19 Jan
Blog

A Skin Care Routine For Combination Skin

Combination skin is the most common skin type, but it's also one of the most difficult to treat as you need to take a two-pronged approach to skin care. The Goal: Control excess oil in your T-Zone and add moisture to your dry areas.

How to take care of combination skin

When you look in the mirror at a greasy chin and dry patch on your cheek, you may be frustrated and wondering how to deal with multiple skin problems. Combination skin is a difficult skin type to live with. However, there are some lifestyle changes that can benefit your skin. We will unpack these below. Not sure if you have combination skin? Check out the ultimate guide to combination skin here.

Woman puts face cream on

Blotting papers are your new best friend

Blotting papers are compact, portable, and can also effectively remove grease. Use the sheets to target specific areas to be matted while leaving the dryer areas alone. As the day progresses, and as your skin becomes oily, a quick tap with blotting paper will absorb the excess oil.

Prepare for the colder months

Combination skin, like all skin types, is affected by the changes in the winter months, especially when the central heating comes on. The areas of dryness worsen and the rest of your skin may behave differently from day to day. Use a lightweight to prepare for the colder months Moisturizer on dry areas of the skin as it doesn't clog the oily areas of the skin.

Use a face mask

Using a Face mask is a great way to care for combination skin. To solve different problems at the same time, you can apply different face masks to multiple areas of your face. Eminence Organic Skin Care Various masks use concentrated amounts of vitamins and nutrients to create a radiant, youthful glow.

Treat different areas appropriately

To balance your skin, use different products to treat these issues appropriately. Dry skin can benefit from a thick moisturizer, but you don't necessarily have to use the same skin care product on an oily area of ​​your forehead. Because different parts of your skin have different needs, we've put together a skin care routine below to help balance your complexion.

A step-by-step combination for skin care

Suffering from skin that is oily and dry at the same time is more than frustrating. It's time to balance your complexion. Here are the We recommend skincare steps to keep your combination skin type in check.

1. Cleaning

Unsurprisingly, combination skin often needs different types of cleansing at different times of the day. "The biggest challenge in choosing products for combination skin is finding the ones that are the best of both worlds," he said Dr. Hooman Khorasani, Dermatological and Cosmetic Surgeon.

“Start with a mild, gentle cleanser that won't irritate or dry out the skin,” he explains Dr. Khorasani. A mildly foaming cleanser in the morning will absorb oil. At night, you can switch to a cream-based cleanser to replenish lost moisture. Most importantly, walk gently! You want to effectively remove dirt, oil, and grime without exposing your skin to harsh chemicals that can increase the feeling of dryness and trigger even greater oil production.

Product selection: Acne Advanced Cleansing Foam and Coconut Milk Cleanser

2. Peeling

Clogged pores are a common characteristic of combination skin. Eminence Organics Product Support Officer Alicia Hawthorne recommends regular peeling to avoid deposits on the surface of the skin and to clog and minimize pores. But don't go overboard. Opt for a non-abrasive scrub that is gentle on your complexion.

Product selection: Stone Crop Oxygenating Fizzofoliant

Product selection

Acne Advanced Cleansing Foam

Acne Advanced Cleansing Foam

VIEW PRODUCT

Product selection

Stone Crop Oxygenating Fizzofoliant

Stone Crop Oxygenating Fizzofoliant

VIEW PRODUCT

3rd tone

Toners ensure a balance between dry and oily skin and are therefore the perfect addition to combined skin care. Not all toners are created equal, however: to keep combination skin balanced, look for toners that contain it anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredients. The best toners minimize shine and replenish moisture to promote a healthy and balanced complexion.

Product selection: Frosting red currant mist

4. Mask

A great way to combat combination skin is through Multiple masking. This technique, which was developed for combination skin, uses two or more face masks to solve multiple skin problems at the same time. We recommend that you apply a clay mask to your T-zone to absorb oil, combat breakouts, and refine pores. Then add a cream mask to the normal to dry areas of your face to replenish moisture and soften dry skin.

Product selection: Balancing Masque Duo

5. Treat

When you have combination skin it can feel like you're struggling with skin problems from opposite sides of the spectrum. Products that replenish moisture can feel too rich for your oily skin, and products that zap oil can make you feel tight and dry. Adding a lactic acid treatment to your combo skin care regimen is one way to level the playing field: this AHA gently removes pore clogging and helps the skin retain moisture.

Product selection: Mangosteen Daily Resurfacing Concentrate

6. Moisten

With combination skin, oily and dry areas must be treated differently. Often times, the best course of action is to part and conquer: apply an oil-balancing moisturizer to your T-zone to control shine and a richer moisturizer to your cheeks to moisturize. What if you want to use a moisturizer all over your face? Opt for a lightweight lotion that combines mattifying ingredients like salicylic acid with moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid.

Product selection: Red Currant Protective Moisturizer SPF 40 for the T-Zone, Stone Crop Whip Moisturizer for the cheeks or Acne Advanced Clarifying Hydrator everywhere.

Do you have combination skin? We'd love to hear how you approach this tricky skin type. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation on social media.

Product selection

Red Currant Protection Moisturizer SPF 40

Protection from red currants Moisturizer SPF40

VIEW PRODUCT

Product selection

Stone Crop Whip Moisturizer

Stone Crop Whip Moisturizer

VIEW PRODUCT

19 Jan
Blog

The Hemp Plant’s Untapped Potential

In today's episode of the podcast about breaking muscles, I'm accompanied by Max Moldaschl. Max started his financial career but was tired, stressed, overworked and on the way to burnout.

Many of his friends and colleagues recommended that he use CBD oil to help manage his stress. Although initially skeptical of CBD oil, he took the plunge and started using it.

So positive was his experience that he began to research it extensively.

This eventually led him to found NaturalWorks. Their mission is to harness the untapped potential of the hemp plant to find natural solutions to real challenges.

In this episode we discuss::

  • What is CBD?
  • How is it different from marijuana?
  • What are the potential health and fitness benefits?
  • How NaturalWorks tries to remove the stigma from CBD and build trust in their products.

