20 Jul
Blog

Power Up Your Training Inside and Outside the Gym

In addition to skipping warming up, gross strength can be the most neglected attribute in the gym. People often think that they don't have to train strength because they are not an athlete. They believe they don't have to dive basketball or fire the quarterback. However, you would be wrong.

What is power?

Force and acceleration determine the power, P = F x A.

Force is the pushing or pulling of the interaction of the object with another objecttlike gravity or the concentric phase of pushups.

Acceleration is the speed at which an object changes speed, e.g. For example, if you sprint to catch a bus or car that is driving from a dead stop.

The advantages

Other benefits include being a bad guy and being a great stress reliever. If you are having a bad day, throw a medicine ball into the wall instead of hitting a hole in the wall.

Hopefully I have convinced you that training strength is not only important, but also fun. Now let's start.

When do you train power?

Or if you exercise the upper body, do a Med Ball Slam wakes up the quick twitches of your back. Do three sets of 8-12 reps.

How many repetitions?

When you train strength, you have to be as explosive as possible. The moment you lose pop, you stop exercising – you are training muscle endurance.

For most people, this is somewhere between 4-12 reps or 10-20 seconds of effort.

How much rest?

Although you may feel recovered after around 30 seconds, it usually takes (for most people) between 60 and 180 seconds to fully recover to get the most out of your next power pack.

However, play with your rest periods to find out what works for you.

If you have never trained strength before?

Don't you? That's a shame. It's usually better to have a strength base, but the movements here are the most basic part of the spectrum when it comes to power. And when you do it, you get stronger. It is a win-win situation.

Upper body strength

My power favorites are medicine ball throws. They are easy to do, very effective and fun. Most gyms have hidden them in a corner, unclean and unloved, but once you use them, you will never let them go.

The following exercises are best performed on upper body days so that you can suppress your bumps and moves. However, they can be done at any time, because who should I tell you what to do?

When doing these exercises, be sure to pull your arms through. This tracking helps bring the ball back to you, which allows for a smoother transition between repetitions and gives you a little more momentum.

2. Lower body strength

There is a variety of exercises to choose from. For the sake of simplicity The following exercises are relatively safe, easy to do, and provide an excellent introduction to overall physical strength.

However, if you have knee / lower body problems, please let yourself be guided by pain and put your safety first.

Program recommendations

Coupling strength exercises to a superset before moving on to the central part of your workout is a great way to add strength to your routine.

1A. Med Ball Slam: 8 reps

1B. Jump squats: 6 repetitions

Break 1 minute between training and 2 minutes between supersets.

Repeat 1-2 times.

Or you can combine a strength with a mobility exercise to train your strength and movement at the same time.

1A. Jump Squat: 6 repetitions

1B. Half kneeling hip flexor stretch: 30 seconds on each side

Current density circuit

For more performance, do eight repetitions of the following steps per minute. After doing eight reps, rest the rest of the minute before continuing on to the next exercise. Do 3-4 laps for a total of 15-20 minutes that will make you sweat and smile.

1A. Med Ball Overhead Throws: 8 reps

1B. Med Ball Chest Pass: 8 reps

1C. Med ball spin rolls: 4 reps on both sides

1D. Med Ball Slams: 8 reps

1E. Squat jumps: 8 repetitions

Or:

1A. Incline Plyo Pushup: 8 reps

1B. Squat jumps: 8 repetitions

1C. One-handed Med Ball Slam: 4 repetitions on each side

1D. Med Ball Overhead Throw: 8 reps

1E. Rotational Med Ball Slam: 4 repetitions on each side

Wrap up

A small investment in electricity pays off enormously for you inside and outside the fitness room. And who knows? You can jump tall buildings with a single barrier that resembles another famous superhero.

References

1. McBride JM et al. The impact of heavy or light load squats on the development of strength, power and speed. J Strength Cond Res. 2002 Feb; 16 (1): 75-75. 82.

19 Jul
Blog

Why Is There Still Cheating In Sport?

Sports fraud is as old as the beginning of time. We all grew up with the news that a fallen superstar athlete cheated his way to shame, but usually it was always performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) that were the problem. Sooner or later people are always caught. Even Lance Armstrong was found out after many years of testing and denying.

We are now in the age of ordinary fraudsters. Of course, you can argue that the average Joe's uses PEDs, but doesn't get caught. At some events it is simply not logistically possible to test every single athlete – especially if the back-of-the-packers gain nothing by juicing. Nobody cares. Correct?

With all of the technology today, you have to ask yourself how people get away with it. It's also this technology that allows the scammer to find ways to do it – the New Age Lance Armstrong effect, if you like. A timing chip helps us see our race times and whether we have completed the stages of a race by crossing the electronic timing mat. It is not uncommon for there to be a time mat or malfunction of the chip, so the athlete's results will miss large periods of time. This will then be a welcome opportunity for athletes to shorten the course. We all know a man who knows a man who has done this. There's no way of knowing if a mat is out, but scammers aren't known to be honest, so they cut the course and blame the electronics. I suppose it makes them look good to their online peers and haters when they look like they have performed well. This year there was even the story of a woman giving her husband her timing chip and he ended the race for her. She even collected the finisher's medal! That has to be a step further than a "racial bandit" if we want to establish a scale of deception.

Please keep it legitimate

I once saw great Bart Yasso talk about some incredible running races he was involved in. While I was in awe of the first Death Valley race, it was the story of a marathon in a jungle, and it worked well here. He spoke of the indigenous children who stained them with colored dirt at certain points on the course, and when you crossed the finish line, they checked that you had all the colors. If you didn't, you were disqualified. Simple and yet effective.

Do we have to go back in time to make sure people are honest?? Do you care? As someone who has physically and emotionally trained for races and events for hours to undermine my hard work by someone who just looks good and wants to get the medal at all costs, it's annoying to say the least. The only benefit is that there are internet junkies and journalists who are now looking for and screaming for race scams – a little justice in the school yard on social media.

In a contingent pension system, athletes have to pay a fraction of their sports proceeds into a fund that they can only draw from after their career and if they have never been caught doing doping. In theory, this fund has two important advantages over traditional anti-doping measures such as bans and fines. It does not lose its deterrent effect as athletes approach the end of their careers (as opposed to bans), and it can solve the widespread problem that drug fraudsters are often found out much later after detection technology has caught up with doping practices.

-Wu et al., 2020

I have often wondered what the modern solution to this dilemma is. It may be a Garmin Connect report to race directors and finisher statistics, provided there are no problems with service area coverage or tunnels and overpasses. Perhaps a Strava-like app would work, as most people carry their phones for part or all of the race and submission to ensure accuracy. Whatever the solution, I have a feeling that fraud is not waning, it is escalating in ingenuity. Between PEDs, course reduction, chip manipulation and the extremely frequent drawing of bicycles, we reach epidemic proportions. So let's be part of the solution and not just cover our eyes.

reference

18 Jul
Blog

Vizio V Series 5.1 Soundbar Review: Putting The “V” In Value

Vizio V series soundbar

Vizio V Series 5.1 soundbar

"Vizio's V-5.1 5.1 soundbar is a cost-effective way to add good surround sound."

  • Easy setup

  • Immersive surround sound

  • Warm music playback

  • The middle channel is a weak link

  • Some lackluster "features"

For more than a decade, Vizio's stance on sound bars has consistently been about delivering tons of value without breaking the bank. If you were on the market to improve the sound of your TV without making a large investment, Vizio was often the best place to look.

Well, although we all live in the wrong world of 2020, at least one thing hasn't changed. Vizio's new $ 250 V-Series 5.1 soundbar system is an affordable surround sound setup – even if a few too many cost-saving measures have been taken this time.

Out of the box

I will always be amazed at how easy it is for Vizio to set up a soundbar. I was in no hurry to plug it in for testing, but if I raced a watch I would bet I could go from unpacking to listening to music in 10 minutes.

Vizio V series soundbarNick Woodard / Digital Trends

The system includes the bar itself, a pair of surround sound speakers, and a wireless subwoofer. Admittedly, there is not a ton here that could slow you down. But it's really just a matter of connecting your bar and your subwoofer to the power supply, making a physical connection between the bar and your display, laying the supplied speaker cable from the surround sound speakers to the subwoofer and turning everything on.

