03 Mar
Blog

Nikon D780 Review: A Great DSLR is Still a DSLR

"The Nikon D780 is the DSLR to buy."

  • Phase detection in live view

  • Eye AF works very well

  • 4K video with 10-bit output

  • Weatherproof design

  • 1 / 8000s to 15m shutter speed

  • Viewfinder AF feels out of date

  • More expensive than Nikon Z 6

  • Some advantages over mirrorless

If you want a DSLR, you should buy the full screen Nikon D780. The $ 2,300 D780 is a new Goldilocks camera and Nikon's first DSLR with built-in phase detection auto focus.

But do you want a DSLR?

Appearance. I like the D780. It is a balanced camera with strong performance and excellent picture quality. But in 2020 it will be difficult for me to find a reason why I would choose the smaller, lighter and cheaper Nikon Z 6, the mirrorless counterpart of the D780.

Instead of fueling my enthusiasm for DSLR, shooting the D780 tipped the scales in favor of mirrorless. It is a good camera. It is also part of a dying race.

Design and interface

Daven Mathies / Digital Trends

The DSLR is the direct further development of the SLR camera or SLR camera from the film era. A SLR camera, which was revolutionary for its time, let photographers see directly through the lens with a reflective mirror and prism (which is old-fashioned for reflective).

DSLRs carried this design into the digital age and replaced silver with silicon, but left the mirror and the viewfinder alone.

However, digital cameras can feed a live feed directly from the sensor, providing another way to display an image through the lens without the need for a bulky mirror box. This is how the mirrorless camera was born.

The supposed advantage of a DSLR is the optical viewfinder, which offers a clear, excellent view. Since electronic viewfinders (EVFs) with OLED screens and resolutions of 6 million pixels have improved, optical viewfinders do not consider themselves necessary.

EVFs are also more powerful. You can view exposure and white balance previews, review images, and even call up exposure and focusing aids such as a histogram, zebra crossing, or focus peaking.

Daven Mathies / Digital Trends

The D780 has numerous live view functions that do not work with the optical viewfinder. Where DSLRs used to be valued for their auto focus, Live View AF now offers many advantages, such as better image coverage and face recognition.

As a result, the DSLR is beginning to feel out of date. And yet Nikon believes that if the Nikon Z 6 – now over a year old – costs only $ 1,850 at the time of writing, it can sell a D780 for $ 2,300.

Why do photographers appreciate DSLR so much? I think there are a few small but important factors that matter. Old-school Nikon photographers have a large collection of F-mount lenses, the battery life of a DSLR is better thanks to the low power consumption of an optical viewfinder, and the DSLR feels familiar.

There is also less competition in the DSLR space since Canon is the only company that makes a competitive camera (and, to be honest, the EOS 6D Mark II doesn't really compete). Nikon can charge anything it wants for the D780. It owns this part of the DSLR market.

Nikon D780 vs. Nikon D750

Daven Mathies / Digital Trends

Despite being half a decade old, following the D750 is difficult. In our 9 out of 10 reviews, Digital Trends called it "outstanding". It was the best camera for the money at the time, and remained class-leading among DSLRs for years.

The new functions of the D780 concentrate on processing and electronics. Thanks to a new 24 megapixel sensor and an Expeed 6 processor, this enables autofocus with phase detection in live view as well as face and eye tracking.

It's all great stuff, but nothing the mirrorless Nikon Z 6 doesn't have.

Daven Mathies / Digital Trends

The data sheet is littered with minor but important upgrades. The shutter speed is now 1/8000 second, which is faster than the D750. It can also slow down and allow 15-minute exposures without a remote control. This is a huge increase over the 30 second limit of the D750. For continuous shooting, the speed increases slightly from 6.5 to 7 frames per second, but in live view, the D780 can achieve impressive 12 fps with the electronic shutter (if you drop down to 12-bit RAW).

The image sensor has essentially the same resolution, but is now backlit and helps bring the ISO to a new extended maximum of 204,800, 2 steps above the D750. The LCD resolution has increased by over 1 million pixels to a total of 2.36 million.

Video shows significant improvements from Full HD to 4K when expected. The flat N-Log color profile from Nikon and the 10-bit 4: 2: 2 output via HDMI are one of the best DSLRs for videos alongside the massive (and very expensive) EOS 1D X Mark III from Canon. However, this is no better than the mirrorless Nikon Z 6.

Daven Mathies / Digital Trends

The battery life is significantly improved by a CIPA rating of 2,260 exposures with the optical viewfinder. It's impressive in every context, and it's about 1,000 more than the D750. Part of this increase, however, is due to the fact that the D780 no longer has a built-in flash, a feature of the D750 that would have had a negative impact on CIPA test results.

There is no question that the D780 is a worthy replacement for the D750. But whether the D780 as DSLR 2020 is the right camera for you … well, that's not so clear.

characteristics

While the D780 benefits from the mirrorless technology of the Z series, the DSLR-specific components of the D750 can hardly be updated. It recycles the same autofocus system with 51-point viewfinders, although it has been updated with the flagship D5 focusing algorithm.

I was impressed with how well the D780 could keep up with moving subjects with continuous autofocus in Nikon's 3D tracking mode, but when the Nikon D6 arrived this year and brought a brand new AF system, I'm not sure why Nikon did this did not give the D780 the entire 153-point AF module of the Nikon D5 instead of just the algorithm.

It is strange to hold back if the D780 is to survive another 5 to 6 years. The Multi-Cam 3500FX II focusing sensor has roots that go back to the 2007 Nikon D3.

Daven Mathies / Digital Trends

The viewfinder is the same. It's a good viewfinder with a bright penta prism and 100% coverage, but its 0.7x magnification is significantly less than the 0.75x magnification of the D850. Yes, the D850 is bigger, but I'm not sure if Nikon will have to worry about keeping the D780 as small as possible because its mirrorless cameras offer a better solution for photographers who need a compact system.

I would have loved to see an AF joystick, something that Nikon has on its other high-end cameras, including the D500 crop sensor. It's a simple addition that increases usability more than you would expect. Choosing a focus point with the multi-selector pad is okay, but not so ergonomic.

None of these things make the D780 a bad camera. It just can't be anywhere near the revolutionary leap I hoped for on a DSLR.

picture quality

The viewfinder makes it difficult for you to distinguish the D780 from the D750. However, when you turn on live view, the difference becomes clear.

After generations have waited for Nikon to use Live View autofocus properly, the time has finally come. In combination with the touchscreen, the focus is quick, accurate and flexible. Eye detection turns on automatically and works well, even if the eyes of a subject are recognized with dark sunglasses.

Daven Mathies / Digital Trends

All of this is great and makes the D780 tilt screen more useful than the Nikon D750.

However, it is the same system as the Nikon Z 6, where things like eye AF can be used through the electronic viewfinder, which is not possible with the D780's optical viewfinder.

In addition, the Live View autofocus is simply more accurate because the focus is measured on the image sensor itself. Although this is usually not a problem for first-party lenses, I have tested three Sigma Art Primes. One of them focused frontally through the viewfinder and was sharp in live view. I used Nikon's AF fine-tuning feature to fix this. This is a great feature, but I wouldn't have had to do anything without a mirror.

nikon d780 evaluation example 18

Nikon D780 evaluation example 13

Thanks mainly to Eye AF, I used more live view than the viewfinder. But such shots make the D780 an overweight mirrorless camera.

That brings me to my biggest problem with DSLRs. They behave like two different cameras, depending on whether you are using the viewfinder or the LCD screen. This is certainly confusing for beginners and frustrating even as an experienced DSLR shooter.

This does not mean that the D780 does not offer clear advantages for certain applications. A DSLR is still better for wedding and event photographers thanks to the long battery life and compatibility with the AF auxiliary grille projected by an external flash. This helps enormously when taking pictures in dark reception halls, but is not compatible with autofocus with live view. The two SD card slots are ideal for a live event with high stakes and offer security with redundant memory.

In fact, I will be shooting a wedding with the D780 in about a week. Even as a fan of mirrorless cameras in general, I'm glad I have a DSLR for this job, and I'm happier that the Nikon D780 is the DSLR.

But for anything else? Just give me a Nikon Z 6.

Our opinion

Even if Nikon made the changes that I think are missing – with the D5's 153-point AF system and the addition of an AF joystick – the D780 would leave me heavily in the mirrorless camp. It's a good DSLR, but feels like a makeshift solution for Nikon D750 owners who aren't yet ready to go mirrorless.

Nikon nudges people to the Z series and I see no reason to complain about it. From EVF to image stabilization in the body, Nikon's Z-cameras offer decisive advantages. I also like the strategy Nikon is pursuing with the Z-series lenses, which focuses on high quality 1: 1.8 aperture glass to keep size and costs under control. That's the future.