You can follow NaturalWorks on Instagram: @naturalworksofficial and get access to the CBD knowledge base.

You can also find this podcast on top of all of my other Six Pack of Knowledge podcasts (curated discussions with the world's greatest hypertrophy experts).

Or search for Breaking Muscle's channel and podcasts on the following services: iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, Stitcher, PlayerFM, PodBean.

19 Jan
Blog

The Hemp Plant’s Untapped Potential

In today's episode of the podcast about breaking muscles, I'm accompanied by Max Moldaschl. Max started his financial career but was tired, stressed, overworked and on the way to burnout.

Many of his friends and colleagues recommended that he use CBD oil to help manage his stress. Although initially skeptical of CBD oil, he took the plunge and started using it.

So positive was his experience that he began to research it extensively.

This eventually led him to found NaturalWorks. Their mission is to harness the untapped potential of the hemp plant to find natural solutions to real challenges.

In this episode we discuss::

  • What is CBD?
  • How is it different from marijuana?
  • What are the potential health and fitness benefits?
  • How NaturalWorks tries to remove the stigma from CBD and build trust in their products.

You can follow NaturalWorks on Instagram: @naturalworksofficial and get access to the CBD knowledge base.

You can also find this podcast on top of all of my other Six Pack of Knowledge podcasts (curated discussions with the world's greatest hypertrophy experts).

Or search for Breaking Muscle's channel and podcasts on the following services: iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, Stitcher, PlayerFM, PodBean.

18 Jan
Blog

How to Get More Value Out of Your Vision Insurance Plan

Health insurance is a very important part of staying healthy. You get affordable access to the health care you need to keep yourself and your family in good shape. While there are many types of health insurance, vision insurance is one of the most important to have and use.

Our eyes are incredibly important to us as they affect almost everything we do. When you have vision problems, your life becomes much more difficult and uncomfortable. If you need visual aids such as contacts and glasses, this insurance can help cover the cost.

But how can you ensure that you are getting the most out of your vision insurance? This is exactly why this article should help you. Read on for some valuable tips on how to get the most out of your eyesight insurance.

Choose the right plan for your needs

The first way to ensure that you are getting the maximum benefit from your plan is to make sure you choose the right one. If you'd like to see what's available, click here to review your vision insurance options. You need to choose one that will work for not only you but your family as well.

In order to properly determine the right plan for you, there are a few things to keep in mind. You should check the cost, the coverage of the plan, the providers on the network, and the insurer itself. If you are given a plan that only covers things you never use, you just won't get much value out of your insurance.

Get proper preventive care

If you don't take advantage of your insurance plan, it won't offer you much value at all. Therefore, make sure you take adequate precautions. You should get regular eye exams to make sure your eyes are in tip-top shape.

Even if you think your eyes are fine, many vision problems can occur with no symptoms, so only a full examination can tell the true health of your eyes. How often you should have your eyes checked can vary. The crowd will generally be more common if you need glasses or have a family history of eye problems.

Don't hesitate to see an ophthalmologist in addition to your exam if you have any problems with your eyes. You pay for your insurance. So, by keeping them forever appropriate, you can ensure that you are getting decent value.

Use your network

Eye_Checkup

Make sure you are using your network to get the most benefit from your vision insurance plans. Different insurance companies and plans work with a different network of providers so not everyone can offer you the same discounted rates. If you want the lowest cost and highest value, contact a doctor who is on the network. There is also generally less paperwork when working with a provider who is on the network.

For example, if you need to buy contacts and glasses, you should do so through a network provider for the best coverage and cheapest options. Frames and lenses are also often offered for sale. So be sure to watch out for these sales for even more savings.

In summary, we hope this article has helped you get the most out of your vision insurance.

18 Jan
Blog

Nuvyyo Tablo Dual HDMI OTA DVR review: Staying home

Tablo Dual HDMI DVR above

"A simple, straightforward OTA DVR solution."

  • HDMI for TV connection

  • New remote control

  • Easy adjustment

  • Simple interface

  • Local streaming to televisions and boxes

  • No remote access

  • No streaming to mobile apps and browsers

  • No internal memory

For Nuvyyo, the tablo devices have always been an alternative to expensive cable packages, and the concept has always been an easy sale. Take advantage of free wireless TV channels and either watch them live or record them to watch later. Just stream it to compatible devices and you'll get loads of content that doesn't have a fat monthly bill.

The new Tablo Dual HDMI OTA-DVR sticks to the plan, but differs in execution, mostly due to the limitation of where you can actually place it. In contrast to other tablo devices, this box must be connected to a television. Anyone can appreciate a straightforward approach, but is it right for your cable television freedom?

Out of the box

There isn't much to see when you unpack the Tablo Dual HDMI OTA DVR. What stands out is the new remote control – a first for Nuvyyo. There is also the set-top box as well as a power supply unit, an HDMI cable, an Ethernet cable and a quick start guide.

Ted Kritsonis

Set up

The size and weight of the Tablo Dual HDMI are similar to other Nuvyyo products, but there are two major functional differences that we will discuss later. There is an IR receiver on the front and an HDMI port on the back. For those familiar with Nuvyyo products, the setup of the Tablo Dual HDMI isn't all that different. After you've made all the connections on the back, all you need to do is go to the appropriate HDMI input on your TV and follow the instructions instead of accessing an app on a mobile device.

You will still need to connect the Dual HDMI to your home internet connection via Ethernet or Wi-Fi in order for the latest firmware to be downloaded and installed.

Once that's done just search for channels and let the main screen populate with the shows that you want to be broadcast on the TV Guide shows. Since the device itself has no built-in memory, it needs an external drive to store all recorded shows. Any drive will work except Tablo will format it to work with the box, which will completely erase everything on the box. Just do not use USB sticks as they are not officially supported.

These details aren't new, except that we noticed a few other nuances that are pretty important when considering a possible setup. For starters, the direct HDMI connection means that your TV is already near the optimal location for the antenna to feed in channels. We already had an antenna attached to the TV so it was easy to remove and connect to the dual HDMI.

