16 Apr
Blog

Don’t be an AskHole | Breaking Muscle

Do you ask "strangers" about your training online? Post videos and get technical advice? I bet you're even the type to follow the sheep with the ideals that best suit you. The comments that allow you to subside or the path of least resistance. Congratulations, you are an askhole!

Best defined as someone who constantly asks for advice and yet always does the exact opposite of what you have been told. In this case, you interviewed a large group of the population and chose the easiest way.

And against the popular opinion here … Professional athletes are not always the best people to ask. They are talented in their sporting skills, are trained by a qualified expert in the field and can only speak for what works for them. That doesn't make her a trainer.

Accredited and valuable trainers do not become like this with a weekend course and spend their entire career learning. From courses to reading magazines and studies to guinea pigs or working with other trainers and groups to help you get the most out of you.

In my 17 years as a coach, I still learn and pass on things. I use scientifically sound principles for the many successes of my athletes. Don't even let me start with subscription-based generic robot programming!

Before following Karen's advice, which works for her and could still injure you, you should investigate whether Karen is qualified enough to offer you free social media coaching without any background information about your fitness level and skills.

Not all experienced, trained coaches cost an arm and a leg, some of us do it for the growth of the sport. You may even find one that only helps you with your technique. Welcome to the digital age where you don't have to have the same zip code.

Can we agree to end the social media madness and focus on building the machine to have the healthiest, strongest, and fastest season yet? I'm cheering you on!

16 Apr
Blog

Lenovo Yoga Smart Tab Review: Flexible and Smart

Lenovo Yoga Smart Tab Rating 2 hands on 4 of 21

"As the name suggests, this Android tablet proves to be intelligent and flexible with many useful functions."

  • Built-in stand

  • You can hang it up

  • Works as a smart home hub

  • Google Assistant built in

  • The YouTube dashboard is broken

  • Unbalanced weight

The Lenovo Yoga Smart Tab is an Android tablet that really stands out from its competitors. It offers a number of useful functions in a 10.1-inch device, including a versatile stand, Google Assistant, Smart Hub functions and much more. Here you can see how intelligent the Yoga Smart Tab really is.

design

Yoga Smart Tab hangs on a wall

Where most tablets need outside help in the form of covers or stands, the Yoga Smart Tab is designed to do everything you need. It has a built-in stand that pops out to watch films at the push of a button and can be adjusted to the desired angle. It also has a support to make typing easier when it is on a flat surface. You can even hang it on a wall with the stand if ever needed.

Since there are speakers on one side of the tablet, holding is a bit cumbersome, especially in portrait mode, as it is heavier on one side than the other. It's also a bit chunky which made my arm tired. It weighs 581 grams. The Galaxy Tab S6 weighs 420 g and the Amazon Fire HD 10 504 g. That doesn't seem to make much difference, but if you hold a tablet in your hand for an hour or two, every little bit counts.

The 10.1-inch FHD IPS screen (1920 x 1200) is very clear and shows no major distortions when viewed from different angles. The colors are vivid and when looking at photos it almost seemed like I was looking at a high quality print.

software

The Yoga Smart Tab is smarter than a regular tablet because it has a special Google Assistant mode and a variety of skills. Opening the tablet stand automatically activates the Google Assistant environment mode. The tablet turns the constantly on display into an intelligent screen that shows the weather, your agenda, entertainment, memories and much more. Most tablets don't have environmental mode access, so this is a great additional feature.

I really like the ambient option because it's even more useful than your average Android tablet.

If you don't want all that jazz on your screen, you can also use the feature to turn your tablet into a photo frame or remote control for your Google Assistant-compatible smart home devices. I really like the ambient option because it is even more useful than the average Android tablet. In addition, it has 360-degree far-field voice recognition, so Google Assistant can hear you no matter where you are in the room.

Audio quality

Yoga Smart Tab speaker

Another feature that distinguishes the Yoga Smart Tab from other tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 is the fact that it has speakers on both sides of the screen. The two JBL HiFi speakers and Dolby Atmos support do a pretty good job.

If you turn up the volume all the way, it loses its quality.

The bass is nice as long as you don't want it to knock too hard or to listen at full volume. If you turn the volume all the way up, it loses quality. This can be a problem if you enjoy listening to YouTube videos on your tablet, although most tablets have this problem.

performance

Yoga smart tab screen

The Yoga Smart Tab also has a literal Smart Tab. You drag the tab to the right and a YouTube dashboard opens. While this is practical, it is also incorrect. Sometimes I wasn't able to play videos on the dashboard (I just saw the sinking circle of doom). However, when I opened the actual YouTube app, the videos played perfectly.

The screen's performance was excellent. Scrolling, navigating, and opening apps went smoothly without the lag you see on some tablets. However, with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 processor and 4 GB of RAM, it's not a good choice for graphics-intensive games. Many 3D titles will stutter and hesitate.

The battery life on the tab is decent. It can take up to 11 hours if you only surf the Internet and offers up to 10 hours of video playback. This is comparable to the battery life of the Galaxy Tab S6.

Our opinion

The Lenovo Yoga Smart Tab may not be perfect, but it is a reliable, dual-purpose device that combines the smart display with a tablet. Thanks to its versatile stand and smart home hub functions, it is more useful than many tablets on the market. Otherwise, the screen and sound are on par with the competition. The only real downside is the unbalanced feel and extra weight when you hold the Smart Tab.

Are there any better options out there?

Perhaps. It just depends on your needs. If you're looking for an excellent Android tablet, the Galaxy Tab S6 is hard to beat. However, one thing that the S6 doesn't have is the Google Assistant environment mode feature. This means that it cannot be used as a hub for your smart devices like the Yoga Smart Tab. If the hub was not so interesting for you, you can choose the S6. If the price matters, the Yoga Smart Tab is around half the price of the S6 at around $ 300.

How long it will take?

The Smart Tab is very well made and I think it will go the distance because it is made of aluminum instead of just plastic. It also comes with a one year warranty.

Should you buy it

Yes, if you have many smart home products compatible with Google Assistant, this tablet is a good choice.

Editor's recommendations




15 Apr
Blog

Don’t be an AskHole | Breaking Muscle

Do you ask "strangers" about your training online? Post videos and get technical advice? I bet you're even the type to follow the sheep with the ideals that best suit you. The comments that allow you to subside or the path of least resistance. Congratulations, you are an askhole!

Best defined as someone who constantly asks for advice and yet always does the exact opposite of what you have been told. In this case, you interviewed a large group of the population and chose the easiest way.

And against the popular opinion here … Professional athletes are not always the best people to ask. They are talented in their sporting skills, are trained by a qualified expert in the field and can only speak for what works for them. That doesn't make her a trainer.

Accredited and valuable trainers do not become like this with a weekend course and spend their entire career learning. From courses to reading magazines and studies to guinea pigs or working with other trainers and groups to help you get the most out of you.

In my 17 years as a coach, I still learn and pass on things. I use scientifically sound principles for the many successes of my athletes. Don't even let me start with subscription-based generic robot programming!

Before following Karen's advice, which works for her and could still injure you, you should investigate whether Karen is qualified enough to offer you free social media coaching without any background information about your fitness level and skills.

Not all experienced, trained coaches cost an arm and a leg, some of us do it for the growth of the sport. You may even find one that only helps you with your technique. Welcome to the digital age where you don't have to have the same zip code.

Can we agree to end the social media madness and focus on building the machine to have the healthiest, strongest, and fastest season yet? I'm cheering you on!

15 Apr
Blog

Intel NUC 9 Extreme Kit Ghost Canyon Review: All Potential

Intel Ghost Canyon

Intel NUC 9 Extreme Kit "Ghost Canyon" test: all possibilities

"Intel's NUC 9 Extreme Kit is a unique vision of computing, but far from perfect."

  • Extremely small

  • Modular structure with upgrade potential

  • Excellent connectivity, including Thunderbolt 3

  • Upgrades are more difficult than expected

  • Loud fan

I built a plywood computer case earlier this year. With a height of 9 inches and a depth of 5.5 inches, it is an extremely small system. I spent a good thirty hours researching, designing, and optimizing the case that now houses my main desktop PC. It was an enjoyable and rewarding project.

But I could have just waited for the Intel NUC 9 Extreme Kit.

The NUC 9 Extreme kit I received for review had an Intel Core i9-9980HK processor, 16 GB RAM, an Nvidia RTX 2070 graphics card from Asus and two solid-state hard drives: One Kingston 2 TB Drive paired with a 380 GB Intel Optane ride. Note that the NUC 9 Extreme Kit usually does not contain any memory, memory or a graphics card.

