18 Oct
Blog

Nanoleaf Lines Review: Dazzling Glow Sticks For Your Wall

Nanoleaf lines enliven the lifestyle 1

Nanosheet lines

RRP $ 200.00

"The Nanoleaf lines are an excellent product with incredible versatility in design and pattern creation."

advantages

  • Easy setup via thread

  • Two-zone lighting makes full use of the colors

  • Customizable faceplates

  • More design and pattern options than ever before

  • Works with multiple intelligent assistants and IFTTT

disadvantage

  • Plastic bars feel thin

  • Connection caps are difficult to snap into place

Smart lighting is one of the first ways many people experience smart home technology. Simple smart lightbulbs make it easy to turn lights on and off, but smart lighting is so much more than just convenience. Companies like Nanoleaf have transformed the perception of lighting from utility to decoration. Just check out the Nanoleaf Canvas, Shapes, or even the original Aurora. They have become a staple of most Twitch streamer setups, or just a way to add flair to a home.

Now, with the Lines, the company has launched a new product that perfectly matches its aesthetic theme. These new lights are basically like glow sticks for your wall – a series of two-zone lights that are linked together and can be arranged in a variety of shapes. The package contains a suggestion of possible shapes, but the lines are connected by hexagonal hubs. This means that there are far more options than before.

installation

The Nanoleaf Lines are relatively easy to install. Each line is attached to a mounting connector. The connections each have six possible areas in which the line can snap into place. You can place many lines starting from a single connector or use the connector as an endpoint in your design. The only requirement is that the controller cap, a special mounting plug with physical controls, must be connected to the configuration in one place. I placed it at the end of the design, closest to the socket.

Close up of the Nanoleaf connector on the Nanoleaf lines.

It only takes light pressure to snap the lines into the connectors. Once connected, cover the connections with a cap that will secure the leads in place. The main problem with the installation came from the caps. At least at first glance, there doesn't seem to be a particular way to snap them into place – but on closer inspection, it's clear that the caps are meant to slide into the ports in a certain way. The caps feel slightly thin which I feared applying too much pressure for fear they would break.

I suggest connecting the pipes on the floor and then attaching them to the wall. Each connector cap has an adhesive strip on the back. After peeling off this strip, you need to press it against the wall for about 30 seconds. Make sure the system is level as there is no easy way to remove it from the wall. The caps separate from a base piece. Although you can remove this base piece from the wall, the glue won't work as well a second time.

Nanoleaf connector disassembled

The connection of the lines with intelligent assistants is very easy. Nanoleaf Lines are compatible with HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings and IFTTT. Alexa automatically picked up the lines and added them after they were set up.

Nice patterns and lights

One thing Nanoleaf has long been known for is how amazing its lights look, and the lines are no exception. Each line has two-zone lighting that can display two different colors at the same time. Combined with the motion effects, this results in an almost unlimited number of scenes and patterns that create stunning effects on your wall. I counted 19 built-in scenes, from Cotton Candy to my personal favorite, Kaleidoscope. Each of these scenes look different, although some are pretty simple, like the daylight scene. Lines are perfect when you want a little lighting on your wall.

Other scenes, like Starry Sky, look a lot like their namesakes. You can almost see the stars shooting across the darkness of the sky. If you can't find a scene you like in the pre-made list, you can head over to the Explore tab and search through literally thousands of user-created scenes. And if you still can't find a scene you like, you can easily create your own using the Scene Creator. While it's not the most intuitive system, Nanoleaf's step-by-step guide will help even beginners figure out how to create their own look.

software

The Explore tab is divided into three sections: Scenes, Playlists, and Motions. In the "Scenes" header, users can find user-defined scenes. The Playlists tab is made up of collections of different scenes that go from one to another and all of which are user-created. It's especially useful at this time of year as there are both Halloween and fall playlists.

The coolest aspect, however, is in the Motions header. This includes a collection of different, moving scenes such as rhythmic northern lights or meteor showers. These create a completely different effect and can offer everything from high-energy transitions to meditative experiences.

There is also a music visualization mode that responds to music. The various music scenes have been specially developed for different types of music; For example, a scene created for smooth jazz does not have the fast transitions that a scene created for EDM does.

The screen mirror function also really stands out. With the Nanoleaf desktop app you can connect your lines to a computer monitor or television. It makes a viewing or gaming experience more immersive. Match mode provides a one-to-one match of the colors on the screen and changes quickly and easily to keep up with the action. Melting mode is a more subtle transition that is better suited for cinematic experiences.

characteristics

The shape and design of the Nanoleaf Lines stand out from other products. You can display 16 million different colors, with two colors per zone. There will also be devices called Flex Connectors that you can use to add corners to your design. According to Nanoleaf, these should be available in December.

Other than these features, the lines work similarly to any other Nanoleaf product. If you've used one, the lines will look familiar. You can plan times for the lights to be switched on and off and connect the lines to other devices via IFTTT. You can also activate an automatic brightness function, where an integrated sensor adjusts the light intensity based on the ambient light in the room.

A major difference is in the setup, especially through the use of thread. Thread makes it incredibly easy to install and set up, and shows what the future of smart home technology could look like as more products adopt the technology.

Our opinion

The Nanoleaf lines are an excellent product with incredible versatility in design and pattern creation. The lower price is also more appealing. At $ 200 for the starter kit and $ 70 per extension, users can create extensive designs without breaking the bank. Whether you're looking to add a bit of grown-up decor to your home or want the coolest streamer setup anyone has seen on Twitch, the Lines are a great way to do it.

Is there a better alternative?

The Nanoleaf Lines have a unique shape. Although there are alternatives on the market, no product offers the same design options. You could be looking for alternative products like the LIFX Beam, but the lines are in a league of their own.

How long it will take?

The lines are LED, which means that they have a long lifespan. The plastic of the lines can weaken over time because it doesn't feel as strong as I would like it to be. However, if handled and used carefully, these lamps should last for many years. Unlike its competitors, Nanoleaf offers a two-year limited warranty that covers it against defects.

Should you buy it?

Absolutely. The Nanoleaf Lines are unique in appearance and look great on the wall. Well worth the investment with just a few minor setbacks to set up.

Editor's recommendations



18 Oct
Blog

How to Eat Healthy When You’re Super Busy

You intend to stick with your clean eating plan. But after a long night in the office, the siren song of the passage sings so sweetly.

How can you still eat healthily despite a lot of work? The following five tips will help you improve your food game when life gets hectic.

1. Do it like a rabbit

There are hundreds of salad recipes out there, but you don't have to follow a cookbook to get delicious results. All you need to do is have a variety of healthy vegetables and other plant-based foods on hand that you can add to a bowl with some dressing. Add some herbs and freshly ground pepper and you can go to the races – uh, dining table.

You can make meatless Monday a breeze with a chickpea version – these will add plant-based protein to your meal. If you're not on a vegetarian or vegan diet, you can also add grilled salmon, chicken, or shrimp for lean protein.

Remember that fruit also belongs in a salad. A budget-conscious way to stock up on more antioxidants and phytonutrients is to gradually stock up on non-perishable ingredients like dried berries that you can afford. That way, you'll always have a handful of dried cranberries or currants – or nuts and seeds like almonds and pepitas – to add an interesting texture and taste to your creations.

2. Wrap it up

A wrap is another great way to eat healthy on the go. You can even invent a low-carb version by using a piece of lettuce as a substitute for a tortilla.

To qualify your wrap as healthy regardless of the shell you choose, choose your fillings with care. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), processed meat is considered carcinogenic, red meat is suspect. The problem lies with the preparation methods. Stay away from meat for lunch that contains nitrates and other additives – opt for freshly fried chicken or turkey when you need a meat-based protein.

Also add some vegetables for the necessary phytonutrients and antioxidants. Red pepper slices are a smart choice – any fruit contains more vitamin C than an orange. Jicama makes for an interesting crunch as do radishes and cucumbers. Don't be afraid to try some unconventional toppings – you can roll corn in a tortilla.

3. Cold as ice

If you haven't gotten into the meal prep frenzy, why are you waiting? You can eliminate many of the artificial additives found in processed, packaged meals and still enjoy all of the weekday convenience of putting something in the microwave or instant pot.

A quick online search reveals countless prep recipes that you can prepare on Saturday or Sunday mornings and enjoy during the week. You can even find ones tailored to specific diets like keto or vegan lifestyles. Your family will enjoy the taste of a homemade meal and you will feel great serving them on busy evenings.

4. Diversity is the flavor

With the items on your spice rack, your meals don't just taste better. Many of them have nutritional benefits. Turn your kitchen window sill into a small garden and add a little freshness to almost every meal.

For example, you can sometimes give in and grab a prepackaged meal from the freezer. Some fresh basil and oregano add necessary nutrients and antioxidants that counteract the negative effects of ingredients like artificial colors or flavors.

5. Get expertise to take away

After all, not all take-out goes straight to your waistline. It may take a bit of searching, but you can find healthy restaurants that deliver in an emergency.

