Since my train was stranded and the iPhone had nothing more to say, I listened to Helmut the bus driver. The air conditioning is currently insufficient, he said, so he got a coolkeeper, a special seat mat so that he doesn’t have to stew in his own juice the whole shift. Fortunately, he drives a diesel-powered bus and not an electric one, so you have to be careful with the energy and you can’t just turn up the air conditioning, even in the heat like it is now. Then it could happen that the bus simply stops on the route. “I don’t have a spare canister then,” he insisted.
While I was paddling through potatoes, I could as a native city dweller, don’t imagine living there; as always when I drove across the country, even as a child, when I visited relatives with my parents, just under an hour’s drive northwest of Nienburg. At least for some errands I would have to rely on the car, I probably couldn’t just take public transport to work or even cycle. That for me as a passionate pedestrian who can switch to a bike or tram in the city for a quick trip and handle larger transports with the sharing car or that of a friend. The foot pressure would probably be even stronger if I lived in Schwabing, where, according to a BMW study by 1997 all motorists combined Every day 80.00 should have spent 0 kilometers searching for a parking space.
Reserve canister Normally at the end of the day I can’t remember which topics I worked on during the working day. They can then no longer be queried directly, they seem to be shifted into a kind of foreshadowing memory. When I come across a topic, I suspect that I had it on the table not long or a long time ago, and I can narrow down the archive search accordingly. On this Tuesday, however, I had another dpa message in mind: “Car traffic causes follow-up costs of 141 Billion euro”. In the year 2017, the alliance had calculated per rail. The costs would not be borne by the polluters alone, but by the general public. Criticism came from the FDP that it was tendentious to argue only with the follow-up costs and to ignore the benefits of mobility. As liberals, in the tradition of Adam Smith, you mean, of course, the economic benefits for the benefit of all.
Mobility includes immobility, cars stand around most of the time . In the country there are endless parking spaces for this, where the prerequisites would be more likely to charge the electric car in front of one’s own front door, as most owners of such cars are currently doing in view of the thin infrastructure and long charging times. In the city, on the other hand, the proportion of rental accommodation is high, there are quite a few multi-party houses, like the one in which I live, and correspondingly little parking space. Many apartment buildings have no parking spaces that are suitable as charging stations. After all, the legislators want to promote the private installation of charging stations by strengthening the rights of tenants.
“Reserve canister” was my catchphrase, thinking about the now empty power bank, about the system, even paradigm shift that came with the switch from Xenium to iPhone. Always keep an eye on the charge level and thus the option benefits, and if it fell below a certain threshold, keep your eyes wandering to the nearest socket. If someone seemed to be reachable, “may I” ask and mark the area with a plug. Middle of 00 he years, when people with touchscreens increased in the trains and subways I used, it became common in some pubs – at least in Stuttgart I had seen this more often, less in Bremen – for people to have their smartphones in front of them laid the table. In a cozy atmosphere it became tight between the beer and wine glasses in a high-tech, status symbolic way.
Trimmed expectation On this last Tuesday in August 2019 it was just a week ago that Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her expectation to like one on Germany’s streets Drive a million electric cars, from 2020 to 2022 had moved. Germany was still many thousands of electric vehicles away from the destination. An electric car is possibly a status symbol, but one that cannot be plugged in or put on the table.
The German fear of electromobility seems to be giving way, well encouraged by the Purchase premium offered by the state and manufacturers. From January to October 2020 were 121. 500 purely battery-electric powered cars newly registered, 130 percent more than last year. The federal government’s electromobility funding program has existed since July 2016 and was initially adopted very hesitantly. Four years later it is on many lips and often a quiet car sneaks past my living room window. The call of money is weighted on the scales against the fear of range, this special form of German fear.
“That’s why I wouldn’t buy an electric car privately. How should I go on vacation with it? “, the bus driver interrupted my thoughts from the future. “Please?” I winced. “I go to Spain with my wife every year,” said Helmut, “on the way I find petrol stations everywhere. But what about charging stations? Besides, after ten minutes I’m through with refueling. Do you know how long it takes to get one Fully charge your electric car? ” I thought of a message that I had written two years earlier: Three men had driven their Tesla from the North Cape to Tarifa and had 86 hours needed. Only for the loading went there 10 hours on it. In normal reality 70 percent of drivers in Germany daily maximum 50 kilometers, 17 percent between 50 and 100 km, Eon had found out through a survey. At the same time 20 percent expected from one E-car with a full charge between 141 and 500 km range, 21 Percent more than 500 km.
isochrones – Card by Francis Galton.
The British naturalist Francis Galton had 1881 produced an isochronous map. He colored areas on a world map that could be reached from a certain point – namely London – within a certain period of time. Within ten days to the Urals, 40 Days to Australia or central South America; Assuming the most favorable travel conditions and costs. The first electric cars were already around at that time, but I don’t know whether Galton included them in his considerations. Probably not, because at that time steam-powered vehicles such as ships and trains were more suitable for the range.
Delirium furiosum First train passenger 40 Years before Galton’s first isochronous map, it is said to be traveling with 30 km / h have become bad, medical councils are even said to have warned against a delirium furiosum. At the latest since Chuck’s Yeager’s flight 1881 with a Bell X-1 through the sound barrier, we can know that too higher speeds can be survived; Yeager only died 73 years after his pioneering act. The force that an electric car pushes the occupants into their seats when starting off in a sporty way has not harmed people either. What could the astronauts who were shot into space by the Saturn V say?
Today, since most of the world’s points can be reached within a few hours to days, isochronons have maps for normal people not as important as, for example, the broadband or mobile communications atlas. The one for Lower Saxony nowadays has hardly any dead spots. That was before 13 Years different when I started commuting from Bremen to Hanover by train. In order not to let the travel time pass unused, I went online with a UMTS stick on my laptop early in the morning in Bremen’s main train station, looked for topics for reports, researched and drove into a dead zone where I could write the report. If I was finished with the report, I could put it in the editorial system shortly before Verden or not, if research was still required. Then I used the reception until shortly after Verden, drove into the next radio hole and then had Internet again in the area around Nienburg. The third dead zone followed between Nienburg and Hanover.
Over the years I had become so used to the rhythm that I kept it when the ICE finally offered a continuous connection via WLAN. WLAN was already available in the ICE, but just like my UMTS stick it understood every radio gap. It only offered the opportunity to conserve my data volume if it worked. Sometimes the WiFi worked, but the router behind it wasn’t connected to the internet. When I pointed this out to the train drivers, they either asked me what I wanted, the WLAN was switched on, or they said the router had to be restarted, that would only be possible in Hanover, the destination of my morning journey.
No, reservations are no longer transferred to the displays on the seats via diskette, that has not happened for a long time, assures Deutsche Bahn. The reservation data would be on a DB server and would be received on the train via a modem or mobile phone via cellular network and then shown on the displays. But here, too, there are of course pitfalls, because it could well happen that the connection to the server can only be established after the journey has started, or not at all. Malfunctions on servers or cell phone providers could also prevent data transmission. The result: “Release if necessary.”
A jolt brought me out of my thoughts about yesterday, today and tomorrow, the bus reached Hoya and crossed the Weser. Here I had to change trains and, contrary to the written prohibition, spoke to the driver where I had to get off to get to Hassel, especially since the area had quickly become more rural again. “Oh, we’ve already passed the train station. But I’ll turn around for you and drop you off there.” He said, turned around and dropped me off a kilometer later.
Do you want to have your cake and eat it? We wouldn’t argue with you. You can easily enjoy the best of both worlds, combining the old-school sound of vinyl with the crystal clear convenience of wireless digital music – and this complete music system does just that.
We’ve put together a system that does what every great hi-fi should: be more than the sum of its parts. Yes, all the components here are excellent in their own right but that does not automatically make for a great system. We’ve selected these products because we know they work well together, complementing each other’s strengths and ironing out what little weaknesses there might be.
Read on for why this turntable and streaming system, featuring products from Rega, Naim and Fyne Audio, works quite so well.
Here’s a brilliant turntable, tablet and wireless speaker system
Here’s an excellent hi-fi system combining vinyl and streaming
Enjoy CDs and streaming with this complete digital hi-fi system
The system
Turntable: Rega Planar 3/Elys 2 (£649, $945) Streaming system: Naim Uniti Atom (£2249, $3290) Speakers: Fyne Audio F501 (£1099) Phono stage: Rega Fono MM MK3 (£200)
Total: £4197
We can’t think of another product that has dominated its market sector with the authority of Rega’s Planar 3 turntables. The original was launched in the late 1970s, and since then subsequent iterations have invariably remained the obvious choice in the class.
Rega will supply the Planar 3 without a cartridge for £550, but our sample has the company’s long-running (and rather good) Elys 2 moving-magnet fitted. The cartridge works so well as part of the package that we would advise anyone to spend the extra. Either way, try to position the deck well away from the speakers.
See our complete list of the best turntables
(Image credit: Rega)
To our ears, this version of the Planar 3 sounds considerably cleaner and clearer than its talented predecessor. There’s greater transparency and more resolution of detail too. It also becomes clear that the engaging musical character of the last generation hasn’t been diluted at all; if anything this new version is even more fun, and it’s right at home with all types of music.
There’s scale here, and a surprising dose of authority. Large-scale dynamic shifts are delivered with enthusiasm while shifts of a more subtle variety are handled with finesse.
Tonally, things are nicely balanced. By the highest standards, the Elys 2 could do with a touch more refinement at the top end, but there’s little else at this price that does notably better.
Importantly, the cartridge – and the complete package for that matter – conveys the music with cohesion and sparkle. The Rega ties together the individual strands in such a way that the music makes total sense. The music’s message and its emotional content are communicated with utmost clarity.