With these components, it is way ahead of my personal desktop with a Ryzen 5 3500 processor and the GTX 1650 Super from Nvidia. However, the Intel NUC 9 Extreme Kit ($ 1,700) is slightly smaller. It is a few tenths of an inch less deep and tall and almost two inches narrower.

No system I've reviewed offers more performance per square inch. The latest NUC is a fascinating, unique and ultimately faulty experiment in compact gaming PCs.

Design and ports

Oddly enough, the Intel NUC 9 Extreme Kit basically looks like a NUC. I find it strange because I expected a more drastic redesign given the performance gap. Nevertheless, it has the same square, round appearance as previous NUC devices.

NUC fans might be surprised by its mass, which is many times higher than that of any previous device in the NUC range. However, most people will think the system is tiny. Its volume is approximately 5 liters. In comparison, the XPS Special Edition desktop from Dell – our top desktop for most people – takes up almost 25 liters of space.

Intel Ghost CanyonIntel NUC 9 Extreme Kit (left) and home-made plywood desktop (right) Matthew Smith / Digital Trends

That's a big difference. Though larger than in the past, the NUC 9 is small enough to be stowed almost anywhere you want. Place it on your desktop, on a shelf, or even in a closet (if you can guarantee adequate airflow). It is important that it remains small enough to be easily used as a home theater PC.

The NUC 9 has an industrial appearance that does not communicate its unique approach. Apart from the skull logo that is used on other game-oriented NUC devices, there is nothing in this PC to indicate performance. Personally, I don't mind. I will do the job every day of the week.

The excellent selection of ports speaks for the dual approach of the NUC 9.

And it works. At the front, the NUC 9 offers two USB-A 3.1 connections, a combined headphone / microphone connection and an SDXC card reader. On the back you will find four more USB-A 3.1 ports, two Gigabit LAN ports, DisplayPort, HDMI 2.0 and DVI. There are also two Thunderbolt 3 ports, a rare thing that is still unusual on PC desktops.

It is an excellent selection of ports that speak for the dual purpose of the NUC 9. It can hold a graphics card for games, but can also serve as a small workstation for a videographer, photographer, streamer, or other creator. The wired connectivity is rounded off by the support of Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.

Internals and upgrades

The NUC 9 Extreme Kit would be fascinating if it were “just” a powerful, pint-sized PC, but there's more to it than that. It contains the Intel Compute Element, which is a working PC that is pressed onto a PCI Express card that is smaller than most graphics cards. The compute element houses the processor, memory and hard drive – although the NUC 9 Extreme Kit is only supplied with the processor. You must purchase the storage and hard drive separately.

Intel's focus for the compute element is on upgradeability and customization. In theory, this step offers NUC 9 owners an excellent upgrade path. The processor, RAM, hard drive, graphics card and power supply can be replaced.

I could even say it's better than a regular desktop because you don't have to worry about replacing the motherboard. By exchanging the computing element, you can also update your port selection, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

That is the pitch. Does it work in practice?

Intel Ghost CanyonWorking with these connections is cumbersome Matthew Smith / Digital Trends

I was disappointed to find that the modular structure of the NUC 9 was difficult. Opening the case is easy enough. Simply remove two screws and slide the top back. However, the adapted compute element is decorated with numerous connections at unfavorable angles. These must be carefully removed.

In my experience, gamers who want to upgrade a rig are afraid because they don't want to break an expensive PC. The NUC 9 does not solve this problem.

Intel Ghost CanyonComputing element (closed) Matthew Smith / Digital Trends

As soon as the connections are removed and one last screw is loosened, the Compute Element slides freely like any other PCI Express card. The element is a plastic cover on a circuit board that contains the processor, memory (in the form of two SODIMMs) and solid-state memory.

The processor cannot be removed while memory and memory can be replaced. It is a mobile chip that, like other NUC devices, is permanently connected. That is why the compute element is important. You cannot replace the processor without them. This means that at least a processor upgrade is possible.

Intel Ghost CanyonCalculate item (open) Matthew Smith / Digital Trends

What computer elements will be available and how much will they cost? Intel's roadmap is not precise. However, the company has promised that future Compute Elements will be backward compatible. Intel plans new Compute Element models for 2021 and 2022. Partner companies will also sell standalone Compute Element upgrades.

Personally, I tend to believe Intel's plan. The company has supported the NUC line for years, even though it only makes up part of its overall business.

I expect processor options to be limited compared to a standard desktop, but it might make sense to swap flexibility for simplicity and size. The subtle differences between processors are not relevant to most people, including most enthusiasts. If Intel (or partners) can simply offer a Core i5, i7 and i9 computing element for every future generation of mobile processors, I think that's appropriate. And I'm convinced that Intel will do it.

Processor power

As mentioned earlier, the Intel NUC 9 Extreme Kit I received had an Intel Core i9-9980HK processor, 16 GB of memory, and an Nusidia RTX 2070 graphics card built by Asus. The Core i9-9980HK is not the most modern processor since it was launched almost a year ago. Still, it's a top-notch option in the Intel range of mobile chips, which offers eight cores, 16 threads, and a maximum turbo boost frequency of 5 GHz.

The i9-9980HK ran as expected. Geekbench 5 achieved a single-core score of 1,232 and a multi-core score of 7,312. These numbers are in the baseball stadium of the Core i9-9980HK laptops we tested. The Apple MacBook Pro 16 was a little slower and the Acer ConceptD 9 a little faster. Remember that while the NUC 9 is a desktop, its processor is a mobile component.

While the i9-9980HK performs well in Geekbench 5, the latest AMD components express it. We recently tested the Asus Zephyrus G14 with AMD's new Ryzen 9 4900HS. It was competitive with the NUC 9 in the single core and won in the multi core. This is not good for the Intel i9-9980HK. The Asus Zephyrus G14 is a small gaming notebook. So you wouldn't expect the NUC 9 to beat it, but its victory is clear.

Other benchmarks tell a similar story. Our handbrake benchmark, which uses popular video encoding software to transcode a 4K movie trailer, was completed on the NUC 9 in 114 seconds. That is hardly in front of the Acer ConceptD 9, but behind the Asus Zephyrus G14. The Core i9-9980HK also falls behind the Intel Core i9-9900K, a processor for desktops.

I saw a Cinebench R20 of 3,348 from NUC 9. This is also slightly above most laptops with the same chip, but not at the top of the class.

I don't think this processor performance will lower it in 2020 – not at a retail price of $ 1,700.

It's worth noting that the Core i9-9980HK isn't a problem despite these mixed results. It easily defeats the currently available mobile processors of the Intel Core i7 H series. It also easily defeats previous NUC desktops. This is a fast processor capable of handling heavy workloads like 4K content creation or high resolution photo editing. It will shame the majority of laptops and keep up with some mid-tower desktops.

However, I don't think this processor performance will affect 2020 – not at a retail price of $ 1,700 excluding RAM, hard drive, and graphics card that aren't included in the kit.

Gaming performance

As already mentioned, the Intel NUC 9 Extreme Kit does not contain a graphics card. You have to get one yourself so that your mileage varies depending on the graphics card you bought. The NUC 9 can be used for dual-wide graphics cards with a length of up to 20 cm. My test device came with an Asus RTX 2070 that fits into the NUC 9, so I tried it out.

I started with 3DMark, where the NUC 9 had a fire strike score of 17,932 and a time spy score of 8,350. This is exactly what I would expect from an Nvidia RTX 2070 desktop packaging. The RTX 2070 Super is slightly faster and achieves 10,136 points in a testbed desktop packing Intel Core i9-9900K. The desktop class RTX 2070 of the NUC 9, however, easily defeats any laptop incarnation of the RTX 2070 we tested.

Fortnite was a breeze. An average of 141 frames per second with a resolution of 1080p and epic details as well as 90 frames per second with a resolution of 1440p and epic details were generated. These numbers are not surprising for a desktop that packs Nvidia's RTX 2070, but they easily outperform laptops with RTX 2070 hardware. The Razer Blade 15 with Nvidia RTX 2070 Max-Q only reaches 72 frames per second under the same conditions. The small size of the NUC 9 clearly doesn't hold it back.

Assassin's Creed Odyssey, our most demanding game benchmark, slowed down the NUC 9 – but only with a resolution of 1440p.