The D780 is a thing of the past. A brilliant piece of it, no doubt, but still in the past.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes, the Nikon Z 6. For most people, a mirrorless camera makes more sense. The Z 6 is currently available with the F-mount lens adapter and a memory card for under $ 1,850.

Strictly speaking, the D780 is the best in its class within DSLRs and has no real competitor, although Canon's EOS 6D Mark II is cheaper at just $ 1,400 at the time of writing.

How long it will take?

The D780 is well built, weatherproof, and should withstand professional wear and tear. If the D750's lifespan in half a decade is an indication, we expect the D780 to last at least 5 years. If you haven't done so yet, you will be attracted to new mirrorless cameras during this time.

Should you buy it

If you are still convinced that you need a DSLR, then yes. This is the best in the $ 2,000 price range. Take a moment to consider whether you really need it.

Editor's recommendations




03 Mar
Blog

8 Unusual Olympic LIfting Cues That Get Results

Olympic lifting is one of the best sporting activities you can do. No other type of lifting requires the same level of coordination, concentration and level of detail as heavy cleaning and jerking or snapping.

8 Unusual Olympic LIfting hints that lead to results - fitness, weight lifting, grip, Olympic weight lifting, neuromuscular strength, barbell, intention, lifting, hints, coaching hints, tips

Olympic lifts require coaching tips to develop the right motor patterns

In my coaching career, I was incredibly lucky to have been brought up by some true masters of the game. About two months after my coaching career, I attended the NSCA sports-specific training conference in Anaheim in January 2000 and listened to Mike Burgener teaching the elevators.

I was intrigued by him and fell in love with every word that came out of his mouth (and his unique ability to kill us all with a PVC pipe in two short hours). I immediately went to see him and he opened his home and infinite knowledge to me. I spent the next three years visiting and assisting him with USAW certificates.

Mike not only has decades of wisdom to share, but also The cueing he uses can somehow get a room full of beginners on the same side. It is powerful. You may or may not have heard the following advice while teaching Olympic lifting. I created many of them out of necessity. They are my contact point for almost everyone and I have had tremendous success with each of them.

Keyword # 1: ice water in your veins

Olympic lifting is both psychological and physical. Anyone familiar with the Olympic lifts will agree that maximum attempts can be incredibly stressful and cause a great deal of fear.

Therefore, many lifters want to foam up before a difficult attempt. This usually involves screaming and shouting, jumping around, and trying to fire the attempts with aggressiveness.

I have bad news for those of you who do. Realistically, you want to do the opposite. Watch how senior weightlifters work out. They all have emotionless access to the bar. They have mastered a view of a thousand miles.

Overexcitability interferes with the running of the motor program. I tell my athletes that they don't have to have an emotional connection to the attempt. When you have successfully completed the lift, you will get angry, but not a moment earlier.

Ice water in your veins.

Keyword # 2: commit to shooting your elbows

This keyword is worth its weight in gold if you are working with a lifter whose elbows do not run the entire distance when caught. I see it fifty times a day. Lifters must make a formal decision that no matter what happens, they will shoot their elbows as quickly as possible over the entire distance.

On some attempts you will see that lifters do the opposite. They have almost resigned themselves to the fact that they cannot get the weight and that the arms never snap into place. If this is the case with one of your athletes, you must convince them that the elbows are not negotiable.

The elbows must be automatic and end at speed. Pull your athletes aside and convince them that before they even touch the crossbar they have to do a deal with themselves that they will shoot their elbows. It works out.

Undertake to shoot your elbows.

Keyword # 3: knuckles down

The feeling of losing your grip leads to a guaranteed failure, especially for young lifters. Grip problems are some of the first mistakes coaches encounter with someone just starting out. This is with or without the use of a hook.

In my experience with the thousands of lifters I've worked with, almost everyone naturally stretched their wrists slightly when they grab the bar. If you look at the position of the bar in your hand while the wrists are at any expansion level, the pressure of the bar moves to your fingertips.

Remember to pull your fingertip up. It's ten times more difficult than a full grip pull-up. If you haven't pressed your ankles, use your fingertip to pull hundreds of pounds off the floor. Knuckles Down does three important things:

  • Now that you have to bend your wrist slightly, the bar rests in the flesh of your hands instead of your fingertips. Through the gate you are in a stronger position thanks to a more secure grip.
  • Using a hook handle (as most experienced lifters do) moves a lot of the pressure off the thumb.
  • The intention to keep the ankles straight down keeps the elbows straight for longer.

Ankle down.

8 Unusual Olympic LIfting hints that lead to results - fitness, weight lifting, grip, Olympic weight lifting, neuromuscular strength, barbell, intention, lifting, hints, coaching hints, tips

Left: Right, ankle down; Right wrong. Ankle out.

Keyword # 4: Drive off the floor on the first train

The first move can be difficult for young lifters because they want to clear their knees for the pole path. If we don't teach this piece properly, beginners will either grind the shins with the bar or push the knees back without lifting the hips. Although we go through an entire section that helps these athletes recognize the need to clean their knees, in many cases it still gets muddy.

If you think about pushing the floor while standing with the bar, not only will the muscle coordination be organized that suits the task, but also the knees will be freed from the bar. Lifters have a great position and can switch effectively.

Drive the floor off on the first train.

Keyword # 5: shrug

It took me several years to finally teach the third train. I have noticed that the moment you tell them to pull themselves under the bar, your athletes will inevitably start pulling their arms on the second move. And as Trainer B says: "When the elbow bends, the strength ends."

Until that cue came, I had come to the conclusion that if I only worked with beginners to advanced, I would not teach the third move. We used to teach the kids that shrugging was the last attempt to lift the bar vertically.

Although we understand that shrugging helps to raise the bar a smidge and gives us a fraction of a second more time to come down, we teach that shrugging is where the drop to catch begins.

If you have a lifter who is ready and able to shrug your shoulders – as it should be – you probably have an athlete who is ready and able to fall into his catch quickly. Win win.

Shrug.

Keyword # 6: Throw your bridge in the corner

I studied Baguazhang for many years and was an offensive lineman for thirteen years. The "bridge" (or what we call the rear bridge pole) is this imaginary pole that covers the athlete's back from shoulder to shoulder.

If you try to leverage an opponent in a confined space, you have a significant advantage if you can push and pull to manipulate their bridge to take control of their torso. Wrestlers, Linemen and BJJ fighters will know what I'm talking about, even if our terminology is different.

8 Unusual Olympic LIfting hints that lead to results - fitness, weight lifting, grip, Olympic weight lifting, neuromuscular strength, barbell, intention, lifting, hints, coaching hints, tips

Know the bridge, throw the bridge to get better hip extension

To have a lifter finish his hips, we explain the bridge and instruct him to throw the bridge into the corner of the room where the wall and roof meet. For your information, the platforms in my facility are on the wall near the corner of the room.

You could use a lamp or something similar if your setup is dramatically different. If you don't get this bridge idea, we can all understand the base of the neck. In any case, for a successful catch, we want the hips to be finished and fully extended into a slight hyperextension to deliver the rod.

Throw your bridge in the corner.

Keyword # 7: catch like a mountain

How many times have you caught a clean one just to be strapped down by weight when you and the bar meet? A lot happens, especially with beginners. They spend all their energy pulling so that they soften and collapse at the bottom of the closure.

I tell lifters who have this problem that they have to be a mountain on the ground. The structure can withstand the stress due to the full tension in the whole body. The image of a mountain gives them the feeling of something big and solid. Most beginners think they have a technical hiccup when in reality they just have to think hard. I get almost perfect results with this keyword.

Catch like a mountain.

Keyword # 8: feel your slants crouched

I noticed this a few months ago when I tried to generate greater tension when pressed vertically. I have had several back injuries in the past. Much of the crafting that I do with techniques is based on the need to create structure and stability for my back. The more you obliquely compress the same side to create a pillar of stability, the stronger the overall movement feels.

Ascending from the bottom of the squat, most of us have to chase our center and strength from ass to grass through a very deep squat. Then come to this point, feel for your slants. Draw your attention to and lock your slants to create a pillar of structure for your midline. If you focus your attention on your slopes, the feeling of stability when standing up increases.

Feel your slants crouch.

We all have some bizarre clues to get what we need from our athletes. These are just a few of me.

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03 Mar
Blog

2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray First Drive Review: Born to Dance

2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

2020 Corvette Stingray first ride review: Born to dance

"The Corvette has always been America's sports car, but now it's ready to take over the world."