To find the healthiest takeaway, you need to learn to read the menu and make healthier choices. In general, anything grilled or fried is better off than fried.

You can even take advantage of busy nights to experiment with recipes that you've always wanted to try but didn't know if your family would enjoy. For example, why not order a cauliflower crust pizza instead of the high-carb version the next time a busy day calls for takeout? You might find that you like it better than the traditional version and you will save considerable calories.

Eat healthy when you're preoccupied with these tips

When things get hectic, postponing your diet is easy. Eat healthy, even if you are preoccupied with these five tips.

16 Oct
Blog

Eufy RoboVac X8 Review: Turbine Meets Unavoidable Collisions

The RoboVac X8 is docked to its charger.

Eufy RoboVac X8

RRP $ 599.00

"The Eufy RoboVac X8 brings a feature-rich companion app to the table, but the vacuum cleaner disappoints on some fundamental points."

advantages

  • Strong suction power

  • A solid companion app

  • Great battery life

disadvantage

  • Messy vacuuming and poor performance

  • Bad object avoidance

  • Bulky design

  • On the expensive side

When it comes to smart home appliances, robotic vacuums have managed to rise and dominate. It's not an unwanted invasion, however, as nothing beats an automatic cleaning assistant that floats around your house picking up dirt on a set schedule. The best robotic vacuums use advanced laser scanning technology to create blueprints of your home, maps that the vacuum cleaner references in its cleaning route, and maps that you can access in the vacuum cleaner's companion app. Other features like object avoidance and voice assistant control are also pretty standard these days.

There is no shortage of smart home brands offering "the best" vacuum robots on the market, which can make the buying process difficult. Eufy, a sub-label of parent company Anker, is a prolific manufacturer of some of today's leading smart tech – from cameras to health monitors. Eufy's brand new RoboVac X8 competes against the hordes of robotic vacuums and is hailed as one of the company's first vacuums. Is it worth the investment? We got our hands on a test device and can say a lot about it.

unpacking

the RoboVac X8 is packed with a handful of essentials to get you started. In the box you will find the X8 itself (with the side brush already attached), the charging station with power cord, an additional filter and an additional side brush as well as an instruction manual.

Unlike other robotic vacuum cleaners on the market, the X8 does not come with a dual-purpose charging station / dust collector. This means that you need to keep an eye on the vacuum cleaner's trash can so that you can manually empty it when it is full. To be honest, these towering canisters can be a real eyesore depending on the home decor you have to pair them with. So to me it wasn't a big deal that the X8 didn't come boxed with one.

The RoboVac X8 is docked to its charger.

The X8 itself is about 4 inches tall (including the top-mounted lidar scanner) by 13 inches in diameter. The vacuum cleaner's black body is a fairly low-key aesthetic that works well in most homes. The branding for the twin turbine function of the vacuum cleaner is located directly above the vacuum cleaner – a black label with a blue stripe on the left and a red one on the right.

The 600 milliliter dust box has a purple locking tab that you push down to pull out the tank. The washable filter is located directly in the dust box. To access it, just pull on either side of the tank and it will open in a clam-shell style. When you turn the vacuum cleaner you will find a central roller brush, two sturdy drum wheels, a forward facing surface adaptive wheel and a single side brush (detachable).

The bottom of the RoboVac X8.

The charging station doesn't take up much space – although you'll want to allocate enough space for the X8's docking process. Whenever I sent my test unit home to charge, the nipple needed a lot of space to comfortably dance around before docking (like the dog who has to turn a few times before landing in the dog bed).

Put up

Once your X8 is ready to use, the first thing you should do is download the EufyHome app (for iOS and Android devices). As soon as you start the app, EufyHome requests access to your device's bluetooth in order to be able to recognize your vacuum cleaner. After a few seconds, your X8 should appear in the list of available devices. Select it, enter your applicable Wi-Fi information (the X8 only works on 2.4 GHz network bands) and wait for the vacuum cleaner to connect to your network.

Note that you will need to set aside at least an hour or so for the X8 to have enough charge to function. My test device only registered my WiFi after it was docked for a while. Once everything is live, the app will prompt you to send your vacuum cleaner for the first cleaning. During this first pass, the lidar (light detection and distance measurement) and other image mapping functions are actively operated and create a cleaning map of your house that you and the vacuum cleaner can access.

power

The RoboVac X8 is equipped with several cleaning functions. First and foremost is the much-advertised twin turbine technology. Each turbine brings 2,000 Pa of suction into the equation, creating a vacuum experience that is twice as powerful as many competing bots. The ultra-pack dust compression feature is a solid consideration for a vacuum cleaner without an automatically empty canister / charging station. Essentially, all of the dirt the X8 draws in is heavily pressurized, reducing tank volume by up to 127%. Combined with intelligent lidar mapping and nearly three hours on a single charge, this should result in an incredible cleaning experience … right?

Not exactly. The RoboVac X8 lived at my house for several weeks. With the many rounds of cleaning I went through, I found the overall performance to be pretty average – in some cases below average. Let's start with the top slice of bread in the compliment sandwich.

Whenever the sweeper came across the oat, it whipped it into cracks and crevices that the vacuum cleaner would never navigate to.

The twin turbine technology brings the vacuum cleaner to impressive levels. When crossing the carpet, the X8 penetrated deep into the fibers, pulling up dirt, hair and other debris that was not visible on the surface. With BoostIQ activated, the vacuum cleaner also did an excellent job of automatically adjusting the suction power when switching from carpeted floors to tile and hardwood surfaces. When set to Pure (the default setting for soft suction), the vacuum cleaner is quite quiet, although the volume increases quickly when you switch to the next suction level. More on this below.

Collision avoidance

Now, let's get to the meat of the sandwich, where I'll complain. I've tested (and owned a couple of models) a few other vacs that had pretty lackluster object avoidance. This, combined with severe collisions with the inevitable obstacles, made for a nerve-wracking experience when I let go of the suction cups. Unfortunately, I found the Eufy no different. On the one hand, the X8 did a fine job of not slamming into furniture when bumped into a chair or ottoman, but there never seemed to be any active effort on the part of the vacuum cleaner to actually avoid the obstruction. Several times I had to jump in to save the vacuum cleaner from under a chair or between two items, which requires you to manually continue the cleaning cycle each time.

The RoboVac X8 cleans oats.

Also, the side sweeping brush turned out to be a nightmare when I put test oatmeal on the laminate surface of my kitchen. Whenever the sweeper came across the oat, it whipped it into cracks and crevices that the vacuum cleaner would never navigate to. I had to pull out my cordless handheld vacuum to clean up this clutter later. There have also been a few instances where the X8 would simply stop and not pair with the home map it created. It would come back online after a few moments of buffering, but it was strange walking by and watching it stumble.

Out of the lawsuit and into the bottom slice of bread. My X8 was fully charged and never needed to be charged during a complete cleaning of my home. It would cover the entire floor plan in under an hour (1,300 square feet) with minimal human babysitting required during operation.

software

The EufyHome app is your point of contact for all X8 settings and adjustments. Once the vacuum cleaner's lidar sensors are working, a detailed map of your home will be available for viewing on the home screen. From here you can track the progress and battery life of your vacuum cleaner while it cleans the house, labels rooms, sends the vacuum cleaner to clean specific areas and regulates the suction power.

If you want the X8 to move away from certain areas of the house, tap Edit Map and set one or more restricted areas that you want the vacuum cleaner to avoid.

App screens from the EufyHome app.

When vacuuming, you have the option of switching between four different presets (Pure, Power, Turbo and Max), with Pure (the softest setting) being the default setting. You can also turn BoostIQ on and off. This is the X8's ability to automatically adjust suction based on the surface it is vacuuming over.

Several useful functions are housed in an almost invisible separate settings menu. To access it, you need to tap the gear icon in the top right corner of the home screen. Here you'll find options to create vacuum schedules, a cleaning history report, and card management tools. In my opinion, the scheduling feature should be a quick tip button on the main screen of the app.

The scheduling function should be a quick tip button on the main screen of the app.

Visually, I wasn't the biggest fan of the super dark overlay that dominates the main map screen, either. It may sound fussy, but considering the other submenus on the EufyHome app are bright white, the X8's black background made navigating to certain functions a bit difficult – at least for me.

Price and guarantee

You will find the Eufy RoboVac X8 on sale for $ 599 via the Eufy website. Similar to other Eufy products, the X8 comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a one-year limited warranty.

Alternatively, there is also the Eufy RoboVac X8 Hybridwhich is linked to the function of a wiper. For the added $ 50 cost, it certainly seems like some added value given its 2-in-1 vacuum and mopping capabilities.