That made us notice something else. Assuming the antenna has a signal booster that is powered by USB, you may encounter an issue with insufficient backlash. For example, the USB port of the Dual HDMI is only used for external storage and is not a power source. So we had to use it on the TV ourselves. The cable for our Mohu antenna feeds into the coaxial and USB extensions, but each needs to be connected to separate devices – coaxial to the tablo unit, USB to the TV. For a wall-mounted television, this was a cumbersome setup due to the short cable length. We tried using a USB extension cable to make up the difference only to lose the booster performance.

Ted Kritsonis

There's one more potential problem: if you already have a Chromecast, Roku, or Fire Stick that takes up the TV's USB port for power, you'll need a hub to share it and accommodate the antenna booster. If your antenna doesn't have a booster or isn't plugged into a power outlet, you're good. In this case, you may need to bypass this type of connectivity congestion.

Support and features

Despite the connectivity differences, Nuvyyo's support is very intact apart from one major gap. The apps for Apple TV, Fire TV, Android TV, Roku, Chromecast and Nvidia Shield are still available. The user interface and layout have changed over time, but we've found that the navigation is pretty much the same.

The main difference at first was running through the TV's interface with a dedicated remote control. It's not particularly fancy but does the job of playing / pausing recorded shows, muting or adjusting the volume, and even switching channels up and down. For anyone who is used to watching TV with a clicker, this is pretty familiar.

There is no remote access.

Given that this is a new opportunity for Nuvyyo, there are casualties along the way, such as the inability to stream on Nuvyyo's mobile or web apps. While it works with the TV and streaming device apps mentioned earlier, we sorely missed the ability to stream to mobile devices. There is also no remote access. You can't stream anything you've recorded when you're not home. This is because this is considered to be a "Tablo DVR with TV Connection" which is not compatible with Tablo Connect, the remote access feature.

Ted Kritsonis

All of this results in streaming to the home, which Nuvyyo says is the intent of the dual HDMI. The direct TV connection, however, limited the openness of the platform.

This leads us to the subscriptions involved here. Nuvyyo offers 30-day trials of its TV Guide and Tablo Premium services and treats them separately once you need to start paying for them. The TV Guide portion starts at $ 5 per month, $ 50 per year, or $ 150 per life, and offers you graphics, metadata, show filtering, a more varied menu, and 14 day guide data. It lets you view movies, shows, and sports that are arranged separately for smoother searching. Without it, everything is a mess and you can only see 24 hours of master data.

Premium refers to the Automatic Commercial Skip feature for recorded shows. As the title suggests, the Tablo Dual HDMI cuts out all the ads during a recorded broadcast and offers you an ad-free viewing experience that is comparable to any other paid streaming app. For that you will see an additional $ 2 per month or $ 20 per year.

performance

The devil is in the details, as we pointed out, but when it comes to actually watching and recording shows on the Dual HDMI, we have little to complain about. With two ATSC tuners we can watch one show while recording another, watch two shows on two devices, or record two at the same time. This has been an important feature on tablo devices for years, and there are quad tuner models that can do this with four programs at the same time.

Of the two subscriptions, the TV guide is more effective. Seeing guidance dates for two weeks makes a big difference so you can get early recordings for shows or movies. The cover also gives the layout a typical appearance of a streaming media platform, which makes navigation easier. Nuvyyo almost makes you submit to how sterile the software looks when the pieces of information are reduced to a dime without a subscription. That way, you can still watch and record shows. It's just a lot less fun.

Skipping commercials is great too, but at least you'll have recourse if you're patient enough. For example, suppose you chose not to subscribe to this feature and a recorded show includes all of the ads: you can use the remote control to manually fast-forward ads if you tend to. Cumulatively, the ads will pile up on your hard drive (keep in mind that for an hour-long drama or reality show there is around 12-16 minutes of that), but we'll assume you won't want to spend the extra money if you can can handle noise.

The video quality is good, but limited to 1080p. You also get passthrough for 5.1 surround sound, but Dolby Atmos is not included. Even so, the encoding was seamless and we had no problems watching TV on a TV with a Sonos Surround setup.

The irony of this device is that it adds a lot of familiarity to previous tablo owners, even if the mobile and remote streaming features we claim don't make the others stand out. Forget about relaxing in bed with a tablet to catch up on a show. Outside of the home, this device is essentially inaccessible, so we realized early on that it is aimed at users who are more comfortable parking on the couch at home (not that this has been an issue lately) and their shows within these devices consume walls.

Warranty information

Nuvyyo offers a one-year manufacturer's warranty for the repair or replacement of the Tablo Dual HDMI OTA DVR. Buy it directly from the Nuvyyo website and you have 30 days to return it after purchase, although you will have to pay the shipping costs. Buy it through a retailer and return policy takes precedence.

Our opinion

At $ 150, the Tablo Dual HDMI is comparable to the other Nuvyyo devices, but it's not the upfront price that matters, it's the additional features that determine what the experience will be like. It is very clear who this device is made for and what type of setup is required. The company eventually fixed a lack of direct-to-TV connectivity, but pulled back some other flagship features to make it happen.

Is there a better alternative?

For streaming absolutely. With the Tablo Dual 128 GB you can put it wherever the signal is optimal and it includes a good internal memory to begin with. It's also the same price or sometimes cheaper than the Dual HDMI. If you have four tuners and want to provide storage, the Tablo Quad 1TB over-the-air device costs $ 240 and doesn't even connect directly to the TV. Both give you mobile streaming and remote access.

There are other excellent OTA receivers worth a look, starting with the TiVo Edge for antenna for direct TV connections with a remote control or the SiliconDust HDHomeRun Connect 4K for preparing ATSC 3.0 OTA broadcasts. The latter is more technically set up and may not work for you if you want to keep things simple.

How long it will take?

As long as networks continue to send wireless channels, nothing will stop the Tablo Dual HDMI from doing its job. Since there is no internal storage, you may need to replace or overwrite your attached drive. However, this is only basic maintenance. Nuvyyo is built on solid foundations and has solid support so you can solve problems at least relatively quickly.

