#your aim is impressive punchy

[lluminary0]

Plantronics 3320 Blackwire Headset: Your Ultimate Guide to Features, Benefits, and FAQs

Introduction

Picture this: You’re neck-deep in a virtual boardroom, halfway through a pitch that could seal the deal. Your colleague’s cat screeches in the background, your laptop microphone chokes mid-sentence, and your voice? A garbled mess. Not exactly the seamless impression you’re aiming for, right?

Enter the Plantronics 3320 Blackwire Headset – the underdog headset that punches far above its weight. Affordable yet packed with pro-grade features. Crisp audio. A noise-canceling mic that could filter out a chainsaw. And, most importantly, featherlight comfort that doesn’t feel like your skull’s being gripped in a vice. Professionals rave about it. Office heroes swear by it. Remote warriors wouldn’t touch a conference call without it.

In this labyrinth of tech options, the 3320 Blackwire is a shining beacon of reliability. Today, we’ll crack open every detail, highlight the good stuff, and answer every burning question you didn’t even know you had.

3320 Blackwire: Features That Redefine Audio Excellence

Uncompromising Sound Quality

The beating heart of the Blackwire 3320 is its audio. Imagine a sound so clear that even whispers come through like velvet. From the rhythmic clicks of a keyboard to the bass of your favorite playlist, this headset doesn’t compromise.

Wideband Audio: Superior call clarity. You hear them, they hear you. Every word, every syllable.

Noise-Canceling Microphone: You could be in a bustling café or a construction zone – nobody will know. External noise disappears. Poof.

Dynamic EQ: Automatically optimizes sound depending on the task. Calls? Speech is prioritized. Music? Punchy lows, crisp highs.

Think of it this way: You don’t hear sound. You feel it. Whether it’s Beethoven or Zoom.

Ergonomics That Won’t Quit

Ever had headphones that squeezed so hard you wondered if your brain could still circulate blood? Yeah, me too. The 3320 Blackwire is different.

Memory Foam Cushions: They sit, they mold, they forget they exist.

Flexible Headband: Big head? Small head? Doesn’t matter. Adjustable for everyone.

Lightweight Build: At just under 130 grams, you’ll forget you’re even wearing them.

It’s the headset you don’t want to rip off after an hour-long call.

Built Tough for the Daily Grind

The Blackwire 3320 isn’t fragile tech you need to baby. This is Poly (formerly Plantronics). Rugged construction and reinforced cabling mean this headset doesn’t just live on your desk – it thrives on it. Tangles? Twists? Angry yanks mid-call? It handles it all without missing a beat.

Frequently Asked Questions About the 3320 Blackwire

1. Is the 3320 Blackwire compatible with Microsoft Teams and Zoom?

Yes. The Blackwire 3320 works like a charm with Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, and other UC platforms. It’s officially certified for UC applications, ensuring flawless integration.

2. How does the noise-canceling microphone perform in real life?

Picture this: A barking dog, screaming kids, and the roar of traffic. On the other end, your colleague hears only you. The mic’s DSP technology actively strips unwanted background noise, prioritizing vocal frequencies.

3. Can I use the Blackwire 3320 with my smartphone?

If your smartphone supports USB-C, yes. Otherwise, a USB adapter bridges the gap. It’s primarily built for computers, but tech-savvy users can find workarounds for mobile compatibility.

4. Is it good for music or gaming?

While primarily a business headset, the hi-fi stereo drivers give music a solid punch. For gaming, it works great for casual players who value clear chat audio but don’t demand hyper-immersive soundscapes.

5. What’s the difference between the Blackwire 3320 and the 3310?

The Blackwire 3310 is mono (one ear), while the 3320 is stereo (both ears). Choose the 3320 if you want immersive sound.

Comparison Table: 3320 Blackwire vs Competitors

FeaturePlantronics 3320Jabra Evolve 20Logitech H540Audio QualityWideband + EQStandardStandardNoise-Canceling MicYesYesBasicWeight130g171g192gPrice$55-$65$60$50Comfort LevelHigh (Memory Foam)ModerateModerate

Who Needs the Blackwire 3320?

Remote Workers: Daily video calls? Check. Dependable audio clarity? Double-check.

Call Center Employees: Designed for marathon call sessions. Clear voice, comfortable fit.