Our opinion

I cannot actively sing the praises of the RoboVac X8. Yes, it has a great app and the promise of powerful and smart cleaning technologies to keep your home pristine. In my personal experience, the X8 has often done more of my work for me and required multiple rescues and resets, with a handful of glitches thrown in every now and then.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes, several. From Roomba's entire range to affordable vacuum cleaners from Roborock and Neato, there are plenty of robotic vacuum cleaners that can clean your house without so many hiccups. In the price range, I think of the iRobot Roomba i3 Plus with its self-emptying dock and efficient cleaning as well as the Roborock S7 with its acoustic wiping function.

How long it will take?

I suspect the Eufy RoboVac X8 will last for several years. The outer shell is well protected, the app seems to stay updated successfully, and with the option to replace the main brush head and side brushes, there seems to be a lot of support from Eufy. It comes with a one-year limited warranty that protects it from defects from the date of purchase.

Should you buy it?

It's by no means a total dud, but your money is better off elsewhere.

Editor's recommendations



14 Oct
Blog

Google Nest Cam (Wired) Review: Watching With Confidence

Google Nest Cam Indoor Wired on the table.

Google Nest Cam (wired)

RRP $ 100.00

"This is a surveillance camera that, thanks to its intelligent functions, does not require constant babysitting."

advantages

  • Cute, compact design

  • Free three hours of video history

  • Convenient automatic arming / disarming

  • Reliable and accurate warnings

disadvantage

  • Power cord integrated in the camera

  • Limited articulation

Google's range of security cameras has recently expanded to offer more choice than ever before without compromising too much on features. In fact, the introduction of three hours of free video history without a subscription makes this range of Nest Cams much more appealing. However, Google doesn't make it easy for consumers to differentiate its new cameras – both the cordless and wired models use the Nest Cam name.

On the other hand, while the Google Nest Cam (battery) offers additional versatility as it can be used indoors and outdoors, the Nest Cam (wired) is a true indoor solution that has been improved thanks to a lower cost of $ 100. There are plenty of other indoor cameras in this price range, including models from the Ring, Arlo, and Wyze, making it an uphill battle for Google this time around.

draft

Immediately after unpacking, I am amazed at the smaller design of this camera compared to its outdoor sibling. There is one major difference to the Google Nest Cam (wired). It won't overwhelm countertops, tables, and other small corners of the house where you might want to install a security camera.

Google Nest Cam Indoor Wired on the table.John Velasco / Digital Trends

It's also smaller than the previous Google Nest Cam IQ Indoor, but maintains the same modern look that makes Google's cameras cozy and attractive. Consumers will appreciate that it is made from 45% recycled plastic and comes in four colors (snow, fog, linen, and sand). The only complaint I have is the limited posability of the camera – you really can't tilt it up that much when placed on a low surface.

Installation and setup

Similar to the battery-operated version, the Google Nest Cam (wired) only needs to be set up via the Google Home app – it is no longer tied to the dedicated Nest app. That is wonderful, because everything is controlled and accessed via an app. All of the event history is shown in a handy timeline view, but I also like how you can filter it by cameras if you have several from Google.

Once the camera is connected to my home's Wi-Fi network, the camera has very little latency when it is turned on, but it takes about five seconds before I can see the live stream. I suppose it's not that bad, but I can perfectly understand how those five seconds can get critical during an event.

Back of the wired Google Nest Cam Indoor.John Velasco / Digital Trends

Although it should rest on surfaces, there is always the option of mounting it on the wall – also thanks to its long cable. The disadvantage is that the wire cannot be removed. It's built into the camera so if the cable breaks you pretty much have to replace the entire unit.

Camera performance

As for the specification, the camera on the Google Nest Cam (wired) is lukewarm compared to the known cams in space. The 2-megapixel camera sensor records video at 30 frames per second (fps) in 1080p, but there are now cameras that record in 2K and 4K. In general, it produces some reasonable detail, but doesn't get the clarity I've seen with the Google Nest Cam IQ Indoor.

There are some artifacts that are a little distracting and become more noticeable with sudden changes in ambient light. It also tends to saturate colors a little more, making it look unrealistic at times. As night vision goes on, the footage tends to appear low in contrast, which I think is a good thing as it increases the exposure of the shadows.

While the video quality doesn't overwhelm me, I have to admit that the Google Nest Cam (wired) is spot on with detection. So far it has been the right thing to tell between people and my cats that are noted in the app.

privacy

What I really like about the latest Google Nest Cams is that they can all be turned off based on my phone's location – allowing them to turn on and off automatically for more privacy. The camera turns off automatically as soon as I get home, but turns on again when I leave the geofenced area around my apartment. There's no need to manually put the camera in Home or Away mode, so you have one less thing to worry about.

It's a simple camera that is effective in recording events.

There is also a green LED light on the camera that turns on when the camera is active. These are just a few of the privacy features I like about Google's cameras. They also come with up to three hours of free event video history and save those clips for you to review. No subscription is required, but if you want to extend the quota you must subscribe to Nest Aware, which is $ 6 a month and has 10 days of 24/7 video history and 60 days of event video history.

Close-up of the Google Nest Cam Indoor Wired camera lens.John Velasco / Digital Trends

Even if the internet goes down, you can rest assured that the Nest Cam (wired) will continue to store footage locally. Unfortunately, it can't do anything if the power goes out – which makes the battery-powered version more attractive.

Our opinion

Viewed across the product category, Google is not trying to blow the competition out of the water with its offer. It is not necessary as it is a simple camera that is effective in capturing events. At $ 100, it's not overly shoddy as it removes some of the frustrations I have with most security cameras – frequent false positives and manual arming are two of the most glaring points.

Is there a better alternative?

When it comes to indoor cameras, the Arlo Essential Indoor Camera is the closest competitor for the same $ 100 cost. I like it because it actually has a physical privacy shutter that goes over the lens to make sure no one is looking when they shouldn't, unlike Google's software-based privacy feature that turns the camera off.

Another alternative is the Wyze Cam V3, which at under $ 40 is still one of the best security camera deals you can get. With its weatherproof construction, it's designed for indoor and outdoor use, and you get the added convenience of local storage with its microSD slot.

If you're an Alexa user, the Ring Indoor Cam has similar features and performance for $ 60.

How long it will take?

Despite a body made mostly of recycled components, the Google Nest Cam (wired) feels like a well-made, solidly built camera that's well worth the price. There is a one year limited warranty that covers defects.

Should you buy it?

Yes, even if it's not the best deal Google has put on the table. While lacking the sharp clarity of other cameras, it does a wonderful job of actually providing meaningful warnings.

Editor's recommendations



13 Oct
Blog

Best Skin Care Products According To Celebrities

Celebrities like Nicole Kidman and Lori Harvey can spend hours on the make-up chair every day, so they are more versed in the subject of skin care. Plus, it certainly helps to be surrounded by a knowledgeable team of makeup artists! Because of this, we are honored that a star-studded number of fans including Nicole and Lori recently decided to use Eminence Organic Skin Care products. With talent ranging from on-screen achievements to Olympic basketball stars, you need to read on for the full list of Eminence's new celeb fans.

The most popular skin care products from celebrities

Nicole Kidman

If you are set on Amazon Primes Hit show Nine Perfect Strangers you may know the enigmatic character Masha Dmitrichenko, played by Nicole Kidman. Masha runs a wellness retreat that entices guests with the promise of complete transformation. But as the healing begins, guests begin to doubt the unorthodox methods of the retreat. In an interview with Vogue UK, the show's lead makeup artist, Nikki GooleyShe revealed her secrets to create Nicole's gorgeous makeup looks. Nikki shares that she "wants Nicole to look … almost calming, peaceful, healthy and glowing while … feeling uncomplicated." Nikki achieved a "sheer glow" using the Bamboo Firming Fluid. She also used a squirt of the Stone Crop Hydrating Mist to "set, tone and moisturize the skin."

Jodie Comer

Another Eminence Organics fan is the Emmy-winning actress and Killing Eve star Jodie Comer. Jodie's latest film is The Last Duel, set in 14th century France and by. was staged and produced Ridley Scott self! The top-class cast also includes Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Adam driver. After seeing Eminence Organics' products on set, Jodie confided: "Your products are amazing. The [Clear Skin Probiotic Masque] is life!"

Ruby rose

actress Ruby rose spoke to Glamor about how she knows her way around the world of skin care. Ruby says, “I believe in skin care a lot. I believe it's a great way to keep protecting and nourishing your skin. And it makes you feel good about doing it. "

She added, “I basically use any of Eminence's masks. I discovered them when I was in Canada and I am obsessed with them. I love the Eight Greens Phyto Masque [Hot]. "

Sue Bird

Shortly before the Tokyo Olympics, Eminence Organics received a reputation from the basketball star and five-time WNBA Champion & Olympian. Sue Bird. In an interview with SELF.com, Sue shared her bedtime routine and skin care journey.

"Usually, my skin care routine happens right after showering, which isn't necessarily at night … I use Eminence Blueberry Soy Night Recovery Cream, but when I apply [moisturizer] earlier in the day, I use something lighter like Eminence Firm Skin Acai Moisturizer."