In the future the box will no longer support ATSC 3.0. So if at any point you are looking for 4K shows, they will no longer be available once they are generally available. You can find more information about the rollout in our ATSC 3.0 explainer.

Should you buy it?

Yes, but only if you don't mind mobile streaming and remote access not being available. If you don't want to stream to anything other than your TV and you want a DVR that is easy to use, the Tablo Dual HDMI is for you. If it's more important, remotely or otherwise, consider one of the other Tablo models instead.

Editor's recommendations




18 Jan
Blog

Perform the Dumbbell lunges to improve your body muscles today

Have you ever thought about how athletes and cyclists keep their strength for a long time? Of course, there is no magic other than magic derived from Dumbbell lunges.

Dumbbell lunges are an excellent exercise when you want to gain strength and stability in the body. Exercising is also a possible choice for those who want to instantly shape and tone their bodies.

If you are also one of those people who wants a well-groomed physique, let us help you figure out how to incorporate this exercise into your everyday life.

Extract the benefits of dumbbell lunges today

Dumbbell lunges have long been an important part of the fitness routine for most athletes. Many celebrities also do this exercise to get its benefits. Before you start exercising, it is important to discover the various benefits it can offer you.

  1. Stability and balance
    Dumbbell lunges involve many movements with one leg. Such movements help the body learn to find proper balance and activate your stabilizing muscles. Since the one-legged activities do not provide adequate stability, they force the core and spine to fully balance each other.
  2. Helps you lose weight
    Dumbbell lunges involve moving large muscle groups in the body. These build lean muscles and burn fat. As a result, the exercise increases your body's overall metabolism and helps you reduce your excess weight in no time.
  3. Improves posture
    Because dumbbell lunges don't put much strain on the spine, it improves your posture. So if you manage to take a pose, you expose yourself to fewer risks.

What is the dumbbell lunges muscles worked for?

Dumbbell lunges offer several benefits. If you're looking to improve your muscle mass, posture, and stability, dumbbell lunges do the job for you. Here are some of the Dumbbell lunges muscles worked you might want to see this before exercising.

1. Calves

2. hamstrings

3. Abdominal muscles

4. Quads

5. Back muscles

6. Glutes

There are many others Dumbbells, lunges muscles worked.

How do I do reverse dumbbell lunges?

Lunge steps were always a potential workout when in doubt. But with the addition of dumbbells in this exercise, it gets even more powerful. Everything you need reverse dumbbell lunges are lifting some dumbbells. Make sure that your abs are tight and your back is straight during this workout. This will help you exercise unhindered. If you follow the instructions correctly, you won't lose.

1. Stand with a dumbbell in both hands and keep your feet flat on the floor. At this point, your shoulders must be wide apart. So your toe should point forward.

2. Take a slow step back while maintaining an upright position.

3. Now bend both knees and go down until your front thigh is parallel to the floor.

4. Push up and forward. Now go back and come back to the starting position.

5. Repeat the process reverse dumbbell lunges regularly to gain its benefits.

How do you do dumbbell lunges?

If you want to target several muscle groups at the same time, walking dumbbell lunges can come to your rescue. It can also help improve flexibility, posture, and stability. Such a thing can add to the benefits of your fitness routine. Above all, it also helps to target the glutes and core as best as possible. Be on the lookout for small mistakes you make. Every mistake can cost you your fitness. So be vigilant while doing the workout. If you follow the instructions correctly, you shouldn't have any problems at all.

1. Stand up with a dumbbell in hand. Hang your arms on your sides. Your palms should be facing your thighs at this point. Also, your feet should be less than shoulder width apart.

2. Now take a big step forward with one leg and bend at the knee. At this point, your front thigh needs to be parallel to the floor. Now inhale as you go down. At this point, your back leg should bend at the knee and balance on your toes.

3. Now go back to your starting position and exhale.

4. Repeat the exercise with your other leg. Make sure you perform walking dumbbell lunges regularly to extract its benefits immediately.

frequently asked Questions

1 are walking dumbbell lunges easy to do?

Yes. Walking dumbbell lunges are easy to perform if you follow the instructions correctly.

2. Are these exercises helpful?

Without doubt!

3. How do I have to hold my body during the performance? reverse dumbbell lunges?

If you have the reverse dumbbell lungesMake sure your body is in an upright position.

Conclusion-

These Dumbbell lunges are the best way to perform the best exercises. Don't forget to try them out now for the best experience. You will not be disappointed.

17 Jan
Blog

Apple Mac Mini M1 Review: Mini Footprint, Max Performance

Apple Mac Mini M1 Rating2 04

"The Mac Mini M1 resets expectations of how fast a small, affordable desktop can be."

  • Bubble CPU performance

  • Incredibly fast SSDs

  • Excellent value

  • Compact, robust design

  • MacOS Big Sur is great

  • Below average gaming performance

The Mac Mini has often been viewed as the ugly duckling in Apple's Mac family. Without the sleek sophistication of the iMac or the portable beauty of the MacBook, it is often overlooked, categorized as a "niche", and viewed as a developer and data center only.

But now that it comes with Apple's M1 chip, the last thing you want to do is ignore it. Although it looks like the previous generation Mac Mini from the outside, from the inside it is nothing short of a revolution.

The Mac Mini is far from a serious competitor for your money – assuming you want a desktop computer and you already have all of the peripherals you need. It's still a niche, but it hits hard against the walls of this descriptor and is ready to break out.

design

The Mac Mini is by far the most compact desktop Mac from Apple. With a width of 7.7 inches and a height of 1.4 inches from top to bottom, this device can easily fit on your desk or slide under a monitor. The footprint is the same as the previous Intel Mini-based Mac Mini.

It's also one of Apple's most minimalist devices. Almost the entire surface of the device is covered in matte aluminum with just a large Apple logo on it to break up the evenness. There is no other branding or labeling, just a tiny white light on the front that comes on when the device is turned on. It's a Jony Ive fever dream, perhaps the ultimate expression of Apple's obsessive design mores.

As we are used to from Apple hardware, the build quality is excellent. The whole device is heavy and solid with no bends or bends to be found. It feels like a device that could take a few hits and still smile – not that you want that to happen.

