01 Jan
Blog

Samsung Galaxy Fit 2 Review: Simple and Honest

Samsung Galaxy Fit 2 review wrist bike

"The $ 60 Samsung Galaxy Fit 2 is great value for money and just the right complexity to keep the casual fitness fan engaged and carried."

  • Comfortable and easy

  • Easy to use

  • Comprehensive list of activities to be followed

  • Good notification support

  • Battery life claims are exaggerated

  • Strap closure is annoying

  • Some tracking inaccuracies

Not everyone cares about high-end activity tracking features on many smartwatches or expensive fitness bands. Some really don't worry about blood oxygen levels, EKG measurements, or even built-in GPS. If you want easy daily activity tracking, you want a simple wearable device for everyday use Samsung Galaxy Fit 2 come inside.

This $ 60 fitness tracker covers all the basics and offers 15 days of battery life. This puts it firmly in the wear and tear and forgetting category. I've been wearing it for over a week now and almost forgot it on my wrist which is good. That's the way it is.

design

The simplicity of the Galaxy Fit 2 starts with its design, but it has both good and bad surprises in store. The first surprise is how bright the 1.1-inch AMOLED color screen is. I could easily leave it on the middle tier without sacrificing daylight viewing, which means it has less of an impact on battery life. The use of a color screen makes the Galaxy Fit 2 far more attractive and interesting than the boring monochrome LCDs of simple Fitbits.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Pick the red ribbon like my test device and it makes a seriously athletic statement. While the strap is comfortable once on, the clasp is very annoying. Samsung made the whole thing more complicated than it needs to be, and it's quite difficult to find and repeat exactly the right fit. I often wear the band loosely when the accuracy of the heart rate monitor isn't that important, and then tighten it when I'm tracking, and the Fit 2's strap made this normally simple procedure quite annoying. Otherwise, it's safe and won't get sweaty.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It is controlled via the touchscreen and a touch-sensitive button below. It's pretty easy to miss the button at first as the thin outline that gives you a clue of where to press disappears in many lighting conditions. The operating system reacts and is logically created. You navigate through the options by swiping and tapping. I didn't have any problems with that.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The design, screen attractiveness, and software make the Galaxy Fit easy to live with when you've stopped swearing by the stupid band.

Activity tracking

The Galaxy Fit continues the simple theme and has a heart rate sensor, accelerometer, and gyroscope. However, it is not possible to measure blood oxygen, take an EKG, connect to GPS, or even add altitude data using an altimeter. The altimeter is the only sensor that is really overlooked as the EKG and blood oxygen readings are highly specialized. If you need GPS for accurate run tracking, there are numerous alternatives available.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Instead, the Galaxy Fit 2 monitors your workout, tracks steps, and monitors your sleep when you wear it overnight. A small selection of workouts to be tracked is preinstalled in the customization. However, more can be added if the basic options are not enough. For example, I had to add yoga and stationary cycling. The Galaxy Fit 2 can be worn in the pool to track swimming, counting strokes and measuring distance. It also gives back SWOLF swimming efficiency data after you're done.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Swipe left on the screen to view your steps, heart rate, distance, and sleep data. There are reminders to get up and move around and a reminder to wash your hands too. However, this isn't automatic like the Apple Watch feature, it just suggests that you should wash your hands after a set interval. The Fit 2 also monitors stress levels, but says the feature is for wellness rather than medical use, and I found that this puts me at the higher end of the scale far more often than other wearables I've used recently, including the Honor Watch ES and the Oppo Watch.

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Both Samsung Galaxy Wear and the Samsung Health app are required to sync the Galaxy Fit 2 with your phone and are compatible with both Android and iOS. I used them on a Samsung Galaxy Fold. While health is informative – it provides current and historical data, and you can add more metrics like food intake and data from other health devices – it is not very attractive or always logical to navigate.

It's nowhere near as pretty or intuitive as Google Fit, for example, and it's also not as feature-rich. It is a bit unusual that it is not possible to get an instant heart rate reading quickly, even though the last reading taken remains on some watch faces. There are a variety of training plans available, meaning the Galaxy Fit 2 will cover almost any activity of your choice.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

In terms of accuracy, I compared the Fit 2 to the Apple Watch Series 6 over a few days and found that the heart rate monitor was in line with the Apple Watch's results, but the calories burned and step count were usually below the Apple Watch's estimate, possibly biased overall results. Most wearables I've compared to the Apple Watch in the past come up with very similar numbers overall, suggesting that the Fit 2's software may need refinement.

Battery life

Samsung makes some big claims about the Galaxy Fit 2's battery life, but there are several caveats hidden in the fine print. What you need to know is to forget about reaching 21 days, and not counting on 15 days, if you want to use most of the band's features.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Sleep tracking is one of the areas you may need to do without in order to maximize battery life, and it's well worth doing. At 21 grams, the tape is certainly light enough not to be bothersome, and when it works, sleep tracking will show different stages of your sleep and duration, and ultimately assign a sleep efficiency score. However, sleep tracking is inconsistent and has repeatedly completely missed my deep sleep phases, rendering all data collected worthless.

Notifications also drain your battery more, but this time it's worth the tradeoff. Despite the small screen size, truncated emails are legible, and WhatsApp messages and Twitter replies even offer quick reply options. How many apps send notifications to the band can be managed in the Galaxy Wear app so you can adjust the number of interruptions. I found the notifications useful, but could be frustrated at times by the slowness of the band to respond when I raised my arm to see them.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Samsung says that in order to achieve a battery life of almost 21 days, you have to do without sleep tracking, a heart rate sensor and automatic workout tracking. It is said to expect around 15 days with average usage. I've used the heart rate monitor, activity reminders, followed regular exercise sessions, and also did some sleep sessions, and it was difficult to get any closer to that number. It loses about 10% of its battery every day without tracking any activities other than sleep.

Price and availability

The Samsung Galaxy Fit 2 costs $ 60 or £ 40 in the UK available now from Amazon and via Samsung's own online shop.

Our opinion

The Galaxy Fit 2 doesn't pretend to be the ideal partner for your marathon endeavors, or it will be there to provide focused data as you battle for Olympic glory. Instead, it covers what most casual trainers want from swimming to biking and horse riding to sailing, being honest about their skills, and having the right complexity to keep you honest in your fitness endeavors.

That general nature and affordability, however, don't forgive the inconsistencies in sleep and exercise tracking, and the very long battery life is only possible if you choose not to use many of the band's features. Other than that, the Galaxy Fit 2 is easy to use and its drawbacks haven't stopped me from wanting to wear it, and that's essential for a fitness band.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes, the fitness band market is huge, so there are plenty of great alternatives. While I think the Galaxy Fit 2 is one of the better models, it has stiff competition. If a Fitbit is more appealing because of the recognizable brand name and established platform, the Inspire 2 is the closest model to the Galaxy Fit 2, but it costs $ 100. Plus, Fitbit has a monthly subscription fee to unlock some of its more advanced features. If you want a Fitbit with GPS, we recommend the Fitbit Charge 4.

If you live outside of the US or like to import, the Xiaomi Mi Band 5 is great value at around £ 40, as is the Honor Band 5, which is available for even less money. If you don't need specialized fitness tracking features like GPS and you're not a dedicated athlete, then why spend more than necessary on a simple fitness band?

If you don't mind spending more and want something that looks less like a regular fitness band, there are some smartwatch-like alternatives out there too. The Amazfit GTR 2 is priced at $ 179, looks good, and has plenty of fitness tracking features, while the Honor Watch ES costs 89 pounds sterling or around $ 120 and strikes the middle ground between smartwatch and fitness band.

How long it will take?

Fitness bands last longer than your smartphone or smartwatch, as we do not have such high demands on the software or hardware. The strong strap of the Galaxy Fit 2 can be replaced if it breaks. Everything is waterproof up to 50 meters, making it suitable for swimming or showering.

Apart from any discontinuation of support for Galaxy Fit 2 in the Galaxy Wear or Samsung Health app, this will take well over three years. There is one other thing to think about and that is your continued use. The Galaxy Fit 2 isn't really for the hardcore fitness enthusiast. So expect an upgrade if your own fitness goals and tracking need to change.

Should you buy it?

Yes, provided you just want to cover the basics of activity tracking, it is an easy to use, simple, and attractive fitness band.

Editor's recommendations




01 Jan
Blog

Amazon Echo Frames (2nd Gen) Review: Alexa All the Time

Amazon Echo Frames (2nd generation)

Amazon Echo Frames (2nd generation)

"The Amazon Echo Frames are a great start to let Alexa take you anywhere."

  • Contemporary design is attractive

  • Open-ear audio technology

  • Ideal for calls

  • Long battery life

  • Cheap construction

  • A bit expensive

Let's be honest: Alexa is everywhere. There's no denying that Amazon's virtual assistant has pervaded every facet of the tech field. You can find Alexa in shower heads, electrical outlets, and even in a twerking teddy bear. For the most part, the company has looked at more practical applications in the wearables space.

The Amazon Echo Frames, first announced in 2020, were some new wearables that were introduced to give people access to Alexa at all times. While it has remained nothing more than a "Day One Edition" since its announcement and limited release, a cautious successor was announced only last month. Now we have the Amazon Echo Frames (2nd Generation), which offer improvements like better audio and longer battery life – while trying to be discreet with their design. The question that still remains is whether or not it is a practical device.