Content Creators: Audio monitoring and clean input for streaming or recording.

Students: Affordable solution for online classes and virtual group projects.

At under $65, it’s the headset for professionals on a budget who refuse to compromise quality.

External Validation: Real Reviews Matter

Still on the fence? Here’s what others are saying:

“Best headset for office work. The mic cancels out everything except my voice.” — TechGearLab “Worth every penny. Comfortable, reliable, and sounds fantastic!” — Verified Buyer, Amazon

For more in-depth user reviews, check it out on Amazon.

Conclusion: Why the 3320 Blackwire Reigns Supreme

The Plantronics 3320 Blackwire Headset is a golden mix of performance, comfort, and price. It tackles real-world needs: clear calls, distraction-free communication, and durability that lasts. Whether you’re working from home, taking client calls, or enjoying downtime with music, it delivers flawlessly.

Tired of dropping cash on overpriced, underperforming headsets? The Blackwire 3320 is your answer.

[the-firebird69]

We are looking at it this way these people here are a huge nuisance to us and him and our daughter we need to be released from it they are a distraction on purpose if we are not they'll be held to pay. This is your last chance and was speaking to you Mac proper. We do understand what we're saying of course because we're saying you back off or you're going to get in trouble and big trouble and you can't afford it what happens down there we'll stay down there pretty much you're the only group who cares about you these people gave up on caring about you quite a long time ago now it's just a matter of time before you defenseless begin to crumble the forgieners have been attacking you for a long time. We are about to embark on several programs of our own that will address this situation and we are going to proceed.

--last night Camilla was invited to a dinner with Alex Cross who used a different name and looked a little different at the beginning of dinner and changed and it is to show who is having it done and we know who he is and he is delighted. His character performed very well and did the job succinctly and perfectly. And the setting was intense and what happened after was anticipated and it did go off that way the way we wanted. She is up and out and in the ship both of them and they are under siege or at least the clones in their clone ship are and by a lot of powerful enemies. They know how to shoot and they know how to aim and the ship will be disabled momentarily. They're demanding her release if not they plan to destroy it and they are trying to breach they're wearing down the power systems that part of The shield and soon they will be in and it is recorded as they are going to reach they're going to breach it's not the first time that this has happened it did happen in Africa and those ships were reached they were breached a total of 10 no they're not breached yet but they will be. They're watching the technique and listening to what this said and they see that they know what they're doing they are changing their system a little here and there and they're making note of it and soon the whole world will be attempting this maneuver to get there friends and family and loved ones out of their grasp and yeah they're holding the world hostage it will only help Camila's cause and her people and it will have a lasting impression on the clones as to what groups to leave alone. This particular group are very aggressive and they will pursue their quadrant until they get it and you people are going to be flattened here and I hear you supporting the clones and you are sick and already gone and that's what they say. They are going to lunch several waves of attacks they're going to be large scale and Non-Stop on the ships in question and the areas below and nearby. They are going to flatten the enemy and right now they're very very upset and do not like them in any way after a Time once the ship is subdued and she's freed they will reduce their effort against the clones unless the clones are trying to seek a reprise. Then they will fortify and obliterate all comers. And they have a particular style and it looks like ours and that's why I am doing this approach and sound somewhat cryptic and he was asking why. We of course do utilize different demons then we control them and this will set for precedent that we appreciate

It's not their fault that they're doing it it's the fault of the people who have taken her hostage and they do call it a hostage situation. They have been holding our son here and it's Billy z and I do state that he is held hostage for their own detriment we have been assisting in them getting wiped out globally in order to weaken them to perform this maneuver they're getting grabby and punchy and will pay for their impatience. Tommy f is balking but he deserves this very badly. He is a mystery in his ruined by our son's finances and career and is regular life and that's what he's depending on now he was planning on devastating the trumpsters and cutting off his social security to try and force him into his possession and we are going to eliminate that piece of s*** from existence for his insolent behavior coming up very soon. Is putting a hit on Billy z and on Todd and Trump for chiming in and right now and we're going to follow through. These people are losers and they just sit there saying stupid things in space and he's aggravated and he's had them killed plenty of times for it and just keep doing it like idiot kids who have no brain

And we're adding punishments to Trump for his continuing to talk using our channel by force and he's going to pay for it don't you people get this you're opening up a wound here and you're not going to like it it's the wrong group to attack because of what they do and we can easily do the same thing now that you've done it and it's not their problem it's yours so we are going to attack all over the place and we will be covering them and assisting them and we don't like you and we don't like the Mac proper and they're going to get attacked badly and go down.