Civilization VI performed exceptionally well. It averaged 120 fps at 1080p and Ultra Detail with 2x MSAA turned on and still 100 fps at 1440p and the same settings. These numbers place a large gap between the NUC 9 and laptops with Nvidia RTX 2070 hardware.

Assassin's Creed Odyssey, our most demanding game benchmark, slowed down the NUC 9 – but only with a resolution of 1440p. The NUC 9 averaged a very respectable 57 fps at 1080p and ultra high details, but only reached 47 fps at 1440p and ultra high. While the NUC once again outperforms laptops with RTX 2070 hardware, it falls slightly behind our testbed desktop with an RTX 2060 Super, which averaged 51 fps at 1440p and ultra high.

Since the Intel NUC 9 Extreme Kit doesn't come with a GPU, the main question is: does the CPU hold the system in any way? I think the answer is definitely "no". The Core i9-9980HK is a powerful processor with a strong balance between single-core and multi-core performance. However, it is not the new sharpness and is currently surpassed by newer processors that have just been launched by Intel and AMD.

Heat and fan noise

The NUC 9 Extreme Kit has a lot to offer, but its performance is not without consequences. Packing a large amount of hardware in a small space can make cooling difficult, and the NUC 9 encounters this problem.

Intel Ghost CanyonMatthew Smith / Digital Trends

Fan noise is the real problem. The NUC 9 has several small fans, including those in the power supply and in the processor itself. These fans sometimes have to spin quickly, which inevitably makes a racket. Even worse, the mesh side panels of the NUC 9 do not isolate the sound.

This results in a loud little desktop. The fans of the NUC 9 often race in action and sound at maximum speed ready to drown out your robot vacuum. The fans are unpredictable and hard and bounce between high and low speed states.

Price and availability

The NUC 9 Extreme Kit is expected to retail for $ 1,700 when it arrives at Intel's channel partners next month. Intel also has retail Core i5 and i7 models for $ 1,050 and $ 1,250, respectively. These will arrive within three months.

Our opinion

The Intel NUC 9 Extreme Kit is an experiment that is promising but not quite working. The compute element is a fascinating way to give a very small desktop upgradability. Unfortunately, it's not as intuitive as I hoped.

The NUC 9 Extreme Kit is also held up by its sky-high retail price of $ 1,700 – without memory, memory, or a graphics card, all of which must be purchased separately.

Is there a better alternative?

It depends on what you're looking for.

The unique modular design of the NUC 9 Extreme Kit leaves it out without direct competitors. However, you can also combine it with other small PCs such as the Apple Mac Mini or smaller incarnations of the Lenovo ThinkCentre and the HP Z Workstations. The Intel NUC 9 could be a compelling little workstation due to its excellent port selection and promises of future upgrades, although I'm not sure if its processor performance is competitively priced. It's a great mobile chip, but in some systems you can find standard desktop components at a comparable price.

The NUC 9 is simply too expensive as a gaming desktop. A system configured like the one I tested would set you back between $ 2,400 and $ 2,800, depending on the exact components you purchase and the sales you may be able to make. That is simply too much for the service offered. With an RTX 2070 Super, you can easily grab a desktop for that price, and it doesn't have to be much bigger. The Origin Chronos and Falcon Northwest Tiki are less well known alternatives.

How long it will take?

Like most high-performance desktops, the Intel NUC 9 Extreme Kit remains useful for many years. It will easily take a decade or more, although after a few years it will obviously fade compared to new hardware.

Intel grants a 3-year standard warranty on NUC hardware. That's unusual. Most competitors only give a 1 year warranty.

Should you buy one?

No. The Intel NUC 9 Extreme Kit, as it exists today, works better as a thought experiment than an everyday desktop.

Editor's recommendations




15 Apr
Blog

Training During COVID-19: The Quarantine Machine

As we all try to figure out how to cope in these difficult times of closure and social distance, we seem to have this strange mix of a lot of time to train, but a lack of options to use them.

The challenges of training from home (minimal equipment and space are the main problems) have made it really difficult to develop strength training options that can at least maintain or potentially develop the power production and neuronal drive required for athletes.

If this situation finally resolves and we can get back into the competition, those who have been consistently exposed to this type of stimulus will have a dramatic performance advantage over those who have not.

One of the best solutions for this is a setup and program that uses certain variations of isometry.

Isometric contractions can be performed safely with minimal equipment so that we no longer have to overwhelm Rogue / Amazon with orders or our wallet with large purchases. You can also work in a small space, which means that stuck in a garage or even a living room doesn't have to be a big obstacle.

Training during COVID-19: The quarantine machine - fitness, strength and condition, training at home, sore muscles, competitive sports, DIY, home gym, training at home, isometric handles

Some time ago I came across the above structure from Ross Enamait of Ross Training, a super creative guy and great innovator in the strength and conditioning world.

As we continued to recognize the situation that many people would face in the foreseeable future, I began to see the potential value that this facility could bring.

By providing options for isometric contractions that can be done with minimal equipment and space, we can offer options for people who are still under some force while waiting for things to be over.

The setup can also be easily expanded, as I'll show below, to provide many more training options. In addition to the numerous isometric options, we can also do dynamic tape work, power work with tapes, vertical and horizontal pulling of the upper body and vertical and horizontal pressing of the upper body.

We not only offer people the opportunity to regain access to strength work, we also dramatically expand their training options overall to avoid things becoming too monotonous.

The isometric furnishings

Training during COVID-19: The quarantine machine - fitness, strength and condition, training at home, sore muscles, competitive sports, DIY, home gym, training at home, isometric handles

  1. Plywood – 48 "x 36" (This can be really any size, just make sure you have enough surface to get good squat / press positions.)
  2. 4 Stück pieces 4×4, halved
  3. 2 pieces of chain, mine are each about 6 inches long
  4. Steel tube (I have a 1 inch diameter here so it mimics a 28.5mm barbell.)
  5. Carabiner x 2-4
  6. 2-inch eyebolts x 4-6 (you really only need 2 at first, but the add-ons need additional ones.)
  7. 4 ”deck screws (I only used 8 in total.)

Total cost: approximately $ 75.

The basic construction of the isometric structure

I'm as far away from a handyman as anyone can get, and yet it took me a total of 15 minutes to put this project together.

Find out how far the 4×4 parts should be approximately apart by crouching regularly and then placing the 4×4 parts on each side outside of your feet. You can then place the plywood on top of the parts and center it as best as possible and then use your deck screws to secure the plywood to the top.

Then flip it over and screw the eye bolts into the center of the 4×4 pieces (I pre-drilled some holes to make this a little easier). Connect the chain with the quick couplings with the eyebolts. Use the carabiners to adjust the length of the chain.

I chose to use the steel tubing to attach to the chains compared to Ross' build where he had the playground handles mainly because I wanted to make sure there were options for front / rear rack isometrics too , not just to hold hands, but you can do both if you want.

Overcome isometry

There are several types of isometric contractions: isolated versus complex, endurance versus explosive, overcoming versus yielding. All of these have specific methods and goals. Our settings above are mainly used to equip us to overcome isometrics.

Overcoming isometrics occurs when the athlete creates force to overcome an external force. This is an almost maximum or maximum effort, which means that as much tension as possible is created for a short time.

For our purposes at a time when most of us do not have access to conventional power equipment, we can use these contractions with maximum effort to achieve a strong stimulus and maintain a higher level of neuronal drive.

If we can include these sessions 2-3 times a week, our strength and strength production will be much less likely to decrease when it's time to return to normal training.

Some examples of how to overcome isometrics with hinges, squats and pressing patterns. A great advantage of using chains and connectors is that we can easily vary the positions and heights at which we perform the isometric contractions. We can quickly switch from isometric pulls to isometric squats and adjust the height with the carabiners as needed.

<img load = "lazy” alt=”Quarantine machine collage” class=”imagecache-full_width” src=”https://cdn3.omidoo.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/full_width/images/bydate/202004/quarantinecollage.png” title=”Quarantine machine collage”/>

Tips for implementing isometrics

Here are some quick tips for programming and performing isometrics at home without going into too much science and nuance.

Think about the joint angles at which you want to improve your power generation ability and try to replicate them as closely as possible. Strength gains are usually fairly specific to the trained angle (+/- 15 degrees), although this can be somewhat minimized if you put the muscle in an elongated state (i.e., performs an isometric contraction on a muscle in an elongated state) much greater power transmission to other joint movement areas).

When working on strength training, place the contraction around your usual sticking point. If you are working on a dynamic lift, approach the point of maximum acceleration. Alternatively, you can find a position that is weak / unstable for you and attack it to build better strength and control.

