25 Jan
Blog

Buddhist Mala Beads: Its Significance Today

When we hear about a spiritual necklace, we think of a decorative piece of jewelry that we often wear on different occasions. One can wear these items to parties, events and other occasions. However, there is another necklace that is different from the normal one and is called mala pearls.

Mala pearls have been part of many cultures and promote human wellbeing and positive mental state. Repeating various mantras while using mala beads will help people overcome daily problems and promote general well-being. It is important to understand the importance of mala pearls and to buy them from a reputable store.

The use of mala beads began in the early days on various spiritual journeys such as Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Jainism. Mala pearls are nothing more than a pearl necklace that is used in mantras and for prayer. It is a common practice in and around India and it has beneficial effects on the brain and improves the person's mood. This makes the person feel relaxed and pay more attention to certain things that are important in life. The spiritual pearls purify the body's chakras and bring the person into the spiritual world.

Many people have seen spiritual jewelry in their life. However, not many understand why spiritual gurus use them like a yogi. What is the purpose of their use? Where do they come from and how can you meditate with them? These malas have existed for many years, and they have existed in the world longer than expected. Each mala has a set number of pearls, usually 108, representing spiritual identity and connection.

All malas have organic materials such as plant seeds, wood, and animal bones that are carved into a shaped bead. Malas made from rudrakshas seeds are still important to people today. You have spiritual and healing power. Buddhist malas represent the ancient fig tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment more than 3,000 years ago. The use of mala beads is common in some cultures. It means impermanence and the need for compassion in this world.

Malas are made from a variety of gemstones and have specific healing properties. Due to the natural properties of healing materials and the different appearance, two malas appear the same. One should buy Buddhist mala beads from a reputable seller who believes in making people's lives better when it comes to the best quality jewelry at the cheapest price.

Benefits of Wearing Buddhist Mala Beads

The use of Buddhist Mala prayer beads has increased worldwide over the years. One can use Buddhist pearls while practicing yoga and meditation. These pearls are very effective when using both. These pearls greatly improve the devotee's health and well-being. It can channel positive energy in the wearer's body. Wearing Buddhist pearls offers many benefits for the person's entire life.

Buddhist pearls help the user focus while praying and studying. These pearls help people focus on all aspects of life. With the mala beads one can concentrate on chanting mantras and get the most out of their meditation. Remember, meditation can treat problems such as stress and depression.

Do you have any complaints? Wear a Buddhist mala to treat various problems. These pearls are made to treat various health problems and have the healing power to purify the aura. These crystals are natural energizers and stimulate all parts of the brain. They are critical to brain health and help treat many health problems.

When negativity surrounds someone, it leads to stress and depression. Think positive and eliminate most health problems without medication, just with Buddhist pearls. Buddhist prayer beads treat different mental states and help people to focus more on study and work.

People need to learn to control their emotions and maintain discipline in life. With the power of mala pearls, they can learn to control their emotions in order to gain mental stability. Regular meditation and yoga can offer what other drugs cannot. It will teach people how to stay connected to their roots and stay disciplined. It will tell them to stay in order to achieve the meaning of life.

Buddhist prayer beads not only have spiritual charm, but these prayer beads are worn by many people as jewelry or decoration. Japa Mala beads made from semi-precious stones make them the perfect jewelry that people can wear as a fashion accessory.

These are some of the benefits of wearing and using Buddhist prayer beads. They provide the devotee with spiritual growth, health, and wellbeing. One has to find the right pearls to enjoy their benefits. It is important for a real devotee to buy them from a reputable store. One can enjoy all of the associated benefits.

24 Jan
Blog

Motorola One 5G Ace Review: Battery Life, Specs, Cameras

motorola one 5g ace review 1

“You get good performance, great battery life, and a nice big display. But below-average cameras and a short software life have harmed the One 5G Ace. "

  • Modern design

  • Excellent battery life

  • Solid display

  • Good performance

  • Below average camera for the money

  • Only one software update guaranteed

Motorola recently unveiled the Moto G-Series 2021, which is solid value for money for those looking to spend no more than $ 250. In addition to the Moto G, the company has also launched a new model in its high-end One line: the Motorola One 5G Ace.

At first glance, the Motorola One 5G Ace is a bit confusing (and an awkward name), but it's important not to think of it as a replacement for last year's Motorola One 5G. This device has a lower-priced processor, a poorer display, and other cutbacks – but it costs $ 400 or $ 150 less than the standard Motorola One 5G.

However, there is no lack of competition in this price range. Does the Motorola One 5G Ace compete with the Pixel 4a and iPhone SE among its competitors? We put it to the test to find out.

Design and display

Motorola has done well at offering relatively modern looking phones for the price, and the One 5G Ace is no exception to that rule. It's a large phone with a large 6.7-inch display with an aspect ratio of 20: 9 that is great for scrolling through Twitter, seeing all of your email at a glance, and seeing more anytime. Of course, there's a tradeoff: don't expect to be able to reach the top of the display without the help of a second hand.

While the original One 5G had a double front camera, the Ace has a single centered cutout for the selfie camera. And there's a tiny chin at the bottom of the display, although it's not too intrusive and you probably won't notice it at all in everyday use.

At first glance, the back of the phone looks metallic, but you won't be fooled for long. It feels like plastic. Well, that's not a big deal for the price – it doesn't feel as high-end as a glass or metal device, and its weight helps make it feel solid. Plastic makes the phone more durable against typical bumps and scratches, which is usually a solid selling point for those buying a device on a budget. On the back there is also a fingerprint sensor, which works relatively quickly and accurately, and a camera module with three sensors.

In addition to the standard power switch, volume rocker, and USB-C port on the edges, you also get a headphone jack. It's nice that Motorola has stuck to the headphone jack on its budget phones for so long.

Thanks to its higher resolution of 1080p, the display is a clear step forward over the Moto G series. Unfortunately, you don't get the 90Hz refresh rate that you get with the standard Motorola One 5G, but it still has decently vivid colors and gets relatively bright. It's a good looking display for a phone in this price range.

Power and battery

Under the hood, the Motorola One 5G Ace is a clear step up from any Moto G device thanks to its Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G processor, 4 GB or 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB or 128 GB of storage. It's a solid setup, and the Qualcomm 7 series has proven to be a great way to get good performance over the past year without buying a flagship phone.

The phone is more than capable in everyday use. There were seldom problems even when used for heavy-duty multitasking, mobile gaming, and more. I have the 6GB RAM model and have never had issues with apps closing in the background before I was done with them. It even handled some Call of Duty: Mobile and Asphalt 9: Legends with ease. Sure, load times can be a little longer than the Snapdragon 765G-equipped Motorola One 5G, and it may slow down sooner, but in normal use they feel almost identical at this point.

The phone has a 5,000 mAh battery (yes, just like a Galaxy S21 Ultra) which is more than enough for a full day of heavy use. Although it doesn't last quite as long as the Moto G Power, most people can still work with it for two days due to the higher resolution display, as Motorola announced. If you can charge your phone well every day, no need to worry here. Unfortunately there is no wireless charging, which is a bit disappointing. It's still tolerable that a $ 400 phone doesn't offer it, but it won't be long – and it would have been nice if the One 5G Ace had been ahead of the curve.

Cameras

As mentioned earlier, the Motorola One 5G Ace has a triple camera system with a 48-megapixel main sensor with a f / 1.7 aperture lens, an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera with a f / 2.2 aperture and a 2 megapixel macro camera. I still don't think people really use macro lenses (more than just to check them out), but Motorola disagrees, arguing that in the era of COVID-19, more people than ever are taking photos of things up close At home. I would have preferred a telephoto to a macro.

The One 5G Ace's camera is fine, but not much better than fine. In good lighting conditions, a solid shot can be obtained even though the colors are not very vivid and the details are not as sharp as they could be.

The pictures are far worse in poor lighting conditions. There's little detail and a lot of noise – when you can actually lock the focus and even get a blurry picture. Highlights are often overblown, which is often the case with low-end phones in poor lighting conditions. So while you can tell what you photograph most of the time, don't expect much more.

The same is more or less true of the front of the phone. The 16-megapixel front camera can take fine selfies, but nothing will fake someone like you have a high-end phone.

The Motorola One 5G Ace's main problem in the camera department has more to do with competition than anything else. The fact is that great phone cameras are getting cheaper and cheaper and this fee is charged by Google. The Pixel 4a costs $ 50 less, but it offers a camera that is an order of magnitude better than that of the One 5G Ace. When you're ready to make the move to iOS, the iPhone SE has a better camera too – although it's not as good as the Pixel 4a. After all, the OnePlus Nord may not have the best camera, but it's still better than the One 5G Ace's.

Software and functions

Motorola has been offering near-production software for its phones for years, and the Motorola One 5G Ace is no exception to that rule. The software is pared down, easy to navigate, and well designed.

Motorola's My UX also offers a number of additional features and gestures that can be turned on or off at will that can help make using the device more natural. Things like pressing three fingers down to take a screenshot, rotating your wrist to jump to the camera, and a lot more are useful.

