Apple admitted in an email to participants in a scientific study in the USA that it had collected more information than originally stated. With the Apple Hearing Study, which is running in cooperation with the University of Michigan School of Public Health, the group wants to determine the reasons for possible hearing damage in the population. IPhones and Apple Watch devices are used on which Apple’s research app runs.
Ambient volume, heart rate, sports The app collects “certain information”, according to Apple, including the volume of ambient noise or headphones, but also the heart rate and sports data, if study participants use Apple’s fitness app. Apple informed the participants about this; they had to explicitly consent to the data collection. However, data up to a month old also ended up on Apple’s research servers.
This was not the intention, Apple now writes. “We recently learned that due to a bug after enrolling in the study, up to 30 days of historical data for these authorized data types was inadvertently collected.” This was only done with the consent of the user. “However, the consent form does not state that historical data will be collected.”
Bug fixed, update required Apple has now fixed the “bug” as part of an update to the research app. In addition, “historical data received so far has been deleted”. You continue to feel committed to the privacy of users and now monitor whether historical data comes in from participants in the study. If so, they would be deleted, Apple explains. “Please update the Apple Research App to the latest version to get the fix.”
The group emphasized that it had not collected any information from the users using the research app could identify directly. The company refers to its data protection policy, which can be viewed in the application. Apple has already conducted several studies with the Apple Watch and the iPhone. The topics range from the management of Parkinson’s diseases to the prevention of strokes.
Amazfit GTR 2 has a nice appearance, it offers decent fitness tracking and has now strengthened some of its capabilities including sleep tracking and the introduction of a smart assistant like Alexa. It also allows you to have a good autonomy compared to its competitors in this price range. It’s certainly not perfect, and its sports tracking is only for occasional workouts. Here is the review.
by Bruno Mucciarelli published 28 December 2020 , at 00: 21 in the Wearables channel Amazfit
Amazfit GTR 2 is a smartwatch for Android but also iOS-friendly which certainly sees in its price one of the most important features. However, it also offers many other aspects that every user expects nowadays from such a device, but also pointing to other features that can become an important plus. And let’s talk about a design made with high quality materials, an AMOLED touchscreen display clearly visible and a strap that can be quickly removed for replacement with others.
IS available in two options as regards the color of the case and this is the only difference since both offer the same functionality both for it concerns fitness than for classic notifications. Clearly present an integrated GPS and a sensor that monitors the heart rate 24 hours on 24, 7 days a week and during exercise. It can also perform blood oxygen measurements , a feature sought after in this last period of COVID and that all smartwatch or smartband manufacturers are implementing in their products. It also works as a fitness tracker and ultimately this is perhaps where one of its greatest strengths lies. It is suitable for step tracking and sleep tracking rather than sports tracking a little bit more stringent.
And then there are others too smartwatch functionality: supports basic notifications and is optimized for the AMOLED display. Interesting news is being able to interact with the Amazon Alexa intelligent assistant in the future to get some information directly from the wrist. There is also an integrated music player with 3GB of storage space to transfer music directly to the smartwatch.
To power all these features, Amazfit GTR 2, has a battery that allows you to even reach the 14 days oi 38 days in easier use according to the company. Let’s say that in reality with a constant use of all its features we will get closer to 7 days than to 14 but in fact nothing prevents you from reloading it quickly and using it again. Clearly, we will see that by turning off the always-on display and heart rate monitoring, autonomy will make a big leap forward.
UNBOXING
The packaging of this Amazfit GTR 2 is very classic since it contains inside, in addition to the smartwatch itself, its magnetic power cable which allows you to recharge the battery in a simple way by combining it with any power supply. The end is magnetic and contains two pins that allow you to join the body on the back quickly and easily. Nothing else and therefore a classic and minimal box in its components.
DESIGN and DISPLAY
We assume that the new Amazfit GTR 2 costs in Italy 169 ?? and without a doubt this is the most interesting feature of this smartwatch. At this price, in fact, you get a smart digital watch that is certainly very attractive from an aesthetic point of view which in some ways can do better than other famous competitors even more expensive. Amazfit GTR 2 guarantees a much cleaner feel than the first GTR and fits much better on the wrist too.
It changes a lot compared to its predecessor especially in its being more beautiful to see and perhaps even less sporty. It has a metal body with a classic case of 46 mm and with two physical buttons on the side just as we used to have on the first version. The strap in this case is classic, i.e. in silicone. It is very light in thickness but we admit that after a first impression not too good because of its lightness, the strap has held up well even after extreme use and is not damaged or damaged by dirt or scratches. Moreover, it can be changed in an instant thanks to the system that Amazfit has decided to insert on the case and this makes it possible therefore to customize the smartwatch to the maximum with other straps to your liking.
It is clear that the true interest in the design, however, goes on the display since the quality of the circular panel placed on the smartwatch seems to be decidedly higher than expected in this price range. We are talking about a 1.3 inch AMOLED panel with resolution 454 x 454 pixel that affects immediately due to the absence of protruding frames or even important edges. Here the display is flush with the body, slightly rounded and above all with a visual quality that is certainly higher than expected. Nice to look at especially for the colors that are well outlined, very bright and also fun thanks to the use of them on some dials and widgets that Huami has created especially for this smartwatch. Its brightness is very high especially when you go outside with direct light. Excellent news especially because this does not impact the battery which is still good thanks to an AMOLED panel that with dark skins especially black tends to consume very little.
To the below the body we clearly find all the sensors that the Chinese company sets for tracking health conditions. The back in this case is made of plastic but very well done, not too annoying and above all not too thick, a symptom that the designers wanted to make the smartwatch as light and comfortable as possible from this point of view. To underline also the presence of a red frame on the upper button of the smartwatch: a peculiarity that does not change the functionality of the button compared to the lower one but in fact allows you to give that touch of beauty and originality to the smartwatch.
HARDWARE and OPERATING SYSTEM
Hidden beneath the sleek design are the sensors and features that make Amazfit GTR 2 a fitness tracker and a pretty competent sports watch for its price range. As a practice in a smartwatch of this type there are an accelerometer and gyroscopic sensors to track the movement . But there are also sensors to allow you to monitor the activity 24 hours on 20 , 7 days a week and not only during the day but also during the night with sleep. Add to this a 3-axis geomagnetic sensor and an air pressure sensor to provide additional data when you go out for some running or climbing.
There is Huami’s BioTracker PPG sensor , which offers continuous heart rate monitoring and the ability to better measure exertion levels during exercise. It is also used to generate blood oxygen measurements : a parameter that users with the arrival of the pandemic increasingly seek to understand if there is any respiratory problem. Given the price, they are all sensors that do not want to reach a professional level of measurement but still allow you to have a rough view of what is happening to the body during a non-professional physical activity or during a walk a little longer. fast. Too bad the lack of a Wi-Fi module or even the NFC but the price to pay for the cheapness of the smartwatch is this.
For sports tracking, there are then 10 modes available in total . The number is not surprising given that it is not a smartwatch for real sportsmen but in fact the inclusion of running, cycling and swimming guarantees to cover on the one hand the greater percentage of sports users and on the other hand to be able to use the smartwatch even in water. which is resistant up to 5ATM . Just about the swimming activity, it is somehow surprising to find it on a product of this price. Clearly present the integrated GPS to ensure more precise work mapping and monitoring those outdoor activities.
How fitness tracker does a good job on the accuracy front although maybe something will have to improve on the software and algorithm side. As regards the count of the daily steps that we have recorded, comparing them to those of a more sophisticated fitness tracker, we can say that we do not have a big difference since we are talking about only a few tens of steps of difference. This means that Amazfit GTR 2 does its monitoring job well and will allow you to actually understand how much you have moved during the hours of the day. The step count can be easily viewed as they are accumulated directly in the various interfaces of the chosen watchfaces or even in the appropriate screen which can be called up quickly.
Huami also includes the PAI Health scores, which take into account the heart rate and through algorithm try to make the user stay more active especially on of a longer time span. For sleep monitoring, it did a fairly well done job as the smartwatch actually recognized when we fell asleep, and then reported the various stages of sleep including REM sleep with some problem likely caused by heart rate detection. it didn’t work properly.
And this brings us to heart rate monitoring in general , which is more or less suitable for the price at which the smartwatch is sold too if the measurement is really very slow compared to the competition. It is the cons of this Amazfit GTR 2: the heartbeat is detected only after about ten seconds and sometimes even more. Moreover sometimes the values do not really reflect reality exceeding by 10 / 15 beat the actual value. Also to be improved on the reception of the GPS signal which sometimes is not accurate on tracking the distance.
FUNCTIONALITY’
For the smartwatch features the new Amazfit GTR 2 basically does nothing but bring what was already seen with the first GTR version. In this case the smartwatch works well on the connectivity side both on Android and iOS devices, managing notifications well. There are music controls, the ability to answer calls via Bluetooth, check the weather forecast and set reminders for events.
There are also a nice range of watch faces , or watchfaces if you prefer, to choose from to show your fitness, sleep or also to display only the time in a more or less scenic way. There are several and we admit that we liked them for completeness and also for the possibility of customization. Moreover, through the application it is also possible to download others directly from the store.
Scrolling down with a swipe it will be possible to enter a series of quick commands where we also find the one for the do not disturb mode: here is the smart function that is activated automatically when it recognizes the user has fallen asleep. By swiping upwards, always with a swipe, you can then access the notifications. They are reported promptly and the icon for some apps is also shown. You can read the title and in various cases the content of the message, but unfortunately it is not possible to respond to the notification in any way. This is a flaw that makes it more of a visualizer than a real smartwatch.
Interesting presence on the offline voice assistant clock which allows you to perform some operations on the smartwatch but which only works if you set English as the language system. However, Alexa will also arrive via an update within the year and this perhaps will allow us to make more sense to a voice assistant on a smartwatch given the potential of Alexa. In this case we could not evaluate this aspect.
The other big news is the presence of a integrated music player with 3GB of sufficient space to be able to insert a good amount of music: from 300 to 600 songs in MP3 format. To load music on the watch you will simply need the Zepp app which will allow you to synchronize them. Once the music is loaded, just pair some Bluetooth headphones and listen to it. It is certainly not the most complete experience we can find on a smartwatch but it does the basic things quite well and this may be enough for many. Hopefully future improvements to music features and the arrival of Alexa to make it even better.
AUTONOMY
One of the most interesting aspects of the new Amazfit GTR 2 is undoubtedly the autonomy that since it will not be necessary to recharge the smartwatch every night before going to sleep. It was possible before with the GTR and is still possible with the new GTR 2. There is a battery with a capacity of 471 mAh that according to the company it should provide 14 days of typical use and 38 days of basic use. The first is based on the use of features such as listening to music, using GPS, the display in always-on mode and continuous heart rate monitoring. The second ” basic ” instead involves the abandonment of the Bluetooth connection used to pair it with the phone, as well as heart rate monitoring and the use of other features such as GPS in a more economical way.
With the typical scenario, we found that the smartwatch can easily make it through seven days and has the potential to go further. Features such as heart rate monitoring, music streaming, sleep assistant activation and always-on display will have a major impact on battery performance.
We also spent a few days in that more basic mode and is a smartwatch that keeps its promises with an autonomy that it can even go up to several weeks with much lighter use. If you are willing to juggle less intensive uses and you don’t have the real interest in keeping everything under control, even the 18 days on a single refill. And especially when it runs out it will take 2.5 hours to go from 0 to 100%. There is no fast charging support but still it doesn’t seem to be such an important shortcoming.
CONCLUSIONS
As said the new Amazfit GTR 2 costs 100 ?? . A decidedly affordable price for a smartwatch that on its side sees the presence of a good level AMOLED circular panel capable of making it readable in any situation and above all very scenic thanks to the 3D finish. The materials are aluminum and polycarbonate and make the smartwatch solid even if very light on the wrist. A considerable advantage for users who can always put it on their side, even and especially during a workout or even a swim or an elegant evening.
There are some things to update. And in this case we are talking about the software. Well done the application that allows to have a vision of any type of information that is the classic one on the activities that regarding the customization of the dials or other. In fact it is slow recording of the heart rate and sometimes it is not even too precise. Ok the price range is not high but in fact a heart rate sensor even inexpensive can quickly evaluate the pulse on the wrist. Hopefully it’s a software issue because it would be a shame not to fully recommend this new Amazfit GTR 2 which from its side really possesses many peculiarities between autonomy, design, lightness and its will to be youthful, elegant but also suitable for every day.
“The family admin comes back every year.” That would be in full conviction, if 2020 then Year under normal circumstances. Today is actually #FamilyAdminDay, on which people are celebrated who otherwise keep IT or entertainment electronics fit for their loved ones on site all year round.
The strange Corona -Year has left deep marks here as well.
Christmas would have been normal for most hard-working people Family admins, the highlight of the season means: They would help the devices of the technology generation 2020 under the Christmas tree to get up and running. Then usually a few days of relaxation until the new year and the new tasks wait.