From there, the bar automatically searches for a content-generating entry. Be ready to act quickly and connect your phone via Bluetooth or stream something on your TV as the Vizio voice prompt is out of date after the first announcements that it is looking for an entry.

Apart from this little annoyance, that's all. No WiFi can be configured with this bar – which we'll discuss in more detail later – and there are no other setup frames that you can jump through. It's probably as close to plug and play as a soundbar system.

design

According to Vizio, this year's budgetary system was treated rather inconspicuously, which may be an understatement. The bar itself does not differ significantly from the latest sound bars that were on my media stand: With a length of 36 inches, it is only two inches shorter than the Sony HT-G700 that stood before it.

Vizio V-series soundbar remote controlNick Woodard / DigitalTrends

However, the rear speakers and subwoofer are small. The sub-cabinet houses a 5-inch woofer, and the speakers are slightly outshone by some older Vizio-Rears that I dug up for comparison. The size, frankly, worried me that Vizio might have become too compact (are we making ants home theater?) And sacrificed the sound. But as we will see shortly, the system grabs a punch for its size.

There are three drivers in the bar, one each for the front left, middle and right channel in a 5.1 system. Go to the back of the soundbar and you will encounter multiple connections. There's a retro 3.5mm stereo audio input (the good old red and white inputs) as well as an optical connector, an HDMI ARC connector, a 3.5mm AUX input and a USB connector Vizio says he only supports WAV and MP3 formats.

Would I have liked to see Vizio drop the old school stereo audio inputs in exchange for another HDMI port? Yes. Is this a pretty solid lineup of connections for the price, regardless of that? Also yes. Just keep in mind that certain connections limit your sound format options. The stereo inputs naturally only produce two-channel sound. You can receive surround sound through the digital optical link, but you will miss the DTS Virtual: X format that the V-Series is equipped with.

Vizio's standard soundbar remote control is also updated to be a bit rounder and gentler than its more brick-like older relative. The new remote control also appears to be more functional. With the buttons for EQ, Setup, Level and Effect you can play with the sound settings. I've never been a big fan of these old Vizio remotes, and it seems like Vizio is moving in the right direction with something that reminds me of my Nvidia Shield clicker.

properties

There are some legitimate features built into this bar, but some things that are "technical" are strangely cloaked by Vizio Marketing to be far more important than they really are.

Vizio V series soundbarNick Woodard / Digital Trends

You can stream music – and only Bluetooth. And that's good. The connection was solid and the sound was good. Despite all the advances in Bluetooth technology, Wi-Fi is still the king when it comes to streaming audio, and bars like the Yamaha YAS-209 have proven that it is possible to have this type of function in a budget bar.

The V-Series bar has a useful function called Front Surround Mode for setups where it is not possible to mount surround speakers in the back of the room. This workaround is to attach the rear speakers on either side of the soundbar, move the subwoofer to the front of the room, and then access Front Surround mode using your remote control. According to Vizio, the bar will use DTS Virtual: X to create virtual surround sound in this configuration. The result is acceptable, but there is a reason why speakers in the back of the room are called "ideal setup".

Then there are things like dual stereo mode – an example of a function we have termed “technical” – that sends the same audio to all five speakers. This feature works to be clear, I'm just not sure when this is needed or wanted. Watching movies is generally best in normal surround, where dialogs and actions take place in the front left, center, and right, and the back provides background noise. And listening to music is literally designed for left and right stereo sound. Although the dual stereo mode is functional, there is no ideal time to use it.

Vizio also advertises its soundbar as "Voice Assistant Ready" due to its aux port and Bluetooth connection. This is total marketing: If this soundbar is considered "Voice Assistant Ready" according to this standard, this also applies to every modern loudspeaker, receiver or even television with the same two connection options. Yes, you can connect an Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant device to the soundbar and it sends audio through the system. In fact, "voice assistant should be ready" to have a Wi-Fi connection and offer direct control through these smart devices. With this terminology, Vizio disguises its otherwise standard connections so that they are not.

To be fair to Vizio, there is a feature that allows the voice assistant in the bar to be active, even if the soundbar plays audio from another input, and the bar automatically mutes other sources so that the assistant can be heard. The same applies if you have a phone that is connected via Bluetooth. Unfortunately, you can accidentally transmit TikTok videos through your movie audio.

Audio quality

A few hundred words ago I teased how in love I was with products as small as the Vizio-Sub and the rear speakers that produce such a significant sound – and that's a lot of truth. For a solid week I've been throwing different content on it – from all kinds of music to various Netflix documentaries and TV shows, as well as the occasional Marvel movie and a Hamilton watch (or two) – and I can say that for sure people Those who buy this bar will be completely satisfied with this type and quality of surround sound.

Vizio V-series soundbar surround speakersNick Woodard / Digital Trends

It contains all the basic elements that make for a good surround setup. The front stage effectively captures action scenes, the rear speakers provide adequate immersion, and the sub, although it is only designed for 50 Hz, rumbled enough to elicit a random bark from my previously deeply sleeping dog. I was also pleasantly surprised by listening to the music, as the Vizio bar produced a generally warm sound that was balanced enough to have fun.

Overall, it's the sound you should expect from a $ 250 package. But this bar is certainly not without its quirks. In my experience, the apparently lackluster center channel is the most important among them. When viewing vocal dominant content like Netflix’s comedy series The Degenerates or the Down to Earth documentaries, this wasn’t a big problem. However, when switching to action sequences in Guardians of the Galaxy or the busier areas of Hamilton, the dialogue couldn't keep up with all the other events in the scene.

You can turn up both the center channel and the dialog using the Vizio remote control, which is helpful to a certain extent. However, it is clear that some content simply outperforms the center compared to the rest of the sound produced by the system. Also, I wasn't a big fan of the various EQ presets – including the movie and music options that you can switch between with the remote – as they seemed to bloat the sound. Essentially, these EQ settings turned up all frequencies, making the action a little more booming but much less sophisticated. Listening in direct mode was preferable to me.

DTS Virtual: X is also available in this soundbar. DTS Virtual: X is essentially the less popular alternative to Dolby Atmos and is said to be able to add virtualized 3D sound to any audio sent through the soundbar. It should also work with almost any speaker configuration, and although I had a more immersive experience when I turned it on, my partner could not notice it without pointing it out. This result makes sense because with everything that virtual technologies promise in terms of audio, you can only achieve so much with three front-firing drivers.

In addition to changing the levels of the dialog and center, you can also adjust the bass, treble, subwoofer, surround level and surround balance. Although this sound may have its flaws, it was a smart move by Vizio to make the bar's audio so customizable that it pleases the palate of most people.

Our opinion

Vizio's new 5.1 soundbar system may not be the best way to add surround sound to your setup – which is a traditional home theater, by the way – but it is once again one of the most enjoyable. With the decent characteristics and good sound it throws into the mix, the V-Series is a value for the masses.

Are there any better alternatives?

Frankly, it's hard to find another bar in this price range that offers a full 5.1 system with a subwoofer and rear speakers. The Yamaha YAS-209 is still our favorite bar because of its versatility, features, and sound, but it doesn't have surround speakers and is currently a bit more expensive for $ 300. I prefer the sound of the Sony HT-G700, although I don't prefer the price of almost $ 600.

How long it will take?

Not only are they cheap, the Vizio soundbars also seem to have a knack for durability. They have a standard one-year warranty, but the Vizio system I bought for my parents eight years ago still works. I can't guarantee that this bar will have the same durability, but it should last for a while.

Should you buy it

Yes. At this price, you really can't get real 5.1 sound anywhere else. Even if you need to fine-tune the audio and deal with the lack of meaningful features, the Vizio V Series 5.1 soundbar is undoubtedly a lot.

Editor's recommendations




18 Jul
Blog

Why Is There Still Cheating In Sport?

Sports fraud is as old as the beginning of time. We all grew up with the news that a fallen superstar athlete cheated his way to shame, but usually it was always performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) that were the problem. Sooner or later people are always caught. Even Lance Armstrong was found out after many years of testing and denying.