If you make a maximum effort to overcome the isometry (like the one shown above, in which the athlete is bumping hard against a stationary object), take 1-2 seconds to reach your maximum force contraction and hold it then pressed for the duration of your repeat take 1-2 seconds to shutdown. Don't just hit the resistance, this can affect both position and balance and you lose the advantage.

After you've completed your isometric overcome, do a few repetitions of your target movement pattern to "lubricate" the groove of power production in the pattern that directly affects your athletic performance.

Banded add-ons

If we move away from the isometry, there are some additional options that we have by including some bands for those who have access to them. When I put this together, I noticed the similarities to other minimal products on the banded hipbuttons market.

By attaching a few extra eyebolts to the sides of the 4×4 parts, you can create a simple station to perform band-resistant hipbuttons, and it's easy enough to change the height and appeal of them by walking off the floor or your upper back put on a bench / chair / couch.

Training during COVID-19: The quarantine machine - fitness, strength and condition, training at home, sore muscles, competitive sports, DIY, home gym, training at home, isometric keeps "class =" imagecache-full_width "src =" https: // cdn2.omidoo.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/full_width/images/bydate/202004/hipthrustqurantineworkout.png

The same ribbon setup can also be used for banded glute marches. Using the chains and carabiners, we can make a belt attachment that the strap can hook on.

We can also do banded pushups, banded overhead presses, band-resistant squats, band-resistant pulls, etc. The options increase very quickly with the addition of some tapes.

<img load = "lazy” alt=”Banded isometrics” class=”imagecache-full_width” src=”https://cdn4.omidoo.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/full_width/images/bydate/202004/img-4836copy1.jpg” title=”Banded isometrics”/>

Additional isometric setup add-ons

Another addition that has been planned but not yet implemented is the use of a PVC pipe to attach it to all-wheel drive vehicles and to create some tall parallel bars. These can be used for horizontal pulling, vertical pulling, diving / support handles and L-Sit variations.

I will either update this form or my social media posts to include details after we add them. I hope that we can find a cheap, simple and effective facility Anyone with access to a hardware store can build up their training opportunities and improve them immediately.

15 Apr
Blog

OnePlus 8 Review: Reliable, But Not Compelling

oneplus 8 evaluation bag

OnePlus 8 Review: A good phone that needs a killer feature

"The OnePlus 8 does everything you want and is a great daily partner, but it doesn't provide an excellent reason to buy."

  • Nice design

  • Excellent software

  • Long battery life and quick charging

  • Good everyday camera

  • No wireless charging

  • Not IP68 waterproof

  • No outstanding camera function

The $ 600 OnePlus 7T was an easy-to-recommend phone, but will the story repeat itself with the OnePlus 8 Pro? You'll have to spend an additional $ 100 on last year's phone to get one, since it now starts at $ 700. To justify an increase, the OnePlus 8 needs to significantly improve its game, as it has to compete with many other high-performance phones.

My time with OnePlus 8 shows that doing this is difficult because the addition of 5G is not yet widespread to be called a must.

design

The OnePlus 8 looks almost identical to the OnePlus 8 Pro – only a little smaller, a little thinner and a little lighter. This makes a big difference in carrying the phone around and using it with one hand. Unlike the choice of the 5.8-inch iPhone 11 Pro over the 6.5-inch iPhone 11 Pro Max, the compromise between screen size isn't that big. The 6.55-inch fluid AMOLED screen of the OnePlus 8 is not a compromise compared to the 6.78-inch OnePlus 8 Pro.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

At 180 grams, the OnePlus 8 is light for a modern smartphone. I like the aspect ratio of 20: 9 in combination with the 8 mm thick body because I can easily stretch my thumb over the screen. The side buttons on the OnePlus 8 are also easier to reach and press than on the 8 Pro. There is a fingerprint sensor under the screen. Even though it's lightning fast, the face unlock usually unlocked the screen before I got there.

I like the feel of the matte gorilla glass finish, which feels cool and doesn't take too many fingerprints, but still captures the light neatly – especially in the stunning green color shown above. Yes, it is green, but in different lighting conditions it turns to a beautiful aquamarine blue, as you can see in our photos below. Due to the curved corners and the low weight, it sits comfortably in the palm of your hand. However, the edges of the body are still very tapered, so fatigue appears when holding the phone.

OnePlus 8 Pro (from left) and OnePlus 8 Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

The back of the camera is not overly pronounced, and fewer sensors mean that it also looks less overloaded. The decision to use a punch-hole selfie camera instead of a complicated and heavy motorized selfie camera has a similar result on the front, keeping it neat and functional. The OnePlus 8 is sleek and chic, with no unnecessary bulk, but doesn't ignore the need for a large screen. It is exactly right.

Screen and software

While the OnePlus 8 performs better in design and size than the OnePlus 8 Pro, the story isn't that easy when we look at the technology inside, starting with the screen. The OnePlus 8 has a Fluid AMOLED screen with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels and a refresh rate of 90 Hz, but does not use the motion smoothing function. If you put them side by side, there is a subtle difference: The OnePlus 8 Pro looks a little sharper, smoother and more attractive.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

However, it's not that the OnePlus 8 looks bad – far from it. Play a 1080p HDR10 movie and it is still excellent, while the video is entertaining and impressive. This is supported by the two speakers and the support of Dolby Atmos. Worried about the lack of motion smoothing? Do not be so. While it is sometimes effective to artificially reduce blurring when watching videos, the effect is not always desirable. I didn't miss it. The OnePlus 8 also had fewer problems with touch sensitivity.

The lower resolution means a lower pixel density. The PPI rating (402 pixels per inch) of the OnePlus 8 is significantly lower than that of the 513 PPI of the OnePlus 8 Pro, the 525 PPI of the Galaxy S20 Plus and the 458 PPI of the smaller iPhone 11 Pro. It is not as impressive to look at as one of these phones and is therefore not considered to be of high quality or premium. Here the OnePlus 8 Pro really stands out, and here the cost reduction has had an impact on the OnePlus 8. It's good, but not a reason to buy, as is the case with the OnePlus 8 Pro.

OnePlus 8 Pro (from left) and OnePlus 8 Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

I'm pleased to say that the OnePlus 8 software experience, which has its own OxygenOS 10.5 user interface based on Android 10, is identical to the OnePlus 8 Pro. It's excellent, with a nifty design, lots of speed and little annoyance. I'll take a closer look at this in my test of the OnePlus 8 Pro.

camera

The cost reduction continues with the camera. Gone are the new Sony IMX689 sensors as headliners for the OnePlus 8 Pro. It is replaced by the proven IMX586 sensor, which we have seen many times, with an aperture of 1: 1.75, optical and electronic image stabilization and the ability to record 4K videos at 60 frames per second. There is also a 16-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 2-megapixel macro camera.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

It makes very pleasant pictures, but it will not amaze with incredible, eye-catching pictures. My gallery ended up with solid, reliably decent photos, but nothing that I was particularly proud of. The IMX586 needs good software optimization to get the most out of it. Here OnePlus is at the top of its game. The colors pop, the dynamic range is strong and the HDR is effective. Portrait mode has good edge detection, but takes a few moments to capture the subject.

Use the OnePlus 8's camera to take regular everyday shots and you will be happy with the results. The 16 megapixel selfie camera is good, but not as good as the competition. The macro camera lacks color and definition, the night mode is not particularly good in very poor lighting conditions and there is no optical zoom function. You don't get a bizarre color filter lens with the OnePlus 8 Pro that inverts the colors of your photos for a really weird look, but that's not a bad thing.

oneplus 8 review mill wide angle "class =" m carousel - picture dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn9.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/oneplus-8-mill-wide-angle-640x640 .jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7OnePlus 8 wide angle Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

oneplus 8 review mill standard "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn1.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/oneplus-8-mill-standard-640x640.jpg "srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7OnePlus 8 standard Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

oneplus 8 review mill 2x "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn2.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/oneplus-8-mill-2x-640x640.jpg "srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7OnePlus 8 2x Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

Finally, the OnePlus 8's camera is not noticeable. There is no major new innovation, be it a successful software-controlled improvement like Samsung's single take mode or Apple's excellent Deep Fusion technology, or 8K video recording or a periscope zoom like the Huawei P40 Pro.