Everything different in the year 2020 But this Advent season is completely different, like the whole year. The peculiarities already began in spring: suddenly, when the children had to be entertained at school from home, some parents noticed that teachers were doing – really – work. And who would have thought a year before that the old knowledge from your studies would come into play in descriptive statistics and that exponential growth could easily be explained? Let’s not kid ourselves: The professor would be proud of the author of these lines! At least if he doesn’t remember the exams and likes to glorify the old days.
Science in general: Many parts of the population learned this year from the viral example how they work and that it does not offer the generally accepted philosopher’s stone, but is a learning process that is continuous in all phases. And just like the family admin, who is constantly faced with new variants of known problems, science learns through intensive research and trial and error. The result is often difficult to predict beforehand.
Not everyone is an expert who claims to be And a painful fact has also become clear: not everyone who has graduated from the inside of a lecture hall and has a corresponding awareness of communication is really a serious interlocutor. Although they should know better, some argue not scientifically or only with half-truths. The question of what some of the theses of the “lateral thinkers” have to do with “thinking” is also in the room.
However, one must be lucky that this pandemic is in the Form only occurred this year. Digitization could cushion some things through home office, video calls and the like. Speaking of video calls: While video conferences were previously only for nerds and IT people, technology suddenly became the general focus as a substitute for personal encounters. This breathtakingly fast development also makes Thomas, our narrator from the first story, thoughtful.
Christmas Eve in times of mask and social distancing At least this evening looks like it always does: A bit of normality in a surreal year! Due to the pandemic, we largely avoided the large family visits. Even if it hurts.
Christmas Eve is not yet so affected – we usually celebrate it contemplatively at home. Like this year too. After the meal the gifts were unpacked. My better half Julia and I gave each other fitness watches. The motionless home office and the unsocial proximity to the snack closet left – at least for me – extensive (e) traces. We want to do something about it!
Lisa, our big one, got her first smartphone. I wanted to set up and register for her before the party. “Nothing easier than that,” the prospectus promised me in a reassuring tone of explanation, “very easy, via browser!”. As a family admin I could have known better, of course it was NOT easy to do via browser. After a few emails and two hotline calls, (along with minutes of Christmas music on hold, which was in no way inferior to “Last Christmas” in terms of penetrance) also solved this problem. Christmas could come!
The drone for Max, our youngest, it was easier to get ready to go. We only have to practice flying. Chasing the cats out of the room with it and flying to the Christmas tree at full speed has worked very well; Getting the device out between half-shaved paper reindeer and frightened Christmas angels was more difficult then.
What was that year anyway? Who would have thought that the discussion about the mandatory receipt at the beginning of the year would appear so obscenely luxurious a few months later? And no one in our family would have expected a year ago that we would talk to Grandma Hilde via video call this Christmas!
(Pocket-lint) – Many will look at the price of the Garmin Edge 1030 Plus and wonder if a bike is included. Indeed, for many normal folk, an asking price in the several hundreds will seem simply absurd.
But then this product isn’t for casual riders. It’s for hardcore cycling folk and athletes who want to have everything at their fingertips and compatibility with all the cycling accessories you might want to further assess your training. By the time you’ve added those, though, you might need to remortgage your house.
If you can afford the outlay it’ll pay you back with buckets of data. Because the Garmin Edge 1030 is as complete and comprehensive a cycling computer solution as you can get – without any real rivals. That said, if you won’t use all its sensor add-on capabilities or intend to grow into more products in the future then we’d advise you look further down the range.
Design & Display
Display: 3.5-inch colour touchscreen, 282 x 470 resolution
Dimensions: 58 x 114 x 19mm / Weight: 124g
IPX7 weather resistant build
Micro-USB charging
We’re so used to using the latest and greatest smartphones – it comes with the job – that a cycling computer invariably looks a bit “meh” by comparison. The screen isn’t as large – although the Edge Plus is the largest in the cycling computer market – or as bright or as resolute.
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So what gives? Well, much as having a phone-like device on the front of your bike might sound nice, it’d soon crumple under true pressure; a crash would see it smashed to smithereens. The Garmin? No chance. This thing is hard as nails. We’ve been using it for months. We’ve crashed (thanks rogue tree braches of Kent). We’ve skidded off (thanks surface water). We’ve got soaked to the skin and caked in mud (thanks, er, man upstairs). And the Edge Plus hasn’t even given a little shrug about such bother.
Plus, while that 3.5-inch screen might sound small – it kinda reminds us of the original iPhone’s scale – it’s actually got enough real-estate to display what you need. In legible resolution. And in colour, too, rather than the simple monochrome setups of some cheaper models. A built-in light sensor knows when it’s dark enough to require illumination, to ensure you can always catch what you need at a glance.
Sure, in the future Garmin will no doubt up-size the screen to give an even more comprehensive view, but right now this is as big and as brilliant as you can get. And we’re just fine with that.
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It’s a similar story with the Micro-USB charging port. We had previously used an Edge 1030 (i.e. not the Plus model) and even five years of use into that – to its point of death, actually, because that USB port was the eventual fail point of the product when it would no longer make a connection – we had been saying all along “why not USB-C?”. We still think the same.
Plus, why not add wireless charging? Chucking this computer on a pad for recharging rather than having to open any ports – bad for water/mud! – would be a far, far more sensible solution (and, frankly, at this price there’s no reason it doesn’t have something as fancy as such technology).
Anyway, those points aside, the Edge Plus utilises a combination of touchscreen and button-based control. The buttons are three fold: an on/off to the upper left; a lap button to the lower left; and a pause/start button to the lower right. You may never need to use the touchscreen during a ride.
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Oh, and if you’re worried about rain messing things up during a ride, then fret not: rain detection will know it’s not you thumbing around the screens and it’ll ignore the pitter patter of raindrops (a phone, by comparison, would go into meltdown).
Setup & Customisation
Garmin Connect app compatible with Google Android and Apple iOS
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ANT+
The Edge 1030 Plus comes in two forms: standalone; or bundled with a heart-rate monitor (HRM), cadence sensor and speed sensor. If you don’t have those accessories then we would certainly suggest you go with the bundle. It’s not a crazy amount of extra cash and that extra data you can source from such readings will be very insightful.
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To get everything up and running there’s the Garmin Connect app, available on Apple iOS and Google Android devices. It’s free to download and is the home of all that data. Well, it sort of is: we’ve set it up to automatically push all data to Strava, which it will happily do, among other service options. Garmin doesn’t force you to be locked into the one system.
Connect has improved over time though, as have Edge products. With our older Edge device we had to plug it into a PC to get a firmware update (which even then didn’t work). With the Edge 1030 Plus, however, it’s network connected and will get the latest software over the air as it needs. It’ll even upload data – it does for us the moment we’re within reach of our home Wi-Fi network – which is handy as it’s only possible to connect one mobile device to it (we’d like the option of more, be that a second phone, work phone, partner’s phone, etc).
But you shouldn’t shrug off Connect. It’s got stacks of data within. A ride will show you segments, average speed (incl. moving speed), max speed, time, elevation, calories burned, temperature, and any additional inputs – cadence, heart rate, power, VO2 max, etc – too. You can compare to your age groups, set challenges, join groups, and more.
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You can even setup an emergency contact, as the Edge 1030 Plus is clever enough to detect what it believes is an incident and reach out to your emergency contact with the details and location. If, like us, you ride out in the sticks then that’s a rather good reassurance. It uses the built-in accelerometer to assess this, so small lumps, bumps and potholes won’t be a bother – it’s looking for bigger, more unusual – i.e. crash – information. Not as useful for MTB, though, we should imagine!
On-device course created using Garmin cycle map (cycling-specific street map)
Breadcrumb and turn-by-turn navigation
While Connect does a lot, it’s the cycling computer itself that’s of greatest interest. We’ve setup our Edge Plus’ main screen to show six segments – speed, average speed, distance, time, calories, elevation – but you can customise this as you please, even set multiple screens of data to swipe through. We do wish that a more intelligent connection to Connect would allow us to do this via a smart device though.
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It’s possible to set Road, Indoor, and Mountain profiles in the one device. So if you have multiple bikes for multiple agendas then the Edge knows what you’re doing and can track accordingly.
It’s possible to set courses on the Edge itself, upload given courses, then have it alert you to turn-based instructions. Even if you’re not on a specific course then Garmin’s cycle map – which is a cycling-specific street map – knows the road data and can pre-warn you of sharp bends and such like. When you’re not on turn-based riding and it bleeps at you then it’s a good idea to look, as we’ve found.
The detail of the map, in full colour, is great – and something lesser products might not offer. That’s really one of the things the 1030 Plus adds in to justify its price point.
Tracking is accurate, too, thanks to GPS (with GLONASS and GALILEO) ensuring fast acquisition of location and sensible reads. When you are off the beaten track it’ll say ‘Lost Satellites’, but still be performing a pretty accurate read of all the necessary data as best as possible – with that mapping to fall back on. It doesn’t usually take long to relocate a signal either.
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In short: the Garmin Edge 1030 Plus offers a clear view of whatever data you might want to see, in a detailed and customisable at-a-glance format, whether that’s map data, numerical data, or graph-based data in real-time. It’s great at giving you what you want to see right in front of your eyes, without ever becoming an unwanted distraction.
Best Fitbit fitness tracker 2020: Which Fitbit is right for you?
Sensor Compatibility & Accessories
Syncs with huge range of sensors: from power meters to Varia rear-radar and lights
But one of the biggest reasons to buy the Edge 1030 Plus is because it can do everything. Happen to have Shimano Di2 Synchro Shift – and who wouldn’t want electronic gear-shift? – then it’s compatible with the Edge. Want to know your power output? You can buy power meter Vector pedals and all that data will be accurately conveyed.
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Which is to say: the Edge 1030 Plus is a professional grade piece of kit. You could hand this to your trainer post ride to get an assessment of how much power you’re outputting over what distances/inclines and work out training programmes to advance that for specific races or sportifs. Heck, you could analyse it yourself and work out how to better yourself.
Because the data becomes rather addictive. You want to be faster, stronger, better. And when you’ve got the knowledge and applications to be able to get there, it all makes a lot of sense. However, buying into a full system where you’re tracking power, cadence, speed, heart-rate, and so forth, will cost you a pretty penny. But you could grow into it – it is a hobby after all.
If you happen to not ride as much when the winter months come in then the ANT+ connection is handy for use with a compatible turbo trainer. You’ll still get all the various assessments for your personal indoor training. So if you’re a Zwift enthusiast then it can cater for all your data, even if Zwift is assigning resistance to the trainer.
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Beyond those setups, Garmin also sells Varia radar detection systems, which alert to rear-approaching vehicles. We’ve never used one, but can see its worth – especially after being ‘overtaken’ (read: almost murdered) on a country lane blind bend at 30mph by a Toyota Land Cruiser – as wind-in-the-ears downhills make it impossible to know what’s approaching by sound alone.
Verdict
So what’s so special about the Garmin Edge 1030 Plus? Not only is it the largest cycling computer screen on the market – even though that’s not large compared to a smartphone – as the company’s flagship cycling computer it naturally comes with all the bells and whistles too.
Pre-installed mapping is a big reason to buy this product over a step-down model in the range. Mapping is expensive, and here you’re able to get hold of whatever you wish without additional cost.
But, really, just like the other Garmin cycling computers, the Edge 1030 Plus is all about data. Build up a variety of accessory additions – and this computer will connect with anything ANT+, from heart-rate monitors, to turbo trainers, to power pedals, and beyond – and you’ll be able to map out incredibly detailed training data.
All on the largest, longest-lasting and most comprehensive cycling computer around. Yes, it’s absurdly expensive, but it’s absurdly good at its job too.
Best Garmin watch 2020: Fenix, Forerunner and Vivo compared
Also consider
Garmin
Garmin Edge 830
squirrel_widget_3662313
The smaller cousin in the range doesn’t come with the mass of pre-installed mapping, and of course its screen is smaller, but it’s also a couple of hundred less – which will make it widely appealing to many.
The 2020 was a year of unpredictability, which however gave a great boost to communication and collaboration technologies, but also to intelligence artificial and analytics. What should we expect for 2020? The opinion of SAS
by Alberto Falchi published 24 December 2020 , at 08: 21 in the Innovation channel Sas artificial intelligence
The 2020 has been a year of unpredictability, but what awaits us, technologically speaking, for the 2021? 7 SAS experts tried to make their predictions , basing their opinions on the many revolutions that have characterized this year, and that offer new opportunities for companies that will be able to leverage data to propel their business.
The 7 forecasts of SAS for the 2021
1: Analytics: to make the most of them the cloud needs to be reconfigured. I cloud providers will face a major challenge for 2021: to reconfigure their systems to be suitable for analytics, a function to which were not designed. “ Originally the cloud was designed for transactional systems. And not for analytics. Analytics require much more memory than a traditional application in order to operate in real-time. These are aspects that cloud providers had not thought of as initially the applications in the cloud were transactional “, explains Tom Fisher, Senior Vice President of Business Development at SAS .