However, there are some differences between the M1 and Intel models. Most obvious is the paintwork: the M1 model is available in silver and the Intel version in darker gray. The Intel Mac Mini is also a bit heavier, weighing 2.9 pounds compared to the M1 Mac Mini's 2.6 pounds.

A more significant difference is on the back. Apple long ago removed USB-A ports on its MacBooks, but its desktop Macs – including the Mac Mini – have caught on. While the Intel Mac Mini has four USB-A ports, the M1 version only has two (both with 5 Gbit / s). This is more of a limitation on the M1 than a plan by Apple to phase out the Mac Mini's USB-A ports, and I wouldn't be surprised if four ports were available again when more powerful Apple silicon chips come out. However, it's worth noting if you still rely on USB-A for your daily chores. An adapter or dongle may be required.

The M1 Mac Mini has an Ethernet jack, two Thunderbolt 3 / USB 4 ports with 40 Gbit / s, an HDMI 2.0 slot and a 3.5 mm headphone jack as well as a power switch and a slot for the power cord. This is all identical to the Intel Mac Mini.

What you don't get is a keyboard, mouse, trackpad, or other peripheral device. You'll need to provide all of these devices yourself, and a monitor to connect the Mac Mini to. If you already have these, the $ 699 starting price is all the more attractive. If you don't then you need to take them into account when purchasing.

performance

This is the first time the Mac Mini has come with an Apple-owned M1 processor. The basic version of the previous model was equipped with an Intel Core i3-8100H with four cores and 3.0 GHz and ran pretty well. Even on paper, the Apple M1 seems like a significant step up: Not only does it have twice the number of CPU cores than the old entry-level Intel Mini-based Mac Mini, but it also includes an eight-core and one GPU 16-core neural engine on the same system on a chip (SoC).

In addition, Apple uses a so-called "Unified Memory Architecture" (UMA), with which the CPU and GPU can draw from a single memory pool, which reduces the overhead for both. All of this jargon means that in theory everything should run a lot faster – something third-party developers have already told us.

We've already seen how well Apple's M1 chip performs in the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. So we already have an idea of ​​what to expect: this is an incredibly powerful processor. The question, however, is whether the extra space in the Mac Mini compared to these portable laptops can keep the chip cooler and provide it with additional headroom. Does the Mac Mini outperform these devices too?

The answer is yes, and in some cases unequivocally. In GeekBench 5, the Mac Mini scored a single-core score of 1744 and a multi-core score of 7659 ahead of the 1707 and 7337 on the M1 MacBook Pro. These numbers may not mean much to you. Let me put that way: The Mac Mini's single-core score is the highest we've seen in GeekBench 5. The multi-core score is the eighth highest we have measured. This thing flies.

It's the same elsewhere. The SSDs are lightning fast with an average of 2,144.1 Mbit / s write speed and 2,775.1 Mbit / s read speed. In Cinebench R23, the Mac Mini was only beaten by the Falcon NW Talon, which packaged a Ryzen 9 5950X, a machine that will cost you at least $ 4,000. The Mac Mini we tested costs $ 699. This is just a yardstick of course, and this Falcon NW machine is far more capable of doing heavy duty tasks like gaming or video editing. Still, it is amazing value for money.

The starting price of $ 699 for the Mac Mini is an almost absurd feat.

Synthetic benchmarks can only tell you so much, however. How does the Mac Mini work in real life situations? In HandBrake 1.4 (an app optimized for the M1), the Mac Mini encoded a two-minute 4K video in two minutes and 36 seconds – the same length as the M1 MacBook Pro. In Adobe Premiere Pro, the Mini outperformed both the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro in the PugetBench benchmark. The Intel version of the Adobe app is used, which was translated with the Apple wizard for working on the M1.

If the Apple Silicon version of Adobe's video app comes out sometime this year, the performance will get even better. If this is your type of workload, the Mac Mini is going to make a world of difference, especially if you're currently using older Intel-based hardware.

The difference in performance between the MacBook Pro and the Mac Mini isn't that big. It's only 8% faster in Premiere. This should be considered when trying to decide between the two.

The Mac Mini is a workhorse and is great for CPU-intensive workloads. He's ahead of machines that cost twice (or more) as much. Oh, and it did it all without the fans turning. Not even. I had to put my head against the machine to hear something, and even then it was almost silent. Apple wasn't kidding when it said the M1 performed better in a more efficient way than anything Intel had to offer.

In fact, the $ 699 starting price of the Mac Mini feels almost absurd given the performance of the M1 chip. Sure, you don't get a screen, mouse, or keyboard and if you have to buy these the price goes up. However, if you already have a lot of peripherals on your desk, the Mac Mini is the cheapest way to get M1 performance.

Gaming performance

Despite all of this, the Mac Mini is not a slot machine. The M1 may have an integrated 8-core GPU, but it is still smoked by a computer with a discrete graphics card. That's not to say the gaming performance was terrible – it was respectable for a machine this size and price tag – but if you're looking for high frame rates, especially at higher resolutions, you have to look further.

The performance varied depending on the game. In games like Civilization VI that didn't put too much stress on the GPU, performance was acceptable with the right settings. At 1080p and medium quality, the Mac Mini averaged 48 frames per second (fps). At 1440p ultra, however, this value sank to 26 fps.

Gaming is an obvious weakness.

The tactical stealth game Desperados III ran smoothly on high settings, but the more demanding Deus Ex: Mankind Divided only managed 27 fps on 1080p medium. at 1440p ultra it barely cracked 12 fps.

So gaming is an obvious weakness, but I don't think there are many hardcore gamers out there who will buy a Mac Mini as their main device. If all you want to do is make a few easy games you should be fine, but don't expect too much more in this area.

App support

When Apple announced the M1 chip, it was clear that it had learned from the mistakes of its competitors as well as from its own past actions. When Microsoft introduced its own specially designed ARM chip in the Surface Pro X, it was in an app compatibility nightmare that it is still trying to break away from. Apple probably looked at it once and knew it had to be better.