(Image credit: NAIM)
And it feeds into the Naim Uniti Atom fairly simply, via the excellent Rega Fono MM MK3 phono stage, a capable-sounding Award-winner that boosts the signal from the record deck before feeding it into the Uniti Atom.
While the Uniti Atom is often described as a streamer, to do so is to do it something of a disservice. In effect it’s a system, to which you need attach only a suitably talented pair of speakers. And, in this case, a turntable.
The onboard amplifier is Class A/B, derived from the NAIT integrated amps. Naim says this presents a number of technical diffculties in terms of production and integration, especially in so small a unit, but its efforts are evident in the musical performance set loose.
As well as being able to play USB-stored music and pick up media elsewhere on your network, the Uniti Atom benefits from having Google Chromecast, Tidal, Spotify Connect and Internet radio built in, with further wireless connection available via AirPlay and Bluetooth aptX HD.
The most immediately noticeable upgrade from the Uniti Atom’s predecessor, the UnitiQute 2 is the level of clarity and insight. The UnitiQute is still an exceptional product that’s found a home on our personal hi-fi racks since we reviewed it two years ago – but the Atom is like opening a door and now listening to the music from inside the room.
From the opening brass parps of The Street’s It Was Supposed To Be So Easy to the hazy tremolo synthesizer hook of Blinded By The Light, via percussive snaps and Mike Skinner’s iconic conversational vocal, you can almost feel the textures through your fingers. And to say it sounds lean does not mean the Uniti Atom is lacking weight. It just doesn’t carry any fat.
(Image credit: Future)
Timing was a forte of the last generation of Naim’s all-in-ones, so we’re pleased to find none of it sacrificed this time around.
We make an attempt to wrong-foot the Uniti Atom with a grander arrangement, via Tidal, using Sergei Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No1 In F-Sharp Minor, but have no luck. The Naim is entirely unfazed by the scale of the recording, the speed or intensity at which the pianist’s fingers are working, or with organising an orchestra around him.
There probably aren’t two much more disparate pieces of music we could use for testing, but the Uniti Atom treats both with the same level of insight, regimental timing and contouring dynamics – and that’s true of everything else we play that stylistically falls in between. If you hear the Uniti Atom and fail to be excited at the prospect of ownership then, quite frankly, there’s little hope left for you.
(Image credit: Fyne Audio)
So, what speakers to pair with such a remarkable pair of sources? Fyne Audio’s F501 floorstanders are previous Award winners in their own right, and thrillingly accomplished for their price.
Compact yet substantial At 98cm tall, 20cm wide and 32cm deep, the F501s are of unremarkable dimensions for a product of this type, and in terms of build quality and finish, they’re exactly what a floorstander at this price needs to be – that’s to say they’re sturdily made, from the chunky locking spikes beneath the substantial plinth all the way along the gently curved MDF-beneath-real-wood-veneer cabinets.
After the usual leisurely running-in period, we get the F501s positioned just so in our listening room.
It’s safe to say the thoughtful Fyne approach makes the speakers pretty forgiving of room position, but we find the F501s to be happiest – like the majority of loudspeakers we listen to – out in some free space, and toed in just a fraction towards our listening position.
At this sort of money, loudspeakers need to be able to turn their hands to any type of music without alarms – but we have to start somewhere, so we give the F501s the chance to show off their chops with Diana Krall’s version of Almost Blue.
This is a high-gloss hi-fi recording, with painstakingly recorded piano and close mic’d vocal supported by stand-up bass, brushed drum kit and economical guitar – and the F501s absolutely lap it up.
But while they’re borderline-fanatical about laying out the last scrap of information, the F501s don’t sacrifice the coherence or unity of a performance in the process. Timing and integration are excellent, and the sympathetic responsiveness of the musicians is never understated or overlooked.
The speakers’ cleverly judged crossover points mean, from the bottom of the frequency range to the top, there’s no noticeable gear-change to the F501s’ delivery. This unified tonality, along with the sweet timing and transparency of their sound, makes the picture the Fyne Audios paint absolutely convincing. Which is just what it needs to be when it’s relaying the signal given by such stellar system-mates.
3 great turntable music systems
Here’s a superb-sounding hi-fi system with streaming skills
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold, the first folding-screen PC, shows a clever way of moving mobile computing forward and is built solid. But there are some kinks to work out in Windows 10 and other software.
For
Folding OLED display
Feels surprisingly durable
Luxury materials
No bloatware
Against
Starts at $2,499 without accessories
Subpar battery life
Some software bugs need to be ironed out
Intel’s Lakefield chips aren’t very powerful
For every innovation to happen, someone has to go first. The worry is how they stick the landing, as that often has implications for the perception of new technology for months or years.
Lenovo is the first to market with a foldable Windows 10 PC. The ThinkPad X1 Fold ($2,499.00 to start, $3,099.00 as tested) is a tablet. Or maybe a laptop? Maybe a book?
That price is eye-popping, which is often the case for first-generation technology. Lenovo has built this with an eye on durability, and added in some premium leather. It’s powered by Intel’s low-power Core i5 Lakefield processor, which enables the form factor.
But Windows 10 wasn’t made for foldables. Lenovo has done some nice work with its own software to soften that blow, but there’s still a bit to be done to make foldables like this take their place among the best Ultrabooks.
Design of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold
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Your first impression of the ThinkPad X1 Fold may be disbelief. The device ships flat, like a tablet. Then you can just fold it closed. Like a book. Open, close. Open, close. Yup, this laptop… tablet — whatever you want to call it — can fold.
This isn’t the first foldable device in the world, of course. Samsung, Huawei, and Lenovo’s own phone arm, Motorola have all released folding phones, which have been of varying (often disappointing) quality. But this? No, this feels solid.
When it’s closed, the ThinkPad X1 Fold looks like a fat notebook – but a premium one, like a Moleskine. It’s bound in black leather with the ThinkPad X1 logo stamped in the front. On the back, there’s a kickstand that folds out. There is a bit of a space between the screens, though if you use the optional physical keyboard (more on that below) then no space shows at all.
You open the device the same way you would open a book, and that’s when the 13.3-inch foldable touchscreen amazes, revealing itself without showing the crease. There is, however, a significant bezel hiding some of the components.
While you can’t see the crease while the display is on (it’s visible when off), you may feel it. All you need to use the screen is a light touch. But if you press a bit harder, you can feel some of the pieces under the OLED panel. But I opened and closed this plenty, and I really didn’t have any doubts about durability, as long as you don’t toss it around.
The bezel and the sides are made from plastic, but the X1 Fold doesn’t feel cheap. There are, however, only two ports: a pair of USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports. You can use either for charging, and depending on the way you use the device (more on that in the next graph), it’s possible the other port will be covered. The rest of the sides are populated by a power button, volume rocker and some speaker grilles.
There are a handful of different ways you could hold or use the device. The most obvious is using the Fold as a straightforward Windows 10 tablet. That works exactly how you would expect, and you can use it in landscape or portrait, with Windows rotating automatically.
You could also bend the X1 Fold part way and hold it like a book, perhaps if you have an e-reader program that supports two pages at once, or if you wanted to consult two documents at the same time. This was the posture I used the least while trying the Fold though; I was just more comfortable holding it like a tablet.
But you can also use it folded part of the way on its side, sort of like a laptop. The Windows 10 touch keyboard leaves a lot to be desired, but you can attach the Fold’s small Bluetooth keyboard to the half with magnets and use half of the 13.3-inch display like a regular laptop.
Alternatively, you can keep the Fold like a tablet and stand it up with a kickstand. Pair that with either the mini keyboard (which works both on or off the screen and has a touchpad) or your own separate Bluetooth keyboard and mouse and you’ve got an instant work setup. It won’t replace a primary monitor, though if you plug one in via USB Type-C, it could be a secondary one. This, to me, was my favorite way to use it. The kickstand works great in landscape mode, but while it works in portrait mode for those who want a taller display, it doesn’t feel as steady.
At 2.2 pounds, the X1 Fold isn’t much heavier than competing notebooks. But in such a compact package, it can feel a bit heavy in your hand. It’s 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches folded and 11.8 x 9.3 x 0.5 inches unfolded, which is remarkably thin for a Windows device.
There’s one other laptop powered by the same Intel Lakefield chip to enable lightweight designs: the Samsung Galaxy Book S, which is 2.1 pounds and 12 x 8 x 0.5 inches in a more standard clamshell shape. Another portable tablet-style device, the non-folding Microsoft Surface Go 2, is lighter at 1.2 pounds and is 9.7 x 6.9 x 0.3 inches.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold Specifications
CPU
Intel Core i5-L16G7
Graphics
Intel UHD Graphics
Memory
8 GB LPDDR4X-4267
Storage
1TB PCIe SSD
Display
13.3-inch, QXGA, 2048 x 1536 foldable OLED touchscreen
Networking
802.11ax Intel Wi-Fi 6. Bluetooth 5.1
Ports
2x USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2
Camera
720p
Battery
50 Wh
Power Adapter
65 W
Operating System
Windows 10 Pro
Dimensions(WxDxH)
Folded: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches / 236 x 158.2 x 27.8mm
Unfolded: 11.8 x 9.3 x 0.5 inches / 299.5 x 236 x 11.5 mm
Weight
2.2 pounds / 1 kg
Accessories
Lenovo Mod Pen, Lenovo Fold Mini Bluetooth Keyboard
Price (as configured)
$3,099.00
Productivity Performance on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold
With the Intel “Lakefield” Core i5-L16G7, 8GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, the ThinkPad X1 Fold trades some performance for flexibility. The processor is good enough for basic computing needs, but no more. Ths chip uses one Sunny Cove core for loads that need bursts of power along with four low-power Tremont cores. If you have a few browser tabs and email, you’ll be fine. Beyond that, consider alternatives.