We are now in the age of ordinary fraudsters. Of course, you can argue that the average Joe's uses PEDs, but doesn't get caught. At some events it is simply not logistically possible to test every single athlete – especially if the back-of-the-packers gain nothing by juicing. Nobody cares. Correct?

With all of the technology today, you have to ask yourself how people get away with it. It's also this technology that allows the scammer to find ways to do it – the New Age Lance Armstrong effect, if you like. A timing chip helps us see our race times and whether we have completed the stages of a race by crossing the electronic timing mat. It is not uncommon for there to be a time mat or malfunction of the chip, so the athlete's results will miss large periods of time. This will then be a welcome opportunity for athletes to shorten the course. We all know a man who knows a man who has done this. There's no way of knowing if a mat is out, but scammers aren't known to be honest, so they cut the course and blame the electronics. I suppose it makes them look good to their online peers and haters when they look like they have performed well. This year there was even the story of a woman giving her husband her timing chip and he ended the race for her. She even collected the finisher's medal! That has to be a step further than a "racial bandit" if we want to establish a scale of deception.

Please keep it legitimate

I once saw great Bart Yasso talk about some incredible running races he was involved in. While I was in awe of the first Death Valley race, it was the story of a marathon in a jungle, and it worked well here. He spoke of the indigenous children who stained them with colored dirt at certain points on the course, and when you crossed the finish line, they checked that you had all the colors. If you didn't, you were disqualified. Simple and yet effective.

Do we have to go back in time to make sure people are honest?? Do you care? As someone who has physically and emotionally trained for races and events for hours to undermine my hard work by someone who just looks good and wants to get the medal at all costs, it's annoying to say the least. The only benefit is that there are internet junkies and journalists who are now looking for and screaming for race scams – a little justice in the school yard on social media.

In a contingent pension system, athletes have to pay a fraction of their sports proceeds into a fund that they can only draw from after their career and if they have never been caught doing doping. In theory, this fund has two important advantages over traditional anti-doping measures such as bans and fines. It does not lose its deterrent effect as athletes approach the end of their careers (as opposed to bans), and it can solve the common problem that drug fraudsters are often found out much later after detection technology has caught up with doping practices.

-Wu et al., 2020

I have often wondered what the modern solution to this dilemma is. It may be a Garmin Connect report to race directors and finisher statistics, provided there are no problems with service area coverage or tunnels and overpasses. Perhaps a Strava-like app would work, as most people carry their phones for part or all of the race and submission to ensure accuracy. Whatever the solution, I have a feeling that fraud is not waning, it is escalating in ingenuity. Between PEDs, course reduction, chip manipulation and the extremely frequent drawing of bicycles, we reach epidemic proportions. So let's be part of the solution and not just cover our eyes.

reference

18 Jul
Blog

Urbanista London Review: $149 AirPods Pro With A Fatal Flaw

Urbanista London ANC earphones

"Good ANC cannot compensate for subdued sound and poor controls at this price."

  • Well designed and comfortable

  • Very good ANC for the price

  • Bad sound quality

  • Mediocre call quality

  • Average battery life

  • No Bluetooth multipoint coupling

  • No skipping tracks

In terms of popularity, it is hard to beat Apple's AirPods when it comes to real wireless earbuds, which is why Amazon is littered with cheap wannabe AirPods. However, when it comes to true wireless earbuds that also have Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), Apple's AirPods Pro, worth $ 249, stole the limelight.

When the Swedish audio brand Urbanista launched their new London True Wireless ANC earbuds with a laundry list of features that connect them from head to toe with the AirPods Pro, but with a price tag that's $ 100 cheaper, this caught our attention.

Can the London True Wireless ANC really deliver AirPods Pro-like performance for just $ 149?

Let's find out.

design

Urbanista London ANC earphones and AirPods ProApple AirPods Pro (left) and Urbanista London Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

It may not be fair to compare a set of $ 149 real radio buds to a pair that costs almost twice as much, but Urbanista wants you to think of the London as AirPods Pro alternative.

They are among the most comfortable in-ear buds I've ever worn.

That is clear when you look at them. From the elongated stem that falls from the main earphone, to the gently rounded shape of the bud itself, to the placement of the silicone tip and in-ear detection sensors – practically all of Apple's design features are present in the London. This is especially true if you order them in the mother-of-pearl white color. However, the London are also available in the colors navy, black and rose gold.

As much as I would prefer Urbanista to pick up on the true formula for wireless earbuds, there's no denying that following in Apple's footsteps will produce good results. Londoners look and feel good too. In fact, they're among the most comfortable in-ear buds I've ever worn. As long as the main part of the earbud fits into the concha of your ear (the part that is on the outside of the ear canal), you should have no problem finding a comfortable fit by choosing from the four sizes of silicone earplugs that Urbanista contains. Speaking of earplugs, they are made of very high quality silicone, which I really appreciate. Too many earphone manufacturers are cheap for this important part.

Londoners have an IPX4 rating for water resistance. This is good enough for a very sweaty workout on a rainy day.

Charging case

Urbanista London ANC earphone caseSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The charging case differs from Apple's design, but that's usually a good thing. It has a noble shell shape with rounded corners and clearly visible LED indicators for the battery life under the front lip. The lid is easy to open and can be closed securely thanks to magnets that are perfectly balanced in their strength. With slightly larger overall dimensions, it's not quite as portable as the Apple charging case, but it's very narrow – and it's practically the same weight.

Plugging and unplugging the earphones into the recessed docks is easy and they stay seated.

The case uses a modern USB-C port for wired charging, but there's also wireless charging – just place the case on a Qi-compatible mat.

Battery life

The similarity to the AirPods Pro continues in terms of battery life. In this case, however, Urbanista should have set its own course.

With just five hours of play per full charge, Londoners are comparable to Apple buds, but that doesn't say much these days. Most new real wireless earbuds – even those that cost far less – exceed this number by two to six hours.

A 10-minute quick charge gives you an hour's play, and the charging case fully charges the London four times, for a total of 25 hours of unplugged action.

Noise cancellation

Urbanista London ANC earphonesSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

In the ANC spectrum, you'll find everything from the light touch of the Amazon Echo Buds, which use Bose's noise reduction technology to smoothly smooth out unwanted noise, to the AirPods Pro, which deliver an almost annoying cone of silence.

The Urbanista London fall somewhere in the middle, which means they actually block a lot of sound – particularly predictable, constant sounds like fans. To get significantly better ANC performance, you have to spend a lot more than the London price of $ 149.

I think it's good that you can choose between ANC on and off and that there is an ambient mode that lets in some outside noise – handy when talking on the phone and when walking or walking through an urban landscape. However, I wish there was a way to adjust the ANC level through an app, which has become a standard option for ANC earphones and headphones.

Sound quality

Urbanista London ANC earphonesSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

I wish I could praise London more, but unfortunately I bumped into a wall here. Saying that they sound average would mean setting a very low bar for the average set of real wireless earbuds, which is pretty good. No, the Londoners sound much worse. Imagine taking a really good set of earphones like the Sony WF-1000XM3 (hard to imagine if you haven't really heard it, but join in), but before you put it in your ears, plug it in Bundle of cotton balls first in front of the eardrum.

Saying that they sound average would mean setting a very low bar for the average set of real wireless earphones.

This risky-sounding combination is more or less what Londoners sound like. You can see that a full, rich sound can be heard somewhere deep in its components. Bass, mids, and possibly some decent high frequencies are there, but it's as if they're all trapped behind an invisible, wafer-thin layer of material that flattens everything into a dull, lifeless signal.

I literally pulled one of the earplugs off to see if there was a physical obstacle.

Unfortunately, Urbanista does not have an app for Londoners, so there is no way to optimize the EQ to compensate for this. Not that I think it would make a big difference.

Call quality

The Urbanista London can certainly be used for phone calls, but if the call quality is very important you may want to look elsewhere.

They tend to pick up background noise more than some other wireless earbuds I've tried, and the quality of your voice when speaking to callers is mediocre. The person who normally makes my earphone test calls said it sounded like I was very far from the microphone.

Control and ease of use

Urbanista London ANC earphonesSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Pairing the London is very easy – just open the case with the buds inside and find the device in your Bluetooth accessories list on your phone. Unfortunately, they are not equipped with Bluetooth multipoint, so you can only pair them with one device at a time.