  • Accessible performance

  • Well integrated driver aids

  • Smooth digital displays

  • Everyday usability

  • Limited luggage space

  • Cumbersome HVAC control

The Chevrolet Corvette has a history that dates back to the 1950s. But Chevy breaks with the latest eighth generation Vette.

The 2020 Corvette Stingray is the most radical update of a Corvette in decades. The engine moves from the front of the car to the center, a configuration preferred by Ferrari and Lamborghini. Corvette also relies on technology like never before and has a cockpit based on digital displays. Chevy even threw the manual transmission for a dual clutch transmission overboard.

What has not changed The value of the Corvette. The base price of $ 59,995 is close to a Toyota Supra or Porsche 718 Boxster / Cayman, but its performance can keep up with six-figure cars. You can spend a lot more on a Corvette. Fully loaded models stickers for closer to $ 80,000. Even then, it's a deal.

design

2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

It's hard to overemphasize changing the 2020 Corvette Stingray from a front-engine to a mid-engine configuration. Chevy has been playing with the idea since the 1960s, building numerous prototypes and concept cars. The change is a major breakthrough for Corvette, making it a work sports car rival for European exotic cars.

Why the change? "We no longer have performance in the front engine architecture," said Ed Piatek, chief engineer of the new Corvette.

Rear wheel drive limits traction. Horsepower is not a good thing if you can't put it on the road after all. By moving the engine behind the driver, the mid-engine configuration shifts more weight back and pounds the rear tires to make them easier to grip.

It's hard to overemphasize switching the 2020 Corvette Stingray to a mid-engine configuration.

Alex MacDonald, Chevy's vehicle performance manager, said a mid-engine layout also helps the driver. The driver is closer to the front wheels so the steering column can be shorter, which makes steering more responsive. The focus is also closer to the driver's hips, making the car's movement in corners feel more natural.

For this reason, a mid-engine layout is standard in IndyCar and Formula 1, not to mention every super sports car that adorns the wall poster of a children's room.

Inner

However, driving in the middle of the engine has a disadvantage. The engine takes up space that is normally reserved for people and things.

The 2020 Stingray has two cases – one in the front and one in the back. The front trunk has space for a hand luggage bag of maximum size. The 2020 stingray has a total freight volume of 12.6 cubic feet between the two tribes. That's a little less than the previous generation Corvette and the current Porsche 911 when you add up the space in the front trunk of the Porsche and the area behind the front seats.

2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray interiorStephen Edelstein / Digital Trends

The rear trunk can hold a number of golf clubs, but only if you leave the roof open. The removable roof trim on all Corvette coupes (a convertible model is on the move) takes up most of the rear trunk when stowed. Also, don't be surprised if items stored in the rear trunk are slightly roasted due to the engine.

Mid-engined cars often look good, but they can be stressful to drive due to cramped cabins and limited visibility. This is not the case with the 2020 Corvette. The wide windshield offers an excellent view of the road and large, well-placed mirrors balance out the tiny rear window and the wide hips of the car. Driving this Stingray through traffic on the Las Vegas Strip was no more nerve-racking than any other car.

technology

Despite the low price, the interior of the Corvette is not spartan. The car comes as standard with a digital 12.0-inch instrument cluster and an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen. It supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and has a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot.

The graphics for both screens were clear and easy to read while driving. Chevy also offers a "stealth" mode that disables all non-essential information for night driving, but I haven't had a chance to test it.

2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray digital instrument clusterStephen Edelstein / Digital Trends

The infotainment screen is angled towards the driver for easier operation, but is still accessible to the front passenger. Analog HVAC controls are located on a long partition between the seats. While it is good not to have to rely on the touchscreen for these functions, the controls are poorly positioned.

The 2020 Corvette is available with blind spot monitoring and rear traffic warning. However, you need to upgrade from the basic 1LT to 2LT to get them.

A 360-degree camera system is also available, as is the digital rearview mirror that was previously seen in the Chevy Bolt EV and other GM vehicles. This streams the video from a rear-mounted camera directly to the mirror, effectively eliminating blind spots. In any case, it is useful to drive in reverse as you can see through the rear window about as much as you would look through a traffic window with the shadow half down.

Scraping the front end on speed bumps and steep driveways is a problem with low-seated sports cars, but Chevy has a solution for that too. The 2020 Corvette has a front-end lifting system that raises the nose by 40 millimeters at the push of a button. Up to 1,000 locations can also be saved, so you can choose to have it automatically activated when you drive into your driveway.

Sports cars traditionally have a spartan interior, but that's not the case with this Corvette.

Chevy didn't just use technology to avoid parking space dents. Clever software helps every driver get the most out of the Corvette on a racetrack. The car receives the latest version of Chevy's Performance Traction Management System, which manages the engine, transmission and magnetic suspension (if any) to protect the driver from problems.

"We have a system that outwits the best driver," said MacDonald. The system has a take-off control for quick take-offs while standing and even a "flying car mode" that detects when the car is in the air and prepares for a dramatic landing.

This system could get even better in the future. The Corvette is based on General Motors' latest electrical architecture, which enables wireless software updates (OTA). Every important aspect of the car can be updated remotely, Piatek told Digital Trends.

There is even a "flight car mode" that detects when the car is in the air and is preparing for a drama-free landing.

Like the Corvette of the previous generation, the 2020 Stingray also receives the Chevy Performance Data Recorder. It can record lap video, audio and telemetry so you can show your friends or find ways to improve your driving technique. This latest version includes a resolution of 1080p and a dash cam mode for driving on the road.

performance

The Corvette's engine is an old-school American muscle. Like the previous generation, the 2020 Stingray is powered by a 6.2-liter V8. It has been modified to work in a mid-engine car. Chevy also added a dry sump oil system to improve track performance, and of course increased performance. With an optional power exhaust, the new V8, code-named LT2, delivers 495 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque compared to 455 horsepower and 460 pound-feet for the old LT1 engine.

Equipped with the optional Z51 performance package, the 2020 Corvette, according to Chevy, reaches zero to 60 miles per hour in 2.9 seconds. It's faster than an Aston Martin Vantage, Lamborghini Huracán Evo or Porsche 911 Carrera S – everything costs tens of thousands more than the Stingray. The top speed is 194 miles per hour, according to Chevy.

The V8 is coupled with an eight-speed dual clutch transmission, making the 2020 Stingray the first Corvette without a manual transmission. While this reduces driver involvement, the dual clutch transmission can shift faster than a human and was easier to integrate with the Corvette's Performance Traction Management system, MacDonald said.

Even novice drivers can drive fairly quickly with confidence.

The combination of V8 muscles and software heads makes the 2020 Corvette one of the most rounded performance cars on the market. It's comfortable and quiet in normal driving, and relaxed and predictable when you get more aggressive. A manual transmission may be more fun, but the dual clutch unit shifts so smoothly that gear changes are imperceptible. And the Chevy V8 exhaust is still pure bliss.

2020 Chevrolet Corvette StingrayStephen Edelstein / Digital Trends

When the Corvette was pushed onto the track at the Spring Mountain Motor Resort, it didn't sweat. It's not just quick. It makes you look good. Driver aids prevent you from working in the background, so you don't just feel like you're riding. It takes skill to push this car to its limits, but even novice drivers can drive fast with confidence.

The new car felt more nimble than the previous generation Corvette, so Chevy’s claims of responsive steering persisted. The square steering wheel isn't as cumbersome to use as you might think and doesn't block the instrument cluster like the Porsche 911. However, the steering didn't feel as sharp as some other mid-engine vehicles with the McLaren 570S and versions of the Lamborghini Huracán rear-wheel drive.

Fuel consumption and security

Most people don't buy a Corvette for gasoline consumption, but the latest version is combined with 19 mpg (15 mpg city, 27 mpg highway). The car's on-board computer showed a best performance of 31.4 mpg while driving through the desert outside of Las Vegas. These are solid numbers for a large engine, probably aided by a cylinder deactivation system that shuts down four cylinders under light gas loads.

The 2020 Corvette is a new vehicle, so predicting future reliability is difficult. Chevy doesn't have the best reputation for reliability. The Corvette's custom engine, dual clutch transmission, and aluminum-intensive construction may make it more difficult to repair than a Chevy Equinox.

The Corvette has the same three-year basic warranty of 36,000 miles and a five-year warranty of 60,000 miles for the drivetrain as other Chevy models. This is typical coverage in the auto industry.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash test assessments are not available. Since the Corvette is a low volume vehicle, you probably never will be. None of the organizations assessed the previous generation model.

How DT would configure this car

To build our ideal Corvette, we would first upgrade from the basic equipment 1LT to 2LT. This includes blind spot monitoring, front and rear cameras, the digital rear view mirror and a Bose audio system with 14 speakers (1LT models have a Bose system with 10 speakers).