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On Geekbench 5.0, the Fold notched a single-core score of 871 and a multi-core score of 1,799. Both of those are higher than the scores from the Lakefield processor in the Samsung Galaxy Book S, but there may have been some optimizations and software updates since then. The Microsoft Surface Go 2, with an Intel Core m3-8100Y, had a higher single-core score (1,147) and multi-core score (3,117).
The X1 Fold copied 4.97GB of files at a rate of 452.51MBps. That’s not the fastest out there, but it’s speedier than both the Galaxy Book S and the Surface Go 2.
It took the ThinkPad 33 minutes and 42 seconds to complete our Handbrake test, which transcodes a 4K video to 1080p. The Galaxy Book S took 41:16 and the Surface Go 2 lagged at 48:14. Mainstream laptops often take less than 20 minutes. The Dell XPS 13, for instance, took 18:22.
To stress test the ThinkPad, we also ran a modified version of our Cinebench R23 gauntlet. Usually, it goes for 20 repetitions, but because of Lakefield’s slow performance and an attempt to complete the test before the heat death of the universe, we ran it five times to stress test the Fold. It was largely stable. Surprisingly, the first score was the lowest at 1,775. It went up to the 1790’s across the next three runs, and then settled in the 1780’s.
Usually, we measure CPU speeds. Logging software we tried seemed to be way off on measurements, listing impossibly fast clock speeds that you can’t achieve even on high-end desktop processors. HwInfo did, however, suggest CPU temps of around 81.4 degrees Celsius (178.5 degrees Fahrenheit) on the Sunny Cove core and 82.7 degrees Celsius (180.9 degrees Fahrenheit) on the Tremont cores. But you should take that with a grain of salt, considering the clock speeds displayed.
Display on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
If there’s anywhere the ThinkPad X1 Fold has to completely and utterly nail it, it’s with the 13.3-inch, 2048 x 1536 foldable OLED touchscreen. After all, it’s the part the entire device literally hinges around, and it has to look and feel good.
You can’t see the hinge when the screen is flat, as long as the display is on. But it does appear faintly when the display is powered off. You also can’t feel the hinge, though if you press hard enough you may feel other components under the display. Luckily, a soft touch is all you need.
I’m not all that worried about durability or anything getting under the screen. Unlike the original Samsung Galaxy Fold smartphone, the X1 Fold has a border completely surrounding the screen. Something could get in the leather folio’s spine, maybe, but it would be tough to get something under the screen.
The 13.3-inch screen has a 4:3 aspect ratio, which is a good choice. As a tablet or monitor, it’s tall and provides plenty of space for work. When you fold it to use like a laptop, it’s more cramped — half of the monitor is covered and you get a 1536 x 1006 resolution and around 9.5 inches diagonally. The netbook is back, baby!
The display covers 104% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, which is one of the benefits of OLED. The blacks are deep, and in a trailer for Wonder Woman 1984, the blue seas outside Themyscira made me long for an island vacation (or any vacation, really). The Galaxy Book S (80.5%) and Surface Go 2 (76.1%) are still good, but they don’t use OLED. That preserves the battery (see the battery section below), however.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The X1 fold measured 301.4 nits on our light meter, falling behind both the Book S (334 nits) and Surface Go 2 (408 nits). I didn’t have any issues with this in the most colorful scenes, but there were a few rare times where I wanted to mash the brightness toggle just a few more times.
Keyboard, Touchpad and Stylus on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold
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Without any other accessories, the keyboard on the ThinkPad X1 Fold is the touch keyboard that’s built into Windows 10. If you have the device folded halfway like a laptop, it’s still a bit cramped, and a touch solution won’t let you type as quickly or efficiently as on a physical keyboard.
There are solutions to this — you can use any Bluetooth keyboard and mouse you want, especially if you have it set up as a full display with the kickstand.
Our package included the $89.99 Lenovo Mod Pen and $229.99 Lenovo Fold Mini Bluetooth Keyboard, which really feels like the way the X1 Fold is intended to be used. The keyboard is super thin, tiny, and can be attached to half of the X1 Fold with magnets (this shuts off that half of the screen). You can also use it like a normal Bluetooth keyboard.
But to fit in the Fold, the keyboard is tiny and cramped. The letters and numbers are laid out well enough, but when you get to special characters, things get weird. For instance, one key is used for a period, right carrot, question mark and slash. It’s a period by default, or a right carrot with a shift. That’s expected.
For a slash, you need to press function and that key, and for a question mark you need to hit function, shift and that key. There are several keys like that, and most of them have common special characters that require three keys to use. It’s incredibly frustrating for even the most simple documents and emails. Some keys, like the colon and tilda, are dramatically shortened. There’s no backlight, but I can get past that.
I hit 98 words per minute on the 10fastfinger.com typing test, which is fairly low for me, and my errors skyrocketed. And that was on a test without special characters.
The touchpad is minuscule. It’s honestly kind of adorable. I was surprised to see it uses Windows Precision drivers, and with the exception that I often hit the edges of the touchpad, it largely was OK to use, even if it didn’t feel great. If you like four-finger gestures, that may be out of the question, but I could make three-finger gestures work.
You can charge the keyboard wirelessly by placing it in between the folded screen.
In the future, I would love to see Lenovo try to make something wider, or perhaps that extends. I might even be willing to work with something that wraps around the foldable for a better typing experience.
The Mod Pen fits into a loop on the side of the keyboard, so it all travels as one package. Mercifully, the pen charges over USB Type-C rather than using batteries, which many styluses of this size do. Lenovo claims it will last 156 hours on a charge. It has 4,096 degrees of pressure sensitivity and works at up to a 60 degree angle. I don’t see this being used much for art on this type of device, but it’s fine for note taking.
I do wish Lenovo would steal from Microsoft’s Surface Pen and include an eraser on the back, but you can assign that feature to one of two programmable buttons if you use Lenovo’s optional Pen Settings software.
Audio on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold
I’m not going to say that the audio experience on the Fold is amazing, but it’s far better than I expected. In general, I’d say it’s about as good as the average laptop, but not as loud. It didn’t quite fill my apartment with sound as I listened to the Arctic Monkeys’ “Do I Wanna Know?”, though for listening on my own it’s fairly usable. The song’s drums and bassline were clear, but lacked a kick. Interestingly, all of the speaker grills are on the left side of the device, or the top when in portrait mode, which did kind of throw off my balance.
You can change some equalizer presets in the Dolby Access software that’s included, but it’s not very in-depth, and I didn’t find it to make much of a difference.
Upgrading the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold
The big difference between configurations of the X1 Fold is storage. Buy what you’ll think you’ll need for the long run, because the device is effectively sealed.
Yes, there are some visible screws underneath the kickstand. There’s even a small door, but you can’t completely access it, as it’s partially covered by the cover. A maintenance manual shows that you effectively have to remove the entire leather cover and then open the device to get to anything, which could void your warranty if you’re not careful. Consider this thing a closed box.
Battery Life on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold
An OLED display and a battery small enough to fit into a foldable won’t get you all-day battery life. On our battery test, which browses the web, runs OpenGL tests and streams video, all while connected to Wi-Fi and set at 150 nits of brightness, the X1 Fold ran for 6 hours and 3 minutes. This number was achieved from a separate unit with 256GB of storage, due to testing equipment being spread out during the pandemic, but we expect numbers would be similar on the 1TB version.
That means that while the device itself is extremely portable, you may have to also consider bringing the charger along, which is a bit of a bummer.
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The Samsung Galaxy Book S, another Lakefield device, ran for 9:40. That didn’t have an OLED screen, though. Microsoft’s Surface Go 2 ran for almost two hours more than that, lasting 11:38.
Heat on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold
We took heat measurements while running our Cinebench R23 stress test. That benchmark is far more than one would usually run on this computer, so it shows us some worst-case scenarios for heat.
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Notably, our heat camera showed that the left side of the tablet (in landscape) heated up far more than the right side, suggesting that the processor is in that portion of the device. The hottest it got was 40.5 degrees Celsius (104.9 degrees Fahrenheit). On the back, the same portion hit 36.4 degrees Celsius (97.5 degrees Fahrenheit).
Webcam on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold
The 720p webcam on the ThinkPad X1 Fold is about what you might expect. Like many laptop webcams released this year, it takes a picture you could consider serviceable, but not great. A photo at my desk was grainy and a bit dim. The Surface Go 2 was the gold standard this year, with a camera that supports 1080p video, and I hope to see something like that in more laptops and foldables in 2021.
But the bigger issue is the placement. As a tablet held in landscape, the camera works exactly as you would expect. But if you turn it to portrait, or use it like a laptop with the keyboard attached, the image appears sideways in video calls, as that’s the way the camera is oriented (my colleagues were very confused when I called into a meeting like that).
Lenovo does have software to try to combat this, and you can use it to rotate the image. At best, then, using the X1 Fold in those postures creates an image more like a phone, tall with black bars on the side. It’s better than being sideways, but it feels more than a little unrefined.
Software and Warranty on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold
The ThinkPad X1 Fold we reviewed had no junk at all, not even the usual bloat that comes with Windows 10.
On most Windows 10 notebooks, Lenovo only includes its Vantage software (seen here in a dedicated enterprise version) for easy access to warranty status, quick camera and microphone toggles and to easily check your serial number.
But in this case, Lenovo has a bunch of other software just to make the foldable work as expected. When the X1 Fold was originally revealed, there was a plan to release it with Windows 10, and then later with Windows 10X, a touch-focused version of the operating system designed for foldable devices. But with Windows 10X delayed to 2021 — and starting on single-screen laptops instead of foldables — it working on regular Windows 10 is more important.
