04 Jan
Blog

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold Review: Dual-Screen Fever Dream

Lenovo Thinkpad x1 Fold Review Center

  • Innovative design

  • Feels robust

  • Nice OLED screen

  • Very portable

  • Tight keyboard and touchpad

  • Chunky performance

  • Accessories cost extra

This should be the year of the foldable dual screen laptop. With Microsoft Surface Neo in the pipeline and a specially developed version of Windows, we felt we were entering a new era of PC design innovation.

Then happened in 2020. Like many things we have been looking forward to, all of this has either been delayed or canceled entirely. Microsoft itself seems to be bowing out of the running.

Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Fold is still the only laptop that can be brought to market with a flexible screen. It's one of the most unique PCs ever made, and allows for some new experiences that feel really fresh. But is the ThinkPad X1 Fold, as a first-generation product, now with no competitors, too strange to look at by itself?

design

When everything is folded up, the ThinkPad X1 Fold resembles a Folio notebook. With its synthetic leather casing and small footprint, you'd never guess that it could fold into a full PC – including a keyboard and 13.3-inch screen. The professional aesthetic fits right into the ThinkPad X1 line, which was designed for a discerning and modern businessman.

All of the elements of the X1 Fold hold tightly together and it is possibly the most impressive design feature. The screen closes just as well with the keyboard as it does without. This is important because the $ 2499 base model doesn't include it.

You don't have to worry about space either. The ThinkPad X1 Fold is half the size of a standard 13-inch laptop and fits easily in a handbag or small pocket. This is the first perk of a bendable screen laptop that Lenovo uses many of them.

As a problem with many foldable devices, the ThinkPad X1 Fold cannot be as thin as other tablets or laptops when folded. It is 1.09 inches thick, closed and 0.45 inches open. Portability is the main selling point of this device and it weighs only 2.2 pounds. This makes it one of the lightest laptops you can buy.

The real magic, of course, is when you bend the screen back and see the design in all its glory. The X1 fold uses a silicone hinge and many layers of plastic to ensure that the screen can "fold" without damaging the glass. Using leather to cover the unsightly hinge on the back is awesome. The Galaxy Z Fold 2's aluminum hinge looks classy, ​​but the ThinkPad X1 Fold makes you forget it's there itself.

The foldable screen enables a number of different “modes” for using the ThinkPad X1 Fold. The first is like a Windows tablet. You can open it flat and use it as a large screen or, easily folded, as a book. This is probably the mode I have least preferred. Windows just isn't a great platform for app-driven touch-only experiences. A bendable screen won't change that. We'll have to wait for Windows 10X to support a more rugged tablet experience.

The device has a built-in leather stand that lets the screen stand on its own and offers some helpful angles for things like zoom and YouTube. I've found that I don't use it any differently than a Surface Pro or iPad, except that the ThinkPad X1 Fold can be folded in half. The kickstand still feels a bit weak, however, and the 720p webcam above isn't as good as the 1080p options found on many tablets.

All in all, Windows software limitations would be a deal killer if only tablet use were good for the ThinkPad X1 Fold. There's even more to the story thanks to the innovative keyboard implementation.

Keyboard, touchpad and pen

The keyboard is important in making the ThinkPad X1 Fold a working product. The implementation itself is pretty clever. First, it can be magnetized to fit in the bottom half of the foldable screen, mimicking a mini laptop. The magnets feel strong enough to hold the keyboard in place but loose enough to be easily removed. With just half a 13-inch screen, it comes as close to a netbook as any laptop that hit the market in the past 10 years.

The wireless keyboard connects easily via bluetooth and charges the keyboard while it is at the top of the screen. Once the keyboard is in place, the system will automatically darken half of the lower screen and resize the screen to the upper half. It's a pretty fluid transition, switching between the different modes and orientations. Lenovo also created a manual mode switch in Windows. However, if everything is working correctly, you shouldn't have to use it.

The keyboard layout is downright strange.

When developing the keyboard, it was clear that Lenovo was careful to keep the QWERTY distance known. My hands, of course, fell right on the size and shape of the keycaps, as opposed to some smaller layouts like the Surface Go 2 Type Cover. I am happy for that. The layout, however, has a major tradeoff.

For example, your right little finger lands on the Enter key instead of the semicolon. The colon, semicolon, apostrophe, and quotation mark are blocked by the P key, which requires many keystrokes. It took some getting used to, and I would have preferred a shortened Enter key instead. It is similar with the hyphen and the plus keys.

The biggest culprit is the question mark key. It no longer has its own key, which is very inconvenient and difficult to get used to. Again, I'd be happier with a shorter shift key.

Beyond the layout, the keyboard is surprisingly easy to type. The trip is very flat but it's about what I would expect from a device like this. After all, keeping it as thin as possible is of the utmost importance. It feels a bit thick to type as a laptop because the palm rests are almost non-existent. This also means that the touchpad is very small. That is unfortunate. It's going well enough, but it feels tight.

Fortunately, once you pull the keyboard away from the screen, the device thickness problem is resolved. This is my preferred way of using the ThinkPad X1 Fold. With the screen fully open and supported by the stand, you can sit back with the keyboard and use it however you want. This is an attitude that even the Surface Pro cannot replicate. I found it ideal for getting work done thanks to the 4: 3 13-inch screen.

Of course, you'll still face the limitations of the keyboard, but the freedom of movement is excellent. If only the ThinkPad X1 Fold could act as a secondary monitor! You can of course use one of the USB-C ports to connect to an external display while the other is used for charging.

The second problem with both the keyboard and the pen, however, is that none of them are included. As with other Windows 2-in-1 devices, I would be very disappointed if I only bought the ThinkPad X1 Fold without a keyboard. This is a bummer, especially when the keyboard feels like such an essential aspect of the device.

Adding both peripherals costs an additional $ 250. This is more than what Microsoft charges for the Surface Pen and Type Cover.

Display and speaker

The foldable OLED display is the star of the show. It's a 13.3-inch screen with a resolution of 2048 x 1536. This is an aspect ratio of 4: 3 and makes the screen so different from your standard 16: 9 or 16:10 laptop. The square shape makes for a better tablet and a wonderfully large work area. Lots of space to distribute apps and display the entire length of the web pages.

The screen has a pleasantly warm tint and the color accuracy is not the strength of this laptop. Thanks to the performance limitations, you shouldn't be doing much beyond basic photo editing here anyway. With the large color spaces (100% sRGB and 97% AdobeRGB) and the striking contrast of the OLED, the ThinkPad X1 Fold is a great device for watching videos and films on the go.

The folding aspect of the screen cannot be pulled off as seamlessly as on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2. In contrast to the single fold of this device, the ThinkPad X1 Fold has a double fold. This is especially noticeable when the brightness is lowered or when the touchscreen is used, similar to the Motorola Razr folding phone in this regard. Lenovo has got off to a good start with this technology, but the creases and the obvious layer of plastic on the screen feel a little cheap under your fingers. Samsung's implementation still feels higher quality. The ribs along the ThinkPad X1 Fold's bezels along the hinge don't help, and are highlighted by some of the thickest bezels you'll ever find on a product released in 2020.

But none of that takes away the cool factor of the ThinkPad X1 Fold. It feels futuristic every time you unfold this screen and it is sure to delight your friends. Do I wish Lenovo had cut off some fat and cleaned up the bezels? Sure. If we ever get a second generation of this, there is certainly room for improvement.

The speakers suck. They're labeled Dolby Atmos, but that doesn't mean much these days.

Many tablets have fantastic audio, like the iPad or the Pixel Slate. These benefit from the fact that the speakers are located at the front next to the display. The ThinkPad X1 Fold's speakers are on the sides, which is not ideal. In addition, they sound terribly thin. Unfortunately, you get richer audio with an iPhone.

performance

The ThinkPad X1 Fold is unique beyond its form factor. The processor inside is also an experiment. It is one of the first devices to run on Intel Lakefield chips. These are hybrid processors that combine elements from the mobile and desktop architecture. One “big” core for laptop-like performance and five “small” cores for tablet-like efficiency. The ThinkPad X1 Fold manages that, but in the end it feels more like a low-performance laptop.