Several other things are occurring and we will get to those momentarily

Thor Freya

Olympus

Zues Hera

[mishu432]

The Psychology of Clickable YouTube Thumbnails

When browsing through YouTube, what’s the first thing that catches your eye? It’s likely the thumbnail – that small but mighty image that can make or break whether someone clicks on your video. The thumbnail is often the first impression viewers have of your content, and with millions of videos uploaded every day, creating a thumbnail that stands out is more important than ever.

In this blog, we’ll dive into the psychology behind clickable YouTube thumbnails, the strategies that make them irresistible, and how to design thumbnails that get people to hit that "Play" button.

Why Thumbnails Matter: The First Impression

YouTube is a visual platform, and your thumbnail is essentially your video’s cover image. People make split-second decisions about what to watch based on this small but powerful image. The thumbnail serves as an introduction to your video, giving viewers a preview of what to expect, both in terms of content and quality. When done right, a well-designed thumbnail creates curiosity and encourages people to click.

But there’s more to it than just looking good. Thumbnails are an essential part of YouTube's algorithm and your video's success. They influence engagement, click-through rate (CTR), and ultimately, how your video is ranked and recommended.

The Science Behind Clickable Thumbnails

Use of Faces

Studies have shown that people are naturally drawn to human faces. When you include a face in your thumbnail – especially one showing an expressive emotion – you’re tapping into this natural human tendency. A smiling face, a look of surprise, or a reaction shot can immediately grab attention and trigger curiosity. Faces convey emotions, and emotions drive decisions. A thumbnail with a person showing joy, shock, or intrigue is more likely to resonate with potential viewers. It invites them to experience those emotions themselves.

Bold Colors and Contrast

Humans are hardwired to notice high contrast and vibrant colors. Thumbnails with bright, bold colors stand out in the sea of other videos. Contrast – especially between light and dark elements – can help make your thumbnail pop. The high-contrast text also makes your title more legible, even when viewed on a small screen. Using colors strategically can also evoke specific emotions. For example, red often signals urgency or excitement, while blue is associated with calmness and trust. Knowing how to match your thumbnail’s colors with the tone of your video can help you build the right anticipation.

Minimal Text – Maximal Impact

Thumbnails are not meant to convey every detail about your video. Too much text can overwhelm the viewer and distract from the main visual message. Aim to use as few words as possible, focusing on a catchy phrase or essential message. Make sure the text is large enough to read on smaller screens, as many users view YouTube on mobile devices. A good rule of thumb is to keep your thumbnail’s text to a short, punchy phrase or just the title of the video. This helps maintain clarity and draws viewers' attention to the most important part of your thumbnail – the visual. If you’re working with a YouTube playlist thumbnail, ensure that each thumbnail within the playlist follows a similar, clear style to maintain cohesion.

Consistency and Branding

Your thumbnail should feel like it belongs to you. Consistency in your thumbnail style helps establish your brand identity and makes it easier for returning viewers to recognize your content. Whether it’s the color scheme, font style, or layout, maintaining a consistent thumbnail design builds trust with your audience. It also ensures that your thumbnails are instantly recognizable in the YouTube feed. Think about popular YouTube channels – their thumbnails often have a distinct look. When someone sees one of their thumbnails, they know immediately who the content is from. This kind of consistency can help build a loyal audience.

The Power of Curiosity

One of the most effective psychological triggers for clickable thumbnails is curiosity. If your thumbnail presents an image that makes the viewer wonder, "What’s going on here?" or "What happens next?", they’re more likely to click. Sometimes a thumbnail might show a moment of action, an unexpected twist, or a surprising reveal. Keep it vague enough to provoke questions but clear enough to indicate what your video is about. Remember, you want to give enough information to make people want to learn more, but not so much that the video feels predictable.

Strategic Use of YouTube Playlist Thumbnail

When you are creating a YouTube playlist thumbnail, the strategy is slightly different. It should represent the overall theme of the playlist, not just a single video. Your YouTube playlist thumbnail can act as a visual introduction to a group of videos that share a common thread. Make sure it includes a compelling image and text that tells the viewer what they can expect from the entire playlist. It’s important to keep this consistent across all playlist thumbnails for a professional look.