Most of the hard work is handled by Lenovo Mode Switcher, which lives in the task bar, recognizes which way your device is aligned and provides a method to move windows side-to-side or one on top of the other. It works as expected, but if you switch modes or rotate the device, the windows often don’t stay organized.
There’s also Lenovo Camera Settings, which lets you rotate your camera picture, Lenovo Display Optimizer to calibrate the OLED screen and the optional Lenovo Pen Settings to adjust the buttons on the pen and check its battery status.
All of this points to one issue — Windows 10 isn’t fully there as a tablet-only operating system, nor as one for foldables. Windows Hello is needed, and Lenovo deserves credit for getting it to work this much, even if there is some jankiness around it. Once, I got the Windows 10 login screen to turn vertical, as if it were on a Windows phone, with large black bars on the sides. It stayed that way on the desktop, too.
Lenovo sells the ThinkPad X1 Fold with a 1-year warranty, which can go up to three years at an additional cost.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold Configurations
Our ThinkPad X1 Fold review unit was the top-end, $3,099 configuration with an Intel Core i5-L16G7 “Lakefield” processor, 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM a 1TB PCIe SSD and Windows 10 Pro.
There are a number of other configurations, but they all have the same CPU and memory. The other differences come down to the amount of storage, which version of Windows 10 you get, and if the package includes the keyboard and stylus accessories.
The base option is $2,499, with 256GB of SSD storage and Windows 10 Home. Notably, this option doesn’t include the keyboard or stylus. If you want those later, the Mod Pen costs $89.99 on its own, while the mini keyboard runs for an eye-watering $229.99.
To get that option with the accessories included in the box, it’s $2,749 with Windows 10 Home or $2,799 with Windows 10 Pro. From there, prices increase with storage and all have Windows 10 Pro.
In 2021, configurations with 5G support will be available, but exact pricing and availability hasn’t been announced.
Bottom Line
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There is no doubting that the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold is a first-gen product that isn’t for most people. If the $2,499 and up price tag (before accessories) doesn’t scare off all but tech-savvy CEO’s, it’s the fact that there are still some kinks to work out in the software.
And yet, I’m really surprised by how much I’ve enjoyed using it. While the Core i5 Lakefield chip isn’t the most performance-oriented slice of silicon, all of my x86 apps work on it, and as long as I stick to my normal workflow of browsing, writing, using some spreadsheets and watching video, this will handle things nicely. For photo editing, I would want just a tad more power.
The keyboard is a smart idea that needs more time in the oven. No individual key on the keyboard should require three buttons to press, especially if it’s as commonly used as a plus sign, a hyphen or a question mark. I would also like to see it somehow attach to the back of the device, as I tended to leave it elsewhere in my apartment and had to search for it when I needed it.
The hardware could use some slimming down, but it’s sturdy. I trust this to fold and not break. But I need Lenovo — and any other PC vendor considering moving into folding PCs — to ensure that the UX is perfect. That may mean waiting for Windows 10X, if Microsoft does a better job of adapting its own OS to the form factor than an OEM could do.
But Lenovo, for a first try, has impressed. Still, the expense and the quirks you get for this high price mean that you should probably wait for future generations. But I have hope that these kinds of devices will get a lot better before too long.
[Editor’s Note: The Tom’s Hardware staff first published a version of this poem in 2014 on Christmas Eve. We updated it a little bit and ran it again each year at the same time. The poem was given a complete overhaul in 2018 and 2019.
We understand that this holiday season follows a challenging year unlike any other, and wish you and your loved ones the best. In putting out this simple poem, we hope to spark a bit of joy. Thank you all for the support and participation you offer throughout the year, and we wish you Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year.]
‘Twas the holiday season and where the elves roam,
All the PCs worked on Folding@Home.
Some folded protein for research assistance,
But the rest helped Santa give gifts from a distance.
He booted a Windows PC (that’s one in a billion),
But his Excel rows counted a trillion.
So he ran XLOOKUP to match data with flair
From the comfort of his fifteen-hundred-buck chair.
Then he a got a drink from his Xbox fridge,
But he couldn’t be late, not even a smidge.
The children had waited for presents for days,
Santa can’t ape Intel’s 7 nanometer delays!
Santa couldn’t go into houses right now,
But he found a way to do his job anyhow.
He’d fly planes from Microsoft Flight Simulator To deliver gifts from here to the equator.
And while this may sound silly or a little bit funny,
Santa Claus had to spend Lisa Su-level money To buy all of the planes, the supplies and the wares
And he hadn’t made much with his Corsair shares.
But the gifts this year were all very large
There were several PlayStation 5s in his charge,
And in the cargo hold he’d need to find spots
For RTX 3090s that take up three slots!
But he managed to get everything packed,
Like Zen 3 CPUs and some new M1 Macs,
And for those who need places to go rest their heads,
He readied embarrassing twin gamer beds.
Of course some companies bought gifts for themselves. Nvidia grabbed Arm – that didn’t need elves. AMD took hold of Xilinx for $35 billion,
Bringing it to team red. (Or is it more vermillion?)
The planes took to the skies without any hitches,
And Microsoft patched most of its flight sim glitches.
They dumped Big Navi GPUs through the air
With RGB keyboards that were glowing like flares.
The only tech that didn’t fall through the sky
Was that one Ryzen laptop that you couldn’t buy,
So that Ryzen 7 4800U Yoga Slim 7
Was the one notebook that didn’t rain from the heavens.
When Santa was almost done with his gift-giving spree,
The plane sprung a leak, like Windows XP.
He tried to land safely on the earth’s ground floor
But crashed harder than Cyberpunk on PS4.
But Santa’s moves at the flight stick were simply outstanding,
And he used the sim to pull off an emergency landing.
Santa couldn’t stop when he’d gotten this far,
Luckily he’d included an emergency car.
That he could pilot remotely and control on a whim
With Razer’s concept esports racing sim.
He felt every bump, every turn, every drift,
But his car helped deliver every last gift.
As the snowy weather started to worsen,
He said “next year I hope to do this in person.”
Then he stood from his chair and he shouted “I did it!”
But no gifts for Huawei, theU.S. forbidit.
He went to go sleep; his energy hit rock bottom,
Tomorrow he’ll build with parts Mrs. Claus bought him.
Tesla’s new holiday update will finally give people the ability to use a new Boombox mode, which can broadcast custom audio on the outside of the car (hence the name). As is common with new Tesla features, Boombox combines real utility with lowbrow humor: owners can use fart and goat sounds in lieu of normal, boring honking sounds car horns usually make.
The mode rolled out with a number of other updates as part of Tesla’s firmware 2020.48.26 update, and is something Tesla fans have eagerly anticipated. In the new mode, which can be seen at the timestamped section in the video below, several sounds are available for Tesla owners through the Toybox section they can use in place of a regular horn: goat baaing, applause, a little “tada” clip, someone speaking posh and, of course, the fart.
While Tesla owners have been able to create fart sounds inside the car for some time, the Boombox mode effectively allows people with more recent models to use the built-in speaker that blasts audio to poor unsuspecting people outside of the car. Tesla cars manufactured after September 1st , 2019 have the speaker built-in. The speakers were added because the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration required electric cars that were silent to emit some noise to alert pedestrians, according to Teslarati. Here’s a description of what Boombox mode does, thanks to Teslarati:
Turn your car into a boombox and entertain a crowd with your media player when parked. You can also customize the sound your car makes when you press the horn, drive the car or when your car is moving with Summon. Select an option from the dropdown menu or insert your own USB device and save up to five custom sounds.
Farting isn’t just reserved for honking. An update to Tesla’s “Emissions Testing Mode,” which is code for fart sequencing, means cars can now fart whenever, and people outside won’t be able to escape the sounds. Teslarati adds:
Emissions Testing Mode can be used outside the car. To setup, select your desired sound and place the cushion on the external speaker. When ready, play selected sound by pressing the left scroll wheel button or using the turn signal. To access, tap the Application Launcher > Toybox > Emissions Testing Mode.
Alongside being able to fart, people can also use Tesla’s Boombox feature to harass neighbors in other ways. For example, now a Tesla can emit the same sound as an ice cream truck, based on the video above. So if someone really wants to play a cruel prank on kids this summer, just drive around the neighborhood playing a jovial song that makes children think of ice cream cones and popsicles.
Being able to upload five tracks also means people can drive their Tesla vehicles around town with whatever audio they want, apparently. When one person asked Tesla CEO Elon Musk if they could drive their car to Ludacris’ classic ‘00s hit, “Move Bitch,” Musk pointed to the custom upload option.
There are plenty of other additions that came with this year’s holiday update. Car owners have access to three new games — The Battle of Polytopia, Cat Quest, and Solitaire — they can play while parked. Supercharge display improvements and scheduled departure improvements are also included in the firmware update. A full list of updates can be read on Reddit.
Maybe it’s the holiday spirit in me, but allowing your car to fart properly is quite beautiful. It’s like something ripped right out of Shrek — better out than in!
The new AirPods Max Limited Edition from Caviar is a very luxurious 18-karat gold headphone with a black or white soft crocodile leather headband.
The Apple AirPods have been among the most popular earbuds for years. Earlier this month, Apple introduced the new AirPods Max, the brand’s first advanced over-ear headphone. The AirPods Max offer hi-fi sound, adaptive EQ and active noise cancellation. With a suggested retail price of € 630 this headphone belongs to the absolute top. If you are looking for something more exclusive, Caviar now offers a special alternative for the rich among us. Caviar has just introduced a gold Apple AirPods Max, with a whopping 830 grams of pure gold.