There are also mobile game settings that can be customized. My favorite thing with all of these features is that they are all included in the Moto app and not distributed via Android like other manufacturers do. That said, if you don't want to use or see it, you can hide the Moto app and essentially use the phone as your standard Android device.

Motorola's commitment to software updates is incredibly weak.

Well, almost a standard Android device. While other standard Android phones like the Pixel series update quickly for at least a few years, the Motorola One 5G Ace does not. It ships with the already dated Android 10 (Android 11 has been out of stock for months), and although Motorola has announced it will bring Android 11 to the Ace, it hasn't specified exactly when. And that will likely be it for the phone. Motorola has promised "at least one" OS update, but I wouldn't expect more than one – the track record in this department is poor. Fortunately, you will receive security updates for two years.

It's really disappointing to see old software paired with missing updates. With a $ 150 Moto G game this is more acceptable, but at $ 400 it's hard to deal with and we really hope that Motorola will improve their game in the near future.

Price and availability

As mentioned earlier, the Motorola One 5G Ace is priced at $ 400 available now from Amazon. In the US, 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage are provided.

Our opinion

The Motorola One 5G Ace is a solid phone. It works well, has a nice display, and great battery life. But in 2021, phones under $ 500 have to go a step further – and it just doesn't. The advantages of the Pixel 4a are years of software updates and a camera in flagship quality. The iPhone SE offers flagship performance and even longer updates. The Motorola One 5G Ace, on the other hand, is “good” in just about everything, but “great” in almost nothing – expect a battery.

Of course, we didn't really mention the "5G" aspect of this phone, but there's not much to talk about there. I would warn against buying this phone because of its 5G support. Get the Pixel 4a instead, fix the lack of 5G, and when you're ready for your next phone, getting something that is 5G capable is more important. Alternatively, you can get the Pixel 4a 5G, which has an even better camera and improved performance for $ 60 more.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. If $ 400 is a hard limit on your budget, then you can save $ 50 and get the best Google Pixel 4a. If you can just stretch a little and are interested in 5G and prefer a large display, then go for this Google Pixel 4a 5G instead.

How long it will take?

The Motorola One 5G Ace has a plastic back, so it should withstand most drops. However, it's not waterproof, so you'll want to stay away from the wet. Given the lack of software updates after Android 11, the features may be out of date within a few years – but this hardly prevents them from actually working.

Should you buy it?

No, go for that either Google Pixel 4a or the Pixel 4a 5G instead.

Editor's recommendations




24 Jan
Blog

Athletics Versus Aesthetics: What’s the Difference?

Hell, even the words themselves are eerily alike. Indeed, the two couldn't be more different. The strength culture, which is booming right now, takes a little time to clear up some basic science.

This is 85% of the problems / misunderstandings for most trainers.

I'm writing this because I was that guy a long time ago, not just as a coach but also as an athlete. A young person does not have the years of experience and a variety of tools in their kit to have the programming flexibility required to meet their needs.

They all assume that big is strong and powerful and fast.

And that's just not the case. So I hope I can clear some thoughts up so that, with curiosity and a desire to do further research, you can move away.

sportiness

I will likely piss off a lot of my colleagues; I don't care 100%.

Sportiness is not a unique quality. It is the combination of several properties that occur naturally in a person. Of course, unconscious movement skills. You have to understand that.

Our greatest athletes do things instinctively without thinking.

Your gifts lie in the most optimal movement patterns to express:

The first and best way to find out is to look at a person's feet when they are at rest.

  1. The more it turns out that the feet are (consistently), the more likely you have someone who is on the inathletic spectrum.
  2. The more neutral or slightly more deaf-tough they are, the more likely it is that they are naturally athletic.

To further melt your mind, two things in what I say above don't sound intuitive.

  1. Just being athletic does not automatically make you a good soccer player, baseball player, or basketball player. A good athlete then has to acquire a range of sport-specific skills in order to be considered a good (or great) athlete. Then and only then can natural sportiness be displayed.
  2. Athleticism is something that can indeed be trained. I'm sure a lot of my contemporaries get nosebleeds when they hear me say this. When even the most inathletic person has a radical desire for improvement, with time and masterful coaching and continuous drilling, they can develop a level of athleticism.

It has to be burned into their nervous system, but it can be done. Check out some of the great work being done here at Mater Dei High School, WeckMethod in San Diego, or GOATA in New Orleans.

These systems radically accelerate the qualities that we naturally see in someone we would say has great athleticism.

We have seen exceptional results in both sports and in reducing injuries.

Training for aesthetics

Who doesn't want:

I'm 50 years old staring into the eyes and the young man who is still alive and well in me would love another shot at all of the above – ahhhh, the good old days.

Regardless of how old you are, much of the recipe for these things is very straightforward, such as: B. High volume sets, many sets per body part, isolation exercises, and a mix of free weights and machines.

The list goes on and this list is effective for building muscle, etching details, and sculpting the shape. Yes, it takes time, incredible discipline (not just in the gym), and a real willingness to suffer.

Add cardio all kinds on the list of strength training exercises for reclining and strength training for building and shaping, and you have the perfect mix.

While the conditioning work is to remove as much body fat as possible to see the muscles underneath.

The people who invest their time creating programs are true artists.

And the people who choose to live their lives wearing elite conditioning around the clock are some of the most masochistic people in the world.

When I was a kid, growing up in my teenage years and young adulthood, we only had access to muscle magazines for advice on exercise. And since our entire culture cannot distinguish muscle for looks and muscle for function, those of us who emerged in the 80s and 90s (though well-intentioned) have how bodybuilders trained for sports.

The result was some of the most gruesome sports-related injuries you can imagine.

Training for athletics

When I sit down to write a team program, dozens of factors come into play before I put pen on paper (or keyboard clicks on screen).

The first thing we need to consider is the handful of repetitive movements that a particular sport imposes on an athlete, such as:

  • Throw
  • Swing an object
  • Strong rotation
  • Sprint and / or change of direction / acceleration-deceleration tight
  • Range of motion dependent
  • Weight class concentrated

Once we have identified the qualities necessary for the sport, we lean on whether or not we have chronic use problems (due to these repetitive movements) the most likely catastrophic injuries this sport sees.

It all becomes a really complicated version of the math, desperately trying not to introduce anything harmful to the team while dealing with the preprogrammed nature of programming without losing sight of the head coach's questions.

I promise I am not trying to make this more fantastic than it is for effect.

I'm trying to give you a glimpse into the mind of a coach preparing to write a program for 30 teenage girls playing water polo, and the demands of their sport are very different from those of my wrestlers. Soccer players or my mature kids.

You see, my program can never be the reason we have a loss of performance, an injury trend within a team, or the primary reason an athlete has a non-contact injury at the end of the season.

And what most of you readers will find out, we have more ways of manipulating things both ways than you might understand.

And here lies the most pressing reason for the difference between training for aesthetics and training for athletics.

My exercise menu for sports is enormous. 25% are standard problems you would find in either program:

But where we start to see the most radical differences is that my facility has no machines. We are based on free weight only and use all kinds of equipment that you would never find in Planet Fitness, 24 Hour Fitness, or Golds.

The main reason for all of this is that I need performance, not sexuality.

Aesthetics are not always sporty

My final statement in the previous section is in the seeds of this article.

Most coaches fall in their face for being so blind to the way we have always done things that the exercises chosen have no legitimate benefit to the athlete on the field.

Big for Big Sake is not a reason to program certain exercises. Yes, there are some positions in some sports where a significant increase in body mass is part of the job. However, most of these situations are fairly isolated and can still be carried out in more complex ways.

Part of the reason traditional bodybuilding workouts are ineffective and somewhat dangerous is because of the focus on single joint exercises.

An athlete is left to his own devices (and I know that because I was many moons ago) and overemphasize the exercises that strain the arms and upper body because they equate form and function.

And let's be honest, you want to look in the mirror while you brush your teeth in the morning. This over-focus on things that really do not matter to athletics creates enormous discrepancy from segment to segment of the body.

The best way to grasp this is through my own experience.

I was a great bench press. Without drugs, I hit 485 pounds for a set of 5 in my sophomore year. If you use percentages, that's more than a projected single of 525 pounds.

During that time, I hit 42 reps on the 225 bench press test (which they use on the NFL Combine). I was tall and had triceps for days and was really strong … unless … at that point, I couldn't do a single pull-up– Yes, all of that front force and literally nothing behind it.

As a result, after my junior year, I had to lie down on the surgeon's table and put my shoulder back together. It didn't slip or I suddenly had a football-related injury. I just wore my shoulder off due to a massive imbalance. I couldn't use it anymore. When my surgeon walked in, my labrum and much of my rotator cuff were frayed in several places.

This is a simple, straightforward example. If you look at injuries to the lower body, you end up with soft tissue injuries to the thighs, hip flexors, groin, and calves.

If the programming is bodybuilder-esque and the athlete has some of my tendencies, you can see where overemphasis on one area exposes the rest of the body to forces that cannot be handled.