We would also add the Z51 service package. This increases the sticker price by $ 5,000, but includes improved brakes, tires, and suspension, a power exhaust system that releases maximum power, and an electronic locking differential that ensures that power gets to the sidewalk efficiently.

2020 Chevrolet Corvette StingrayStephen Edelstein / Digital Trends

We would also upgrade from the basic GT1 seats to the GT2 seats – an option of $ 1,495. These offer more support than the GT1 seats, but are not as aggressively padded as the available competition seats, so they are probably more comfortable in everyday use. However, drivers of different body types may think differently.

Without engaging in any of the customization options, these options raise the price of our hypothetical Corvette from $ 59,995 to $ 73,790.

Our opinion

The 2020 Corvette Stingray is a great car. The well thought-out integration of technology, impeccable manners in daily driving and responsive performance make this car a car that everyone can enjoy.

The previous generation Corvette was great too, but Chevy’s ambitious reinvention has improved this model. The performance is a step above other cars in the Corvette price range, such as the Toyota Supra and the Porsche 718 Boxster / Cayman, as is the technology.

That makes the latest Corvette a rival for exotic ones like the Ferrari F8 Tributo and Lamborghini Huracán, though this humble Chevy is unlikely to have the Italians' cache. The Porsche 911 and Aston Martin Vantage are behind the Corvette on the data sheet, but offer a better old-school experience with available manual transmissions and more traditional cockpit layouts.

Some media have also compared the 2020 Corvette to the Ford Shelby GT500, an inflated version of the Mustang specifically designed for racing. But the two cars have a very different character. The GT500 is a prize fighter who has taken ballet classes. The new Corvette was born to dance.

Should you get one?

Yes. The Corvette has jumped from a sports car to a super sports car.

Editor's recommendations




03 Mar
Blog

Adaptation Is Not a Bad Word, Body Confusion Is

As spring approaches, many of us run the risk of making serious mistakes in your training for the rest of the year, and revising this bug program is one of them.

However, this does not mean that changing things that do not work is not justified. Rather, frequent program changes at the beginning do not allow any adjustments. The renowned scientist Hans Seyle is known for the “General Adaptation Syndrome” (GAS) concept, which describes the three physiological stages that the human body goes through under stress. These include the alarm response level, resistance level and fatigue level.

Adaptation is not a bad word, body confusion is - fitness, overtraining, rest and relaxation, hypertrophy, muscle building, muscle control, training plan, general adaptation syndrome, Hans Seyle

To create a solid training program, the American College of Sports Medicine, together with the National Academy of Sports Medicine, uses GAS guidelines as a means to create resistance programs for the general population to determine the rep range, choice of exercises, etc. ,

This is done to maximize muscle building. The work of Dr. However, Seyle is best suited to avoid overtraining GAS research done by Samuel Buckner and others about possible misuse in strength training.

To understand the dilemma, Buckner reviewed Seyle's original work and found that his work was due to exposure to toxic levels of pharmacological agents and stimuli.

In addition, the everyday lifter can follow a periodization plan for muscle size and strength, in which the athlete is exposed to constant strains outside of strength training, such as in sports and life. This amount of life stress and the like does not explain how the athlete should follow a training program to maximize profits.

Strength training versus aerobic training

According to Knuttgen, strength training and aerobics differ in their own way. High intensity strength training for more than 20 repetitions is not possible. Knuttgen explains that it takes a few weeks to get used to this form of training physiologically.

However, aerobic training consumes a maximum of 20% of the maximum output and is therefore dependent on the oxygen supply and small organelles, the mitochondria that supply the tissue with energy. He further expresses that repetitions are a more sensible conversation when it comes to strength training, while time and heart rate are far more important in sports like cycling.

This does not mean that you cannot talk about repetitions during aerobic exercise, However, it makes more sense to consider the time and type of cardio performed while your body can adapt to the improvement in overall performance. With progress in strength training, the rates can decrease to an adjustable volume per week in favor of a higher percentage of the 1RM.

In my experience as a natural athlete, over training in Seyle's definition is usually not achieved by most general weekend warriors, and it is far more useful to focus more on a consistent program. According to my professional recommendation, cardiovascular training should be a challenge, but not impossible.

Stair masters, kickboxing, taibo, sled kicks, combat ropes or jump ropes are some examples that help to support healthy joints. Otherwise, the world is your oyster with stationary bikes, zumba, etc. However, choose two types of cardio a week and strive for maximum time while increasing tolerance every week. Do not start changing cardio frequently, as this, along with changing strength training, can be a daunting task.

My clients often have three types of cardio to complete. Most do two types, but rarely do all three – and that's fine. It's better to extend the runtime than to worry about how many climbers you complete in a minute,

Weight training has recently become an atrocity on social media. It seems everyone has the latest and greatest training plan. Some swear by having the exact exercises required to achieve your goals.

However, exercise encyclopedias do not improve your performance. They can teach you about different movements and encourage you to stay open. The main exercises, however, are universal.

These exercises include, but are not limited to: pushing up, pulling up, diving, squatting, deadlift, hip extension, knee bending, knee extension, plank, overhead / shoulder press, row, bench / dumbbell press, and mostly patience.

Don't make it complicated

Confusing your body with breakaway rows of stability balls or squats on half a Bosu ball is a recipe for disaster, injury, and an award on YouTube, Keep it simple in Bruce Lee's words. Track your progress weekly and try to eat and exercise as regularly as possible. For example, eat four meals a day and train each part of the body differently each day.

It is important that you leave your ego at the door and actively strive for function and strength, not muscle confusion and tricky techniques that will help you achieve your goals quickly. My parents always said to me: "What comes quickly goes quickly."

For advanced lifters, don't skip the gym and fix what isn't broken. Form creep can occur with certain movements, which indicates bottlenecks and mobility problems. However, do not try to change your program every week.

Instead, replace one or two exercises with something else. This ensures general well-being. Work for success and remember that mistakes occur – and consistency is key.

03 Mar
Blog

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 Review | Built for business

Headphones with Bose Noise Canceling 700

"The new Noise Canceling Headphones 700 from Bose offer an unbelievable demand for business class pleasure."

  • Excellent noise cancellation

  • Very convenient

  • Remarkable speech intelligibility for calls and voice assistants

  • Connect to multiple devices at the same time.

  • USB-C offers convenient quick charging

  • Boost to Lower Treble is tough

  • Requires the Bose Music app to control many functions

This review was last updated on February 19th, 2019 by Nick Woodard, employee of Digital Trends.

Since Sony defeated Bose in its own game with its WH-1000XM3, I've been looking forward to an update of the Bose QC 35 II. Now it has arrived.

With the Noise Canceling Headphones 700 (hereinafter referred to as "Bose 700”) Announced, Bose played better speech intelligibility for phone calls and interactions with voice assistants like Alexa from Amazon and Google Assistant. The company made no mention of changes in sound quality, but it turned out to be updated as well, and even a quick look reveals a new physical design. However, it's not immediately apparent that Bose's new Bose Music app offers additional touch controls and features.

As it turns out, there is something new about the Bose 700. But are they a smart buy for $ 400, especially when the award-winning QC 35 II is still available for at least $ 50 less? We dug deep to find out who wanted the Bose 700 and who could stick to the tried and tested QC 35 II or other items like the popular Sony 1000XM3.

Out of the box

You can immediately see that Bose has made some design changes. The Bose 700 case is much flatter than most of the competition, which makes it easier to slide the case into airline seat bags for in-flight storage.

The slim form factor is thanks to a somewhat wider housing, in which the headphones can be simply flipped in and out by simply turning the ear cups – no complex folding technique required. There is a hidden compartment in the protective cover, which is closed with a magnetic flap. Lift the flap and you will find a headphone cable and a short USB-C charging cable. Bose has digthe increasingly unnecessary airline adapter for this iteration.

The Bose 700 takes a different design approach, which is characterized in particular by the way the ear cups are attached to the headband. Instead of continuing the yoke-like bracket that allowed earlier models to swivel and tilt generously, the 700 are attached directly to the inner band of the headband on the outside of the ear cup. There is less adjustment potential, but I've found that this doesn't pose a problem for my head size or shape – the Bose 700 feels great to me.

The comfort factor seems to be a kind of debate among the reviewers. I've seen others claim that the Bose 700 isn't as light or comfortable as the Bose QC 35 II, but by numbers they're actually 2 ounces lighter (8.9 to 10.9 ounces). You put onYou also don't need a scale to feel lighter. Take a pair with each hand and you can feel the difference.

You don't need a scale to feel lighter.