Contemporary look, sloppy construction

I don't wear glasses so using the Echo Frames takes a little getting used to. What ensures is that, from the front, the frames look very much like ordinary glasses – you wouldn't even realize they are smart glasses the first time you look at them. In fact, the design tucks all of the technical hardware into the frame – if you look at it from the front. That all changes the moment you look at it from the sides.

Amazon Echo Frames (2nd generation)John Velasco / Digital Trends

The all-plastic frame is thickest there. It can certainly be a bit of a distraction, but overall, the contemporary look of the design makes it an eyepiece that won't attract too much attention. The goggles use materials like TR90 (thermoplastic material), carbon fiber, and titanium in their construction, which makes them lightweight, but the whole package feels sloppy. Amazon did a commendable job designing it, but everything about the construction screams weakly!

You wouldn't even realize it was a pair of smart glasses when you first looked at it.

The lenses that came with my device are made of polycarbonate, a material commonly used in glasses. In my experience with polycarbonate lenses in sunglasses, they are more prone to scratches and less resilient than glass. It is probably why it is recommended to use the microfiber cloth and hard case whenever possible. Before receiving the echo frames, I thought it would be possible to replace the lenses with ones that filter blue light. This is not currently the case, however, but you can swap them out for prescription lenses.

Alexa all the time

The centerpiece is Alexa – the virtual assistant lives in the Amazon Echo Frames at all times, as long as you have a Bluetooth connection to your mobile device. This is necessary because there is no WiFi. I connected it to my iPhone XS and didn't have any issues.

Initiating Alexa is just like any other Alexa device you may already own. All you have to do is say “Alexa”. In all fairness, the experience is no different from accessing them through a smartphone, smart speaker, or any of the other Alexa devices on the market. I appreciate the convenience of being able to control my smart lights at home and receiving notifications from my ring indoor camera when it detects movement.

I was particularly intrigued by the built-in speakers on the Echo Frames. This second generation version improves open-ear audio technology, according to Amazon. The volume is enough to hear music, podcasts, or e-books, but I can tell you others can hear them too. And that's one point I notice about the Echo Frames. Sure, I had no problem making calls and listening to songs while washing dishes, all hands-free, but part of me would prefer to keep these experiences private.

If you're like me and have a ton of apps on your smartphone that bombard you with notifications all the time, you're going to like the VIP filter. You can use the Alexa mobile app to prioritize which messages and app notifications you want to hear. It's useful for the Echo Frames to beep for each notification, followed by Alexa's announcement. However, the choice is yours to hear more of this notification by swiping the capacitive touch-sensitive area that's built into the right part of the frame.

Amazon Echo Frames (2nd generation)John Velasco / Digital Trends

The only thing missing now is the option of choosing Samuel L. Jackon as voice assistant. It's not an option at the moment, but I hope that will change soon.

Surprising all-day battery

One of the problems I have with almost every device is that they just can't hold their charge long enough to last a day. Fortunately, this is not a problem with the Amazon Echo Frames, as they can easily run in a single day with lots of gasoline in the tank. In my experience, after a day of use that started on a full charge, there was 30% capacity left. Given that it replaced a pair of headphones and gave Alexa commands all day, it's impressive how long it took. Amazon's claim to 14 hours of juice for media playback at 80% volume is impressive, and my real-world experience has been a satisfactory confirmation.

It's impressive that it took so long.

The frames come with a proprietary charging cable with pin connectors that are magnetically connected to the connector on the Echo Frames. If you use this implementation, the Echo Frames will be IPX4 waterproof. So you can withstand light splashes if you get caught in the rain but don't want to plunge into the pool.

would like more

In the short time I've been using the Amazon Echo Frames (2nd generation), I've realized how useful it can be to have a voice assistant available at all times. But I long for much more. Is this different from an Alexa smart speaker when you are at home, or maybe your smartphone? Not really.

Amazon Echo Frames (2nd generation)John Velasco / Digital Trends

There is also a part of me who is wondering how this could be an even more attractive solution. Take open audio technology, for example. It's great that I can hear notifications and music while wearing the Echo Frames, but I would appreciate something with more privacy – maybe in the sense of using bone conduction technology so that the audio is isolated for my own hearing.

Our opinion

The $ 250 price tag seems like an expensive investment, but you need to keep in mind that they're attached glasses that offer better hands-free calling and eliminate the need to carry or use multiple devices. Think about it for a moment – it combines the functions of a smart speaker, virtual assistant and wireless headphones in one. This kind of convergence is difficult to achieve.

How long it will take?

I'm being honest and I'm saying that you want to be extra careful as the design doesn't give me confidence that the frames would withstand an accident or fall. However, Amazon offers a 2-year personal accident insurance plan for $ 40. Defects are covered with the standard 1-year guarantee.

Is there a better alternative?

At the moment no. There are few smart glasses on the market, most of which position themselves more as augmented reality glasses than anything else. Plus, they're generally much more expensive.

Should you buy it?

Yes, especially if you're the type who craves constant interaction with Alexa.

Editor's recommendations




13 Dec
Blog

Eero 6 Router Review: Smart Home Management Made Easy

Eero 6 Wi-Fi Mesh Router

Eero 6 Wi-Fi 6 System (3 Pack)

"When a growing smart home needs to be covered, the Eero 6 is a cost-effective solution."

  • Affordable Wi-Fi 6 mesh system

  • Intuitive device management via app

  • Solid speeds from the router

  • Few ethernet ports on the router

Routers are likely a priority for many people. It's one of those underrated devices in the home that only works in the background, and the only time it ever comes to mind is when things aren't working properly.

A growing smart home presents some challenges as more and more devices require connectivity. This is why you should look into a router that can manage them all. With Wi-Fi 6, an integrated mesh network and a system that can be controlled with Alexa from Amazon, the Eero 6 is undoubtedly an attractive option for the average consumer.

Cover for the whole house

Growing your smart home includes not just the devices, but adequate coverage to ensure they stay connected and are not compromised in any way. The Eero 6 is a dual band Wi-Fi 6 mesh network that allows you to provision extender nodes to cover large rooms. For smaller spaces like my apartment, which is a smidge over 1,000 square feet, the Eero 6 is a bit over the top – but others will appreciate its 5,000 square foot range for larger homes and rooms.

John Velasco / Digital Trends

In my setup, the system packs a router and two extender nodes. I use it as a secondary, complementary network that contains my Internet of Things (IoT devices). My main network serves as the primary network for surfing the Internet with my smartphones and computers. Similar to other mesh routers I've checked out, the Eero router is connected to my modem gateway via one of its two gigabit ports. If you urgently need to make other connections, there isn't much left. I know how quickly things can get out of hand when you introduce smart home devices that require their own hubs or bridges. So it would have been nice to have more ports.

This is exactly what the growing smart home needs.

The extender nodes only act as Wi-Fi hubs to extend the range of the network to every corner of your home. Depending on the signal strength, I like that the Eero 6 automatically selects which node / router the devices are connected to. For example, the two smart displays in my bedroom connect to the extender node, which is in the same room – unlike the main router in the living room. In contrast to the router, the node extenders do not have any Ethernet ports for expansion. Not too surprising, but I still wish they had one or two.

Convenient smart home management

Today's routers are more consumer-friendly than ever, and the Eero 6 is no exception. Setting up is a breeze and all it takes is plugging the router into my gateway and downloading the Eero app. From there, you can attach it to your Amazon account to access voice control with Alexa.

The app does a good job of figuring out which devices are connected to the Eero 6. Since the naming conventions for some devices can be unclear, I would recommend going back to the app as soon as possible to change them. My smart home consists of more than 50 connected devices. So it helps that I oversee their activities, especially if you notice that a gadget appears to be sending larger amounts of data. It's a red flag that will help users better understand how their devices are behaving.

When it comes to the smart home, disabling access to a specific device is made easier with the help of Alexa. Once you've enabled the Eero Alexa skill, you can instruct the voice assistant to stop WiFi for a specific device or the entire network.

It's worth noting that the Eero 6 has an integrated ZigBee smart home hub, similar to the current Amazon Echo (4th generation). This makes it a breeze to connect ZigBee-enabled accessories and devices through the Alexa app without the need to use other third-party apps. That way, you don't have to manage another app or service. So, if you're already deep in the Amazon ecosystem, the Eero 6's ability to control ZigBee devices comes in handy.

Speed, speed, speed

The Comcast Xfinity router I've been using for a while now offers average download and upload speeds of 250Mbps and 40Mbps, respectively. Interestingly, switching to the Eero 6 has boosted performance to around 350 Mbit / s and 41 Mbit / s. The faster download speed is only achieved through the main Eero 6 router.

Eero 6 Wi-Fi Mesh RouterJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

However, when connected to one of the extender nodes, the performance will drop to about the same as my Xfinity router. For most smart home devices, this shouldn't be a problem, unless it's a security camera that uploads footage to the cloud for you to access. The latency response via the extender nodes is roughly the same as that of the main Eero router. This is therefore useful for real-time video conversations that you may have on a smart display, security camera, or other device.