Another example of this is, from personal experience, tears in the thigh. My hamstrings were the cause of my athletic death. Repeated stress and poor rehab practices eventually resulted in a low back that absolutely affected my career.

There was no professional football in my future, but there were the last three games of my senior year that I saw from the sidelines. Thirteen years of football … ended with a thud.

Most aesthetic lifting programs create significant front-to-back and top-to-bottom imbalances. This enables an athlete to move their entire body in one large motion to put a task in real danger.

If you notice a lot of soft tissue injuries in your athletes, you need to pay long and careful attention to how you are doing::

  1. programming
  2. Your choice of exercise
  3. How to Teach Certain Techniques

I had to take those long, lonely walks along the way, only to find out that it was actually something I was teaching, stressing, or programming that led my athletes into a situation where they were more likely to have an X injury.

As you sort your programs, my best way to navigate these sometimes choppy waters is to ask, "What is your reason for this?? "

I tell my coaches all the time; You can program any way you want, but you better have a quick and satisfactory reason to write as you are. If you're programming ten sets of 60 seconds of the hula hoop, tell me why. And if you can't give me a reason why it's there, it has to go –This one question about the reasons was one of the most instructive experiences for me. I think very rationally.

Still, I give my coaches as much programming leash as they could ever want. Most of the time, when asked why they put that down, they think about an exercise, rep range, or practice location (within the session of the lift) in a way that I never thought of, and it's brilliant.

As you scour your programming, ask yourself why, and if your answer has more to do with what this athlete looks like, it's time to reconsider your recipe.

23 Jan
Blog

Athletics Versus Aesthetics: What’s the Difference?

Hell, even the words themselves are eerily alike. Indeed, the two couldn't be more different. The strength culture, which is booming right now, takes a little time to clear up some basic science.

This is 85% of the problems / misunderstandings for most trainers.

I'm writing this because I was that guy a long time ago, not just as a coach but also as an athlete. A young person does not have the years of experience and a variety of tools in their kit to have the programming flexibility required to meet their needs.

They all assume that big is strong and powerful and fast.

And that's just not the case. So I hope I can clear some thoughts up so that, with curiosity and a desire to do further research, you can move away.

sportiness

I will likely piss off a lot of my colleagues; I don't care 100%.

Sportiness is not a unique quality. It is the combination of several properties that occur naturally in a person. Of course, unconscious movement skills. You have to understand that.

Our greatest athletes do things instinctively without thinking.

Your gifts lie in the most optimal movement patterns to express:

The first and best way to find out is to look at a person's feet when they are at rest.

  1. The more it turns out that the feet are (consistently), the more likely you have someone who is on the inathletic spectrum.
  2. The more neutral or slightly more deaf-tough they are, the more likely it is that they are naturally athletic.

To further melt your mind, two things in what I say above don't sound intuitive.

  1. Just being athletic does not automatically make you a good soccer player, baseball player, or basketball player. A good athlete then has to acquire a range of sport-specific skills in order to be considered a good (or great) athlete. Then and only then can natural sportiness be displayed.
  2. Athleticism is something that can indeed be trained. I'm sure a lot of my contemporaries get nosebleeds when they hear me say this. When even the most inathletic person has a radical desire for improvement, with time and masterful coaching and continuous drilling, they can develop a level of athleticism.

It has to be burned into their nervous system, but it can be done. Check out some of the great work being done here at Mater Dei High School, WeckMethod in San Diego, or GOATA in New Orleans.

These systems radically accelerate the qualities that we naturally see in someone we would say has great athleticism.

We have seen exceptional results in both sports and in reducing injuries.

Training for aesthetics

Who doesn't want:

I'm 50 years old staring into the eyes and the young man who is still alive and well in me would love another shot at all of the above – ahhhh, the good old days.

Regardless of how old you are, much of the recipe for these things is very straightforward, such as: B. High volume sets, many sets per body part, isolation exercises, and a mix of free weights and machines.

The list goes on and this list is effective for building muscle, etching details, and sculpting the shape. Yes, it takes time, incredible discipline (not just in the gym), and a real willingness to suffer.

Add cardio all kinds on the list of strength training exercises for reclining and strength training for building and shaping, and you have the perfect mix.

While the conditioning work is to remove as much body fat as possible to see the muscles underneath.

The people who invest their time creating programs are true artists.

And the people who choose to live their lives wearing elite conditioning around the clock are some of the most masochistic people in the world.

When I was a kid, growing up in my teenage years and young adulthood, we only had access to muscle magazines for advice on exercise. And since our entire culture cannot distinguish muscle for looks and muscle for function, those of us who emerged in the 80s and 90s (though well-intentioned) have how bodybuilders trained for sports.

The result was some of the most gruesome sports-related injuries you can imagine.

Training for athletics

When I sit down to write a team program, dozens of factors come into play before I put pen on paper (or keyboard clicks on screen).

The first thing we need to consider is the handful of repetitive movements that a particular sport imposes on an athlete, such as:

  • Throw
  • Swing an object
  • Strong rotation
  • Sprint and / or change of direction / acceleration-deceleration tight
  • Range of motion dependent
  • Weight class concentrated

Once we have identified the qualities necessary for the sport, we lean on whether or not we have chronic use problems (due to these repetitive movements) the most likely catastrophic injuries this sport sees.

It all becomes a really complicated version of the math, desperately trying not to introduce anything harmful to the team while dealing with the preprogrammed nature of programming without losing sight of the head coach's questions.

I promise I am not trying to make this more fantastic than it is for effect.

I'm trying to give you a glimpse into the mind of a coach preparing to write a program for 30 teenage girls playing water polo, and the demands of their sport are very different from those of my wrestlers. Soccer players or my mature kids.

You see, my program can never be the reason we have a loss of performance, an injury trend within a team, or the primary reason an athlete has a non-contact injury at the end of the season.

And what most of you readers will find out, we have more ways of manipulating things both ways than you might understand.

And here lies the most pressing reason for the difference between training for aesthetics and training for athletics.

My exercise menu for sports is enormous. 25% are standard problems you would find in either program:

But where we start to see the most radical differences is that my facility has no machines. We are based on free weight only and use all kinds of equipment that you would never find in Planet Fitness, 24 Hour Fitness, or Golds.

The main reason for all of this is that I need performance, not sexuality.

Aesthetics are not always sporty

My final statement in the previous section is in the seeds of this article.

Most coaches fall in their face for being so blind to the way we have always done things that the exercises chosen have no legitimate benefit to the athlete on the field.

Big for Big Sake is not a reason to program certain exercises. Yes, there are some positions in some sports where a significant increase in body mass is part of the job. However, most of these situations are fairly isolated and can still be carried out in more complex ways.

Part of the reason traditional bodybuilding workouts are ineffective and somewhat dangerous is because of the focus on single joint exercises.

An athlete is left to his own devices (and I know that because I was many moons ago) and overemphasize the exercises that strain the arms and upper body because they equate form and function.

And let's be honest, you want to look in the mirror while you brush your teeth in the morning. This over-focus on things that really do not matter to athletics creates enormous discrepancy from segment to segment of the body.

The best way to grasp this is through my own experience.

I was a great bench press. Without drugs, I hit 485 pounds for a set of 5 in my sophomore year. If you use percentages, that's more than a projected single of 525 pounds.

During that time, I hit 42 reps on the 225 bench press test (which they use on the NFL Combine). I was tall and had triceps for days and was really strong … unless … at that point, I couldn't do a single pull-up– Yes, all of that front force and literally nothing behind it.

As a result, after my junior year, I had to lie down on the surgeon's table and put my shoulder back together. It didn't slip or I suddenly had a football-related injury. I just wore my shoulder off due to a massive imbalance. I couldn't use it anymore. When my surgeon walked in, my labrum and much of my rotator cuff were frayed in several places.

This is a simple, straightforward example. If you look at injuries to the lower body, you end up with soft tissue injuries to the thighs, hip flexors, groin, and calves.

If the programming is bodybuilder-esque and the athlete has some of my tendencies, you can see where overemphasis on one area exposes the rest of the body to forces that cannot be handled.

Another example of this is, from personal experience, tears in the thigh. My hamstrings were the cause of my athletic death. Repeated stress and poor rehab practices eventually resulted in a low back that absolutely affected my career.

There was no professional football in my future, but there were the last three games of my senior year that I saw from the sidelines. Thirteen years of football … ended with a thud.

Most aesthetic lifting programs create significant front-to-back and top-to-bottom imbalances. This enables an athlete to move their entire body in one large motion to put a task in real danger.

If you notice a lot of soft tissue injuries in your athletes, you need to pay long and careful attention to how you are doing::

  1. programming
  2. Your choice of exercise
  3. How to Teach Certain Techniques

I had to take those long, lonely walks along the way, only to find out that it was actually something I was teaching, stressing, or programming that led my athletes into a situation where they were more likely to have an X injury.