There's also no way to use just a single earbud as the wear sensor automatically pauses the music when you remove an earbud – a feature that can't be disabled.

Surprisingly, there is no way to skip tracks, which I think is more important than volume control.

The only exception is making or receiving calls that can only be made with one of the earphones alone.

Londoners use a touch-sensitive control area on each earphone, which is identified by the Urbanista logo on the top of the stems. As with many touch controls, you have to be reasonably accurate when typing. Tap the stem too deep and it won't respond.

Londoners are more picky about touch than I would like them to be. Double knocking was often interpreted as single knocking, which became annoying after a while.

You get the standard set of controls, including play / pause, volume up / down, answer / end call, but surprisingly there's no way to skip tracks, which I think is more important than volume control when you do this A choice between these two functions.

You can turn ANC on and off and activate the environmental mode. For voice assistants, however, only Siri is fully supported.

Due to the lack of an app, it is not possible to reconfigure what the different typing sequences do or which earphones are assigned to them.

Our opinion

Feature by feature, the Urbanista London should be a blast given its relatively affordable price and the available ANC. You will surely do many things right, especially in terms of design, fit and comfort. Unfortunately, Londoners miss the mark in key areas such as sound quality, call quality, and non-customizable controls.

Is there a better alternative?

If active noise cancellation isn't a must, there are almost too many great real wireless earbuds to list. Most of them cost less than $ 100, and I think they all sound better than London.

If ANC is the key and you want to stay below the $ 200 mark, check out the Edifier TWS NB and Panasonic RZ-S500W. Both offer excellent sound quality, ANC and much more features than the Urbanista London for $ 200 or less.

How long will they last?

With a one-year limited warranty, the Urbanista London seems to be well built and made of high quality materials.

Their IPX4 protection class protects them from the effects of water. As long as you don't abuse them, they should last as long as most real wireless earbuds you can currently buy.

Should you buy them

No. As tempting as it is to buy a set of active noise canceling earbuds for just $ 149, I doubt you will be happy with their sound.

Editor's recommendations




17 Jul
Blog

Eufy Security Smart Lock Touch Review: Not So Smart

Eufy Smart Lock touch dial pad

Eufy Security Smart Lock Touch review: Not so intelligent

"It looks scary, but its functionality is too tame."

  • Robust design

  • Unlocked quickly with your fingerprint

  • Can set up temporary codes

  • Not a good value

  • Bluetooth connection only

Eufy was in a tear on the smart home market last year. So far it has been shown that the product line strikes a balance between functions, performance and price. The company has tackled everything from robotic vacuum cleaners to surveillance cameras. Now Eufy is breaking into the world of intelligent locks.

Enter the Eufy Security Smart Lock Touch, which appears to be business. What is a bit surprising is the price, which at $ 250 is a bold statement for a company that is proud of the budget prices for many of its devices. Is this reward worth it?

Long installation

Here's the first thing you should know. To use Eufy's Smart Lock, you must replace the entire existing deadlock. I was not particularly impressed by this, because it means that I have to replace my existing key set. Even if you, like me, are familiar with installing smart locks, the installation process can be tedious.

The entire installation process from start to finish took approximately 30 minutes.

Overall, the entire installation process took 30 minutes from start to finish. This is more than twice the time it took me to install the SimpliSafe Smart Lock and Level Lock. With both you can use your existing lock.

Why does it take so long? On the inside of your door there is a mounting plate for the internal assembly, in which the batteries and the locking switch are located. Positioning and assembling is not a challenge, but a bit fussy.

Solid design that means business

I admit that the Eufy Security Smart Lock Touch has an intimidating presence. The design includes a metal frame, shiny plastic accents and a striking fingerprint sensor. Seams are barely visible on the outer assembly, while the keyhole is protected by a metal cover. The digital keyboard appears invisible to the eye unless it is touched, which activates the backlight.

Eufy Smart Lock touch dial padJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

The durability is low because it has a weatherproof protection rating IP65, so that it can withstand extreme temperatures and weather conditions.

Although powered by four AA batteries, there is a micro USB connector on the bottom of the external assembly that can be connected to a power source. This is useful when the battery is empty and you don't have the physical keys. The battery is designed for one year and still shows all five bars after two weeks.

It may look chunky, but given its durable design, I agree with the bulky and intimidating look.

It could be smarter

Convenience is important, so I like an intelligent lock that can get me in in no time. The fingerprint sensor is without a doubt my preferred method of unlocking the lock as it can recognize me in less than a second. It was just right to see my fingerprints.

The digital keyboard is my next choice. However, you will encounter the problem that fingerprints are visible on the surface. This problem can make it easier for someone to guess your passcode by examining the keys you pressed in the past.

There is a function in the Eufy Security app, the scramble password, with which you can enter random numbers before or after entering the passcode. It's a nice idea, but seems too annoying to use at any frequency.

Of course, you can also use the Smart Lock app to unlock it. However, it relies heavily on a Bluetooth connection, so it will take a few seconds for the connection to be established when you approach the lock.

This means that you can't unlock remotely through the app when you're not at home. Alexa and Google Assistant are not compatible with Eufy's lock. While other smart locks can detect when your phone is nearby and unlock it automatically, you won't find this feature here. These restrictions bother me because they seriously affect the comfort of the lock.

Still, there are options to set up temporary access for individuals. You can select the dates and times when these temporary codes are active. This is ideal for guests or dog walkers. You can also check in the app who unlocks the door at what time.

If you're concerned about data protection, you just know that fingerprints and in-app data are stored locally with a bank-quality AES128 encryption chip.

Our opinion

Eufy had a number of solid smart home devices, but the Eufy Security Smart Lock Touch lags behind the competition. With an inflated price of $ 250, it's a huge investment that lacks the intelligence of other locks.

Is there a better alternative?

The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock achieves the same amount as this, but offers more features and easier installation while keeping your existing lock. The level lock is also a similar option that turns any existing lock into a smart lock. If you are on a budget, the $ 100 Wyze Lock is hard to beat.

How long it will take?

It's solidly built and Eufy offers a 1-year limited warranty for defects. Smart locks are not misused much because they are fixed in one position. So I would expect Eufy's castle to last for years. You will probably want to replace it with newer locks due to upgrades long before it breaks.

Should you buy it

No. Eufy's expensive Smart Lock Touch lacks too many features that are common among competitors.

Editor's recommendations




17 Jul
Blog

Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Review: A Surprising Superzoom

Tamron 28 200mm f28 56 test product 3

Tamron's 28-200mm f / 2.8-5.6 super zoom exceeds expectations

"This super zoom is small and light and is perfect for casual photography."

  • Compact, light

  • Bright aperture of 1: 2.8 (at the wide end)

  • Generally fast auto focus

  • First class fit and workmanship

  • Strong vignetting

  • Bad edge sharpness

I'm not a fan of super zooms. These "do-everything" lenses usually make everything bad, and my expectations for the Tamron 28-200mm f / 2.8-5.6, a full-frame lens for Sony e-mount cameras, were also low. At $ 729, it's a relatively affordable multi-purpose lens, and here I thought the story would end.

I was wrong.

I mostly shoot with prime numbers – fixed focal length lenses that don't zoom at all. Prime numbers are sharp, bright and compact (not always) and can be optimized as such due to their single focal length. In contrast, the more zoom range you put in a lens, the softer, darker, and bigger.

But the Tamron 28-200mm surprised me. It's light and compact for a 7x zoom, but also brighter than most others and at the wide end achieves an impressive aperture of 1: 2.8, 2/3 better than most other similar lenses.

tamron 28 200mm f28 56 test example 05 "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn6.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/tamron-28-200mm-f28-56 -review -sample-05-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAATamron 28-200 mm at 28 mm

tamron 28 200mm f28 56 test example 06 "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn2.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/tamron-28-200mm-f28-56 -review -sample-06-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAATamron 28-200 mm at 200 mm

However, my expectations of sharpness remained conservative. When I mounted the lens on a 61-megapixel Sony A7R IV that was intended for this Lensrentals test, I knew intuitively that it couldn't tap the potential of this camera – and I was right.

The thing is, it didn't have to. While it's easy to question why someone would invest in an expensive full-frame camera just to stock it with cheap glass, there are indeed many reasons why we take pictures, and for most of us, it's not the biggest Capturing detail is the most important.