Power and battery

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor controls the OnePlus 8. It has a 5G modem and either 8 GB or 12 GB RAM. The chip and 5G modem are probably the main reason the price of the phone has gone up, but 5G isn't available in many places, which means you pay more for something you can't use. This will change over time. However, it is currently difficult to recommend most people to buy a 5G phone. I tested the 12 GB version and the benchmark results are as follows:

  • 3DMark: 6,695 (volcano)
  • Geekbench 5: 3,314 multi-core / 910 single-core

The performance corresponds to that of the OnePlus 8 Pro and therefore also surpasses the Galaxy S20 Plus and the Oppo Find X2 Pro. The calls were clear and reliable, although I couldn't test the 5G connection. I played a lot of the 1945 vertical scrolling shooter, which has a high frame rate and uses the 90 Hz screen refresh rate, and I really liked it. DariusBurst has to be played in a smaller window due to the 20: 9 aspect ratio screen, but that doesn't matter as the gameplay is still exciting. Playing on the OnePlus 8 is similar to playing on the Galaxy S20 Plus, with the right weight and comfort in hand for longer gaming sessions.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

The battery in the OnePlus 8 has a capacity of 4,300 mAh and is supported by Warp Charge 30T quick charge. In contrast to the OnePlus 8 Pro, wireless charging is not possible. Wired charging from Warp Charge is very fast and results in the battery being fully charged in about 20 minutes and in my tests in just over an hour.

In this time of social distancing, OnePlus 8 spent most of the time connecting to Wi-Fi, making video and voice calls, and using it for games, social networking, and video. It easily took a whole day even under heavy use. However, try this activity, which is connected to a 5G network, and the battery will suffer. One feature that I liked was the new intelligent charging optimization, in which the phone learns your charging routine and optimizes the charging around it.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

Like many people, I charge the phone when I go to sleep and then pull it out of the socket in the morning. Even after a few days, the OnePlus 8 brought the battery up to 80% in the first hour and only charged it about an hour before waking up. According to OnePlus, the battery stays charged longer so that you can charge it safely. The optimization can be deactivated if your daily hours are not set.

oneplus 8 review links "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn3.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/oneplus-8-shortcuts-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https: //www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

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oneplus 8 review apps "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn5.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/oneplus-8-apps-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https : //www.digitaltrends.com/data: image / gif; base64, https: //www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

The battery and the software already mentioned are two of the most important reasons to buy the OnePlus 8.

Price, guarantee and availability

The OnePlus 8 shown here with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage costs $ 800 or $ 700 if you choose the 8 GB / 128 GB version. In the UK, the OnePlus 8 costs £ 600 for the 8GB / 128GB model and £ 700 for the 12GB 256GB version. OnePlus grants a one-year warranty on its phones that covers manufacturing defects. OnePlus 8 is expected to be available on the OnePlus website and carriers in April.

Our opinion

The OnePlus 8 is a good smartphone. It has an attractive screen, a decent camera, great software, and long battery life. I love the design, the matte glass and the green color. Nevertheless, every function that distinguishes it is missing. This didn't matter with the OnePlus 7T, as it only cost $ 600 – which makes the price a standout feature. At $ 700 or $ 800, the OnePlus 8 has no other function that could take its place. The OnePlus 8 has left the value segment and needs to improve its game.

Is there a better alternative?

The price increase means that the OnePlus 8 worth $ 700 / $ 800 is now available with the Samsung Galaxy S20 worth $ 1,000, the Google Pixel 4 worth $ 800 and the iPhone 11 im Worth $ 700 is struggling. though strong in most areas.

You can pay less and get a good phone. Last year's $ 600 iPhone XR is still a good buy, as is the Asus Zenfone 6 $ 500, and if you find one, the Realme X2 Pro is still a surprisingly good value for around $ 450 .

How long it will take?

OnePlus has not given the OnePlus 8 an IP68 degree of protection, so it is splash-proof and that's all. The body is made of glass and can break if it falls. It is best to put it in a case. OnePlus is good at providing software updates and the phone has enough power, which means it has been in use for at least two years. It's great to have 5G on board to keep it going longer.

Should you buy one?

The $ 100 increase over the OnePlus 7T may not sound like much, but the limited appeal of 5G isn't enough to justify the extra. Therefore, we do not recommend buying the OnePlus 8, even though it is a decent modern smartphone. There are better options at higher and lower prices.

Editor's recommendations




14 Apr
Blog

OnePlus 8 Pro Review: Everything You Want

oneplus 8 per evaluation bag

OnePlus 8 Pro Review: Everything you want

"The OnePlus 8 Pro meets all criteria."

  • Amazing battery life

  • Fast wired and wireless charging

  • Breathtaking screen

  • Great photos from the camera

  • Slick software

  • The response to screen touches must be adjusted

  • Odd Color Filter is a misstep

  • Fast wireless charging is proprietary

The OnePlus 8 Pro is the final OnePlus smartphone. It has everything you want, plus bonus features like wireless charging that enthusiasts ask for. However, OnePlus has tackled a strange feature that nobody is asking about. It's a great phone that's just a hair behind the best.

design

At first glance, the OnePlus 8 Pro does not differ significantly from the OnePlus 7T Pro in terms of design. However, there are some minor changes that make the OnePlus 8 Pro a better phone to hold and use. The phone is a few millimeters longer, not quite as wide and a bit thinner. The corners have a slightly different degree of curvature and are 7 grams lighter at a total of 200 grams.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

I prefer the OnePlus 8 Pro at a distance from the OnePlus 7T Pro. It doesn't feel bulky or bulky and is generally more comfortable to use and use. The changes also mean that it doesn't burrow into my palms as much when I've used it for a while, and the reduction in mass allows one-handed, if not preferable, use. This is still a big phone, and the pages taper to a point. If it can be uncomfortable if you hold it from certain angles.

While it is a significant advance over the OnePlus 7T Pro, the 8 Pro ranks the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus and the Huawei P40 Pro as competitors and cannot quite take the title of the most ergonomic phone in 2020. The competition feels lighter and quicker in the hand. OnePlus has followed Huawei in using a matte finish on the back, and it's a great move. Fingerprints are not easily displayed, and the curved 3D glass looks fantastic in the glacier green shown above, which shows aquamarine in some lighting conditions as shown in the photos. Nice.

For the first time, OnePlus is using a punch-hole selfie camera on the front. As with most examples, this is something you will not notice after long use of the phone. Tearing out the OnePlus 7T Pro's motorized pop-up selfie camera helped make the entire 8 Pro more compact and easy to use. This also means that the phone can be sealed and has an IP68 waterproof rating, although the company has had an extremely negative stance on this feature in the past.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

Perhaps the only disappointing feature of the OnePlus 8 Pro design is the size of the camera hump on the back. It sticks out far more than the 7T Pro, maybe twice as thick as the Galaxy S20 Pro's bump, and has sharp edges that can scratch other objects when rubbed against them in a pocket. This trend continues with the thin and sharp volume rocker, although the slimmed-down slider that changes the notification alert status has a wonderful texture. Despite these nitpicks, the OnePlus 8 Pro is one of the best looking phones you can buy.

screen

The 6.78-inch Fluid AMOLED screen has a resolution of 3168 x 1440 pixels for an excellent density of 531 pixels per inch and offers excellent details. It also offers a wonderful refresh rate of 120 Hz for smooth scrolling and reduced eye strain, as well as 240 Hz touch sampling for faster reaction times when playing. Some other software optimizations are definitely required to achieve touch accuracy in the operating system, especially at the very edges. It feels sluggish in some moments and overly sensitive in others.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

OxygenOS provides options to improve color and enable motion smoothing. When color enhancements are enabled, the screen stays natural, but has slightly more vivid colors. It never reaches the saturation level of the Galaxy S20 Plus. I like the crisp white tones on the screen of the OnePlus 8 Pro that outperform those of the S20 Plus and even the Huawei P40 Pro. Outside in bright sunlight, whites still look like freshly washed sheets. Motion smoothing is less successful because it is rather inconsistent, looks great in one minute, and looks artificial in the next. I switched it off at some point – it is activated by default.

With color enhancement turned on and motion smoothed, the screen appears just right for my eyes and I loved watching movies on the OnePlus 8 Pro. The bezels are minimal and although the pinhole camera easily breaks up the all-screen look, it never gets intrusive. The screen is one of the outstanding features of OnePlus 8 Pro.

camera

The OnePlus 8 Pro's camera is a bit strange. At first glance, everything seems normal. The 48-megapixel main camera has the new IMX689 sensor from Sony with optical and electronic image stabilization as well as a 48-megapixel wide-angle and an 8-megapixel telephoto sensor. This means 3x zoom, 4K video recording and various modes including night mode and super macro.