Caviar is known for enriching Apple products with durable and rare materials, such as gold, leather and gemstones. The company already offers numerous Limited Edition versions of the AirPods Pro. This time, the jewelry atelier from Caviar have crafted a unique and luxurious AirPods Max.
AirPods Max gold headphone with crocodile leather headband
The AirPods Max Limited Edition from Caviar is available in two colors: white and black. The headband is made of crocodile leather, which contributes to a particularly stylish appearance and also feels nice and soft. The high-gloss ear cups are decorated with 18-karat gold, which makes this headphone very luxurious and unique. The Caviar logo is incorporated in the middle of the ear cups. The buttons and Digital Crown are also covered in gold.
This unique headphone is provided with no less than 830 grams of gold. In fact, more than a kilogram of gold is needed to manufacture it. Naturally, this also adds the necessary extra weight. Just like with the regular AirPods Max, Caviar supplies a soft compact Smart Case, to safely store the wireless headphone. The case also serves as a charger. The headphone offers a long battery life of 20 hours.
The AirPods Max Limited Edition version from Caviar offers exactly the same functionality as the regular version from Apple. For example, the headphone automatically detects when it is put on the head, based on optical and position sensors. As soon as you put on the headset, you will hear sound.
This stylish audio accessory can be used in combination with an iPhone, an iPad, a Mac and / or an Apple Watch. In addition to playing music, you can also use the headphone to make calls. Thanks to the support for Siri, you can also give the headphone voice commands, for example, you can ask for directions or have messages read out to you.
Due to the large amount of gold that is used in this Limited Edition edition, Caviar has chosen to produce only 1 copy of both color variants. For an amount of $ 108,000, you are guaranteed to be the only one in the world to walk around with this glamorous gold headphone.
This is not the only product that Caviar has introduced today. As part of the new 2021 portfolio, the Russian brand has also released a very luxurious, golden Sony PS5 Limited Edition. In addition, the company also releases a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Limited Edition, which is also richly decorated with solid gold.
Ilse is a Dutch journalist and joined LetsGoDigital more than 15 years ago. She is highly educated and speaks four languages. Ilse is a true tech-girl and loves to write about the future of consumer electronics. She has a special interest for smartphones, digital cameras, gaming and VR.
(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
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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 HP Omen Spacer is a reliable gaming keyboard for grown-ups. Backlighting is limited to red and white with very few customization options, and the key caps could be more premium. But the keyboard offers comfortable typing and good battery life.
For
Comfy, magnetic wrist rest
Mature look
Long battery life
Against
No media keys
Mediocre keycaps
Limited backlight colors, customization
Brown switches only
If you can live without a numpad, a tenkeyless (TKL) keyboard design is a great balance between functionality and efficiency. You get some extra space to move your mouse around, which is particularly good news for PC gamers, and reclaim some desk space without having to sacrifice basic functions, such as arrow keys, like 60% keyboards have you do. Chop off the cord, and the design gets even more efficient and the desk space even more aplenty. It’s no wonder this keyboard is named the HP Omen Spacer.
The Omen Spacer has an MSRP of $160 but is on sale currently for a more appropriate price of $100. At $160, it’d be competing with the pricier members of our Best Gaming Keyboards and Best Wireless Keyboards lists. That’s despite the Omen Spacer lacking much in the way of premiums, even the all too common per-key RGB. But not everyone needs millions of colors and extra keys built in their mechanical keyboard. The Omen Spacer is a mature keyboard that’s purely about getting to business — whether that business is work or play.
HP Omen Spacer Specs
Switches
Cherry MX Brown
Lighting
White and black backlighting
Onboard Storage
5 macro keys with Fn
Media Keys
With FN
Interface
2.4 GHz USB Type-A dongle or USB Type-A cable
Cable
USB-C to USB-A detachable, braided
Additional Ports
None
Key Caps
Plastic
Construction
ABS plastic
Software
HP Omen Gaming Hub
Dimensions (LxWxH)
Keyboard: 14.5 x 5.5 x 1.4 inches (369.3 x 139.4 x 36.1mm)
Wrist rest: 14.5 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches (369.3 x 104.1 x 17.8mm)
Weight
Keyboard: 2.1 pounds (952.5g)
Wrist rest: 0.6 pounds (272.2g)
Extra
Wrist rest, USB extender
Design of HP Omen Spacer
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With a notable price tag, there’s a lot that has to be done for the Omen Spacer to look like it’s worth the cost. HP makes its attempt without the colorful LEDs available in a countless range of colors. Instead, the Omen Spacer’s backlighting is red and/or white only. In a world where the ability to pick the color of each individual key is commonplace among gaming keyboards, especially expensive ones, this stands out.
If you download HP’s Omen Gaming Hub software (more on that in the Features and Software section), you can choose among premade effects that are mostly white except for the WASD and arrow keys. Other effects, such as MOBA, turn off all the lights except for on certain clusters, like white for 1-6, Shift and Ctrl and red for WASD. The WASD and arrow cluster can only be red, never white. Some will rejoice at this scaled back approach to gaming peripheral lighting, and the Omen Spacer is still a looker. But for others, it’ll be hard to ignore the lack of customization options that similarly priced and cheaper gaming keyboards offer.
The Omen Spacer’s chassis is all plastic — ABS substrate to be exact. It feels solid and sturdy and carries a matte painted finish. In terms of build and look, it’s a decent replacement for something better known for durability, like aluminum. However, for this price an all-plastic keyboard is a little underwhelming.
Indeed, the plastic theme, in a more mundane way, carries over to the key caps. They’re each stamped with a modern font that’s both slender and strong and looks unique whether lit up in backlighting or not. The key caps themselves are built comfortably with comfortable grooves for your fingers, but they also attract fingerprint smudges. Also, I noted a small chip in my Esc key’s black finish after a few weeks of heavy use. It’s possible I scraped it with another piece of hardware, but this does show that it’s possible to chip the paint off the key caps if you’re not careful enough.
A handy battery indicator helps you know when you’ve turned the keyboard on or off (or if the battery’s running low). The power switch on the top edge also shows green when on, and combined with the battery indicator it helps alleviate any confusion when charging the Omen Spacer or pairing it with your PC.
Speaking of, a USB-C port lives next to the power button, allowing you to charge or use the keyboard with its braided USB-C to USB-A cable. HP also includes an extender that you can insert the helpfully Omen-stamped USB Type-A 2.4 GHz dongle into to further reduce potential connection uses.
The Omen Spacer lives up to its name and saves you desk space by skipping dedicated media controls or macro keys. Instead, you get five macro keys (labeled P1-P5) on F1-F5 that you can program and activate by holding the Fn key. Volume and media track control also lives in the FN row. This is better than nothing but not as easy to manipulate as a volume roller, for example, especially since there’s no left Fn key (as is common with TKL keyboards).
At 14.5 x 5.5 x 1.4 inches without its wrist rest, the Omen Spacer is less long and less wide than other TKL keyboards. Take the Logitech G915 TKL, another wireless TKL. It’s 15.2 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches, keeping a short height with its low profile mechanical switches. There are trimmer TKLs though, such as the wired Roccat Vulcan TKL Pro (14.2 x 5.3 x 1.3 inches).
There’s a subtle Omen logo engraved on the keyboard’s bottom edge that you’ll almost never see, especially if you use the included wrist rest. Other than that, superfluous details are at a minimum, keeping the design straightforward and efficient.
Although this wouldn’t have taken up much space, the Omen Spacer also leaves out flip-out feet. I usually keep my keyboards flat in an attempt to help keep my wrists flat, and I found the Omen Spacer’s height comfortable. However, those who like some flexibility or, perhaps, plan on using a thicker wrist rest than the one that comes in the box will be disappointed.
The wrist rest you get magnetically attaches to the bottom of the keyboard and offers a nice, soft faux leather feel and some plush. After a couple weeks of heavy use, I could see the leather starting to wrinkle a little, especially where I keep my left wrist. And it’s easy for debris to crawl into the border around the fake leather. It may start looking a little scraggy down the line, but this wrist rest is still better quality and more comfortable than many that come free with gaming keyboards.
Typing Experience on HP Omen Spacer
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Keeping with its simpler approach to the wireless gaming keyboard, the Omen Spacer is only available with one type of mechanical switch: Cherry MX Browns. These tactile switches have 4mm total travel with a 2mm actuation point, 4mm total travel and require 55g of force to actuate. It’s an excellent option for frequent typists and a good balance for gaming too. But there’s no opportunity for linear switches, which are popular for gaming, or clicky switches, which are popular for making a lot of noise.
We’re happy to see full-size switches from a trusted brand, which will help make for a familiar experience for the many mechanical keyboard fans who’ve tried out tactile brown switches. Logitech’s G915 TKL wireless keyboard uses low profile switches from Logitech, and you’ll find some of the best wireless keyboards opt for Cherry copycats, such as Outemu switches. Another TKL competitor, the Corsair K63 Wireless is only available with linear Cherry MX Red Switches, so HP’s offering is a good alternative for those who like this form factor but prefer to feel a reassuring bump as they press each key.
The Omen Spacer’s key caps don’t offer much resistance. They have comfortable grooves that fit my fingertips nicely, but there’s some mild slipperiness to them that made typing slightly more exhausting. But with the keys’ Cherry MX Brown switches and significant amount of space between them, typing was a delight. On the 10fastfingers.com typing test I hit my average speed but dropped about 2% in accuracy, possibly because I still needed to adjust to the distance between the keys.
There’s a plasticky feel to each press, from the slightly slicked top of the key caps to the more hollow plastic sound of the arrow keys and plastic rackety sound of the spacebar. Despite it being quieter than something with Cherry MX Blue switches or a lot of metallic dinging when bottoming out (that sound is rare on this keyboard), the Omen Spacer is far from silent.