The weight difference is less pronounced when worn, but comfort has always been heavily dependent on the weight distribution. If the right balance of clamping force meets a sufficiently wide and well-padded headband, a slightly heavier headphone can actually feel more comfortable than a slightly lighter option. As I mentioned before, the 700 are indeed lighter and in my opinion offer the perfect weight distribution. The headband is a bit muddy – if not covered with luxurious fabric – and the ear cups have a slightly larger circumference, which means that the clamping force is well placed around the ears and not on them.

Of course this is only a description of my Experience. Different head sizes and shapes as well as different ear sizes play a role in the feeling of the headphones. So my suggestion is that you try the headphones yourself and see if they feel like an improvement in comfort or a step backwards.

Features and other extras

Along with changes to the physical design, Bose integrated new controls for the 700. The controls for play / pause, title advance / rewind and volume are managed via a touchpad on the right ear cup. Only three physical buttons are found. With a button on the left you can adjust the intensity of the noise suppression at levels 0, 5 and 10. You can also turn off noise cancellation while pausing the music. Two buttons on the right offer controls for pairing power / Bluetooth and calling the voice assistant of your choice, including Alexa, Google Assistant and even Cortana on Windows computers.

Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 reviewJulian Chokkattu / Digital Trends

Then there's the new Bose Music app. I usually don't care about companion apps because they rarely add value to the experience. In this case, however, I recommend anyone who buys the Bose 700 to download the app that is available for iOS and Android, The Bose Music app allows users to pair the headphones with their phone (which is possible without the app), rename their headphones as they wish (the names suggested by Bose are hilarious. Thunder Flash, anyone?) And detailed control over them Exercise effectiveness of 0-10 noise reduction and paired device management.

The app also lets you manage all of your music services from one place, and save preferred playlists as convenient presets for one-touch access. If you own other connected Bose products, you can use this app to manage music playback through sound bars and wireless speakers individually or in groups.

There is no better headset for answering calls.

Like the Bose QC 35 II and Bose Frames Alto, The Bose 700 work with Bose AR, an interesting audio-based version of augmented reality. If you're using certain AR-enabled apps and an iOS device with location data enabled, users can enjoy experiences like advanced instructions in the Walc app. Instead of asking you to turn right in 0.2 miles, you may be asked to turn right on the walgreens. Or if you're looking for an amusing adventure on your way to work or home, try Komrad AR, a game that turns you into a secret agent standing in the way of an evil computer striving for global dominance. It sounds a bit tricky, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to trying Bose AR.

Finally, a word about battery performance. With fast charge, the Bose 700 can play for 2 to 2.5 hours on a 15-minute charge. The total playing time with noise cancellation activated is approximately 20 hours. Without activated noise cancellation, this number increases to 40.

Noise Reduction Performance

As you'd expect, the Bose 700 are excellent noise cancelers. However, what you may not expect is that the noise canceling effectiveness may differ slightly from that of the QC 35 II. What I noticed is that the 700 seems to suppress more static high-frequency noise than previous models. I can see this works well for air travel as it picks up more hiss you hear from an aircraft's ventilation system.

However, I also noticed that more center frequencies went through than I am used to with Bose noise canceling headphones. I haven't had a chance to test the 700 on a flight yet – I had to use a noise machine and real sounds for this review – but I'm getting on a plane soon and will update this review accordingly. Right now I'm ready to say that the 700 will improve the already impressive noise cancellation technology for air travel, but for everyday use in the office or when commuting on a bus or train, I would prefer the QC 35 II.

S.quality

I honestly didn't expect the changes Bose had made here. The 700 have a very significant boost in the upper middle and lower treble range, which makes them sound very detailed with more relaxed tracks, but if you get a few cymbals or brass players going, they become a little aggressive – some even say hard. I want to point out that the 700 feels more spacious and sophisticated when it comes to audio placement – watching movies with these headphones is a blast – but the audiophile in me can't ignore that the 700 isn't nearly as good for everyday use sounds good as Sony WH-1000XM3 or Bose QC 35 II.

After all, I suspect that the Bose 700 will sound great on a flight. The forward-looking presentation in the high-end area helps to avoid noises that the cans cannot suppress and gives clarity to the dialogue in films, instruments and vocals in music. The more I listen to these headphones, the more I am convinced that they have been optimized for air traffic.

Voice / call quality

Simply put, there is no better headphone to take calls or interact with digital voice assistants. Bose microphone technology makes a remarkable contribution to suppressing background noise to provide clean, clear, and very good-sounding voice quality to those on the other end of the call. In fact, there's a good chance the Bose 700 will sound better than your phone's built-in microphone.

For anyone who answers a lot of calls on their phone, this single feature should be convincing enough to require a purchase.

warranty information

Bose offers a standard 1-year warranty on the Noise Canceling Headphones 700. However, this can vary depending on the product and region. Visit this page to learn more about Bose's warranty on a product and regional basis.

Our opinion

Is there a better alternative?

For audiophiles who need the best possible sound in noisy environments, I prefer the Sony WH-1000XM3. Overall, they offer superior audio quality. The 700 is the way to go for the most effective noise cancellation while flying and for anyone who appreciates headphones for phone calls and works with voice assistants beyond all other considerations.

The Bose QC 35 II are still a good choice and are now sometimes available for less than $ 300. That's a lot, although the Bose 700 upgrades are worth paying extra if you make it.

How long it will take?

Time will tell, but the Bose 700 seems to be built just as well as all of the company's earlier headphones. So far, they have held up well under my stress tests, which leads me to believe that these headphones last as long as the battery.

Should you buy it

Yes. If you're an entrepreneur who takes a lot of calls with headphones turned on and / or travels a lot by plane, be sure to buy the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 – they're worth the $ 50 upgrade.

Editor's recommendations




03 Mar
Blog

Why Training Partners Are Essential

Someone is strange who takes a dangerous path or climbs the highest peak without the support of a team and the encouragement of a partner who goes on the hike with them. If someone hikes alone on a monstrous mountain, he has probably done it with others many times. They initially relied on the help of a guide and the help of a group of people who took on the task with them before they could do it themselves,

The desire to share an experience is practically the same for anyone starting a new physical or fitness practice. You might start a new sport or go to the gym for the first time to start exercising. And if you think, why should it be the same? It is human behavior, In both cases, you need guidance and companionship with others who share this experience and want to do the same work.

The typical gym

What membership fluctuation rates do big box gyms see? I imagine there are statistics somewhere, but even without them, it's a safe conclusion that it's high. Some health clubs have also created a structure in which members are automatically charged monthly fees, although they rarely, if ever, use the facility,

The entire membership funnel from marketing to after-sale is designed and set up for this. These health clubs are of course dishonest about their intentions. However, the entire framework fragments and isolates members from one another so that they can never group together or receive the support they need from each other to progress.

What we long for

Ultimately, most of our behaviors and motivation come from searching for connection, This includes ambitions to get in shape. When people can and can get together to participate in an activity such as lifting weights, they connect. But there is more than just a feeling of connection due to the common interest.

When you improve physically, your health, endurance, performance and appearance change for the better. and your mind, whatever you think, is not separate from your body or mind, When your physical health improves, your mental health improves, and vice versa.

When mind and body are in harmony,

  • You can connect more deeply with every experience and with every person.
  • You have a better direction of how you can live your life.
  • You can get the energy of shared experience.
  • You feel more comfortable with yourself and this will also be noticeable in others.
  • You will really connect with others if you work authentically.

With the connection, the experiences we share can become the narrative we all want to build with friends. We want to create a story together that we can remember later and relive together.

Gyms can be a great place to find this. Sharing physical battles undoubtedly brings friends closer. That is why we make training partners friends and we make our friends our training partners.

It is much more likely that the bonding experience will take place in a smaller independent gym than in a major company type. These smaller indie gyms with tight communities instantly connect to others working on this concentrated strength or high-intensity discipline.

And you should be working on finding a place like this where you can work out if you're looking for fitness in four walls, This is the time when we find a place where we can satisfy what we long for with people who can identify with that desire.

Fight, shared

The need for a struggle to deal with is built into people. We have not met this primary need and it is not a matter of opinion.

If we don't have an obvious external struggle to get involved with, we create a pseudo-struggle in our minds, our daily lives, our relationships, and sometimes in society. Creating an imaginary conflict is a way to self-sabotage – something I can talk about.

The selection and strategic challenge of some physical struggles that we have to face on a daily basis prevents us from creating artificial mental conflicts that are more harmful than instructive, But here's the problem: The physical struggle, by our standards, must be serious and significant enough in our minds to prevent us from creating more fictional mental conflicts that cause self-sabotage.