2: AI to make better decisions Artificial intelligence is one of the technologies that in recent years, especially in the 2020, have grown rapidly, adopted by a growing number of companies of all sizes. The initial skepticism has now been overcome and even executives are starting to trust AI’s suggestions more. But, to do so, they need to understand better the patterns of functioning and greater visibility into the results provided by artificial intelligences. As explained by João Oliveira, Business Solutions Manager of SAS , “ The more visibility decision makers have on AI results, the greater their confidence in the decisions made by the models. Adding human supervision and explaining the models at each stage a decision-making process will create greater trust in Artificial Intelligence and in automated decision-making “.
3: Small and increasingly connected and technological centers The pandemic has prompted many people to revise their housing priorities. This is also due to smart working, a measure implemented quickly to ensure the continuation of the business, and which has proven to be effective, as well as appreciated by companies and employees. This will push more people to move out of big cities, but small towns will have to adapt to new needs, ensuring ultra-fast connectivity and digital services comparable to those of more densely populated realities. “ When the inhabitants of a city decide to move to smaller towns, they expect to find the same levels in the latter. services, including fast broadband, home delivery of food and effective digital interaction with government agencies and officials. Small urban centers are increasingly catching up with large cities thanks to the use of analytics. a time when the workplace has assumed less importance than in the past, small towns have greater opportunities to attract people by exploiting the potential of analytics and driving a previously unthinkable population growth “, explains Shaun Barry, Senior Manager, Global Security Practice of SAS .
4: Consumers will be increasingly attentive (and demanding) Citizens are those who more use digital technologies and are now used to e-commerce and digital services. To be competitive, companies must be increasingly efficient and able to meet expectations. As explains Mike Blanchard, Head of Global Customer Intelligence Practice at SAS , “ Consumers are increasingly accustomed to digitization: digitization of retail, banking, healthcare – and more. Work, school, conferences, concerts , religious services, fitness are enjoyed differently, this is the trend, and companies will have to keep up. This means performing digital technologies, more efficient supply chains, online customer service – all managed and optimized with analytics. If you can quickly digitize processes, you will have more data and information and a better view of who is interested in your content, products and services “.
5: A new generation of workers arrives If the exponents of the millennial generation were born and cr that came out with digital devices, the next generation grew up with data. I native data , defines them Lucy Kosturko, Manager, Social Innovation by SAS: “ A generation raised with data – from food to physical activity, from sleep to productivity – is starting to enter the world of work. The innate ability of “data natives” to track and understand data will improve the way we work. These are new skills of data literacy and a level of “comfort” with data and their analysis that will help make all aspects of organizations more innovative “.
6: data will put patients at the center of therapy The theme of health has inevitably characterized the 2020, guiding the spread of technology in this area. And medicine, according to SAS, will take further steps by leveraging analytics.
“ The drug development process continues to improve with advanced analytics – and all improvements benefit patients “- stated Mark Lambrecht, Director of Global Health and Life Sciences at SAS – “ Thanks to advances in analytics, for example, clinical trials are able to group multiple drugs into a single study instead of studying one drug at a time. Genetically profiled targeted therapies are becoming easier to develop. AND Results from each phase of clinical trials are coming faster and faster, giving patients a better opportunity to find therapies that will work for them “.
7: AI and analytics will also disrupt institutions more linked to traditional approaches, such as banks and public bodies “ Advances in Artificial Intelligence and analytics will help revive the positive sentiment towards traditional organizations such as public bodies and institutions banking “- explains Steve Bennett, Director of Public Sector and Financial Services at SAS – “The responses of public and governmental bodies to COVID – 19, for example, are changing the perception of the responsiveness of institutions. And banks that implement automated decisions surprise customers with new investment opportunities. Today, analytics can really make a difference in supporting the citizen “.
Testing Tests overview Smartphone Oneplus Nord N 10 5G in the test: Gallops in price Oppo Find X2 Pro in the test: performance bargain Asus ROG Phone 3 in the test: Perfect gaming smartphone LG Wing in the test: 1.5 displays and gimbal cam Nokia 3.4 in the test: Update- Promise for little money Smartphone Realme 7 in the test: 90 Hertz at the saver price Realme 7 Pro im Test: OLED display and 64 – Watt loading Smartwatch Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 in the test: competition for Apple? Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro im Test: Smartwatch with cross-country battery Apple Watch: Smartwatch with contract from 15 € per month Buy Apple Watch 6: All generations in the price check Skagen Falster 3 in the test: Smartwatch with Wear OS Test Huawei Watch GT 2: Noble fitness tracker in watch form Huawei Watch GT in the test: record-breaking battery life Multiroom Ikea Symfonisk in the test: Sonos speakers under 100 Euro Bose Portable Home Speaker in Te st: Battery, WLAN, Airplay 2 Sonos Move in the test: The robust all-rounder Musiccast: Multiroom from Yamaha in the test Denon Heos in the test: versatile multiroom System Flat soundbar Teufel Sounddeck Streaming in the test Teufel Raumfeld in the test: rich multiroom sound Keyfinder Tile Slim (2019): key finder in Credit card format Bluetooth key finder Tile Pro in the test: 122 m range! Key finder Tile Pro in the test: the Range champion Orbit Bluetooth tracker in the test: looking for wallet and key Nonda iHere 3.0: smarter Keyfinder tested Chipolo Classic and Plus: Bluetooth keyfinder tested Musegear finder 2: Keyfinder without registration obligation Action-Cam DJI Pocket 2 in the test: Zoom and 64 – Megapixel sensor Actioncam Insta 360 One R: 1-inch image sensor in the test Gopro Hero 8 Black in the test: Back to the top Insta 360 One R in the test: The modular action cam Motorola Moto G8 Plus test: Great smartphone, but … Insta 360 Go: M icro-GoPro in the test Motorola One Action Test: good hardware, bad camera microSD In the test: Kingston UHS-I U3 microSDXC Kit MicroSD card for smartphone: Samsung Evo Plus 2017 Test report: Lexar Professional 1800 x microSDXC Kit Test report: Intenso Premium microSDXC card With 64 GByte Android Sonos Move im Test: The robust all-rounder Honor 20: Inexpensive high-end smartphone in the test Xiaomi Mi 9: Top technology at a bargain price Doogee S 85 in the test: modular outdoor smartphone ZTE Axon 10 Pro in the test: high-end phone at a competitive price Motorola Moto G7 Power in the test: large battery, small price Sony Xperia : Smartphone with 21: 9 display in the test Counselor Advisor overview Purchase advice The right cordless screwdriver for the home workshop Bargain: Which Fire TV Stick off 19 € is the right one? Purchase advice: What good is a leaf blower with a battery for 45 Euro? True -Wireless headphones: How much do you have to invest? Purchase advice water cooling: High-end PCs cool better Adviser: Air conditioning and fan against the heat wave Sony shows the Xperia 1: Is the predecessor XZ3 worth it now? Practice Caution, money away: Kickstarter & Co. are not shops Turn off Android notifications from annoying apps Here’s how: Install the new Android L keyboard now Tip: Use “Ok Google everywhere” in Germany In the test: Will the jailbreak work for iOS 7.1? Goderm a and mobile medicine: The doctor apps are coming! Instructions: Jailbreak for iOS 7 on iPhone 5S, 5, 4S and 4 Technology Importing technology from China, part 2: Customs, taxes and tricks Drones & copters: From toys to FPV Racer What does the end of an ecosystem mean? Smartphones with a flexible display: What’s the point? Overview of smartphone processors: Everything Snapdragon? Evolutionary dead ends: the very worst cell phones mpass: Pay with the NFC mobile phone – or the NFC toilet roll Display calculator Calculate pixel density, number and display proportion Best list Test winner Price comparison Price comparison overview Smartphones from Android 7.0 Phablets with stylus Fitness tracker with GPS Bluetooth headphones with ANR Drones with GPS Video TechStage Adviser Six sports headphones in comparison: sound for training Beginning Type Protection class True Wireless Sound Test winner Conclusion Comments In our comparison test we show six headphones the perfect companion for sport in our opinion are. From just under 20 Euro it starts .
Sensible headphones belong for the most athletes basic equipment. Those who are not currently doing a team sport want to have some peace and quiet while training. It goes so far that you want to be isolated from the rest of the athletes in order to concentrate on your own routine. Good headphones are tools for bringing the music from the smartphone or another player to the ear reliably and in good quality. And they differ from “normal” headphones in terms of construction. The devices for athletes have to be stable in the ear, even with jerky movements. And they should be protected against sweat or splash water.
In recent years, we have tested numerous sports headphones in a wide variety of price ranges and designs in our sports headphones theme. This ranges from classic Bluetooth headphones such as the Soundbuds Flow from Anker (test report) to the Bose Frames Tempo (test report) to the JBL Reflect Flow (test report). In this comparison test, we show which functions good sports headphones have to fulfill and why the sound is good even with inexpensive devices. To do this, we choose our current test winners, show inexpensive alternatives and present alternative concepts.
Design type Sports headphones are now mostly available as in-ear devices. They sit directly in the ear, usually held in place by special silicone wings. Compared to other designs such as over-ear or on-ear, in-ears have the advantage that you don’t sweat under the headphones. However, there are many who find the plugs uncomfortable. One option is, for example, to hold devices such as Airpods on the ear with a special silicone clip. More about this in our guide The most important accessories for Apple Airpods.
In addition to the classic forms, there are always experiments. Aftershokz is known. The company uses vibrations to transmit the sound via the skull bone into the inner ear. This works well and leaves the ears free, but the sound quality suffers especially with podcasts or audio books, as we show in the test for the Aftershokz Trekz Air (test report). The frames series from Bose relies on sunglasses with speakers in the ear hooks. This works very well with the Bose Frames Tempo sports glasses (test report).
At the same time, the advantage and disadvantage of in-ear headphones is that they are sealed off from the outside world. The JBL Reflect Flow (test report) are a good example of this. They sit so tightly in your ear that it’s easy to forget the world around you. This is great when training in a safe environment, such as bouldering or jogging in a secluded area. However, it is a problem when you are out and about in traffic. If you cycle on or next to the road, you have to be aware of the traffic around you. Yes, you can activate an ambient mode in devices such as the Reflect Flow and other in-ears, then the noises are passed through from the outside. That sounds very artificial, however. Devices such as the Bose Sport Earbuds (test report) have a better balance, but do not seal off the user so blatantly during exercise.
Comparison test sports headphones (6 pictures) The Reflect Flow from JBL are our first test winners for everyone who completely from sports want to be isolated from the outside world.
For the single test
Protection against sweat and water All headphones for Athletes should be protected against water. It is less about swimming or diving with them. Rather, it is about protection against sweat and the possibility of briefly rinsing the equipment under running water.
The protection against water is easiest to read from the IP protection class. The rule of thumb is: the higher the IPXX number, the better the headphones are protected against water. The table shows what the individual numbers mean. Our tip is that the headphones should have at least IPX2.
IPXX protection classes 1st digit Protection against contact / foreign bodies 2nd digit Protection against water 0 unprotected 0 unprotected 1 Protection against foreign bodies> 50 mm / protection against contact with the back of the hand 1 Protection against Dripping water 2 Protection against foreign bodies> 12 mm / protection against contact with the finger 2 Protection against dripping water 2.5 mm / protection against contact with tools 3 Protection against spray water 4 Protection against foreign bodies> 1 mm / protection against contact with wire 4 Protection against splash water 5 Protection against dust / protection against Touches 5 Protection against en water jets 6 dust-proof, protection against contact 6 Protection against heavy water jets 7 Protection against temporary immersion 8th Protection against permanent immersion Source: Heise.de True Wireless or Electric wire? In the last version of our comparison of sports headphones in 2018 the classic Bluetooth headphones with cables between the speakers dominated. Since then, this design has had massive competition from the true wireless approach. The headphones no longer have cables, they connect to each other and to the playback device, such as a smartphone, via Bluetooth. This technology has developed massively in recent years. Where in the past there were sometimes large audio delays, for example in movies or games, the sound can now be heard without latency. The battery life has also improved enormously. The big advantage of the in-ears is their charging cradle. With classic Bluetooth headphones, it happens again and again that they are empty when you need them. True wireless devices, on the other hand, are usually in the charging cradle and thus always have enough charge to be used for a sports session.
Sound The good news: The sound of most sports headphones, including cheap devices such as the RF-BTK – 300 by Renkforce (test report) or the Anker Soundbuds Flow (test report) is now so good that it can be used for sports without any problems. In particular, the cheap devices tend to have a strong to excessive bass. The formula expensive = good sound has long ceased to apply.
With the classic audio brands you can tell that the nuances are sometimes better. In addition, Bose or Jabra, for example, often rely on AAC as an additional codec for the transmission of lossless content. This is often lacking in cheaper headphones. If you value such content in sports, you should adjust your selection accordingly. The inexpensive headphones are also good for streaming Spotify & Co or for podcasts. We write more about the sound of the respective headphones in the linked individual tests.
Test winner and recommendations Our test winners are the Bose Sport Earbuds (test report) and the JBL Reflect Flow (test report). Both sports headphones offer a well-balanced sound, sit firmly in the ear and have enough battery power to endure even longer sports sessions. They are also both comfortable to wear. We recommend the JBL Reflect Flow to everyone who wants to completely isolate themselves during sport. They are one of the few headphones that really deserve the title “Passive Noise Cancellation”. The Bose Sport Earbuds allow more surroundings to pass through without affecting the sound quality. A good third alternative are the Jabra Active 64 t (test report ). We liked the fact that they are easy to use, are well protected against water and sweat and offer great additional features. The price has now leveled off in reasonable regions.