Note that out-of the box, there’s no Scroll Lock button. You have to download the keyboard’s software to change that. Otherwise, Scroll Lock is replaced with a button for bringing up the keyboard’s software with a single button or toggling the backlight brightness (low, medium, brightest or off) with Fn.
Gaming Experience on HP Omen Spacer
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
After a couple of weeks using the Omen Spacer regularly, I didn’t experience any obvious connectivity issues with the 2.4 GHz dongle, and the lack of a cable didn’t obviously impact the keyboard’s responsiveness either. It’d take a very keen eye to notice any lag, and I encountered zero dropped connections. I had no need for an extender, but that’s also an option if your PC is particularly far from the keyboard.
HP says the USB-A dongle uses its bespoke Warp Wireless technology. Even when pairing it with my best gaming headset that also had a 2.4 GHz dongle and a Bluetooth wireless mouse, I had no issues. There’s nothing particularly special about the Omen Spacer’s wireless connection. It’s a reliable dongle connection just like many gaming vendors are offering today. But I can at least confirm that Warp worked well in the HP Omen Vector wireless mouse too (you’ll also find HP Warp branding in the upcoming HP Omen Frequency wireless headset).
HP opted for just one mechanical switch option here, Cherry MX Browns. Many gamers prefer linear switches because hitting keys quickly or repeatedly is easier without having to press through a bump. There’s no linear option here, but Cherry MX Browns may have their own gaming advantage. Some people enjoy them for how easy they are to double-tap, especially compared to stiffer, clicky switches, like Cherry MX Blues. They reset at 2mm, which is just slightly quicker than Cherry MX Red’s reset point (under 2.5mm). But Browns also require more force to actuate (55g versus the Red’s 45g). It’s all about preference, but if you plan on doing a lot of typing in addition to gaming, these switches can be a good fit.
In Overwatch, the amount of space between the keys made it easy for me to keep track of my fingers without having to take eyes off the screen. However, the keys are a little wobbly. That made times when I was resting fingers on a key / move, anticipating the perfect moment to strike, a bit more uncomfortable, as it was harder to keep my finger still and ready. The key caps’ slight slickness didn’t help either but probably won’t be too much an issue, unless your hands get very clammy.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Outside of its red and white backlighting patterns that cater to different game genres, the Omen Spacer uses other features to appeal to gamers. Handy for gaming (and productivity, depending how you use it) are the keyboard’s five P-keys that you can program to your liking, including macro programming moves or in-game actions or launching programs. You have to download the software to program the keys, and they’re not as seamless as having dedicated macro keys, but those would also take up more space.
The Omen Spacer is also able to read all key inputs, even if you’re pressing every key simultaneously, and it’s easy to disable the Windows key by hitting Fn and Print Screen or opening the keyboard’s software.
Battery Life of HP Omen Spacer
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The longevity of the Omen Spacer’s battery will, of course, depend on how much you blast the backlight (off, 25% brightness, 50% or 100%). You can check the battery status via the Omen Gaming Hub app, and the battery indicator on the keyboard will turn orange once battery life is low.
With all keys lit at 100% brightness, my test unit lasted 17 hours and 20 minutes before it died.
That number, not surprisingly, jumps dramatically with the lighting off, where I had my Omen Spacer on for about 59 hours and 15 minutes with heavy use, and its battery meter still said 60%. (Although, battery life could have been as low as 51%, since the meter only moves in 10% increments, and we can’t guarantee battery life drains at a consistent pace regardless of current battery remaining.)
HP claims up to 75 hours battery life with the Omen Spacer and 6 hours of playtime after 5 minutes of charging. That’s a big jump over the 15 hours peak Corsair claims with the K63 Wireless and Logitech’s 40 hours for the G915 TKL. Given the amount of time we got out of the Omen Spacer without any backlighting, we’d say that 75 hour figure is definitely reasonable if not modest.
Features and Software of HP Omen Spacer
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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If you download HP Omen Gaming Hub, you’ll first be met with excessive ads. Once you find the small amount of space actually dedicated to controlling the keyboard, you can access the battery meter, as well as various settings.
The Omen Spacer has one onboard memory profile, allowing you to carry over functions programmed into the five P-keys (F1-F5) across PCs without software. You can carry RGB settings and additional profiles across systems by downloading the software, making a login and turning on cloud sync.
The Omen Gaming Hub’s Lighting section offers control over the backlight’s brightness (0%, 25%, 75% or 100%). You can also choose among different templates, but remember that the WASD and arrow keys will either be red or have no backlight. There are also animated effects — Ripple, Breathing and Left or Right Wave with the option to pick between a speed of “slow,” “medium” or “fast.”
The Key Assignments menu lets you pick what holding down Fn and F1-F5 does. That makes it easy to program moves in games, keyboard shortcuts, app launches and more, but not as easy as being able to do it with one button press instead of two.
You can make different profiles for individual games or apps, but they won’t launch automatically with the game. Omen Gaming Hub lets you assign a picture and name to each profile though.
There’s also an option to turn on Game Mode (disables the Window key) and 128-bit encryption, which is said to be unbreakable by humans (it’d take about 1.02 x 1018 years to crack it, according to security vendor Comodo). The latter, according to HP’s software, “offers more security but may add latency.” This is probably for overkill, especially if you’re using this keyboard for gaming rather than high-security work. But I always had the feature on during gaming and didn’t notice any obvious latency with it activated either.
Bottom Line
When did gaming keyboards (and the rest of gaming peripherals, for that matter) get so gaudy? The HP Omen Spacer proves that not all of them have to be. You can still get a serious looking keyboard with premium mechanical switches and features you want on the battlefield, like a trim build, macro functionality and even an above-average wrist rest freebie.
But the Omen Spacer also leaves somes choices out. It’s only available with tactile switches, no smooth, linear switches or clicky ones. Per-key RGB is also common among rivals but missing here.
Alternative TKL wireless gaming keyboards also come at a price though. The Corsair K63 Wireless has a cheaper MSRP ($110) and uses Cherry MX Red switches and dedicated media keys but has a blue-only backlight. The Logitech G915 TKL, meanwhile, is almost in a different class, from its luxurious dedicated media keys, aluminum accent, low profile design and Bluetooth. Its price tag is much higher ($180-$230), but you also get your choice of tactile, linear or clicky low profile switches.
If you don’t need Cherry switches, there are budget TKL wireless options, including the $85 Keychron K2 or its hot swappable twin. The Redragon K596 Vishnu is $73 at this writing and has media keys.
But the HP Omen Spacer will easily slide into your office or gaming den and encourages carefree playing without taking up too much space or overwhelming you with bling.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro are expected to go official next month alongside the Galaxy S21 series. Samsung hasn’t divulged anything about these TWS earphones yet, but their key features leaked a few days ago, and we also learned that Buds Pro will cost €229 in Europe. Now the promo materials posted by a Twitter user reveal the Galaxy Buds Pro will be priced at $199 in the US.
The images also tell us that each bud will come with a 2-way speaker and have three microphones onboard. The Buds Pro will be IPX7 rated and feature noise canceling.
The leaked images don’t reveal the battery size of the Buds Pro, but they do tell us that the TWS earphones alone will offer eight hours of playtime and 4.5 hours of talk time. When coupled with the charging case, you’ll get a total of 15 hours and 28 hours of talk time and playtime, respectively.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro leaked promo materials
The Galaxy Buds Pro will pack an 11mm woofer and a 6.5mm tweeter. The earphones will feature Ambient Sound, Conversation Mode, and Spatial Audio. The material also mentions a new Galaxy Buds Widget, but it’s unclear what exactly it will do.
The Galaxy Buds Pro will come in silver, violet, and black colors at launch, but Samsung might offer more color options later on.
AOC has announced its new “gaming” monitor with curved panel of 1500 R, the AOC CQ 30 G3E. The panel used is 8-bit VA and has a diagonal of 30 inches along with a FullHD resolution in 21: 9, that is, with 2. 560 x 1. 080 pixels.
The promised contrast is 3000: 1, something typical of VA panels, along with a fairly modest brightness of 300 nits or cd / m² and 1 ms MPRT response time. Just as modest is its refresh rate, which, while exceeding 75 Hz, it does so by a narrow margin of 15 Hz to stay at a total of 75 Hz. Of course, these 75 Hz are variable and support AMD FreeSync technology.
The AOC CQ 30 G3E reaches 75 Hz and ultra-wide format of 21: 9 FullHD
AOC promises a fairly wide color coverage of 127% sRGB, 99% of DCI-P3 and 109% of NTSC. Taking into account that the figures exceed 100%, we are possibly talking about volume and not real coverage of those ranges.
In terms of outputs and inputs, it offers a DisplayPort and two HDMI, along with a 3.5 mm audio output to bridge the sound via HDMI / DP.
At the moment there are no details on its price and it seems to be only available on the manufacturer’s website in China, however, considering its modest specifications, It should be a fairly cheap model to be able to compete in the market.
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Antonio Delgado
Computer Engineer by training, editor and hardware analyst at Geeknetic since 2011. I love gutting everything that comes my way, especially the latest hardware that we get here for reviews. In my spare time I fiddle with 3d printers, drones and other gadgets. For anything here you have me.
It is strange to see films and TV shows in which people without masks shop, crouch close together, go to the cinema or even hug and kiss in greeting. After months of the pandemic, dreams and memories that breathe freely, while the virus is now trying to grab our breath, tens of millions of national coaches have become tens of millions of epidemiologists and we only buy non-essential things by phone or online, seem strange that we also like to use. The memory of a day in late August is also strange 2019. The last maskless summer – also meteorologically diametrically opposed to Christmas time 2020, since we are in dark mode. Also, I have not yet been permanently transferred to the Bremen home office, where I have been experiencing a strange time like everyone else since mid-March.