Conclusion

Creating clickable YouTube thumbnails involves understanding the psychology behind what grabs people's attention. Faces, bold colors, minimal text, and strategic branding all play crucial roles in making your thumbnails irresistible. Adding curiosity and a sense of mystery can further boost engagement and clicks. Don't forget that your YouTube playlist thumbnail should maintain consistency and give viewers an idea of what to expect from your content.

If you found these tips useful or have your own experiences to share, don’t hesitate to reach out! We’d love to hear your thoughts on how clickable thumbnails have impacted your YouTube content.

[acrautogear]

Car speakers have the power to turn your everyday commute or long drive into a captivating journey. Opting for top-notch car speakers such as JBL Speaker can elevate your driving experience, bringing enjoyment during trips.

JBL component speakers deliver exceptional sound quality with deep bass and precise audio production, ensuring every note and beat is of top quality. Whether you're enjoying your favorite music, podcasts, or audiobooks, this can significantly enhance your overall driving experience. Investing in high-quality car speakers is a valuable decision for any car audio enthusiast.

ACR Automotive Accessories offers JBL components speakers at the best price for an unparalleled car audio experience! 

Top 6 Features of JBL Car Speaker 

The JBL component speaker offers a compelling combination of exceptional sound quality, advanced technology, durability, and versatility, making them a top choice for car audio enthusiasts. With a wide range of models to suit different budgets and preferences, JBL ensures there's a perfect speaker setup for every car and driver.

Below are the top 6 features that make them the best car speaker: 

1. Top-Notch Sound Quality 

The JBL car component speaker is renowned for its exceptional sound quality and delivers clear, balanced audio across the entire frequency spectrum. From crisp highs to rich midranges and deep, punchy bass, this speaker produces music with accuracy and detail. This balanced sound profile ensures that you can enjoy various music genres without any particular frequency overpowering the others. 

Whether you're listening to classical orchestras or bass-heavy electronic music, it aims to provide an immersive audio experience.

2. Brand Reputation

JBL is a trusted name among car audio enthusiasts. The brand's commitment to quality 4rf n8 and innovation sets a high standard in the industry. JBL's experience in professional audio equipment, including concert sound systems, translates into their car audio products. 

Car JBL speaker is one such product that provides the brand’s quality and advanced technology. This has become one of the best car speaker for an immersive audio experience.

3. Durability

The JBL car component speaker designed with robust materials and construction techniques to ensure longevity. It features durable cones and sturdy frames that can withstand the rigors of daily use in a vehicle environment. This durability protects your investment and maintains consistent sound quality over time.

4. Impressive Power Handling

For those who like their music loud and clear, JBL component speakers often boast impressive power-handling capabilities. This car component speaker can handle high-power inputs without distortion, allowing you to level up the volume while maintaining sound integrity. This feature is particularly appealing to enthusiasts who plan to pair their speakers with powerful amplifiers. 

Additionally, it can produce dynamic ranges more accurately, capturing both subtle nuances and powerful crescendos in your music.

5. Enhanced Technology 

JBL incorporates various technologies in their speakers to enhance sound quality and performance. These may include unique cone materials for improved sound reproduction, and innovative magnet structures for increased efficiency. These technological advancements are features in the JBL car component speaker and aim to provide a superior listening experience.

6. Easy Installation

The Car JBL speaker is designed with ease of installation. It requires minimal modifications to fit. This plug-and-play approach makes it more accessible for car enthusiasts to upgrade their car's audio system. Additionally, this car component speaker provides detailed installation instructions, further simplifying the process. This ease of installation can save time and potentially reduce costs associated with professional installation. 

JBL speakers offer numerous advantages for car audio enthusiasts, the ultimate choice depends on your specific needs and preferences. For those seeking the best sound quality and customization, the JBL car component speaker presents a compelling option. 

ACR Automotive Accessories offers premium JBL speaker to transform your car journeys into immersive audio experiences. This high-quality speaker delivers exceptional sound clarity and powerful performance, elevating your in-car entertainment. 

Visit ACR Automotive Accessories to explore our wide range of other automotive accessories!