Ashley Nicole Black

Emmy winner Ashley Nicole Black is the star and author of HBOs Comedy A Black Lady Sketch Show. The multi-talented celebrity shared her skincare routine with glamor.

"I use the [Stone Crop Hydrating Gel] … [and the Stone Crop Hydrating Mist]. I usually don't wear makeup when I'm not in front of the camera, so I just spray all day. It makes for a great pick-me-up. We'd be foggy all day in the writer's room of [TV series] Bless This Mess. "

Alexandra Daddario

actress Alexandra Daddario had her breakout role in Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief in 2010, for which she was eligible for a Teen Choice Award. Most recently, the actress played in the HBO max Series The white lotus.

We were honored when she shared her beauty secrets with Vogue and said, "[the Firm Skin Acai Moisturizer] is one of my favorite natural [skin care] products."

Jessie Mei Li

Jessie Mei Li Stars like Alina Starkov in the Netflix Fantasy series Shadow and Bone. She spoke to Byrdie about her role as Alina, her favorite vegan junk food, and her self-care ritual. When asked about her makeup routine, she said, “I don't actually wear makeup that much… but I often just use a little lashes and a little Eminence Citrus Lip Balm… I try to give my skin a break treat. ”

Bailee Madison

Bailee Madison has been on screen for most of her life. Most recently, Bailee was a leader in the Netflix Musical A Week Away, but you may remember her as the adorable child actress who played May Belle Aarons in the fantasy film Bridge to Terabithia.

Speaking to Byrdie, Bailee was excited to share her new love for skin care. “I have a dear friend … and she helps me with my skin care! She got me on the Eminence [Clear Skin Probiotic] Moisturizer. "

Lori Harvey

model Lori Harveywho is also an entertainer Steve Harveys Daughter, spoke to Vogue about her beauty secrets. She enjoys taking inspiration from the glam of the 90s when it comes to makeup, and uses Eminence Organics products to prep her skin.

"I have this Eminence Stone Crop Hydrating Mist that I love to use as a toner … I've always been really obsessed with … having super hydrated and glowing skin."

"… I scar very easily, so the [Bright Skin Licorice Root Booster Serum] … helps to fade [scars] and keep my skin tone nice and even."

Whitney Port

TV personality, fashion designer and influencer Whitney Port greeted Eminence Organics on their blog and podcast With Whit. Whitney shares recommendations from her skin care routine with the words: “… the [product] I love right now is Eminence [facial recovery oil]. [It is] a natural face oil that is just so luxurious and radiant and I use it at the end [of my treatment], especially when I want to have even more shine … "

Now that you have been kept up to date with the latest celebrity favorites, we hope that some of these skin care products have inspired you! Let us know in the comments below or on social media if you use any of these favorite products.

10 Oct
Blog

Marsback Zephyr Pro Review: A Mouse So Cool It Has a Fan

The front profile of the Marsback Zephyr Pro with green RGB.

Marsback Zephyr Pro

RRP $ 59.00

"The Marsback Zephyr Pro's built-in fan makes it a unique option for players with sweaty hands."

advantages

  • Cooling fan helps

  • Unique design

  • Foamed in RGB

  • Including excellent sensor

  • Great cable quality

disadvantage

  • Not wireless

  • Fan audible in quiet surroundings

  • Ergonomically left missing

There are dozen of great gaming mice out there. but many of them look and function similarly.

That is hardly the case for Marsbacks Zephyr Pro. This is a mouse with a mesh case and a fan inside to keep your palm cool – and if that's not a feature that makes it stand out, I don't know what is.

The fan is the Zephyr Pro's calling card, but it also offers a lightweight wired design with impressive gaming performance.

Design and specifications

The Marsback Zephyr Pro is next to its packaging.

Starting with the basics, the Zephyr Pro takes a simple wired mouse approach with a false ambidextrous design and large primary and navigation buttons only on the left. The case is made of plastic and I would say it's a medium-sized gaming mouse.

Thanks to the open mesh exterior, it also weighs only 69 grams, without taking into account the very light cable.

Basically, the mouse is based on the Pixart 3389 sensor, which offers up to 16,000 DPI tracking that is accurate up to 400 inches per second (IPS), which is impressive – the 3389 is one of the best sensors out there, and it is not found in many mice. This isn't the most energy efficient sensor, but it doesn't have to be because it's a wired mouse.

The sensor of the Marsback Zephyr Pro.Niels Broekhuijsen, Digital Trends

Back to the cable for a moment. I have to step in and say it is a very impressive cable indeed. Wireless mice are all the rage these days, but with a cord that is so pliable yet thick, with a soft braid that isn't ugly, it's hard to get upset about not cutting the cord.

After all, the cable is something to grapple with if you want a fan in your mouse – this type of power draw isn't just portable on battery power.

Fan and cooling

The fan of the Marsback Zephyr Pro, which is visible through the case.Niels Broekhuijsen, Digital Trends

Just under the palm of your hand you can see the fan, believe it or not, it has built-in RGB lighting. Unfortunately, in this case, I'm not someone who sweats a lot in general, which makes testing this feature difficult.

So I set out to do what any sane hardware reviewer does: put yourself in an awkward position for your reading pleasure. My office / playroom is quite small – about 2.70 x 2.70 meters – and on a warm autumn day I closed the door, closed the vents, set a second PC to run heat generating programs, and started Insurgency Sandstorm on my main unit with it it and I can get to work.

My palms felt cold, like the mouse had built in very light air conditioning.

After a few moments it got warm. My cat had long since left my lap, begging to leave the room, and I felt uncomfortable. But without the luxury of walking and with a lot of water in my system, the sweating started.

Lo and behold, my palm was the most comfortable part of me. It felt cold – like the mouse had very light air conditioning built in, but it just seemed that way because it was the only part of my body that got airflow.

Of course, most people don't have to go this far to test this feature. If it has helped me in these conditions then it is certain that if you are someone who tends to sweat, it will help you under much normal circumstances. There's a reason companies like Cooler Master make the MM711.

The front profile of the Marsback Zephyr Pro with green RGB.Niels Broekhuijsen, Digital Trends

I switched to my all-time favorite mouse, the Logitech G Pro X Superlight, and the sweating got a lot more uncomfortable. To chuckle, I also grabbed the MX Master 3, an office mouse with a very comfortable, but sweat-resistant finish, and the results were, as expected, sweaty.

The fan can be heard, but only if you hold your breath and try to hear it.

But is the Zephyr Pro quiet? After all, we build our PCs as quietly as possible, so it wouldn't help if our mouse hums. In this regard, I can report that the Zephyr Pro is sufficiently quiet. Put it next to a water-cooled PC that is idle in a quiet room at night and you will hear it. Quite well, actually.

But under most normal daytime circumstances, ambient noise will easily drown it out. Plus, you'll likely be wearing a headset anyway. During the day you have to hold the mouse to your ear to hear the fan humming.

Gaming performance

The side profile of the Marsback Zephyr Pro with RGB.Niels Broekhuijsen, Digital Trends

In order to test the actual gaming performance of the mouse, I decided against doing this in the now hot and sweaty room. After I'd cooled everything down by opening a window, it was time for a few more rounds of Insurgency Sandstorm. Playing as a realistic shooter and on a team with me against the maximum number of bots is a great test – and the Zephyr Pro did a good job. It responded quickly and accurately to my inputs and, thanks to the Pixart 3389 sensor, could easily keep up with my fast movements. I play with a relatively low DPI of only 650, so yes, this mouse can track very well at high speeds – at least in this subjective test.

The only catch with my all-time favorite, the G Pro X Superlight, was that it wasn't wireless and the cable dragged a bit – but in fairness that's easy to fix with a cable bungee and time to get used to it Pointer. Otherwise, this mouse weighs and performs roughly the same while having a fan and RGB and costing a lot less.

Our opinion

the Marsback Zephyr Pro approaches the mouse with holes a little differently by including a palm cooling fan and lathering the case in RGB. If your hands are sweaty during intense gaming sessions and trypophobia doesn't bother you, the Zephyr Pro is certainly a mouse to consider for your setup. It doesn't have the most ergonomic shape, but as long as you don't play for hours it should offer great thermal comfort.

Are there alternatives?

As for mice with built-in fans, there aren't many. However, there are many alternatives with “holey” designs, including the Glorious Model O, Cooler Master MM711, and the SteelSeries Aerox 3.

How long it will take?

With good care, the Marsback Zephyr Pro should last about years, depending largely on the number of tantrums you experience it. The fan can also wear out if used frequently, and cleaning the inside will be a challenge.

Should I buy it?

Yes, but only if you are prone to sweaty palms that lose your grip on the mouse. Otherwise there are better alternatives. But at the current price of $ 59, it's hard to go wrong with this mouse, even if you just leave the fan off most of the time.

Editor's recommendations



09 Oct
Blog

SimpliSafe Wireless Outdoor Camera Review

The Simplisafe outdoor camera mounted on the outside.

