30 Mar
Blog

A new way to get instant beauty tips with Instantgo

We had the opportunity to play with a new little app that we really liked. With Instantgo, beauty addicts like you can get in touch with their favorite beauty experts. In fact, with Instantgo, you can get a direct and personal response and advice from the blogger or influencer you love to see every day. It is easy to use because you can decide whether you want to call your favorite via SMS, call or even video Makeup artist and get an answer right away. We often need help choosing the best color combination or style for a particular occasion.

In a digital world, it's great to get answers to our most pressing questions right away. Think about the time just before going out when nothing looks right and preparing becomes a real nightmare! Whether you are on a first date or just going to an important meeting and have no idea what to wear. You urgently need quick fashion or personal advice and maybe someone can give you this extra help.

The digitization of beauty is an important step forward, as over three thousand new make-up videos are published every day on YouTube alone. Unfortunately, these videos are mostly general and not really aimed at you. We all have our own specific questions and needs. The real solution is to have someone who understands our specific situation: it is a real plus, for example, to interact with someone on a video call and feel like you are being personally spoiled with someone you care about. You can just feel the difference and this is a revolution for us and our looks! Most of the time, the cream, lotion, blush, lipstick suits us and has the same result for everyone, but there are also times when it's just not what you expected. There is now another way to discuss your favorite products and get better results.

It's also nice that Instantgo works in both directions. As much as you can contact Beauty experts For your personal needs, you can also share everything you know about fashion and more so people can contact you. It's an easy way to share your knowledge and time and get rewarded for it.

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29 Mar
Blog

Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G Lens Review: The Perfect Astro Lens?

Sony Fe 20mm F18 test lens 7771

Sony FE 20mm f / 1.8G lens test: an excellent landscape lens

"With maximum sharpness and minimal distortion, the 20 mm lens from Sony is an almost perfect astrophotography and landscape lens."

  • Outstanding sharpness

  • Small to no aberrations

  • Light

  • Aperture de-click switch

  • Weatherproof

  • Slight barrel distortion and vignetting

With the exception of third-party manufacturers, the Sony FE 20mm f / 1.8G is the widest full-frame E-mount prime lens to date. It's designed to take more of the scene and offers a 94-degree angle of view – phone photographers can imagine it is between the wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle lenses of an iPhone 11 – but adjusts this field of view with a large f / 1 , 8 aperture for excellent low-light performance.

While the focal length and aperture are clear in the name of the lens, other features from Sony such as the "advanced optical design" and the "Dual XD Linear Motor" have to be decoded. (I'll come to that.)

But are these features worth nearly $ 900? Thanks to superior sharpness and minimal distortion, I have to say yes. This is still a niche lens, but its jargon-packed list of features is more than just marketing hype.

Design and specifications

The FE 20mm f / 1.8 is part of Sony's high-end G-series (but not the high-end GM-series) and is housed in a weatherproof, lightweight housing that fits on the A7R IV which I served as a test camera, this review felt at home. These two linear autofocus motors help the lens adjust the performance of modern Alpha series housings, while a dedicated aperture ring with a click switch enhances its appeal for serious video shooters.

The lens feels sturdy and well built. The barrel isn't made of metal, but that helps keep the weight at a reasonable 13 ounces. With a length of 3.5 inches, it doesn't take up much space in the camera bag and accepts modest 67mm filters.

What is not obvious when looking at the lens is the optical design, which consists of 14 elements in 12 groups with an aperture of nine wings that stops up to 1:22.

An aperture ring offers direct control of the aperture without having to rely on a camera-based dial. This takes getting used to, but feels just like how you naturally hold a camera in two hands.

The aperture ring is not just about ergonomics. With the de-click switch, the aperture settings can be adjusted silently and continuously, which is important for video recording. I definitely prefer to enable the click for still images as you can feel how much you've adjusted it without looking. (The aperture value is still displayed in the electronic viewfinder, but the click only feels more reassuring.)

In addition to the aperture ring and the de-click switch, there is a focus lock button and a switch in the lens barrel with which you can easily switch from auto focus to manual mode. A standard focus ring is located on the front of the lens.

Autofocus

This is where the dual XD linear motor system comes in, which is said to generate fast and quiet auto focus. My experience matched these claims. The auto focus is pretty quiet. It is not silent, but it does not distract you when you take pictures in a sensitive environment such as a wedding ceremony.

The speed of the autofocus was in line with the expectations we had of the A7R IV – fast and accurate, only struggling with subjects that most cameras struggle with, such as shiny objects or where there is not much contrast.

The 20 mm focus very close to the front of the lens, about 7 inches. With the large focal length, this is not enough for real macro functions, but I did not expect the generous 0.2x magnification. For a wide-angle lens, this close-up opens up a number of creative possibilities for a variety of subjects.

picture quality

Note that 20 mm is an unusual focal length – 24 mm is much more common for a prime number, since larger angles are usually covered by zooms, e.g. B. the FE 16-35 mm f / 2.8 from Sony. The focal length is ideal not only for taking wide views, but also for exaggerating the distance between objects, while the bright aperture of 1: 1.8 simply cannot be achieved by zooming.

The lens has some barrel distortion towards the edges, but less than expected with a wide-angle lens. Lines near the edges of the frame are gently curved towards the corners, but this can easily be attached to the post.

Vignetting is also a common problem with wide-angle lenses, especially with such large apertures, but the Sony 20mm only had a very slight darkening in the corners. The vignette was completely removed by a slight adjustment of +5 in Lightroom.

However, the resolution is even more impressive. The sharpness was excellent in the middle, even wide open, and really showed what the 61 megapixel A7R IV can do. Lowering the aperture brought a slight improvement, but if you want that dreamy, shallow depth of field, you don't have to worry about sacrificing focus to get it. The edges had only a slight drop in sharpness, which is probably not recognizable in real pictures.

Where the lens really shines is in astrophotography. This is certainly a photographic discipline in which both bright apertures and wide angles are required and where sharpness is of the utmost importance. Stars are represented as tiny pinpricks of light without sagittal coma flickering, even towards the edges of the frame. Together with the resolution of the A7R IV, the lens helped capture an abundance of sharp stars.

Small light sources do not suffer from the usual flares, while larger light sources – such as the sun or the moon – create starbursts. But the flare is well controlled overall in the FE 20 mm, and even hard light didn't cause much of a problem. Occasionally, a starburst was paired with a rainbow arch or a slight color shift, but nothing big. Chromatic aberration also does not appear to be present.

Wide angles are generally not thought of for their bokeh, but the FE 20mm f / 1.8 looks great here. With an aperture of nine sheets, even a stopped recording creates soft, circular blur patterns. I couldn't see any "onion rings" or other strange shapes that bokeh fans like to criticize.

For videos, the lens produced more of the same with sharp details and well-controlled stray light. The clicked aperture is very impressive here; I could hear my own breathing, but no mechanical noise when I set the aperture while recording.

Our opinion

The wide angle, the fast aperture and the high-end optics ensure an excellent mix of the Sony FE 20mm f / 1.8G. The sharpness is excellent, aberrations are minimal or nonexistent and all the things that wide-angle lenses do most struggle – like barrel distortion and vignetting – are minor and barely noticeable on most shots.

For $ 898, this is certainly not a budget prime. But for photographers who regularly pull out a wide angle, the high-quality workmanship and the impressive optics are probably worth it. The lens is ideal for astrophotography, landscapes and any other picture that needs a broad perspective.

Is there a better alternative?

The focal length of 20 mm is not very common, and for e-mount shooters it depends on this Sony that Sigma 20 mm 1: 1.4 DG HSM Art.or just with a zoom.

The Sigma is an excellent lens, but some users complain about corner distortion when shooting stars. Designed as a DSLR lens, it weighs twice as much as the Sony. In addition, there is not the usual financial advantage of a third-party provider, since both lenses cost the same.

However, the Sigma has a brighter aperture of 1: 1.4 for shots where the last bit of light is important. The Sony 20mm is probably the better option for most, as the 1: 1.4 advantage over 1: 1.8 is pretty small, but the size and weight difference is big.

How long it will take?

The Sony 20mm is well built, so the lens should last for several years, apart from a major disaster. Lenses typically have long product lifecycles, so we wouldn't expect a replacement for many years.

Should you buy it

Yes. If you need a bright wide-angle prime in your kit, the Sony FE 20mm f / 1.8G offers excellent quality in a light, durable lens that's not too expensive.