It seems that we all have an inner judge who decides whether what we do deserves our efforts and undisturbed focus. If not, our thoughts will wander and we will look for other conflicts.

But if we spend time with others who are participating in the same type of fight as we do, physically or otherwise, and we see that they are enthusiastic about wrestling with it, the mountain itself seems worthwhile.

It is essential for our group, so we believe that it is undeniably crucial. And that's why it is necessary to train a physical discipline or to do sports with teammates in order not to stop,

The role of the fight

My powerlifting trainer and employer, when I was a college strength trainer, was my training partner for many years. He decided to keep the fight as strong as possible and never deviated from it.

When I trained with him, my life was straightforward and my thoughts were clear. I had few concerns and thought about my work and training. I took up my coach's fight and focused my will on it and it kept me on a direct path, I have made unique improvements in this regard and my focus has kept me from unnecessarily complex in my life.

Then I left this job, this place, this training partner and this particular job. And without this worthy effort, I made my life complicated. The complications then drove me further away from training, and without anyone to share the practice with, I resigned from any concentrated physical pursuit.

Years passed; I started Olympic weightlifting again, but without consistency or diligence. Eventually, however, I was fortunate enough to bring great weightlifting trainers and former world-class Olympic weightlifters to my gym. I was taught by them and had the opportunity to train next to them.

I have to live out new stories and share them with new people. They provided support and friendship, and I made progress and matured in life lifting and weight lifting and learning to focus my energies.

I kept my goal of participating in a physical fight and added more. I teamed up with Muay Thai fighters and then with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu players. I spent time with more experienced opponents and learned how they thought about their work. I found that martial artists and martial artists have an unusual way of joining together to advance personally and individually.

In strength training, the training partners support each other to overcome some external obstacles. But in the martial arts school they test and fight against each other in order to push and grow internally, It's not just about contesting the person in front of you. It's about tackling your internal struggles and barriers and using the struggle with others as an instrument to do so.

Almost everyone in these places understands this, even if they don't recognize it. When sparring and practice are over, they feel more connected than before. You are grateful to the other person for the gift received, They shared an experience that will help both of them on their way to progress and understanding.

Designate your vehicle for growth

Jiu-Jitsu seems to be one of the best means for personal growth, and it is connected with the need for a community of supportive people. I speak as an absolute beginner with no experience and only with a new perspective to compare behavior patterns that I have observed elsewhere.

All martial arts can be described as physical chess between opponents. And jiu-jitsu seems to be one of the most difficult chess games, Confrontation and strikes require instinctive reactions that have to develop into a habit.

But there is also an active intellectual struggle when you change strategies, read your opponent and adjust your movement while the person opposite you reacts to your movements and actions.

The complexity and possibility of attacks and defenses in Jiu-Jitsu make this all the more complicated. So it is necessary to roll with different types of people in a school to train your strength and skills, Everyone on this mat understands this and it creates a completely shared recognition that this is a worthwhile struggle. They form a group of people who believe that this practice will produce a better person.

Share the successes

Everything that is done is better if it is shared with others. It makes the good better. People have a spirit when they win together and achieve something together in cooperation and support, When they move forward together, it is almost as if there is another force with them, a recognizable spirit that is independent of a person.

There is also responsibility when you share your efforts with a group, Not a person can be flawless in their efforts or absolutely objective about where they are neglected and where they need to focus on improvements.

Everyone needs training partners to be honest, to pull, push, pull, or sometimes pick them up – and they also need to learn what it's like to do that for others. If you do this, you will understand and get to know this spirit. By giving this, you can get it better and with greater impact.

This is the beauty of the group that shares the adventure. Therefore, it is undeniably important to find this group and your training partners, regardless of which fitness or exercise you choose, A partner will support you and give you meaning. And with that purpose, you can stay on the right path, even if life seems to do everything to keep you from going.

Jesse competes in Olympic weightlifting and used to be a powerlifter. It has been featured in major strength and fitness publications. You can read more of his work on his website.

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02 Mar
Blog

Samsung Galaxy Buds+ Review: Slick, Simple, Killer Battery

"With improved audio and a continuing commitment to convenience and ease of use, Samsung has done a lot more to improve the quality of its real wireless buds."

  • 11 hours of battery life

  • Comfortable, light design

  • Additional accessories for an ideal fit

  • Stellar customization app

  • The charging case contains only one charge

Sequels don't always have to be worse than the original. The Terminator 2 was the blockbuster of its predecessor in every way, and Red Dead Redemption 2 was a masterpiece. Now it seems Samsung's new real wireless earbuds could be one of the success stories of the second edition.

Samsung's Galaxy Buds + were unveiled at the company's Galaxy Unpacked event on February 11 and were available for sale on the Samsung website for $ 150 three days later. Judging by the modest price increase of the original Galaxy Buds ($ 129) and the look and functionality of the new buds, it's clear that Samsung knew the wheel didn't need to be reinvented. The company just needed to make some improvements and keep prices low enough to be a serious competitor to Apple AirPods.

The verdict on the G-Buds + is: The latest products from Samsung are just right.

Let's go

As has become the standard for brands like Samsung and Apple, packaging, accessories and the actual Galaxy Buds + adhere to a less-is-more-aesthetic. Opening the compact white box reveals an even more compact, pill-shaped charging case with the buds embedded in it. Also included are a USB charging cable, two additional pairs of earplugs and sports fins, and a quick start guide to guide you through the setup.

The setup is pretty painless by the way. Most major brands have finally made this a simple science, and Samsung is no exception. However, those who are not yet familiar with Samsung wearables have to go through some digital frames.

Riley Young / Digital Trends

First, you want to download the Galaxy Wearable app and give the app access to your phone. Next, download the Galaxy Buds + plug-in, allow a few more permissions for the buds themselves, and the buds will automatically connect to your device when you open the charging case.

From there, the next step pulls the buds out of the case and fits them in your ear.

The buds were a bit small for me with their initial earplugs because the seal didn't feel safe in my ears. After swapping larger tips, I found them to be as comfortable as their predecessors, with an extremely lightweight construction that would almost make you forget that they were there, if not the sound emanating from their double drivers.

That's a lot of battery

One of the biggest improvements that Samsung touted for its new buds was the improved battery, which it claims has a playtime of 11 hours between charges. With the original Galaxy Buds, it's 6 hours and miles away from the company's first pair of buds, the Gear IconX.

In fact, we still have to try a pair with a longer battery life per charge. They offer more than twice the playing time of Apple's more expensive AirPods (including the second-generation pair and AirPods Pro for $ 250). Unlike the AirPods, the Galaxy Buds + only offers a single charge in the case. However, since it is 11 hours per recording, playback is almost a full day and just under Apple's 24 hours.

The lifespan of these buds is as excellent as stated, but there is an interesting quirk.

In terms of this battery life requirement, the life of these buds is as excellent as stated, but there is an interesting quirk. The app offers you charging status for each bud as well as the charging case itself. I noticed that my right bud ran out of juice faster than the left one. It was a little difference, usually no more than two or three percent at a time. It's a puzzling feature, though not entirely surprising – we've noticed the same thing with older Samsung earbuds, including the Galaxy IconX 2018.

Custom grade

The Galaxy Buds + have standard programmed gestures for the touchpads of each bud. Touch once to play or pause music, tap twice to go to the next track, answer / end calls, and tap three times to go backward.

We feel obliged to point out that all these gestures failed on this first pass with these buds. However, after disconnecting and reconnecting, each gesture worked smoothly and has continued since then. We should also mention that a colleague had another pair of Galaxy Buds + in the office and had no problems with the controls.

Some other touch controls are also available. You can use the app to determine which earbuds control functions such as voice commands, switch ambient sounds on and off, switch playlists in Spotify and increase or decrease the volume. In our tests, each of these controls worked perfectly.

Riley Young / Digital Trends

In terms of Spotify, the integration here is both compelling and just makes us ask for a little more. With a long press on the Galaxy Buds + touchpad, Spotify continues to play the most recently played playlist. Another long press and the buds will go to the next playlist in your collection, although there doesn't seem to be a way to determine what that will be. This could be a playlist you created, a “Daily Mix” playlist curated by Spotify based on your listening habits, or a recently listened to playlist. It definitely kept us musically busy, and frankly that's not a bad thing, but more direction when switching between playlists wouldn't be bad either.

Sound and call quality

With two dynamic drivers – a woofer and a tweeter – as well as a new speaker and microphone system from the Samsung subsidiary AKG, the company has described its new buds as being able to produce studio-quality sound.

We wouldn't go that far and we wouldn't expect that at $ 150 either. Frankly, studio quality is a buzzword that shouldn't be used for any kind of wireless earphones.