Daven Mathies | Digital trends

The Tamron 28-200mm is not a professional lens, but it doesn't have to be. It is the perfect "Uncle Bob" lens that you can use as a wedding guest, much to the annoyance of the professional photographer who was hired to document the event. But I really mean that. This is a lens for the way most people take pictures most of the time, and it's excellent in this role. Even the professional wedding photographer mentioned above may want to take the lens out on her days off.

design

With a length of only 4.6 inches (compressed at 28 mm) and a weight of only about 20 ounces, you don't feel overwhelmed with the Tamron 28-200 mm. I carried it and the Sony A7R IV in hand on a three-hour hike and never felt tired. I didn't even have a camera strap.

This is the greatest strength of the Tamron. Full-frame cameras, including mirrorless ones, can rise to unwieldy sizes in combination with some lenses, and it's impressive to incorporate so much zoom into such a mobile package.

Daven Mathies | Digital trends

The lens is also moisture resistant, which I appreciated when taking photos near the base of a waterfall.

About half of the outer lens barrel is dedicated to the zoom ring, which is wrapped with a non-slip rubber that feels good in the hand. The zoom action is very fluid and gives the lens a first-class feeling that is not often associated with the Superzoom category. The focus-by-wire ring is a little weaker, but I doubt that a lot of people will use manual focus anyway.

A zoom lock is the only switch on the lens that can keep it at 28mm when not in use to prevent the lens from creeping. Even if you forget to use it, there is enough resistance in the zoom to make this not a problem in normal use. I had to shake the lens quite violently so that the zoom tube could move at all.

Daven Mathies | Digital trends

Visually, we look at 18 elements in 14 groups, and Tamron lists "a number of specialized elements" to improve sharpness. I take that as a huge grain of salt because it really doesn't do an outstanding job in terms of image quality, but more on that later.

The aperture range is 1: 2.8 to 1:16 at the wide end and 1: 5.6 to 1:32 at the telephoto end. At 70 mm the maximum aperture is 1: 4, a point that is brighter at the same focal length than at Sony 24-240mm f / 3.5-6.3. This is another real benefit of the Tamron compared to other superzooms, as this extra light-gathering capacity can help reduce ISO sensitivity or shutter speed, reduce noise, or avoid motion blur.

Auto focus and image quality

The 28-200mm uses Tamron's RXD autofocus motor (Rapid Extra-Silent Stepping Drive). In practice, I found that the lens was focused quickly and accurately most of the time, although it occasionally stayed behind when my subject moved towards me. In fairness, most of my tests were done while hiking through a fairly dark forest. Even though it was in the middle of the day, I often took pictures at ISO 3,200 or higher, so I didn't work with a ton of light. The focus performance would probably be even better in brighter conditions.

In terms of image quality, the 28-200 mm fall behind here. On the plus side, the f / 2.8 aperture provides good depth of field at the wide end, and the way the lens renders defocused areas is actually pretty good in terms of super zooms. The tele-compression at 200 mm ensures a decent portrait even if the aperture is only 1: 5.6. Subjectively, I don't hate it, but it's nothing exciting either.

Daven Mathies | Digital trends

However, it is not all good news. The lens falls short in several ways. The vignetting is intense, and as it decreases at the telephoto end, the overall light transmission also decreases. Images at 1: 5.6 at 200 mm appear to be about 1/3 darker than 1: 5.6 at 70 mm. Thankfully, the transmission across the zoom range is essentially the same for smaller apertures.

There is also strange behavior when it comes to details. At the wide end, the sharpness drops significantly from the center to the edges of the frame, but the edges improve noticeably when you stop at 1: 5.6. However, the center doesn't seem to get much sharper. At the telephoto end, I noticed that the details in the entire image are of course more uniform, but I didn't notice any advantage when I switched off the lens. F / 5.6 and f / 11 looked equally sharp – or not equally sharp.

Part of it probably has something to do with the camera. With 61 megapixels, the A7R IV is diffraction limited somewhere by 1: 5.6. Even if the lens sharpens at 1:11, chances are that I just can't see it. The A7R IV is an incredibly unforgiving sensor, and I'm not surprised that the Tamron 28-200mm never looks particularly good when you look closely.

However, this is a lens designed for occasional real world use. If you don't want to make large prints, you probably won't be dissatisfied with the quality. If lens corrections are enabled in the camera, you probably won't even notice many of its shortcomings. The ability to take a variety of shots with reliable autofocus from such a light package is a significant advantage for the average customer who easily outweighs the incomplete optical performance.

Our opinion

One day, opticians will find a way to build a super zoom lens that doesn't affect image quality. Today is not this day. If you're looking for a lens that shows what your Sony full-frame camera can do, it isn't.

But in this case that's fine.

The Tamron 28-200mm f / 2.8-5.6 doesn't try to be the only lens that can do it all. If your expensive Sony G Master lenses get you through the week, this Tamron is what you get out of the weekend. It is the lens that you take with you for an international flight or pack it in your hand luggage (if this is allowed again). It's the lens you choose when you stop worrying about megapixels, curvature, and bokeh, and instead want to focus on creating memories.

And that's exactly what most of us are about to take pictures.

Is there a better alternative?

Sony makes a 24-240mm f / 3.5-6.3 that is not much more expensive at $ 1,050 and offers more range than the Tamron, but at the expense of a slower aperture. It's also bigger and heavier, at 27.6 ounces, which makes it less suitable for activities like hiking.

What strikes me most about the Sony lens is the larger angle – the difference between 24 mm and 28 mm is larger than you might think, but I personally don't find the additional 40 mm at the telephoto end so useful. In my opinion, it is not worth it for most people to do without 2/3 light stops and to give your camera bag more volume.

How long it will take?

The solid build quality should give this lens a good longevity and, like most lenses, last for many years. However, if you consider it the first lens, you can quickly grow beyond its limits.

You should buy it

Yes, if you want a flexible, walk-in lens for a mirrorless Sony camera. Don't expect optical size, but the Tamron 28-200mm is perfect if you need a portable solution with a lens for any casual photography.

Editor's recommendations




16 Jul
Blog

The Bluesound Pulse Soundbar 2i is bulky and frustrating

Bluesound Pulse Soundbar 2i Rating 1

"The excellent sound quality is affected by poor design decisions and a poor user experience."

  • Excellent balanced, neutral sound

  • Tons of connection and accessory options

  • Compatible with wireless audio for the whole house

  • Works with Airplay

  • The bulky, high design limits the placement

  • Poor user experience overall

  • Expensive

Bluesound is not a household name, but it is a close competitor to Sonos in the fight for over-connected, intelligent high-fidelity audio. The Pulse Soundbar 2i is the second generation soundbar from the company for the living room and offers serious audio chops.

At $ 900, it's a little more expensive than the Sonos Arc, but doesn't offer Dolby Atmos support like its rival. Does it have other features that could make it a better choice? Let's take a look.

Large drivers, bulky housing

The Pulse Soundbar 2i is not nice. When we review soundbars, we do it from the perspective that they shouldn't draw attention to themselves. The best are slim and compact, and if you have to look at them, they have at least sophisticated lines and a classy finish. The Bose Soundbar 700 is a good example of this.

The Soundbar 2i seems to be the opposite. The Soundbar 2i places more emphasis on sound quality than in a room and is 5.5 inches tall. To put this in perspective: The feet of my 65-inch LED TV from Sony only lift the bottom of the TV a little more than 2.5 inches from the media stand.

That said, if I placed the Soundbar 2i in its optimal position directly under the TV, it would cover about two inches of the bottom of the TV. It's good that the soundbar has an IR receiver in the front, because the IR receiver of my TV is blocked due to its height.

Jaron Schneider | Digital trends

This isn't ideal, and for anyone with a similar living room setup, the Pulse Soundbar 2i will look incredibly large and just as intrusive. However, if you choose to wall-mount your TV, this is less of a problem. Bluesound contains a variety of wall adapters to simplify this.

If the reason why Bluesound made the Soundbar 2i so big is to record the speaker system, it was mainly the sound quality. The technical data of the drivers in this soundbar are impressive. It includes two 1-inch tweeters, two 4-inch woofers, two 2-inch midrange speakers and two 4-inch passive radiators.