As you sort your programs, my best way to navigate these sometimes choppy waters is to ask, "What is your reason for this?? "

I tell my coaches all the time; You can program any way you want, but you better have a quick and satisfactory reason to write as you are. If you're programming ten sets of 60 seconds of the hula hoop, tell me why. And if you can't give me a reason why it's there, it has to go –This one question about the reasons was one of the most instructive experiences for me. I think very rationally.

Still, I give my coaches as much programming leash as they could ever want. Most of the time, when asked why they put that down, they think about an exercise, rep range, or practice location (within the session of the lift) in a way that I never thought of, and it's brilliant.

As you scour your programming, ask yourself why, and if your answer has more to do with what this athlete looks like, it's time to reconsider your recipe.

23 Jan
Blog

Ways to Locate Vape Shops

A relaxed atmosphere is legally the basic requirement for the presence of tobacco and vape products. There is such an atmosphere in Miami Beach, where customers of all kinds show up. For them, the local smokers are always stocked with the latest items on the market at reasonable prices. To know if the product you want is available or not, the best thing to do is to browse the smoke shop websites here.

It is possible to purchase single use vape devices if you can find a tobacco shop near me. Such items are always available with good discounts, especially when bought online. You also have the option to choose from a variety of flavors. The design of the device is ergonomic and easy to hold. The punch in the throat is smooth and less than with traditional cigarettes.

Products commonly bought in smoking stores in Miami Beach
No person living or visiting this side of Florida would find it too difficult to find a suitable smoke shop. The products commonly purchased in these stores include:

  • Roll papers
  • Lighters with the latest designs
  • Hookahs
  • Evaporator
  • wraps
  • Cigars
  • Bong pipes
  • Latest flavors

These days people follow either of the following two methods to find vape stores:

  1. Online search – You can find the reputed smoke shops online. Their website shows the latest inventory of products, and customers can either pay online and have the product delivered to their home, or they can collect it from their store.
  2. Referral – This is done by referring to another person who can be a direct or indirect contact. Positive word of mouth automatically brings more people to each place.

Choose products from famous brands

Familiarity plays an important role in choosing a product, and the same principle applies to tobacco products. Of course, a friendly customer service, whether online or offline, always makes the purchase easier. Since the branded products are available separately in the store, it does not take long to recognize them. With most brands in one place, customers can buy all the vape products they want from a single store.

John Hopkins' medicine has concluded that vaping is less harmful than smoking, although neither is good for the body in the long run. Fewer chemicals are breathed into the body through vape when comparing vaping to cigarette smoking. However, an excess of anything is bad, and similarly, too much vaping can lock a person back into conventional smoking.

Buy updated stocks

Vaping Vs Smoking

A person who visits a well-known smoking shop, whether offline or online, is guaranteed to receive the latest products. However, if a particular product is hugely popular, chances are it will sell out in no time. Buying these products a few times will give you an idea of ​​how often they fly off the shelves. Regular customers will receive updates to their email addresses regarding new inventory levels. Customers here always expect quick customer service and proper packaging, and the reputable stores ensure that.

This is how you decide which smoking shop to choose

1] Product Quality – It is the responsibility of all offline and online store owners to ensure that the best quality tobacco products are available at all times. There must be options that suit the individual's lifestyle. Each of the products should be made of high quality material.

2] Sales Experience – Years of sales experience are of great importance in helping a company reach their customers and provide the best service every time. Website design plays the same role as a shop owner in the online world these days. The experience helps store owners understand the needs of customers visiting online. Also remember that the necessary hygiene standards are respected at all times.

Every person who visits a Miami Beach smoke store online and offline is important to the selling business, whether that person is a connoisseur or a first-time buyer. Customer service must be of a high standard at all times.

Feel relaxed in the atmosphere of the store

A customer who decides to visit the store can buy their vape products in a wonderful atmosphere. These are places to discuss with close friends and choose the most suitable. At such a time you don't want an over-enthusiastic sales manager to disrupt the decision-making process and derail it. Such leaders should only provide advice when directed to do so.
Teams at popular Miami Beach smoke shops keep track of market trends and get the latest smoking accessories as soon as possible.

23 Jan
Blog

How to Find the Best Medical Call Center?

Medical call centers are not new to many medical professionals these days, and many have yet to find out about them. A doctor should understand its benefits and receive the service to better manage the patient's calls at work. Maintain a good reputation for the clinic by hiring a medical call center where patients can respond quickly and efficiently. Choosing the right call center is crucial for health professionals as it helps them in many ways.

Health care organizations should consider a medical call center to reduce the burden and facilitate the free flow of information between patients and staff. Medical call centers act on behalf of the medical service and take and manage calls from the patient to streamline the whole process. Medical call centers review patient calls and messages directed first to an operator who is reviewing them from urgent to non-urgent and forward them to the doctor who is the right person to handle the patient inquiry regarding their medication, treatment and Edit appointment.

Find a medical call center that complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA). It offers protection for health organizations that can view specific health data of patients. This makes a doctor's practice safe and complies with all essential rules.

A HIPPA-compliant medical call center is a must for a modern medical office that cares for patients and ensures they don't spend time on hold. This can relieve staff and focus on other things instead of wasting time on patient calls. A 24/7 medical call center service is available where doctors can select on-call procedures to connect with their patients outside of business hours. They can receive calls and messages through their home numbers, pagers and emails.

Typically, a trained receptionist on behalf of the doctor's office greets patients politely and professionally and forwards patient calls to help, where they can respond promptly to their problems. A medical call center has many advantages. It helps gain a patient's trust by responding to them quickly. It creates the connection between the doctor and patient's health and makes them feel valued.

A medical call center can do a lot in a doctor's office, which is better than hiring staff. Doctors don't have to spend on advertising and hiring a receptionist to take calls when they decide to hire a medical call center service. So cut costs and save time by hiring a medical call center. It has become important to have a dedicated medical call center in the medical practice as it makes communication easier.

There are many medical call center service providers out there today. A healthcare provider needs to scrutinize the service and find the right one. No matter what, a doctor's office should have a medical call center to better prepare for emergencies. However, there are a few important points you need to consider before choosing a medical answering machine.

How do I choose a medical answering machine?

Doctors can customize their medical call center service to suit their needs. For example, you will get patients who speak many languages ​​and come from different cultural backgrounds. It is important for a doctor to consider a service that does not use a specific language but can answer calls in many different languages.

Imagine a reliable medical call center service that works 24/7 and provides well-managed services to its customers. A call center should have the right staff and the right infrastructure to handle high volumes and avoid dropped calls. One can also consider a call center, which is not limited to just calling but should also include text, email, web chat messages, and callback options. Consider hiring a medical call center that is on budget, but it doesn't mean ignoring a few key factors when it comes to choosing a service like quality and initial call resolution rates.

Hire a reputable and trained medical call center as a medical call center is the backbone of service. It is important to choose a service that represents a medical practice in a professional and sensitive manner. Make sure a company has qualified and trained personnel to understand the medical industry and its day-to-day tasks. Inquire at the call center whether the employees have received the process and technology-related training. Find out about confidential training information and soft skills training to get the best service for patient satisfaction.

Many service providers now offer medical services. It is important to choose a service provider who can meet most of the above requirements to ensure that they have the best medical call center in place for call management and patient satisfaction improvement. So, with these important tips, choose the best service and keep the practice name.

23 Jan
Blog

2021 Toyota Sienna Review: It’s the Prius Of Minivans

2021 Toyota Siena rating front three quarters

2021 Toyota Sienna Platinum Review: The Prius of Minivans

"With a standard hybrid drive train and an intelligent interior design, the redesigned Toyota Sienna 2021 is the perfect family haulier."

  • Hybrid powertrain

  • Functional "bridge" console

  • Many devices available

  • Ride quality

  • Overwhelming infotainment

  • Gets expensive with options

Minivans were once a popular choice for families, but have largely been replaced by three-row SUVs. While some automakers upgraded their minivans to win back buyers, Toyota did nothing. Now it makes up for lost time.

The Toyota Sienna 2021 replaces a model that went on sale about a decade ago and offers a major overhaul with an extroverted design and new gadgets like a built-in vacuum cleaner and 120-volt power outlet and a standard hybrid powertrain. This should help the Sienna stand out from the SUV competition as well as fresher minivans like Chrysler Pacifica / Voyager, Honda Odyssey and Kia Sedona.

Prices for the 2021 Toyota Sienna start at $ 35,635 for a front-wheel drive LE model, or $ 2,950 more than the 2020 model. This is in part because Toyota has cut the L trim level that was previously below the LE . Our test car was a four-wheel, platinum, all-wheel drive model with extras like leather seats, electric sliding doors and tailgate, and 20-inch wheels – all for a base price of $ 51,635.

Design and interior

Generally, when Toyota designers try to make a car look exciting, they pile up on as many stylistic elements as possible. Toyota's designers went to great lengths to make the 2021 Sienna look exciting. Given that many car buyers view minivans as chilly, it's hard to blame these designers for giving the Sienna the taillights of a Supra sports car and a massive grille that resembles the mouth of a baleen whale. Despite these diverse elements, the exterior design is remarkably coherent, at least by recent Toyota standards.