The Galaxy Buds + immediately sounded clearer to our ears than the AirPods.

However, what we would say for the money is that the Galaxy Buds + present a very appealing sound stage with decent bass and a clear upper register. The app offers several equalizer presets that allow you to customize the sound to your liking.

For most tracks, from Blues Traveler & # 39; s Hook to Maroon 5 & # 39; s Girls Like You, the "dynamic" equalizer setting produced the best overall sound, avoiding the sometimes flat-sounding "normal" setting and less Brightness was offered as a "height boost". For us, this dynamic environment was the sweet spot. A few choices sounded a bit unnatural (I can think of a few classic rock songs), but for the most part, this setting best combined vocal clarity and unmixed instrumental music.

The Galaxy Buds + immediately sounded clearer to our ears than the AirPods, although they weren't as detailed or defined as the beautiful AirPods Pro. The latter has active noise cancellation, a feature that Samsung's wireless offerings have missed. At the price, however, it makes sense that the Galaxy Buds + left out the technology. The only earphones under $ 200 that have noise protection features are the Amazon Echo Buds, and even these only offer active noise reduction instead of full cancellation.

Riley Young / Digital Trends

For what it's worth, the Samsung Galaxy Buds + make a commendable contribution to suppressing outside noise.

With regard to the call quality, we are happy to report after a few test runs that the calls are received clearly and without great distortion from the outside environment. Voices on the other end sounded somewhat distant in some places, but it was minimal.

warranty information

Samsung's 12-month warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship.

Our opinion

If the Galaxy Buds + kept the same as the original Galaxy Buds and simply doubled the battery life, it would still be an improvement that is worth the cost. With improved audio and a continuous commitment to comfort and ease of use, Samsung has done a lot more to improve the quality of its real wireless buds.

Is there a better alternative?

While the Galaxy Buds + certainly offers more than enough features to hold its own against more expensive competitors, the $ 200 1More Wireless ANC and the $ 200 Jabra Elite 75t would be solid alternatives without breaking the bank completely. The Air Pods from Apple and the Echo Buds from Amazon also fit in the same category as the Galaxy Buds +. Depending on the ecosystem you are already invested in, both may be preferable.

Still, it's hard to find earphones that can do everything the Samsung Galaxy Buds + can do at this price.

How long it will take?

Samsung's products are generally a long-lived breed, and these Galaxy Buds + shouldn't be an exception. With replaceable earplugs and fins, they seem to be well equipped for the long haul.

Should you buy it

Yes. Samsung's successor to the original Galaxy Bud introduces groundbreaking battery life into the landscape of real wireless earphones, optimizes already solid audio performance and maintains an attractive price. This is a formula for success in our book.

Editor's recommendations




02 Mar
Blog

7 Effective Antioxidants To Add to Your Skin Care Routine

If you find that you justify this second glass of wine on a weekday with "the antioxidants", you may be on the right track – especially with regard to skin care. However, before uncorking another bottle or investing in a product with a variety of wellness buzzwords, it's important to understand what antioxidants really are and what effects they have on your body, and consequently on beauty.

What are antioxidants and free radicals?

As one of the most frequently mentioned health properties, we know that antioxidants are beneficial for our skin, but how exactly? Before we look at the solution they offer, let's start with the problem: free radicals. Certain environments (read: air pollution, intense solar radiation) can cause atoms in our body to split, causing the now singular electrons to jump around to find another electron to work with.

“Molecules strive to have a pair of electrons in their outer shells. So if they lose an electron, they become unstable, ”explains Dr. Hooman Khorasani, chief physician for dermatological and cosmetic surgery at Mount Sinai health system, "Free radicals try to regain this electron by oxidizing other molecules like the cell's own DNA, enzymes and proteins."

Benefits of antioxidants for your skin

oxidation affects the body as well as a car: it accelerates aging. In their search for a new coupling, free radicals damage healthy cells and damage our bodies. It is known that a higher content of free radicals catalyzes diseases such as diabetes, heart diseases and even cancer, and contributes to faster aging by weakening the elasticity of the skin. Fortunately, there are antioxidants that stop free radicals in their tracks without adding Dr. Khorasani added to become free radicals yourself. Preventing free radical damage isn't the only value of antioxidants. In maintaining our cell health, they naturally moisturize and reduce inflammation in our skin.

Antioxidant infographic

Types of antioxidants

While antioxidants occur naturally in our bodies, we can also increase our antioxidant levels with various naturally occurring nutrients. "Products full of antioxidants protect the skin in the long term." Eminence Organics Lead skin trainer Natalie Pergar explained. "Antioxidants benefit … by fighting both external and internal signs of aging, preventing free radical damage, reducing surface inflammation and increasing collagen production to keep skin cells firm and youthful."

Mangosteens

xanthones

It is a favorite fruit of wellness experts Mangosteen, which intuitively has nothing to do with mangoes. It was named Queen of Fruits by Queen Victoria for its superior taste. The super fruit is also full of antioxidants called xanthones, which protect the cells, reduce inflammation, lower blood sugar levels and prevent environmental and anti-fruit. inflammatory damage to the skin. Studies have shown that mangosteen extracts can protect against UV damage, which causes fine lines, wrinkles and age spots and supports the appearance of elasticity in the skin, which keeps the complexion radiant and full. However, the biological activities of this compound are not only antioxidative. It has also been shown to be anti-allergic, antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral.

Vitamin E.

Vitamin E is naturally produced and stored by your body as needed. It can also be consumed over avocados, almonds and leafy greens and is known for its effectiveness against dark spots and protecting the skin from Photoaging. It is also particularly strong when combined with vitamin C for an evening skin tone.

orange tree

vitamin C

Citrus fruits such as lemons, oranges, grapefruits and passion fruits stop cell degeneration with this powerful free radical neutralizer and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles Protection against and healing of UV damage (goodbye dark spots!) For more radiant skin.

All citrus fruits contain naturally occurring amounts of vitamin C, which serves as a powerful antioxidant with unlimited benefits for every skin type

"All citrus fruits contain naturally occurring amounts of vitamin C, which serves as a powerful antioxidant with unlimited benefits for every skin type," confirms Brian Goodwin, Eminence Organics International Trainer.

Increasing collagen production and cell regeneration – the common targets of free radicals – not only does this Vitamin C reduces the appearance of uneven skin tone, but smoothes the skin texture and improves the overall appearance of the skin, making you look younger and longer. In short: Vitamin C is one of the most valuable players in skin care, or, according to Natalie, "an all-round savior (of the skin)".

polyphenols

Like mangosteen, cocoa is considered an "antioxidant powerhouse" that contains antioxidants called polyphenols. "Cocoa not only smells delicious, it is also rich in antioxidants that work wonders to smooth your skin," says Natalie. polyphenols Defend plants against radiation (which means UV damage for us). This protection for your complexion Reduces fine lines and wrinkles and leaves your skin looking plump, hydrated and rejuvenated.

flavonoids

These natural pigments that Protective plants at the cellular level are also responsible for vibrant colored plants such as strawberries. They are one of the reasons why fruits and vegetables are nutritious, relieve inflammation and help us avoid UV damage and light aging.

Acai bowl

anthocyanins

This type of flavonoid occurs in foods that appear purple, blue or black like berries and acai and are associated with the treatment of a number of diseases such as high blood pressure and colds. It also slows down photoaging, protects against sun damage, stress and pollution, and prevents collagen loss.

lycopene

Lycopene is another pigment in red fruits and vegetables (like tomatoes and red currants). It protects plants from minor damage and helps manage the environmental impact on our own bodies. Ironic, Lycopene actually reduces the reddening of our skin caused by UV damage and also fends off light aging.

As we get older, you can incorporate several antioxidant-rich products into your everyday life (as well as a more comprehensive one in general) Daily routine) is crucial for the longevity of your skin. Whether you're reaching for a vitamin C serum, applying a cocoa mask at home, or upgrading your daily smoothie to an avocado almond milk mangosteen acai bowl, there are plenty of ways to get enough antioxidants into your system Filter to free radicals to stop their traces and you will soon reap the benefits both inside and out.

Find out more about the Mangosteen collection with antioxidants that improve the appearance of the vitality and radiance of your skin. Visit an Eminence Organics partner spa to receive personalized recommendations and learn how to incorporate antioxidants into your skin care routine.

02 Mar
Blog

Nerding Out on Muscle Growth, Strength, and Rep Schemes

Greg Nuckols is a record-breaking powerlifter, fitness author, podcaster and all-round training nerd owner of Stronger by Science. He wants to help lifters and trainers train smarter.