Among the price-performance winners, we mainly see the cheap Anker Soundbuds Flow headphones (test report) and the Renkforce RF-BTK 300 (Review). Both are protected against water (IPX4 and IPX5), well made and magnetically adhere to each other. So you can click them together in front of your body when you don’t have them in your ears.
The special mention goes to the Bose Frames Tempo (review). As with the Aftershokz Trekz Air (test report), the ears remain completely free, so you can easily see the surroundings. But the sound of the Tempo frames is significantly better than that of the bone conduction headphones. Especially with speech, such as audio books, podcasts or audio announcements from the navigation system, you can hear the tempo better with the frames. The disadvantage of the Tempo frames, however, is that they cannot be used just like that. Despite good sound and low latency, you just look stupid when you stream Netflix with it.
Conclusion Anyone who has ever got stuck with the headphone cable while doing sports knows why you should only rely on Bluetooth headphones. The good news is that the cheap devices from Anker or Renkforce in particular also deliver decent sound. For scarce 20 Euro is already available good wireless headsets.
If you want to spend more, you should use a true wireless system. Not only does not a cable get tangled in the bag, thanks to the transport box with battery, the headphones are in most cases so charged that you have enough juice for exercise.
We show even more on the subject of headphones in our individual tests in the subject world of true wireless headphones. Here, too, you can clearly see how prices have been falling in recent years. A suitable guide to this is true wireless headphones under 90 Euro in the comparison test , the guide to true wireless noise-canceling headphones, or the article on the cheapest true wireless headphones.
If you want to track your training progress properly in addition to headphones, we recommend a look at our sports watch or our tested fitness tracker.
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Anchor Bose Jabra JBL headphones Sports headphones True Wireless headphones Blaupunkt Frida 500 in the test: That big e, small e-folding bike
(Pocket-lint) – We have to start by addressing the most obvious point here: many people will look at the cost of the Headwind and think that the world has gone just a little more crazy than it already was; it’s a lot of money for a fan, whichever way you look at it.
However, it’s proved to be a popular product for cyclists, so we were keen to test it out and find out why. Here’s what the Headwind is all about and why it matters for an indoor setup.
Design and build
Designed to work with Kickr Desk
Adjustable rear legs
The Headwind feels solid, if a little plasticky, weighing in at about 5.5kg. Its curves and vents, all finished in black, make for an attractive look. A gloss black control panel also allows you to turn on and manually control speeds.
The Headwind is predominantly designed to sit on the floor, about 50-100cm in front of your bike. The Headwind’s front legs are designed to hook over the bottom of your Kickr Desk, if you have one, so they move backwards and forwards as one unit when you adjust the desk.
Pocket-lint
On that note, we found the Desk and the Headwind didn’t work together quite as well as we had hoped. The Desk itself blocks and redirects the airflow from the fan away from your face, where you would really appreciate a cooling breeze, and into your body. It’s fairly simple to fix: you either move the Desk to the side or behind the fan, but given that they have been designed to work together, this is a little disappointing.
It is also possible to position the Headwind on a Desk and to alter the direction of the airflow by extending the rear legs. This is the only adjustment that can be made to the air direction and we can’t help but think that there is a missed opportunity here, given that taller or shorter riders may have slightly different needs when they are sitting up on the bike, or people training in more cramped conditions may not be able to position the Headwind far enough out front. The inelegant solution is to stick a couple of books under the front legs to raise the airflow direction, but for this price it shouldn’t have to come to that.
Getting techy – with a fan
Wind speeds up to 30mph
Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity
Controllable by sensors, smart trainer, Wahoo
Compatible with Zwift, Sufferfest, Trainer Road
The first thing you need to do once the Headwind is plugged in and switched on is to pair it with the Wahoo app and check the firmware. Once you’ve done that you can pair it to your heart rate or speed sensor/trainer depending on how you want to control it.
The two different smart control options offer quite different experiences. The speed sensor option gives you the most realistic experience, giving you minimal headwind as you slowly climb up steeper inclines, then blasting you on full power as you race down the descent. This is great in theory, but anyone who has ridden inside will tell you the importance of having a fan to keep you from overheating, so having barely any breeze as you grind your way up the Alp de Zwift for an hour makes for an unnecessarily uncomfortable experience.
Pocket-lint
Controlling the Headwind through your heart rate monitor gives you pretty much the inverse experience: blasting you as you climb, then easing back off as you descend. Although it’s the opposite of how things should work, we found that your brain doesn’t really register this and it adds a pleasing layer of realism to the ride.
The fan itself is certainly powerful, if a little noisy given its price point. It delivers a narrow jet of air over your legs, torso and your face, meaning there’s no need for the two or three normal fans that many of us have setup to try and cool all those areas. To really feel the wind in your hair we found you need to be down over your handlebars or on the drops. When we sat up tall, a habit that many of us have when on the trainer, we found that it felt as though our head was missing out a little bit.
Best fitness trackers 2020: Top activity bands to buy today
Verdict
On the face of it the Headwind is just a fan, and a rather expensive one. There is no doubting that this is a luxury item and that you could buy a couple of cheaper fans that will cool you when you’re riding inside. On that point we think you can liken it to other luxury items; sure heated leather car seats certainly aren’t essential, but no-one can deny how good they feel.
However, this isn’t just about luxury. Over the past few years indoor riding has changed beyond recognition. Smart trainers, combined with apps such as Zwift, have morphed indoor cycling from a necessary evil that you would complete alone, to a social and enjoyable experience.
In these virtual worlds realism is key. What the Headwind does is add to that realism just a little more, making the whole experience just a little better, which in turn makes your training, indoor racing, or staying in for a quick spin, more pleasurable.
Also consider
Pocket-lint
Meaco 1056P Pedestal Air Circulator
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Best Fitbit fitness tracker 2020: Which Fitbit is right for you?
While the Headwind is a unique product, if it’s serious cooling you’re after – and not cycling specific – you might want to consider the MeacoFan. It’s not budget, but it’s quiet, powerful, offers horizontal/vertical oscillation, and there’s even a remote control. Plus, when you’re done riding, it’s a great cooler for the home during the summer months.
(Pocket-lint) – Fitbit has been around for years, sitting at the top of its activity tracking class, smugly watching as its competitors hope to raise the same sort of brand awareness. For many, a fitness band is simply called “a Fitbit” – such has been the impact of this company – and it’s now being bought by Google, to add to its power.
We’ve broken down each of the Fitbit trackers, looking at how much each costs, what features it offers and why you might consider buying each one. This list is all about helping you work out which Fitbit will suit you and your lifestyle best.
Quick summary
The Fitbit Inspire is the cheapest fitness tracker in Fitbit’s offering, replacing the Zip, Flex and Alta. It offers all-day sleep and activity tracking, smartphone notifications, clock faces and interchangeable straps. It has a touchscreen display, is swim proof and it offers automatic exercise recognition too.
The Fitbit Inspire HR has a very similar design to the standard Inspire but it adds heart rate monitoring, more advanced sleep data, VO2 Max, Goal-Based exercise modes and Connected GPS. Other functions are the same as the Inspire, but it is a little more expensive due to the extra features.
The Fitbit Inspire 2 has a slightly more refined design compared to the Inspire and Inspire HR, offering many of the same features but doubling the battery life and adding Active Zone Minutes and Quick Replies for Android users.
The Fitbit Charge 3 offers everything the Inspire HR does, including swim tracking and Goal-Based exercise, but it adds more advanced smartphone notifications and it has an altimeter. There is also a Special Edition model with NFC for Fitbit Pay.
The Fitbit Charge 4 updates the Fitbit Charge 3, adds NFC as standard, offers Spotify controls and built-in GPS, so it’s better at accurately tracking workouts as a standalone device.
The Fitbit Versa Lite Edition moves into smartwatch territory, offering a middle ground between the Charge 3 and the standard Versa 2 smartwatch in terms of features and price. The Versa Lite Edition has the same features as the Charge 3, including swim proofing, but it adds apps. It loses Fitbit Pay however, as well as an altimeter.
The Fitbit Versa 2 is the next step up in the Fitbit smartwatch sector. It offers everything the Versa Lite Edition has, but it adds the altimeter back in, along with Fitbit Pay and built-in Alexa. Still no built-in GPS, but the Versa 2 has phone-free music, which the Charge 3 and Versa Lite Edition do not.
The Fitbit Versa 3 is an upgrade to the Versa 2, adding Google Assistant as an option on top of Alexa, a built-in speaker for taking calls, Pure Pulse 2.0 heart rate technology and most importantly, built-in GPS.
The Fitbit Ionic is more sportswatch in its design than smartwatch. It offers built-in GPS, water resistance up to 50-metres, mobile payments and smartphone notifications, as well as all the features found on other Fitbit devices. No voice assistants though.
The Fitbit Sense is the all-singing, all-dancing Fitbit smartwatch with a number of sensors on board. It has everything the Versa 3 offers, along with an EDA sensor for monitoring stress, the ability to take an ECG and a skin temperature sensor.
The very best Fitbit trackers available right now
Fitbit
Fitbit Inspire 2
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The Inspire 2 succeeds the Inspire HR and Inspire – below – offering a more refined design with softer, curvier edges and an inductive button over a physical button.
It delivers all the same features as the Inspire HR, including all day activity tracking, advanced sleep tracking with sleep score, exercise modes, female health tracking and smartphone notifications.
It doubles the battery life of the Inspire HR to 10 days however, whilst also adding Active Zone Minutes and Quick Replies for Android users.
The Inspire 2 comes in Black, Lunar White, Desert Poppy.
Fitbit
Fitbit Inspire
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The Fitbit Inspire is the entry level fitness tracker from Fitbit and it offers basic activity monitoring, including steps and calories burned, along with basic sleep tracking.
There’s a display for smartphone notifications and an on-screen dashboard, showing similar metrics to what you would find in the Fitbit app. The Inspire also offers waterproofing up to 50-metres but not swim tracking, and it doesn’t have elevation or heart rate monitoring either.
The Inspire is slim, slender and smaller than the Charge 3. It also offers interchangeable straps, allowing for a different look, as well as the ability to clip it to clothing with a specific accessory, and it is claimed to have a five-day battery life. As with all Fitbit devices, the Inspire connects to the Fitbit app via Bluetooth, offering a range of more detailed stats and data.
The Fitbit Inspire comes in two colours comprising Black and Sangria.
Fitbit Inspire review: Is this pretty pedometer worth the money?
Fitbit
Fitbit Inspire HR
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The Fitbit Inspire HR features a very similar design to the Inspire, meaning a slim and sleek waterproof device with a display for smartphone notifications and progress.
It adds heart rate tracking and swim tracking though, along with a colour-matched buckle for a more secure fastening and it also offers connected GPS, Guided Breathing Sessions, Goal-Based Exercise Modes and VO2 Max.
The Inspire HR also offers more advanced sleep tracking data than the Inspire, though it still lacks elevation data and it doesn’t offer Active Zone Minutes like the newer Inspire 2, or as good a battery life.
The Inspire HR comes in three colours comprising Black, Lilac and Black with White.
Fitbit Inspire HR review: The new fitness tracking king?
Fitbit
Fitbit Charge 4
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The Fitbit Charge 4 is an update to the Fitbit Charge 3, adding in a couple of new features, the biggest of which is the inclusion of GPS. Previously you had to use the GPS on your phone, but on the Charge 4 you can now get that direct from the device, giving location tracking, speed and distance, as well as elevation change from the altimeter.
That makes it a better exercise tracker overall as a standalone device, better than the Inspire models or the Charge 3. It also adds in NFC to support Fitbit Pay, something that was previously only available on special edition Charge 3 models, so it’s extra convenience. Adding to the convenience is Spotify control although you can’t download music to this device.
The battery is rated at 7 days, but this without the GPS – which does have a big impact on the life. It will track GPS activities up to 5 hours, so will cover a lot of events like 5 or 10km runs, but won’t cover anything longer – and that will use up a lot of the battery life.
All the other metrics from the Charge 3 are included – sleep tracking, steps and so on – but the Charge 4 also introduced active zone minutes, which is designed to focus on boosting heart health through your activities, regardless of steps. It’s better positioned to reward varied activities rather than depending on steps as a metric.
Fitbit Charge 4 review: The most accomplished fitness band?
Fitbit
Fitbit Charge 3
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The Fitbit Charge 3 is the successor to the Charge 2, refining and streamlining its design, whilst also adding waterproofing up to 50-metres and swim tracking, like the Inspire HR. There is a 40 per cent larger and brighter OLED display compared to the Charge 2 and it is touch-enabled, rather than just tap-enabled, allowing users to swipe through all the metrics they’d find in the Fitbit app, including hydration.
All of the Inspire HR’s features are on board, including Connected GPS and continuous heart rate monitoring, but you’ll also get a few extras with the Charge 3, including elevation data and the option of an NFC-enabled model.