It's also a great contrast to the more conventional minivans from Chrysler, Honda, and Kia. The Toyota is pretty close to these competitors in the interior, but has significantly less headroom in the third row. This is still a cavernous vehicle, however, and as with all minivans, the Sienna has a lower entry height and lift height than most SUVs.

As with all three-row vehicles, cargo space is limited with the third row, but the Sienna's 33.5 cubic feet are better than the Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Pacifica and are right behind the class-leading Kia Sedona. Fold the seats down, however, and the Sienna tells a different story: with 75.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row folded down and 101 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded down, it lags behind the competition. Toyota also doesn't offer a power-folding third row like Chrysler does, but electric sliding doors and an electric tailgate are available.

Toyota's designers went to great lengths to make the 2021 Sienna look exciting.

The Sienna looks more impressive the closer you get to the front. The lower level LE and XLE models come standard in an eight-seat configuration with a second-row bench seat. Higher equipment variants are given captain's chairs in the second row, which reduces the total number of seats to seven. A "Super Long Slide" option allows these chairs to slide back and forth up to 25 inches, and Limited and Platinum models get fold-out airplane-style ottomans. These features make driving in the second row more comfortable, but they have also been available on the Kia Sedona since the 2015 model year.

Up front, the Sienna gets a stylish dashboard with an integrated touchscreen and, as Toyota calls it, the "bridge", a raised center console that holds the gear lever, and a couple of cup holders. Underneath there is a rubberized storage corner that is big enough for a handbag. It's an unusual setup for a minivan, but a good one. The raised console offers two levels of storage, bringing the things you actually need to reach for – the gear stick and cup holders – closer to your handle.

The materials in our Platinum test car were impressive. The leather upholstery felt appropriately chic; rubberized, non-slip material has been strategically placed; and even the plastic paneling Toyota used instead of wood looked good. However, designers could have chosen back the color palette, which includes shades of browns, beiges, and grays that have managed to look boring and clash with one another.

Technology, infotainment and driver assistance

While the exterior and interior design offered some unexpected details, the Sienna's infotainment system is largely the same as on other newer Toyota models.

The standard setup includes a 9.0-inch touchscreen, seven USB ports, an integrated WiFi hotspot and compatibility with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa. A JBL audio system with 12 speakers, a navigation system and an entertainment system in the rear seats are optionally available. The latter contains a single 11.6-inch monitor that, unlike the dual monitors available from Chrysler, can be folded down from the ceiling.

The touchscreen was typical of Toyota, which meant it was easy to use (thanks in part to keyboard shortcuts and a volume control) but with boring graphics. The designers also included plenty of spots for the driver to place their phone, including slots in the "Bridge" console cupholders and a dashboard shelf (which can be fitted with a wireless charging pad), but none of them actually work. The slots that allow a phone to sit upright don't fit into larger phones, while phones can slide around on the dashboard.

The touchscreen was typical of Toyota, which meant it was easy to use, but with boring graphics.

Devices are a hallmark of modern minivans. So Toyota gave the 2021 Sienna a built-in vacuum cleaner, a 1,500-watt inverter (which sends power to a 120-volt socket in the cargo area), a small refrigerator, and a rear-seat intercom (that borrowed from the previous generation model has been). However, the refrigerator and vacuum cleaner are not available at startup due to a supplier issue. Honda and Chrysler have also offered built-in vacuums for years.

The standard driver assistance technology under the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 banner includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beam, traffic sign recognition, lane departure warning and automatic lane centering of Toyota's lane following assistant.

Since the Sienna is a pretty large vehicle, talking about cameras is also important. Our test car had the optional 360 degree camera system that had good camera angles but a low resolution display. The Sienna is also the latest Toyota model to receive a video rearview mirror that can be switched from a conventional mirror to a video display with the push of a button. This allows the driver to see what is directly behind the car without obstacles such as roof pillars and passenger heads. It was especially useful in the Sienna with its small rear window.

Experience at the wheel

One of the biggest changes to the Sienna for 2021 is under the hood. Toyota replaced the old 3.5-liter V6 engine with a hybrid powertrain based on a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. This is the only powertrain available, making the Sienna one of the few new cars exclusively available as a hybrid. However, you have a choice between front or all-wheel drive.

Toyota specifies a total system output of 245 hp. That's 51 horsepower less than the 2020 Nonhybrid model and less than the Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey or Kia Sedona nonhybrid, all of which use fairly large V6 engines. However, it doesn't seem to matter.

If you're worried about underperformance, keep in mind that the Sienna has a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds – just like an Odyssey or Sedona. The Pacifica is designed to pull more, but only by 100 pounds. The Sienna also has the same towing capacity as the similarly sized Toyota Highlander Hybrid, which proves you don't always need an SUV to tow.

The Sienna's gasoline consumption knocks the competition away.

Granted, we would have liked a bit more power for overtaking highways where the Sienna felt appropriate but not thrilled. However, this was the only problem with the powertrain. The hybrid system made the Sienna feel like an oversized Toyota Prius – which is good. The interaction of the gasoline engine and the electric motor may seem a little strange to drivers who are used to non-hybrid cars, but tuning the powertrain ultimately promotes smooth and economical driving.

Unlike the Prius, Toyota didn't bother to make the Sienna sporty. That means you only get a comfortable ride, which is probably what most potential minivan buyers are looking for anyway. We noticed a slight shudder over bumps and the steering didn't feel as tight and precise as that of the Chrysler Pacifica.

Fuel economy and safety

The Sienna also emulates the Prius where it counts – mileage. The minivan is rated at 36 mpg combined (36 mpg city, 36 mpg highway) with front-wheel drive and 35 mpg combined (35 mpg city, 36 mpg highway) with all-wheel drive. That knocks out the competition. Chrysler, Honda, and Kia are stuck together below 25 mpg.

Chrysler also offers a plug-in hybrid version of the Pacifica – the Pacifica Hybrid – with a range of 32 miles fully electric. However, in hybrid mode, the Pacifica Hybrid can only manage 30 mpg together and is not available with all-wheel drive.

The Toyota Sienna 2021 was recognized by the Road Safety Insurance Institute (IIHS) as a “Top Safety Pick +” – the organization's highest safety rating. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not published any crash test ratings for the new model.

Toyota offers a three-year base warranty of 36,000 miles and a five-year warranty of 60,000 miles on the powertrain. That's pretty standard for a mainstream car brand, but Kia offers a five-year base 60,000 mile warranty and a 10-year drivetrain warranty of 100,000 miles for the Sedona.

As with other Toyota hybrids, the Sienna comes with a 10-year guarantee on 150,000 miles of battery and an eight-year guarantee of 100,000 miles on other hybrid system components.

How DT would configure this car

Priced at over $ 50,000, our Sienna Platinum test car demonstrated that a minivan can be really luxurious – if you're willing to pay luxury car prices. However, it is possible to bring that price down by losing some of these extras.

We would go a few rungs down the trim ladder to the XSE trim step. It has the same hybrid drive and driver assistance technology as the Platinum (and all other Sienna equipment variants) as well as the seats in the second row "Super Long Slide", the navigation system, the automatic four-zone air conditioning and the heated front seats.

Then we add the XSE Plus package ($ 1,000), which includes cell phone charging and the inverter at 1,500 watts ($ 300). All-wheel drive costs $ 760 on the Sienna XSE and is well worth considering if you live in a snowy climate.

Our opinion

The Toyota Sienna 2021 isn't redefining the minivan, but this overdue redesign brings Toyota up to date with the competition.

The Honda Odyssey offers a bit more passenger space and more cargo space with the seats folded down in the second and third rows, but does not offer the sliding second row car or the optional all-wheel drive of the Toyota. It also can't compete with the hybrid Sienna's fuel economy.

The Chrysler Pacifica is available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain and “Stow’ n Go ”folding seats. However, these features are not available together, and you also cannot purchase a four-wheel drive Pacifica Hybrid. The Chrysler is also a bit nicer to drive than the Toyota, but has a much worse reputation for reliability. For price-conscious buyers, the Chrysler Voyager is a dissatisfied Pacifica with a much lower base price than the Sienna.

The Kia Sedona is starting to show its age but is still competitive on the interior and is backed by Kia's extended warranty.

Regardless of the brand, minivans remain a great alternative to SUVs for large families. What they lack in sturdy style, they practically make up for it. The Sienna has more passengers than the Toyota Highlander. The lower ride height, the sliding doors and the larger tailgate opening make it easier to load and unload people and objects.

Should you get one

Yes. The Sienna is a great family car.

Editor's recommendations




23 Jan
Blog

Amazon Halo Review: No-Fuss Fitness Band, Privacy Disaster

Amazon Halo Fitness Band

Amazon Halo Review: Affordable but Questionable Fitness Band

"Amazon Halo is a no-frills fitness band, but privacy concerns tarnish an otherwise capable workout companion."