SimpliSafe wireless outdoor camera

RRP $ 170.00

"The SimpliSafe outdoor surveillance camera is a long-awaited, but slightly flawed addition to the product range."

advantages

  • Great video quality

  • Impressive display in night mode

  • Responsive motion detection with activity zone adjustments

  • Support from Alexa and Google Assistant

disadvantage

  • Unreliable live view and buggy app

  • No standalone options (starter kit required)

  • Expensive if all you want is a camera

Smart outdoor security requires multiple levels of ingenuity and protection, as Mother Nature, UV rays, and other suburban and urban variables are forces that indoor technology just doesn't (for the most part) have to deal with. Fortunately, many smart brands are beyond that and offer bespoke home security products in the form of cameras, floodlights and video doorbells for your garden, patio or outdoor area.

SimpliSafe, a leader in the smart security market, has long offered a variety of home security technologies that encompass almost every element of a comprehensive surveillance system, from cameras and smoke detectors to temperature and glass break sensors. One area in which the company lagged (a little) behind the competition was in outdoor products – but no more.

The new SimpliSafe wireless surveillance camera for outdoors is the company's first dedicated outdoor offering, a relatively small camera that we were happy to test.

Unpack and set up

If you're looking for an outdoor camera that you can buy cheaply, pair it with your WiFi, download an app and get started right away, the SimpliSafe way may not be for you. To use the SimpliSafe wireless outdoor camera, you need to buy one of the SimpliSafe starter kits. Know that even the simplest starter kit (with the add-on for the outdoor camera) costs around $ 250. Compared to competing outdoor cameras like the Nest Cam ($ 180) and the Ring Spotlight Camera ($ 199), if SimpliSafe is the brand of your choice, you'll invest a little more from the start.

The Simplisafe outdoor camera mounted on the outside.

For my setup, I decided on the bare essentials – a base station, a keyboard and the wireless outdoor camera. Activating my system and getting it online was quick and painless. All you really have to do is download the SimpliSafe app and follow the on-screen instructions to configure a system for the first time.

Once your base station is live, adding the outdoor camera is easy too. Just tap the hamburger drop-down menu in the top left corner of the home screen, select Set up your camera, and follow the on-screen instructions. A wise word is that you should allow a reasonable amount of time to actually charge the battery of your outdoor camera (SimpliSafe recommends five hours for a full juice charge).

draft

From an aesthetic point of view, I love the look and feel of the outdoor camera. If you keep it simple, you can tell that it is a sturdy piece of hardware. The outdoor camera is an IP 65 certified device that withstands heavy rain, snow and wind and offers comprehensive protection against dirt, debris and insects. You don't have to worry about the temperature either, as the outdoor camera can withstand temperatures as low as -20 degrees Celsius and temperatures as high as 113 degrees Fahrenheit.

The 140 degree lens offers an impressive view.

Visually, the cream-colored housing and black lens housing blend in pretty well with most outdoor decorations. During the installation and assembly of my grandmother's Blink outdoor camera, sayings filled up as I kept trying to snap the camera housing into the bracket lock. So you can imagine how much I loved SimpliSafe's super simple magnetized mount. Just two screws in the vinyl siding and you can put the camera on.

Quality and performance

The wireless outdoor camera handles up to full 1080p recordings and live views, with options to scale down to 720p or 480p (both of which put less strain on your internet connection). Real-time recordings and event clips look great. The images I experienced were bright and clear, with super-accurate colors and contrasts – I suspect that's because of the camera's built-in HDR support.

The Simplisafe Outdoor Cam live view (during the day).

The 140-degree lens also offers an impressive view. From the porch of my apartment on the second floor, the camera captured a near-perfect wide-angle view of the entire parking lot and the building across the street – with little to no pixelation. When a person came into view, the camera followed their every move with minimal delay.

While the camera lens lacks an optical zoom, you get an 8x digital push-in to snap into place distant people or objects. To use this function, all you have to do is start the live view of the camera, tap and drag on the image with two fingers. The results are useful, but not surprising. Similar to the zoomed-in quality you can get from a simple point-and-shoot camera, pixelation and distortion appear pretty quickly, but key shapes and colors remain intact.

The Simplisafe Outdoor Cam with activated digital zoom.Full 8x digital zoom with the outside camera.

Such a feature may not help authorities too far in figuring out what a distant culprit looks like, but it is still useful for identifying the make and model of a car parked across the street, for example.

One of my favorite functions of the outdoor camera is the ability to choose between two different night vision experiences. Standard is the default setting (better battery life) and displays images up to 9 m away in black and white. Then there's Spotlight (harder on the battery), a mode that balances the camera's built-in spotlight and HDR to display a colored night view up to 10 feet away.

simplisafe wireless outdoor camera assessment spotlight view 1

simplisafe wireless outdoor camera rating night vision standard 1

Battery life

As mentioned earlier, allow around five hours to fully charge the outdoor camera battery for the first time. Depending on which settings you have on your Outdoor camera, SimpliSafe promises between three and six months of battery life before a charge is required.

software

The SimpliSafe app (for iOS and Android devices) is a feature-rich controller for your entire SimpliSafe suite and a great (but not perfect) way to access, control, and customize your outdoor camera. We've already covered the finer details of the app, so for this review we'll just focus on what it brings to the camera experience.

When you start the app, a static image from each of your SimpliSafe camera feeds will be displayed on the home screen. Tapping the Watch Live icon will take you to a real-time view of what your camera is seeing. In live mode, you can pull out to digitally zoom, start two-way audio chat, and record video clips. Once you are done recording, you can save the clip to your phone or share it with others via SMS or certain social media platforms. There's also a button to jump to the timeline that takes you to the log of the app's motion-triggered event clips.

Various app settings for the Simplisafe outdoor camera.

The motion event log can also be accessed from the home screen (just tap the timeline in the bottom right). Each recording has its own drop-down box that tells you when the event was recorded and how long it lasted, along with the option to play the video. If you have started recordings yourself via the “Watch Live” screen, these will also be logged here (referred to as “User Recordings”).

Tapping the gear icon in the top right corner of the home screen will take you to the camera settings. Here you can, for example, change the name of your camera, adjust the image quality, choose between night vision modes, switch microphone, audio and sirens on and off and much more.

Another field that has some customization options is motion detection. Tapping this option takes you to a separate motion detection menu where you can set the motion sensitivity and choose whether you want the camera to detect people only or all movement (a handy setting for busy housing developments like my own). Then there's my favorite add-on – a gridded Activity Zone adjuster that lets you choose which areas the camera shouldn't pay attention to.

power

One big and annoying problem I had with the app was getting one of the most basic commands to work at all – starting live view. After I tapped Watch Live, my SimpliSafe app often started buffering like it did on dial-up days. After about 30 seconds (or more) this would result in a “camera disconnected” message. I would then have to try restarting the live view or restarting the app from scratch. On average, I had to try to launch live view at least three times before it actually worked.

To troubleshoot, I even unplugged the base station and moved it to several new points in my living room, which didn't help.

Pricing and Subscriptions

Whether you want to experience the full range of SimpliSafe surveillance functions or just want your camera (s) to be able to record videos, a SimpliSafe subscription is required. There are two memberships to choose from, without a contract and can be canceled at any time for both levels.

Camera Recordings Only – Unlimited HD recordings and real-time recordings for up to five SimpliSafe cameras for 33 cents / day (about $ 10 / month).

The basic price for a Simplisafe system with an outdoor camera.

The second stage, the interactive professional surveillance around the clock, includes police, fire brigade and ambulance around the clock, integrated cellular data support, water and temperature monitoring as well as unlimited recordings and real-time recordings for up to 10 Simplisafe cameras. It costs 83 cents / day (about $ 25 / month).

Our opinion

If you're looking for a standalone outdoor camera that you can clamp on a bracket, couple to your network and access via a mobile app, the SimpliSafe wireless outdoor camera does most of these things well – except that it's system inclusive.

If you already own a SimpliSafe system and want an outdoor add-on or are building a new intelligent security suite, the wireless outdoor camera is one component that you will likely want to add. Yes, there can be problems every now and then, and some of the touted features (like 8x digital zoom) aren't as good as you'd think, but it's a solid outdoor proposition in terms of overall quality and performance.

How long it will take?

Due to the weather resistance and temperature protection, we doubt that you will experience much of element-controlled hardware errors with the SimpliSafe wireless outdoor camera. For errors that creep in, the company offers a three-year warranty on all of its devices.

Is there a better alternative?

In terms of image quality and reliability, the Arlo Pro 4 is one of our current outdoor camera favorites, offering a 160-degree lens, lots of customization options, and advanced surveillance plans. For a budget-friendly stand-alone option, there is also the Wyze Cam Outdoor – with an IP-65 bite-sized housing with Alexa and Google Assistant support and a practical time-lapse function.

Should you buy it?

If you are a SimpliSafe fan, then yes. The wireless SimpliSafe outdoor camera is a good addition to a complete SimpliSafe system and offers a few eyes (and ears) for the world outside your walls and windows.