Editor's recommendations




29 Mar
Blog

Morning Mobility Check-In | Breaking Muscle

Check-in for morning mobility - fitness, mobility, morning, self-assessment, exercise at home, at home, staying fit

Last week I wrote that mobility – the ability to move and move freely and easily – is not a separate facet of fitness. Mobility is rather an expression of your fitness and informs you of your reality from moment to moment.

Just as the martial arts masters insist that we need to be able to get cold, and Kelly Starrett's famous analogy describes how a leopard must always be ready to make a living, how can you feel at any moment of yours Moving life?

Getting out of bed fresh in the morning may be the ultimate test of your true mobility. If a group is only as strong as its weakest member, You are only as mobile as your stiffest moment.

To add some practical tests and actionable advice to this theoretical consideration, I am offering a mobility check-in this morning. In this video I describe and demonstrate three quick movement sequences that you can perform at any time of the day and / or fresh out of bed in a few minutes.

We are most used to paying attention to our movement patterns in the gym. Similarly, we measure our physical abilities against PRs and other measures that are taken after we have carefully prepared and warmed up.

When you follow these quick mobility sequences, pay attention to what you feel in your body. This can tell you a lot more than you might find in training and can provide valuable guidelines for controlling your movement practice.

Check out this list of fun workouts and simple exercises you can do at home.

29 Mar
Blog

Marshall Tufton Bluetooth Speaker Review: Bold Block Rocker

Marshall Tufton

Marshall Tufton Bluetooth Speaker Review: Large, bold rocker

"The Marshall Tufton is an accomplished party speaker and belongs to your next meeting."

  • Beautiful authentic design

  • Very solid construction

  • Sounds great at high volumes

  • Very good battery life

If you want a really good bluetooth speaker, there are many good options – and even more if you're not that picky. Most of these speakers are rather small and emphasize the personal but portable sound. If you want something with a little more power – a Bluetooth speaker that powers an entire terrace party as easily as mood music at home, your choices are much more limited.

One of these options is the Marshall Tufton, a $ 400 Bluetooth speaker that doesn't apologize for its main job: it's a serious party machine that strikes a fine line between performance and portability. Given the high price and some very capable competitors, is it the right Bluetooth speaker for your next meeting? We put it to the test to find out.

Classic design

Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Marshall brand is of course best known for its legendary guitar amps and speaker stacks that have shaped the stages and garages of the music world for decades. When the British brand entered the personal audio sector, it naturally retained this appearance and gave its products an authenticity that few other companies can claim. I've always liked the look, but smaller products like headphones lack the same presence of live music equipment.

That's why I love the tufton. As a large Bluetooth speaker (over a meter tall), it can use the Marshall design legacy in a way that few other personal Marshall audio products can. From its crisscross metal grille with the italic Marshall logo to the textured body surfaces and top-mounted knobs, it's the best you can get from a real Marshall amplifier. Some people who saw me with it asked if it was a small guitar amp.

I am also a big fan of the internal power supply. You shouldn't have to carry a large power stone around with you when you drive off, and the tufton doesn't make you. A simple and easily replaceable 2-pin power cord is all you need.

Built like a brick …

Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

These classic Marshall design features are not just cosmetic. The tufton is big, heavy and very solid. At just over 10 pounds, you don't want to carry this beast long distances, although the leather-like detachable strap is ideal for that.

One has the impression that one could take the tufton almost anywhere and it would survive well.

This weight is the result of four separate amplifiers that power four separate drivers, a battery, a built-in power supply, and some apparently very robust materials in the cabinet walls.

With corners that are protected by rounded plastic end caps and a set of solid rubber feet, you get the impression that you could take the tufton almost anywhere and it would survive well. It even has low water protection: An IPX2 rating means that you don't have to fear the occasional encounter with rain – just don't make it a habit and definitely try not to spill your beer on it everywhere.

Do one thing and do it well

Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Everything about the Marshall Tufton indicates that he is primarily and exclusively a speaker. You can choose between Bluetooth (with aptX if your device supports it) or a 3.5mm line-in connection on the back, but that's all for you. You will not find a USB port to play music from a USB stick or to charge your phone. There is no microphone that could turn the tufton into a large speakerphone.

For those who yearn for an easier time without sacrificing today's amenities, the Marshall Tufton is a dream come true.

You won't even find the play / pause button, which has become almost universal in the world of Bluetooth speakers. What you will find are three old school controls for power / volume, bass and treble. They turn with perfect resistance. I don't know if something really analog is going on beneath the surface, but Marshall has mimicked the feel of a real analog speaker so well that I just don't care.

Pairing the Tufton with your device couldn't be easier. If the speaker doesn't switch to Bluetooth pairing mode the first time you turn it on, just press and hold the corresponding Bluetooth button for 3 seconds and the speaker will appear in your list of Bluetooth devices. Tap on it and you're done. You can use the same button to switch to using the line-in input.

Marshall claims only 30 feet of radio operation for the Tufton, but I was able to walk over 100 feet from the speaker outdoors and the music continued to play on my iPhone 11.

The rechargeable battery of the Tufton is suitable for an alleged operating time of 20 hours. As far as I can see, this is about right. However, expect to get less of it if you use the full volume.

For those who yearn for an easier time without sacrificing today's amenities, the Marshall Tufton is a dream come true.

More power than precision

Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Given the visual similarity of the Tufton to Marshall's live music devices, its audio chops are best appreciated in spacious rooms. It can get remarkably loud. Loud enough to make neighbors you haven't invited aware of what a good time you are having. This is done without any signs of distortion or unwanted vibrations in the housing up to the maximum setting.

With a total output of 80 watts, it just gets louder and sounds better at higher volumes than with the Sonos Move.

With the bass and treble controls set to the midpoints, the tufton creates a good balance between lows, mids and highs. The bass is as full and sovereign as you would expect from a cabinet of this size, which is equipped with a generous reflex connection for air movements. But this bass never overwhelms and can be easily adjusted to your liking with the bass button. The vocals are crisp and clear, and the tufa prevents them from getting hard at higher volumes, which is often the case with fewer speakers.

Thanks to the dedicated rear-end full-range driver, the Tufton has an admirable 360-degree coverage. The front certainly sounds better, but not as much as you'd think if you just looked at it. Unfortunately, this arrangement does not add much to the stereo separation. Not that a single speaker would ever make excellent stereo – especially a speaker with a high rectangle – but it is something to be aware of.

I compared the Marshall Tufton to the similarly expensive and similarly equipped Sonos Move for $ 399. Both are designed for use on the street and provide large, open spaces with plenty of full-range sound, but the tufa completely outperforms the move outdoors. With a total output of 80 watts, it just gets louder and sounds better at higher volumes than the Sonos.

If you take these two wireless speakers with you, the script will be flipped. The Sonos Move with its integrated AutoTrueplay EQ system has a deeper and wider sound stage than the Tufton. This is noticeable when both speakers use Bluetooth. Switching the Move to Wi-Fi and adding a lossless audio source like HiFi streaming music from Tidal will make it even clearer.

Jazz standards by artists like John Coltrane and Miles Davis are allowed to breathe through the move in a way that the tufton with its trend-setting and more closed design simply cannot cope with.

Is that a deal breaker? Barely. However, potential Marshall Tufton buyers should know that they are getting an accomplished block rocker, not a precision instrument for critical listening.

Our opinion

With tons of portable energy and a no-frills design that exudes Rock & # 39; roll authenticity, the Marshall Tufton is a great Bluetooth party speaker that you can take anywhere. As long as you don't expect this classic muscle car of a speaker to sound like a hi-fi home system, it will impress those who want to inspire a lot.

Is there a better alternative?

There are several great alternatives to the $ 400 Marshall Tufton, including the $ 399 Sonos move and the $ 400 Ultimate Ears hyperboom. Each has its strengths: The Move is a chameleon that effortlessly switches between wireless home hi-fi speakers and party mode, while the Hyperboom is a bass-heavy beach and pool companion with many connections. But neither have the raw power of Tufton nor its retro charm, which in our opinion makes it a class of its own. To get a more capable crowd-puller, you have to watch heavyweights like the $ 900 Soundboks 2.

How long it will take?

The Marshall Tufton looks very good and I expect it to last a long time if you don't abuse it. The manufacturer's warranty is only one year, which is less than a few (Logitech gives a two-year warranty on the Hyperboom). However, the biggest limitation to the longevity of Bluetooth speakers is the battery. The tuft is not user replaceable. When he's done, he's done. It is worth noting that the Sonos Move battery can be replaced by the user.