(Image: Outflow_Designs / Shutterstock.com)
A country trip with digressions, small-scale travel, the center of the world and spontaneous inventiveness: About complex systems, small causes with big effects and complicated questions that usually have no simple answers. A four-part (not only) for Christmas on heise online.
(I .): The Purist (24. 12.) (II.): Helmut on the cooling mat (25. 12.) (III.): The last Count of Hoya (26. 12) (IV.): Perrow’s normal disasters (27. 12.) It may have been a flight of sparks, triggered by a freight train with a defective brake that hit the embankment along the Hanover – Bremen i n set fire. At the time I was sitting on the train on the way home from my workplace in the heise online newsroom. It was an Intercity 2 train that Deutsche Bahn has been using since the end of 2015 , first of all stops on the Norddeich-Mole – Leipzig and Bremen route. It is a double-decker train that was probably first used on this route, because local transport tickets are valid from Bremen on the IC to the north and therefore arrive at the platform in Bremen main station shortly before 18 watch many people who want to commute back to the surrounding area after work or shopping. They can probably be served better with the new train, because the seats are less generously distributed in it, so more people fit in.
Get off everything The Intercity 2 replaced the old one-story train, which only had a few sockets per car had, but a much better seating comfort. The inclination of the seats of the IC2 cannot be adjusted to a comfortable position as in the previous model; instead, passengers can only change the height of the headrest and the position of the seat. That doesn’t change the angle of inclination of the backrest much. A worsening improvement that I soon afterwards in an editoral for the c’t 20 / 2016 themed. One reader saw his religious feelings hurt by the text and canceled his c’t subscription. At least that’s what he wrote to me in an e-mail.
The IC came to Nienburg on this late Tuesday afternoon in late August, as always, and did not continue from there after a short stop as it usually does. The announcement said that the journey would be postponed indefinitely due to an embankment fire. The fire brigade is on the way.
Embankment fires are in the ranking list of operational disruptions of Deutsche Bahn, which lead to “stop failures” 13. Position, that is, far behind train disturbances that top the list. From … to 2018 registered the Deutsche Bahn between 364 and 468 such fires per year that occur in hot, dry summers such as especially in the years 2018 and 2018 mainly from sparks, but also from thrown away burning cigarettes. The cause can also be broken glass, which act like a burning glass in the blazing sun and ignite the vegetation along the tracks. The fire can spread to bushes and trees in the area, no train should pass through the inferno.
This Tuesday afternoon in late August 2019 nothing more went from Nienburg. Since I had been commuting on the route for eleven years, I had already heard the conductor’s announcement in a few summers that the train could not continue because of a fire on the embankment. Each time he didn’t say how long the stop would be, how could he. There was only one IC2 in Nienburg, so no other train in front of it had been stopped by the fire, which had only recently been blazing or had been discovered. Shortly afterwards, an announcement instructed the passengers to get off, because the train should return to Hanover to make way for the next ICE. I took out my iPhone to explore the traffic connections between Nienburg and Bremen. The phone also told me that the battery was still 5 percent charged.
I had the first Apple smartphone as a commuter 2007 especially for this purpose: So that I can conveniently and thoroughly inform myself in the morning and after work whether the train is on time, and how in a case like this the alternatives look like. Over time, I was able to quench my curiosity on social media as to why the train I was on just wouldn’t move on when the loudspeakers stayed silent.
Under some circumstances train attendants can be humorous and talkative, for example at Carnival time when the train approaches Düsseldorf and the announcer clearly shows that it is from Cologne originates. In May 2020 a train attendant announced the following: “And finally, a note to all conspiracy theorists here On board: Please remember that the federal government is secretly collecting saliva samples to produce clones of you to replace, so wear your mouth and nose covering at all times to prevent the government from getting your DNA Thank you, also on behalf of all fellow travelers! ”
The Internet in the palm of your hand The predecessor of my iPhone was a Philips Xenium 9 @ 9 ++, which 2003 had come onto the market and, unlike its predecessor, had the antenna integrated in the housing. It could bring the Internet to the palm of my hand with GPRS and WAP. This also made it possible to check train connections, but that was tedious, cumbersome and expensive. I opted for the Xenium because Philips had dispensed with all of the newfangled gadgets such as color display, MMS and camera and therefore seven and a half hours of chat and hours of standby. With the iPhone, I’d hopped a big leap forward on the mobile internet, but an equally big step back in battery life. A Xenium didn’t offer too many functions, for example to pass the time in the waiting room, an iPhone all the more diverse. It was not without reason that the Philips device was described by reviewers as a mobile phone for purists.
After switching from the Xenium to the iPhone, I imposed a rigid charging regime on myself so that the device was really ready, when I urgently need it in an emergency. I meticulously made sure that the smartphone was connected to the electricity every evening and also at work in Hanover so that it was nice and juicy on the go. If, for whatever reason, I had forgotten to charge, the power bank that I bought as a reserve canister could help out. Unfortunately, I had forgotten to load it after I had used it extensively a few days earlier on my camping holiday on the Baltic Sea.
The iPhone was just able to tell me that there was no direct bus connection between Nienburg and Bremen there. I could drive from Nienburg to Hoya, from Hoya to Hassel, from there to Verden and finally to Bremen – then the battery was empty. A rail replacement service was not available, all passengers were dependent on using the conventional line service and crowded at the bus stops. Many phones were pulled out to reschedule appointments or just to let them know that someone was late for dinner.
I was in no hurry and let people get on the bus to Hoya, in the first, on the next buses that came until I was the only one left. The iPhone stopped making a sound. I got on the bus and asked the driver whether the three-change connections, as I still had in mind, were workable. “Yes,” he said, “get in.”
Noticeable rustling “It’s Brokser Marriage Market, all drivers are busy. That’s why there is no rail replacement service,” said the bus driver to me, the only passenger. I sat down next to him at the front and he introduced himself as Helmut. I was only vaguely familiar with the folk festival in nearby Bruchhausen-Vilsen, although it has a similar status for the area as the Freimarkt for Bremen or the Kramermarkt for Oldenburg. I knew from immigrants from the Stoppelmarkt in Vechta that it offered them many opportunities for dancing and dolling and for days off in the fizzy drink.
The Broks marriage market lasts five days and always ends on the last Tuesday in August. The Morning pint for visitors , Contest, fairground rides, trade exhibition, bachelor auction and 2019 the appearance of Victoria, the Helene- Fischer Double No. 1. I didn’t know any of that when I was on the bus and not as usual on the train, in which many displays light up their seats.
In the initial phase of my commuting, ICE picked up at a quarter past seven in the morning many took their Weser courier out of their pockets if they weren’t sleeping a little longer. Today it can be heard very clearly when someone is rustling the newspaper. In the old IC in Hanover, a man in work clothes would often greet me in the afternoons, sit down next to me and take the rake at hand. With the change to IC2, the commuters sorted themselves again, I haven’t seen this unknown friend since then. Whether he still appreciates paper news from the Nienburg district and takes out the bread from his lunch box that he actually made for his lunch break that morning?
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
Glowing lava, fiery fountains and difficult climbs: For some motifs, some photographers go to the limit. They are rewarded with spectacular pictures.
Olympus E-M5 Mark II | 9 mm | ISO 800 | f / 4.0 | 1/40 s
Experience report volcano photography: With the camera to the mountains of fire A look into the heart of the earth Special glow Fire and Ice: Untamed Nature in Siberia Lighthouse of the Mediterranean Sea Item in c’t Digitale Fotografie 6 / 2020 read My forearms are bleeding, pain from a fall. Toxic gases bite your nose despite the protective cloth. The camera in my hand feels like it will glow in the next second and there is a threatening hiss and hiss in the air. Still, I move forward, one more step towards the fiery seething hellhole. It is like being drawn to me by magic. Attracted by the fascination of natural but powerful fireworks.
A look into the heart of the earth I am in the middle of one of the most hostile regions on earth, the Danakil Desert in the east Ethiopia. This is exactly where Africa is literally being torn apart by three continental plates. And it is precisely in this place that I look directly into the heart of our planet. At the Erta Ale volcano up to 800 degrees Celsius hot and boiling lava from deep inside our earth to the surface. For many years it has been pouring into a fiery, pulsating lake with a diameter of approximately 50 meters. A so-called lava lake, of which there are not ten on the entire earth.
I would like to take a second step towards the boiling spectacle for a better perspective, but that would be suicide. Deep cracks in the black, cooled lava open directly in front of my feet.
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Sign in and read Register now and read the article immediately More information about heise + Experience report volcano photography: With the camera to the mountains of fire A look into the heart of the earth Special glow Fire and Ice: Untamed Nature in Siberia Lighthouse of the Mediterranean Sea Item in c’t Digitale Fotografie 6 / 2020 read
The HX940B is difficult to work with but there’s a pleasing and natural performance in there for those who persevere
For
Bright, natural picture
Excellent motion processing
Vivid colours
Against
Tricky to calibrate
Weak blacks and viewing angles
Uninspiring sound
The Panasonic TX-65HX940 is part of the leading line of Panasonic’s LCD TVs for 2020, and is therefore blessed with much of the company’s top TV tech. What’s more, such is Panasonic’s HDR agnosticism that it has the added bonus of both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support, so you can be sure you’re viewing the best available format regardless of streaming service or disc.
Alongside the 2020 flagship HCX Pro Intelligent processor, the HX940 enjoys a faster (100Hz) screen refresh rate over its less thoroughbred LCD stablemates and the benefits of Panasonic’s Local Dimming Intelligent Pro technology. That should improve contrast control by adjusting the backlight and LCD shutters to mimic the operation of thousands of virtual local dimming zones.