Using PCMark 10 as a benchmark, the ThinkPad X1 Fold is about 25% slower than a standard laptop for basic tasks such as surfing the Internet and word processing. This has been tested on laptops like the HP Specter x360 and the Dell XPS 13, which are your standard class of Intel U-series Ultrabooks.

In Geekbench 5, it even loses to Core m3 laptops like Microsoft Surface Go 2 or Windows to ARM laptops like Lenovo Flex 5G. This applies to both single-core and multi-core processing. For a device valued at $ 2,499, that's not too promising.

The chunky performance was definitely felt when I used the ThinkPad X1 Fold for my daily work with web apps, multitasking, and productivity. Heavier tasks like 3D gaming or content creation are not allowed as this Lakefield chip does not benefit from Intel's improved Iris Xe graphics in 11th generation Tiger Lake.

The performance limitations seem reasonable when using the X1 Fold as a netbook or simple tablet. You probably don't want to do more than one task at a time with such a small screen. But when I was working with the keyboard unfolded, I wanted a faster processor.

My test unit came with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage, though you can upgrade that to 1TB for a whopping $ 3,099.

Battery life

The ThinkPad X1 Fold does not have a long battery life. Thanks to Android tablets and iPads, I always expect devices like the X1 Fold to have long-lasting batteries. You always disappoint.

It pales in comparison to an iPad, but also an average laptop. The ThinkPad X1 Fold lasted six hours and 13 minutes on a single charge when surfing the Internet very lightly – but with a full display and no keyboard. Get an hour and a half more in laptop mode. That's better, but still not quite as good as similar laptops or tablets.

The X1 Fold is used for a maximum of nine hours, which the device lasted for local video playback.

Our opinion

The ThinkPad X1 Fold is the kind of laptop I want to love. There were moments while using the device that I experienced the spark of innovation that makes it so unique. It remains one of the most exciting PCs to hit in 2020.

But between these exciting experiences lie moments of frustration, confusion and disappointment. Too many to make this one that can be recommended to everyone except the most adventurous early adopters.

Are there alternatives?

The ThinkPad X1 Fold is the first of its kind. However, the experience of using it is most similar to a 2-in-1 device like the Surface Pro 7, Surface Go, or even an iPad Pro. The ThinkPad X1 Fold is by far the most expensive of these devices – and the slowest.

But once you include its foldable screen, it stands alone. On the smartphone side, however, devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 or Motorola Razr could cause the same pliable screen scratch.

How long it will take?

Durability is an open question about the ThinkPad X1 Fold and not one that I can currently answer. You open and close it much less than on a smartphone, that's for sure. For what it's worth, the hinge feels sturdy enough for years to come.

The bigger problem is performance and software. The X1 Fold already feels chunky and that won't improve over time. With Microsoft's lighter Windows 10X operating system coming out next year, you might want to too

Should you buy it?

No. It's expensive, first-generation hardware that doesn't have the software support to be successful.

Editor's recommendations




03 Jan
Blog

Hemp Cigarettes: Will They Give You Cancer?

There is a lot of talk about the dangers of tobacco and how it can cause various forms of cancer. Aside from the carcinogenic nature of the tobacco plant, there are many additives involved, and many of them are not too friendly. That could be why virtually every smoker you meet is "trying to quit". The key word here is "try" as many of them are unsuccessful.

We already know that hemp is not as addicting as tobacco. We're still talking about smoke inhalation here, however, and some have claimed that cannabis is also carcinogenic. Are these claims true? Are hemp cigarettes really a safer alternative to cigarettes? Let's do some research.

Question 1: is hemp carcinogenic?

The term "carcinogenic" is just a fancy way of describing substances that are known to cause cancer. As you have probably noticed, there are many of them in the world. To find out whether they are actually safer than tobacco cigarettes, we need to ask ourselves the following question: is hemp a carcinogen? Because if so, it would eliminate one of its main advantages over tobacco.

We found a pretty good study that looked at this in depth. After testing the smoke from hemp and tobacco cigarettes, these researchers found that hemp is nowhere near as dangerous as tobacco. Although both technically contain carcinogens (just smoke, by the way), the tobacco had a lot more. This explains why we have never heard of a cancer case directly caused by cannabis.

Here's another important point: the tobacco tended to work with the carcinogens present in smoke, while the hemp worked against them. Basically, the cannabinoids inhibit the action of the enzymes that are necessary for these carcinogens to be absorbed by the body. So we can see that hemp could actually be an anti-carcinogen. The only carcinogenic aspect of hemp smoking is the carbon monoxide contained in the smoke itself.

Question 2: does hemp have cancer-fighting properties?

This study, Mr. Hanfblume examines, is very interesting because it shows us how cannabis can actually act as a carcinogen. Based on what we've seen so far, it appears that the nature of the plant and its constituents is capable of canceling out the carcinogenic effects of smoke itself. The question is how far can we go with this conclusion? Let's see if we can find hard evidence that hemp has cancer-fighting properties.

First, everyone knows that hemp and its relatives / derivatives are used in the treatment of cancer patients. However, it should be noted that it is not a direct treatment. Rather, it is a measure against nausea that combats the side effects of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy patients often experience chronic nausea, which makes it difficult for them to eat enough. Since cannabis is both an anti-nausea drug and an appetite stimulant, it is a natural choice. However, this is not an indication of a direct carcinogenic effect.

For this kind of evidence we have to turn to some clinical studies like this one. These researchers used slightly modified forms of cannabis on cancer cells while reviewing the work of others on the same topic. The important point is this: They showed that cannabis can actually kill or inhibit the growth of cancer cells. The researchers said they were quite surprised at the sensitivity they saw, suggesting that hemp can effectively kill cancer cells.

Here is another interesting point from this research. They tested different variations of cannabis, including some that were CBD dominant and some that were THC dominant. Obviously, legal hemp smoking is much more similar to the former. THC-dominant cannabis is still illegal in most states. However, our study found that CBD-dominant strains were more effective at inhibiting cancer growth without negative side effects. Many common cancer treatments also kill healthy white blood cells and / or healthy bone marrow cells. As a result, cancer patients often look thin and emaciated. However, hemp doesn't have this problem.

Has anyone ever got cancer from cannabis?

This, of course, is the million dollar question. To find out if this is possible, we need to find out if it ever happened. We're not aware of such cases, but we'll do a bit of digging to be sure. This article had a nice rundown of the evidence, so it was a good start.

It seems that there is some debate among scholars on this issue. It is true that hemp smoke contains some of the same carcinogens that are found in tobacco. That being said, we can't find a specific case where someone actually got lung cancer from smoking weeds (hemp, marijuana, or any other way). We also find it very telling that scientists cannot agree on this matter. If there was a clear link between cannabis and cancer, no debate would be required.

Conclusion

To answer the question asked in the title, it is extremely unlikely that hemp cigarettes will cause cancer. In fact, we would say the chance is slim to none. There are probably 10-20 other things in your daily environment that could cause you cancer long before hemp. The carcinogens in the smoke itself counteract the carcinogenic nature of the plant. So you don't have to worry or be paranoid.

03 Jan
Blog

Eufy RoboVac G30 Review: Won’t Break the Bank

Eufy robot on the floor

Eufy RoboVac G30 Hybrid Review: This robotic vacuum cleaner isn't going to break the bank

"This is a cute little robotic vacuum cleaner that you can use to keep your home clean without cleaning your wallet first."

  • App informs you when parts need to be serviced

  • Manual remote control for easy cleaning

  • Very comprehensive app

  • Inexpensive for a 2-in-1

  • Questionable brush durability

  • The wiping is a little weak

Finding a good robot vacuum is not difficult. It's harder to find a good one that won't break the bank. Eufy is trying to solve this second problem with its RoboVac G30 Hybrid. I have been testing this robot vacuum for two weeks and am very impressed with what the vacuum offers. It has good suction, a very comprehensive app and talks to you.

The $ 379 Eufy RoboVac G30 Hybrid, which our daughter named "Mando" because it looks a bit like Mandalorian armor, definitely does the job as efficiently as possible. This is demonstrated by the exact back and forth pattern it follows across the floor. I can appreciate this simplicity. The Bissell Spinwave follows its own algorithms that defy logic. Not this one.