Editor's recommendations



09 Oct
Blog

Vivo X70 Pro+ Review: Lives Up to The Spec Sheet’s Promise

The Vivo X70 Pro + is taken out of the pocket.

Vivo X70 Pro + Review: Keeps Promise, But Just Try To Find It

RRP $ 1,060.00

“The impressive Vivo X70 Pro + delivers what its monster data sheet promises with a unique gimbal video camera and a beautiful screen. It's a shame you can't find it in your local store. "

advantages

  • Nice 120Hz AMOLED screen

  • Impressive gimbal stabilization for videos

  • Versatile camera zoom functions

  • Fastest processor available

disadvantage

  • Big and heavy

  • Software has yet to be polished

  • You have to work to find one

If you're a spec lover and happiest when you compare your smartphone to your friends', this is the Vivo X70 Pro + will be a phone that you will absolutely love. From monster camera specs to notable brand partnerships and even bespoke chips, the X70 Pro + seems to define what most consider a flagship smartphone.

However, it is not a good idea to buy a phone based on what it says on the spec sheet. Does everything Vivo advertise on the X70 Pro + actually make it a good smartphone?

draft

The back of the X70 Pro + is made of glass with, according to Vivo, a fluorite treatment. This means that it doesn't feel like glass at all, but takes on a nice matte finish with a pleasant, subtle texture that increases its grip. It doesn't get covered in fingerprints or smudges, but my phone has collected a few scratch marks after just a week of use, suggesting that it may not wear out very well over time.

The Vivo X70 Pro +.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

This is a huge phone in your hand. With a thickness of just under 9 mm and 213 grams, it is not for everyone who wants to use their mobile phone with one hand very often or who wants to slip it into their pocket without being noticed. The tapered sides aren't too sharp so holding it for long periods isn't tiring, but you will notice the weight. In terms of size and proportions, it is right at the top with the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.

The rear camera module is a large rectangle, just without the design flair of the S21 Ultra's similarly huge module, and it sits next to a reflective section that I assume will help the rear camera take selfies. It's more funhouse mirror than anything else, however, and Vivo has pounded its branding right in the middle for maximum distraction. Don't expect to use it for anything other than the basic intake composition.

The Vivo X70 Pro + held in the hand.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It's not a conventionally pretty phone – there are too many rectangles on the back for that – but the matte glass surface gives it a stealthy style, and everything feels incredibly valuable and well made. It's a shame there is no other color than black, and the overall size and weight can put some people off.

screen

Let's do the numbers first. The AMOLED screen is 6.78 inches tall with a maximum resolution of 3200 x 1440 pixels and a switchable refresh rate of either 60 Hz or 120 Hz. This gives it a pixel density of 517 ppi, plus a peak brightness of 1500 nits and HDR10 + support and is able to display a billion colors.

The screen of the Vivo X70 Pro +.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

You'll have to manually enable the full resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, but once you do that and set the brightness to maximum, the X70 Pro + 's screen is stunning. The menus just slide by as you scroll through them and the video looks amazing. The yellow of the Porsche 718 Cayman in this Carfection video at 2160p simply pops off the screen, paired with deep blacks and wonderful details.

The same qualities are shown in the bright, colorful music video for Jo Yuris Glassy, ​​which also brings out the excellent stereo speakers of the X70 Pro +. There is tons of volume and it has a nice tone and balance. The bass isn't strong, but that's to be expected given the size of the speakers.

Video playback on the Vivo X70 Pro +.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I had no problem viewing in sunlight due to the high brightness, but the curved sides caused a few problems when wiping. Swiping words that start with the letter P requires precise finger placement as it is too easy to turn on the back gesture or select the letter O instead. This type of inaccuracy isn't unique to the X70 Pro +, but it's more noticeable here than other curved screens, suggesting the software needs tweaking. I certainly won't let that bother me when the rest of the screen and audio on the X70 Pro + is so wonderful.

camera

Ready spec fans? The main camera of the X70 Pro + has 50 megapixels, optical image stabilization (OIS) and an aperture of f / 1.6 and is supported by a 48 MP ultrawide camera with gimbal-controlled OIS, a 12 MP telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom and a 5x optical 8 MP zoom complements the periscope camera. The latter two also have OIS. The cameras are covered with glass and partner Zeiss provided a special coating to minimize lens flair and create more natural colors. It's all controlled by Vivo's own V1 imaging chip, which is separate from Qualcomm's main processor.

Taking photos with the Vivo X70 Pro +.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

That is the hardware that is covered, but there are also more software modes than you will realistically ever need. There are four bokeh modes developed by Zeiss, the night mode, a pro mode, A.I. Scene optimization, an automatic macro mode, a color optimization setting developed by Zeiss, a super moon mode, 8K video recording, an eerie horizontal stabilization setting, filters, a comprehensive editing suite and much more.

The unusual gimbal really works and cannot be compared to any other smartphone

All of this makes the X70 Pro + lots of creative fun, but many of the features are relatively niche. Few people have an 8K TV to enjoy, for example, 8K videos recorded on the phone, but not everything falls into this category. The unusual gimbal really works and cannot be compared to any other smartphone. It stabilizes the video to the point where you wonder if it is actually playing. The only downside might be that you're limited to 1080p, but it doesn't matter if the results are this impressive.

Take a look at the Vivo X70 Pro Plus camera gimbal when it is used for video 🎥

It's pretty amazing stuff!

Complete my review this week. # vivoX70Series # vivoX70Pro # vivoX70proplus pic.twitter.com/QL1J85bsLh

– Andy Boxall (@AndyBoxall) October 7, 2021

Taking pictures with the X70 Pro + shows that it is extremely capable. The two optical zoom cameras give it incredible versatility, the massive main sensor – a Samsung ISOCELL GN1 – adds lots of natural bokeh, and the HDR is very effective. Negative? Because of the large sensor, it is not a fan of focusing on nearby objects when macro mode is not active, and in some situations it oversaturates the color levels. It's also a little inconsistent, and will generally benefit from Vivo tweaking the software further, since photos aren't always very natural or representative of what you see on screen or in real life.

Vivo did a big deal with Zeiss' bokeh modes, so how are they? You are dramatic. There are four in total, each of which gives a different look to the background blur based on Zeiss camera lenses. Brighter and noticeably more blurred (in a positive sense) than standard portrait shots, the photos still suffer from edge detection problems, which are often more noticeable in the artificially improved images from Zeiss. But if you play around long enough, you can take some very nice selfies using the mirrored area on the back of the phone.

The X70 Pro + 's camera is impressive. It keeps the promise that the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra couldn't quite deliver on, and the sheer range of features and modes makes it a strong alternative to the excellent Galaxy S21 Ultra, although the final images still need some tweaking before the results are correct can use the S21-Ultra.

Software and performance

Android 11 is installed with FunTouchOS 12 from Vivo. It's similar to Oppos ColorOS in that it looks very different on a Pixel phone than Android, with more customized icons and menus and lots of apps preinstalled. and his own way of doing things. It's been reliable, it's fast, and once you've spent time getting the look and style right, it's pretty too.

The game is played on the Vivo X70 Pro +.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It still has its frustrations, however. The always-on screen is a good example. You turn it on, but by default the always-on display is only shown for a short time before it fades out. In order for it to actually stay as you asked, you need to delve further into the settings. Even then, you find that not all display options show notifications. It's inevitably a battery-saving thing, but it's very annoying. It's something that you can find everywhere, e.g. B. the screen resolution, which is set to a lower number of pixels by default.

All of my usual apps are installed for some reason with the exception of the Amazon Shopping app, and notifications can be interacted with on the lock screen, but I've found Google Discover crashing and sometimes throwing me back to the home screen. FunTouchOS 12 adds attractive and very useful widgets. I especially like the weather widget with its scrollable daily forecast and the Apple Music widget. First released on the X70 range, I felt more at home with FunTouchOS 12 than any version before it, which is great news.

It seems like I haven't mentioned some numbers in a while, so let's change that. Inside there is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ processor with a 5G modem and either 8 GB or 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB or 512 GB of storage space. There's Bluetooth 5.2 with AptX Adaptive for audio and NFC for Google Pay. The fingerprint sensor under the screen is very fast, but is usually beaten by the even faster face unlock system.

Given the processor inside, it's no surprise that the X70 Pro Plus doesn't have any performance issues. I've played Genshin Impact and Asphalt 9: Legends and it both shrugged, even with the settings all enabled in the phone's game mode.

battery

I used the X70 Pro + for a week with the default settings, which means a resolution of 2400 x 1080 and the refresh rate that changes automatically. It lasted two full days on a single charge without any problems. Enable full resolution and increase the refresh rate to 120Hz, then add an hour of games and other general uses and the battery was around 20% by the end of the day.

The bottom of the Vivo X70 Pro +.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The top of the Vivo X70 Pro +.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The camera module of the Vivo X70 Pro +.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Charging takes place via a wired 55 watt charger, which is included, as well as wireless charging with up to 50 W. In 20 minutes, the 4,500 mAh battery was charged by about 60% and in about 50 minutes it reached a capacity of 100%.