Normal, right? Wait, I'm not done yet. The fourth sensor of the OnePlus 8 Pro is a color filter camera that inverts the colors in your images. Why? I really have no idea.

Even OnePlus is not sure. In the press details, the color filter camera is described as a way to stand out from the crowd and express your unique style. You can also do this by standing in the street and howling at the moon, but that doesn't make it a good idea.

OnePlus 8 Pro color filter image Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

Photos taken with the color filter remove shades of green, red, and blue, leaving muted shades of brown, black, white, and beige. Do you find that ugly? Most of the time you're right. It's not that the color filter doesn't make interesting pictures because it can do it in some kind of nuclear wasteland. I'm just not sure how often I want to use it. It's hidden in a menu, so it's not even visible and is therefore forgotten – and maybe that's a good thing. It's not always a disaster, and shooting in the sun can lead to some atmospheric shots. Otherwise, my local park looked like a bizarre alien landscape.

When I saw the OnePlus and McLaren concept phone at CES 2020, I hoped the electrochromic camera function would make it to the OnePlus 8, but instead we have the color filter sensor and it's definitely not a worthy replacement. Calling it quirky fun would be a nice description, but more specifically, it would be a gimmick added to obscure the fact that there is nothing really new here outside of the improved main sensor.

Otherwise, I like the photos taken by the OnePlus 8 Pro. The dynamic range is great, the saturation is just at the right level and I was very impressed with the effectiveness of the night mode. It brightens scenes very effectively and also works with the wide-angle camera. I don't understand the inclusion of the color filter and if it is removed from the equation, the camera will be exposed as relatively normal for a flagship Android phone (no pun intended).

Software and battery

The OnePlus 8 Pro's 4,510 mAh battery is a superstar. Granted, I've only used Wi-Fi most of the time at the moment, but that doesn't make performance any less impressive. The moderate use of a whole day from 8 a.m. to midnight consumed only 25% of electricity, which I couldn't quite believe. I didn't charge the phone and it went into "sleep" mode by itself overnight, where it minimized power consumption, so that only 4% of the battery was used during sleep. From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. the next day it was 53%. After several voice calls and at least one hour of video calls, I ended the day around 5:00 with midnight.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

This is an excellent achievement, and charging is also extremely fast. The supplied Warp Charge 30T charging stone and the cable bring the empty battery to 55% in just 24 minutes. The battery will be fully charged in one hour. A new feature of the OnePlus 8 is the possibility to optimize the charging time overnight, by getting to know your habits and only fully charging the battery shortly before normal waking up. It worked very well for me and should lead to less deterioration of the battery over time.

OnePlus added wireless charging to the OnePlus 8 Pro, a welcome addition that should have come a long time ago. It breaks to 50% in about 30 minutes. Although it supports the Qi standard, for OnePlus wireless fast charging, you'll need to buy the OnePlus wireless charger, which costs $ 80 or $ 70. Granted, it's very nice, but that's a significant surcharge. If you don't buy it, other Qi wireless chargers will work, but will only offer slow charging speed.

oneplus 8 pro review wireless charging "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn2.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/oneplus-8-pro-wireless-charging-640x640. jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

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This quick charging is associated with additional costs: The OnePlus charger has a built-in fan that buzzes on itself when the phone is set up. It's acceptable enough if it's on my desk, but I'm not sure if I'm the same if I try to sleep.

The OnePlus 8 uses OxygenOS 10.5, which is based on Android 10, and it is almost identical to OxygenOS 10 on the OnePlus 7T Pro. There are some changes in dark mode as well as support for Google One. A number of dynamic background images have been added that look really great. OxygenOS is one of the best interfaces you can get, and reusing it reminded me why I like it.

It is very fast, is not flooded with senseless apps and is attractively designed. The plug-in screen controlled by Google Assistant is useful and offers news updates, weather information and quick access to your own assistant page with personal updates. I like the sensitive haptic feedback, which feels a lot better in quality than almost any other phone that I test, to the cute little vibration when someone answers a call.

oneplus 8 pro rating browser "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn8.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/oneplus-8-pro-browser-640x640.jpg "srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

oneplus 8 pro verification notifications "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn9.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/oneplus-8-pro-notifications-640x640.jpg "srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

oneplus 8 pro review apps "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn1.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/oneplus-8-pro-apps-640x640.jpg "srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

However, it is not perfect. The lack of a constantly active display is a disappointment, although you can tap the screen to see information. According to OnePlus, a constantly active feature is under development, but it's confusing why it takes so long. I also had some issues with the edge of the screen that was oversensitive. A software update has improved things considerably, but the sensitivity is still not correct. Finding settings isn't smart either, so it's hard to find hidden features like dark mode, which she calls sound.

However, these are only minor annoyances, and like the rest of the phone, the battery life and software experience are some of the best you can find at the moment.

Performance and games

The OnePlus 8 Pro has a Snapdragon 865 chipset and the X55 5G modem as well as 12 GB RAM. Due to social distance measures, I was unable to test the 5G component, but I used 4G and made calls as usual. The calls are clear and it's easier to place the speaker on your ear than the Galaxy S20 Plus. Here are the benchmark results before we start playing games.

  • Geekbench 5: 3,352 multi-core / 890 single-core
  • 3DMark: 6,589 (volcano)

These are higher results than a Galaxy S20 Plus with a Samsung Exynos chip inside and only slightly higher than the Oppo Find X2 Pro with similar performance. The OnePlus 8 Pro has two game modes, a standard mode and a hardcore Fnatic mode (so-called because it was developed with the E-Sports team of the same name), which increases CPU, GPU and RAM and at the same time switches off all unnecessary time.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

When playing Asphalt 9 Legends, DariusBurst SP and Vectronom with Fnatic mode on and off, I didn't notice anything else. The 120 Hz refresh rate made Asphalt 9 Legends look great. The 19.8: 9 aspect ratio of the screen means that you have to play DariusBurst in a smaller window if you want to see everything that is going on. This is a problem for many phones with a similar screen size and shape. The phone stays completely cool during the game.

How about the OnePlus 8?

OnePlus 8 Pro (from left) and OnePlus 8 Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

The OnePlus 8 Pro is the new flagship for 2020 and will be released along with the OnePlus 8, which is cheaper and smaller from $ 700. The phone has a 6.55-inch fluid AMOLED screen with a refresh rate of 90 Hz, a three-lens camera without a color filter sensor, a smaller battery, no wireless charging and basic splash resistance. The design is very similar, although it is lighter and slimmer, which makes it easier to use with one hand. Check out our full review

Price, guarantee and availability

The OnePlus 8 Pro costs $ 1,000 for the 12GB / 256GB version or $ 900 for the 8GB / 128GB model in our test. In the UK, the 8 GB / 128 GB OnePlus 8 Pro costs £ 800, while the 12 GB / 256 GB model costs £ 900. OnePlus grants a one-year guarantee on its phones, which only covers the hardware in the event of a defect.

This makes it more expensive than the OnePlus 7T Pro for $ 850.

Our opinion

The OnePlus 8 Pro's best features are the ones that really matter: the screen is stunning, the battery life is amazing, and the software is nifty and attractive. The camera works well and the design is great. It also has wireless charging and IP68 protection. As much as OnePlus wants the color filter to be a differentiating factor that really pushes people to buy it isn't. However, take it away and you still have a state-of-the-art smartphone that doesn't miss a beat.

Is there a better alternative?

We recommend everyone to take a closer look at the $ 1,000 Apple iPhone 11 Pro and the $ 1,200 Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus, as they both offer the best technology currently available, from screen to camera, and excellent Offer software experiences.

Although Google Pixel 4 is also recommended for $ 800, the battery just can't keep up with the OnePlus 8 Pro. Keep this in mind when you are seduced by the Pixel 4's amazing camera and slick software. We were also impressed with the Oppo Find X2 Pro for $ 1,300, and the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus for $ 1,100 is still a brilliant all-rounder.

How long it will take?

When you buy a OnePlus 8 Pro with a two-year contract, it lasts at least as long in terms of performance and the technology it contains. The 5G function is also future-proof, and OnePlus is good at keeping its software up to date on time. OnePlus has an IP68 protection rating for the phone, which means that it is waterproof. However, the rest of the phone is made of glass, so it can break if dropped. One case helps avoid expensive glitches.

Should you buy one?

Yes, but it is not quite the mega smartphone we are used to from OnePlus.