Connected, but confusing

If you're looking for a variety of connectivity options and codec support, the Soundbar 2i is flush with these. It not only supports almost every conceivable audio file format, but also a variety of codecs, including aptX via Bluetooth as well as USB, Optical, RCA Line-In, HDMI ARC and eARC. There is also Wi-Fi for direct streaming from a number of services, including Tidal's master tracks.

If your home has it, chances are that the Soundbar 2i can play it. Thanks to Bluesound's impressive list of support devices, you have many options if you want to invest in this system.

If you want a wireless connection to the Soundbar 2i, you can grab a NAD M10 A / V receiver that supports built-in bluesound. If you have an existing home theater system that you want to integrate the Soundbar 2i into, the company's Node 2i connects the Bluesound app interface to this system and integrates everything into the Soundbar 2i for a multiroom setup without you having to create any new ones Gotta buy devices Got it. The number of add-on options is substantial and there is a lot more going on in Bluesound than in its competitor Sonos.

If you're looking for a variety of connectivity options and codec support, the Soundbar 2i is flush with these.

Unfortunately, I'm not the biggest fan of the Bluesound app, which is the control center for all Bluesounds devices, including the Soundbar 2i. Not only is it faulty, it is also not intuitive to use. Sure, there are many options in the app that allow you to fine-tune the type of audio you want to get out of the Soundbar 2i, but finding and using these features is not what I would imagine. In this area, the Sonos app is much more user-friendly.

The Bluesound Soundbar 2i makes me stupid.

In particular, the use of the Soundbar 2i with HDMI ARC has not been explained in the literature supplied or in a guided setup in the app, and the Soundbar is not intelligent enough to use standard HDMI signals and give you audio.

When I connected the soundbar for the first time and set it up via the app, at no time did I have to activate HDMI ARC via the app to get sound pass-through. I had to go to Google and find out how to get sound from the bar. The device has told me so little about how it works.

This is a step that feels like it should just happen and not something that I should tell the soundbar through the app. At least the app should be more open about what the Soundbar 2i is capable of and how the setup can be completed properly.

RIGHT: This is the home screen and you can tap either the top right or left. | MEDIUM: If you tap on the top right, you can choose which output the soundbar should use. This does not allow HDMI pass-through, but only the volume control. | RIGHT: To get an HDMI pass-through, tap HDMI ARC in the top left. This separation is absolutely unintuitive.

The Soundbar 2i does not have the supplied remote control. I'm not sure how that decision was made by anyone at Bluesound, but I can't get it over with.

Firstly, it is a speaker system for the home theater – it requires a remote control. Second, if you don't have an HDMI-ARC on your TV and want to connect via an optical connection, you can easily change the volume of this soundbar. All controls are in the app (more on that in a moment), but using an app to control your soundbar in your own living room feels shaky and disconnected, not to mention slow and boring. You can pick up the Bluesound RC1 IR remote, but that's an additional $ 60 for something that should have been included. We complained that Sonos overcharged for accessories, but Bluesound takes it to a new level.

On a positive note, the Soundbar 2i can work with most IR remote controls that you will find in a household if you set them up with the app. That sounds great, but the app never tells you that this is an option, and neither does the literature that comes with the bar. You almost have to trip over it as a skill. All of this stems from the problem at hand – the user experience is exceptionally poor. Everything about the bluesound experience seems to have been done by an engineer who wanted to pack as much as possible into the product but didn't help anyone massaging the usability in it.

The Soundbar 2i makes me stupid. Sonos guides you superbly through setting up one of its devices and mixes picture clues with specific instructions so you never feel lost. If you work with many different devices that can offer a variety of services, this type of hand holding is an absolute must. It is a shame that Bluesound does not help you as a consumer because the acoustic quality of this soundbar is excellent.

Powerful, pleasant, neutral sound

I mentioned the impressive array of drivers in the Soundbar 2i, and while they're not pretty to look at, they do provide an excellent listening experience. I am very happy with the sound quality of the Soundbar 2i and almost completely fix the above-mentioned problems with the user interface of the product.

The music bar 2i really sings in music.

The bass in the Soundbar 2i does not match the raw performance of a subwoofer, but it offers more than enough rumble for films and adds depth to the music.

I actually preferred the Soundbar 2i as a music speaker to a home theater centerpiece. While movies sound great, they lack a surround sound feel. Achieving this in a single, center-weighted bar is difficult, but not impossible. The Sonos Arc does a better job in this department thanks to its Dolby Atmos support, and The Fives from Klipsch makes me better with first-class cinema sound thanks to the real separation of left and right.

Jaron Schneider | Digital trends

While the cinema isn't the best choice, the Soundbar 2i really sings when playing music.

All of these drivers work together to produce a sound that allows you to disassemble any particular instrument in an orchestra or hear the nuances of the melodies in a rock ballad clearly. Bluesound has set its 2i soundbar to work almost like a reference monitor, with incredible clarity and excellent neutral sound reproduction.

I liked the sound from the Soundbar 2i so much that I moved it away from my TV – since it blocked the bottom of the screen anyway – and put it on my coat so that it was in the best position to play music, while I was reading on the couch. It played the sound in my living room beautifully, and when I enjoyed this beautiful musical experience, I complained about how this wonderful piece of sound hardware was held back by UI decisions that were so easy to avoid.

I tried the Soundbar 2i with the wireless subwoofer from Bluesound, the Pulse Sub, but was not impressed. The submarine was slim and easy to connect, but it offered little change in the way I experienced music or movies. Even at maximum performance, it didn't give me the rumble I was looking for. I think the soundbar does a good job of its own so that you can pass the submarine on for the time being.

Our opinion

The Bluesound Pulse Soundbar 2i is a bit strange in the soundbar. It's better in music than in the cinema, is formatted to work well with wall-mounted TVs in particular, and is heavily dependent on its app. Excellent overall quality helps with redemption, but most users should choose Sonos' more intuitive options.

Is there a better alternative?

The Sonos Arc is the most direct competitor and offers the same promises as a soundbar with multiroom connectivity. As a bonus, the Arc is $ 100 cheaper and supports Dolby Atmos. The Bose Soundbar 700 is also an excellent choice, and The Fives by Klipsch offers everyone the opportunity to fight for their money as real stereo monitors.

How long it will take?

Bluesound offers the standard 1 year warranty but the build quality is excellent and I don't expect this device to fail soon.

Should you buy it

No, it's hard to recommend the Soundbar 2i. Despite the excellent audio quality, it works better as a speaker than a TV soundbar, and the user interface takes a lot of work. That makes it a passport of mine.

Editor's recommendations




16 Jul
Blog

TiVo Stream 4K Review: Media Streamer Made For Cord-Cutters

TiVo Stream 4K

"With 4K, Dolby Vision, Atmos and Chromecast, the Stream 4K offers a lot of value."

  • Affordable

  • Great remote control

  • 4K, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos

  • Chromecast and Google Assistant integrated

  • Only supports Sling for live TV

  • Dolby Atmos support is inconsistent

When TiVo announced the Stream 4K at CES 2020, we were a little surprised. The company, which built its reputation (and arguably an industry) on the invention of the DVR, showed a device that could not record TV shows on a hard drive and could not even be connected to conventional TV sources such as cable, satellite, or free antenna broadcasts.

The Stream 4K is also a price departure from TiVo's past. With an introductory price of $ 50 and no additional fees, the Stream 4K is by far the cheapest TiVo product. But has the company sold its soul to harness the power of the streaming video revolution?

Let's take a look.

What is the TiVo Stream 4K?

TiVo Stream 4KSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Before we go into the full test, let's discuss what the Stream 4K is – and what isn't.

Despite the TiVo branding, the Stream 4K has practically nothing in common with DVR devices such as the TiVo Bolt OTA and the TiVo Edge. It cannot be used in the same household as these other TiVo products to access your DVR recordings or conventional live TV (in case you hoped it could serve as a much cheaper version of the TiVo Mini). But one thing the TiVo believers will not miss: the fee for the TiVo service (since this is not a TiVo DVR).