Set everything up

The Eufy Spin brush may not last long

The setup is similar to most robot vacuum cleaners. Find a place free of obstacles, put down the charging mat and lock the charging stand. As with other robotic vacuum cleaners, you should leave plenty of space on both sides. I didn't and like other vacuum cleaners it worked just fine. The vacuum cleaner can clean my 172 square foot family room / office in about 34 minutes.

On the bottom is a single three-pronged spin brush that sweeps dirt into the path of the vacuum. Due to my two weeks of use, I am concerned about the longevity of the spin brush. My office has low-pile carpets and the brush looks a bit disturbed. The Eufy Home app, which we will get into in more detail later, has a useful feature that reminds you when to clean or replace various components. According to the app, I have to replace my side brush within 247 hours. I am not optimistic that it will take that long.

The vacuum hardware itself is very attractive and unobtrusive. The top is made of very shiny plastic with a neat pinstripe pattern. At just 2.85 inches high, the vacuum fits easily under my couch and the step plates in my kitchen. There is a single sided sweeper on the right and a trash can on the back. The vacuum cleaner also includes an attachable mop accessory that falls under the garbage can.

Wiping is too short

The wiping function is just fine. The attachment under the garbage can doesn't have much space for water, but it covered my kitchen well. In contrast to the Bissell Spinwave, however, the mop head does not move and does not move. It just pulls itself behind the vacuum. The mop is also designed for water only, which is similar to most robotic vacuum cleaners, but again different from the Spinwave, which actually comes with wiping agent in the box. The smaller mop head keeps the original trash can in place. So if you have a dusty, dirty floor, you can run the vacuum as usual and pick up the same amount of dirt. But honestly, I probably won't be using the mopping function anymore because you need more than just water on a high-traffic floor like a kitchen.

This is a good, solid vacuum cleaner that will clean your floors and carpets well.

The vacuum also comes with magnetic strips that you can use to block areas where you don't want the robot to travel. That's not really ideal. My office is carpeted and I really don't want to put tape over the carpet. In general, putting tape on the floor to cordon off certain areas is a thorn in the side. I prefer to put a board over the threshold to my son's room as I can just slide it away later.

The vacuum has a speaker and gives verval warnings and status updates which is very nice. Some vacuums use a series of beeps to alert you to problems. A vacuum speaking to you removes any doubts about what is wrong. It's a nice touch.

software

The app for the vacuum is just as nice. Since I mentioned above, I'll start with the fact that the app will notify you when it's time to swap out components or order new parts. In addition to the side brush, you will be informed about the roller brush, the filter, the sensors and the rubber strip. That is a core function. Robotic vacuums run on their own, so it's harder to tell when something isn't working as it should. In all honesty, all robotic vacuums should have this built into their apps.

You can also schedule cleans, adjust the suction and voice settings, and even use your phone as a remote control to get the vacuum where you want it. It can also do spot cleaning and show you the layout that the vacuum created for itself. This isn't particularly useful data, but it's fun to look at.

Our opinion

This is a really solid buy at $ 379. It's one of the cheapest robotic vacuums out there, and it has a wide variety of features that are usually offered at higher prices. The vacuum cleaner does a good job on my office carpet and a slightly better job on the tile floor of my kitchen. Overall, I have no complaints about how it does its job. I just want a better option for locking certain areas.

Is there a better alternative?

A better alternative is hard to imagine at this price. High-quality models of robotic vacuum cleaners such as the Roomba s9 + have self-emptying trash cans. For a little extra cash, you can opt for something like the Roborock S5, which also comes with wiping accessories and has more advanced sensors.

Will it take?

The build-up of the total vacuum is fixed. I ask the app's estimate of how long the side brushes will last, but that's about the only question mark I have when it comes to durability. Side brushes are $ 10 for a pack of 4, so I'm not too worried about that. Eufy robotic vacuum cleaners come with a 12-month guarantee and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Should I buy it?

Yes. This is a good solid vacuum cleaner that will clean your floors and carpets well. I like the voice and remote capabilities, and maintenance reminders in the app are perfect for me. Now all we need is one in green so we can call it Grogu.

Editor's recommendations




03 Jan
Blog

5 Male Skincare Secrets that Models Rarely Reveal

If you've ever wondered how male models seem to have perfect skin without blemishes, you know that like women, they also follow careful skin care regimen. Products for men are specially designed for their specific skin type and pH level. Thanks to testosterone, male skin is at least 20% thicker and contains more collagen, which gives it a firmer texture. Because men have more sebum glands, their skin is less likely to dry out and wrinkle. On the other hand, regular shaving and sun exposure take a toll. Here are some of the secret male skin care tips that you want to know about.

1. Careful cleaning routine

Exposure to harsh UV rays and chemicals in makeup can damage even the toughest of skins. The ideal male skin care routine would include cleansing and exfoliating to remove dead skin cells and the build-up of dirt and pollutants. While having more sebum glands is great, you are more likely to develop acne. The best way to prevent bacteria from breaking out is to carefully cleanse them and let your pores breathe. Simple scrubs with sea salt or sugar crystals mixed with lather are good choices.

2. Nourishing face masks

Clay masks are exactly what you need to deal with excessive oils. Clay absorbs oil and leaves the skin clean. However, you will also want to receive masks that will nourish the skin cells. Use a CBD face mask with CBD oil and hemp seed oil. These oils are excellent antioxidants that help prevent cell damage and soothe irritated skin. Redness and rashes are common after shaving too thoroughly or using blunt razor blades. That's why you'll want to choose shaving creams that are fragrance-free, which can cause inflammation.

3. Beard management

While growing a beard or mustache, or wearing a stubble looks sexy, the excess hair can cause skin irritation, ingrown hairs, and beard flakes. Tiny bumps and rashes under the skin look unsightly and can be painful. Wash and moisturize your skin regularly, and watch out for small stubble that can grow inward and irritate your skin.

4. Regular hydration

Invest in a good moisturizer that suits your skin type and nourishes it from the inside out. If you are unsure which brand to buy, consult a good dermatologist for products that promote skin rejuvenation and collagen regeneration. Your skin needs every care to keep it looking youthful. A good moisturizer is an essential part of any gym bag.

5. Take care of your body

Your skin reflects the overall health of your body and it doesn't matter how many lotions you put on it. A well-trained body always has firmer skin. A gym is essential and doesn't have to be the fanciest place, but you do need to go there regularly. It doesn't matter if it's Planet Fitness, 24-Hour Fitness, or Anytime Fitness. All that matters is that you get to work. Find Anytime Fitness prices or Planet Fitness near you and log in anywhere to make sure you get regular exercise to keep blood flowing. Drink plenty of water for dehydration and eat more fruits and vegetables that act as antioxidants. Also, remember to get eight hours of sleep every night, which is vital for skin repair.

Try these secret tips and you are sure to get great looking skin modeling sports.

03 Jan
Blog

RHA TrueControl ANC Review: Fit For Every Ear

RHA TrueControl ANC real wireless earbuds

"Great sound and unique shape are held back by a low battery and a high price."

  • Full, rich sound

  • Responsive, customizable controls

  • Ergonomic design

  • Tons of earplugs included

  • Expensive

  • Mediocre call quality

  • Bad battery life

At the top end of the true wireless earbuds category, you can find some standout products like the Sennheiser Momentum 2 True Wireless, the Master and Dynamic MW07 Plus, and the Bose QuietComfort earbuds. If a company wants a seat at this table, it has to bring its A-Game with it.

That's what RHA is aiming for for the new $ 300 TrueControl ANC, a line of noise-canceling earbuds that defy conventional thinking in their shape, touch controls, and charging case. But are these innovations enough to earn our recommendation's TrueControl? Let's look at them.

What's in the box?

RHA TrueControl ANC real wireless earbudsSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

With the exception of a few very small plastic stickers, the packaging of the TrueControl is made from 100% recyclable paper and cardboard, which I think is very commendable.

In the packaging, the TrueControl ANC earphones are already in the charging case, a USB-C charging cable and 10 pairs of earplugs, three of which are made of memory foam and were manufactured by Comply.

design

RHA TrueControl ANC real wireless earbudsSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Typically, true wireless earbuds are built so that you insert the tip into your ear canal and then twist the earbud back and forth until you find the magical combination of comfort, safety, and sealing. The RHA TrueControl ANC takes a different approach. The earphones are made of a non-slip, matt black plastic and are asymmetrically shaped and contoured so that they can only be inserted directly into the ear.