Our opinion

You can't go wrong with the Eero 6 – this is exactly what the growing smart home needs to keep expanding. It has it all: a built-in ZigBee hub, expansion with extenders, device management, Alexa control, and an affordable price of $ 279 for a 3-pack system. For comparison, a similar Google Nest Wi-Fi kit costs $ 349. However, what Google has to offer is the additional utility of its Node Extenders that use Google Assistant for voice control so that they can effectively act as smart speakers.

How long it will take?

The minimalist all-plastic construction of the Eero 6 feels decent. However, since they are unlikely to ever move once they are set up, there is little risk of damage to them. In the event something goes wrong on its own, there's a 1 year limited warranty to cover it.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes and no. The Google Nest Wi-Fi costs more, but the added convenience of the Google Assistant built into its extender nodes makes it a useful utility for the smart home.

Should you buy it?

This is a good option if you are looking for a mesh network system that does not require an expensive investment.

Editor's recommendations




13 Dec
Blog

Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch M1 Review: The iPhone of Laptops

Apple MacBook Pro 13 m1 review 06

"With the M1 chip, the new 13-inch MacBook Pro is the most exciting Mac in years."

  • M1 is incredibly fast

  • Nice display, as always

  • Fantastic battery life

  • The speakers sound brilliant

  • Top notch keyboard and trackpad

  • Only two Thunderbolt ports

  • Touch Bar is still frustrating

Only Apple would dare to sell a laptop based entirely on its processor in 2020. The main audience is not exactly chip heads, who make purchasing decisions based on core count and power per watt.

And yet Apple has managed to spread a lot of hype around its new M1 chip and the familiar old Macs that run on it.

The design of the new MacBook Pro 13-inch itself has not changed at all with the M1 version. It's identical to the Intel-based model that came out earlier this year. But the M1 processor promises something that a new paint job could never do. It's ready to transform the 13-inch MacBook Pro from another laptop into something new. Something clearly Apple. And yes, finally something better.

performance

The 13-inch MacBook Pro is one of the first of a new generation of Macs that includes the new MacBook Air and the new Mac mini. They all run on the same M1 chip, although performance is different between the three systems. The performance of the professional should be somewhere between air and mini. At least that's the idea.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro was already the most powerful laptop of its size. The adapted 25-watt Intel chip that Apple uses already contains more juice than the typical 13-inch laptop. You can still buy this Intel model, but it starts at $ 1,799. Don't bother about it. It has two additional Thunderbolt ports, but Apple's own 8-core 5-nm ARM processor blows Intel out of the water in every way.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro is still very fast. The results published in benchmarks made me do a double take, regardless of whether it is Geekbench 5 or Cinebench R23. In terms of single-core performance, it is on par with the fastest Intel and AMD chips such as the Core i7-1165G7 in the Dell XPS 13. When it comes to multi-core performance, the M1 is awesome. With eight cores, it clearly outperforms the quad-core laptops against which it has a price. The only laptops with faster multi-core results in Geekbench 5 are large 45-watt laptops like the Dell XPS 17 or the Acer ConceptD 7 Ezel.

This also led to similar results in Cinebench R23. Single-core scores top the list, and multi-core scores are way ahead of the competition. But remember: the MacBook Air has the same M1 chip. Although there is no fan in a slightly thinner case, it is only 11% behind the MacBook Pro in this benchmark. There's only a $ 300 price difference between the Air and the Pro, but the difference in performance is smaller than it used to be.

Of course, these benchmarks have already been optimized for the M1. This does not apply to the vast majority of the apps available. However, this doesn't mean you won't necessarily notice the ones that aren't optimized, especially if your basic workflow consists of basic internet surfing and word processing.

The MacBook Pro isn't technically fanless, but I haven't heard the fans spin yet.

However, you will notice how this laptop is cooled. You'll notice it when you start a Zoom call and don't have to shout over the fan noise. Or maybe if you've hooked up a couple of 4K monitors and are multitasking without it getting warm at all. In contrast to the MacBook Air, the MacBook Pro is technically not fanless – it has a fan that can rotate if necessary. But I've never heard it spin. Not even. This is a far cry from the MacBooks of the past.

Good luck running a game like Fortnite on an Intel MacBook. Not only does it run poorly because of the lame built-in graphics, it turns your MacBook into a portable space heater. Your palms are sweaty, the keyboard feels hot, and the fans spin like they're trying to prevent a meltdown.

With the MacBook Pro 13-inch M1, the experience couldn't be more different. First of all, it easily reaches 60 frames per second (fps) at medium settings. More importantly, it does this without any slight heating. Even $ 2,000 worth of gaming laptops can't do that.

Of course, there are restrictions when playing. While these are built-in graphics, they are a huge leap ahead of what AMD or Intel can offer. Like the iPad or iPhone, the M1's built-in graphics ultimately turn the 13-inch MacBook Pro into a decent gaming machine.

Take all of this with a grain of salt. The performance you can expect from the M1 MacBook Pro depends a lot on the applications you need. So let's turn to the big elephant in the room: app compatibility.

App support

As mentioned earlier, the M1 chip marks a dramatic departure from Intel and traditional x86 systems. Such a drastic turnaround makes app compatibility a major hurdle. Apple has not shy away from making great demands on its solutions, but you are right to be skeptical. Look no further than Microsoft's app disaster with the original Surface Pro X for an example of how badly this type of transition can be handled.

The short answer is, almost any app or software you might need will run on M1 Macs. That doesn't mean it's going to go super fast, of course, but it's a promise you can make to the bank. So far, development support has not been in the charts.

It's no surprise that the MacBook Pro is insanely fast with Apple's own apps natively compiled for this new architecture. If you're running Safari, GarageBand, or even Final Cut Pro, you'll find that the MacBook Pro offers professional-quality performance. Would you like to produce music or edit videos on the side? No problem. The 13-inch MacBook Pro offers you protection, especially if you stick to Apple software. From what we've seen, even the MacBook Air can handle these workflows with no problem.

However, if you are a creative professional or hobbyist, you probably already have the applications you choose to work with – and they may not all come from Apple. Since the M1 is an ARM-based processor, it cannot run software written for x86. These are most of the applications you can download from the Internet. There are a handful of key developers who have already optimized their apps for the M1. Microsoft, for example, has already introduced its office suite. The same goes for Google Chrome. For many people, this covers the majority of their daily use.

There are some holes, however. Adobe's Creative Suite is the main example. Native versions of Premiere Pro, Photoshop, and Lightroom won't be available until 2021. They're coming, but for now the M1 needs an emulated version to run. But do not worry. Apple managed to make these apps work a lot better than you might think. Apple's solution is an app translation process called Rosetta 2 – and it's mind blowing how well it works.

Developers quickly update the software to be compatible with the M1.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro can export a video project to Premiere just as quickly as the average 13-inch x86-based laptop, including the Intel version of the MacBook Pro. That said, you can safely switch to the M1 MacBook Pro without worrying about performance in non-native apps.

Of course there will always be exceptions. For example, I tried downloading the Epic Games Launcher. It's extremely sluggish. Once you load a game, it's great – but the launcher and storefront itself are left behind. Legacy software tied to specific accessories or hardware might have similar problems.

It was also terribly slow coding video in Handbrake. It took five minutes and 28 seconds to complete a 4K video encoding for H.265. That is, until Handbrake released a new version (1.4) that was optimized for the M1. Now? This coding time is only two minutes and 38 seconds. That's 15% faster than the 10th generation Intel Core i5 MacBook Pro (13-inch) when performing the same coding task. It shows how quickly developers update software to ensure compliance.

Battery life

Of course, the advantages of the M1 processor go far beyond pure performance. The laptop starts up in a flash when you open the lid – and even connects quickly to external displays. The biggest quality of life improvement you will experience with it is battery life. The 13-inch MacBook Pro has never been a champion in battery life. It barely squeaked enough to be considered appropriate. But not with the M1.

This 13-inch MacBook Pro has the best battery life I've ever tested on a laptop, despite only having a 58-watt battery. The 13-inch MacBook Pro lasted well over 16 hours on a single charge when surfing the Internet lightly. That's a lot of screen-on time. It outperforms many of the best Windows laptops like the Dell XPS 13 or the HP Specter x360. On a lighter load like a local video loop, the MacBook Pro can last for more than 21 hours. Angry.

Nearly doubling battery life without changing battery size is a tremendous achievement.

The best part? Just because you see the low battery notification doesn't mean you are doomed. The 13-inch MacBook Pro can last for about an hour, especially if you turn the brightness down a bit.

ARM designed processors are known for their extreme efficiency. So I wasn't too surprised that the MacBook Pro excels in this area. Still, it's a tremendous feat to nearly double the battery life of previous models without changing the size of the battery.

design

A laptop is of course much more than just a processor. The display, keyboard, trackpad, speakers, port selection, portability, and battery life are all equally important. Not much has changed in that regard, but this is where the MacBook Pro still excels. Mainly.

The chassis is 0.61 inches thick and weighs exactly three pounds. When this design was first used in 2016, it broke new ground. Nowadays it is taken for granted. You can find thinner, lighter, and equally robust laptops like the Dell XPS 13, HP Specter x360, Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, and Microsoft Surface Laptop 3.

Still, it's a very mature laptop with no hint of flex or bend – and that includes the lid.

There is room for improvement, however. All I want is a MacBook Pro with some modern looking bezels. Laptop designers have made great strides in this department, but Apple seemed content with leaving things as they are. To make matters worse, the 720p webcam in that fat bezel isn't terribly good anyway.