Price and availability

Don't look for the Vivo X70 Pro + in any US store as it will likely never get an official release. However, you can import one. It will be available in China, India, Taiwan, and several other regions beginning October 12, before arriving later in the Middle East and parts of the Asia-Pacific region. We hope that there will also be an introduction in Europe and the UK.

Calculate about $ 1,060 for the 12GB / 256GB version. If you are planning to import it is advisable to ensure that the phone is the “global” version as the Chinese version runs the OriginOS software available only for China and not FunTouchOS.

Our opinion

The Vivo X70 Pro + is the best Vivo phone I've used so far. It's well made and durable, and it has a beautiful screen, feature-rich camera, performance, and for the first time ever software that I can live with on a daily basis without being annoyed or frustrated. It's not perfect, but FunTouchOS 12 can now hold its own alongside Oppos ColorOS and Realme’s RealmeOS.

The gimbal camera remains unique and the stabilization works very well which gives the phone a real edge. The other features sometimes border on the gimmicky, but the two optical zoom levels don't, which makes the X70 Pro Plus's camera very versatile and fun, while its overall ability to really keep up with the pace is a few software updates away from the best camera phones out there.

Is it more than a mega data sheet? Yes, the specs make for a great phone and camera experience, but there is still room for improvement in the photos and software. At this point, I'd normally be ready to recommend the phone, but I can't do this as the X70 Pro + hasn't gotten a wider version yet, so you really need to work on getting one in the US It's a shame there it has the potential to be a game changer for Vivo in regions where the brand is not well known.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes sir. The Vivo X70 Pro + is an immensely capable smartphone, but it's hard to come by in the US or UK, so we recommend the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra or the Apple iPhone 13 Pro or Pro Max instead, assuming you want a big screen and a great one Camera. Both deliver this and have a lot of power and ability.

How long it will take?

Made of metal and glass, the Vivo X70 Pro + is quite heavy, so we recommend putting it in a case for protection, and a surprisingly beautiful one comes with it. The phone also has an IP68 water resistance rating, so it can last up to 30 minutes underwater to a depth of about 1.5 meters.

Vivo’s software update policy applies to the X70 Pro + for three years, including major system releases and security patches. The spec of the phone is high and the Snapdragon 888+ processor is the fastest available right now. It lasts three years with no problems.

Should you buy it?

No. It's good, but if you live in the US, the Vivo X70 Pro + is a hassle to import, so your best bet is to buy a flagship phone that is available locally. However, the phone is very impressive and it is certainly the best Vivo phone I've used. So if you are happy to import or buy one where you live you won't be disappointed.

Editor's recommendations



09 Oct
Blog

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl Review: There’s Potential Here

Patrick Star and Sandy Cheeks compete in the Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl

RRP $ 50.00

"The Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is a must for hardcore fans, but it doesn't care about casual audiences."

advantages

  • Strong combat mechanics

  • Tons of player freedom

  • Great online

  • Good music and pictures

disadvantage

  • Contentless

  • Very competitive

  • Unpolished in many areas

  • No speech output

With the announcement of the new Super Smash Bros.-inspired platform fighter Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl There was endless discussion about the game becoming a "smash killer". While it doesn't quite live up to these high expectations, it definitely offers a strong competitive experience and a deep mechanical system that gives hardcore gamers a warm welcome. But in my time with the game, I've found that maybe that's all there is to be done All-star brawl.

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is a new crossover fighting game from Ludosity, the team behind the critically acclaimed platform fighter Slap City. The game plays some of Nickelodeon's most iconic and obscure characters, including SpongeBob SquarePants and Reptar, who are thrown into an arena to face off against each other in Smash Bros. style.

While his main claim to fame is to be "Smash but with Nicktoons" while playing NAS, I immediately saw that the game has its own unique identity. The graphics are lively and cartoon-like, the gameplay is free flowing with a high skill limit, and the characters are mostly great fun. However, NASB has some rough spots that kept reminding me that this is a budget title – and one that may have put too many of its eggs in one basket.

Surprisingly complex gameplay

A key element of the fighting game experience is seeing and learning to perform those cool moves, and learning to do cool gameplay moves NASB delivers there. While playing I realized that I kept saying “Wow, can I do that ?!”. Moments while you explore some of the best mechanics Ludosity has implemented into the game.

Similar to the Smash Bros. series, NASB is about going onto a battlefield with one or more opponents and trying to increase their damage percentage to knock them off the stage in a huge explosion. The difference lies in the tools players will need to achieve this goal.

Leonardo fights Sandy Cheeks in jellyfish fields.

Allow me to get technical for a moment to show how deceptive a fighter this game is. In combat there is a standard thrust, air and ground tilt / light attacks, air and ground shattering / heavy attacks, air and ground specials, light and heavy dash attacks that can dissolve into other attacks, and ground and air attacks. The unique inclusion of the heavy air strikes, separate breakable dash attacks, and air grabs adds a great layer to the offense and defense NASB you can't see that in Smash.

The Combat really shines which makes this a particularly fun fighting game.

NASB also gives players access to an anime hunter-like air dash that can be used to zoom through the air or break out of a low jump to the wavedash (seriously, that's shockingly complex). This has to be my favorite feature in the game as it gives players freedom of movement when it comes to spacing, combos, mix-ups, defense and more.

Danny Phantom, Helga von Hey Arnold and Ren and Stimpy fight in a ghost portal.

I got lost in a sea of ​​ideas about what to do in my playing time. The game offers players so many great tools that offer different ways to play that you end up with a title with an endless pool of learning for players to express themselves.

NASB, however, has its rough spots with a few technical oversights here and there, including infinite combos and unbalanced moves like Catdog's overwhelming aerial up-smash, affectionately known as the "updog" by the community. Still it is Combat really shines which makes this a particularly fun fighting game. And the amazing rollback netcode usually allows ethernet wired players to play as well as possible using these mechanisms, even though they are far apart.

The game is very naked

While I was in for days about the combat system Nickelodeon All-Star Braw The same cannot be said of the rest of the game – probably because the fight is really everything. If you're looking for a one-to-one Smash Bros. experience look elsewhere because this isn't it.

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl Online Modes.

NASB has four modes. The first is Combat, a standard offline versus mode in which up to four players can compete in stock, time, or sports games (the latter involves throwing a ball into the opponent's goal). There is also standard training, arcade and online with quick play, competitive play and online lobbies. Other than that, there is nothing else to do in the game.

Ironically, for a cartoon-based game for children, there just isn't a lot for this audience.

Yes, the main draw of a fighting game should be fighting, but other modes that casual gamers can take their time in have been an integral part of the genre since the Dreamcast era. NASB seems to have forgotten that. There is no survival mode, no unlockable elements, no mini-games or the like.

Ironically, for a cartoon-based game for children, there isn't much for this audience, let alone casual gamers who want to play as their childhood favorites. While there's a lot to chew on for the competition side, the masses are left with tatters, and that just feels misguided for a game like this. I'm not sure if it was budgeting or bad decisions, but I think this game really takes more meat on the bones to stand the test of time with anyone other than the hardcore lot.

A masterpiece that needs to be polished

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl constantly lets you know that this is not a big budget production. One of the big problems a lot of people have with the game is the lack of voice acting. It's hard to accept that a game with cartoon characters from our childhood doesn't include their iconic voices.

Spongebob, Korra, Invader Zim and April O & # 39; Neil fight on the Flying Dutchman ship.

There are also a few combat mechanics that could use more fine-tuning: Impeachable knockdowns turn into infinite combos, some characters have hard times snapping onto the ledges safely, and certain characters like Patrick just feel unfinished.

Ludosity clearly plans to support the game once it launches, which will enable it to grow.

Fortunately during The Hungrybox Juice Box tournament, one of the developers has stated several times that these mechanical problems will be fixed. In an interview with Game Informer, Ludosity's CEO Joel Nyström said voice actors are something that could be added across the board along with other planned updates for the game. Ludosity clearly plans to support the game once it launches, which will enable it to grow.

Our opinion

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is an incredibly fun time to get over there for its competitive potential. However, your mileage may vary depending on whether you are a casual or a hardcore gamer. The game will be updated in the future so more features can be added, but only over time. Until then, it lacks some key features that hold it back as a casual single-player experience.

How long it will take?

It depends who you are. If you are a competitive gamer you will find yourself losing track of time when it comes to NASB. If you're only there for the party game or the single player experience, you might want to wait for a price drop.

Is there an alternative?

If you haven't already, there's always Smash Bros. Ultimate and their huge roster of fighters, even though their online experience is miles inferior to NASB's. If you want a super competitive time with as high a skill cap and fun movement options as NASB, you can play Smash Bros. Melee, which now has online features comparable to NASB thanks to a new rollback client via Slippi are.

Should you buy it?