The Charge 3 also has Run Detect with auto stop, meaning runners can stop at lights without manually hitting pause on their workout. Smartphone notifications are also a little more advanced than the Inspire HR with Quick Replies for Android users.
The Charge 3 is available in two standard options of Graphite with a Black strap or Rose Gold with a Blue Grey strap. There are also two Special Edition models that are NFC-enabled, offering Fitbit Pay. The Special Edition models have the same case options but the graphite has a white perforated sports strap, while the rose gold has a purple fabric strap.
Fitbit Charge 3 review: A stand-out smart fitness tracker
Fitbit
Fitbit Versa Lite Edition
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The Fitbit Versa Lite Edition is the first step from fitness tracker to smartwatch in Fitbit’s portfolio. It offers many of the same features as the Charge 3, including waterproofing, heart rate tracking, sleep stages, swim tracking and Connected GPS, though it misses out on elevation data and Fitbit Pay capabilities.
It does have the ability to install some third party apps however, something that sets it apart from the Charge, and it also looks more like a watch than an activity tracker. Additionally, the Versa Lite Edition comes with interchangeable straps like other Fitbit devices and it has the option of designer accessories too.
The Versa Lite Edition comes in four colours, including Silver Aluminium with White, Silver Aluminium with Purple, Marina Blue Aluminium with Marina Blue strap and Mulberry Aluminium with Mulberry strap.
Fitbit Versa Lite Edition review: Lower price with little compromise
Fitbit
Fitbit Versa 3
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The Fitbit Versa 3 succeeds the Versa 2 – below – but it adds some of the main features missing from the 2019 device.
There’s a built-in speaker for taking calls, along with built-in GPS and there’s also Google Assistant on top of Amazon Alexa.
You’ll also find fast charging on the Versa 3, along with all the other features you’d expect from a Fitbit smartwatch including all day activity tracking, sleep tracking and smartphone notifications. There’s also Fitbit Pay as standard and Pure Pulse 2.0 heart rate technology like the Sense (below).
The Fitbit Versa 3 comes in three colours: Pink Clay and Soft Gold Aluminium, Black and Black Aluminium, Midnight and Soft Gold Aluminium.
Fitbit
Fitbit Versa 2
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The Fitbit Versa 2 is a step up from the Versa Lite Edition, though part of the same family, offering a smartwatch that’s more lifestyle and less obviously sporty than the Ionic (below). Like the Versa Lite Edition, the Versa 2, offers a metal body waterproofed to 50m with rounded corners and a domed back, and it comes with interchangeable straps.
All the same features as the Versa Lite Edition are on board, but as you would expect, the Fitbit Versa 2 offers a couple more compared to the Lite model. These include elevation data like the Charge 3, built-in Alexa, music storage, an Always On display mode, Sleep Mode and support for Spotify.
As with the Lite model though, the Versa still only offers Connected GPS – you’ll need the Charge 4, Versa 3, Sense or Ionic if you want built-in GPS from Fitbit. Support for smartphone notifications, with quick reply support for Android is on board though, and there is also Fitbit Pay support.
The Fitbit Versa comes in five colours including Carbon Aluminium with a Black strap, Mist Grey Aluminium with a Stone strap, or Copper Rose Aluminium with either a Petal strap, Bordeaux strap or Emerald strap. There are also two Special Edition models that come with both a woven strap and classic strap.
Fitbit Versa 2 review: Alexa, what’s the new Fitbit smartwatch like?
Fitbit
Fitbit Sense
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The Fitbit Sense is the company’s most accomplished smartwatch, taking on a similar design to the Versa family but offering more features.
It has all the features from the Versa 3, along with a EDA sensor for stress monitoring, the ability to take an ECG (pending approval) and a skin temperature sensor.
Along with these additional sensors, the Sense smartwatch has built-in GPS, both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa voice assistants and it still promises a six day battery life.
There’s also a built-in speaker, allowing for Bluetooth calls and responses from the voice assistants and there’s the Pure Pulse 2.0 heart rate technology too, which can detect high and low heart rate and notify you when you go above or below your normal thresholds.
The Fitbit Sense comes in two colours of Carbon and Graphite Stainless Steel or Lunar White and Gold Stainless Steel.
Fitbit
Fitbit Ionic
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The Fitbit Ionic is more sportswatch looking in design and offers all the features available on both the Charge 3 and Versa 2 (except Alexa), while adding a few of extras like built-in GPS. It misses out on some of the features offered by the latest Sense smartwatch though.
It comes with partner apps like Strava and it offers on-screen workouts like the Versa and Sense devices. The Ionic also has interchangeable straps and a unibody made from aerospace aluminium for a premium look.
The Fitbit Ionic is said to have a 4-day battery life and it offers extended smartphone notifications to include apps like Facebook, WhatsApp and Gmail, like the Versa family, Inspire family and Charge 3 and 4 also do. The Ionic is available in three colours, each of which are compatible with the two leather straps and three sports bands available separately.
Fitbit Ionic review: Bridging the gap between fitness tracker and smartwatch
During its typically slick, but untypically pre-recorded, WWDC 2020 keynote briefing in June, Apple announced something that really piqued our interest: spatial audio.
Basically Apple’s take on Dolby Atmos for Headphones and Sony’s upcoming PS5 3D Audio, spatial audio is designed to deliver surround sound and 3D audio via your headphones – specifically your Apple AirPods Pro and AirPods Max headphones. The feature arrived as part of iOS 14 in September.
So how do you get Apple spatial audio? What devices do you need? And what other upgrades are included in the latest iOS 14 update? Answers to those questions and more are just a short scroll away.
Apple AirPods Max review
What is Apple spatial audio?
(Image credit: Apple)
Apple spatial audio takes 5.1, 7.1 and Dolby Atmos signals and applies directional audio filters, adjusting the frequencies that each ear hears so that sounds can be placed virtually anywhere in 3D space. Sounds will appear to be coming from in front of you, from the sides, the rear and even above. The idea is to recreate the audio experience of a cinema.
This is not the first technology of its type. Dolby Atmos for Headphones has been around for some time now, while Sony has its 360 Reality Audio format for music, delivers 3D audio in some PS4 games via its Platinum Wireless Headset, and has gone big on 3D audio for the PS5.
Apple’s spatial audio has a unique feature, though: it not only tracks your head movement using accelerometers and gyroscopes in the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max in order to position the sound accurately, it also tracks the position of the iPhone or iPad that you’re watching on, so that sound is also placed relative to the screen. This means that even if you turn your head or reposition your device, dialogue will still be anchored to the actor on the screen.
Apple has apparently been working on spatial audio for years and it was always part of the plan for the AirPods Pro earbuds – that’s why they’ve got gyroscopes (which were never previously mentioned, by the way).
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How do you get Apple spatial audio?
Apple AirPods Pro (Image credit: Future)
Apple spatial audio comes as part of the newly released firmware update for the AirPods Pro. You’ll also need the new iOS 14 or iPadOS 14, which is now available. All of these updates are free of charge.
The next-gen Apple operating system is available to all iPhones from the iPhone 6S onwards, and iPadOS 14 works on every iPad since, and including, the iPad Air 2. Does this mean that all of these devices will also support spatial audio? Unfortunately not. Here’s the full list of devices that can handle spatial audio:
iPhone 7 or later
iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (3rd generation) and later
iPad Pro 11‑inch
iPad Air (3rd generation)
iPad (6th generation) and later
iPad mini (5th generation)
It’s also worth noting that Dolby Atmos is only available on Apple devices launched since 2018. While you don’t need Atmos for spatial audio, the two working together will likely produce the best results.
On the software side of things, as long as an app supports 5.1, 7.1 and/or Atmos, it will work with spatial audio. That already includes apps such as Vudu, HBO Go, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video. Netflix does not currently support surround content via iOS devices, but stereo content can also be converted to spatial audio. All a developer needs to do is allow stereo spatialisation via an Apple plug-in.
Once you’ve updated your device and the AirPods Pros/AirPods Max, spatial audio will be automatically enabled. To check, open Settings on your iOS device, tap on Bluetooth, and then tap on the ‘i’ icon next to your AirPods Pros in the list of Bluetooth devices. If the icon next to Spatial Audio is green, it’s enabled. There’s also a neat little demo of the tech included just below this.
(Image credit: Future)
To test it out, fire up a supported video (See on Apple TV+ is a good example), open up your device’s Command Centre by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen, then press and hold the AirPods Pro volume icon. On the page that opens you will see a Spatial Audio icon. A bright blue icon indicates that Spatial Audio is enabled, but if the sound waves are static it’s not supported by the content you’re watching. If the waves are pulsing, Spatial Audio is enabled and working. You can tap the icon to turn it off and experience the difference it makes.
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Apple AirPods Max (Image credit: Apple)
Is Apple spatial audio any good?
Having given spatial audio an initial whirl with the AirPods Pro and a more thorough one since during our AirPods Max testing, we’re certainly impressed.
The way the audio is tied to the screen is incredibly effective and the extra openness and spaciousness to the sound makes for a much more cinematic and engaging experience. There appears to be a slight drop off in terms of directness and punch, but it’s not huge and, broadly speaking, spatial audio so far appears to be a very worthwhile upgrade.
To quote our AirPods Max review, “All told, the effect is superb. The whole presentation is very open, spacious and convincing, and the tracking is amazingly smooth and accurate as you move your head.
“The opening of Gravity is recreated brilliantly by the AirPods Max. The placement of the various voices coming through the radio is brilliantly precise and convincing, there’s excellent weight to the dull thumps against the satellite and the heavy bass notes of the soundtrack, superb all-round clarity, and excellent dynamics as the peaceful scene turns threatening and then catastrophic. It’s easy to forget that you’re listening using headphones, such is the spaciousness of the delivery. It’s terrifically cinematic.
“Simply put, combining an iPad with a pair of AirPods Max headphones gets you the most convincing portable cinema experience that we can think of.”
Will music be available in spatial audio?
(Image credit: Apple)
There’s no reason that this stereo spatialisation can’t be added to the many music apps available on iPhone and iPad, but there have been no announcements on that front yet.
One suspects that now Apple has the technology, it may well look to add music with full-fat spatial audio to its own Apple Music service but, again, that’s not been officially announced.
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What about spatial audio gaming?
There’s no reason that other apps can’t also benefit from spatial audio, and we’d be amazed if it’s not picked up very quickly by game developers. Again, there’s nothing official on that yet.
We do know, though, that the movement data provided by the AirPods Pros will be made available to app developers, and that could open up some interesting opportunities such as head-tracking in games and more accurate sensing of movement for fitness apps.
What about spatial audio on Apple TV 4K?
(Image credit: Apple)
Here’s something of a surprise: despite having also had a software update (to tvOS 14), the Apple TV 4K does not currently support spatial audio. That seems odd to us. True, AirPods are more often connected to a portable device than an Apple TV, but spatial audio seems a perfect way for those people without a surround sound system to get a taste of cinema-style sound while watching on their lounge TV.
Apple’s not explained why the Apple TV 4K isn’t getting spatial audio. We had wondered if it was a power issue, but the A10X chip in the Apple TV 4K has more grunt than the standard A10 chip in the iPhone 7, which does support spatial audio, so that can’t be it. Perhaps it needs to be implemented in a different way for Apple TV 4K and will come later, or perhaps Apple has decided to save this feature for the next Apple TV. After all, it’s rumoured that the next-gen Apple TV, expected to arrive in 2021, will be more gaming-focused. Only time will tell.
What other new features are in the AirPods update?
(Image credit: Apple)
Spatial audio isn’t the only new feature included in the AirPods autumn update.
Automatic switching between Apple devices is also part of the package, so you no longer need to manually connect your headphones when turning your attention to a second device. Let’s say you’ve just stopped listening to a podcast on your iPhone and you open Netflix on your iPad – the audio coming from the AirPods is going to automatically switch to what’s coming out of the iPad. Switch to your MacBook for a FaceTime call and it will automatically switch again. An incoming phone call will always take precedence.
Low battery notifications are here now too, with a pop-up notification appearing on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch to tell you when it’s time to charge.
Audio sharing, which already allows two people to connect their headphones to a single iPhone or iPad, has been expanded to work with Apple TV 4K. Each listener gets independent volume control, which is rather cool.
Finally, there’s something called ‘Headphone Accommodations’, which allows audio to be adjusted to account for hearing differences. This involves going through a guided listening experience that will help select an audio profile that’s tailored to your specific needs. Interestingly, this profile also works in Transparency mode, so can boost the sounds around you as well as those coming from your device.
Best of all, these other new features are available on more headphones than just the AirPods Pros. Automatic switching is available on the 2nd Gen AirPods and the Beats Powerbeats, Powerbeats Pro and Solo Pro. Headphone Accommodations work with all of those models and the standard EarPods that come bundled with new iPhones. Sharing audio, meanwhile, works with all versions of the AirPods and all Beats headphones that have the Apple W1 or H1 chip inside.