  • Slim, lightweight design

  • Informative sleep rating

  • Accurate body fat scan

  • Laboratory integration

  • Subscription for access to all functions

  • Questionable privacy

Amazon has taken its first steps in the wearable device market with its Halo fitness tracker. Much like its Echo and Alexa devices, the Amazon Halo is designed to blend in with the background and seamlessly track your health and fitness. The $ 99 Halo creates a niche with unique features not found on other fitness wearables. However, some of these features raise serious privacy concerns. We have both good and bad problems so you can decide if you want the Halo to be your next fitness machine.

Forget about simple carrying and design

The Amazon Halo has a simple design with a woven fabric band and a screenless tracker unit reminiscent of the older Fitbits. It has a single button that interacts with the Halo app, two microphones for speech analysis and an LED indicator. On the bottom there is an optical heart rate sensor and a charging area. Its straightforward design allows you to charge the tracker without removing it from the band.

Amazon Halo Fitness BandKelly Hodgkins / Digital Trends

The tracker unit is slim and mounts under the band with the heart rate sensor flush with your skin. The tracker clicks securely into place on the band, but it can be removed quickly and easily if you need to change the bands. The sensor unit is waterproof up to 50 meters, so you can swim and shower while wearing it.

The tape consists of a strong net with a Velcro fastener. The Velcro on the halo is just perfect. I can pull the Velcro as tight as I want without having to struggle with the various settings of a buckle. The mesh fabric is not as silky smooth as silicone straps, but it is pleasant on the skin even when perspiration builds up. If you don't like the web, Amazon sells a sports band with a more rubbery feel.

The Halo lacks a screen to grab your attention and lacks a vibrating motor to keep you buzzing. It's also incredibly slim and light (18 grams). It's so unobtrusive that I barely felt it on my wrist. I like that I could wear the halo and forget about it, but I miss the display, especially when I'm running. I can't check the time, watch my pace, or monitor my heart rate from my wrist like I can with my Garmin or Fitbit.

Activity tracking stays with the basics

The Amazon Halo is a more than powerful activity tracker with a heart rate sensor as well as a gyroscope and an accelerometer for movement tracking. It records all of the standard metrics for a fitness tracker. It counts steps, compiles calories and tracks selected workouts (walking, running, cycling and more) in real time. You can also add an activity manually if you forgot to start your tracker. One blatant omission is GPS. Most fitness bands have built-in GPS or at least connect to your smartphone.

Amazon Halo Fitness BandKelly Hodgkins / Digital Trends

The Halo takes a novel approach to measuring your activity level. You will earn points for every minute you are active. The Halo gives you two points for every minute of intense activity, one point for every minute of moderate exercise, and one point for every 20 minutes of light activity. Not only does Halo give points, but it also takes points away for every hour you are sedentary. You can set your own points goal, but Halo recommends achieving at least 150 points per week, which is in line with World Health Organization guidelines for physical activity.

The Halo's relaxed weekly scoring system has successfully kept me active.

Amazon's scoring system is great for those trying to get fit and need that extra encouragement. Since performance is measured weekly, I didn't feel compelled to exercise every day. I could spread my exercise over a week and mix a workout into my daily life if it fits my schedule. This relaxed approach successfully kept me active and kept me from becoming discouraged if I had to miss a workout.

Sleep tracking stays simple

Amazon's Halo competitor, Fitbit leader when it comes to sleep tracking. At night, the Halo can track movement, heart rate and even body temperature, giving you a detailed insight into what factors can affect the quality of your sleep. All of this data is summarized in a sleep score so that you can assess your sleep at a glance.

The halo accurately recorded my wake times, sleep times and movements during the night. The tracker not only monitored the length of my sleep, but also correctly rated the quality of my sleep. It was spot on with his assessment – when I woke up tired from a restless night, the Halo app knew instantly.

The Halo app goes one step further than simple analysis. It also provides insight into your sleep cycles. When I had a pattern of insomnia, the app gave me guidance on how to improve my rest. If I needed more detailed help, I had the option to sign up for a sleep laboratory. This third-party service offered activities that would improve my sleep, such as: B. Limiting caffeine in the afternoon (one of my bad habits!). The lab helped me implement these suggestions and then analyzed whether they actually helped improve my sleep.

The analysis of the tone voices is convincing and uncomfortable

The most impressive and controversial feature in Halo is tone-voice analysis. When enabled, Tone uses your Halo tracker's audio hardware to hear your voice regularly throughout the day. The idea behind Tone is to make you aware of how you sound to other people. Are you moody or positive? Do you sound tired or optimistic?

Amazon Halo Fitness BandKelly Hodgkins / Digital Trends

In order to protect privacy, Tone does not monitor the words you say, only the tone of your voice. In addition, the recordings are not saved. This eases some privacy concerns, but it limits functionality. Once marked as stubborn, I could think about the entire conversation. I couldn't hear exactly what I was saying.

I found the tone speech analysis compelling, but also creepy. I was checking my sound stats all day to see if I was negative without realizing it. I wish there was a notification that would nudge me if my mood changed. Instead of waiting afterwards, it would be helpful to be able to change my setting in real time. Although Tone recognized my mood for most of the time, I didn't feel comfortable with the device always listening in the background. The battery was also very discharged.

Although for the most part Tone recognized my mood accurately, it was a huge drain on the battery.

What I liked was the "Live" tab which offered on-demand, real-time analytics. I was able to practice a short speech and watch where my voice fell on the positivity and energy chart while speaking. I could then get a full analysis of how I sounded. This feature is incredibly useful for repeating a speech or preparing for an interview.

Body fat tracking with half-naked selfies

Many attached health devices promise to monitor your body fat, but few do exactly that. Most smartphone apps and even smart scales take your height and weight and put that information into a body fat calculator. However, this formula doesn't take into account whether the majority of your weight is fat or muscle. It also doesn't tell you where your fat is concentrated.

Amazon Halo improves body fat measurement by using your height and weight data along with photos of your body. These photos, taken only in your skivvies, can be used to determine if you are limp or fit for your weight. It also helps identify where your fat is located. When you are struggling with your body image, the process can be terribly uncomfortable.

All body scan photos are securely processed by Amazon in the cloud and then automatically deleted. They are only saved when you want to use them to keep track of your progress. This sets a privacy flag. They trust Amazon to handle your half-naked selfies discreetly. Do you feel comfortable with it?

Although uncomfortable and worrying, the body fat estimates can provide some accurate results, especially for those who are building muscle, not just losing weight. With the saved photo scans, you can literally see your body fat melt away. Just like with tone speech analysis, you need to decide whether leaving your comfort zone is worth the information it contains. For me, a one-time scan to test the function was sufficient.

The battery life is as expected

The Halo lasted up to a week with normal use on a single charge. Tone speech analysis was a tremendous burden, reducing battery life to a disappointing two days. Fortunately, the Halo charged consistently in just over an hour. The Halo may have hit Amazon's promised battery life, but we expected more from a tape that doesn't have a screen and only basic sensors. The Fitbit Charge 3 with color display, several sensors and smartwatch functions also lasts six days between charging cycles.

Labs

Like the Apple Watch, Amazon has partnered with third-party services to expand the health and wellness information you can get from your device. Most of these labs will help you develop healthy habits that will improve both your mind and your body. For example, you can receive training content from Sweat and take part in the American Heart Association's lunchtime powerwalks. With its clout and reach in retail, this is an area that Amazon could really develop in the years to come.

Not everyone is willing to forego some privacy for the sake of innovation.

Privacy is a deal breaker for some

We can't review the halo without mentioning privacy. Daily voice recordings and snapshots of your scantily clad body can make many people feel uncomfortable. However, Amazon is quick to point out that these features are optional. You don't have to use them to take advantage of the hands-off fitness tracking offered by the Halo.

subscription

You can use Amazon Halo to track basics like step count, activity level, and sleep. If you want more than just the basics, you can choose an optional subscription service that costs $ 4 per month and offers access to advanced features like sleep scoring and labs. Each Halo comes with a free six-month trial subscription. So give it a try and decide if it's worth the extra money.

Our opinion

The Amazon Halo is a straightforward fitness tracker for those who want to improve their health and fitness without worrying about it. The halo tracks the most important metrics. You don't have to view them every minute of the day. However, privacy concerns cast a long shadow over the device. Not everyone will be happy with their device if they take almost nude photos of them and hear them all day. Where you draw that line will determine whether you should buy the Halo.

Is there a better alternative?

The Amazon Halo brings some unique features to the table, but not everyone is willing to give up their privacy for the sake of innovation. Anyone looking for a fitness tracker with robust health and wellness features should consider the Fitbit Sense. Like the Halo, the Scythe focuses on your health and wellbeing, rather than just cross-threshold workouts.

How long it will take?

The Amazon Halo has a simplified design that interferes with a fabric strap that attaches to the tracker. There is no display and only a single button, which reduces potential problems with the device. As long as you do not abuse it, the halo will be used for many years. If you run into hardware problems, Amazon's Halo comes with a one-year warranty.