Yes, but it really depends on what you are looking for. It's not a perfect casual experience, but if you're a hardcore fight fan looking to work up a sweat online, it's a must. Beware of buying on the Nintendo Switch, however, as it is the only version without a rollback netcode, which makes the online experience significantly inferior to the other hardware options.

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08 Oct
Blog

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max Review: The New Standard

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

Amazon Fire TV Stick Max

RRP $ 55.00

"Of course it's an iterative update, but one that makes the Fire TV Stick 4K Max the one you can get."

advantages

  • Better processor and WiFi

  • Including the new remote control

  • Still extremely cheap

disadvantage

  • Based on an outdated version of Android

The most important feature of a streaming stick is probably not listed on the side of the box. It's not how much RAM it has. It's not the size of the on-board storage. It's not if it's 4K (OK, it's about more than a little), and it's not the Wi-Fi speed or the processor. And it's not all apps that it has access to.

The main feature of the new Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the price. This is what really determines where it not only fits into the Amazon Fire TV range of devices, but also its place in the overall system against its closest competitor, Roku, which has its own line of relatively inexpensive streaming sticks. Sure, the specifications determine the price. But tell us how much you want to spend and we'll tell you which streaming device is best.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K MaxPhil Nickinson / Digital Trends

And the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, while it's an iterative update (there's certainly nothing wrong with that) and though it has quite a bit to say (which we take a little problem with), is definitely the Fire TV Stick to buy.

Here's why.

The Fire TV Stick Max is mostly a Fire TV Stick 4K, only better. It's more max.

What's new in Fire TV Stick 4K Max

It's not just that Fire TV stick. It's not that Fire TV Stick 4K. This is Max who we can only assume is one step above plus but still below extremes. It's a silly suffix appended to a product that is itself mostly an iteration of an iteration. This is how these streaming sticks work. They have certain features at certain prices so you are guaranteed to make money no matter what. More on this below.

Amazon's own comparison chart does it pretty well. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max has a few more points than the Fire TV Stick 4K, which is three years old at this point. And they are not unimportant boxes.

The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the first in the Amazon range with Wi-Fi 6, also known as 802.11ax. That means it uses the latest wireless standards if you have a Wi-Fi 6 router, or be ready when you do. You shouldn't necessarily expect warp-speed WiFi, but you have more than enough bandwidth to get the job done. Wirelessly connected to one Eero Pro 6 (conveniently another Amazon-owned product), I moved up from 250Mbps downstream, with ping times between 20ms and 25ms. In comparison, the previous generation Fire TV Stick 4K reached around 200 Mbps downstream over Wi-Fi 5, with similar pings.

For those of you who say, "Just take the ethernet adapter!" – let me hang you there. You will almost certainly want to just go ahead and use WiFi with the Fire TV Stick 4K Max Amazon's own Ethernet adapterwhich is not included in the scope of delivery anyway. This adapter – which provides both power and the wired network connection – is a 10/100 device, which means that it will hit the top on a 100Mbps connection anyway. And in my case, that means I've got about half the speed I've seen with Wi-Fi, not to mention nowhere near using my real gigabit fiber connection.

In other words, stick with the Wi-Fi 6 built into the Fire TV Stick 4K Max. It's a lot good.

Elsewhere, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max ships with the latest Alexa voice remote control, which came out in April 2021 and has been slightly redesigned with a few extra buttons and functions.

The Max also has a bit more RAM, which is important since it's an Android-based device and Android still needs all of the RAM it can get. Not that 2 gigabytes is a lot, and it's only half a gig more than the Fire TV Stick 4K. But we take what we can get. And the processor has also been updated to a quad-core Mediatek MT8696 with 1.8 GHz. If that's important to you, good for you. If you think you can notice this about the older Fire TV Stick 4K, chances are you're lying, an engineer, or running the two devices side by side. The point is, these are important and obvious updates, but certainly nothing that will change the way you watch TV on Amazon Fire TV.

In other words, it looks and acts much like the Fire TV Sticks of yore. Just a little better. If you're like us and dumb enough to have more than one Fire TV Stick lying around, it's easy to forget which one is which. I flipped back and forth between the 2018 Fire TV Stick 4K and the new Max and immediately had no idea what was plugged in without actively checking. In fact, near twins, the two are personally stuffed, with the only visible difference adding the nickname "Fire TV" to the case. The older stick only has the Amazon smile. There's really no difference on the screen.

And it now supports picture-in-picture if you need to.

Amazon Fire TV stick 4K max.The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max 2021 looks exactly like the Fire TV Stick 4K 2018 – apart from the logo. Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends

What else is in the Fire TV Stick 4K Max

If you currently own an Amazon Fire TV Stick, you know what to expect. You have no doubt used the new Fire TV OS user interface that was introduced in early 2021. That it is still based on Android 9 rather than something newer (Android 12 is just about to be released) is a point of contention for some, and at least a small cause for concern. But given that we're talking about Amazon here, rather than a no-name importer who just puts Android on some hardware and does it for a day, we're a little less concerned. That said, Amazon has to get into double digits sooner rather than later, and it's only a matter of time before our patience really wears off.

The other basic specs remain the same as the older Fire TV Stick 4K. It still supports 4K resolution with Dolby Vision, HDR10 + and HLG for high dynamic range and Dolby Atmos for audio. Of course, your TV and sound system must also support all of these if you want to use them.

If you want to use Alexa with your Fire TV Stick 4K Max, do so using the Alexa remote. This is unchanged because there is no microphone in the stick itself.

There's nothing new on the app side either. Amazon's Fire TV OS still has access to all of the things it had access to, like Netflix, Hulu, and Apple TV +, to name just three.

Amazon Fire TV stick 4K max.Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends

Buy it to future proof it, not because it's exponentially "better".

Our opinion

If you're looking for a new Fire TV Stick, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max is for you. Period.

I would even recommend it to the Fire TV Cube for several reasons. First, it's about half the price, which in itself should be a no-brainer. If all you need to do is have Alexa hands-free (like not having to hit the voice button on the remote first), you can get yourself a Max and a new Echo Dot and still have plenty of cash to buy your lunch. The second is that the Fire TV Cube was updated a few years ago, which means older internals. That's not a big deal with devices like this, but it can play a role over time. Newer is almost always better.

Are there alternatives?

Secure. Anything that connects to a television and displays video is an alternative. And the Fire TV Stick 4K Max's biggest competitors are the other Amazon Fire TV Sticks.

Fire TV stick
Lite		 Fire TV
floor		 Fire TV stick
4K		 Fire TV stick
4K Max
Publishing year 2020 2020 2018 2021
Retail price $ 30 $ 40 $ 40 $ 55
resolution 1080p 1080p 4K 4K
Dolby Vision no no Yes sir Yes sir
Dolby Atmos no Yes sir Yes sir Yes sir
WiFi version WiFi 5 WiFi 5 WiFi 5 WLAN 6
storage 8GB 8GB 8GB 8GB
Storage 1 GB 1G 1.5 GB 2GB

Where the Fire TV Stick 4K Max fits into the larger scheme of inexpensive streaming sticks – that is, around $ 50 – really just depends on the ecosystem. Would you like Fire TV? Or do you want Roku? Or what about Chromecast with Google TV? Everyone has their merits and falls into the same price range. In general, I'd argue that Fire TV OS is the more mature and sophisticated operating system, while Roku is simple and easier to navigate. Both of them are littered with ads and other ways to spend money, and both are also heavily driving their own ad-based video-on-demand services. Amazon has IMDB TV and Roku has The Roku Channel. Choose your poison. Chromecast With Google TV is a beast of its own. If you are familiar with Android, this is where I would look.

The bigger question I have is what happens to the rest of the Fire TV Stick storage space. Amazon has told us that it has no intention of stopping selling the old Fire TV Stick 4K, which at the time of release is $ 15 cheaper than the 4K Max when it's not on sale – and you no doubt will find for less money rather than later. I'd say it's worth an extra $ 15 for future proofing Wi-Fi 6 and the newer remote that sells for $ 30 alone. Add the upgraded processor and memory and it just makes sense. You get a bigger bang for your buck. And presumably Amazon will either phase out the older Fire TV Stick 4K or maybe even rearrange the entire line. It still has the Fire TV Stick for the same $ 40 price as the older Fire TV Stick 4K, which doesn't really make sense as it hits 1080p resolution. Then there's the $ 30 Fire TV Stick Lite. That's not a huge spread, so don't be surprised if Amazon consolidates things at some point.

How long it will take?

We have no idea. It's a little piece of plastic and metal. But in general, Fire TV Sticks lasted much longer than necessary. Not that we're fans of setting money on fire, but these things are cheap. They have no moving parts, they probably don't get moved too often, and are pretty much commonplace items right now. They are impulse purchases. In the rare event that one of you fails – and you don't hear about it very often – the chances are that you could simply buy a new one without thinking too much. For everything else, there's everyone's favorite post on Troubleshooting Fire TV Stick issues.

Should you buy it?

Have you read the 1,700 words above? Yes sir. The Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the one we would get.

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