Should you buy it

If you are proud to be the person who always brings the music, the Marshall Tufton is your Bluetooth speaker. It sounds great and looks great. If you agree with the almost spartan lack of features and the relatively expensive price, you will indeed be very happy.

Editor's recommendations




29 Mar
Blog

CELLZYME ON-TOX Anti-Wrinkle Serum Review

Skin health depends not only on what you eat or drink, but also on the quality of the products you use. The fact that the beauty industry is constantly changing, new trends appear and old formulas are put in the box "Why did we ever do it?" Many “must have” products from last year are completely forgotten this year and leave us open to new ideas and innovations.

I fully understand the problem of catching up on new beauty trends. What is difficult is to decide which skin and hair care products will actually work for you in order to do justice to both the hard elements, the aging skin and undoubtedly the wrinkles. With a few clever choices, your skin will never feel neglected.

What's this? (From the company website)

A good alternative to botox. Undo wrinkles for 12 hours with every treatment without needles! + Long-term anti-aging effects! + Multiple effects on skin health! CELLZYME ON-TOX is a revolutionary anti-aging secret from South Korea that contains 2-3 months (4 ml (2 per pack)).

Main ingredients: LOOK HERE

How do you use it?

  • You can apply it wherever it is needed before or after applying makeup.
  • Press a drop on your finger. Spread it where you need it, with even strokes in one direction.
  • Keep a neutral expression for 2-3 minutes.
  • You only need a small amount once a day in the morning.
  • The other best way to improve transdermal absorption is to first soak the face in hot water (or rags) for about a minute, then apply a small amount of DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) to the area with your finger and then do that Apply skin product. Apply a moisturizer if you feel dry (e.g. coconut oil, hyaluronic acid, etc.).

  • Another effective way:

    After soaking in hot water, apply a small amount of hand sanitizer to the area. Apply the skin product before the disinfectant evaporates. This option appears to be much better and gives immediate results.

My experience with CellZyme On-TOX?

I spent a lot money in Sephora and Ulta looking for a miracle serum to get rid of my eye bags and pigmentation for the past 3 years. ! I had terrible skin for the record, it all started with mild acne in adults, which later left dark spots and pores on my face. I also spent time figuring out how to hide my skin uneven Texture, the only solution was to buy concealer to hide and not feel these imperfections judged from someone who speaks to me face to face. I didn't change anything in my diet except eating fruit. Recently when I was introduced by CellZyme ON TOX Ava Naturals I was very excited to try it as I read some really good reviews online. When I first used this stuff, I could see that the area around my lips looked extremely flawless.

I followed the directions on the box and the results were remarkable. My face felt like I had 12 hours of peaceful sleep along with a serious deep tissue facial. I could see the results that the company claimed. I also read that this serum reduces pores and improves skin texture with daily use. I have noticed that the pores around my nose are slightly less visible than before, but I can give you detailed information about my pores and pigmentation after I have finished the product completely.

This product has a gel-like texture with a light formula. It is easily absorbed into the skin and leaves no residue. The formula helps to make the skin look younger immediately and also prevents the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. Antioxidants in this product help neutralize free radicals. Free radicals are responsible for damaging the skin and causing premature aging. With regular use, your skin becomes even, healthy and radiant.

Final judgment: This serum is fun, I love the fact that it has immediate visible effects on the skin, my skin looks healthy and much younger after applying this product, which is all I want from a serum !. No need to hide imperfections and wrinkles with concealer layers.

Bnb rating: 5/5

Beautyndbest.com ©

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29 Mar
Blog

Training at Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Right now we all have to stay at home, stay safe, stay healthy, and try to stay strong. The last part of this sentence might be something you are concerned about. A lot of stressed people contacted me and worried that they might lose their profits. Are you right to worry?

My answer is emphatic … no!

This answer has two parts:

First, in the big scheme of things, when you lose something in size and strength, it's really not that big a deal compared to reality that many people have lost their lives (and many more will lose their lives) as a result of the COVID- 19 pandemic.

Those who maintain their health have the opportunity to lose loved ones, endure extreme financial difficulties, close deals, and watch years of hard work go up in smoke. When you look at things through this lens, it doesn't seem like a big deal to lose 50 pounds from your squat or an inch from your arms, does it?

Second, maintaining muscles is much easier than building them, even if we don't have access to our gyms for several months. So with minimal training, you can pretty much keep the muscles and strength you've built up. You don't need expensive fitness equipment to keep your profits. And even if you lose some size and strength, the phenomenon of muscle memory is real and you can regain it extremely quickly. Panic over!

Although I don't think that training to hit PRs on your lifts or add a quarter of an inch to your calves should be on your radar now, I think exercise is important. It is important for your well-being. In times of unprecedented stress, worry and disorder, we have to do everything we can to maintain our mental and physical health.

Training is almost certainly an important part of your lifestyle when you read Breaking Muscle. It probably serves several purposes in your life. It has taught you valuable lessons and given you so much more than bigger, stronger muscles. It has developed discipline, taught you the value of hard work, reduced stress, made you more resilient, and created an outlet for anger, fear, and frustration.

Your passion for training should mean that you have a healthy body weight, body fat, and blood pressure, and that you have a robust immune system that has been strengthened by both exercise and a nutritious diet.

Your training will likely help you structure your daily routine. When everything else around you is in turmoil, resorting to healthy habits and routines can keep you calm and allow you to be productive. This is important for your way of thinking. For the generation of snowflakes, this time should be a major challenge.

Many of them will fight and adopt bad habits. You're different. You have a catalog of challenges you have to face in the gym. These will help you take on other challenges. For most of us, this will help us deal with it.

Exercise keeps both your body and mind healthy by giving you a physical outlet for your stress. Your daily training is something that you can look forward to and that gives you a sense of achievement. These are two things that are difficult to get at the moment.

Training at home

Let me explain the facts about free time, training from home, muscle wasting, muscle building and some example exercises that you can do with minimal equipment.

Muscle loss does not occur overnight

If you take a few weeks out of the gym, you won't lose all of your profits! According to several studies, you won't lose any. Some excellent studies in 2013 and one in 2017 showed that well-trained gymnastics rats did not lose any muscle mass during up to three weeks of training.

Maintaining muscles and strength is much easier than building them up

Even if your training is very limited in the coming weeks and months, you can keep your gains with very little training. A study from 2011 came to the conclusion that muscle mass could only be maintained with 1/9 of the usual training volume for 32 weeks! Another study from 2013 found that just 1-2 workouts a week are enough to maintain strength.

You don't need heavy weights

One of the biggest concerns people have when training at home is that they don't put up enough resistance to make their training effective. Assuming you don't have a personal iron paradise at home, you probably had the same worries.

I have good news for you …

You can build muscles with lighter weights than normal. Studies have shown that similar muscle growth occurs when exercising with 5 to 30 reps until failure. A 2016 study found that there was no difference in muscle gains when you used 30% or 80% of your 1-rep maximum and exercised to failure.

Another study from 2018 found that loads of 40, 60 and 80% led to the same growth rates. They found that 20% was not optimal. As a result, we can confidently say that you are fine as long as you use loads with a maximum of 30 repetitions (or more) and train until failure.

Muscle memory

If there is no muscle loss three weeks before training, it can occur after that time. If you don't exercise for three to eight weeks, you lose muscle. The good news, it only takes 2-3 weeks to keep it.

Restoring muscles is a much faster process than developing them for the first time. Countless lifters can confirm this after taking a break due to injury.

A valuable lesson from leisure training

One final point to consider is that a break in the gym could be just what you need. Deloads are a well-known and widely accepted strategy for improved long-term results. All top coaches and athletes recognize their value and use it. The typical trainee ignores them. The emotional attachment to being in the gym means that you are unlikely to discharge often enough (or not at all!). Here's a quick, hard-to-swallow truth for you …

… If you think deloads are for wimps, you're probably training like one!

When taking the concept of time away from training, it is advisable to consider periods of active recovery and strategic deconditioning.

Strategic deconditioning is a basic principle of hypertrophy-specific training (HST). HST is a training method developed by Bryan Haycock (an upcoming guest on the Breaking Muscle podcast) to build muscle as efficiently as possible.

Strategic deconditioning can help you build muscle in the long term. If you take some time to train, your tiredness will be reduced, complete recovery will be possible and your body will be "sensitized" to the muscle-building stimuli of traditional bodybuilding training with high volume.

When you return to exercise, you get an increased muscle building response. In the long run, it is far more efficient to improve training volume and intensity and take time out than to constantly grind away the gym 7 days a week and 52 weeks a year!