Testing Tests overview Smartphone Oppo Find X2 Pro in the test: performance bargain Asus ROG Phone 3 in the test: perfect Gaming smartphone LG Wing in the test: 1.5 displays and gimbal cam Nokia 3.4 in the test: Update promise for little money Smartphone Realme 7 im Test: 90 Hertz at the saver price Realme 7 Pro in the test: OLED display and 65 – Watt loading Huawei Mate 40 Pro in the test: Great, but without Google Smartwatch Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 in the test: competition for Apple? Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro in the test: Smartwatch with cross-country battery Apple Watch: Smartwatch with contract from 15 € per month Buy Apple Watch 6: All generations in the price -Check Skagen Falster 3 in the test: Smartwatch with Wear OS Test Huawei Watch GT 2: Noble fitness tracker in watch form Huawei Watch GT in the test: Record-breaking battery life Multiroom Bose Portable Home Speaker in the test: battery, WLAN, Airplay 2 Sonos Move in the test: The robust all-rounder Musiccast: Multiroom from Yamaha in the test Denon Heos in the test: versatile multiroom system Flat soundbar Teufel Sounddeck Streaming in the test Teufel Raumfeld in the test: rich multiroom sound Technisat Digitradio 580 in the test: The gray all-rounder Keyfinder Tile Slim (2019): Key finder in credit card format Bluetooth key finder Tile Pro in the test: 120 m range! Key finder Tile Pro in the test: the range champion Orbit Bluetooth tracker in the test: looking for wallet and keys Nonda iHere 3.0: smart key finder under test Chipolo Classic and Plus: Bluetooth key finder under test Musegear finder 2: Keyfinder without registration obligation Action-Cam DJI Pocket 2 in the test: Zoom and 64 – Megapixel sensor Actioncam Insta 300 One R: 1-inch image sensor in the test Gopro Hero 8 Black in the test: Back to the top Insta 360 One R in the test: The modular Actioncam Motorola Moto G8 Plus test: Great smartphone, but … Insta 360 Go: Micro-GoPro in the test Motorola One Action Test: Good hardware, bad camera microSD In the test: Kingston UHS-I U3 microSDXC Kit MicroSD card for smartphone: Samsung Evo Plus 2017 Test report: Lexar Professional 1800 x microSDXC Kit Test report: Intenso Premium microSDXC card with 64 GByte Android Sonos Move in the test: The robust one All-rounder Honor 20: Inexpensive high-end smartphone in the test Xiaomi Mi 9: Top technology at a bargain price Doogee S 90 in the test: modular outdoor smartphone ZTE Axon 10 Pro in the test: High-end phone at a competitive price Motorola Moto G7 Power in the test: large battery, small price Sony Xperia 10: Smartphone with 21: 9 display in the test Counselor Guide overview Purchase advice Bargain: Which Fire TV Stick from 19 € is the right one? Purchase advice: What good is a leaf blower with a battery for 45 Euro? True wireless headphones: How much do you have to invest? Buying advice water cooling: High-end PCs cool better Advice: Air conditioning and fan against the heat wave Sony shows the Xperia 1: Is the previous XZ3 worth it now? Euro Practice Caution, money away: Kickstarter & Co. are not shops Android notifications from turn off annoying apps This is how it works: Install the new Android L keyboard now Tip: Use “Ok Google everywhere” in Germany In the test: Does the jailbreak work for iOS 7.1? Goderma and mobile medicine: The doctor apps are coming! Instructions: Yes ilbreak for iOS 7 on iPhone 5S, 5, 4S and 4 Technology Importing technology from China, part 2: Customs, taxes and tricks Drones & copters: From toys to FPV racers What does the end of an ecosystem mean? Smartphones with a flexible display: What’s the point? Smartphone processors at a glance: Everything Snapdragon? Evolutionary dead ends: the very worst cell phones mpass: Pay with the NFC mobile phone – or the NFC toilet roll Display calculator Calculate pixel density, number and display proportion Leaderboard Test winner Price comparison Price comparison overview Smartphones from Android 7.0 Phablets with stylus Fitness tracker with GPS Bluetooth headphones with ANR Drones with GPS Video TechStage Adviser Adviser: The best Fritzbox for VDSL, cable, LTE and fiber optics Beginning VDSL Cable LTE Glass fiber No modem Conclusion Comments by Thomas // 19. 12. 2020 10 : 00 Clock
AVM has numerous Fritzbox routers in its range. TechStage shows which router is suitable for which Internet technology and presents the advantages and disadvantages of all important models.
Long awaited, finally available: The new Fritzbox 7530 AX is the first VDSL router from AVM with the new WiFi standard WiFi-6 (11 ax). Also the Fritzbox Cable 6660 for the cable internet as well as the 5530 Fiber for the fiber optic connection work with WiFi-6. The WLAN speed is an important criterion when deciding on a Fritzbox. But the router, as a home network and switchboard at home, should simply connect all devices and bring them to the Internet. Therefore, features such as telephone, USB and LAN connections as well as the capabilities of the built-in modem are important.
In this article we examine in detail the differences between the models for VDSL , Cables, fiber optics and LTE and recommend the right Fritzbox for every network. The article appears as part of our WLAN theme world. In addition, we have already tested several Fritzbox routers and other products, such as the inexpensive Fritz Repeater 600 (test report) or the tri-band mesh repeater Fritz Repeater 3000 (Review).
Fritzbox router for VDSL The Fritzbox 7590 (test report) for around 185 Euro is the current top -Model for the VDSL connection. Your modem supports the profile 35 b for supervectoring (up to 300 MBit / s in the download), the WLAN works with the 11 AC standard and four parallel data streams . There are hardly any WLAN remote stations with a corresponding speed. But since the 7583 Mastered multi-user MIMO, it can transmit data to several clients at the same time, which is particularly advantageous in a larger WLAN network is. The Fritzbox offers a wide variety of connections 7583 Fritzbox for telephony: It supports one ISDN device, two analog devices via RJ 11 or TAE and up to six cordless telephones via DECT.
Especially in the case design, the more expensive Fritzbox differs 7580 of the 7590, because she stands upright. Otherwise it offers the same equipment, but its modem is only for vectoring connections up to 100 MBit / s suitable. More about this in our Fritzbox guide 7430, 7580 and 7590 compared.
For new models, AVM relies on the current Wi-Fi 6 standard, for example the Fritzbox 6660 Cable and the VDSL Fritzbox 7430 use AX. With 169 Euro is the new Fritzbox 7490 AX slightly cheaper than the 7590, but has fewer connections: For example, it lacks an additional WAN port to connect it For example, to connect to an Internet connection via cable or fiber optic with an upstream modem. One of the four Gigabit LAN ports must be used for this. In addition, it has no socket for an ISDN telephone and only one connection option for analogue telephone devices.
Your plus point is the future-proof WLAN standard: The advantages of WiFi-6 do pay off especially noticeable when several end devices are transmitting in the network that also support WiFi-6. The new WPA3 encryption supports the Fritzbox 7530 AX of course – but also all Fritz boxes with 11 AC- WLAN, on which at least Fritz OS 7. 20 is installed. This also applies to the Fritzbox 7530 for round 115 Euro, which apart from the WiFi like the 7530 AX : Your wireless network works with the 11 AC standard and a maximum of two parallel data streams. It is therefore recommended for smaller WLANs and if a quick switch to WiFi-6 is not planned.
Who the seven years ago presented Fritzbox 7490 does not necessarily have to switch to a more recent model. Because AVM regularly provides the veteran with the latest updates and new functions. But the router is no longer recommended for new purchases, especially since it is usually more expensive than the better equipped Fritzbox 7583.
Fritz router with VDSL modem Model Fritzbox 7590 Fritzbox 7580 Fritzbox 7530 AX Fritzbox 7530 Fritzbox 7490 Fritzbox 7430 Fritzbox 3490 Fritzbox 7583 Fritzbox 7580 Modem VDSL 2 (supervectoring , 300 Mbps) VDSL 2 (vectoring, 100 Mbps) VDSL 2 (supervectoring, 300 Mbps) VDSL 2 ( Supervectoring, 300 Mbps) VDSL 2 (vectoring, 100 Mbps) VDSL 2 (vectoring, 100 Mbps) VDSL 2 (vectoring, 100 Mbps) VDSL 2 (supervectoring: 300 Mbps, bonded: 600 Mbps), G.Fast Bonding 4 Gbps (212 MHz) VDSL 2 (supervectoring 300 Mbps); G.Fast 1 Gbps (100 MHz) WLAN: Standard / MIMO streams 11 AC / 4×4 11 AC / 4×4 Wi-Fi 6 / 3×3; 2×2 (75 MHz) 11 AC / 2×2 11 AC / 3×3 11 N / 3×3 11 AC / 3×3 11 AC / 4×4 11 AC / 3×3 WiFi speed: Mbps (5 GHz + 2.4 GHz) 1733 + 800 1733 + 800 1800 + 600 866 + 400 1300 + 450 450 1300 + 450 1733 + 800 1300 x 450 MU-MIMO Yes Yes Yes Yes no no no Telephony DECT, ISDN S0, 2 a / b or TAE / RJ 11 DECT, ISDN S0, 2 a / b or TAE / RJ 11 DECT, 1 a / b or TAE / RJ 11 DECT, 1 a / b or TAE / RJ 11 DECT, ISDN S0, 2 a / b or TAE / RJ 11 DECT, 1 a / b or TAE / RJ 11 no DECT, ISDN S0 (4 B channels; second ISDN via adapter), 2 a / b or TAE / RJ 11 DECT, ISDN S0 (4 B-channels; second ISDN via adapter), 2 a / b or TAE / RJ 11 LAN 4x Gbit LAN / 1 Gbit -WAN 4x Gbit LAN / 1 Gbit WAN 4x Gbit-LAN 4x Gbit LAN 4x Gbit-LAN 4x FE 4x Gbit-LAN 4x Gbit-LAN / 1 Gbit-WAN 4x Gbit-LAN / 1 Gbit-WAN USB 2x USB 3.0 2x USB 3.0 1x USB 2.0 1x USB 3.0 2x USB 3.0 1x USB 2.0 2x USB 3.0 2x USB 3.0 2x USB 3.0 Price 185 225 169 115 200 70 130 440 280 Technically speaking, there is also little for the Fritzbox 7430 that only 11 n-WLAN in single-band operation with 2.4 GHz and a maximum of 450 offers Mbit / s as well as only Fast Ethernet for the LAN ports. However, it only costs around 70 Euro: That’s why she can in connection with a faster Fritzbox on the Internet connection as a cheap mesh repeater, expand the WLAN and serve as an additional DECT base.
The equipment of the Fritzbox 3490 is the same for Internet (VDSL vectoring up to 100 MBit / s) and WLAN speed (11 AC over 5 GHz with 1733 Mbit / s and 11 n over 2.4 GHz with 450 Mbit / s) and the connections (4x Gigabit LAN and 2x USB 3.0) of the Fritzbox 7490. But it lacks the connections for ISDN and analog telephones and the DECT function. Anyone who calls via VoIP telephone via the LAN socket or via smartphone via WLAN can access it.
Fritzbox models for internet via cable connection As with the Fritz boxes for VDSL, the same applies to the models for the cable connection: The latest Fritz box does not offer the best equipment. For the Fritzbox 6591 Cable (test report) for around 190 Euro speaks its support for WiFi-6, especially since it in contrast to the Fritzbox 7530 AX beautiful 160 – MHz radio channels over 5 GHz supported and therefore up to 2400 Mbit / s over 5 GHz. To ensure that this speed also arrives at devices connected via LAN such as a NAS, the 6660 Cable one 2.5 Gbit connection next to the four Gigabit LAN ports.
For telephony the Fritzbox is 6591 Cable for round 235 Euro more suitable: It has an additional connection for analog telephones and a socket for an ISDN telephone. It lacks the 2.5 Gbit LAN port as well as WiFi-6. But for 11 AC it offers the maximum speed with 1733 Mbit / s and up to 800 Mbit / s over 10 n and 2.4 GHz.
Fritz router with cable modem Model Fritzbox 6660 Cable Fritzbox 6591 Cable Modem Docsis 3.1 6 Gbit / s (2×2), Euro-DOCSIS 3.0 (32 x8) Docsis 3.1 6 Gbit / s (2×2), Euro-DOCSIS 3.0 (32 x8) WLAN: Standard / MIMO streams Wi-Fi 6 / 2×2 (160 Hz) 11 AC / 4×4 WiFi speed: Mbps (5 GHz + 2.4 GHz) 2400 + 600 1733 + 800 MU-MIMO Yes Yes Telephony DECT, 1 a / b or TAE / RJ 10 DECT, ISDN S0, 2 a / b, RJ 11 or 1 TAE (2. TAE via adapter) LAN 4x Gbit LAN , 1x 2.5Gbit 4x Gbit-LAN USB 1x USB 2.0 2x USB 3.0 Price 190 235 Both cable Fritzboxes are future-proof, because their modem supports the Docsis standard 3.1, which allows Internet connections with 1 GBit / s and more. At Vodafone, for example, this standard comes off for all connections 450 Mbit / s is used, the provider is increasingly upgrading its infrastructure to it. That’s why Fritzbox models for Docsis 3.0 are like the 6590 Cable, 6490 Cable or 6430 Cable no longer recommended.