The good news is that Apple has largely achieved this. If you buy a Mac Mini today, your favorite Mac apps will likely work fine, whether or not they are optimized for the M1. Many developers have already released M1-specific versions of their apps (e.g. Microsoft Office), but those who don't benefit from something Apple developed is called Rosetta 2.

This goes back to the last time Apple switched processor platforms and is translating Intel apps to work on the ARM-based M1. It's preinstalled on the Mac Mini and you won't even see it boot up – your Intel apps will just load with no issues. It's an exceptionally smooth process.

With apps optimized for the M1, the performance is likely to be much better than anything translated with Rosetta 2. For example, when I ran our HandBrake benchmark on version 1.0.7 of the app (which was developed for Intel systems), it encoded our 4K test video in 4 minutes and 44 seconds.

With an M1-optimized version of the app, this was possible in almost half the time. If you stick to Apple's own apps for most of your work, the performance is probably even better. Not everyone likes Apple's similar impact on their ecosystem, but hardware and software performance is one area where it really works.

There may be some apps that just don't work for some reason. When I first got the Mac Mini, Google Backup and Sync, which allows me to move work documents between my different devices, refused to load. It didn't end up being too bothersome – I switched to Dropbox, and a few weeks later, Google updated its app to fix the problem – but it's worth keeping in mind that you might have some app compatibility issues.

For the most part, however, I didn't have any problems with it. Google Backup and Sync was the only app I tried that didn't work right away.

Our opinion

The M1 Mac Mini is one of the most affordable desktop PCs money can buy right now. The performance is mind-boggling for a computer this small and affordable, and while it's not a gaming rig, it's nearly perfect for everything else.

Are there alternatives?

Some other companies offer miniature desktop PCs. There is the Intel NUC 10 with processor options from Intel i3 to i7. If you're looking for games, other companies like HP and Asus also have small PCs that might suit your needs.

Note, however, that all alternatives will run Windows. If you've got your heart on a tiny desktop computer running macOS, the Mac Mini is your only option.

How long it will take?

We're at the beginning of the Apple Silicon roadmap, so support for this Mac Mini will last for many years to come. Given the good performance compared to other items in the mount (and compared to devices way above the mount), it will be a long time before you notice that it is slowing down.

Apple doesn't update the Mac Mini as often as its MacBooks, but only one Apple Silicon Mac Mini model is currently available. So, Apple may bring out another option this year. That doesn't mean you will be disappointed if you buy this M1 Mac Mini, just that an even better model may be in the works.

Should you buy it?

Yes absolutely. The price-performance ratio is breathtaking. If you are looking for a desktop rather than a laptop in the market, the Mac Mini should be at the top of your list.

Editor's recommendations




16 Jan
Blog

The ultimate guide for a healthy living

Meditation is a powerful technique for calming and aligning the mind. It is a comprehensive way to awaken inner peace and restore a positive life. Hence, many people practice meditation on a daily basis to bring about positive lifestyle changes.

Although you can meditate at any hour, the mornings are perfect for this purpose. Meditation can offer numerous life changing benefits that lead to complete calm and happiness in your mind. Let's find out more about this magical mental exercise!

Morning meditation as the holy grail

Starting a day with meditation can wake yourself up. It is an alarm for the body and mind to open up to nature. The cultivation of peace and joy that comes with this practice can also really eliminate mental health problems instantly. So morning meditation is not all talk.

Morning meditation is not something that has surfaced recently. It has existed since ancient times. In the old days, people lived longer and happier lives by meditating every morning. So you can imagine the inspiring benefits this magical exercise has to offer.

Seven Notable Benefits of Morning Meditation

Morning meditation has been found to be helpful for everyone. People of all ages can do this exercise without sufficient discomfort. Nothing can train you more effectively than this exercise. It helps to focus on yourself and to develop closeness to your being.

1. Helps with mental health problems

When you're mentally disturbed, all you need is peace and a way to get out of stress. Morning meditation can provide it with everything. With the help of morning meditation, you can easily break away from the daily mental struggles in life. The more you learn to make peace with yourself, the less you care less about the problems around you. As a result, all of the negativity is removed from your head to make room for positive thoughts. Such a thing eliminates all mental states like anxiety, depression and even thoughts of suicide at once.

2. Helps build focus

In the midst of the stress of everyday life, it becomes almost impossible to concentrate on work. As our minds quickly move in different directions, it becomes difficult to hold on to our focus for hours. Morning meditation can help you instantly learn the art of focus building by directing your mind to align on peace. In this way you will maximize productivity and learn to better map your priorities. At least ten minutes of constant meditation each morning can help calm the mind and help focus. Such mental silence can work like magic for your daily work.

3. Disciplined your mind for an entire day

Disciplining the mind is mandatory if you are to reach heights in life. As long as the mind is calm and properly functioning, you can achieve your goals faster. So if you are addicted to using your cell phone as soon as you wake up, you can meditate right away. One of the most inspiring Benefits of morning meditation is that it trains the mind to discipline itself and to calm itself down for the remainder of the day. As a result, you can follow and edit the to-do list without sufficient obstacles. As the mind learns to control itself during distractions, it becomes easier to maintain focus.

4. Adds a boost of energy

Morning meditation releases endorphins, which are useful for pain relief. But that's not all they do. Endorphins can also help boost your overall energy levels by waking you up in a positive way. As a result, the mind learns to become more alert and sensible at all times. This can prevent you from becoming sluggish and productive to the end.

5. Helps you build closeness to yourself

Although meditation cannot make your life easy, it can change the way you feel about it. Calmness and a sense of stability are some of the others Benefits of morning meditation to you. These will help you understand yourself better so that you can do your tasks effectively without falling down.

frequently asked Questions

1. How long should I do? Morning meditation Every day?

Concentrated for at least ten to twenty minutes Morning meditation is important to you.

2. Does meditation help you make better life decisions?

Yes, it does.

3. Are the benefits of morning meditation helpful in getting immediate results?

Yes. The Benefits of morning meditation are really useful to you.