Almost everyone misses the big impact of this strategy. The next few weeks offer you the opportunity to discover the advantages. When you take trips to the gym off the table, you can finally learn the benefits of strategic deconditioning. Hopefully you are smart enough to use it in the future once the current situation has calmed down.

Long story short, if you've been training hard this year, it's not a bad thing to have some time (2-3 weeks) of training completely. In fact, it's probably exactly what you need.

You cannot expect to grow up and avoid training forever

As I mentioned earlier, the risk of muscle loss increases after the 3 week mark. If you want to avoid it, it is wise to do some exercise. Without a gym, this depends on working with body weight and the equipment you have lying around in the house. I have put together a lot of home trainings for my online and personal customers.

Some of them have no equipment at home and some of them have quite a bit. I had to get a bit creative to give them effective workouts, but I am very confident that they will all get great results with these workouts.

You will also do so if you follow those listed below in this article.

The principles of the training still apply!

This is not a time to do crazy workouts, full of random exercises popularized by a reality TV star who became an Instagram fit fluencer!

Although you can't train the same way as in the gym, you can train logically and productively.

Therefore, you should program workouts with the 6 most important movement patterns in the core.

These are:

  1. Squat Pattern (single leg versions – number!)
  2. hip joint
  3. Horizontal pressure
  4. Horizontal train
  5. Vertical print
  6. Vertical train

If you train and work hard based on these movement patterns, you can do a lot of progress training from home.

Here are some examples:

  1. Squat patterns – such as lunges, split squats, pistols, step-ups and squats by skaters
  2. Hip joint – RDLs with one leg, RDLs with band or good mornings, hip thrust with increased heel, back extensions, buttocks and nordics (* Nordics are technically not a hip joint, but they train the rear chain very well!)
  3. Horizontal pushups – pushups, backpack pushups, ribbon pushups, pushups with heel height, one-arm pushups, dips
  4. Horizontal train – inverted rows, rows of towels, rows of backpacks, rows of seat belts
  5. Vertical push – handstand pushups, pike pushups, band-shoulder press
  6. Vertical pull – chin and chin-up variants, band-lat pulldowns

Now could be a time to train your core. Most of us neglect that and we will likely be humbled by the many body weight options here.

Are you still worried about losing your winnings?

Let's recap:

  1. Muscle loss is unlikely to occur in the first three weeks of exercise
  2. Maintaining muscles is much easier than building them
  3. You don't need heavy weights
  4. Even if you lose muscle, it will be restored very quickly when you return to normal exercise
  5. 1-3 weeks without training could be exactly what you need
  6. Given the wide rep range that is effective, your workouts don't require expensive fitness equipment
  7. During training (in the gym or at home) we try to generate an internal reaction of the muscle to an external load. This external load can take various forms. Body weight, straps, heavy backpacks and a TRX can do the job just as well as bars and free weights (at least in the short term).
  8. This is an opportunity to use one of the key mechanisms of hypertrophy that is often neglected – this could actually release some benefits that your normal workout won't use

Hopefully that calms your mind!

There are three mechanisms of hypertrophy:

  1. Mechanical tension
  2. Metabolic stress
  3. Muscle damage

Home training is the perfect opportunity to use number two on this list. Although I have developed body weight training that provides a significant mechanical tension stimulus. You can find this at the end of the article.

Metabolic stress is an extremely strong stimulus to exercise. I often program phases that aim to target this muscle building path as the last block in a mass gain phase. After traditional bodybuilding work is stale and a plateau has been reached, a metabolite-style workout may be just what is needed. In my experience, this type of training is an extremely effective growth stimulus in the short term.

Workouts with metabolic stress are incredibly effective for about a month. I have found that the body responds incredibly well to this type of training. Then falling yields occur and the novelty factor subsides and profits slow down again. Hopefully you are a little more optimistic about the prospect of training from home and can see that the next month is indeed an opportunity to build muscle.

Fortunately, the training techniques that are best used to create metabolic stress require less weight than regular gym workouts. They also generally require higher repetitions, shorter rest times, and intensity enhancement techniques such as partial repetitions, circuits, super sets, tri sets, giant sets, and drop sets.

Do what you can with what you have, where you are

Now is the time to focus on metabolic stress-style workouts.

Metabolic stress is commonly known as "pump" and refers to cell swelling and increased acidity (the "burning") in a muscle during exercise. This happens when higher repetitions are done with shorter rest periods, and there are many scientific studies that show that this contributes to muscle growth.

When developing programs to combat metabolic stress, I often use 15-30 repetition sets or combine exercises in sequence to maximize stressful time and the accumulation of metabolites in a particular muscle. Sometimes this means that you can do up to 100 repetitions in a very short time.

Since this training style is different, it offers a new incentive. A novel stimulus is a powerful tool when it comes to building muscle. As a result, it can trigger accelerated muscle building for about a month while the body adapts to it.

Here are some quick tips to optimize your approach to metabolite-style training:

  1. Use shorter rest periods than in the gym (e.g. 30-60 seconds).
  2. Combine exercises (e.g. super sets, tri sets, mechanical drop sets, etc.). You can find an example in my Shoulder Shocker – DB Only Giant Set at the end of this article.
  3. Train at a higher frequency – these types of training allow you to train more often. Most people can do six days a week. You can also hit each muscle group more often. Exercising a muscle every 48 hours is fine
  4. Consider using a blood flow restriction (BFR), as this means you can get results with very little strain
  5. Program the work of individual limbs. For example, split squats require much less external stress than normal squats
  6. Slow down your pace – especially in the lowering phase
  7. Paused repetitions – Stop at the hardest part of the movement and pull the muscle tightly together for a few seconds

Metabolite training done right

When you exercise to create metabolic stress and build muscle in higher rep ranges, it is critical that you bring your sets close to failure. Research shows that training up to (or very close to) failure is more important when doing sets with high reps. You can build as much muscle from 5 repetitions as you can up to 30 repetitions, but you have to approach the failure of the sets with higher repetitions for them to be effective.

Given this information, it is important that all of your sets are on the verge of failure. I generally recommend never leaving more than 2 reps on one of your sets in reserve when using metabolite-style workouts. I also suggest that the last sentence you do for an exercise fails.

Below I have listed a few sample trainings that require minimal equipment:

Body weight only mechanical tension & metabolic stress workout

A: Handstand pushups (or pike pushups if HSPU is not possible), 3xAMRAP (0-2RIR), 2010, 120s (this is quite challenging for most and causes high mechanical stresses, so longer rest periods are fine).

B: Pistol Squat (or Pistol Squat to Box), 3xAMRAP (0-2RIR), 2010, 90s (this is quite challenging for most and leads to high mechanical tension, so longer rest periods are fine).

C: Nordics, 3xAMRAP (0-2RIR), 5010, 90s (control lowering phase and push back with your hands)

D: Chins, 3xAMRAP (0-2RIR), 2010, 90s

E: One and a half Bulgarian squats, 3xAMRAP (0-2RIR), 3210, 45s (1 repetition = all the way down, a quarter up, down again, all the way up)

F: Inverted lines, 50 repetitions in as few sentences as possible, 2012, 30s

G: Pushups, 100 reps in as few sets as possible, 1010, 30 seconds

The band only workout

Session 1 – Push:

A: Standing Band Shoulder Press, 3xAMRAP (0-2RIR), 2011, 30-45s

B: Band Push Ups, 3xAMRAP (0-2RIR), 3011, 30-45s

C: Standing Flyes with a bracelet, 3xAMRAP (0-2RIR), 2011, 30-45s

D: Band Lateral Raise, 3xAMRAP (0-2RIR), 2011, 30-45s

E: Triceps pushdown, 3xAMRAP (0-2RIR), 2011, 30-45 s

F: Band Pallof Press, 3xAMRAP (0-2RIR), 2015, 30-45s

Session 2 – Drag:

A: Knee band lat pulldowns, 3xAMRAP (0-2RIR), 3011, 30-45s

B: Seated neutral rows of grips, 3xAMRAP (0-2RIR), 2012, 30-45s

C: Band Moto Rows, 3xAMRAP (0-2RIR), 3111, 30-45s

D: Band Upright Rows, 3xAMRAP (0-2RIR), 2012, 30-45s

E: Band Hammer Curls, 3xAMRAP (0-2RIR), 2012, 30-45s

F: Band Pull-Aparts, 3xAMRAP (0-2RIR), 2012, 30-45s

Session 3 – legs:

A: Bulgarian Split Squats, 3xAMRAP (0-2RIR), 2011, 30-45s

B: Band Assisted Nordic Curls, 3xAMRAP (0-2RIR), 4010, 30-45s

C: Heel Elevated One & A Quarter Band Squats, 3xAMRAP (0-2RIR), 2011, 30-45s (one repetition = all the way down, a quarter up, down again, then all the way up)

D: Lying Leg Curls, 3xAMRAP (0-2RIR), 2013, 30-45s

E: Terminal Knee Extension, 3xAMRAP (0-2RIR), 1012, 30-45 s

F: Band Good Mornings, 3xAMRAP (0-2RIR), 2011, 30-45s

The workout "I only have a light set of dumbbells"

Session 1 – Push:

A: Bulgarian Split Squats, 4 x AMRAP (0-2RIR), 4211, 30-45 s

B: Half-kneeling, one-arm shoulder press, 4 x AMRAP (0-2RIR), 4010, 30-45 s

C: pushups, 4 x AMRAP (0-1RIR), 4211, 30-45 s

D: Floor DB Flyes, 3 x AMRAP (0-1RIR), 2110, 30-45 s

E: Floor DB triceps extensions, 3 x AMRAP (0-1RIR), 2210, 30-45 s

F: DB Lateral Raise, 3 x AMRAP (0-1RIR), 2011, 30-45 s

Session 2 – Drag:

A: Pull-ups, 5 x AMRAP (0-2RIR), 2010, 30-45 s

B: Inverted table rows, 4 x AMRAP (0-1RIR), 2111, 30-45 s

C: DB Lying Leg Curls, 4 x AMRAP (0-1RIR), 3110, 30-45 s

D: DB bicep curls, 3 × AMRAP (0-1RIR), 3010, 30-45 s

Super set:

E1: rear delta fly, 3 x AMRAP (0-1RIR), 2011, 0s

E2: DB Upright Rows, 3 x AMRAP (0-1RIR), 2012, 1960s

Shoulder shocker – DB set only (Hold the DBs in your hands all the time, and don't take them out until A6 is ready.)

A1: DB Rear Delt Flyes Supinated grip, 3 x AMRAP (0RIR), 2011, 0s

A2: DB Rear Delt Flyes Pronated Grip, 3 x AMRAP (0RIR), 2011, 0s

A3: DB Lateral Raise, 3 x AMRAP (0RIR), 2011, 0s

A4: DB Front Raise, 3 x AMRAP (0RIR), 2011, 0s

A5: DB-upright lines, 3 x AMRAP (0RIR), 2012, 0s

A6: DB DB Neutral Grip shoulder press, 3 x AMRAP (0RIR), 5010, 90s (yes, this is a 5-second cam – have fun!)

Remarks:

AMRAP is as many representatives as possible

RIR is Reps In Reserve

Tempo is listed as four numbers (e.g. 4211). Each number corresponds to a phase of the elevator. The first number is always the lowering / extending phase.

4211 on split squats means lowering in 4 seconds, stopping at the bottom for 2 seconds, lifting in 1 second, holding up for 1 second … repeating for the next iteration.

For pull-ups, 2010 means 2 seconds lower, no break down, lifting in seconds, no break up.

With these workouts, you can be sure that you …

… Stay at home, stay fit and stay healthy!

If you'd like more sample home workouts, I'll post some on my Instagram page and in the story highlights. You can check them at @tommaccormick. If you want something more individual or more individual in terms of workouts and programs, you can find me at Toms Online Personal Training.

Much depends on your personal circumstances and requires some in-depth reviews of everything from your training options to your physiology.

28 Mar
Blog

Good Mornings Are an Excellent Auxiliary Movement

Strict good morning hours with feet wide, knees locked, and straight back are excellent moves that solve a number of problems for beginners. They also offer additional strengthening for experienced lifters.

The lift should hold the barbell on the shoulders behind the neck, move away from the racks, and maintain a position of at least 90 degrees between the thighs. The knees should be locked and the head should look forward throughout the movement. The athlete should then bend forward from the hip and keep the back straight until the torso is parallel or nearly parallel to the floor before returning to an upright posture.

This movement is great for athletes with tight hamstrings that force the buttocks to hide at the bottom of the squat. It can also be helpful for people with ankle movement problems. It is also an excellent developer of hamstring strength for pulling and straightening the hips. Repetitions should be done in the range of 5 to 8 per set and for four or more sets at the end of the training session. The first time you use it, you should experience significant pain in the Achilles tendon.

28 Mar
Blog

Suunto 7 Smartwatch Review: Wider Appeal, But Still Hardcore

Suunto 7 smartwatch review garbage bag

Suunto 7 Review: Still a hardcore fitness watch

"The Suunto 7 offers good battery life and performance, but it's still not the best daily driver."

  • Comprehensive fitness functions

  • Two days of battery life

  • Smooth performance and software

  • Durable, water-repellent housing

  • Annoying buttons can be frustrating

  • Expensive compared to the competition

  • Best for dedicated fitness fans

Suunto, a Finnish activity brand, has a serious following among hardcore fitness fanatics. With the new Suunto 7 Smartwatch, the company is now throwing a worn training shoe into the lucrative sports lifestyle world. Suunto 7 is the company's first smartwatch with Google's WearOS platform, which increases its appeal. While the design still seduces the brand's core fans, it's less sporty than some of Suunto's other GPS fitness watches and trackers.

design

The Suunto 7 is similar to the Suunto 9 from 2018. It has a glass fiber reinforced polyamide housing, a stainless steel bezel and a wonderfully soft and flexible silicone bracelet. The case has four buttons, each made of the same stainless steel as the bezel and large enough to be accessed even when wearing gloves.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

At 50 mm, the watch is large on all wrists. At only 70 grams, however, it is not difficult. It is lighter than the Suunto 9 and slightly heavier than the stainless steel Apple Watch Series 5. A 1.4-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 454 x 454 pixels is located under a piece of gorilla glass. All of this makes the Suunto 7 a tough animal. The watch is shockproof, waterproof up to 50 meters and the gorilla glass keeps the screen free from scratches. Suunto is pushing the lifestyle aspect, but don't worry that the watch has softened because the Suunto 7 feels very durable.

Is it fashionable? This is the hardest part for Suunto to get it right. GPS watches have been built for ages, but none of them are watches I want to wear every day. The Suunto 7 should be different. Did I want it on my wrist when I wasn't exercising?

Yes I have. My test watch came in a combination of white and burgundy that gives spring a touch of spring. The light weight makes up for the overall size, but since it's quite thick, it doesn't fit easily under the sleeves of the shirt.

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The clunkiness highlights it as a sports watch. Many of Fossil's WearOS watches are slimmer, and at 15.6 mm, the thick Suunto 7 is 5 mm thicker than the Apple Watch Series 5. However, it doesn't try to be an alternative to a Michael Kors or Kate Spade watch be. It tries to be more useful and tasty when you wear it every day. I think it works.

Software and usage

This is the first time Suunto has been using Google's WearOS for a smartwatch. Previously, it used its own fitness software. The implementation is solid. It's quick and smooth, which is rarely said about WearOS smartwatches and doesn't get frustrating with normal use.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

Suunto has four buttons on the case that you can play with, which is not necessary. The button instead of the crown and the one below it are customizable. By default, they are linked to music playback or a timer. The button above the crown opens Suunto's fitness app and the button on the opposite side of the case is the menu or back button.

This is a frustrating setup. The menu button is the one you press most often. However, it is the most difficult to reach and you cannot assign the menu button to the normal position on the crown. Even worse, there is no rotating crown to make scrolling through WearOS 'many menus and screens a little more comfortable. It's the touchscreen or nothing.

Otherwise WearOS works as expected. Swipe up for notifications, left for Google Fit, right for Google Assistant, and down for the control panel. There is a small selection of watch faces, most of which are not very inspiring, except for one that is based on Suunto's Heat Map running route planner. This shows popular hiking trails nearby and looks cool, provided there are activities nearby. It can be set to display a variety of other activities.

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Some problems that WearOS have in common can be found here. Notifications are a pain, or more precisely, notifications are a pain. I like the way you can interact with information coming from your phone, including predefined replies to messages, the ability to read and reply to emails, and the ability to see information quickly at a glance . But WearOS kept reminding me of the same notifications. This continues until they are released on the phone or the list on the watch is cleared.