The touch controls are some of the best I've tried.

Once seated, this shape prevents any twisting or turning. It's a bit of a risky design decision considering how differently everyone's ears are shaped, but RHA believes they were designed to "fit right in the ear". Although they stick out a bit from your ears, they're no bulkier than the Sennheiser and significantly less bulky than the Bose QuietComfort earbuds.

The touch controls also deviate from the norm. They look like physical buttons, but are actually tiny gesture-based touchpads that can be swiped or tapped.

The charging case is identical to the RHA used for the TrueConnect and TrueConnect 2 earbuds – a stunning and unique rotating barrel with a black aluminum frame – but this time with wireless charging. A tiny indicator with three LED battery life indicators on the barrel lights up when you open the case. Unfortunately, the unusual choice of design and materials makes the case large and heavy – it weighs 3.8 ounces with the earbuds, down from just 2 ounces for the Jabra Elite 85t.

The edges of the aluminum frame can scratch other items if you don't know exactly where to stow it. Another unique feature of the case design is that the earbuds are swapped out when you open them with the plastic case facing up (this is the only option if you want them to lie flat on a surface). The left is on the right and vice versa.

If they're new in the box, take a good look at the earbuds and case. It's probably the last time you'll see them without their fingerprints. The slightly rubberized matt plastic is an absolute magnet for fingerprints.

The earbuds are easy to remove and replace and are held in their charging sockets by strong, but not overly strong, magnets.

Comfort and control

RHA TrueControl ANC real wireless earbudsSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Due to their unusual shape, the TrueControl ANC have a large contact area. This means that they likely feel like they “fill” your ear more than other earbuds like Apple's AirPods Pro, which have a much smaller profile. Once you get used to it, it's surprisingly convenient. It's also very safe, so you no longer have to rely on ear fins or other support structures like those found on the Bose QuietComfort earbuds.

RHA's inclusion of a wide variety of earbud sizes and types is a big reason I was able to find a good fit, and this should be the industry standard. After using the standard silicone earbuds for a few hours, I eventually swapped them out for the largest size of Comply foam tips, which I think offer even more comfort and much better sound quality (more on this below).

I can't tell you with 100% certainty that the TrueControls will suit you, but given the number of tips to choose from, your chances are far better than if RHA had simply offered the same three sizes as the vast majority of real wireless earbuds. Yes, a few extra tips that you probably never will use are a little wasteful, but better than returning the earbuds as you can't get them to fit.

The touch controls are some of the best I've tried, probably because – unlike other so called touch controls – they use a capacitive touch surface rather than a motion sensor to detect when you're using them. Not only does this make it easier for custom typing (since you don't have to worry about how hard you hit them), it also enables TrueControl's swipe-based gestures.

Skipping forward a track will swipe the left earbud forward, and skipping backward will intuitively swipe backward. The volume is adjusted using the same procedure, but using the correct earbud.

Once you find the earplugs that give you a good seal, the TrueControl ANC sounds really great.

Not sure if you like the swipe control method? The RHA app lets you customize them and select swipe or tap gestures for volume, track skipping and ANC mode, as well as the earbud used to perform these tasks.

The infrared wear sensors are also very good at detecting when you've removed an earbud, pausing the music quickly and restarting it when you put the bud back in.

Sound quality

RHA TrueControl ANC real wireless earbudsRHA

Once you find the earplugs that give you a good seal (another reason I love that RHA has so many in it), the TrueControl ANC sounds very good. Using the factory EQ provides a very satisfactory frequency balance with plenty of warm low-end bass, detailed mids, and crisp highs. With the RHA app you can adjust these settings with four additional presets. However, there is no way to create your own settings. This is a surprising omission given that this feature is standard on so many other high-end models (and even some budget-friendly ones). .

Voices, more than music, can be drowned out by vehicles, and TrueControl has practically kept those interruptions at bay.

The stereo imaging is well rendered and I particularly like the resonant and authoritative feel of the bass response. But as good as they sound – and I think most people will enjoy them a lot – I don't think they do as well as some of their direct competitors. The $ 230 Jabra Elite 85t and $ 230 Sony WF-1000XM3 both offer a wider soundstage and overall greater clarity, especially for vocals. To be clear, there isn't much of a difference and you would have to listen to the same tracks over and over and switch between those models to find out the intricacies.

If you're an Android user, you'll also benefit from the aptX Bluetooth codec which, under the right circumstances, offers better audio quality than SBC or AAC, although that difference is negligible when streaming from very high quality sources like Tidal and HiFi.

Noise cancellation

The RHA TrueControl ANC can compensate for external noises very well. One of my favorite torture tests is wandering busy streets listening to podcasts. Voices can be drowned out more easily by overtaking vehicles than by music, and TrueControl has easily kept those interruptions at bay. When seated in an environment with persistent noise like a loud fan or vacuum cleaner, they don't display the amazing silent cone effect that the AirPods Pro offer, but I have yet to come across another set of ANC buds that can. High frequency sounds can still prevail, but low frequencies are canceled very effectively.

Oddly enough, the TrueControl does such a good job of passive noise isolation (especially when it comes with the Comply foam tips) that you might not need an ANC. However, you will feel the need for ambient mode which runs very well. This can be turned on as always, or just briefly selected for Quick Surround mode by tapping and holding the left earbud. You can adjust how much sound gets into the RHA app.

Battery life

RHA TrueControl ANC real wireless earbudsSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

ANC appears to be a serious problem for the battery life of true wireless earbuds. RHA's non-ANC TrueConnect 2 offers excellent playback of 9.5 hours and a total lifespan of 44 hours with the included housing, but the TrueControl barely does what I want for the minimum of endurance with just five hours per charge and a total of 20 hours keep up with the fall. RHA does not say how long they last if you turn ANC off.

For comparison: the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 receives seven hours per charge and a total of 28 hours with the charging case.

In this price range, only the Bose QuietComfort earphones achieve poorer performance with six hours per charge and only 18 hours of total playtime.

A 14 minute quick charge will give you an extra hour of life, which is roughly average.

Call quality

Call quality on the TrueControl ANC is good, but not great. Callers could hear me with acceptable clarity, but background noise – even moderately loud – tended to be annoying. When call quality is paramount, the Bose QuietComfort earbuds are a much better choice.

Oddly enough, I couldn't get the microphones on the TrueControl to work with voice recording apps on iOS or Android.

Our opinion

A solid set of features coupled with great sound quality and good ANC make the RHA TrueControl ANC a great set of noise canceling earbuds, but their unusual shape and high price tag might keep them out of the running for some people.

Is there a better alternative?

Because the TrueControl ANC is priced at $ 300, many of the best noise-canceling models make great alternatives, especially if price, battery life, and call quality are your primary concerns. This includes the $ 230 Jabra Elite 85t$ 230 Sony WF-1000XM3$ 280 Bose QuietComfort earphonesand if you're an iPhone user that's $ 249 AirPods Pro.

How long will they last?

The RHA TrueControl ANC and its charging case are built super solidly and I expect them to last for many years. RHA grants a three-year guarantee on them, which is by far the longest factory guarantee in the industry. With an IPX4 rating for water resistance, they should be able to handle moderate sweat with ease.

Should you buy it?

Yes. While the TrueControl ANC is expensive compared to the competition, it sounds great, offers a very secure and tight fit, and does a good job of canceling noise.

Editor's recommendations




03 Jan
Blog

What to Know Before Getting a Medical Marijuana Card

Cannabis is often surrounded by stigma, which makes people reluctant to use medical marijuana. Some people may have grown up when its use was strongly discouraged; others may remember the war on drugs. Today, however, things have changed and more and more patients are considering the use of medical marijuana.

What exactly is a card?

More than half of the states have medical marijuana programs, and some of these areas allow recreational use. Some programs are similar, but more lenient regulations may apply in certain areas. Medical marijuana cards are state-issued IDs that show that you have received a rating that has qualified you for the use of medical cannabis. Once you have a card, you can legally buy pharmacy products for the condition. Others who do not have valid cards may not be able to enter medical marijuana dispensaries.