I expect all of that to change in 2021 with the introduction of a 14-inch MacBook Pro to replace this one. If you buy a MacBook Pro today, it won't help you much.

This particular MacBook Pro only has two USB-C / Thunderbolt ports, both on the left. These handle DisplayPort, charging and data transfers at up to 40 Gbit / s. Personally, for reasons of convenience, I prefer a charging port on both sides of the laptop, for example on the Dell XPS 13.

The four Thunderbolt ports of the Intel version of the MacBook Pro are really the only advantage over the M1 version.

Display and speaker

There was never much room for complaint on the MacBook Pro screen. The 2,560 x 1,600 "Retina" display is sharp, bright and color-accurate. With the plethora of 4K screens available in laptops, the MacBook Pro is a few pixels short in comparison. Not that you would notice, of course. Just don't be surprised if Apple goes to great lengths to surpass 5K in pixel count over the next year. It can even use mini LED technology!

One caveat: I couldn't get our colorimeter software to work. It's a good example of niche software that just refused to run on the M1. However, I have confirmed with Apple that this is an identical panel to the previous model, with a maximum brightness of 485 nits, a contrast of 1470: 1 and 91% AdobeRGB color space.

With the M1 chip, Apple can do the audio processing itself.

The 16:10 aspect ratio has been used by Apple for many years, but is now finally being adopted by companies like Dell and HP. Apple has been right all along.

Speakers are another area where Apple has always been ahead. No competitors even come close. Apple has taken this new model further and made some improvements to the speaker tuning. With the M1 chip, Apple can do the audio processing itself and thus tinker with the stereo spreading and the equalizer. This was previously done with the T2 chip, but tighter controls mean more options to adjust.

The result is fantastic audio quality, especially when listening to music. Unlike most laptops, it is actually a joy to listen to. The speakers get loud without crackling or distorting, and there's even a ton of bass. It's a wonder considering how small these speakers are, but Apple's added tech takes them to the next level.

Keyboard and touchpad

I'm not going to spend too much time complimenting Apple on their keyboard repair. Gone are the days of unreliable and inconvenient butterfly keyboards. Apple's Magic Keyboard, which uses a more conventional scissor switch, was introduced in the 13-inch MacBook Pro earlier this year. It's still here and it's still awesome.

The same applies to the trackpad, which is particularly large and responsive. Force Touch technology means there is no physical mechanism under the glass – just a highly sensitive series of motors that simulate the sensation of movement.

In the meantime, I will continue to lament the missed opportunity the Touch Bar offers. I almost never use it. And when I do this e.g. B. to adjust the volume or the screen brightness, this is annoying. I just hope Apple now has improved tools for better implementation in the future, but at the moment it doesn't matter much.

Our opinion

The $ 1,299 MacBook Pro 13-inch M1 is a fresh start for the Mac. The physical design will eventually catch up, but right now we have the start of a season for the Mac where it will be difficult to compete with.

Are there alternatives?

The closest competitor is the Dell XPS 13. I prefer the slim design of the Dell laptop as well as the option for a 4K model. However, the MacBook Pro 13-inch M1 is now a more powerful laptop and outperforms battery life.

If you don't need the added power of the Pro, then the MacBook Air should be considered. It uses a slightly underperforming version of the M1, but it only starts at $ 999 (or $ 899 with student discounts).

How long it will take?

The MacBook Pro 13-inch M1 is based on Apple's new system architecture and is a safe purchase. It will be supported for many years. That being said, a major redesign of the MacBook Pro is slated to hit the market in 2021, though it may be a while before we hear more.

All Apple MacBooks come with a standard one-year warranty. Of course, you can get Apple's great AppleCare + service for up to three years, although it comes at an additional cost.

Should you buy it?

Absolutely. More than any other MacBook Pro in the past few years, Apple has finally created one that has an undeniable advantage over its competitors.

Editor's recommendations




04 Dec
Blog

Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera Review: Security at a Lower Cost

Arlo Pro 4 headlight camera

"The Arlo Pro 4 dispenses with the hub and delivers the same great performance as its predecessor at a lower startup cost."

  • Sharp looking footage

  • Additional details with colored night vision

  • No hub is required for setup

  • Smart security with Arlo Smart Service

  • The technical data are similar to those of the predecessor

  • Headlights required for color night vision

Security camera maker Arlo may have been quiet in the first six months of 2020, but the company was certainly busy in the second half of the year. After the introduction of the new Essential series of cameras, the Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight camera saved the best for last. This model replaces the more expensive Arlo Pro 3, which is noteworthy for realizing what it means to be the best camera out there.

Whenever a device makes a numerical leap, there is an expectation that it will propel things forward in a dramatic way. Let's find out if this is the case with the Arlo Pro 4 spotlight camera.

Drop the hub

There's no denying the fact that the Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera spec sheet is drooling, but what is often overlooked is how the system works. What's special about this camera compared to its predecessor is that it digs up the hub – so it's now a truly wireless proposition.

Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight camera bodyJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

Arlo Pro 3 required users to set up the Arlo SmartHub base station in order for it to work. Nothing is more annoying than having to connect another hub or bridge to your network. In most cases, they will need to be connected directly to your home WiFi router. This gets worse when the ethernet connections are scarce. It also means something that has to be plugged into a socket – also in short supply in my apartment.

That's why I'm thrilled that the Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight camera is now connected directly to my router. Therefore, it is easier to set up. For smaller rooms like my apartment, this direct Wi-Fi implementation works because everything is in close proximity to the router. I would imagine, however, that the SmartHub would be a benefit for larger households, as it manages the connection much better – while also extending battery life.

The camera performance of the Arlo Pro 4 is just as good as before.

Speaking of the battery, the Arlo Pro 4 has a removable battery that is designed to last for six months of juice. Since placing it in a high-traffic area, the battery life has dropped an average of 3% every day. That won't get me anywhere near that six month range, of course, but it will be enough to take a full month before a top-up is required. It comes with a magnetic charging cable that can be used to charge it at the same time.

Predictably sharp looking video

When we transitioned from Arlo Pro 2 to Pro 3, the camera's resolution increased dramatically from 1080p to 2K (2560 x 1440). Instead of doing another upgrade, the Arlo Pro 4's camera stays at 2K resolution. It's not bad, but it would have been nice to maybe jump to 4K – much like the ultra security cameras. On the other hand, this distinguishes the two camera lines.

The rest of the technical data shows that it is essentially the same hardware as before: a 4-megapixel sensor-inch camera sensor with a wide field of view of 160 degrees. This is impressive coverage, but most effective when strategically placed in corners. The functions are rounded off by HDR, automatic track and zoom, powerful infrared LEDs with blocking filters and a 12x digital zoom. This is no different from the Arlo Pro 3, which is surprising.

Despite the lack of changes, the Arlo Pro 4's camera performance is just as great as it was before – it creates crisp clips with lots of detail, sharpness, and accurate-looking colors. When there is ample light, the dynamic range is handled well throughout the scene to achieve even exposure. Highlights don't look exaggerated, which preserves details that might otherwise be lost. In poor lighting conditions, however, artifact elements tend to appear in shadow. It's not terrible, but it does soften the quality a little.

Arlo Pro 4 headlight cameraJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

When it's night I guess the night vision kicks in color. In order for this to happen the spotlight is turned on to bring some light into the scene, which makes the colors stand out better. Now I should point out that the headlight will turn on whenever motion is detected, but I wish there was some way to force the camera to shoot in color in night vision without it being on. While there is an option to turn off the spotlight through the settings in the app, the default night vision in black and white is used by default.

Smarter security behind a subscription

You will immediately receive a free three-month trial of Arlo Smart – the company's leading security company. Without it, the Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight camera is limited to seven days of cloud recording at 1080p, versus 30 days of 2K footage. Another benefit of Arlo Smart is that it gives you advanced features such as parcel, people, animal, vehicle and smoke / CO2 alarm detection. Arlo Smart offers a smart security solution that can help prevent false positives, but all of which are behind a subscription.

But, you know what? The $ 3 monthly plan for a single camera is well worth the cost for those who simply want more security. It's hard enough to juggle all the notifications on your phone. So it's handy that the Arlo Pro 4 can intelligently tell the difference between a stranger walking into the frame and the passing cat from the neighborhood.

I also appreciate that you can set up a geofence to tell the camera when to turn on or off. This is especially useful if you are using the Arlo Pro 4 spotlight camera indoors as you can set it to turn off at home. So you don't feel like you're being watched all the time.

Our opinion

In all fairness, I expected the Arlo Pro 4 spotlight camera to raise the bar. In reality, however, it shares many similarities with its predecessor. Still, I'm glad it didn't cost an arm or a leg to pick it up, which has made the Arlo Pro 3 a tougher consideration for those on a tighter budget. At $ 200 for just a single Arlo Pro 4 spotlight camera, this is a much smaller investment than the $ 500 startup cost of the Arlo Pro 3's base 2-kit system. The lower cost when combined with its direct Wi-Fi connectivity still makes it an attractive option for anyone who craves smarter security.

How long it will take?

Thanks to its weatherproof construction, it can withstand a temperature range of 4 ° F to 113 ° F. It is unlikely to fail. When this occurs, there is a one year limited warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.

Is there a better alternative?