Editor's recommendations




14 Apr
Blog

Training During COVID-19: The Quarantine Machine

As we all try to figure out how to cope in these difficult times of closure and social distance, we seem to have this strange mix of a lot of time to train, but a lack of options to use them.

The challenges of training from home (minimal equipment and space are the main problems) have made it really difficult to develop strength training options that can at least maintain or potentially develop the power production and neuronal drive required for athletes.

If this situation finally resolves and we can get back into the competition, those who have been consistently exposed to this type of stimulus will have a dramatic performance advantage over those who have not.

One of the best solutions for this is a setup and program that uses certain variations of isometry.

Isometric contractions can be performed safely with minimal equipment so that we no longer have to overwhelm Rogue / Amazon with orders or our wallet with large purchases. You can also work in a small space, which means that stuck in a garage or even a living room doesn't have to be a big obstacle.

Training during COVID-19: The quarantine machine - fitness, strength and condition, training at home, sore muscles, competitive sports, DIY, home gym, training at home, isometric handles

Some time ago I came across the above structure from Ross Enamait of Ross Training, a super creative guy and great innovator in the strength and conditioning world.

As we continued to recognize the situation that many people would face in the foreseeable future, I began to see the potential value that this facility could bring.

By providing options for isometric contractions that can be done with minimal equipment and space, we can offer options for people who are still under some force while waiting for things to be over.

The setup can also be easily expanded, as I'll show below, to provide many more training options. In addition to the numerous isometric options, we can also do dynamic tape work, power work with tapes, vertical and horizontal pulling of the upper body and vertical and horizontal pressing of the upper body.

We not only offer people the opportunity to regain access to strength work, we also dramatically expand their training options overall to avoid things becoming too monotonous.

The isometric furnishings

Training during COVID-19: The quarantine machine - fitness, strength and condition, training at home, sore muscles, competitive sports, DIY, home gym, training at home, isometric handles

  1. Plywood – 48 "x 36" (This can be really any size, just make sure you have enough surface to get good squat / press positions.)
  2. 4 Stück pieces 4×4, halved
  3. 2 pieces of chain, mine are each about 6 inches long
  4. Steel tube (I have a 1 inch diameter here so it mimics a 28.5mm barbell.)
  5. Carabiner x 2-4
  6. 2-inch eyebolts x 4-6 (you really only need 2 at first, but the add-ons need additional ones.)
  7. 4 ”deck screws (I only used 8 in total.)

Total cost: approximately $ 75.

The basic construction of the isometric structure

I'm as far away from a handyman as anyone can get, and yet it took me a total of 15 minutes to put this project together.

Find out how far the 4×4 parts should be approximately apart by crouching regularly and then placing the 4×4 parts on each side outside of your feet. You can then place the plywood on top of the parts and center it as best as possible and then use your deck screws to secure the plywood to the top.

Then flip it over and screw the eye bolts into the center of the 4×4 pieces (I pre-drilled some holes to make this a little easier). Connect the chain with the quick couplings with the eyebolts. Use the carabiners to adjust the length of the chain.

I chose to use the steel tubing to attach to the chains compared to Ross' build where he had the playground handles mainly because I wanted to make sure there were options for front / rear rack isometrics too , not just to hold hands, but you can do both if you want.

Overcome isometry

There are several types of isometric contractions: isolated versus complex, endurance versus explosive, overcoming versus yielding. All of these have specific methods and goals. Our settings above are mainly used to equip us to overcome isometrics.

Overcoming isometrics occurs when the athlete creates force to overcome an external force. This is an almost maximum or maximum effort, which means that as much tension as possible is created for a short time.

For our purposes at a time when most of us do not have access to conventional power equipment, we can use these contractions with maximum effort to achieve a strong stimulus and maintain a higher level of neuronal drive.

If we can include these sessions 2-3 times a week, our strength and strength production will be much less likely to decrease when it's time to return to normal training.

Some examples of how to overcome isometrics with hinges, squats and pressing patterns. A great advantage of using chains and connectors is that we can easily vary the positions and heights at which we perform the isometric contractions. We can quickly switch from isometric pulls to isometric squats and adjust the height with the carabiners as needed.

<img load = "lazy” alt=”Quarantine machine collage” class=”imagecache-full_width” src=”https://cdn3.omidoo.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/full_width/images/bydate/202004/quarantinecollage.png” title=”Quarantine machine collage”/>

Tips for implementing isometrics

Here are some quick tips for programming and performing isometrics at home without going into too much science and nuance.

Think about the joint angles at which you want to improve your power generation ability and try to replicate them as closely as possible. Strength gains are usually fairly specific to the trained angle (+/- 15 degrees), although this can be somewhat minimized if you put the muscle in an elongated state (i.e., performs an isometric contraction on a muscle in an elongated state) much greater power transmission to other joint movement areas).

When working on strength training, place the contraction around your usual sticking point. If you are working on a dynamic lift, approach the point of maximum acceleration. Alternatively, you can find a position that is weak / unstable for you and attack it to build better strength and control.

If you make a maximum effort to overcome the isometry (like the one shown above, in which the athlete is bumping hard against a stationary object), take 1-2 seconds to reach your maximum force contraction and hold it then pressed for the duration of your repeat take 1-2 seconds to shutdown. Don't just hit the resistance, this can affect both position and balance and you lose the advantage.

After you've completed your isometric overcome, do a few repetitions of your target movement pattern to "lubricate" the groove of power production in the pattern that directly affects your athletic performance.

Banded add-ons

If we move away from the isometry, there are some additional options that we have by including some bands for those who have access to them. When I put this together, I noticed the similarities to other minimal products on the banded hipbuttons market.

By attaching a few extra eyebolts to the sides of the 4×4 parts, you can create a simple station to perform band-resistant hipbuttons, and it's easy enough to change the height and appeal of them by walking off the floor or your upper back put on a bench / chair / couch.

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The same ribbon setup can also be used for banded glute marches. Using the chains and carabiners, we can make a belt attachment that the strap can hook on.

We can also do banded pushups, banded overhead presses, band-resistant squats, band-resistant pulls, etc. The options increase very quickly with the addition of some tapes.

<img load = "lazy” alt=”Banded isometrics” class=”imagecache-full_width” src=”https://cdn4.omidoo.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/full_width/images/bydate/202004/img-4836copy1.jpg” title=”Banded isometrics”/>

Additional isometric setup add-ons

Another addition that has been planned but not yet implemented is the use of a PVC pipe to attach it to all-wheel drive vehicles and to create some tall parallel bars. These can be used for horizontal pulling, vertical pulling, diving / support handles and L-Sit variations.

I will either update this form or my social media posts to include details after we add them. I hope that we can find a cheap, simple and effective facility Anyone with access to a hardware store can build up their training opportunities and improve them immediately.

14 Apr
Blog

Lockdown Is Temporary, Community Is Forever

As I sit here, writing and hearing in this cold, empty bathtub, hearing my thoughts echo from the smooth white porcelain cocoon that I have built, I am reminded of warm memories from my childhood. It was a place where my only job was to make mud holes, burn everything I could find with a magnifying glass, and take care of my butterfly that couldn't fly.

You see, I was the one who stole the gift of flight from my beautiful friend and was now his sworn protector. A few weeks earlier, I was outside and patrolling our vegetable garden for unwanted pests when I came across a blurry caterpillar.

He chewed on a particularly juicy tomato leaf and I was thrilled to have caught the killer in action. I quickly pushed him out of our vegetable garden, locked him in a large glass and provided sticks for sprinkling and leaves for eating in his glass cell

I checked him every day to make sure he wasn't causing any problems, and every day he went to the food I was going to give him. One day the caterpillar stops eating, hangs upside down on a branch that I have provided, and turns to a shiny doll. In its protective shell, the caterpillar radically transforms its body and finally appears as a butterfly.

But what does this radical transformation involve? How does a caterpillar turn into a butterfly and how long do I have to wait?

I waited a whole week that felt like life until I could see the slightest movement and it looked like it was difficult for him to break free. Ignorant and impatient, I cut a small hole in his makeshift grave and he appeared immediately.

I was no longer a threat to our family vegetable garden, but hurried it outside so that it could fly into the sunset. I put him on a flower so he could use it as a launch pad and nothing happened. What happened? What prevented my former inmate from taking off?

I hurried back into the house so my boss could help me solve this problem. I explained to my mother what had happened and she smiled softly at me as if to say, "It will be okay."