Instead, it's a $ 50 streaming media dongle that is supported by the Android TV operating system. TiVo has added some proprietary software improvements, but for the most part, the Stream 4K should be viewed as an Android TV.

At an extremely affordable price of $ 50, the Stream 4K may be the best Android TV in the world right now. But it is definitely not a TiVo in the traditional sense.

design

TiVo Stream 4KSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Stream 4K looks like a cross between a Google Chromecast and a Roku Streaming Stick +. The main dongle is a small, rectangular device that is designed to resemble TiVo's latest DVR, the Edge, and has the same offset-square look.

TiVo knows a thing or two about remote controls. You could say it's one of the company's greatest strengths.

A flexible HDMI cable makes it easy to connect to the back or sides of a TV, and a standard micro USB cable is powered by the included power adapter. Although it is possible that an available USB port on your TV is used for the power supply, TiVo expressly recommends not to do so.

There is a USB-C port on the side, but it is currently only used to add a third-party Ethernet adapter.

What sets the Stream 4K apart from the streaming dongle competition is its remote control.

TiVo knows a thing or two about remote controls. You could say it's one of the company's greatest strengths. The Stream 4K's remote looks like someone took a regular TiVo remote and shrunk it in their laundry.

The classic peanut shape is retained and is pleasant to hold and use. It contains most of the expected keys such as volume, channel, a special number pad and even the famous TiVo key "Skip". Some of these buttons, like the "Skip" and "TiVo" buttons, work a little differently on the Stream 4K than on the PVRs, but overall this is a very familiar experience.

A notable exception is the Google Assistant button, which replaces the blue voice button. You use this for all voice-based commands.

The only button I wished for was a dedicated play / pause. As with some older Android TVs like the 2017 Nvidia Shield TV and earlier, the central D-Pad button is an "OK" function for menus and a play / pause button when streaming, but sometimes it has to be done twice pressed when you want to pause or play.

configuration

TiVo Stream 4K setup

Setting up Stream 4K is easy with a step-by-step on-screen wizard. Usually, you have to create a TiVo account for TiVo devices as part of the activation process. However, since this is also an Android TV device, you need a Google account to download apps from the Google Play Store and use the Google Assistant.

The only difference from other streaming devices is TiVo's personalization step, which takes you through a range of A or B options using popular TV shows to set a benchmark for your personal taste.

After making about a dozen of these decisions, TiVo's personalization engine offers a number of suggested titles for your My Shows collection. If, like me, you are not particularly enthusiastic about the suggestions, you can always add your own shows and films to your "My Shows" library later.

In the last step you will be asked to select the streaming services to which you have access. Options include Sling, Amazon Prime, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, Disney + as well as Google Play Movies and TV.

Wondering what is the difference between Amazon Prime and Amazon Prime Video? Amazon Prime includes all of the content included in your Prime membership, while Amazon Prime Video is Amazon's paid program – shows and movies that you can only rent or buy.

If you're concerned that your preferred streaming service isn't one of the options, you shouldn't. This is simply the list of streaming services that TiVo currently has access to for its personalized streaming app, which we'll discuss next. In the Google Play Store, you can choose from a variety of additional streaming services. A notable exception is Apple TV +.

The TiVo Stream experience

TiVo Stream 4K screenshotSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The TiVo Stream 4K is incredibly affordable considering that it has both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. However, TiVo would argue that the biggest attraction of Stream 4K is the included TiVo Stream app, and this is an argument with some value.

Much like Apple's TV app tried to create a curated streaming experience that collects content from multiple streaming platforms (including your own Apple TV + if you have a subscription), the TiVo Stream consolidates all of yours Services in a user-friendly interface.

All of the curated content is divided into well-known categories such as movies, TV shows, sports, and children (though strangely no "news" option), and each is divided into deeper categories like "superhero films". This is a great way to search multiple content sources from a single user interface. Equally valuable is the search tool, which, as the name suggests, allows you to search the entire curated content.

It's incredibly affordable considering that it has both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos

The stream app is also home to the free, ad-supported live TV platform TiVo +, a collection of hyper-specific channels such as Unsolved Mysteries, Conde Nast Traveler and Food52. You can access these channels using the Guide button or by switching to the Guide view in the Stream app. If you have a Sling subscription, this will also be shown here.

TiVo regards the Stream app as the real “home screen” of the Stream 4K, although you can still access the normal Android TV home screen. In fact, each of these user experiences gets its own button on the remote control. The stream app is triggered via the TiVo button, which is located on the front and center of the remote control, while the Android TV start screen is accessed via a small circular button next to the Google Assistant button.

Do you find these dueling home screens confusing? First, yes. You'll likely stumble around a bit, especially if you've never used an Android TV.

However, you will quickly find that the Stream app is just like any other app in the bigger Android TV experience. It's there when you want it, as is the dedicated button, but it's easy to ignore if you don't find it valuable.

How valuable you find it depends on how many of the supported streaming services you subscribe to. If your only paid subscription is Netflix, the stream app can only offer you Netflix suggestions and everything it can find on its own TiVo + Live TV service.

This pales in comparison to Roku's The Roku Channel, which not only curates among most paid streaming services, but also finds the best free streaming options from a much wider range of services.

Made for Sling, somehow

TiVo

To get the most out of the Stream app, you need a Sling TV subscription. This is currently the only live TV service (except TiVo +) that the app supports. Sling TV effectively replaces the role that cable, satellite or antenna television plays on TiVo's DVRs by allowing the Stream app to access a variety of broadcast channels and broadcasts.

Without a Sling subscription, the Stream 4K is a powerful Android TV with some useful extras. A Sling subscription gets a little closer to the TiVo experience that made the company's DVRs so popular, but with some important limitations.

Sling channels are displayed in the Guide interface, where you can see what is currently playing and what is on the program. However, if you've subscribed to Netflix or another streaming service that contains the same shows as a Sling channel, clicking on future scheduled episodes in the manual will only allow you to watch them immediately instead of seeing the expected Sling recording option.

In a way, that's good. Why wait to record an episode when you can see it on another service now? But I think the guide should give you both options, not just one. The only way to trigger a sling recording of a "double" show is to switch from the Android TV start screen to the standalone sling app and use its instructions.

When you schedule a recording in the Sling app, the Sling manual shows that the recording has been scheduled. However, this information is not shown in the manual of the Stream app.

There is also no way to access your sling recordings via the Stream app. You'll need to return to the Sling app to find, view, and manage it.

performance

TiVo Stream 4KSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Unlike Roku, Amazon Fire TV, or Apple TV, which all have tight control over the software and hardware that delivers their experiences, Android TV can feel a bit like the wild west, with some devices delivering a snappy performance while others feel sluggish.

Fortunately, the Stream 4K is one of the earlier ones, which switches quickly and quickly from app to app, and there was no noticeable delay in using the buttons on the remote control.

This is probably due to the internals of the Stream 4K. It has 2 GB of RAM and 8 GB of onboard storage and can wirelessly stream over 802.11 AC Wi-Fi. But I find the CPU, the Amlogic S905Y2, particularly interesting. This is the same chip that Google is using for its Android TV developer platform ADT-3, and probably the same chip that Google will be using in its upcoming Android TV device, codenamed Sabrina.

If you are an Android TV power user hoping for a cheap alternative to Shield TV, keep this in mind. TiVo does not offer some advanced options, e.g. B. Pass-through for Dolby Atmos or DTS HD. There is also no way to handle switching and exiting apps, a standard feature of most Android TVs.

Audio and video quality

If you have a 4K HDR TV, the contents of the Stream 4K should look great, and even more so if your TV also supports Dolby Vision. In a back-to-back test against an Apple TV 4K with a LG OLED TV, I found that the Stream 4K produced pictures that were just as detailed and colorful, whether I was from Netflix, Amazon Prime Video or Plex streamed.

I had problems getting one of the streaming apps to deliver Dolby Atmos to my A / V receiver or TV

I also managed to outperform my other Android TV, an Nvidia Shield TV for 2019 for $ 150, with slightly more vivid tones.

Oddly, there were some cases where the black bars at the top and bottom of the screen (which is the case when playing movies with a ratio of 2.35: 1 like Ford versus Ferrari) appeared gray and not black. However, this was inconsistent and may have been a bug with the Plex app rather than a problem with the Stream 4K.