The Arlo Essential XL is an ideal alternative if you want to save more, but still need a smart security camera to monitor your home. All you have to do is spend more than $ 150 on it, which will save you $ 50. The only downside is that it is limited to 1080p recording and doesn't offer HDR video.

Another comparable camera is the Ring Spotlight Camera, which benefits from Ring's extensive smart home ecosystem. If you're really looking for a bargain, check out the Wyze Cam Outdoor, which has local storage, sharp footage, and offline mode for $ 60.

Should you buy it?

Yes, despite the strong similarities with its predecessor.

Editor's recommendations




02 Dec
Blog

Hydrow Review – Total Body Home Happiness

Hydrow Review - Full Body Happiness At Home - Reviews, Rowing, Endurance, Indoor Rowing, Strength, Technique, Home Workouts, Full Body Workouts At Home, Staying Fit At Home, Hydrow

Full Disclosure: This won't compare the Hydrow home rowing system to a Concept 2 rowing machine, which most readers of Breaking Muscle are probably most familiar with. They are two completely different systems, and we'll be putting them both in a comparative summary before Christmas. This is a review of a standalone home exercise system, and not a complement to anything else. This means that I assessed how the Hydrow shapes up as a total package, assuming it would be the center of a home exercise program. I've been open about this, although I have to make a few confessions: I don't like bikes or treadmills because, as a cyclist and occasional runner, I prefer to do these things in the real world and not be restricted by the country or weather around me.

Rowing uses 84% ​​of your body's muscles, far more than most other aerobic exercise.

Eric Stevens, broken muscle

And I think the best bang for your buck is always going to get as close as possible to a full body solution. Rowing is just the thing in every way. In all fairness, most of us will never have a boat or skull, or access to an appropriate waterway, let alone the necessary skill or ability to maneuver one on our own. While you don't need a lot of skill or instruction to ride a bike or walk, rowing is an acquired skill that also adds to its appeal.

At a glance
product Hydrow rowing machine
benefits Sleek design, a strong user experience, and an impressive group of teachers make it fun, challenging, and engaging. The quiet electromagnetic resistance mechanism ensures even tension for a unique rowing experience indoors.
disadvantage It doesn't appeal to every budget and requires a membership card.

Great fitness technology comes at a price

The hydrow is the rudder's answer to peloton motorcycles, insofar as it is designed and where it fits in the industry. However, I have a lot of comments on the pricing of a Hydrow rowing machine (currently $ 1,995 with discounts) versus a Concept 2 (the Model D is $ 900 before shipping and tax) or a NordicTrack RW900 ($ 1,599 before Shipping) seen and taxes). It's true you can get cheaper indoor rowers, but Hydrow is one of the emerging hybrid technology creations that is taking the fitness world by storm, making it part of a new category of equipment. It's no surprise that the Hydrow comes with a 22-inch screen, electromagnetic resistance mechanism, and most importantly, networked software and infrastructure that supports perfectly coordinated row-along workouts with top-notch instructors on the water. It's chic design and high production values ​​for hardware, software, and content.

It goes without saying that the software that Hydrow supports is a tech boost in its own right and shouldn't be discounted as if you were signing up for a YouTube channel. It is a fully functional SaaS (Software as a Service) application that is scalable for a large audience. If the weight of the software is insufficient, the hardware itself is approximately 30 kg and measures 86 x 25 x 47 inches.

Hydrow Review - Full Body Happiness At Home - Reviews, Rowing, Endurance, Indoor Rowing, Strength, Technique, Home Workouts, Full Body Workouts At Home, Staying Fit At Home, Hydrow

The hydrow may be shiny, but it is also surprisingly firm; The aluminum and steel frame can accommodate a person weighing 375 pounds, while NordicTrack has a maximum of 250 pounds and a Peloton bike has a maximum of 297 pounds. Would it be nice if the hydrow hit the 500 pound mark of a Model D? Sure, but kudos to the Hydrow engineers for outperforming their direct competition.

Improve rowing tips

  1. Don't grip too tightly
  2. Ride your legs
  3. Go straight back
  4. Don't let your butt go alone
  5. Don't pull with your arms
  6. Keep your elbows relaxed
  7. Don't shrug
  8. Always sit up
  9. Don't bend your knees too soon
  10. Focus on steady movement

The Hydrow's 22-inch screen is clear and sharp, even in direct light. It swivels so you can still see the screen once you've settled down for floor exercises, and it has a great software interface. Again, some users have noticed the similarity to the Peloton UI, but honestly that's not a problem as most of the fitness apps these days are pretty close to each other, which is moving through screens, finding workouts, selecting instructors, and that Search concerns. And a good thing too, because it works.

If you know how to lift weights properly, you will know how to row.

Ellen Tomek, Olympic rower

It's also worth noting that Hydrow, the company, has raised $ 52 million in investment and the money is up there on the screen and in the design of the product. The user experience is unique and everything from the seat design to the feeling of resistance feels like a premium product. Your instructors are on the water, your pace and pace need to be synchronized, your rowing experience is enhanced by the graphics, and the controls are never hampered or superfluous. This is a well thought out product with few weaknesses.

Hydrow Review - Full Body Happiness At Home - Reviews, Rowing, Endurance, Indoor Rowing, Strength, Technique, Home Workouts, Full Body Workouts At Home, Staying Fit At Home, Hydrow

If there was one fear I had in getting involved with the Hydrow, it was the potential liabilities of long term maintenance. This is not a product that you can disassemble and oil and repair yourself. Time will tell how this affects users, but it's not uncommon to feel that pain of fear when you've invested heavily in something like this.

Home exercise gets better with help

If you are one of those people who are disciplined or advanced enough to do things on your own, the hydrow can be frustrating for you as it is best consumed as a guided experience. You can't ignore the screen or software and walk alone. Participating in the community isn't a must, but you get immersed in what other people are doing when you see their activity in rows with you or in a nice little feed that shows who finished a row and how they're doing have behaved. It's optional to share, but it works on a visceral level, engaging you, and making you feel like you are part of a group of fellow enthusiasts. You can filter the results by age and gender and this can be quite a motivating factor.

Hydrow Review - Full Body Happiness At Home - Reviews, Rowing, Endurance, Indoor Rowing, Strength, Technique, Home Workouts, Full Body Workouts At Home, Staying Fit At Home, Hydrow

The best part, however, are the instructors. You have real rowers, you have a skull or two and oars on a body of water with bridges and boats and a real landscape. In one training session, I saw that the instructor had to adjust after getting too close to the walls of a tunnel under a bridge. You will feel like you are part of an experience on the water even if you are as cynical as I am. However, what really impressed me was the fact that the intimacy of the class forces you to maintain good technique. Your instructor is right in front of you, a skilled rower, and you can't whirl around or mess your own shape unless you turn off the sound and close your eyes.

Each row is different and can be a Zen experience as well as a challenge. The emphasis on shape and consistency is a constant challenge even for the best rowers. If you've experienced rowing at a typical boxing gym without the following instructions, the Hydrow experience is a revelation that makes you feel as close to the water as possible. I'm sure this may be an exaggeration for real rowers, but I can only talk about how I felt like someone who hasn't rowed on the water but is now itchy to try it out sometime. I don't know if indoor bikes and treadmills offer the same level of immersion. I received the Hydrow experience as a reviewer on these sites and have become a believer.

Hydrow indoor rowing system
Weight 145 lbs
Dimensions 86 x 25 x 47 in
screen 22-inch display with 25-degree rotation in each direction
Connectivity Bluetooth connection, WLAN (10 Mbit / s recommended), Ethernet (optional) WLAN: 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac; Ethernet: 100 Mbit / s / RJ45
Electric

Standard 120 volt socket; 60 Hz; Power (max.): 210 W, 2A; Power (average): 35 W (0.44 A); Power (idle): 5 W (50 mA)
Pulling mechanism Electromagnetic resistance that is set 240 times per second and is attached to a handle made of polyester tape
Size limit 36 "stride length; 375 lbs weight
price $ 2,495 but expect lots of vacation deals by logging into Hydrow's shop. Expect to be more than $ 30 a month for membership
02 Dec
Blog

Hydrow Review – Total Body Home Happiness

Hydrow Review - Full Body Happiness At Home - Reviews, Rowing, Endurance, Indoor Rowing, Strength, Technique, Home Workouts, Full Body Workouts At Home, Staying Fit At Home, Hydrow

Full Disclosure: This won't compare the Hydrow home rowing system to a Concept 2 rowing machine, which most readers of Breaking Muscle are probably most familiar with. They are two completely different systems, and we'll be putting them both in a comparative summary before Christmas. This is a review of a standalone home exercise system, and not a complement to anything else. This means that I assessed how the Hydrow shapes up as a total package, assuming it would be the center of a home exercise program. I've been open about this, although I have to make a few confessions: I don't like bikes or treadmills because, as a cyclist and occasional runner, I prefer to do these things in the real world and not be restricted by the country or weather around me.

Rowing uses 84% ​​of your body's muscles, far more than most other aerobic exercise.

Eric Stevens, broken muscle

And I think the best bang for your buck is always going to get as close as possible to a full body solution. Rowing is just the thing in every way. In all fairness, most of us will never have a boat or skull, or access to an appropriate waterway, let alone the necessary skill or ability to maneuver one on our own. While you don't need a lot of skill or instruction to ride a bike or walk, rowing is an acquired skill that also adds to its appeal.