This year’s fleet has also brought an update to the company’s proprietary TV OS. My Home Screen 5.0 promises Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa support, a suite of apps and some improved usability on previous models.
Build and features
(Image credit: Panasonic / Chemical Hearts, Amazon Prime)
The Panasonic TX-65HX940 is a tidy and decent looking set. It’s around 45mm thick with a nice even rear that should make it easy to wall-mount. Those using the dual stands will appreciate the choice of two positions – one narrow for smaller furniture and a wider one that should help to accommodate a soundbar. You’ll need a surface of at least 330mm depth for it to sit upon.
Panasonic TX-65HX940B tech specs
(Image credit: Panasonic / Chemical Hearts, Amazon Prime)
Screen type LCD with edge LED backlight Resolution 4K Operating system My Home Screen 5.0
HDR formats HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG Number of HDMIs 4 Number of USBs 3 Optical output Yes ARC/eARC ARC ALLM Yes VRR No 4K@120Hz No Dimensions (hwd) 145 x 84 x 4.5cm (without stand) Weight 28kg (without stand)
The inevitable black rectangle on the front is bordered by a perfectly tasteful bezel of approximately 5mm. Around the back, you’ll find all the ports you need, including four HDMI sockets, all of which support ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) and one of which is ARC (Audio Return Channel) enabled. There are also two USB 2.0s, a USB 3.0, a headphone/subwoofer connector and an optical output. It’s also Bluetooth-enabled if you’d rather go wireless for audio in or out.
Panasonic’s own My Home Screen 5.0 is simple and easy to use from the outset. Hit the home key on the fully-featured remote control and there are just four main choices – Apps, Devices, Live TV and Main Menu. You can add shortcuts to your favourites, which is handy.
Apps-wise, there are a few significant gaps. There’s no access to Apple TV, Google Play Movies & TV or Disney+, nor is there Now TV, BT Sport, Spotify or Tidal. It only takes a relatively small outlay on a media streamer to fix this, but it’s a shame that that’s necessary, particularly as it isn’t with most of the HX940B’s rivals.
Hit Live TV and you’ll head to the Freeview Play platform and tuner. It comes with a well-organised and usable EPG, all four of the UK catch-up services, plus a front page full of worthy content suggestions from the main terrestrial channels.
The Main Menu is where you find the picture, sound and other TV settings. As with previous incarnations of this OS, it’s a fairly long list with a few too many sub-menus. There’s also quite the host of modes and technologies to get your head around, although it’s good to see that Panasonic has taken the time to annotate them with explanations of what each one does.
Picture
(Image credit: Panasonic / Chemical Hearts, Amazon Prime)
The Panasonic TX-65HX940 is capable of an impressive picture performance, but squeezing that quality out of it takes a fair bit of patience and time, and that will be a bit off-putting to some potential buyers.
The picture presets are there to help shorten the process, but even the best of those doesn’t deliver the full potential of this TV. Surprisingly, the Sport setting is the best of the compromises. This Panasonic is strong on subtlety but not the biggest on punch and the Sport preset lends a handy contrast kick as well as the best stab at an accurate colour balance.
But realising the set’s full potential involves selecting the Custom mode to make sure all of the numerous and, for many, overwhelming settings and options are accessible. Teasing out that extra level of goodness can feel a bit like trying to crack a safe, but the rewards are worthwhile.
The opening scenes of Baby Driver on 4K Blu-ray are a really exciting watch. This bright panel creates wonderful views of the gloriously sunny city streets as Baby waits in his vibrant red getaway car outside the bank. The stone of the buildings is clean and detailed, and this TV’s shading skills bring a realistic sense of depth and perspective to the picture. Shots such as this give an easy sense that you’ve got something good for your money.
Motion processing is also excellent when the car chase kicks in. Nothing is rendered with any noticeable judder as Baby throws the car screeching round corners, even when the action is fast and close to the camera. We’d recommend putting the Frame Interpolation to the minimum setting when in Sport. Custom mode offers more granular control of both blur and judder on scales of between 1-10. Around three should hit the spot, but it’s well worth experimenting.
Dark detail is strong too. The elevator scene after the first job has everyone dressed mostly in black. All the folds and creases of Griff’s leather jacket are clear and there’s a decent difference in texture between that and Baby’s suede top.
(Image credit: Panasonic / Chemical Hearts, Amazon Prime)
What’s missing, though, is proper black depth. This TV needs its brightness set high to deliver any sense of dynamism, but the trade-off is that the backlight bleeds through rather a lot. The effect is uniform, at least, but you get dark greys rather than genuine blacks.
Moving to SDR requires another adjustment of the TV’s settings, but the picture quality is there to be had if you work at it. Watching something fairly neutral, such as 22 Jump Street on Blu-ray, we get that same zesty and inviting image as before. The Spring Break scene at the climax of the film is an appealing kaleidoscope of bright beachwear on golden sand and, once the white balance has been tweaked, the HX940 just about nails it.
You’ll need to be careful when switching to Full HD source material with a slightly more stylised aesthetic though. The push for punch in the settings that this TV needs tends to accentuate the flaws. Transformers comes across more noisy than it should and you’ll need to pull back on the contrast for something easier on the eye. If you can get a handle on that, this set scales perfectly well from HD and SD. In fact, when watching BBC News in standard def, this TV’s skills with subtlety do it the biggest service. Colours and tones are produced with more realism here than most at this resolution.
But regardless of the quality of the incoming signal, you’ll only get the best if you’re sitting fairly square to the TV, as viewing angles are poor. One armchair round from a central sofa and the already grey blacks turn even lighter and colours quickly fade. The issue is equally pronounced on the vertical axis too, so bear this in mind if you’re planning to wall-mount.
Sound
(Image credit: Panasonic / Chemical Hearts, Amazon Prime)
The best sound often adds a lot to the price of a TV, and external sound solutions are usually a far better option. Panasonic has decided to keep things on the economical side with the HX940 and fitted a standard two 10W speakers system to the rear. Users get some control over the precise flavour of that audio with Dolby Atmos, Bass Boost and Surround sound processing options, but the inescapable result is a presentation that’s clear but also thin.
Watching Baby Driver, there’s a lot to be said for that clarity. The excellent soundtrack is detailed and fairly rhythmic. You’ll never miss a word of the dialogue either. The trade-off is that music comes across a touch tinny and without much excitement.
The bigger problem is when it comes to the action sequences. This sound system barely delivers with the opening car chase of the film. There’s no weight or dynamism to get our blood pumping and that removes the feeling of jeopardy to the scene.
The precision keeps us very much in touch with the tyre screeches, the police sirens and the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion soundtrack, but there’s a narrow feel to it all with little movement of the audio from left to right and not enough of a sense of separation to each sound within the stage.
After a while, all those bright sounds are quite hard to listen to. While clarity is king for TV sound, so viewers can easily follow dialogue, it doesn’t take many minutes with this Panasonic to begin craving a decent dose of welly and dynamics. Ultimately, we want a TV that delivers both, but at least some of each is preferable. This TV leans too far in a single direction.
Verdict
The Panasonic TX-65HX940 is a good TV, but it isn’t a great one. The levels of dynamism, for both picture and sound, are shy of the very best at this price. The same goes for black depth and viewing angles, too, but there is a fundamental brightness and zestiness to the colour that make for an appealing and enjoyable natural performance.
The hard part is that unlocking all of that takes a fair bit of time and patience. If you’re looking for something that’s easy out of the box, then this isn’t the TV for you. Even if you do put the effort in, this Panasonic still can’t quite reach the heights of the Sony KD-65HX9005, which is a far more accomplished all-round performer and is currently available for less.
In my opinion, the most impressive showing at CES 2019 came from Creative, when they unveiled their retail release of the Super X-Fi headphone holography technology for a 7.1 surround sound speaker experience in a pair of headphones. The first product out at the time was the SXFI Amp combining their Super X-Fi DSP with a mobile DAC/amp for portable use across a variety of supported headphones. The media attending in person got an in-ear measurement profile done, which arguably made the experience superior than with SXFI app head-mapping-generated profiles, one of the complaints from our readers and the audio community as a whole. At CES 2020, the company took this feedback in stride and introduced Super X-Fi Gen 2 with support for 9.1 channel profiles, and all multi-channel profiles that were better-optimized with the much larger sample size over the past year.
Super X-Fi Gen 2 was automatically rolled out to everyone who already had a Gen 1 profile the week of CES, which meant testing it could have been as simple as using the SXFI Amp with the sample headphones they had provided last year, but Creative mentioned that they were just done giving a face-lift to their previously released SXFI AIR headphones, which worked out well in allowing us to cover both products simultaneously. Indeed, the face-lifted SXFI AIR is still not found on their website, with product images showing the older version as of the date this was written. There are minor cosmetic changes only, however, and our article here should be representative for all versions of the SXFI AIR. Thanks again to Creative for sending a review sample to TechPowerUp!
Specifications
Creative SXFI AIR Headphones
Drivers:
50 mm Neodymium magnet
Frequency Response:
20 Hz–20 kHz
Impedance:
32 Ω
Weight:
338 g / 11.9 oz
Connectivity:
Bluetooth 4.2, USB-C, and Line-in
Colors:
Black or White
Controls:
Touch controls (volume and playback), Power on/off, Source, and Super X-Fi
MicroSD Card MP3 Player:
Supports MP3, WMA, WAV, and FLAC formats
Battery Life:
Up to 10 hours
Software:
Yes, mobile only
Lighting:
16.8 M RGB earcup rings
Warranty:
1 year
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