The eligibility requirements depend on your state. For example, many states with medical marijuana programs give cards to patients with serious medical conditions such as terminal diseases. Some states have lists of qualification requirements. Even if you don't already have one on the list, you might be able to get a card. In many areas, doctors can decide whether someone can benefit from cannabis.

Often times, if you're wondering how to get a medical marijuana card in Ohio, getting it isn't difficult. You can apply for your card online in just 15 minutes and the process is quick and easy. You only pay if you've been approved and don't need to make an appointment. Regardless of where you live, you will need to provide proof of residence. This could include a driver's license or some other form of government issued ID card. Once you get the card, you can only use it in the state you live in. Whenever you travel, your best bet is to check the regulations in the region you are visiting.

Free time vs. medicine

Government regulations determine whether medicinal cannabis is cheaper than recreational use. However, patients often find that medical cannabis is cheaper because there are usually not that many taxes. You also need to check the quality of the product. Medical pharmacies test the herb for contaminants, unlike the illegal market. For example, let's say your state isn't legalized for leisure and you want to use it for a chronic condition. In this case, it is best to get a card. That way, you may not have to rely so much on potentially addicting opioid drugs. Buying your product from a pharmacy is the best option as you will know the exposure and THC level that you will be receiving. They may be better suited to treating medical conditions.

Don't forget to renew

Many people believe that after receiving their health card they no longer have to worry about getting a new one. But that's not true. Many states require you to renew it once a year, so you will need to reapply. Don't wait for the card to expire before renewing it. Otherwise, you risk losing the benefits.

03 Jan
Blog

Apple MacBook Air M1 Review: Fast, Fanless, and Fantastic

Macbook Air M1

"The MacBook Air M1 finally delivers on the promise of a small laptop with no performance restrictions."

  • Apple's M1 blows Intel around

  • Phenomenal battery life

  • Excellent keyboard and touchpad

  • Very solid build quality

  • Just good looking

  • Supports an external display only

Apple was never afraid to break with the past, even if the transition might be painful. For example, when it found the floppy disk was out of date, it dropped it and went all-in USB. The same thing happened with Motorola CPUs, which were dropped for Intel when the PowerPC could no longer keep up. Now it's that time again, this time the MacBook Air, the MacBook Pro 13 and the Mac mini will be equipped with their own ARM-based silicon and Intel will be left behind.

For some MacBook fans, this could be a scary proposition because how well could the Apple M1 work if ARM's only showcase to date has been the very overwhelming initiative of Windows 10 on ARM? If you've read our MacBook Pro 13 M1 review, you already know the answer to that question. At least on this machine there is nothing to be afraid of. I put the MacBook Air M1 through its paces to see if the fanless version of Apple's initiative works too.

For this review, I got the entry-level MacBook Air M1 for $ 1,000 with just 8GB of RAM, a 256GB solid-state drive, and a 7-core GPU. There's another version that gives you 512GB of storage and an 8-core GPU for $ 1,250. My experience didn't even include the maximum 16GB of RAM that can be configured for a few hundred more dollars. Was I disappointed or did Apple pull a rabbit out of my hat?

performance

OK, I know it's not fair to imply that the Apple M1 is doing some kind of magic trick. After all, it is an eight-core CPU with four high-performance cores and four more that come into play for smaller tasks and a sip of electricity. It's just that it's an ARM-based technology that has pushed Intel's core CPUs into the background in terms of perceived performance for some time now. If the MacBook Air performs well, it's no magic. Rather, it is an impressive new technology that promises wonderful things to the MacBook range.

Macbook Air M1Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

There's no reason to keep you going: the MacBook Air M1 surprised me in a good way with its performance. And that's not just a comparison with the current Intel MacBook Air, which uses a 9-watt version of the Intel Core i3 and i5 CPUs that lag behind their 15-watt Windows 10 equivalents. No, the MacBook Air with the 10-watt Apple M1 is using the latest 12 to 28-watt Tiger Lake processors from Intel (this time, Intel gives a range rather than a static value) and in many cases gives them a good old value-fashionable beating.

Before we get into the numbers, let's get something straight. The Apple M1-based computers run the fastest with software written for the M1 architecture. This makes sense and includes all of Apple's software plus a few other applications and utilities. If it wasn't written for the M1, it runs through Apple's Rosetta 2 emulation layer. That means, of course, that it won't be as fast as native software. And sometimes, especially with software that requires hardware drivers, an application may not run at all.

Take Geekbench 5, for example, which runs natively on the M1. The fanless MacBook Air M1 performed slightly better than the fan-filled MacBook Pro 13 M1. We're talking 1,727 versus 1,707 in single-core mode and 7,585 versus 7,337 in multi-core mode, but it's still noteworthy that the less expensive and theoretically slower MacBook Air M1 was faster than the Pro. And with their four cores and eight threads, both machines achieved a significantly higher score than the currently fastest Tiger Lake laptops. The MSI Prestige 14 Evo, for example, has the fastest Tiger Lake CPU you can buy, the Core i7-1185G7, scoring just 1,593 and 5,904 points, respectively. Even the 45 watt Core i7-10850H with six cores in the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 couldn't keep up with the M1 and only managed 1,299 and 6,372.

Worried Apple would force you to give up performance on its transition? Do not be so.

Next, let's look at Cinebench R23, another benchmark app written for the M1. Here the MacBook Air M1 couldn't beat the MacBook Pro 13 M1, but it was in close proximity. And it came almost close to the Lenovo Yoga 9i with its 6-core Core i7-10750H in high-performance mode that cranks up the fans. Notably, the MacBook Air M1 was completely silent (no fans, duh) and barely got warm – I was able to comfortably hold it on my lap while it ran the test. I said before that it wasn't magic, but maybe I'm wrong.

I also did our handbrake test which encodes a 420MB file in two iterations in H.265. The first used Handbrake 1.3.1 which runs in emulation mode and the second used Handbrake 1.4.0 Beta which was written for the M1. In the first case, the MacBook Air M1 took about 4.5 minutes to complete the test. This is roughly the time it would take for laptops with the 10th generation Intel Core i5. In the latter case, the MacBook Air M1 completed the test in 2.8 minutes. This is comparable to 45-watt Intel laptops with six cores and Handbrake 1.3.1 and just eight seconds behind the MacBook Pro 13 M1 with the native version. Again, the laptop barely warmed up. These results provide an insight into the effects of a native on the M1 on an application.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I ran some other tests in Adobe Premiere Pro (which is not yet optimized for the M1) using the PugetBench benchmark. MacBooks have been the go-to choice for many creatives in the past, but this has never been the game of the MacBook Air. Due to severe performance limitations on the Intel version, running one of Adobe's Creative Suites was a challenge. But the M1 changes all of that, even with the $ 999 MacBook Air.

The MacBook Air M1 competed heavily with the more powerful CPUs from Intel and made mince of the Tiger Lake laptops from Intel. I also ran a Premiere Pro encoding test that produced a 2GB 4K video and the MacBook Air M1 running in emulation was about 40 seconds faster than a Tiger Lake laptop.

Most impressive was that this level of performance ran through the emulation. Imagine how quickly Premiere Pro (and Photoshop, Lightroom, etc) will work if it's native in the M1. Getting that kind of performance on a laptop this thin, light, and fanless is a transforming moment for creative professionals who might want to carry around a smaller machine but don't want to compromise on performance. For the first time ever, you can get some serious creative work on a MacBook Air – and that's a big deal.

In practice, I've noticed some minor slowdowns in legacy applications like Microsoft Office (Microsoft released native versions right after the test report finished). This is especially true for the start: Office apps are only faster on Intel computers than on the MacBook Air M1. But the difference isn't so big that it bothered me, and if I didn't check the laptop, I probably wouldn't even notice. Of course, Mac OS itself and every application optimized for the M1 was incredibly fast.