At a glance
product Hydrow rowing machine
benefits Sleek design, a strong user experience, and an impressive group of teachers make it fun, challenging, and engaging. The quiet electromagnetic resistance mechanism ensures even tension for a unique rowing experience indoors.
disadvantage It doesn't appeal to every budget and requires a membership card.

Great fitness technology comes at a price

The hydrow is the rudder's answer to peloton motorcycles, insofar as it is designed and where it fits in the industry. However, I have a lot of comments on the pricing of a Hydrow rowing machine (currently $ 1,995 with discounts) versus a Concept 2 (the Model D is $ 900 before shipping and tax) or a NordicTrack RW900 ($ 1,599 before Shipping) seen and taxes). It's true you can get cheaper indoor rowers, but Hydrow is one of the emerging hybrid technology creations that is taking the fitness world by storm, making it part of a new category of equipment. It's no surprise that the Hydrow comes with a 22-inch screen, electromagnetic resistance mechanism, and most importantly, networked software and infrastructure that supports perfectly coordinated row-along workouts with top-notch instructors on the water. It's chic design and high production values ​​for hardware, software, and content.

It goes without saying that the software that Hydrow supports is a tech boost in its own right and shouldn't be discounted as if you were signing up for a YouTube channel. It is a fully functional SaaS (Software as a Service) application that is scalable for a large audience. If the weight of the software is insufficient, the hardware itself is approximately 30 kg and measures 86 x 25 x 47 inches.

Hydrow Review - Full Body Happiness At Home - Reviews, Rowing, Endurance, Indoor Rowing, Strength, Technique, Home Workouts, Full Body Workouts At Home, Staying Fit At Home, Hydrow

The hydrow may be shiny, but it is also surprisingly firm; The aluminum and steel frame can accommodate a person weighing 375 pounds, while NordicTrack has a maximum of 250 pounds and a Peloton bike has a maximum of 297 pounds. Would it be nice if the hydrow hit the 500 pound mark of a Model D? Sure, but kudos to the Hydrow engineers for outperforming their direct competition.

Improve rowing tips

  1. Don't grip too tightly
  2. Ride your legs
  3. Go straight back
  4. Don't let your butt go alone
  5. Don't pull with your arms
  6. Keep your elbows relaxed
  7. Don't shrug
  8. Always sit up
  9. Don't bend your knees too soon
  10. Focus on steady movement

The Hydrow's 22-inch screen is clear and sharp, even in direct light. It swivels so you can still see the screen once you've settled down for floor exercises, and it has a great software interface. Again, some users have noticed the similarity to the Peloton UI, but honestly that's not a problem as most of the fitness apps these days are pretty close to each other, which is moving through screens, finding workouts, selecting instructors, and that Search concerns. And a good thing too, because it works.

If you know how to lift weights properly, you will know how to row.

Ellen Tomek, Olympic rower

It's also worth noting that Hydrow, the company, has raised $ 52 million in investment and the money is up there on the screen and in the design of the product. The user experience is unique and everything from the seat design to the feeling of resistance feels like a premium product. Your instructors are on the water, your pace and pace need to be synchronized, your rowing experience is enhanced by the graphics, and the controls are never hampered or superfluous. This is a well thought out product with few weaknesses.

Hydrow Review - Full Body Happiness At Home - Reviews, Rowing, Endurance, Indoor Rowing, Strength, Technique, Home Workouts, Full Body Workouts At Home, Staying Fit At Home, Hydrow

If there was one fear I had in getting involved with the Hydrow, it was the potential liabilities of long term maintenance. This is not a product that you can disassemble and oil and repair yourself. Time will tell how this affects users, but it's not uncommon to feel that pain of fear when you've invested heavily in something like this.

Home exercise gets better with help

If you are one of those people who are disciplined or advanced enough to do things on your own, the hydrow can be frustrating for you as it is best consumed as a guided experience. You can't ignore the screen or software and walk alone. Participating in the community isn't a must, but you get immersed in what other people are doing when you see their activity in rows with you or in a nice little feed that shows who finished a row and how they're doing have behaved. It's optional to share, but it works on a visceral level, engaging you, and making you feel like you are part of a group of fellow enthusiasts. You can filter the results by age and gender and this can be quite a motivating factor.

Hydrow Review - Full Body Happiness At Home - Reviews, Rowing, Endurance, Indoor Rowing, Strength, Technique, Home Workouts, Full Body Workouts At Home, Staying Fit At Home, Hydrow

The best part, however, are the instructors. You have real rowers, you have a skull or two and oars on a body of water with bridges and boats and a real landscape. In one training session, I saw that the instructor had to adjust after getting too close to the walls of a tunnel under a bridge. You will feel like you are part of an experience on the water even if you are as cynical as I am. However, what really impressed me was the fact that the intimacy of the class forces you to maintain good technique. Your instructor is right in front of you, a skilled rower, and you can't whirl around or mess your own shape unless you turn off the sound and close your eyes.

Each row is different and can be a Zen experience as well as a challenge. The emphasis on shape and consistency is a constant challenge even for the best rowers. If you've experienced rowing at a typical boxing gym without the following instructions, the Hydrow experience is a revelation that makes you feel as close to the water as possible. I'm sure this may be an exaggeration for real rowers, but I can only talk about how I felt like someone who hasn't rowed on the water but is now itchy to try it out sometime. I don't know if indoor bikes and treadmills offer the same level of immersion. I received the Hydrow experience as a reviewer on these sites and have become a believer.

Hydrow indoor rowing system
Weight 145 lbs
Dimensions 86 x 25 x 47 in
screen 22-inch display with 25-degree rotation in each direction
Connectivity Bluetooth connection, WLAN (10 Mbit / s recommended), Ethernet (optional) WLAN: 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac; Ethernet: 100 Mbit / s / RJ45
Electric

Standard 120 volt socket; 60 Hz; Power (max.): 210 W, 2A; Power (average): 35 W (0.44 A); Power (idle): 5 W (50 mA)
Pulling mechanism Electromagnetic resistance that is set 240 times per second and is attached to a handle made of polyester tape
Size limit 36 "stride length; 375 lbs weight
price $ 2,495 but expect lots of vacation deals by logging into Hydrow's shop. Expect to be more than $ 30 a month for membership
01 Dec
Blog

World of Warcraft: Shadowlands Review: MMO Identity Crisis

World of Warcraft Shadowlands review presented wow

World of Warcraft: Shadowlands Review: Even in death, WoW cannot find itself

"World of Warcraft: Shadowlands gets lost in trying to give players more choice than ever before and ultimately forgets to replenish the rewards machine needed to keep customers invested."

  • Gorgeous graphics

  • Fast leveling

  • Rich storyline for fans old and new

  • Progress is difficult to identify

  • The fight has no effect

  • Little motivation to play beyond level 60

In 2008, World of Warcraft was at its peak. Over 11 million people were ready to face the recurring threat posed by the Lich King – the corrupt paladin Arthas Menethil who became the standout character of the franchise's RTS (real-time strategy) days. But once the dust settled, attendance numbers dropped to a point where Blizzard wouldn't say how many were left. After Classic's boom and record orders for an expansion that promises to further explore the history of the Lich King, nostalgia clearly reigns supreme over Blizzard's greatest title. Now that we can explore the veil between life and death in Shadowlands, how long will we stay?

For many, World of Warcraft: Shadowlands actually kicked off a month before its release when the long-running level grind was reworked into a far less demanding sprint. The changes provided a refreshingly quick way for returning veterans to catch up in time for the expansion. The 6- to 10-hour experience leveling Shadowlands ultimately highlighted an important change in direction that Blizzard may have gone a little too far. It's not that there's too much or too little to get into – it's just difficult to find a reason to do anything at all.

For years, players have dealt with World of Warcraft in a variety of ways. PvE, PvP, Pokemon-like mount and creature collecting, competitive hunting and the reputation of a grinding faction for cosmetic rewards were a given. Virtually none of that has changed in Shadowlands. Not that it really was necessary. Aside from the introduction of Torghast, a Rougelit dungeon experience introduced after the first level grind, there is surprisingly little else to separate the last week from World of Warcraft and the last eight years.

There is a heaven and a hell for everyone

At the top of every new MMO expansion is a multitude of new zones to level up in. After playing the protagonist card to break out of Warcraft's version of eternal damnation, the capital city of Oribos is transformed directly from a PS1 into a glorified level-select-hub-era platformer, which successively opens storylines of the alliances about Bastion, Maldraxxus, Ardenweald and Revendreth . The style and tone of each zone differ drastically to suit the tastes of nearly everyone, but stray too far from the boundaries of a zone's questline, and it's easy to lose motivation, the actual mandatory action leading up to theirs to hold out the current degree.

The presence of side quests in the first playthrough suggests that an element of freedom is burned into the level experience, just like it is on the way to level 50. It is designed so that players can focus on a zone that they enjoy. But the truth is that it's as linear as possible. The Shadowlands campaign closes all major endgame content behind the intertwined lore of its zones. Regardless of what it looks like at first, the leveling experience isn't fluid here, which is strange considering how much blind freedom is imposed on the player after reaching the cap.