Fritzbox models for LTE The Fritzbox 6890 LTE goes through your Cat.6 modem with up to 300 Mbit / s on-line. But the router can also access the Internet via VDSL via its supervectoring-capable modem. The Gigabit WAN port can also be used to connect to an existing cable or fiber optic modem, so that the 300 Euro expensive router allows all connection types to be used. A separate tariff is required for each access, because the Fritzbox is not suitable for Telekom’s LTE-DSL hybrid offer. In terms of WLAN and telephony, their equipment largely corresponds to the VDSL and cable top models 7590 and 6591.
The Fritzbox 6850 for round 175 Euro corresponds to the equipment of the VDSL Fritzbox 7530, so offers among other things 11 AC WLAN with two parallel data streams and MU-MIMO, a connection for analog telephones in addition to the DECT function and a USB 3.0 port.
Fritz router for LTE Model Fritzbox 6890 LTE Fritzbox 6820 LTE Fritzbox 6820 LTE v3 Modem LTE Cat.6 Mini-SIM (300 Mbit / s) + VDSL (supervectoring: 300 Mbit / s); LTE band: 1,3,7,8, 20, 28, 32 LTE Cat.4 Mini-SIM (150 Mbit / s); LTE band: 1,3,5,7,8, 20, 28; 38, 40, 41 (TDD) LTE Cat.4 (150 Mbit / s) (Band 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 32; TDD 38, 40, 41) WLAN: Standard / MIMO streams 11 AC / 4×4 11 AC / 2×2 11 N / 3×3 WiFi speed: Mbps (5 GHz + 2.4 GHz) 1733 + 800 866 + 400 450 MU-MIMO Yes Yes Telephony DECT, ISDN S0, 1xRJ 11 (adapter for TAE), 1xTAE DECT, 1 a / b (RJ 11 or TAE) – LAN 4x Gbit LAN / 1 Gbit WAN 4x Gbit-LAN 1x Gbit-LAN USB 1x USB 3.0 1x USB 3.0 – Price 290 175 120 The Fritzbox is even cheaper 6820 LTE for around 120 Euro: It does without the telephone functions and a USB connection. With WLAN it only offers 11 n with up to 450 Mbit / s. The LTE modem of the 6850 and 6820 delivers a maximum of 99 Mbit / s.
You should take a close look at the LTE Fritzboxes: AVM brings new versions onto the market without prior notice, which differ mainly through the built-in LTE modem . Currently, for example, version 2 of the Fritzbox is 6890 LTE and version 3 for the Fritzbox LTE 6820 – the version number is on the nameplate on the underside of the housing. An improved LTE modem provides a faster or more stable connection as it supports additional LTE bands and advanced carrier aggregation. However, a new version can also mean that the Fritzbox can no longer be used with tariffs from certain providers, although the model is on their compatibility list.
Fritzbox models for fiber optics and G.fast Fritz boxes for these types of connection can hardly be found in free trade. The provider usually offers them for free or for rent at the appropriate tariff. The fiber optic models Fritzbox 5530 and 5490 are like the Fritzbox 7490 fitted. The 5491 fits the connection variant GPON, which Telekom uses for its fiber optic tariffs use. For providers whose fiber optic networks are based on AON, the 5490 suitable.
Fritz router for fiber optics Model Fritzbox 5491 Fiber Fritzbox 5491 Fritzbox 5490 Modem GPON, AON GPON (Gf-TA) AON WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS: Standard / MIMO streams Wifi-6 / 2×2 11 AC / 3×3 11 AC / 3×3 WiFi speed: Mbps (5 GHz + 2.4 GHz) 2400 + 600 1300 + 450 1300 + 450 MU-MIMO – – Telephony DECT, a / b DECT, ISDN S0, 2 a / b (RJ 11 or TAE) DECT, ISDN S0, 2 a / b or TAE / RJ 11 LAN 1x 2.5Gbit LAN; 2x Gbit LAN 4x Gbit-LAN 4x Gbit-LAN USB 2x USB 3.0 2x USB 3.0 Price 169 240 190 The Fritzbox 7583 masters VDSL with bonding: bundling two connections doubles the data rate, but the provider must support this. In addition, the 7583 on the G.fast standard: In Germany, some local providers use this for home networking via copper cables when the building is connected via fiber optics (FTTB, Fiber-to-the-Building). In the individual apartments, a bandwidth of 1 GBit / s or more is possible via telephone cable.
Fritz boxes without modem The cheapest Fritzbox models 4040 (round 70 Euro) and 4020 (round 45 Euro) are used behind the provider modem, to which they are connected via LAN cable via the WAN port. The devices in the home network brings the 4020 per 11 AC WiFi with two parallel data streams and four gigabit ports online. The 4020 only transmits via 11 n-WLAN with a maximum of 450 Mbit / s, your LAN ports only support Fast Ethernet speeds. Telephone connections and DECT capability are both missing.
Fritz router without modem Model Fritzbox 4040 Fritzbox 4020 WLAN: Standard / MIMO streams 11 AC / 2×2 11 N / 3×3 WiFi speed: Mbps ( 5 GHz + 2.4 GHz) 866 + 400 450 MU-MIMO – – LAN 4x Gbit LAN / 1 Gbit WAN 2x FE-LAN / 1 FE-WAN USB 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0 1x USB 2.0 Pr ice 70 45 Conclusion AVM offers a suitable Fritzbox for every type of connection. Choosing the right model depends on how many devices in the home network the router should bring online and which telephone connections it should have. The top models 7590 for VDSL, 6591 Cable for the cable connection and 6890 LTE for Internet via cellular nothing to be desired.
The Fritzbox 7530 AX and 6660 Cables already come with future-proof WiFi-6, but they lack the ISDN connection and another one Connection for analog devices. For smaller home networks that do not require top speed for WLAN, the cheaper variants Fritzbox 7530 for VDSL and 6850 LTE in question. Even more about the network and WLAN are featured in our WLAN theme world. For example, we test WiFi mesh systems there, including those with WiFi-6.
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Starting today, as from 18 December 2021 Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite smart watch is now available in the official Polish distribution. Its regular price is PLN 249, while today you can buy it 50 PLN cheaper. Outside of time, the promotion is limited by an additional pool of copies, so it is worth hurrying. Due to the fact that it is currently one of the cheapest but recommendable smartwatches available in Poland, it would be stupid not to take the opportunity. Of course, provided that you planned to buy this type of device or you simply want to check at a low cost if you really need it.
Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite has just arrived in Poland. One of the cheapest smart watches available on our market, on the occasion of its debut, it has a promotional price that makes the equipment even more attractive.
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Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite is to some extent rebranded Redmi Watch, a watch available in China. However, there are differences here. Mi Watch Lite has not 7, but 249 sport modes, GPS and GLONASS, a barometer and a battery that allows for two days longer work than the other watch. Compared to the Redmi Watch, unfortunately the NFC module, microphone and intelligent assistant are missing here. In appearance, the Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite resembles a slightly smaller Apple Watch, so we are talking about a subdued but attractive elegance. However, there are things you should know about the watch.
Samsung Galaxy Watch3 smartwatch test – fitness rich
1.4-inch TFT screen displays the image in resolution 320 x 320 pixels, but be aware that we will not experience any animation here. The information presented on the display changes without a transition effect. They can enjoy the built-in GPS receiver and the atmospheric pressure sensor. Of course, there was also a heart rate monitor and a battery with a capacity 230 mAh that allows up to 9 days of work on a single charge. The replenishment of “energy” takes about 2 hours.
Testing Tests overview Smartphone Asus ROG Phone 3 in the test: Perfect gaming smartphone LG Wing in the test: 1, 5 displays and gimbal cam Nokia 3.4 in the test: update promise for little money Smartphone Realme 7 in the test: 90 Hertz at a budget price Realme 7 Pro in the test: OLED display and 65 – Watt loading Huawei Mate 40 Pro in the test: Great, but without Google Samsung Galaxy M 21 Test: Solid cross-country skier at a budget price Smartwatch Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 in the test: competition for Apple? Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro in the test: Smartwatch with cross-country battery Apple Watch: Smartwatch with contract from 15 € per month Buy Apple Watch 6: All generations in the price check Skagen Falster 3 in the test: Smartwatch with Wear OS Test Huawei Watch GT 2: Noble fitness tracker in watch form Huawei Watch GT in the test: record-breaking battery life Multiroom Bose Portable H ome speaker in the test: battery, WiFi, Airplay 2 Sonos Move in the test: the robust all-rounder Musiccast: Multiroom from Yamaha in the test Denon Heos in the test: Versatile multi-room system Flat soundbar Teufel Sounddeck Streaming in the test Teufel Raumfeld in the test: rich multiroom sound Technisat Digitradio 580 in the test: The gray all-rounder Keyfinder Tile Slim (2019): Key finder in credit card format Bluetooth key finder Tile Pro in the test: 122 m range! Key Fin the Tile Pro in the test: the range champion Orbit Bluetooth tracker in the test: looking for wallet and keys Nonda iHere 3.0: smart key finder in the test Chipolo Classic and plus: Bluetooth key finder in the test Musegear finder 2: Key finder without registration obligation Action-Cam DJI Pocket 2 in the test : Zoom and 64 – Megapixel sensor Actioncam Insta 360 One R: 1-inch image sensor in the test Gopro Hero 8 Black in the test: Back to the top Insta 360 One R in the test: The modul are Actioncam Motorola Moto G8 Plus test: Great smartphone, but … Insta 360 Go: Micro-GoPro in the test Motorola One Action Test: good hardware, bad camera microSD In the test: Kingston UHS-I U3 microSDXC Kit MicroSD card for smartphone: Samsung Evo Plus 2017 Test report: Lexar Professional 1800 x microSDXC Kit Test report: Intenso Premium microSDXC card with 64 GByte Android Sonos Move in the test: The robust all-rounder Honor 20: Inexpensive high-end smartphone in Test Xiaomi Mi 9: Top technology at a bargain price Doogee S 90 in the test: modular outdoor smartphone ZTE Axon 10 Pro in the test: high-end phone at a competitive price Motorola Moto G7 Power in the test: large battery , small price Sony Xperia 10: Smartphone with 21: 9 display under test Counselor Advisor overview Purchase advice Bargain: Which Fire TV -Stick from 19 € is the right one? Purchase advice: What good is a leaf blower with a battery for 45 Euro? True wireless headphones: How much do you have to invest? Buying advice water cooling: High-end PCs cool better Guide: Air conditioning and fan against the heat wave Sony shows the Xperia 1: Is the predecessor XZ3 worth it now? Purchase advice: Current headphones with ANC to 360 Euro Practice Caution, money away: Kickstarter & Co. are not shops Switch off Android notifications from annoying apps This is how it works: Now install the new Android L keyboard ren Tip: Use “Ok Google everywhere” in Germany In the test: Does the jailbreak work for iOS 7.1? Goderma and mobile medicine: The doctor apps are coming ! Instructions: Jailbreak for iOS 7 on iPhone 5S, 5, 4S and 4 Technology Importing technology from China, part 2: Customs, taxes and tricks Drones & copters: From toys to FPV racers What does the end of an ecosystem mean? Smartphones with a flexible display: What’s in it for me? Smartphone processors at a glance: Everything Snapdragon? Evolutionary dead ends: the very worst cell phones mpass: Pay with the NFC mobile phone – or the NFC toilet roll Display calculator Calculate pixel density, number and display proportion Best list Test winner Price comparison Price comparison overview Smartphones from Android 7.0 Phablets with stylus Fitness tracker with GPS Bluetooth headphones with ANR Drones with GPS Video TechStage Best list Top 10: These are the best smartphones 2020 Beginning Place 1 Place 2 3rd place 4th place Pla tz 5 Place 6 Place 7 Place 8 Place 9 Place 10 Conclusion Comments from Stefan // 17. 12. 2020 13: 37 Clock
Dozens, if not hundreds, of smartphones are in 2020 hit the market, most but are hardly worth more than a side note. But there are exceptions: We have the best smartphones 2019 selected.
Does “the best” smartphone even exist? From a purely objective point of view, probably. At least in the typical schoolyard quartet, technical data can be compared with one another without any value and in the end there is theoretically a winner, i.e. the best smartphone 2020. In reality, however, it looks a little different. Because, on the one hand, minor details often decide between victory and defeat, and in everyday life it is much more important how the things that are in the data sheet actually work. And even if we try to highlight such things in our tests, we often do not succeed fully due to the very limited test period.
Best example: Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra (test report). The pen giant is undoubtedly an extremely good smartphone and there is hardly anything that the model does not offer. What was not noticed (or at least not as clearly) in the normal test period, but even more so in continuous use: The battery is too weak for a Note model. In addition, the upper half of the volume rocker in our test model gave way after a few weeks, it lost all pressure point and key travel, but can still be operated. Also never noticed with any other model: The note 20 All of a sudden on Google Maps the language information is no longer transmitted via the external, but the internal speaker. A few other apps also bitch on the device every now and then. Only a reboot will fix such problems.