What about games? I didn't run all of the gaming tests on the MacBook Air M1. This is supposed to be a productivity laptop, not a slot machine, after all. Fortnite ran at around 33 frames per second (fps), however, with a resolution of 1,680 x 1,050 and high graphics that are playable and faster than the Intel Iris Xe graphics from Tiger Lake. In Civilization VI, the MacBook Air achieved 51 fps with the same resolution and medium graphics and sank to 32 fps with ultra graphics. Again, this outperforms Intel Iris Xe laptops and competes with integrated low-end graphics such as the Nvidia GeForce MX350.

This completely silent, fanless laptop is a better slot machine than the equivalent Intel laptops, which you would never have expected from a MacBook Air. Note that I tested the seven-core GPU model. For $ 250 more, you can get an eight-core GPU model that will be … well … one core faster. This version also includes 512 GB of storage space.

Macbook Air M1Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Finally, I mentioned that not all applications will run on the MacBook Air M1, although I don't have many examples to give. The decisive factor was the software for my older colorimeter, which did not require the necessary drivers for the MacBook.

But most of the other apps I tried also ran in emulation and were as fast as I would get with at least a mid-range Intel laptop. There were outliers like the Epic Games Launcher, which was just as sluggish on the MacBook Air M1 as it was on the MacBook Pro 13 M1, but there were few.

Battery life

Performance is just one area in which the Apple M1 promises serious progress. The battery life is different – after all, it is essentially an ARM chip that is designed to be efficient. How efficient can a laptop be when it offers the same performance as CPUs that are purely designed for performance? Let's find out.

Macbook Air M1Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

First, I ran our standard web benchmark, which runs through a number of popular websites. This is the yardstick we use to emulate productivity longevity, and it works pretty well. The MacBook Air passed the 15.5-hour test, one of the longest results we've seen. The Lenovo Flex 5G with its own ARM processor – the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx – lasted about 50 minutes longer, but there is a catch. The Lenovo had a Full HD display (1,920 x 1,080), while the MacBook Air M1 has a Retina display with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,600. That's a huge perk for Apple – give it a Full HD display (not what you want) and we'd expect a few more hours of it.

Next, I ran our video benchmark, which runs through a Full HD Avengers trailer until the laptop shuts down. The MacBook Air M1 lasted 18.5 hours. Again, this isn't as long as some of the longest-lasting laptops we've tested, but it's by far the longest-lasting device with a high-resolution display. The Lenovo Flex 5G was stronger again with almost 28 hours, but it also benefited from its lower resolution display.

We usually use the Basemark web benchmark test to see how long a laptop with its CPU and GPU will last under heavy load. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to complete the test on the MacBook Air M1 so I won't be able to report on its longevity if you press it hard. However, given the M1's inherent efficiency, we expect that the MacBook Air M1 will allow you to spend a lot of time, even if you ask a lot of it.

design

Macbook Air M1Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The design of the MacBook Air M1 is unchanged from the Intel version. Literally. That said, it's the same wedge of machined aluminum that feels like an alchemical amalgamation of glass and metal. It is completely stable, without twisting, bending or bending. Apple is doing a few things right, and designing and manufacturing laptops that exude rugged elegance is one of them. You can choose from three colors – space gray, gold, and silver – and they all look beautiful.

It's also a very thin and light laptop that is 0.6 inches and 2.8 pounds. Windows 10 laptops like the Dell XPS 13 and HP Specter x360 13 have caught up and are either thinner and lighter or close to it, so the MacBook Air generally no longer maintains its superiority in that regard. And the MacBook Air M1 isn't as small in width and depth as some of its 13-inch rivals, either, as it still has the same relatively large bezels it struggles with. When you add a display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, you'll find that the MacBook Air M1 doesn't fit into the same tiny silhouette as some others.

Really, these are nits because the differences between these sizes are tiny. Perhaps the MacBook Air M1 would look a little more modern with smaller bezels, but it's not like you'll struggle to find room for it in your backpack.

Macbook Air M1Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Connectivity remains a weak point in the MacBook Air M1. You get two Thunderbolt 3 ports and a 3.5mm audio jack. That's it. There isn't even an SD card reader to get your photos and videos. Get ready to buy some dongles, and a Thunderbolt 3 dock would be a good idea. Note, however, that the M1 does not support external GPU cases.

The M1 version only supports a single external display, either via the Thunderbolt 3 ports or via a dock. The reasons are deeply technical and based on the M1 architecture. However, if you need more than one external display, the M1 version is not for you. Compare this to the typical Windows 10 laptop or Intel-based MacBook, which can support numerous displays of different resolutions. Even laptops in the same $ 1,000 price bracket can typically support more than one external display if they have a Thunderbolt 3 port, multiple USB-C ports, or even an HDMI port (hey, remember these?).

Display and speaker

Macbook Air M1Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Like the design, Apple kept the same display for the MacBook Air M1. It's a 2,560 x 1,600 IPS display that looks great. It's not in the same class as the MacBook Pro, but you still get good performance enough for everyone but the most demanding creative professionals.

The brightness was 389 nits, which is enough for a laptop with average productivity but not up to Apple's high-end standards. The color gamut is slightly wider than average at 100% sRGB and 79% AdobeRGB – most premium Windows 10 laptops are 98% sRGB and 73% AdobeRGB. These aren't that big of a difference, but if you're looking to edit photos and videos, you'll appreciate the extra percentage points. The accuracy is particularly good at 1.39, with 1.0 or less indistinguishable to the human eye and the quality standard and the contrast ratio of 1130: 1 is above average (we want to see at least 1000: 1, and so the MacBook Air M1 crosses our threshold here).

The bottom line is that you are going to love this display and you probably won't have many complaints. If you're a creative professional and need the widest color gamut, go for the Pro line. You can choose the MacBook Pro 13 M1, get the same performance, nearly the same battery life, and enjoy a higher quality display.

Macbook Air M1Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Another area where the MacBook Air M1 can't quite keep up with its Pro siblings is audio quality. The speakers are very nice, don't get me wrong. They are clear and bright, with excellent mids and highs and a hint of bass. There is no distortion at the maximum volume – the only problem is that the maximum is not very loud. So you're good at listening for yourself, but if you want to share with a crowd, you'll need external speakers. And when you want to rock, prepare to pull out your favorite headphones.

Keyboard and touchpad

The MacBook Air M1 features the new Magic Keyboard, which Apple designed to replace the unfortunate butterfly keyboard on previous models. And it's a damn good keyboard, maybe my favorite of all the laptops I've used and the only one that surpasses the excellent version that HP has added to its Specter range.

The keycaps are a nice size and there is enough travel that you don't feel like you are typing on a block of wood (I'm talking to you here, butterfly keyboard). Best of all, the switches are top notch, with superb precision and perfect ground action that lets you know you've pressed a button. I can type faster on this keyboard than any other, and I hate to give up on it when I switch to a Windows 10 computer.

Macbook Air M1Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The touchpad is also superior due to its haptic nature. It's bigger than most of the touchpads you'll find on 13-inch laptops, it's buttery smooth, and once you get used to the haptic aspect you probably have more control than most touchpads. Windows 10 touchpads have gotten a lot better over the years, but still haven't caught up.

Finally, use the Touch ID sensor embedded in the power button to sign in without a password. This works fine. It's comparable to Microsoft's Windows Hello technology, though you won't find facial recognition in the MacBook line-up yet. I missed this while using the MacBook Air M1, although I end up preferring to use a fingerprint reader.

Our opinion

We said the 2020 Intel MacBook Air is "a respectable choice for Mac fans on a budget". I'm going to change that here for the MacBook Air M1: it's a respectable choice for any MacBook fan looking for a smaller device that is perfectly quiet, charges forever, and is almost as fast as the MacBook Pro 13 M1. Not only will you save money anymore – you get a laptop that will blow your mind with its performance (especially since more apps have been developed for the M1) while being extremely thin and light.

However, there are some limitations. You can't get more than 16GB of RAM (neither with the Intel version) and are limited to just one external display.

Are there alternatives?

The same competition that applied to the Intel MacBook Air also applies here. Only you will find that in many cases they are slower and don't last as long on one charge. The Dell XPS 13 is the obvious choice that you can get for $ 980 with a Core i3-1115G4 CPU and the same amount of RAM and storage – but the MacBook Air M1 will blast it out of the water. Configure the XPS 13 with its fastest CPU and you will find that it is still slower than the MacBook in many applications.