Should you buy it?

If you can look beyond the privacy issues, the Halo is ideal for those who prefer a hands-off approach to training. You just need to achieve a weekly goal and you won't be constantly reminded to move every hour. Those who want to track every metric and micromanage of their progress should pass the halo on and choose one of the many alternatives.

Editor's recommendations




22 Jan
Blog

Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Review: An excellent 14-inch convertible

Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 review featured picture

Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 "2-in-1 laptop

"The Yoga 9i 14 is a fast and efficient 2-in-1 convertible that only suffers from a too short 16: 9 display."

  • Very solid build quality

  • Competitive productivity performance

  • Excellent battery life

  • Superior audio quality

  • Pen is included in the scope of delivery and docks comfortably

  • The keyboard remains a bit flat

  • 16: 9 display is yesterday's technology

  • The colors are a bit muted and inaccurate

Lenovo's Yoga 9i 14 – the replacement for the Yoga C940 – is an incredibly innovative 2-in-1 convertible that comes in two different flavors that stand out for much more than just color.

The Shadow Black Leather Edition contains a continuous glass palm rest, a haptic touchpad and an ultrasonic fingerprint reader, which is combined with a leather cover on the lid. The mica-colored model has a traditional palm rest and touchpad, as well as a simple metal lid. And they cost the same. A more direct replacement for the Yoga C940, the Mica version offers a more traditional 2-in-1 experience that begs the question: should you consider the Mica version without the added innovations?

We tried a well-configured Mica device with a top-notch 11th generation Intel Tiger Lake Core i7-1185G7 CPU, 16 GB of RAM, a 512 GB PCIe solid-state drive (SSD), and a Full HD (1,920) x 1,080) IPS display. This configuration is $ 1,380 at Best buy, Pricing next to the best 2-in-1 laptops, but competitive with similar machines.

design

Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 designMark Coppock / Digital Trends

As with most mid-range and better Lenovo laptops, the Yoga 9i 14 feels solidly built. I couldn't get anything bend or bend, including the lid, keyboard deck, and case bottom. Seriously, this laptop is rock hard and in the same class as the HP Specter x360 14, Dell XPS 13, and Apple MacBook Pro 13. The Yoga’s stiff hinge requires two hands, but does a great job of holding the 2-in. 1 in the desired mode, be it clamshell, medium, tent or tablet.

Aesthetically, the Yoga 9i 14 follows Lenovo's recent preference for simple, clear designs without any gloss. The aluminum housing in the color "Mica" (light gray-silver) looks banal apart from two outstanding features: the notch on top of the display for the webcam and the Dolby Atmos soundbar integrated in the hinge (more on this later). Compared to the Specter x360 14 and the XPS 13, the Yoga 9i 14 is not noticeable. However, that's fine as it still looks attractive and I'm sure there are many users out there who prefer a simpler design. Let's call it "reserved elegance" and leave it at that.

The Yoga 9i 14 has small bezels at the top and on each side, but the chin is a bit big – as is often the case with 2-in-1 models that require more complicated hinges. That makes it a smaller 14-inch laptop, but certainly not the smallest you will find. The MSI Prestige 14 Evo, for example, is only slightly smaller in depth and width (although this is a fraction of an inch), but it's also thicker than the Yoga 9i 14 at 0.63 inches versus 0.57-0.61 Inch. The yoga is slightly heavier at 3.02 pounds than it is at 2.84 pounds. Compare that to the HP Specter x360 14, which is available at 0.67 inches and 2.95 pounds.

Connectivity is quite poor for a 14-inch laptop. You get two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB 3.2 port, and a 3.5mm audio jack, all of which are on the left side of the laptop. Many 14-inch laptops have multiple USB-A ports, a full-size HDMI port, and a microSD card reader, but not here. You get Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 so your wireless connection is up to date.

performance

Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 performanceMark Coppock / Digital Trends

My test device was equipped with the fastest Tiger Lake CPU, the quad-core Core i7-1185G7, and ran accordingly. All along the line, the Yoga was competitive with our current Tiger Lake laptop database, which also puts it at the top of the list of Intel U-series processors.

In Geekbench 5, the Yoga 9i 14 achieved 1,532 points in the single-core test and 5,415 points in the multi-core test. The Dell XPS 13 9310 and the MSI Prestige 14 Evo with the same CPU scored 1,549 and 5,431 and 1,593 and 5,904 points, respectively. Note that each of these machines is faster than Intel 10th generation laptops, but far behind the AMD Ryzen 4000 series and Apple Silicon M1.

The Yoga 9i 14 performed better in our handbrake test, which encodes a 420MB video as H.265. I've used the Yoga's performance utility, which has battery saving, smart cooling (default), and extreme performance modes, to see how much tuning is available, and switching from smart cooling to performance has made a significant difference. In Standard mode, the Yoga took 3.45 minutes to complete the test compared to 2.85 minutes in Performance mode. That's faster than the Dell XPS 13 in performance mode (the Dell was a few seconds faster in standard mode) but slower than the MSI Prestige 14 Evo, which took 2.7 minutes. These values ​​are also much faster than 10th generation Intel laptops, but slower than AMD Ryzen and Apple M1 when a version of Handbrake optimized for this processor is used.

The Yoga 9i 14 managed 1,441 in single-core mode and 4,988 in multi-core mode in Cinebench R23, both with the performance activated. It again outperformed the XPS 13, but couldn't compete with the MSI Prestige 14 Evo. 10th generation Intel CPUs lagged, while the Apple M1 was significantly faster. We did not test the AMD Ryzen chips with this version of Cinebench.

I ended up running the PCMark 10 Complete benchmark suite and the Yoga 9i 14 got 4,836 points in performance mode (4,800 in smart cooling mode, so not a huge difference). The Dell XPS 13 9310 with Tiger Lake CPUs wouldn't complete the test, and the MSI Prestige 14 Evo came in at just under 4866. The Essentials (web browsing, video conferencing, app launch), productivity (spreadsheet and word processing), and creation (photo editing, video rendering and playback, and video editing) parts of the test were similar, with the Yoga 9i 14 outperforming Intel 10-laptops a fair head start and keeping up with the rest of the Tiger Lake class.

Overall, the Yoga 9i 14 performed solidly in our tests and will meet any productivity requirement. It won't be able to compete with either AMD Ryzen or the Apple M1, especially on content creation tasks, but the performance was above average for everything else.

The gaming was the same: The Yoga 9i 14 scored 1,774 points in the 3DMark Time Spy test in performance mode, compared to the Dell XPS 13 9310 with 1,657 points and the MSI Prestige 14 Evo with a surprisingly low 1,465 points. In Fortnite, both Yoga and MSI hit 40 frames per second (fps) or faster at 1080p and high graphics, with the XPS 13 only managing 29 fps. None of the laptops could exceed 30 fps with Epic Graphics enabled. As with other Tiger Lake laptops with Intel Iris Xe, you can expect performance on par with an entry-level discrete GPU like the Nvidia GeForce MX350, allowing casual gaming at reasonable frame rates, as long as you meet your expectations for resolution and graphical detail.

display

Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 displayMark Coppock / Digital Trends

Lenovo equipped the Yoga 9i 14 with a Full HD IPS display (1,920 x 1,080) with an increasingly archaic aspect ratio of 16: 9. Many, if not most, of the new machines unveiled today have taller screens (16:10 or 3: 2). The HP Specter x360 14 is an example with its impressive 3: 2 OLED display that is a joy to use. Directly behind the gate is the yoga behind the market.

According to my colorimeter, this is mostly just an average display for a premium laptop. It was pretty bright at 341 nits, above our 300 NIT threshold, but below 458 nits the Dell XPS 13 with its own Full HD display could manage. The MSI Prestige 14 Evo suffered from an exceptionally low brightness of just 228 nits, which made the Yoga 9i 14 significantly better. The contrast exceeded our threshold of 1,000: 1 at 1060: 1. This is a good thing that blew black text on a white background. The XPS 13 Full HD managed 1350: 1, while the MSI fell below our threshold with 940: 1. By these standards, the display of yoga was excellent.

This is probably the best audio system on a Windows 10 laptop.

However, when it came to colors, yoga fell behind. It managed only 71% of AdobeRGB and 95% of sRGB, which is below the averages of 73% and 96%, respectively. The XPS 13 was stronger with 75% by AdobeRGB and 98% by sRGB, while the Prestige Evo 14 scored 73% and 97%. Worst of all, however, was the Yoga’s color accuracy, which was a poor DeltaE of 3.74 compared to 1.36 on the XPS 13 (less than 1.0 is considered excellent) and 1.3 on the MSI.

I found the Yoga display good for productivity work where brightness and contrast were most important, but I wouldn't recommend it for creatives looking for wider gamuts and more accurate colors.