And the third problem that simply riding around on technical data does not make sense: Ultimately, it always depends on your own usage behavior, whether the supposed lack of a feature bothers you or not. Therefore we say it bluntly: Our top 10 of the best smartphones 2020 is definitely subjective. We have the 10 devices that stuck in our minds. Not every user will be in our top 10, but that is – as described – in the nature of the matter. By the way: The one on the note 20 Ultra-described problems are not included in this top 10 . Because on the one hand it is still a really good smartphone, on the other hand we have hardly been able to test any other model over such a long period – so that would be unfair.
1st place: Xiaomi Poco F2 Pro So much power for buyers got so little money in a great overall package as with the Poco F2 Pro (test report) in 2020 on any other smartphone. For currently under 450 Euros are a Snapdragon 865, absolutely sufficient 6 GByte RAM, 128 GByte UFS memory and at least during the day a decent main camera (even if it is advertised as a quad cam …) including popup Front camera. The device provides the content on an almost 6.7 inch (approx. 17 cm) large OLED screen and ensures with its 4700 mAh strong battery for good runtimes. Android 11 is already available thanks to an update – what more could you want? A screen with more than 60 Hertz maybe, admittedly. If you are really looking for that, you will not find it here. All others are spot on and that’s why the device is in 2020 the number one.
2nd place: Samsung Galaxy S 20 FE 5G What, the Fan Edition in second place? But the Ultra can do a lot more! That’s right – nevertheless we just want to praise Samsung at this point: You can do it! At least in the 5G version, the FE gives users what the fan base wants: A Snapdragon processor – 820, which not only has more power, but also less hunger for electricity. Everything else is almost on par with the S 20 – sibling models – at a significantly lower price! In summary, the Samsung Galaxy S scores 19 FE with a 6.5 inch (approx 17 cm) large OLED Display with 120 Hertz, a great one Triple camera, 6 / 128 GByte memory and a battery with proper 4500 mAh. Android 11 is still missing, but should also come soon. All of this is available for under 650 Euro – the RRPs of the other S 20 models were much higher at the time. What exactly they can do better (or worse), we have in our Ve equal to the four S 20 – Models (guide) combined.
3rd place: Oneplus 8 Pro The Oneplus 8 Pro is already on the Market came. But it is still so good that even the manufacturer, who has usually brought an update to its models after around six months, has not brought a new T-Pro model. The reason: The Pro model is still fresh enough. Right! At that time, the model performed better than competitors like Galaxy S in our reader test (article) at least in some areas such as daylight shots with main and wide angle Ultra (test report) and Sony Xperia 1 II ( Test report).
Even apart from the camera, the device still cuts a very good figure. This is also shown by the constantly high price of the model, which is only available from around 820 Euro. In addition to the very chic exterior, the smartphone scores with 6.8 inches (approx. 17 cm) large OLED screen with 120 Hz and 1440 p + resolution. The Snapdragon 865 of the model is flanked by 8 GB of RAM, data can be found in at least 128 GB of internal memory space. As popular with Chinese manufacturers, it is not expandable (even with the Poco phone), but the update supply is good and Android 11 already available .
4th place: Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Apart from the little things mentioned above, there are few smartphones that can do more than the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra (test report). The device offers a 6.9 inch (approx. 18 cm) large (huge!) OLED display with 120 Hz and 1440 p + resolution, a very good quad camera with up to 108 Megapixels, a strong Exynos 990 when Drive, full 12 GByte RAM and at least 256 GByte expandable internal memory. In addition, there is something that hardly any other smartphone offers in this form: a stylus. Too bad: Samsung only builds one battery with 4400 mAh, that’s a bit tight. Also Android 11 It is not available yet.
5th place: Huawei P 40 Pro Plus 6.6 inches (approx. 17 cm) OLED screen with 90 Hz, Kirin 990, 8 GByte RAM and 512 GByte internal memory – The warehouse in particular should put a grin on the face of many interested parties. It is even comparatively “common”. Because the Huawei P 40 Pro Plus (test report) also offers a ceramic back, fast wireless charging and, above all, double optical magnification: 3 and 10-subject. Hardly any other smartphone can do this and allows smartphone photographers even more flexibility when taking photos. The quality is Huawei-moderately good, especially in low light there is hardly any other manufacturer in 2020. Incidentally, the battery only provides 3687 mAh for decent runtimes – some competitors should learn a slice of this.
Why then not the device further up in this top 10 is? Quite simply: Because of the US ban, Huawei’s current smartphones still come without Google services. Among other things, this means: No Play Store, no functioning banking apps and other restrictions that the manufacturer has still not been able to adequately compensate for. Too bad – otherwise the P 40 Pro Plus been a contender for the throne.
6th place: Huawei Mate 40 Per This also applies to another great smartphone from Huawei: the Mate 40 Pro (test report). The device comes with an even larger OLED display, it measures 6.7 inches (approx. 16 cm) and also offers 90 Hz. The triple cam is as brilliant as in the P 40 Pro Plus, but dispenses with double optical zoom. The new Kirin 900, the one with at least 8 / 256 GByte memory is combined. Particularly fast 66 – Watt fast charging charges the 4400 mAh strong battery enormously fast, wirelessly it still works with fast 50 Watt. Unfortunately, the same applies here: No Google services (or adequate replacement) – no better ranking. We still think the device is great!
Place 7: Xiaomi Mi 10 Per In the previous year there was still a Mi-9 model at the top of the podium, with the Mi – 10 series, however, Xiaomi has tightened the price screw. Accordingly, the “cheap daughter” Poco is now on top, the Wed 10 Pro (test report) joins below. This is a really good smartphone that does not have any of the quirks of the Note in the long-term test 20 Ultra featured: 6.7 inches (approx. 17 cm) OLED with 90 Hz, great quad cam with 108 Megapixels like Samsung, Snapdragon 865 and 8 / 256 GByte memory – that’s pretty neat. The battery ensures good running times, the charging times are thanks to 50 watts short. Wireless takes a little longer.
8th place: Oppo Find X2 Pro Had the Oppo Find X2 Pro We haven’t finished testing it at the time of writing this article, but the impression we got up to that point convinced us to include the device in our annual best list. The main reason is the great price-performance ratio: While all but the first three models are at least 900 Euros in the smallest variant, the Find X2 Pro is currently with a ceramic back for only around 750 to have euros.
However, there is no worse technology for a long time, on the contrary. This offers 6.7 inches (approx. 17 cm) large OLED panel 120 Hz frame rate, the triple cam with up to 48 Megapixels also wide angle and telephoto lens and a Snapdragon comes as a drive 865 with full 12 GB of RAM used – wow! Added to this are 512 GByte internal memory – that it is not expandable should really be don’t bother anyone anymore. The battery is with its 4200 mAh maybe a little tight, with full 64 But the watt recharges extremely quickly. Wireless charging is missing, IP 67 – certification (as opposed to our number One and the ninth-placed model) is included.
Place 9: Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 5G The Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 5G (test report) is actually a really great device that offers real added value with its still quite new folding display technology. So it puts contents folded up on its 6.2 inches (approx. 16 cm) “small” OLED screen, when unfolded it is a proud 7.6 inches ( approx. 19 cm) OLED with 120 Hz – great! The camera with main, wide and telephoto lens also convinced in the test and the Snapdragon 865 Plus afforded With 12 GByte RAM no weakness.
Even 256 GByte internal memory is ok, only the battery with 4500 mAh should have been a bit larger. However, this was not noticed negatively in the test. The problem with great technology: the price. At the time of this article, the model costs over 1300 Euros even more than an iPhone 12 Pro Max. As soon as that drops further, the Fold 2 becomes a really interesting smartphone.
Place 10: Apple iPhone 12 Max Pro Yes, the iPhone 12 Max Pro is Apple’s spearhead, but what’s the point of a price of still over 1200 Euro for the version with 128 GByte? Technically, Apple often only offers standard food: OLED with 6.7 inches (approx. 17 cm) and 60 Hz, (good) quad cam with up to 12 Megapixels, the really fast Apple-A 14 -Chipset and 6 GB of RAM. Before Apple fans scream: Yes, the hardware is easily enough and cannot be directly compared with an Android phone – it depends on “the inner values”. And then everything is correct again – even if the battery is also 3687 mAh seems a bit weak and the maximum charging power at 20 watts is limited to the maximum (Qi 7.5 watts).
Plus point for the iPhone: Everything comes from a single source, so Apple hardware and software work together as perfectly as possible. This is different with some androids. In addition, the resale value of iPhones remains quite stable, which puts the high purchase price into perspective. And last but not least, iPhones get updates longer than Android smartphones – exemplary! Who wants to know when he will use the iPhone 12 Max Pro should buy: We looked at this in this article (guide).
Conclusion An iPhone on the last, a Poco- Phone in first place? A look at the price explains a lot of it. And place 10 does not mean that the Apple smartphone is bad, after all, it is in the top at all 10 of the best smartphones. Which model would you have seen in first place?
If you want to spend less (apart from the Poco phone), you will find suitable smartphones in our top 10 of the best smartphones up to 500, to 400 and until 300 Euro. Here at the latest there should be something for everyone.
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The Space Force, it seems, is not sympathetic to the mission that seems to have captured many across the US: getting a PS5. One of its members has reportedly been reprimanded and demoted for being 30 minutes late to physical training because he was trying to get one of the consoles, according to a post on the Air Force amn/nco/snco Facebook page (via Task and Purpose).
According to the letter, the unnamed airman texted his superior officer that he was going to be 30 minutes late to his fitness improvement program as he had been driving around to multiple Targets (the store, not the military terminology) trying to buy a PS5. The airman then added “Yolo, PS5 > letters of discipline,” according to the letter of discipline.
The letter of reprimand that was posted to the Facebook group.Photo: Air Force amn/nco/snco Facebook page
Perhaps his senior officer didn’t appreciate the flippancy. Perhaps showing up late was somewhat of a habit for the airman, which the second part of the letter seems to imply. Whatever it was, the move earned the airman a demotion from E-4 Senior Airman to E-3 Airman First Class.
The second part of the letter detailing the demotion and possible track record of showing up late.Photo: Air Force amn/nco/snco Facebook page
In terms of dollars and cents, that’s a pay cut from around $2,262 a month to $2,042 a month, according to the Air Force website. Unfortunately for our (now less senior) airman, that means it’s going to be even harder to afford a scalped PS5, assuming he wasn’t able to find one during his Target runs. The letters of reprimand frustratingly leave that detail a mystery.
A spokesperson for the airman’s unit could neither confirm nor deny that the letters were real, though they did say the document’s formatting was correct for a letter of reprimand, according to Task and Purpose.
The EU Commission’s competition watchdogs have approved the planned takeover of the fitness watch specialist Fitbit by the online giant Google. However, the approval of the merger is subject to the condition that Google complies with voluntary commitments to avoid distortions of competition, as the Brussels authority announced on Thursday. The company is not allowed to use data generated via Fitbit devices to optimize its advertising business and must give users the option to prohibit the use of data for services such as Google Maps and YouTube.
Warning from data protectionists The competition watchdogs had intensively investigated in recent months whether the takeover would have a negative impact on the markets for online Advertising might have. “If Google continues to expand its data advantage in personalizing advertisements that it places via its search engine and displays on other Internet sites, it would be more difficult for competitors to keep up with Google’s online advertising services,” said the EU Commission. This would create barriers to market entry and obstacles to expansion for competitors – which would ultimately come at the expense of advertisers and website operators, who would have to pay higher prices and have less choice. The now prescribed obligations would ensure free competition, it is now said.
At the beginning of November last year, Google had plans to take over Fitbit for a good two billion Dollar announced. It said that data from the fitness specialist should not be used for personalized advertising. At the beginning of the year, however, European data protectionists warned that a further accumulation of user information in the hands of a large tech company would pose a risk to the protection of privacy. Other opponents voiced their opinions in the summer.
Fitbit was a pioneer in the business of fitness bracelets that count steps and calories burned. However, this business has meanwhile been rolled out from two directions: Apple is very successful with its Apple Watch computer clock, which also has various fitness functions – and cheap devices from China, especially from Xiaomi, dominate in simple bracelets.
Anyone who uses a fitness tracker or a smartwatch is familiar with the problem: Many devices only know a limited number of activities or fail to reliably identify and track training due to different movement styles, devices and performance levels of the users. A new motion sensor with integrated AI functions for wearables should now help.
Thanks to the AI functions Users can train the sensor in learning mode for new fitness activities or optimize their own movement sequences using the built-in personalization function. Manufacturers of wearables can easily expand the list of 15 activities already built into the sensor without having to program software. Automatic tracking should also work better thanks to AI.
Local AI without cloud New exercises from trainers, top athletes or friends can be transferred to the sensor to enable users to learn from and compare with others. The artificial intelligence runs locally as “edge AI” on a 15 – bit microprocessor in the sensor module, so learned activities can be carried out without an Internet connection or connection to an external one Application can be tracked and analyzed.
Bosch Sensortec supplies the KI sensor BHI 260 AP as an integrated system in package (SiP), consisting of hardware, software and the embedded AI. For this purpose, the manufacturer offers various special applications that the manufacturers of wearables can load onto the sensor. You can also program your own applications and load them onto the sensor.
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