The HP Specter x360 13 gives you the option of a better OLED display and the flexibility of a 2-in-1 for a few hundred more, depending on your configuration. But here, too, the MacBook Air M1 is the faster laptop.

Finally, the MacBook Pro 13 M1 is for anyone looking for the fastest M1 machine available (although the difference isn't nearly as big as you can imagine). The display gets better and the speakers will blow your mind. You'll also be spending at least $ 300 more.

How long it will take?

The MacBook Air M1 should have a lifespan of at least five years as Apple keeps its laptops up to date. Certainly the machine itself will last forever because of the build quality, and you'll love the support from Apple (if not the industry-standard 1-year warranty). And the MacBook Air M1 is getting faster and faster as more software is optimized for the M1 CPU.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The MacBook Air M1 isn't just for MacBook fans looking for something smaller. It is intended for any laptop buyer who is happy to move to Mac OS and wants to participate in the real future of ARM-based computing.

Editor's recommendations




03 Jan
Blog

The art of deficit deadlift for the perfect workout at all

The Deficit deadlift is an excellent deadlift option for those looking for some strength and stability. This exercise is also of great benefit to people with severe back problems as it provides immense relief. For those who love better strength production, this workout is an ideal choice.

The deadlift of the deficit is undoubtedly for the right reasons. However, many people do not know how to do the exercise well. Because of this, we'll walk you through this exercise quickly and easily so that you can reap its benefits in no time.

A Look At The Deficit Deadlift Benefits.

You can take a look at that Deficit Deadlift Benefits before approaching the exercise. This will help you understand what expectations you should have from this workout and how to get it right.

1. Builds incredible physical strength

Deficit deadlifts are known to increase rear and lower back strength. All you have to do is come to the starting position and use your upper body to lean into the train. You benefit from this like never before with every exercise. You also need to make sure that the range of motion is increased. Such a thing allows the lifter to improve the maximum tension and strength at the ends.

2. Improved leg and hip movement

A lifter needs to increase hip flexion to improve movement of the legs and hips. As a result, Deficit Deadlift Benefits both body parts by limiting the injury in them. You can also increase the movement of your quad this way to improve your body's performance.

3. Improved facility

When looking for potential and safe trains, an improved facility is extremely important. If you put in a little effort to improve strength, it will have several positive effects on your body. Thus it acts as a primary Deficit Deadlift Advantage to you.

4th Stimulates strength production

In the midst of all the others Deficit Deadlift BenefitsYou can also observe force production, which increases your chances of improved body fitness and health. When your strength increases in deeper areas. This is how you make the muscle fiber in your body.

How do I do a sumo deficit deadlift?

If you are looking for something that has more potential and will improve your fitness game, Deadlift of the sumo deficit will be your ultimate savior. The sumo deadlift variant helps to bring positional strength and stimulates mobility in the body. It is also performed by weight lifters, bodybuilders, and athletes. If you want to practice this workout, make sure you follow the directions as required.

1. Stand on a 1-2.5 platform that is slightly off the ground.

2. Make sure the bar is on top of your laces. Don't forget to take a broad stance.

3. Now slide your hips back and pivot them forward until your torso is almost parallel to the floor.

4. Now go down and hold the bar shoulder width apart. Also use a double overhand grip.

5. Now inhale and gently pull the bar up while letting your hips pull like a seesaw.

6. When you drop your hips and pull on the bar, adjust the lats. At the same time, remember that your armpits are above the bar.

7. Now drive through the entire foot and focus on pushing the floor away.

8. When you've locked your hips, reverse the movement by pushing your hips back. You'll also need to pivot forward at this point.

9. Put the pole back on the ground and start the Deadlift of the sumo deficit to back up.

Deficit Deadlift VS Deadlift – Which Is Better?

Lots of people are confused between Deficit Deadlift vs. Deadlift. Many people are unable to tell the difference between the two. However, for those who do, it is uncomfortable to know which is better. So let's discuss which of the two is best for you and why.

Both deficit deadlifts and deadlifts are potential exercises that add strength and stability to the body. However, there are a few differences that need thorough discussion.

A deficit deadlift is a little more complicated than a normal deadlift. Such a thing is because a deficit deadlift involves almost the same steps. However, the range of motion is better here. This can become daunting for people to focus on all other aspects. Thus, a deficit deadlift is more difficult than a normal deadlift.

With a deficit deadlift, the demand for better mobility and flexibility is also higher. It happens because of the improvement in a better range of motion. For people who lack stability here, the regular deadlift can be their option. For a better range of motion, the deficit deadlift offers more benefits. As a result, between the Deficit Deadlift VS DeadliftWe now have a winner!

The final result

These were some of the best details about Deficit deadlift you have to know that. If you have any further questions, please contact us through our website. We're here to help!

FAQ

1. Something else Deficit Deadlift Benefits is there?

Other Deficit Deadlift Benefits Include more time under tension and increase leg strength.

2. Is that Deadlift of the sumo deficit useful?

Yes, the suMo deficit deadlift is useful in many ways. However, you need to make sure that you do the exercise well to avoid complications.

3. Is diet important in these workouts?

Yes, if you eat right, these workouts will give you instant results.

03 Jan
Blog

Wyze Video Doorbell Review: You Get What You Pay for

Wyze video doorbell rating lights on

“This doorbell is only $ 30. It's certainly not the best, but it beats its weight class well. "

  • The $ 30 cost is extremely affordable

  • Fun chime extenders included

  • Waterproof construction

  • Terrible field of vision

  • Building materials feel cheap

If you're interested in affordable smart home technology, there's a name to look out for. That name is Wyze. The company is on the rise with a variety of smart home products that are not only very good but also very inexpensive. That brings us to our review today – the Wyze doorbell, a $ 30 video doorbell. This is not a typo. I'm not missing a decimal place. It's $ 30.

In a world where video doorbells are $ 99 and up, $ 30 is incredibly affordable in this area. There are sure to be compromises. I also have to mention that I tested this device with a beta version of the Wyze app. That puts me in a difficult position as a reviewer. Isn't a feature set great because it's beta or because it costs $ 30? I'm pretty sure I cleared the two up, so let's get started!

A tiny plastic box

The Wyze doorbell camera is one of the smallest video doorbells I've ever seen, let alone worked. The inconspicuous hardware is a plastic box with a height of just eight centimeters, a width of four centimeters and a depth of almost two centimeters. It has a white case with a black camera module in the upper half and a rounded square button for the bell. The Wyze logo in between lights up when people approach, as does the bell icon on the button. It makes it very easy to know where to slide.

The bell also comes with a glockenspiel extender that can be plugged into any power outlet. This is important because the doorbell itself does not ring in the house. The doorbell rings to let your visitors know that it has rung. Then the doorbell rings in the house. It seems like an odd omission not to ring the mechanical chime it is connected to for power, but it's understandable since the chime extender comes with the package.

This won't be the last video doorbell you'll ever buy, but there's no reason it can't be your first.

This carillon extender is gorgeous. It creates a separate connection to the app within the doorbell settings. The glockenspiel extender offers 19 different sounds including normal chimes, door knocking and animal noises that drive my dogs crazy. It's pretty much fun. There is no noticeable delay between pressing the doorbell button and ringing the bell. The Glockenspiel Extender works wherever there is WiFi, so you can plug the Glockenspiel in wherever it's most convenient.

I ran into some problems setting up the carillon extender. Sometimes the change I made in the app didn't carry over to the carillon itself. Sometimes it was like that. It was very random. That could easily be a result of the beta app, or maybe less than ideal Wi-Fi. After a while, I managed to set up the right chimes and the problem never came back.

Restricted view

The camera itself has a very narrow field of view. You can see 120 degrees vertically and only 88 degrees horizontally. Wyze says this is because people are taller than they are wide. I understand, but these specs barely allow me to see an entire person horizontally or vertically. Compared to my normal Vivint Video Doorbell Pro, it almost feels like looking through a toilet paper tube. Did I mention this camera is $ 30?

What you can see is decent quality. You can set the camera to capture and stream in HD, SD, or 480p. During the day the picture is a bit washed out and you lose a lot of definition in cloudy clouds. It does a suitable job of identifying people and movement. At night, this time of the year is hard to tell as my front yard is filled with Christmas lights, making it difficult for the camera to decide whether or not to use infrared.