WoW Shadowlands The Maw

The real lack of direction begins at the end of the campaign quest line. Once players have gone through the history of each zone, they will need to choose which alliances to stick with. Aside from the unique new skills or two each thrown on the hotbar, there is virtually no crucial context in which to set out why players need to pick just one or what real difference it makes in daily life for the next year or two will mean Shadowlands is there for.

After making an uninformed decision, players follow the story of their chosen covenant until they are introduced into a litany of new content. There's Torhgast's roguelite tower, world quests, various currencies, the commanding desk's returning (but mechanically optimized) idle missions, and about five different reputation shops. There's a little bit of work to do at once.

Every feature is quickly thrown at the players. It's not that there is a lack of content, but why you want to indulge in something is never really clear. Without the rewards clearly on the table, it is difficult to get the motivation to run one piece of content on top of another – or none at all. Instead of searching through menus and vendors for motivation, I was often forced to turn the game off completely and start one that clearly shows its rewards.

WoW Shadowlands Bastion

Torghast, which is home to dozens of floors that can be explored with random modifiers and buffs, was a major focus of pre-release marketing for the expansion. I still see ads for it now. But after going through a small part of it I'm still not sure why I'm doing it exactly. As with many recent content catalogs, the reasons for its existence are painfully unclear.

An unnecessary fork in the road

After finally clearing my log of campaign quests for my first character, I was completely lost as to what to do next. I'm used to MMOs going all-in on the PvE aspect. The idea that the real fun begins at the maximum level is still a staple of the genre for most. There was always a lot to do in World of Warcarft other than hunting equipment for dungeons and raids. Given the need to fight your way to the max to experience it, one would think the path to continue this adventure would be obvious. Virtually everything in Shadowlands seems to be categorized as optional content, and it's never really clear what to focus on, why, or even how.

With no focus, the entire trip feels like an afterthought.

Had it not been for the updated items I received for later completing the campaign quests, I would not have had the equipment needed to immerse myself in the plethora of dungeons that were unceremoniously unlocked after reaching the cap. At no point did the game acknowledge that she existed, let alone that I have a compelling reason to queue for her. It's equipment. Players want to run them for equipment. The story is apparently irrelevant.

WoW Shadowlands Torghast

Almost all content currently available feels like it was on an assumed list of "optional content" that betrays a lack of orientation that Shadowlands has tried to disguise as freedom. If Blizzard really wanted the game to feel more open-minded, it could have been an important consideration to hide the distraction of side quests on a first pass and focus the campaign on properly introducing the expansion's activities in the late game. After all, they are already behind the plot. With no focus, the entire trip feels like an afterthought.

Our opinion

As it stands, Shadowlands feels a little lost in translation. Blizzard spent most of last year saying how it wanted its juggernaut MMO to feel more like an RPG again – where decisions are important and rewarding and plentiful. Oddly enough, Shadowlands feels more deprived of this than ever and becomes a kind of jumbled experience that sits awkwardly between an open-world "sandbox" MMO and a more linear "theme park".

It's not that there's too much to do, but there's a worrying lack of reason to really get into it. Players who fail to figure out what to do or how to do it run the risk of being left behind very quickly. Without the motivation to push the fans forward, in retrospect it won't be easy to get back on the track that they find. Torghast feels like the only piece of innovation this time around, but those who don't care will feel incomplete.

Is there a better alternative out there?

Breaking out is difficult for fans who have already invested in World of Warcraft. But for those who aren't, I strongly believe Final Fantasy XIV is the better overall MMO experience.

How long it will take?

About two years. This is the average lifespan of a World of Warcraft expansion. Fans have to pay a pretty expensive monthly fee that doesn't always equate to brand new content.

Should you buy it?

No. Even for expired World of Warcraft players looking for a reason to be drafted again, I don't recommend this as a reason to try. There's not enough meat on the bone to make fans ponder why they left in the first place.

Editor's recommendations




30 Nov
Blog

Immortals Fenyx Rising Review: Sleeper Hit of 2020

Immortal Fenyx Rising

"Immortals Fenyx Rising brings together the best and worst Ubisoft games with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild."

  • Beautiful design

  • Excellent fight and puzzles

  • Great script

  • Funny characters

  • Identical in structure to Breath of the Wild

  • Tiring marking system

Immortal Fenyx Rising may not be a perfect fit with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild organic exploration, but it more than makes up for its shortcomings with beautiful design, a witty script, and an excellent fight.

This is Ubisoft's third major open world game in two months. It's the only thing that isn't part of an established franchise, but it doesn't mean it's worth less of your time.

Its structure is all breath of the wild

Earlier this year, a gacha game (which employs a mechanic for capsule toy machines) developed by miHoYo came onto the stage. Called Genshin Impact, it was instantly compared to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which it mimics very closely. Immortal Fenyx Rising is even more of a clone of this popular game than Genshin Impact.

Immortal Fenyx Rising Flying

You play as Fenyx, a customizable ancient Greek soldier who wakes up after being shipwrecked on a small island. You won't be able to access the rest of the map until you've completed a few goals that will ultimately give you a tool for sliding off the peninsula. Once you get to the mainland, you will have to visit four powerful deities to gain their power and defeat the enemy in the center of the map. That enemy is Thypon, whom you can face from the moment you arrive if you wish.

Immortal Fenyx Rising more than makes up for its shortcomings with beautiful design, witty script, and excellent combat.

If you swap Link for Fenyx and Ganon for Tyhpon, it's a nearly identical structure to Breath of the Wild. All over the world there are hidden puzzles to be solved that you traverse with your glider. You also have the option of climbing anything – as long as you have the stamina. There are resources to collect, new armor and weapons to wield, and numerous vaults to explore that contain even more puzzles that will reward you with an item that can be used to improve Fenyx's skills.

Immortal Fenyx Rising Open World

The world will have to get used to games that borrow the formula for Breath of the Wild. It's the new Metroidvania, and much like these games, its design is too appealing to just leave behind. The good news is that immortals capture almost the same magic, except for one glaring flaw.

The exploration is more based on checklists

Breath of the Wild had an incredibly natural discovery. As a link, players made their way from one divine animal to the next and were pulled away from their unique path when their shrine sensor beeped or a certain topography was detected.

Immortal Fenyx Rising Puzzle

It meant that you always felt like you were pushing forward, even as you naturally doubled back. Immortals don't have that.

In the classic Ubisoft way, Fenyx can mark certain elements on the map, similar to what the player could do in Assassin's Creed Origins and Assassin's Creed Odyssey. This was one of my least favorite aspects of these games, and I was so grateful when they removed it in Assassin's Creed Valhalla.

You can be in place for minutes marking endless puzzles or resources and you will never get done. Granted, you could do without this ability at all, which I ended up doing, and you're going to run into something interesting anyway. But Immortals is much more focused on improving Fenyx and improving their skills. The more I refused to use the tagging system, the more I realized that the game was explicitly designed for that.

Hence, it rarely feels like you're pushing your search forward, and more like flipping from one marker to the next, even when you refuse to dig into the system.

Immortal Fenyx Rising Card

While Link acquires all of his skills within the first few hours, Fenyx gradually acquires them as the game progresses. Just climb a cliff? You have to unlock it, and the traverse feels incredibly disjointed without some of these key elements. This can be remedied by obtaining resources fast enough to upgrade Fenyx. However, this is just another barrier to organic discovery.

It's a difference from Breath of the Wild, which feels small on the surface, but changes the feel of the game a lot from moment to moment. Thankfully, the game's map is much smaller than other Ubisoft open-world titles, and the list of activities doesn't feel nearly as bloated.

Here's what immortals do differently

I'm happy to report that the rest of the variations from Breath of the Wild are fantastic, and that starts with writing. While Link & # 39; s adventure can feel a little empty and dry, Immortals is bursting with character and humor.

Immortal Fenyx Rising Zeus and Prometheus

The game is narrated by Zeus and Prometheus, two godbrothers who play off each other with jokes and jokes that kept me laughing throughout the game. Mixed in with their comedy is a refreshing glimpse into the stories of Greek mythology.

It creates a healthy balance that extends to the nature of the jokes themselves. Writing feels a lot like classic episodes from The Simpsons which were fun when I was a kid, but I only appreciated the full scope as an adult. A lot of elements of the story feel that way, with a really dark and smoky humor that is masterfully masked by snappy innuendos.

Immortal Fenyx Rising Hermes

Normally I would toss a podcast to the background when exploring an endless open world game like this, but the interjections of Zeus and Prometheus were so entertaining as Fenyx was moving around the map that I ultimately passed up on doing so do to pay attention to their narration. Additional characters, like the gods you encounter along the way, including Hermes, who is often by your side, also add to the brevity and texture of the world.

While Link & # 39; s adventure can feel a little empty and dry, Immortals is bursting with character and humor.

One aspect that Immortals enhance through Breath of the Wild is combat. Link wasn't a sucker in his game, but Fenyx is on another level with their weapons and skills. With a sword for light attacks, an ax for heavy attacks and a bow for ranged attacks, it is always fun to face the various mythological creatures, especially as you develop your skills and become more powerful. Monsters that prove difficult early on can be easily pushed aside later in the game, with new beasts taking their place at the top of the food chain.

Immortal Fenyx Rising Minotaur

One of the key elements of Breath of the Wild was its shrines, and while the discovery of the vaults in immortals isn't as robust, the puzzles and combat challenges contained therein are.