I also occasionally encountered screen fades where the signal from the Stream 4K was temporarily interrupted, although this only happened while navigating the user interface and not while streaming video.

The audio quality is great, but Dolby Atmos fans are warned. Despite the fact that the Stream 4K supports a variety of audio formats such as Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS HD and Dolby Atmos, I had problems getting one of the streaming apps to deliver Dolby Atmos to my air conditioner receiver or television.

TiVo's representative admitted that the Stream 4K has not yet received a software update to be compatible with Netflix's Dolby Atmos requirements, and said that this update will be available soon. However, I didn't get a clear reason why Disney + and Amazon Prime were in the same boat.

In a way, this shouldn't come as a surprise. TiVo has brought products to the market in the past – the TiVo Bolt OTA comes to mind – that promised functions such as 4K and HDR but did not have the necessary support for streaming services so that these functions work at least when started.

Since the Stream 4K is clearly Dolby Atmos compatible, it is now a waiting game to see when or if TiVo and the streaming services update their apps to activate it.

Integrated Google Assistant and Chromecast

TiVo Stream 4K remote controlSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Two main advantages of choosing Android TV as a smart TV operating system are Google Assistant and Google Chromecast. Both work well with the Stream 4K, which means that this $ 50 dongle outperforms Google's own $ 69 Chromecast Ultra in every possible way.

I haven't tested the Stream 4K for performance with Google's Stadia game service, but the Chromecast feature was a spell for other tasks like initiating and controlling streams from YouTube or Plex.

Our opinion

Android TV may not be for everyone, but at $ 50, the TiVo Stream 4K is a compelling argument that you should give it a try. With the support of Dolby Vision and a curated viewing experience that should improve over time, the Stream 4K has a lot of potential. The company must keep an eye on its relationships with streaming providers to ensure that the potential is exploited.

Is there a better alternative?

If you're looking for an affordable remote-controlled media streamer, you have a wide choice. The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K for $ 50 works with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, has an integrated Alexa function and a library with over 8,000 apps. However, not everyone loves the Fire TV interface, and there is no native casting option for Android or iOS devices.

The $ 50 Roku Streaming Stick + has one of the best smart TV interfaces we've ever used, as well as countless apps. However, Dolby Vision is not supported. Google Assistant or Alexa are not supported (although Roku has its own voice command system). Casting is limited to what you can do with the free Roku app.

Both devices are worthwhile alternatives, but given the unique features of the Stream 4K, I won't call them "better" for the time being.

How long it will take?

This is a difficult question. The hardware is solid, but when it comes to streaming devices, software support plays a much bigger role.

Google likes to update its software regularly and Android TV is no exception. If TiVo stays up to date with these Stream 4K updates, you're in good shape. However, if the Android smartphone world is an indicator, this support may only continue for one or two important updates.

If this is a problem, Roku and Amazon have excellent track records for updates. Nvidia has also remarkably taken care of its Shield TVs, which are updated five years after the launch of the first models.

Should you buy it

Yes. At an introductory price of just $ 50, the TiVo Stream 4K packs a lot of value into a small package. Even if you never use the signature stream app to manage your bingeing sessions, this is currently the cheapest way to get started on Android TV.

Editor's recommendations




16 Jul
Blog

The Best Exercise to Lose Weight

Diets and fitness advice are like the finger. They focus too much on the advice and will miss the opportunity to attain heavenly glory. And so, folks, you finally get Bruce Lee into an article and past the editors. Seriously, what the hell am I talking about?

Weight loss is not what you eat and what you do

There's no end to expert advice on calorie deficits, diets, exercise plans, motivation on the move, and the like to make you think weight loss is easy.

Almost everything is designed to make you feel bad if you haven't lost weight at first. You eat too much. You are not eating properly. You don't move enough. You are not moving properly. The thing is, none of this stuff really matters because weight loss is a senseless exercise in every way.

Of the 51 weight loss and maintenance strategies identified, grouped into 14 areas of the Oxford Food and Activity Behaviors taxonomy, the following were most commonly reported: having healthy food available at home, eating breakfast regularly, increasing vegetable consumption, reducing sugary content and fatty foods, restrict certain foods and reduce fat in meals. Increased physical activity was the most consistent positive correlate in maintaining weight loss

– Paixão et al., 2020

You can lose weight by losing one link. You can lose weight by going to the toilet after taking laxatives. You can lose weight if you have not exercised in twenty years and walk half an hour a day for 8 weeks.

The creation of new diets will continue to follow popular trends. However, the belief that these diets promote weight loss is due to personal impressions and reports published in books rather than strictly controlled research.

– Freire, 2020

The silver ball of weight loss, the only exercise that makes everything possible is the one that trains the mind.

Train the mind to lose weight

The hardest thing you can ever do is see yourself as you really are. If you have a clinical problem, such as a pathological obesty that requires intervention and ultimately weight loss, you need medical advice. And no, Instagram models and "science and evidence based" trainers are not recommended as medical experts.

Based on general outcome patterns and the most frequently published associations, participation in physical activity and sport was associated with a less negative and more positive body image. In addition, a negative body image, which was examined primarily as body weight or dissatisfaction with the shape, was associated with lower physical activity and sports participation and discussed qualitatively as an obstacle to participation. Alternatively, a positive body image, which was most often examined as body satisfaction, tended to be associated with increased participation in physical activity and exercise. This pattern of findings was consistent for men and women and was included in this overview across age groups.

– Sabiston et al., 2019

If you are a competitive athlete like a boxer who needs to save weight for a fight, you need a trainer who has done this before and has experience.

Bodybuilders who lose weight in the run-up to a competition also have some problems, but they're not really interested in weight loss in the traditional sense of the word. In addition, your advice is completely unrealistic for the average person, since most people's lives do not depend on gaining weight, cutting or resting.

On the other hand, if you're part of the other 99% of the world looking for weight loss help because you feel bad or just feel bad, start with an honest assessment of why you want to lose weight.

Therapy would help here. Yup. I said it. If you have a chronic need to lose weight and are healthy or generally okay in all other ways, you may want to see what that means in a holistic sense. I mean what's the real problem because it's not your weight.

Even if you think you're feeling better at losing weight or putting your leg up in the dating pool, this is still a slightly varied tactic because what you supposedly want is invariably not what you actually need.

So you need to train your mind and get in shape, enough to answer the question "What do you really want?" To be able to answer with absolute honesty.

Losing weight does not feel good or looks good

So, here's the practice, finally, so I'm not being trolled for clickbait headlines.

1 lap, no time limit. Ask yourself the following questions:

  • Why do I want to lose weight?
    • If you want it to look good, define what looking good means to deal with age and gender issues and how you would measure the results.
    • When it comes to feeling good, define what that means based on your age and gender, and at the same time check how you would measure the results.
    • Make a list of all the good things that will happen as a result of weight loss)
  • What happens if I don't lose weight?
    • Make a list of all the catastrophic things that will happen to you as a result, and then compare all the things that won't happen to them.
    • Compare the list with all the good things you thought would happen if you lost weight.

Then finish warming up:

  • Do you know that your weight may not change as you build muscle, but your shape may, and that this may mean fat loss but not weight loss?
  • Do you know that there is no ideal weight for an average person?

After you've done all of this, you may still want to be a torn, slim, mean human machine. You have idealized this body in your mind or you have an ideal body image that you would like to acquire.

You then have to ask yourself a question: are you ready to do what is necessary to get this body because it is a serious undertaking that requires deprivation, abstinence, determined dedication and an environment that will guide you through the process supports how long it could take?

References

1. Freire, R. (2020). Scientific evidence of diets for weight loss: Different macronutrient composition, intermittent fasting and popular diets. Nutrition, 69, 110549.

2. Paixão, C., Dias, CM, Jorge, R., Carraça, EV, Yannakoulia, M., Zwaan, M. de, Soini, S., Hill, JO, Teixeira, PJ, & Santos, I. ( 2020). Successful maintenance of weight loss: A systematic review of the weight control register. Obesity ratings, 21 (5), e13003.

3. Sabiston, C.M., Pila, E., Vani, M. & Thogersen-Ntoumani, C. (2019). Body image, physical activity and sport: an overview of the scope. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 42, 48-57.

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