  • 1.
    Night, lights on
  • 2.
    Night, lights off
  • 3.
    During the day

The above Christmas lights are completely blown out and there are no details at all in the highlights. The camera does a good job and shows my front yard at night, which is reminiscent of the Panasonic Home Hawk camera I tested. However, this was due to the superior optics technology while this doorbell benefits from Griswold-grade Christmas lights.

Night vision, when not dealing with Christmas lights, still struggles to decide whether or not it wants to be on. The Wyze logo also lights up as a kind of mini flood light, which complicates matters. When this light is not on and there are no other light sources in the frame, night vision looks good. When you insert a light source, the doorbell freaks out a little.

installation

The installation is a little less than ideal. The doorbell comes with a mounting plate that you attach to the wall. Then attach the cables to the doorbell. The button slides down and clicks into place in the mounting plate. At first I worried about it. I was wondering if I could take the button off as the locking mechanism is in the mounting plate. As it turns out, the mounting plate is also pretty flexible (read: weak) and I was actually able to pull the doorbell out enough to get the clip back and slide the doorbell off. I don't know if it's supposed to work that way, but that's how it worked.

Wyze video doorbell mounted on the wall

Then you have to pair the doorbell with your WiFi. It uses the QR code method which is not one of my favorite implementations. If you're not familiar, connect the doorbell to your WiFi by entering your credentials into the app. This will generate a QR code that the camera will scan. It took well over five minutes to hold my phone at varying distances to the doorbell before I finally got a beep indicating everything was okay.

software

As I mentioned earlier, it's a beta, but overall, not much is missing here, despite being a beta product. Connecting to the camera is a little slow, but navigating within the app isn't slow at all. The clip memory is a little hard to find as you have to exit the device settings to get to the event list. I suspect this is an expectation of Wyze's larger home security system that they just released.

You can set times for the camera to record events or just keep recording motion events. You can subscribe to Wyze Cam Plus for a full 24/7 recording. You can share videos and save them locally. I couldn't find a place to take snapshots, which seems like a failure. Overall, however, the app performs well, especially for a beta.

When it comes to detection, it's a bit sensitive and I get bombarded by the notifications a lot. Smaller events trigger the Wyze video doorbell. So expect to see a preview of the footage, which is most likely filled with false warnings. Yes, it's obviously too liberal on surveillance, but I think that's better than completely missing out on an event.

Our opinion

What to watch out for here is the price. For $ 30, you can buy three of them, have two spares, and still not pay as much as the closest competitor. This video doorbell is so cheap that I should reach out to Wyze to make sure they are okay. If this video doorbell had only worked properly, I would have been amazed. The fact that it is actually good at this price is so amazing that I'm glad I had to sit down to write this review. This isn't the best video doorbell in the world, but I'd estimate you can get a $ 75 doorbell here for $ 30.

Is there a better alternative?

Sure! The field of view is ridiculous. The video quality isn't the best, and at night the sensor has to pick a track and stay in it instead of switching back and forth between IR and normal vision. The next cheapest alternative, however, costs more than three times as much. The Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Generation) is one of those alternatives for $ 100.

Wyze is here to make its products as affordable as possible. This means plastic mounts, inexpensive buttons, and camera sensors that perform poorly.

How long it will take?

The doorbell feels cheap. As for the wear and tear, I'm not particularly optimistic that you will be working on this doorbell for years. The doorbell is weatherproof to IP65 and has an operating range of -4 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. Chicago winters are getting colder, so that's another problem. I suspect that more durable building materials could bring operating temperatures into a more comfortable operating range. But that would likely add to the cost as well.

In the event that something goes wrong, there is a one-year limited warranty that covers any defects.

Should I buy it?

Yes. It's $ 30. It's an extra trip to the ATM. Basically, you should almost buy it. Keep a few in your car as last minute gifts. It's crazy cheap. If that doorbell cost $ 75 or more, I'd say no. For a slightly larger investment, you can purchase a product that is likely to last longer and work better, like the Arlo video doorbell. However, at $ 30, this is almost a training video doorbell to see if you're ready for a real video doorbell. This won't be the last video doorbell you'll ever buy, but there's no reason it can't be your first. Remember, this is a $ 30 doorbell.

Editor's recommendations




03 Jan
Blog

Be in the best of your health and fitness with Triceps pushdown

Exercising the triceps is not an easy thing. It takes a lot of effort to get it right and to press the buttons accurately. But nothing beats an efficient workout that can help you get any exercise under control in an instant. Such training is that Triceps pushdown.

The Triceps pushdown is very effective for building triceps strength. Whether you want to use a resistance band or a dumbbell, you can try all of the variations. Let's take a look at how this exercise will change the game for you!

The art of doing a triceps pushdown

Whenever we think of triceps exercises, the first workout that comes to mind is the triceps pushdown. This exercise is known for all the right reasons. For starters, it is perfect for anyone looking for beginners to advanced. Whether you want to do this exercise on a cable machine or a resistance band, you can work out in comfort. Hence, it is a mass favorite for many reasons.

All you have to do is focus on how to complete each step. So you don't make room for complications. That being said, you are ready to train properly without hesitation. Triceps push rope is one of the most beneficial variations of this exercise.

How do I perform a triceps pushdown rope?

If you want to undoubtedly want to build strength and muscle in your triceps, this is the one Triceps pushdown rope All you need is exercise. The workout is an isolation exercise that promises to provide immediate benefits without delay. If you are concerned about whether you will be doing this exercise, don't worry as this is a beginner workout.

1. Attach a double rope handle to the highest notch on the cable.

2. Then stand forward with one foot to maintain balance and hold the rope handles as you place your arms aside.

3. Now push the rope down with the triceps extended and hold it down for two seconds. Try not to lock your elbows out. Exhale during this time of exercise.

4. Now carefully stretch your forearms back up until they are parallel to the floor. Inhale during this part of this workout.

5. Repeat the process Triceps pushdown rope train a few times.

The best cable pushdown ropes ever

The Advantages of the cable pushdown rope Your body and gives you general strength and endurance. It also helps keep your core, back, and shoulders engaged. However, many people tend to make some common mistakes to watch out for. Make sure to avoid these mistakes as much as possible. The best way to achieve this is to be free to follow the instructions.

1. Stand in front of the machine and hold the horizontal cable bar. Make sure you do this with an overhand grip. Remember that the bar is adjusted to your chest height.

2. First set a relatively low weight.

3. Start by tightening your abdominal muscles.

4. Tuck your elbows in your sides and keep your feet apart.

5. Inhale before pressing down until your elbows are straight. Your elbow must be in close contact with your body. Make sure you bend your knees slightly as you press down. Don't bend forward. Try to keep your back straight as a pushdown.

6. As you exhale, return to the starting position. Make sure the movement is out of control.

7. Beginners must acquire the Advantages of the cable pushdown rope by performing the exercise in 4 sets of 8 repetitions.

Triceps pushdown alternative for you

Don't worry if you can't do the triceps pushdown for some reason. We'll enlighten you with another excellent one Triceps pushdown alternative that will change the game for you.

1. Triceps immersed

If you're looking to do a bodyweight triceps exercise, tricep dips can help you immensely. If you want to test your triceps strength, this is the way to go. The triceps dips are also great for advanced and beginners. So, you can do this exercise without breaking an eyelid.

2. Barbell floor press

If you're looking for a limited range of motion, the barbell floor press can be a breeze Triceps pushdown alternative to you. Although it is a dangerous exercise, you can do it easily by following the steps correctly and exercising accordingly.

3. Lying triceps extension

If you want to isolate your triceps muscles, the prone triceps extension is your ultimate savior until the end. This is a potential Triceps pushdown alternative also because of the underlying benefits.

The final result

These were some of the most useful Triceps Pushdown Exercises try at home. Practice them regularly to see the results show up in no time. We promise; It works out!

FAQ

1. Something else Triceps Pushdown Alternatives can i try

Dumbbell kickbacks, close-grip pushups, and close-grip bench presses are some of the others Triceps Pushdown Alternatives that you can try

2. Is Triceps pushdown rope useful?

Without doubt!

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