I prefer to run the watch without additional apps, which improves performance. However, they can be installed through Google Play. Spotify is a popular download that works well on WearOS and provides complete control over your music. It is fast enough when the watch is connected to Wi-Fi, but it slows down somewhat when it is connected to your phone. It's representative of all apps on WearOS – it's functional, but not amazing.

Suunto fitness app

Suunto's fitness app is accessed using the button in the top right corner and contains more than 70 different sport tracking modes. Some options include hiking, running, cycling, swimming, boxing, and horse riding. It connects to Google Fit, Strava and Endomondo and has its own GPS and map system. The maps show popular and less popular hiking, running and hiking routes.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends.com

Unfortunately, this is difficult to test if the current advice is to stay indoors. Still, I managed to take a couple of visits to the gym and take a walk before that happened.

The fitness app is easy to use. Just pick your sport and swipe to start. I instinctively wanted to use the touchscreen to stop training at the end, but that can only be done with the physical buttons. Too bad there is no option for either.

The data displayed is comprehensive and shows heart rate and heart rate zones, elapsed time, calories, peak training effect (PTE), EPOC data (excess oxygen consumption after training) and recovery time. While walking, you have access to distance, pace, cadence, altitude, descent and lap data. It is comprehensive, clearly displayed on the screen and relatively accessible to the novice. This is important because too much information will make Suunto 7 less attractive to non-hardcore fitness fans.

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However, much of what makes the Suunto platform so appealing will only appeal to people who are deeply into fitness. Exploring local routes is most useful for people who are not at home but still want to get out and run, while the social aspect connects you to other Suunto owners who struggle themselves. Some of the openly shared activities in the Suunto app go far beyond my admittedly modest athletic ability, which kept me from sharing my weak 50-minute walk on site. The Suunto 7 may be less hardcore than previous Suunto watches, but the people who use the platform regularly have not changed.

Battery and power

Given the poor lifespan of the WearOS battery, the Suunto 7 battery is surprisingly solid. During a workout of approximately one hour a day, the Suunto 7's 450 mAh battery lost approximately 50% of its capacity with the surrounding screen turned on. That said, it's realistic to use the watch for two days. This is easy to achieve by turning off the constantly on screen.

Suunto has done this through some interesting technical advances that Qualcomm has worked on. An energy-saving co-processor now takes care of the fitness tracking, relieves the Snapdragon 3100 platform and reduces power consumption.

According to Suunto, the watch lasts an entire working day and still records a three-hour training session on a single charge. That seems achievable. The battery is charged via a plastic magnetic base, which is attached to the back of the watch. It's proprietary, so don't lose it.

The overall performance is excellent. The close relationship Suunto has with Qualcomm has paid off, as the smartwatch software is smooth and fluid even when using apps like Spotify. The OLED screen is colorful, but it's no different from other smartwatch devices I've used recently. Daily use of Suunto 7 is a comfortable, effortless, and frustration-free experience that can be a rarity for WearOS watches.

Price, guarantee and availability

Suunto 7 is now available from Suunto and other retailers. It costs $ 500 or £ 430 in the UK and is available in five color schemes. There is a two-year warranty, but only one year for the battery and bracelet.

Our opinion

Suunto 7 is successful in two areas where other WearOS watches often fail. It offers a usable battery life of two days and good overall performance, but doesn't manage to become a people-friendly lifestyle smartwatch. This is because the design is not universally appealing and the hyperfocused sports functions are irrelevant for the occasional fitness fan. The Suunto 7 isn't a niche like the brand's usual watches, but it's still a niche, and that has led to a slight lack of focus.

Is there a better alternative?

It doesn't happen often that an Apple product looks like a bargain, but the Apple Watch Series 5 for $ 400 can be bought for $ 100 less than the Suunto 7 and is still the best smartwatch you have able to buy. It will easily serve both casual and dedicated fitness fanatics. If you have an iPhone, this is the smart watch you want.

What if you want a lifestyle watch with sporting skills and not the other way around and don't have an iPhone? The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is excellent. WearOS is not executed, but Samsung's own Tizen software is used. Fitness tracking is easy to use and comprehensive enough for most users. I also like the Huawei Health platform connected to the Huawei Watch GT2 or Honor's MagicWatch 2. Both cost less than half the Suunto 7 and are aimed at those who want casual fitness tracking.

Wearing the Suunto 7 reminded me of the Casio WSD-F30. It's big and brave, has great battery life, and comes from a brand with a built-in hardcore crowd. It even costs the same at $ 500 and is worth a look because of its more attractive design and exclusive apps for certain outdoor activities.

How long it will take?

Smartwatches do not have to be replaced as often as your phone. The technology doesn't change quickly, so you can easily use it for several years before you even think about swapping it for another. Even then, it's more about design than functionality.

Suunto 7 is tough too. The body is shock and water repellent and made of strong material. The screen is covered with gorilla glass to protect it from scratches. I accidentally hit mine against various objects and it shows no signs of use.

Should you buy one?

No. If you crave a Suunto Sport smartwatch that you can wear every day, Suunto 7 might meet your needs. However, if you own an iPhone, don't live or breathe fitness, and have never heard of Suunto, Apple Watch Series 5 has everything you could want and more – for less.

Editor's recommendations




28 Mar
Blog

Nintendo Switch Review: Latest Updates, Games, and More

Nintendo Switch 32 GB console

"The Nintendo Switch is a home run for Nintendo and fulfills its innovative premise."

  • Play at home or on the go

  • Sharp display

  • Unique multimode controller

  • Excellent game library

  • Great battery life

  • Limited internal storage

  • Some controller options are uncomfortable

This review was last updated on March 27th, 2020 by Lisa Marie Segarra, Gaming Editor of Digital Trends.

Nintendo wants to win you back. After the failure of the last home console, the Wii U, the publisher of Mario and Zelda, announced very quickly that they were working hard on a new console. Although the legendary publisher has made some amazing games in the meantime – like Super Mario Maker and Splatoon – Nintendo felt it was holding back, and fans accepted it because they knew there was a new era on the horizon. In our Nintendo Switch test, the question was, "Can Nintendo change things with new hardware?" The answer is a resounding "yes".

What's in the box

The Switch is a "hybrid" game console. It can be connected to a TV like a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One or can be carried as a portable device, similar to the Nintendo 3DS or Game Boy.

The switch itself is a small tablet with a 6.2-inch LCD multi-touch display. Inside, the console has a custom Nvidia Tegra processor and 32 GB of internal storage. It also has what you'd expect from a portable device: accelerometer, gyroscope, Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, Wi-Fi and WiFi (IEEE 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac).

On the outside there is a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, stereo speakers, power and volume buttons, connectors for game cartridges, a microSD slot for expandable memory, a USB Type-C connector for charging and a stand.

It also comes with a dock, a holder that the switch slides into when you want to charge it or play it on a TV. The dock is practically a hollow plastic hub that connects via the console's USB Type-C port. There are three ports on the back: USB Type C for charging, HDMI for audio and video output and a USB 2.0 port. There are also two additional USB 2.0 ports on the side. The rear connections are exposed through a simple door in the rear area, in which some cables are also hidden.

The switch perfectly reflects Nintendo's sensitivity to gaming.

Also included are two detachable controllers called "Joy-Cons", which have all controller buttons and can be slid onto the tablet, two Joy-Con straps and the Joy-Con handle, the two Joy-Cons as a single controller connects with each other.

(They're pretty versatile. For example, you can connect them to your PC or create art on a Surface Pro.)

Battery life and portability

The original switch has a battery life of 2.5 to 6 hours, and its lifespan depends on how demanding the game you are playing is. For example, a game like "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" places a greater strain on the resources of the console, so the battery lasts about 3 hours, even less if you play at full brightness. To say all of this, it won't take through most flights, but it's fine if the shuttle service works.

For a system that promotes portability, this is disappointing. While both the Nintendo 3DS and PS Vita last between three and five hours, Nintendo could easily have used the original Switch as an opportunity to improve the standard.

Fortunately, a new version of the Switch with improved battery life was launched in 2019. The updated console with a new chip layout and revised Tegra X1 processor dramatically improves the battery performance of the original switch and offers a battery life of 4.5 to nine hours. That's two precious hours of game time added to your Breath of the Wild game session. This change to one of the Switch's biggest flaws takes the console to a new level, especially for gamers who play a lot on the go.

Speaking of gaming on the go, while the Switch is not quite as portable as the 3DS, the upcoming Switch Lite promises to be. The Switch Lite offers a smaller, lighter, and more compact design for the family and aims to satisfy gamers who prefer the handheld gaming lifestyle. It has the same revised chip layout and the same Tegra X1 processor as the updated switch and promises a battery life of up to seven hours. The September 20 release may only add the lack of portability that the hybrid version of the console lacks.