In this episode we discuss:

  • The predictors of muscle potential
  • Training guidelines for hypertrophy
  • The role of strength in hypertrophy
  • Why he doesn't drink the effective repetitions of Kool-Aid

If you liked this podcast and you cared about it, rate and rate it so that we can spread the word and motivate and inspire others to take their performance to the next level. More podcasts of this kind can be found on the Six Pack of Knowledge page.

02 Mar
Blog

2021 Kia Seltos First Drive Review: Great Tech, Great Value

2021 Kia Seltos

2021 Kia Seltos

"The 2021 Kia Seltos offers functionality and technology alike."

  • Spacious interior

  • Capable all-wheel drive

  • Peppy turbo engine

  • Great technical value

  • Control elements for driver assistance buried in the touchscreen

  • Mediocre handling

Variety can be the spice of life, right? But too much spice can cause heartburn.

In the media campaign for the Seltos 2021, Kia listed no fewer than 17 vehicles as potential competitors for its new subcompact crossover. This list includes prestigious models such as the Honda HR-V and the Hyundai Kona, the latter from Kia's parent brand. What did Kia do to differentiate the Seltos from this large group of rivals?

Shoppers may think they'll get sturdy SUVs, but vehicles in this class are essentially hatchbacks on stilts. Nevertheless, Kia made the Seltos as SUV-like as possible and gave it a more sophisticated all-wheel drive system than many of its competitors. Kia also emphasized the value and gave the Seltos a long list of driver aids and technical features.

Kia offers buyers a unique selection. The base price of $ 23,110 buys either an LX model with all-wheel drive or an S model without all-wheel drive (with more technical functions). Kia provided a four-wheel drive SX model with all-wheel drive for testing that starts at $ 29,010.

2021 Kia Seltos

Design & interior

The Seltos shares a base platform with the Hyundai Kona, but the two crossovers couldn't be more different when it comes to the exterior design. Where the Hyundai consists only of science fiction curves, the Kia looks more traditional and angular. It may be more like a compact hatchback, but the Seltos looks like an SUV.

It also offers more SUV-like benefits than many of its competitors. The Seltos offers significantly more space in the rear seats than its Kona platform mate and more cargo space than any direct competitor. However, the "Magic" folding mechanism of the Honda HR-V in the rear seat makes it easier to use the available cargo space. The Honda also offers more legroom in the rear seats than the Kia, while the Jeep Renegade offers more headroom in the front and rear. Regardless, the Seltos offers enough additional benefits to justify buying a car of comparable size – which is not always the case in this segment.

The interior of the Selto is also a nice place. It's not exactly fancy, but the materials feel reasonable for this price range. The upright roof leaves plenty of space for glass, offers a good view to the outside and gives the interior an airy feeling. The front seats felt decently comfortable in one day, and the back seats lean back.

2021 Kia Seltos

Tech, infotainment & driver assistant

The standard infotainment system includes an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. SX models receive a 10.25-inch touchscreen as well as integrated navigation and satellite radio. While the systems have Kia's Uvo branding, they have the same graphics as the BlueLink systems we saw in the last Hyundai models.

It is not a bad thing. It is typical for Kia (and Hyundai) that the infotainment interface is not a problem, but is still easy to use. The only big mistake is that Kia forces the driver to dive deep into the on-screen menus to turn the driver aids on and off. It's not exactly easy to drive while driving, and we'd like Kia to have some hard buttons instead.

Speaking of driver aids: The Seltos offers more than its sibling Hyundai Kona. The LX equipment variant is equipped as standard with autonomous emergency braking (including pedestrian and cyclist detection) and a driver's attention monitor. For the same basic price, the S equipment variant offers a lane departure warning system and an automatic high beam. However, you have to do without the all-wheel drive to get it.

The infotainment interface is a bit uncomplicated, but still easy to use.

The adaptive cruise control is available, but only in the upper SX equipment variant. This function is not available on the Kona at all, but is available on some competitors and on the Honda HR-V standard. The Nissan Rogue Sport is available with the automaker's ProPilot Assist system, which combines adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering.

The Seltos also has a lane keeping assistant, which gives the lane keeping assistant a little more functionality. As standard, equipment variant S shows the center of the lane and not the lane markings in order to keep the vehicle on the right track. This means that the system steers proactively instead of waiting for the car to get off track. You can feel how the tracking support works, almost as if there are another pair of hands on the steering wheel. However, the inputs are relatively gentle, unlike some of the more basic lane keeping assistants we've come across.

2021 Kia Seltos

Experience behind the wheel

The Seltos comes standard with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder naturally aspirated engine that delivers 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. This engine is connected to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which Kia calls the intelligent variable transmission (IVT). Our test car had the optional 1.6-liter four-cylinder with turbocharger. Thanks to turbocharging, this smaller engine delivers 175 hp and 195 lb-ft. Kia paired it with a seven-speed dual clutch transmission for a sportier driving experience.

The turbocharged powertrain is a winner. The engine offers a lot of grunt and the fast gear changes of the double clutch transmission help to form the post. This is basically the same as the Hyundai Kona Ultimate, and it was also a standout feature of this car.

However, the Kia lacks the sporty handling of the Hyundai. There's nothing wrong with handling the Selto, but it's not as sharp and precise as the Kona. However, the Seltos is more comfortable to drive than the Kona, and the target buyer is more concerned with it than with the ability to carve corners. If you want your little crossover to feel like a sports car, buy the Hyundai or even better the Mazda CX-30.

The turbocharged powertrain is a winner.

The Seltos is available with front or four-wheel drive, the latter offering more functions than many systems in this segment. It allows the driver to manually lock the torque in a 50/50 split front / rear to ensure that the car doesn't drive front-wheel as standard. Torque vectoring directs performance from side to side to turn the seltos into corners. Hill start assist and hill descent control are standard. The four-wheel drive system even has a cool name: Dynamax.

These functions should increase confidence in bad weather or on unpaved roads, but do not make the Seltos an off-roader. Kia quickly pointed out that the Seltos has a better approach angle than a Jeep Renegade or Subaru Crosstrek, which means you're less likely to smash the front end into something when driving over uneven terrain.

But the Seltos has less ground clearance than the Crosstrek or Renegade. On a dirt road that was part of the route, something scratched the floor of the car. It is therefore hard to imagine that you feel safe when driving the Seltos on an actual off-road trail. The Renegade remains the only vehicle in this segment with real off-road capabilities.

2021 Kia Seltos

Fuel consumption and security

The fuel consumption values ​​for the 2.0-liter / CVT combination are 31 mpg (29 mpg city, 34 mpg motorway) with front-wheel drive and 29 mpg (27 mpg city, 31 mpg motorway) with all-wheel drive. The 1.6-liter turbo engine and the dual clutch transmission are only available with all-wheel drive and have a total output of 27 mpg (25 mpg city, 30 mpg highway).

Fuel consumption is quite competitive compared to other vehicles in this segment, not to mention some conventional cars. Less aerodynamic body and extra weight usually result in crossovers being penalized for mileage, but this is not very serious.

The Seltos delivers the things that distinguish crossovers from ordinary cars.

The Seltos is a new model, so it is difficult to predict future reliability. However, Kia has an overall good reputation for reliability and offers generous warranty coverage. The Kia 10-year warranty on the drivetrain and the five-year warranty of 60,000 miles on the drivetrain are only covered by the parent company Hyundai.

Crash test assessments by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) are currently not available.

How DT would configure this car

The SX trim level seems to be the best option. It not only receives the livelier turbo engine and the fast-switching dual clutch transmission, but is also the only equipment variant from Seltos with adaptive cruise control. Since the SX is the top equipment variant, it also contains the technical features of the bottom equipment variants such as autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and charging the mobile phone. Even with a base price that's about $ 6,000 higher than the cheapest Seltos, the long list of features of the SX is a good value.

Our opinion

Many crossovers in this price range claim to offer SUV robustness, but are really just glorified hatchback models. The 2021 Kia Seltos is the real deal.

The Seltos delivers the things that distinguish crossovers from ordinary cars. It offers impressive cargo space for a vehicle of this size and an all-wheel drive system that makes a real difference in bad weather. This is in contrast to the platform colleague of the Selto, the Hyundai Kona. While the Kona is a good vehicle, its lack of cargo space and car-like behavior make it difficult to buy a vehicle instead of a conventional hatchback.

In such a crowded field, competitors inevitably do certain things better than the Seltos. The Kia lacks the off-road capability of the Jeep Renegade or the off-road capability of the Mazda CX-30. While Seltos is available with many driver aids, the Honda HR-V offers more of them as standard. Although it may not be the best in some areas, the Seltos does everything well.

Should you get one?

Yes. The Seltos is an impressive value.

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