Take that away

meditation isn't just a stress buster. It's an art too. When you are ready to learn the art of positivity of mind, meditation can be your best friend. So why are you waiting Come and take advantage of the benefits today!

15 Jan
Blog

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Review: Sound, Battery, Features

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra with Galaxy Buds Pro

“Galaxy Buds Pro offers excellent convenience, solid audio quality and good ANC. But they're not a complete package with tricky touch controls and just average call quality. "

  • Automatic audio passthrough is awesome

  • Simple and small charging case

  • Comfortable design

  • Great bluetooth connection

  • Touch controls can be tricky

  • Touch controls still cannot be customized

  • The call quality is not "Pro" at all

Samsung's accessory strategy seems pretty consistent: switch to a category and repeat the process. The smartwatches and fitness trackers appear to be updated randomly and without a set schedule. The same applies to smartphone accessories. More recently, it has jumped into true wireless earbuds in large measure. The first Galaxy Buds were released less than two years ago in March 2019. Since then, we've released the Galaxy Buds + and Galaxy Buds Live, which only launched a few months ago, in August last year.

Now we are here with the new Galaxy Buds Pro. It's not immediately obvious what is so "pro" about them, other than having a few extra features over Buds Live and being more expensive. But I'm here to find out.

Sound quality and battery life

True wireless earbuds will never impress audiophiles. Fortunately for Samsung, I'm not an audiophile. As someone who is perfectly satisfied with the audio quality of mine Bose QC35 bluetooth headphonesWith my car's standard stereo system and my last half-dozen pairs of true wireless earbuds, I can't complain about the sound quality of the Buds Pro significantly.

A basic equalizer with presets for normal, bass boost, soft, dynamic, clear and treble boost is available in the app. The earbuds sound rather flat in "normal" and the other modes feel … overly processed, but luckily I was happy with "dynamic" for all of my listening. I spend most of my day playing podcasts or YouTube music, and the Buds Pro play swimming.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra with Galaxy Buds Pro

When you have active noise cancellation (ANC) activated, everything sounds “better” immediately because you can hear everything more clearly. This will never challenge the ANC offered through over-ear headphones and really shut out the world around you, but it does a decent job of softening ambient noise and keeping you focused on your own audio. Samsung says you can "fine tune" the noise cancellation you want, but … you can't. It's either high, low, or off.

Get your sound quality expectations right and remember, these are true wireless earbuds.

You can tell my standards are too low, but I agree with the majority of Buds Pro potential buyers. As long as the quality is above average for the segment, we will be happy. What matters more is how good the rest of the experience is.

Samsung Galaxy Buds ProAndrew Martonik / Digital Trends

Samsung nails it with its battery life estimates. The Buds Pro is quoted after eight hours of playback or after five hours with ANC enabled and that was right for me. I turned on ANC almost exclusively and I never received a low battery alarm. I won't be wearing wireless earbuds for more than five hours in a row – they'll come out to give my ears a break or because I just can't hear anything.

Five to eight hours of battery is just right, and the case charges the buds quickly.

Like all real wireless earbuds, they charge very quickly in this case. Just 10 minutes will bring back a significant amount of charge, and the case is designed to hold one and a half charges for the earphones. Not bad for a tiny case that includes wireless charging itself. The thick "circle" shape is still not as pocket-friendly as the elongated Google Pixel Buds case, but small enough not to be a problem.

One thing that could affect battery life more severely is answering phone calls during the day, which I rarely do but test because Samsung has put so much emphasis on call quality. Calls frankly were not clear or of any high quality. When used with my Galaxy S21, the inbound quality was flawless – my outbound quality was poor. Callers said I sounded "blurry" and it echoed when I spoke inside. If I do a quick test and listen to someone else talking on the Buds Pro, I understand what it means – the Buds Pro delivers outbound audio just like any random phone on the speakerphone. Her voice is flat and mixed with a lot of room noise.

Features, design and comfort

Samsung made a bold decision with the Galaxy Buds Live, introducing a new design that rests on the outside of your ear instead of using earbuds that fit in your ear. It had little to no passive noise isolation to make her more comfortable, and instead tried to rely heavily on ANC. It was uncomfortable and they never really fit my ears – in addition to providing noise isolation which was terrible on the city streets.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra with Galaxy Buds Pro

The Buds Pro revert to a "normal" design, with rubber earbuds that go into your ear and provide passive suppression, in addition to ANC. Even with these earplugs, I found the Buds Pro more comfortable than the Buds Live. I immediately adjusted to the larger tips like I usually do and they naturally found their place in my ears and didn't require much adjustment.

The Buds Pro are much more comfortable than Buds Live – with better noise isolation.

Even with hours of carrying around the house, running around running errands around town, and running, I never had problems with the readjustment or feeling like they were going to fall out. They are so small and so light that I've never had ear problems. My only problem with running was the ANC, which was causing annoying sound clips at almost every step. I had to turn it off, which honestly isn't a problem – it's best to have a feel for your surroundings while so out and about.

But that's a little bit opposite to the way the Buds Pro were set up. From Samsung's point of view, you should never have to manually turn off ANC or take out your earbuds as they have advanced intelligent audio pass-through capabilities. By default, a long press on one of the earbuds will activate audio pass-through and decrease the volume of your media so you can hear the world around you. More interestingly, the same thing can happen when the earbuds sense that you are speaking – it works seriously every time and wasn't accidentally triggered every time you walked down the street, shopping in stores, and on the subway with people nearby to lead.

Audio passthrough works, but you can't get around the awkwardness of speaking to other people.

The audio passthrough works! The problem is, no matter how good the speech recognition and audio passthrough are, it's still the hell of a lot of awkwardness to use in an actual conversation. I still have rubber earbuds in my ears, which affects my speaking volume. And the person you are talking to can see that you have earbuds, which only adds to the awkwardness.

Worse, for some reason if audio pass-through automatically turns on while speaking, your music just turns down the volume. So you know you are trying to talk to someone but you don't turn off your music or podcast? It is confusing. It's not a win-win situation, however, as it's always annoying to quickly pull out a tiny earbud or two when someone unexpectedly talks to you. So I assume that passthrough is better in a pinch – but I'd never plan to speak to anyone while wearing the Buds Pro.