You can also find yourself on a scale unmatched by anything in Breath of the Wild, especially those that revolve around main quests that have multiple levels and objectives and that give the player a reason to even after receiving the bolt from a vault to return Zeus' lightning at the end.

The various mythical creatures are always fun to face, especially as you develop your skills and become more powerful.

The need to unlock skills can be annoying as I sometimes wonder if a hidden chest is only available when Fenyx gains a new power, or if I haven't solved the puzzle yet. This problem subsides as the game progresses as you may have all the tools at your disposal but you may have a bit of a bad taste in your mouth for the first few hours.

Immortal Fenyx Rising Vaults

Our opinion

Immortal Fenyx Rising brings both the best and the worst aspects of Ubisoft open world games into the DNA of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. While the flaws can occasionally interfere with enjoyment, the game is so extensive and colorful that the more I played, the more forgiving of these flaws the more I played. Ubisoft has a fantastic new franchise in their hands that feels sonically unique and will undoubtedly get better with future installments.

Is there a better alternative?

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild still has one of the best-realized open worlds, and Assassin's Creed Valhalla has a more refined battle.

How long it will take?

Simply following the story content results in around 30 hours of playtime, with playtime doubling to around 60 hours if a healthy portion of the side content is included and even more balloons are created for completers.

Should you buy it?

Yes. It's a colorful, charming open-world game, although players who have already grabbed Watch Dogs: Legion and Assassin's Creed Valhalla could understandably be burned out on the formula by this point.

Editor's recommendations




30 Nov
Blog

Empire of Sin Review: Crime Pays in Clever Strategy Game

Kingdom of sin

Empire of Sin Review: Crime pays off in a clever strategy game from the era of the prohibition

"Empire of Sin is a clever mob management game with a strong environment but some notable technical problems."

  • Updating setting

  • Clever management system

  • Strong role play elements

  • Missing options for battle speed

  • Failure and instability

The pairing of the 1920s prohibition story of Empire of Sin in the left panel with high-level strategy game tactics works so well that it's almost a surprise nobody thought of it before. It turns out that the world of bootlegging fits perfectly into a genre that is about managing operations and carefully planning every move. Who would have thought that?

The creative strategy game is a kind of wild passion project for Romero Games, an indie studio run by the married duo John and Brenda Romero. According to John Romero, the inventor of Doom, game director Brenda Romero put the idea into practice for over 20 years, and those two decades of conspiracy are evident in the end result. The game is as carefully planned as its criminal operations.

Despite its rough edges and the desperate need for battle speed options, Empire of Sin is a confident history lesson from the time of the prohibition that brings together some of the best elements of RPGs, as well as strategy and tactical games, to create a memorable mob management game. Create experience.

The roaring 20s

Empire of Sin is set in an alternate version of 1920s Chicago, in which the real world’s greatest gangsters of the time have gathered in one place to battle for supremacy. It's almost like Super Smash Bros. for jazz-era nerds when familiar faces like Al Capone and Stephanie St. Clair are embroiled in a city-wide turf war. The goal of each playthrough is to be the last gangster to stand when the smoke from the gun goes away by executing each rival.

This setting is rarely used in the video game world, and it's instantly enjoyable to dive into here. The bars are full of people dancing, jazz music is played during the brawls, and there is enough cigar smoke to suffocate a horse. It's not shy to offer a romanticized portrait of the era, but it doesn't sacrifice its dedication to historical detail to do so. At a time when video game worlds are getting bigger and fancier, there's something refreshing to stroll through the humble streets of Chicago.

The historical backdrop is not only used for aesthetic staging. While the 1920s presented gameplay challenges for a flashy action game, Empire of Sin took advantage of the slower pace of the era. At its core, the game is the most rampant city management game in the world. Players set up various rackets such as speakeasies and casinos and must carefully monitor them. Increasing the word of mouth of a brothel can make more money, but it can just as easily encourage a police raid. This constant balancing act makes building an empire a series of decisions that will have a real impact on any playthrough.

Thanks to simple menus, it's surprisingly easy to keep track of everything that's happening. This is a godsend for a complex game of its kind that could easily overwhelm players with options. I always knew exactly how to build a gang trade, bribe the Chicago Police Department, or change the alcohol my bars serve.

This constant balancing act makes building an empire a series of decisions that will have a real impact on any playthrough.

The game does an excellent job of rewarding efficient planning and money management. I felt like a true mob mastermind when a rival gang showed up at a high quality casino, only to be wiped out by the increased security I had invested in. Moments like this are usually reserved for big strategy games that deal with giant wars, like publisher Paradox Interactive's 2020 hit Crusader Kings III, but that style of play translates perfectly into the shabby intimacy of brawls and personal vendettes.

Mob hits

The management aspect is only part of the game's DNA. Combat follows a tactical approach to play à la XCOM and places mob members on a grid in turn-based shootouts. Each recruit receives two actions per turn that allow them to move, shoot, use an item, or perform a special ability.

The known system works on two different levels. For one, this reinforces the notion that the player is a mob leader who literally has the say by directing each of his subordinates. It also resists the urge to turn the 1920s into a modern day action movie by keeping the brawls a little slower and sloppier, making it feel truer to the clumsy guns of the time.

Kingdom of sin

This deliberate pace doesn't come at the expense of fun. There are still plenty of tricks for players to play around with as each recruit has their own skill tree and weapon skills. Some characters can offer defense by attracting shots, while others can throw axes at enemies. These quirks keep the fights fresh as players work to assemble a perfect crew of minions to cover up each other's weaknesses.

While the tactical element goes well with the theme, there is one major problem: there is no way to automate the fight or fast-forward it. Every time a player enters the fight, they must see it through to the end, unless they choose to escape via exit points. This results in longer fights when characters begin to miss out on direct shots.

At some point I stopped declaring war on rivals just to avoid getting caught up in a wave of protracted grunt fights.

This isn't a huge issue with missions and raids on enemy safes, but it does become a major pain point when gang wars break out. While engaged in major brawls, enemies attack a player's clubs at random. Players have to go through each fight manually and control the low-level security guards who don't possess any of the fun skills and perks that the right crew members have. In some cases I have been involved in up to seven indistinguishable encounters in rapid succession. At some point I stopped declaring war on rivals just to avoid getting caught up in a wave of protracted grunt fights.

It doesn't help that the game has some rough edges that weigh the heaviest in the fight. There are plenty of bugs, like the game getting stuck in the middle of a character move, crew members suddenly disappearing, or allies sliding across the battlefield as a living corpse. Most of these issues seem fixable (and many will hopefully be fixed in the game's first PC patch), but the current instabilities make for a somewhat unpredictable experience that can lead to unintended comedy or frustration.

Know your role

A game of this nature lives and dies because of its role-playing potential, and that is one aspect that puts Empire of Sin to shame. Playing through feels different as each gangster has their own set of skills, perks, and core storylines. Although the overall objective and side quests remain the same each time, the way a player approaches them can be determined by their style of play on a given run.

Kingdom of sin

On my first try, I chose Angelo Genna and played as brazenly as possible. I made enemies with everyone I crossed with and ended up being gunned down in a high-spirited attack on a safehouse. My next playthrough was far more successful as I used Stephanie St. Clair's persuasive skills to charm allies and enemies alike to lead my battles for me. In a complete change of pace, I turned Daniel McKee Jackson into a political sucker who refused to say no to a one-way deal a rival would make on his way to becoming mayor of Chicago. All three runs felt unique and satisfying in their own way, which made me want to try more gangsters.

A game of this nature lives and dies because of its role-playing potential, and that is one aspect that puts Empire of Sin to shame.

The RPG aspect is supported by some light but effective dialog trees and skill checks. Statistics like persuasion and intimidation come into play and can completely change the outcome of missions. In a quest I was assigned to take out a rival's group. Instead of killing his lackeys, I convinced everyone to join my cause and left them defenseless. Such story beats pay off for players who pursue a consistent vision of their gang leader.

The crew members have their own narrative depth as each has a back story and traits that shape their personality. On my successful run with Stephanie St. Clair, I developed a real bond with my self-proclaimed right-wing man, Grover Monks, a former carnival worker fearful of explosions after he accidentally blew up a concession booth as a kid. This level of detail makes each recruit feel like a consummate character playing a role in the Empire.

Much of the fun of Empire of Sin depends on one's own imagination and the willingness of the individual player to play the role of a gangster. The game offers a wealth of systems and details that make the role-playing game an inviting perspective. When all the genre pieces come together it's a fascinating historical fantasy that is easy to get lost in.

Our opinion

Empire of Sin offers a clever experience that fuses the genre and perfectly blends the world of 1920s organized crime with strategy game. Mistakes and a lack of combat speed or automation options can stall the pace, but it does an excellent job of putting the player in the mindset of a mob mastermind (or a fool at gunpoint) with streamlined speakeasy management.

Is there a better alternative?

Crusader Kings 3 by publisher Paradox Interactive is the best strategy game right now, but Empire of Sin is a little less intimidating.

How long it will take?

A successful run can take up to 10 hours, and there are 14 characters to choose from, each with their own story. Players can adjust the number of neighborhoods or bands present to extend or shorten the length of a playthrough.

Should you buy it?

Yes. It's a unique twist on the genre with a fun American Crime History 101.

Editor's recommendations




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