[boothconstructor]

How to Make an Impactful Presence at Automechanika Frankfurt 2024 with Booth Constructor!

The auto world buzzes with excitement about Automechanika Frankfurt. As the trade fair is around the corner, companies beam with excitement to dazzle crowds with cutting-edge technology-enabled booths. Want your booth to stand out? Team up with a pro like Booth Constructor GmbH - we ace it with our eye-catching exhibition stands in Frankfurt. Here are some tips to help you prepare for an impactful presentation at Automechanika Show 2024.

1) Plan Ahead- Preparation is Key!

Know Your Goals & Do Your Homework

First things first: figure out why you're there. Chasing leads? Unveiling a game-changer? Boosting your brand? Nail down your aims - they'll steer your whole game plan. Scope out who you're trying to impress and what your rivals are up to. This intel helps you tailor a killer presentation.

Craft Your Presentation

Clear goals? Now shape your content. Aim for a message that hits home with your crowd. Grab their attention with cool visuals real-life stories, and snappy talk. Keep it punchy! Rehearse till you're smooth - you'll need that swagger to field questions like a pro.

Spread the Word

Get the hype train rolling for your Automechanika 2024 Frankfurt spot way ahead of time. Blast it on social media, fire off some emails, and cook up a juicy press release to get folks buzzing about your booth.

2) Booth Design and Construction

Partner with an Expert Booth Builder in Frankfurt

The design of your booth plays significant role in attracting visitors. Booth Constructor a leading Exhibition Stand Design Company in Frankfurt, can help you create a stunning. And functional booth. Here is how you can make the most of their expertise

Focus on Visual Appeal

Your booth should be visually appealing and reflective of your brand identity. Use bold colors. Incorporate attractive graphics and interactive elements to catch the eye of passersby. Ensure your brand logo is prominently displayed and key messages are easy to read.

Optimize Space and Layout

Work with Booth Constructor to optimize the space and layout of your booth. Ensure there is enough room for demonstrations. Have adequate space for product displays and visitor interaction. A well-organized booth not only looks professional but also makes it easier for visitors to navigate. Engage with your offerings.

Incorporate Technology

Incorporating technology can enhance the visitor experience. Consider using linear anamorphic displays or kinetic walls for better engagement. AR and virtual reality to showcase your products and services in a different light. Interactive technology can make presentation more engaging and memorable.

3) Practical Tips from Booth Constructor

- Optimal use of lighting: Use lighting to your benefit and draw focus to the key areas of your exhibition stand and highlight your products in the best way possible. This will help you to draw visitors attention towards your trade show booth.

- Choosing the most appropriate furniture: It is one of the most crucial part, you will have to choose furniture that goes well with the aesthetics of your exhibition stand. Also, happens to be functional and comfortable at the same time.

- Shine with your branding: Branding plays a key role to create brand recall, so that’s why it’s essential to ensure that your branding is consistent throughout your booth. It will help you in drawing clients towards your brand.

4) Post-Event Analysis Measure Your Performance

It is of utmost importance to analyze your performance after the event. Pay due attention to it and take your time in evaluating the number of leads generated, visitor engagement and overall feedback. Analyze what worked well for you this time and what could have been better, identify those areas and work on it for your next trade show.

Implement it The insights you must have gained from thoroughly evaluating everything. Put it in practice and see your brand shine. It will in return help you in maximizing your investment, create a captivating presence in the future and see which booth designs align perfectly with your brand’s vision.

Partnering with an established Exhibition Stand Design Company in Frankfurt like Booth Constructor GmbH can help you create an impactful presentation that attracts, engages and increases visitor impressions. By following these practical tips, you can maximize your presence at Automechanika Frankfurt 2024 and help you attain your exhibition goals!

[suvcarslover]

Safety First, Affordability Always: Why the Kia Sonet is a Smart Choice

With skyrocketing prices across vehicle segments, combining safety and affordability seems near impossible. Yet there are still options for the value-focused buyer unwilling to compromise on safety to stretch their budget.

The Kia Sonet subcompact SUV cars pull off this combination better than most, delivering a modern, well-equipped vehicle with ample safety features at a reasonable price point. For those seeking security without breaking the bank or undercutting needs, the Sonet presents an intriguing proposition worth exploring further.