Samsung Galaxy Buds ProAndrew Martonik / Digital Trends

The only problem with the Buds Pro design is the touch controls – quite a big problem. Going back to the original Galaxy Buds, I could never use them consistently. There's a single tap to pause / play, a double tap to search forward, and a triple tap to search back – but if I try either, there's no guarantee it will work. It usually fails when a tip is less registered than intended – a search becomes a pause, and a pause or game is simply overlooked. That could be my problem, although I've never had a problem with that Pixel Buds‘Touch controls.

It is imperative that Samsung start with the ability to customize touch controls. That's ridiculous.

A universal problem is that the controls are not customizable. You can just change the long press action – between ambient noise triggering, Bixby, volume down, and Spotify – and choose one action per earbud. Otherwise it's set in stone, and now I have to decide whether to trigger ambient noise or adjust the volume. Why? With other earbuds, you can customize and use separate Activities for each earbud. That's not very "pro".

Our opinion

The Galaxy Buds Pro are a great pair of everyday wearable true wireless earbuds. They're neither suitable nor would they ever be for audiophiles, but the sound quality on offer is okay for the segment – and with a good ANC, they more than get the job done. Comfort is excellent so you can wear them for hours and maximize their battery life from five to eight hours. The body is compact – it is the same size as the Buds Live but smaller than the Buds Live Jabra Elite 75T – and the basics of the earphone experience, like a strong bluetooth connection and easy device switching, are very much appreciated.

They don't have anything “pro” other than the fact that they are Samsung's most expensive earbuds. In a vacuum of Samsung's own line of earbuds, it's strange that you have to pay $ 200 for Buds Pro, which in most cases isn't much better than the $ 140 Buds Live – but when compared to over the competition They look pretty good at $ 200.

Are there any better alternatives?

Even at this high price, there are multiple competitors. Of course, if you have an iPhone, this is something you should consider the AirPods Pro – They don't look that great, but the audio quality, ease of use, and noise cancellation are just as good. Alternatively there is the Jabra Elite 85twho are all around fantastic earbuds.

It's also easy to find a great pair of earphones that are cheaper. Samsung Galaxy Buds Live have already been reduced to $ 140. If they fit your ears properly, they are a great alternative. It is Galaxy Buds +that don't have an ANC but are otherwise comparable cost only $ 110.

How long will they last?

The nature of wireless earbuds is that as long as you take care of them, they will last for several years with no problem. They are water and sweat resistant and have no moving parts. Just keep them in their case and they will look forward to years.

Should you buy it?

Yes. This is a great pair of true wireless earbuds for everyday use. They have solid audio quality, good noise cancellation, and audio passthrough that is the icing on the cake. They are expensive, but competitively priced with the other market leaders.

Editor's recommendations




15 Jan
Blog

10 At-Home Exercises For Women That Actually Work

With the idea of ​​working from home growing in popularity during the pandemic, don't leave your health program high and dry. Everyone suffers from Schrödinger's disease.

Self-isolation centers on the idea of ​​assuming that you are either keeping the virus from spreading or protecting yourself from infection by avoiding any contact with the external environment.

As necessary as it is to stay indoors and work from home, it is also a good idea to focus on a fat burning exercise program.

Use this time to help you achieve your fitness goals.

Once you are clear about excess body fat and weight problems, here is a list of exercises that make up a fat burning exercise program for working women.

1. The bridge

This exercise acts as an activator for your glutes, hamstrings, and core muscles.

  • Lie on a mat with your knees bent and your back and feet.
  • Lift your bottom off the floor and slowly bring it back to the resting position.
  • Make sure you are using your nuclear power.
  • Do two sets of 10 reps if you are a beginner.

2. Press your knees

It's an exercise that serves as a requirement for push-ups.

  • Lie face down on the floor with your knees touching the floor.
  • Slowly go down and lift your body just before you hit the floor.
  • Make sure your elbows are at a 45-degree angle.

3. Lunge steps

Lunge steps mainly focus on your core and abs.

They help break down extra body fat and are included in the women's clay program. If you want to build stability, this exercise is great for you.

4. Squats

The squat is a prominent exercise program for the lower body.

The most important aspect of any squat workout is making sure your form is correct. Otherwise no visible results will be shown.

5. Crunches

Crunches are the right training plan when it comes to burning off excess belly fat. It takes immense core strength to perform crunches.

If you think crunches are on the more accessible side of the spectrum and you want to step them up, consider adding resistance bands or weights.

6. The plank

It is one of the most conventional exercises in tone programs for women.

This is because the plank helps remove fat evenly from your body without causing stretch marks.

In time, you will be able to make a plank for an extended period of time.

7. Bird dog

  • Lie face forward and knees on the floor.
  • Alternately lift your leg and hand at the same time.
  • You will feel a tingling sensation in your arms and legs.
  • This exercise requires balance and stability.

8. Hip abduction

This exercise is for you if you are not a beginner.

  • Lie on both sides
  • Saying your left hand, slowly raise your right leg while you let the other rest on the floor.
  • Turning back

The exercise helps in toning your hips.

9. Side boards

  • If you want to maintain correct posture and relieve the spine, it's time to pick up side boards.
  • It strengthens the abdominal and back muscles and the best part is that you can practice anytime.
  • However, for the best results you need to be consistent.
  • To perform side boards, straighten your legs and lie on your right side. Keep your feet and hips resting on the floor.

10. Go for the Russian twist

Yes, you heard it right; As the name suggests, it is an effective exercise that you can do at home to help save weight.

  • You need to sit on a floor mat and lean back in a Russian twist until you feel that the muscles in the abdominal area are well stretched.
  • Create a V shape and slowly rotate it from side to side.
  • Make sure you have the correct posture for the best results.

Even if you confine yourself to the four walls of your home, do not let this limitation stop you from pursuing and achieving your fitness goals.

Make sure you are eating right and following an exercise routine to stay fit and healthy.

«‹9899100101102›»