She explained that the hole I had cut that should help the butterfly was why the butterfly was grounded. Your fight develops your strengths and the butterfly was not allowed to fight and develop the strength in its wings.

Self-isolation may be the model for fuzzy caterpillars, but we're much more used to social interaction.

Things that we took for granted and considered to be constant in our lives, such as dining in restaurants, going to the gym, and sporting events, have become uncertain, and the indefinite amount of time we have to stay at home is increasing day by day more concerned with shaking the ambiguity of our situations.

One of the hardest things for us is to change our patterns because we live from structure and consistency. It doesn't matter how crazy this appearance of structure and consistency could actually be.

Nature reminds us that nothing is permanent and everything has to change, and denying this truth causes us to become victims of our own device.

Breaking our patterns can be the necessary driver that we need for our life to evolve and achieve a more comprehensive development of ourselves. Remember, while the caterpillar is sleeping in the cocoon, it will eventually need to be released.

Find your temporary normalcy

Consistently performing our normal daily routines may have been difficult at times, but implementing a brand new enforced routine is different. In order for a caterpillar to turn into a beautiful butterfly, it first digests itself after building its cocoon and almost literally becomes a caterpillar soup.

This process is not highly recommended by most doctors, so it may be better to listen to Aristotle when he said, “We are what we do repeatedly. Excellence is not an action, but a habit. "

A routine can be a fine-tuned mechanism to use a range of limited resources such as time, willpower, self-discipline, and optimism. A solid routine promotes a worn groove for the mental energies and regulates our constantly changing moods.

Staying at home is temporarily normal due to the current pandemic. Therefore, it is important to develop a healthy schedule and evaluate your energy level. Every part of your body, including your immune system, works better when protected from environmental influences and strengthened by strategies for a healthy life.

Diet, exercise, and stress relief are three of the most effective ways to accomplish this task. They enable you to wake up passionately and excited about the possibilities that the day offers.

Because our immune system is a complete system and not just a unit, the harmony and balance of this system is important. With so many moving parts of our immune system, regular nutrition offers our body the opportunity to defend itself against intruders from outside.

Scientists have long recognized that malnourished people are more susceptible to infectious diseases due to various micronutrient deficiencies. For example, a deficiency in zinc, selenium, iron, copper, folic acid and vitamins A, B6, C and E has been shown to negatively affect the response of the immune system.

Because we are limited in how we can collect our food, we need to make sure that we eat some of the most nutritious foods out there. These include salmon, kale, garlic, potatoes, blueberries, egg yolk and dark chocolate.

If you're not used to consuming some of these products, Project 13 Gyms in San Francisco hosts digital dinner clubs where you can join a large group of people who learn from a professional chef how to prepare healthy and delicious meals .

Project 13 not only offers nutrition courses, co-owners / coaches Nate Chambers and Thomas Conway offer virtual courses that focus on building better people through fitness, thinking and community.

Make practice a constant

There are few things that are more transformative than movement. It improves cardiovascular health, lowers blood pressure, helps control body weight and protects against a variety of diseases.

When you exercise in the morning, it prepares you for the day ahead, increases your overall energy level, and helps you stay in optimal health. Numerous studies have shown that exercise is the key to fighting depression and anxiety. A Finnish study found that exercise even correlates with increased wealth.

Exercise, like a healthy diet, can contribute to generally good health and thus to a healthy immune system. By implementing a daily exercise routine, you will be prepared for maximum success throughout the day. There are many great options to choose from right now.

Budo Ryu, a Krav Maga and Muy Thai gym in San Luis Obispo, California, is a fun way to learn how to protect and get in shape in your virtual classroom. The owner and founder of Budo Ryu, Eric Sandahl, is one of the best Muy Thai and Krav trainers in the country. Its programs are tailored to get the best results for you.

Another great option is G-Fit, a kettlebell studio founded by trainer Gianna Bandoni who has a thorough understanding of the anatomical, physiological, biomechanical, biochemical and psychological aspects of human experience. Your workouts will educate, encourage and empower you to discover a balanced and healthy body.

Find a balanced schedule

Although you may feel that your home is your personal cocoon and your routine and expectations may not be nearly as perfect as you expected, it is fine.

Remember, like the caterpillar in its cocoon, you will be released at some point. See when you're most productive and least productive, and then plan your days according to your most productive times.

Your daily routine may be fairly fluid due to your current commitments, but this allows for more variety in your routine. Take advantage of the productive times and support small businesses like Project 13, Budo Ryu and G-Fit that had to close their doors to protect the community.

Not only will you learn a new skill, but you will also serve your community by allowing these companies to open their doors once this pandemic has subsided. We're stronger together than we are alone, so support a community where you can share, help, and support the people you care about.

14 Apr
Blog

Top Causes and Home Remedies for Oily Skin during summer

Oily skin can be very uncomfortable, especially in summer. A normal face with oily skin can produce more oil in summer because the heat constantly pulls the oil out of the pores of the skin. Even if oily skin is a blessing, as it slowly ages compared to dry skin and there are fewer wrinkles on the face. However, all advantages become disadvantages at a certain time of day. Similarly oily skin can be a threat in summer. It can give your face an excessive glow, spoil your makeup and cause a sudden breakout of pimples and acne.

What causes oily skin?

Oily skin can be caused for several reasons, which are listed below:

  • genetics: If your family has oily skin, you are more likely to have similar skin with larger sebaceous glands that produce excess oil.
  • Excessive use of skin care products: There are so many cosmetics and skin products on the market and people generally use them fairly regularly for purposes such as fairness, smoothness and clear skin. However, the excessive use of such skin care products leads to greater oil production in the skin
  • Seasonal changes: Oil production in the skin also depends on the seasons. If you are in a hot and humid place, the oil production in the skin is excessively high. The cold and dry weather can also lead to oil production as a natural mechanism to prevent the skin from drying out.
  • Medication: Using hormonal birth control pills or hormone replacement drugs can have oily skin as a side effect
  • stress: Being under stress affects not only the mental state, but also the physical state. With chronic stress, the skin can begin to produce androgen hormones that produce oil in the skin

Oily skin is not easy to handle, but like anything else, solving a problem is usually too close to us and sometimes in our kitchen. Here are some of the home remedies for oily skin:

  • Protein: Protein is rich in vitamin A and can help to tighten the oily skin.
    (    Beat a protein, apply to the skin and let dry. Wash off with warm water after drying. This should be done twice a week.
  • Lemon juice: Lemon is lemony in nature and therefore antiseptic. It relieves skin discoloration and restores the pH of the skin.
    (    Mix a teaspoon of lemon juice with a teaspoon of distilled water. Soak a cotton ball in the mixture, apply to the skin and leave for 10 minutes. Wash your skin with warm water. Lemon juice can dry your skin, so a small oil-free moisturizer is a big help. This must be done once a day.)
  • Cucumbers: Cucumber is a coolant with a high vitamin and mineral content, which is well suited for oily skin.
    (Take a fresh cucumber, cut it into thick slices and rub it well against your skin. Let it stand for one night and wash the skin with warm water the next morning. This should be done daily before bed.)
  • yogurt: Yogurt contains lactic acid, which the excess oil can absorb from the skin.

Take a tablespoon of plain yogurt and apply it thoroughly to your face. Leave on for 15 minutes and then rinse with cold water. Repeat once a day

Aside from the above-mentioned home remedies, there are several products that can be used treat oily skin. These products are:

  • Facial cleanser: Using a gentle facial cleanser is a great way to reduce oil from your skin. It is recommended to use a detergent with a balanced pH instead of a soap. It is best to use warm water when washing the skin.
  • Alcohol-free toner: Put a few drops of toner on a cotton pad and gently rub it on your face. Toners can be hard on the skin, so it is recommended that you only use them on oily skin.
  • Moisturizer: A light and oil-free moisturizer can be used to moisturize the skin and keep it healthy
  • Blotting paper: This is a very effective way to absorb the extra oil from the skin. Only a gentle pressure on the skin and the blotting paper absorb the excess oil. Make sure it is not rubbed as it will cause skin irritation.

Oily skin can sometimes be a problem and as mentioned above there are many products and remedies that can be used to help you with the problem. Taking into account your problems, Kaya recommends choosing The Kaya Purepore Clear Skin, which is specifically geared towards the causes of oily skin and gives you facial relief. It deals with the problem at the root and targets the bacteria that are present in the skin pores. It helps clean the face skin with toxins to soothe the skin.

Kaya offers solutions for a variety of Treatments for skin care and hair care problems. To learn more, visit us today !!

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