Play your way

Although the Switch is a small tablet, it carries its soul outside of its small case. With the Joy-Cons, games can be controlled in many different ways. The small, remote-controlled controllers can be inserted and latched on both sides of the switch and transform it into a handheld game device à la Nintendo Game Boy and 3DS systems.

Both the console and Joy-Cons feel robust and are solid and of high quality.

Turning the Joy-Cons on and off may be one of the best physical design features of any game hardware in modern memory. It is simple, fun and there is a nice click that you can both feel and hear when the Joy-Cons are in place. It's a seamless transition, even in the middle of the game.

The switch feels good in the hand. Both the console and Joy-Cons feel robust and are solid and of high quality. The matte finish of the Joy-Con makes the console look and feel modern, whether you buy the gray or the colorful red-blue version. At 398 grams (0.9 pounds) and connected to Joy-Cons, it's light enough to last long distances in portable mode.

Although the dock doesn't feel as robust or well constructed as the console itself, it does the job. Although only the USB-C connector holds it in place, the switch in the dock appears to be secure and there have never been any connection problems between the console and the dock. It may be difficult to connect the switch console to the USB-C port at the bottom of the dock the first time, and the same “click” of detection that Joy-Cons provides you with to inform you that the console is secure.

Nintendo Switch review

Nintendo Switch review

If the console is connected to its dock or you just don't want to hold the entire console, you can use Joy-Cons freely or plug it into Joy-Con Grip, making it a conventional controller. The grip works like any other gamepad, but is much smaller than the Dualshock 4 of the PS4 or the Xbox One controller. This can cause discomfort in most adults. The small joysticks of the Joy-Con are also not as big as usual, making them seem difficult to grip. The optional Pro Controller fixes this problem – and is a great gamepad – but it's an accessory for $ 70.

A multiplayer machine, even on the go

Two Joy-Cons open the door for self-contained local multiplayer experiences. In some games, players can use a single Joy-Con as a controller. The Joy-Cons also have all the motion sensors that are required for gesture-based, motion-controlled games, similar to the Nintendo Wii.

However, using the individual Joy-Cons as a mini controller for the local multiplayer mode can be downright uncomfortable. The controllers are very small and have a rounded rectangular shape when rotated horizontally. Holding on to them can become painful after prolonged and / or intensive game sessions.

The included "Joy-Con straps" of the console give each Joy-Con more comfortable shoulder buttons and of course a wrist strap – but they only slightly improve comfort. The Joy-Cons are also not identical. The analog stick and the buttons are in different positions on the left and right. Joy-Cons.

The analog on the right is basically in the middle of the controller, making it difficult to get a grip on the stick. The player with the left Joy-Con definitely has an advantage when a game uses the thumb handle. If you need a controller if need be, using a replacement GameCube controller might be a better option. Thanks to a recent update, they are compatible.

There is a badly built element of the switch: its stand. It's a thin plastic flap that flips out of the back of the console and holds the console upright for multiplayer gaming on the go – or when you're tired and don't want to hold the console. The console remains upright as long as it is not touched or jostled. However, after opening it once, you are afraid that it may break. That would be particularly bad, since the stand also serves as a protective cover for the MicroSD slot.

A toy box with peripherals

There are a number of third-party peripherals that are designed to address all of the minor problems when playing the switch in its many use cases. These “optional” elements not only significantly increase the cost of the switch, they also show that the cost of the switch's “all-rounder” approach to hardware design has created a console with acceptable but annoying errors.

For example, the console's 32 GB of internal storage can store many screenshots, short video clips (for a small number of first-party games), and probably more than a few small indie games. However, players who are used to buying games digitally need a large MicroSDXC card for additional storage.

Nate Barrett / Digital Trends

Nate Barrett / Digital Trends

If you travel frequently and over long distances, you'll need an extra battery, similar to the one people carry around to charge their phone. Third-party accessory manufacturers have even started to develop portable docks and batteries specifically designed for the switch, such as: B. the SwitchCharge, which replaces the weak stand of the console.

If you're playing competitive or long distance games at the same time, you'll want to buy the Nintendo Pro Controller, which costs an additional $ 70.

However, not all peripheral devices have been developed to remedy the shortcomings of the system. With Nintendo Labo, launched about a year after the Switch itself, younger players can combine the Switch and its Joy-Con controllers with cardboard kits to create completely new experiences. This includes everything from playable pianos to RC cars to a fishing rod, each of which uses the system's infrared cameras and rumbles to do unexpected things. Existing games, including Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, are even supported, offering fans a new way of racing.

Everything about the games

Nintendo's Achilles' heel with some previous home consoles was a lack of software support. The Wii U struggled to release games consistently over its short lifespan, and the Wii struggled to attract third-party developers.

However, this did not prove to be a problem with the switch. From Zelda to Mario to Pokemon, the Switch has experienced a flood of excellent games that can appeal to long-time Nintendo fans as well as newbies.

Even better, the switch has become the point of contact for remastering, remakes and reissues of older games. It can play the original doom. It can play Star Wars Episode I: Racer. It can play the original Final Fantasy VII. It can play a variety of emulated NES and SNES games. Even The Witcher 3 is available. There is an enormous depth of content.

Mostly better online

Nintendo hasn't been at the forefront of online gaming innovation over the years, but the Switch offers a relatively stable multiplayer experience from Arms to Splatoon 2. Some games, like Mario Kart 8, work great online.

However, the limited matchmaking options in some of the biggest games, as well as the bizarre decision to omit voice chat without a smartphone app, are confusing and fading compared to the quality of life options available on both PlayStation Network and Xbox Live.

Unfortunately, Nintendo has also used its online service as a barrier to online gaming and its popular virtual console system. While a paid subscription for online access is common on current generation consoles, it's unfair to limit access to some of Nintendo's most popular retro games. Instead of allowing you to buy classics like we saw on previous Nintendo consoles, you get a selection of NES and SNES titles as part of your subscription. It's a good option, but it's a mistake to make it the only option.

Still, Nintendo has shown a surprising willingness to work with other platforms in some of its online games. If you want to play Minecraft or Fortnite: Battle Royale on Switch with your friends on Xbox or PC, you can even get Xbox successes in the case of the previous game.

No Netflix here yet

Despite its variety of game styles and parts, the Switch is actually an uncomplicated slot machine. Unlike other consoles that want to become an all-in-one living room or mobile online entertainment device, the switch is (at least for the time being) exclusively dedicated to gaming and gaming.

The user interface is very simple – a series of large squares that show your available games. Below the games there is a second set of smaller round buttons with a Nintendo curated blog feed, eShop, a place to view and share screenshots, etc.

Only a few non-gaming apps are currently available – Hulu is currently the only major streaming service – and Nintendo has not specified when or if these features will come to the console. As with the camera, its omission is not a big loss.

Most players already have a large number of devices – phones, tablets, laptops – on which they can watch Netflix and YouTube. At the same time, the switch would be a good personal screen with its sharp screen and third-party status.

Maybe Link can save our world

You probably don't think about the performance a game console consumes, but it can be significant. An Xbox One X can suck more juice than a small fridge while playing. This harms our planet and can cause hidden costs for your electricity bills over time.

The Nintendo portable switch circumvents the problem. When playing in docked mode, about 12 watts are consumed. The switch's total power consumption is even lower if other factors such as standby and data center usage are taken into account. PlayStation and Xbox consoles often download large patches and can be used to stream content from power-hungry data centers.

It all adds up. A study by the Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory found that the switch uses less than a tenth as much power as the PlayStation 4 Pro when all energy sources are taken into account. It's far less demanding than the Xbox One S or Xbox One X.

The switch can also store your wallet. A light player spends $ 47 less on their electricity bills if they buy the switch instead of a PlayStation 4 Pro. A player who often plays all day can save up to $ 180. That's enough to buy three new games at full price.

Nintendo also offers free recycling for your old console and peripherals through the Take Back program. Microsoft and Sony offer similar programs, but they are more difficult to find on each company's website.

Warranty information

The Nintendo Switch comes with a one-year warranty from the manufacturer.

Our opinion

The Switch manages to combine Nintendo's penchant for strange, tricky hardware with the high-quality design that we expect from consoles in the modern era. From a hardware perspective, it's the best console the company has had in generations – possibly ever.