Staying Safe in Style

The Kia Sonet keeps you protected with some clever safety technology:

ABS, ESC and a Hill Assist system help maintain control by preventing wheel lock-ups, stabilizing the car on turns and keeping you from rolling backwards on inclines.

Airbags surround occupants with safety. There are two front airbags, two side airbags, and two curtain airbags running the length of the cabin—a total of six to cushion you.

The Blind View Monitor is a smart addition, showing the car's sides in the instrument cluster screen. So, you can spot any hazards in the usually unseen blind spots.

Parking is made hassle-free thanks to sensors front and back that beep faster as you near obstacles.

Everyone is reminded to buckle up properly, no matter where they sit. The 3-point seat belts have reminders for all seats.

Disc brakes on each wheel and Emergency Stop Signal technology flash the brake lights for sudden stops to alert others.

Finally, a 360-degree camera gives your eyes all around the car, making driving in tight spots much easier.

The Sonet doesn't compromise on safety - it has all the essential tech to keep you and your loved ones protected.

Affordability of the Kia Sonet

The Kia Sonet India offers an accessible entry point into the subcompact SUV segment:

Priced between ₹7,99,000 and 15,00,000 lakhs, the Sonet competes with rivals like Maruti Brezza, Hyundai Venue, and Tata Nexon. The Sonet has comparable features to competitors, including under-body protection, a digital instrument cluster, an electric sunroof, and ventilated seats.

The Kia Sonet offers frugal ownership with impressive fuel economy for the diesel variant. Maintenance costs are also light on the pocket, with service intervals set at 10,000 km or 1 year. ​​​​Additionally, Kia provides a 3-year Warranty* for unlimited kilometres (T&C applied), ensuring complete peace of mind. The Sonet stands out for its flexible financing options, which are designed to make purchasing easier.

Through partnerships with leading banks, customers can benefit from low-interest loans, deferred payment plans, and buyback guarantees. Down payments can start from as low as ₹25,000*, making the Sonet accessible to a broader range of buyers. Despite its affordability, the Sonet competes well with more expensive rivals by emphasizing value.

The Sonet aims to be an affordable car with good features and driving quality. This balance of affordability and comprehensive offerings makes the Kia Sonet an intelligent choice for those looking for a reliable, economical, and feature-rich SUV. For the latest details and specific offers, it’s always best to check with local Kia dealerships or the official Kia India website.

Space and Power to Suit Your Lifestyle

The Sonet checks the right boxes whether your priority is passengers, cargo, or performance:

With seating for 5, the cabin offers ample room for small families or groups of friends. The rear seats also have their own AC vents and charging ports.

With its class-leading 385-litre capacity, the smartly shaped trunk swallows up luggage. That's plenty for travel or Costco runs. The 60:40 split rear seats fold away to make even more space when required.

The new Kia Sonet offers choices for both power-hungry drivers and practicality-focused buyers. For those wanting maximum thrills, ​​​​​​there's a punchy 1.0L GDI turbo-petrol putting out 120PS and 172Nm. Transmission options include a smooth-shifting 6-speed iMT clutchless manual or a quick-witted 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.

For city commuting needs, a frugal 1.2L petrol with 83PS and 115Nm comes paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox. Finally, the efficient 1.5L diesel balances performance and economy with 116PS and 250Nm on tap, coupled to a 6-speed manual, intelligent MT or conventional 6-speed torque converter automatic. So, whether you need speed or max mileage, the Sonet has an engine-gearbox combination to put a smile on your face.

The Bottom Line

The Kia Sonet hits the spot between safety, affordability, and practicality. With ample safety tech and features, frugal ownership costs, versatile interior space, and capable powertrains, this well-rounded compact SUV makes a compelling case for buyers seeking value without compromise. The Sonet punches above its weight, representing a smart purchase for many.

[inkrepublique]

The Art of Crafting a Compelling Press Release: A Guide to Structure and Success

In today's media-saturated landscape, capturing attention is a constant battle. For businesses and organizations, one of the most effective ways to break through the noise and reach your target audience is through the power of the press release. But crafting a press release that actually resonates with journalists and readers requires more than just throwing together a few sentences about your latest news. It's about understanding the essential elements of structure and presenting your information in a way that is both newsworthy and engaging.