However, the Yoga 9i 14 featured a Dolby Atmos soundbar integrated into the hinge. The two tweeters are located in the soundbar, while the system also uses two subwoofers in the housing for deeper bass. Volume was significant with no distortion, and mids and highs were great with an above average bass touch. This is probably the best audio system on a Windows 10 laptop and is only surpassed by the superior sound on Apple's MacBook Pro computers. You can use the laptop for Netflix bingeing and listening to music without unplugging your headphones – unless you want to keep your audio to yourself.

Keyboard and touchpad

Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 keyboard and touchpadMark Coppock / Digital Trends

Lenovo's yoga keyboards traditionally suffer from shallow depth and a squishy feel. The Yoga 9i 14, on the other hand, uses the company's new TrueStrike keyboard, which is as slim as it was before, but slightly faster. It's a much better experience, though it's still not as good as the HP Specter x360 14, Dell XPS 13, and best of all, the Magic Keyboard on the latest MacBooks. The keyboard offers two levels of backlighting that I found consistent and effective under different lighting conditions.

The touchpad is a decent size and has a smooth surface that is easy to slide over. It's a Microsoft Precision touchpad, so Windows 10 multi-touch gestures work as expected. The touch display responds equally and supports the included active pen from Lenovo, which parks and charges in its built-in silo on the back of the case. My only complaint about the pen is its size – it's quite small and doesn't mimic the feel of an ink pen.

A fingerprint reader in the upper right corner of the palm rest provides support for logging in without a Windows 10 Hello password. It worked well and logged me in quickly and efficiently without a lot of errors. The ThinkShutter privacy webcam cover remains a manual affair – you physically slide it over when you want to keep your video to yourself. Compare this to the competing Specter x360 14, whose keyboard has a button that instructs the device to electronically close the shutter.

Battery life

Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 battery lifeMark Coppock / Digital Trends

The Yoga 9i 14 has a battery capacity of 60 watt hours, which is not much for a 14-inch laptop. And as far as I can tell, there is no specific technology like a low-power display that will keep it running for a long time with such limited battery power. How did it take so long during my tests?

First, I ran our web browsing test, which iterated over a number of popular (and complex) websites until the battery ran out. In this test, the Yoga 9i 14 lasted just over 10 hours, which leads the Tiger Lake class. The closest competitor is the Asus ZenBook 14 UX425EA with a Core i7-1165G7 that lasted almost 10 hours. The rest of the field averaged nine hours or less, which gave the Yoga 9i an impressive performance.

This is a 2-in-1 convertible that you can work with for a full day.

Next, I ran our video test going through a Full HD Avengers trailer. Here the Yoga 9i 14 lasted 18.25 hours, which is incredibly impressive for a laptop without a power-saving display. That's hours longer than the other Tiger Lake laptops I tested. The closest is the MSI Prestige 14 Evo with the same CPU (and a low-power display) that managed it to last 16.25 hours.

Finally, I ran two PCMark 10 tests. The first, the Gaming Battery Benchmark, emphasizes that the CPU and GPU must mimic demanding tasks while using the battery. The Yoga 9i 14 lasted a little over two hours, which is roughly the average of all the laptops we tested. The XPS 13 9310 Full HD lasted almost four hours and was much more efficient at balancing CPU and GPU usage against battery life, while the MSI Prestige 14 Evo lasted about 30 minutes less than the Yoga. In the PCMark 10 Applications battery test, which mimics a typical productivity load, the Yoga 9i 14 lasted the longest of all the machines we tested at 14.45 hours. The closest machine was the XPS 13, which took just under 11 hours.

The Yoga 9i 14 makes the most of its 60 watt-hour battery life and exceeds the Evo certification requirements of nine hours of typical use. This is a 2-in-1 convertible that you can work with for a full day.

Our opinion

The Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 Mica version is an excellent 2-in-1 convertible with solid productivity performance, great build quality, and great battery life. The keyboard has been improved over previous iterations, and a hand-held pen is parked in the case.

The only weakness is the 16: 9 display which is suddenly old school compared to the newest machines hitting the market today. Most of these are 16:10 or 3: 2 and have more vertical information, less scrolling, and better productivity. Many people are not (yet) interested in the difference, and so the Yoga 9i 14 still has its place. But his time window is closing.

Are there alternatives?

The HP Specter x360 14 is a great alternative with a 13.5-inch 3: 2 OLED display that significantly improves its suitability for productivity work. It's a little more expensive than the Yoga, depending on the configuration, but it's worth it.

The Dell XPS 13 9310 is also a solid competitor, albeit with a smaller display in the productivity-friendly 16:10 aspect ratio. The XPS 13 is equally well built, offers a superior display, and can be configured with more RAM and storage.

How long it will take?

The Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 is built like a tank and should last just as long. It comes with the latest components and should meet your computing needs for several years. It is subject to industry standards and a one-year warranty that is too short.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The Yoga 9i 14 offers great performance and battery life in a solid and attractive design. However, the 16: 9 display holds it down from its size, and you should seriously consider whether a taller display is better for you before buying it.

Editor's recommendations




22 Jan
Blog

An Overview about Healing Crystals, their purpose and benefits

People have always been attracted to crystals for healing rituals and spiritual development. For thousands of years, wonderful, mysterious and magical healing crystals have been used for protection, healing and as ornament. Ancient people admired crystals and gemstones for their mystical and spiritual strength. Rulers, kings and queens wore amulets and crowns adorned with precious crystals and precious stones. Crystal can strengthen your health, regulate your emotions, and help you achieve spiritual powers and much more with abundance and access. Commonly used in Feng Shui, vastu shastra, space healing, astrology corrections, crystal geodes, and raw natural Himalayan clusters are used. The key instruments for Reiki, crystal healers and astrologers and gemologists are crystals. Crystal quartz does not decay and some claim that because of its amplifying capacity, it acts as a holding system for valuable celestial information. So always try to find a spiritual store for high quality healing crystals.

The advantages of crystals

The proposed therapeutic benefits of crystals relate primarily to regions of mental wellbeing, including feelings of increased calm, positivity, and focus, as well as improved immunity and pain relief.
Individual crystals are also known to have their own unique energies that resonate with different areas of your life, with their shape and color affecting their power and type.

How do I choose your crystals?

In terms of color, dark crystals prefer to focus on protecting an individual in general, with black for protection and brown for cleaning. At the same time, white is the color of purity and green is the hue that must be used to look for peaceful moments. Likewise, it is said that pink stones focus on passion, red on resources, and yellow on wealth and abundance.

Round crystals are often said to help emit energy around them in a similar way, while those with a point directly inward or negative energy from the body lead to positive energy. Find a spiritual store online for the best quality crystals.

People use these stones for several reasons. Here are the most important.

● Healing and body cleansing

It is known that gemstones such as garnet, aquamarine and blood stone have healing properties. It is recommended that these stones build positive energy in your body to heal and fortify it from within. They are also claimed to have cleansing properties for anyone who wears them; They help to remove the harmful energy accumulated in the organism. A few days after wearing a gemstone on your wrist or hanging it on a necklace, you will feel completely different.

● Sustainable use of precious stones

Wearing them as accessories is one of the most convenient and enjoyable ways to use gemstones. Wearing around the neck is preferable. With a gemstone as a necklace, you can radiate good energy in any direction of your body, making your entire aura much easier to improve. Fortunately, these stones are timeless and you will live with them for as long as you want. Any day of the week, you can bring your gemstones to improve your physical and mental health.

● Soothing and astronomical beliefs

Have you ever heard of practicing a gem on a specific area of ​​the body to focus its healing powers on that part of the body? Give it a try if you don't have it. Astrologers believe that by choosing the right gemstone, you can absorb more calming energy from nature. They also claim that wearing stones like sandalwood, pearl, and hematite can get rid of fear and worry.

Where can you buy healing crystals?

For others, crystal healing is an alternative medical procedure that uses crystals and other gemstones to balance an individual's energy. These crystals can affect your mental, physical, emotional and spiritual balance, whether they are under your pillow, on your bedside table or even in your drinking water. Although this has not been confirmed by science, many people assume that the vibrations of the stones communicate favorably with the energy field or chakra of our body.

You'll want to buy one and try it out for yourself if you're curious about the therapeutic benefits of crystal. Who knows, maybe it will help you in these chaotic times. So find a spiritual shop that has all kinds of real healing crystals.

Before selecting a gemstone, it is always a good idea to consult an experienced astronomer. Even if it's just for accessory purposes, you never know when a stone will bring you more luck or wisdom. To get the benefits of a gemstone, keep it in a safe place and maintain it regularly. Some claim that cleaning your gemstones regularly can make them the most powerful. Hence, it is best to stay healthy when dealing with such magical powers.

Increase your vibration with soothing crystals!

Healing crystals are mystical beings that are very much alive. Since the beginning of time there has been a reason people have used them for their healing powers. When used properly and with deep reverence, they will help you live a more balanced and vibrant life. Although they are beautiful to look at, they are also powerful.

Crystal culture has flourished over the past decade; Suppliers who deliver crystals sustainably and who deliberately do not collect these precious gifts from Mother Earth are becoming more and more relevant.

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