monitor, but it only costs $ 220. Prices often drop below the $ 200 mark, which is an incredible price for a 165Hz curved gaming display. It's not small either, measuring 27 inches diagonally, and it will work wonders for entry-level, high-FPS (frames per second) gaming setups.

The shortcomings are limited I / O connections, a modest color gamut, a little VA smear on the move, and a less sharp picture. However, these issues are easily excused by the monitor's very affordable price.

Are there alternatives?

Absolutely, but you will have to spend a little more to get them. Gigabyte's G27FC has similar specs but costs $ 50 more. Same goes for the MSI Optix MAG271VCR, which costs $ 260 but gives you a wider gamut of color and some luxury RGB items. The Lenovo is priced very competitively with other budget gaming monitors.

How long it will take?

Lenovo's G27c-10 should last as long as any monitor today: At least 5 years. Lenovo offers a one year warranty. However, aside from its fast refresh rate, it doesn't impress with its technology. So don't be surprised if you're looking for an upgrade about three years later.

Should I buy it?

Yes. If you're just looking for a fast gaming monitor on a budget with no needs other than gaming, the G27c-10 won't disappoint.

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