This guide will delve into the anatomy of a successful press release, providing you with the tools and knowledge you need to craft compelling narratives that grab attention and generate positive publicity.

1. The Headline: Your Hook in the First Line

Your headline is the first impression you make on a journalist, so it needs to be strong. It should be clear, concise, and attention-grabbing, accurately reflecting the essence of your news while also sparking curiosity. Think of it as your elevator pitch – you have mere seconds to capture interest and entice readers to delve deeper.

2. The Lead Paragraph: Setting the Stage

The opening paragraph is where you expand on your headline and provide essential context. Briefly introduce your organization, state the newsworthy event or announcement, and highlight the key takeaway for readers. This paragraph should be punchy and informative, setting the stage for the rest of your press release.

3. The Body: Building Your Case

The body of your press release is where you flesh out the details of your news. Here, you can use the 5Ws and 1H of journalism – who, what, when, where, why, and how – to provide a comprehensive and informative account of your announcement. Use strong quotes from key figures, incorporate relevant statistics and data, and paint a vivid picture of the impact of your news. Remember, keep it concise and focused, avoiding unnecessary jargon or technical language.

4. The Call to Action: Prompting Engagement

Don't leave your readers hanging! Conclude your press release with a clear call to action. Tell them what you want them to do next, whether it's visiting your website, attending an event, or contacting you for more information. Make it easy for them to take the next step and engage with your brand.

5. The Boilerplate: Building Brand Recognition

The boilerplate is a brief overview of your organization that you can include at the end of your press release. This is your chance to establish credibility and showcase your brand identity. Briefly mention your mission, values, and key achievements, and provide your contact information for further inquiries.

Beyond the Basics: Tips for Press Release Success

Timing is Everything: Newsworthy events have a shelf life. Aim to issue your press release when your news is most relevant and timely to maximize its impact.

Target the Right Audience: Tailor your press release to the specific interests of the journalists and publications you're targeting. Research their areas of focus and craft your message accordingly.

Embrace Multimedia: Don't just rely on text. Include high-quality images, videos, or infographics to visually enhance your press release and grab attention.

Proofread and Edit Mercilessly: Typos and grammatical errors can make even the most newsworthy press release appear unprofessional. Double-check your work before hitting send.

By following these tips and understanding the essential structure of a press release, you can craft compelling narratives that capture attention, generate positive publicity, and ultimately achieve your communication goals. Remember, a well-written press release is a powerful tool for building brand awareness, boosting your online presence, and driving engagement with your target audience. So, take the time to get it right, and let your news resonate with the world.

This summary is just a starting point, and you can tailor it further to your specific needs and target audience. Feel free to add additional details, examples, and quotes to make your press release even more compelling. With a little effort and creativity, you can craft a press release that gets noticed and helps you achieve your communication objectives.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions. 

[contentowl]

Vadodara's Top Content Services Crafting SEO Magic

In the ever-evolving landscape of the digital age, the role of high-quality content has become paramount for businesses and individuals seeking to establish a formidable online presence. In Vadodara, a city known for its rich cultural heritage and growing digital footprint, the demand for top-tier content writing services has surged. This comprehensive guide aims to delve into the vibrant cityscape of Vadodara, uncovering the best content writing services that have the potential to transform your ideas into compelling narratives, ultimately elevating your brand or personal ventures.

Understanding the Significance of Quality Content:

Before diving into the specifics of Vadodara's content writing services, it's crucial to comprehend why investing in quality content is a linchpin for online success. Content acts as the bridge between you and your audience, serving as the conduit for conveying your brand message, values, and offerings. Whether it's a website, blog, social media posts, or marketing collateral, compelling content not only captures attention but also establishes trust and credibility, forming the cornerstone of a robust online presence.

Vadodara's Content Writing Landscape:

Situated as the cultural capital of Gujarat, Vadodara is experiencing a paradigm shift in its digital landscape. Businesses, ranging from startups to established enterprises, are acknowledging the imperative need for engaging and impactful content to distinguish themselves in the crowded online marketplace. Consequently, the city has witnessed a surge in content writing services, each striving to offer the best in terms of creativity, reliability, and effectiveness.