Nevertheless, the Switch is a Nintendo machine that was developed to play Nintendo games. Despite all the measures taken to reinforce the feeling of the mainstream, the shortcomings show that the console was designed so that the developers of Nintendo can develop interesting games. If you love Nintendo, this is a good sign as the capital N seems to be taking a new step.

Is there a better alternative?

The switch is unique. There are no platforms that offer the same home / portable “hybrid” functionality or such a wide range of controller options. Many of his best franchise companies like Splatoon and Mario cannot be played on any other platform, Nintendo or in any other way.

If you can do without Nintendo games and play on a TV or monitor, it's better to buy a PS4, Xbox One, or a gaming PC. If you already have one of these, the Switch is a fantastic second system that gives you access to more original games than any other option.

If you are specifically looking for a portable platform, we recommend the Switch over the 3DS. With improved battery life and an extensive collection of games available on the switch, you would only limit your options if you have an inferior handheld that is at the end of its life cycle.

How long it will take?

In the past, successful game consoles have a shelf life of about five years before the manufacturer makes a new console. We should also note that console manufacturers have worked to shorten the lifecycle of systems, even if the hardware is successful. This is the case with the switch.

Nintendo launched an updated version of the console with improved battery life two years after its first release. The Switch Lite, a compact version of the Switch that was developed exclusively for handheld games, came onto the market shortly afterwards. Original Switch owners who aren't interested in a more handheld-friendly console will likely pass the Switch Lite on, but the revised version of the Switch is a permanent replacement for the original, which significantly shortens battery life, which was a bit short of the debut version.

Should you buy it

Yes. If you love Nintendo and want to keep playing new Nintendo games or already have a modern game console, the Switch should be your next game console. However, if this is your first modern console or you mostly want to play a lot of games online, you should fit.

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28 Mar
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Nintendo Switch Lite Review: An Unapologetic Handheld

Nintendo Switch games dominate the 2019 Holidays Exclusive Survey Lite review feature

Nintendo Switch Lite – Gray

"Small improvements make the Switch Lite a little triumph."

  • Comfortable design

  • Sharp and vivid display

  • Solid battery life

  • Bring back the legendary D-Pad

  • Affordable

  • Slightly smaller game library

  • No support for TV mode

  • No motion control

This review was last updated on March 27th, 2020 by Lisa Marie Segarra, Gaming Editor of Digital Trends.

With the release of Nintendo Switch – the company's hybrid grab-and-go console – Nintendo finally found a happy medium for console and handheld gamers. The Switch's ability to switch between TV and handheld modes at the touch of a finger was and remains its biggest attraction. Even so, some sacrifices were made to appeal to a wider audience.

The switch isn't as compact as the company's earlier handhelds, like the venerable Nintendo 3DS. It tends to finger cramps during long game sessions and has a short battery life that is not ideal for games on the go. Nintendo removed the ability to switch from the equation and gave us the Switch Lite, an intrepid return to handheld gaming that is a solution to all of these problems.

Small and wild

The Switch Lite dispenses with the Joy-Cons and has an all-in-one design. It is almost an inch shorter and therefore more compact than the original. At 9.7 ounces, it's lighter, but not so strong that it feels weak. Instead, you get a more portable console that you can put in the side pocket of a backpack or bag on the go.

To keep small but nice Julian Chokkattu / Digital Trends

Although the Switch Lite is smaller than its predecessor, it is incredibly comfortable to hold. The layout differs slightly because the shoulder buttons are higher and the release buttons are slightly longer than with the normal switch. Instead of the four separate direction buttons of the Joy-Cons, a D-Pad is also introduced.

This ensures a smoother and more precise input, since no divot has to be moved each time a key is pressed. It feels good to play Super Mario Maker 2 levels the way I remember playing classic Super Mario games as a kid. The ergonomic shape of the Switch Lite lies well in your hands. The improved button layout gives the handheld the impression that it was designed for long handheld games.

It was introduced in a small selection of colors – gray, yellow or turquoise – with cream-colored buttons, which represent a nice contrast on the gray console and complement the variants turquoise and yellow. A version of Pokemon Sword and Shield is now available, and Nintendo is likely to have plans for even more colors and designs, and announced a new version of the coral in 2020, a strategy the company used on previous handhelds. With its small size, variety of colors and matt surface, the Switch Lite has an enchanting aesthetic that children and Nintendo fans will love.

In terms of performance and battery life, the Switch Lite has a smaller and more energy-efficient Tegra chip than the original Switch. According to Nintendo, this contributes to a longer battery life. Given that portability is a key feature of Switch Lite, this is definitely one of the most important upgrades to consider.

Julian Chokkattu / Digital Trends

According to Nintendo, the Switch Lite will offer around three to seven hours of game time. In comparison, the original switch promised about 2.5 to 6.5 hours. Playing Link & # 39; s Awakening at 50% brightness on the Switch Lite offered about four hours of play. It took about three and a half hours at full brightness.

If you want to pass the time during a commute or if you have to keep the kids (or yourself) busy for a few hours, I would say that the Switch Lite does a stand-up job. It didn't take six hours, but it was a good distraction for a good part of it. I wish the Switch Lite had the same extended battery life as the redesigned Nintendo Switch, but its small size and cheaper price could be the reason why it isn't.

A serious handheld

There are no obvious differences in gaming performance. The properties of Nintendo are still very soft on the Switch Lite. Drifting through Bowser's castle in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is still as satisfying as I remember it. Still, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 still suffers from texture loading issues, and the occasional drop in frame rate is barely noticeable in Link & # 39; s awakening. Basically, games that weren't that hot on the original Switch will still not be as good on the Switch Lite.

While playing on my handheld and comparing the two, I found the 5.5-inch touchscreen and 720p resolution of the Switch Lite display to be sharper and more vivid than the screen on the original Switch. This is probably due to what the Switch's native resolution looks like on a smaller screen, but the difference is noticeable.

Livelier and sharper display Julian Chokkattu / Digital Trends

Despite their differences, the Switch Lite offers many of the same offerings as the original. The operating system is the same, that is, it has the same functions – and their lack. There is no native chat support (at least not without a little help from game developers) and, as mentioned by Business Insider, still no Bluetooth audio support.

Switch Lite's lack of Bluetooth support for wireless headphones is a potential problem for some, but more environmentally conscious. Wireless earphones contribute to the problem of electronic waste due to their short lifespan and inability to be repaired. And if you really want Bluetooth audio, buy an adapter – one of several cool Switch Lite accessories you'll end up investing in. There is also the included additional connection for wired headphones, which offers better audio for games anyway.

It is also worth noting that the Switch Lite does not support the entire switch library. This makes sense: The Switch Lite does not have a dock, an HDMI output or Joy-Cons. This means that he cannot connect to the TV and has no motion control. By default, only games that can be played in handheld mode are supported. You can find these on the back of the game bag or on the page under the supported game modes in Nintendo eShop.

This has no significant impact on your options. However, if you want to play Just Dance or try Nintendo Labo, you should use the standard switch. As someone who only plays the switch in handheld mode, these options are not missed. You can buy Joy-Cons and see a booth if you are interested in games that require support in tabletop mode. However, this is an additional part of the money exchange out of your pocket that may be better spent on a normal switch.

Our opinion

For handheld players, the Nintendo Switch Lite is a little triumph. Its compact body makes it more portable than the original switch, and its ergonomic design feels good during long gaming sessions. These small improvements combined with the return of the D-Pad and an impressive display make the Switch Lite the best dedicated Nintendo handheld ever.

That said, it's a handheld through and through. Without a dock, HDMI support or Joy-Cons, the Switch Lite does not offer TV support or motion control, which has a minor impact on your gaming options. Battery life could be better, but it's an improvement over the original.

Is there a better alternative?

No, the Nintendo Switch Lite is currently the best handheld you can get. The closest competitors would be the Nintendo 3DS or the PlayStation Vita, but fewer games are released on the 3DS and the PS Vita is no longer supported by Sony. Both are dated compared to the Switch Lite.

How long it will take?

Nintendo systems have a 12-month warranty that covers defects, but no physical damage. In terms of relevance, the Switch Lite has the potential to hold on to the next generation of Nintendo consoles. As the Sony PS5 and Xbox Scarlett hit the market next year, popular first-party exclusive products and an ever-expanding game library make the Switch Lite a remarkable option, especially for gamers looking for a dedicated handheld.

Should you buy it

Yes. The Switch Lite is the best handheld console you can buy today, and possibly the best ever made.

Updated March 27, 2020: Updated information about the new Coral Switch Lite model.

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