Unveiling the Best Content Writing Services in Vadodara:

Crafting Compelling Narratives:

Content Owl, one of the most notable content writing services in Vadodara specializes in crafting compelling narratives that resonate with your target audience. Housing a team of seasoned writers, they excel in creating content that not only informs but also reflects the unique voice of your brand. Their ability to tailor content according to diverse industries ensures that each piece speaks directly to the hearts of your audience.

Expanding on this, it's noteworthy to emphasize the process this service employs. From meticulous research to understanding client preferences, their writers immerse themselves in the brand's ethos, ensuring that the produced content is not just a string of words but a powerful representation of the brand's identity.

Masterful Storytelling:

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[fiddleabout]

33, 7, 81

7: supercut, by lorde

33: running up that hill, meg myers

81: silver springs, lykke li

[depressedkakashihatake-fics]

Training Interuption

Hatake Kakashi/Maito Gai

3937 words

Edited by: @mireleth

Thirty minutes late.

It was unlike Gai-sensei to be late. Usually he was the first one to the training field, a smile on his face and more energy than an adult had any right to have. And to be late when he had promised to show Neji how to add more power to his gentle fist? It was just inconsiderate, and a tiny bit worrying.

“We should go look for Sensei,” Lee’s voice broke the silence that had fallen between the three of them, his words laced with worry. “What if he is injured?”

“I’m sure nothing bad happened,” Tenten spoke up. “Gai-sensei would only get injured on a mission, and since we saw him at team dinner last night we know he didn’t go on a mission without us.”

A good point. Any mission that could cause Gai-sensei an injury severe enough to prevent him from attending their morning training would take longer than a night. Still, it was out of character for Gai-sensei to be late, and since he doubted that his sensei was taking punctuality lessons from his eternal rival, something had to be done.

“We could check his apartment,” he suggested, cringing when both of his teammates looked at him. “We can’t start training without him. He had the training plan and Lee’s not going to focus if he’s worried.”

“I guess you’re not wrong.” Glancing down at all of the scrolls she had scattered on the ground to work on while they waited for their sensei, Tenten sighed. “L-let me just clean up.”

“No need to clean up.” Neji moved into an attack stance when he heard an unfamiliar voice nearby, his byakugan activating and searching the area for the intruder's chakra signature. “Gai said there was someone on the team I’d like to meet. Should have just told me he had a weapons enthusiast, I would have shown up earlier.”

Spotting a chakra signature nearby, he prepares himself to strike only to see the chakra moving around the area and coming to a stop directly behind him. Doing a one hundred eighty degree turn, he aimed his gentle fist attack at the intruder’s abdomen only to have the man grab his wrist and pull it upwards over his head. 

“He did let me know to watch out for you though.” Turning his eyes up towards the man’s face, Neji narrowed his eyes. “Punchy little shit, aren't you?”

“I am Gai-sensei’s student, am I not?” There was a moment where the man actually looked impressed, but that quickly shifted into disinterest. Feeling the grip on his wrist being released, Neji watched as he was quickly forgotten in favour of Tenten’s scrolls still scattered on the ground. 

“You’re not wrong about that.” There was a fondness in the words. “Gai would have all the punchy students. Speaking of which…”

Turning his attention back to the three genin, he examined each of them individually. From the way his eyes scanned over them Neji could tell that he was trying to size them up. See what he was dealing with.

“My name is Shiranui Genma, and I’m going to be taking over your training for today.” It felt like someone had punched him in the gut. He had gotten his hopes up. Allowed himself to look forward to the training that Gai-sensei had promised him last night while they were enjoying sushi together as a team. “Don’t look so upset about it, kid.” Glaring back up at Gemma, he huffed. “Gai woke up this morning with a fever and no energy to spare. That second symptom would be enough to cause concern on its own. So, after a bit of arguing, he agreed to have me train you this morning in his place while he rests.”

That was… different.

“When Gai-sensei has been unable to teach us in the past, he sent Kakashi-sensei in his place.” Lee made a good point. It was out of character for their sensei to send someone that they didn’t already know. “Why would he send you this time?”

“Maybe he wanted to give you a fun sensei this time?” Neji’s pretty sure that both of his teammates have the same unimpressed looks on their faces as him. “Jeez, ok. Kakashi’s busy today.”

Not a favourable answer, but he was going to have to live with it. 

“And what can you teach us?” Lee continued, the usual excitement in his voice replaced by an uncertainty that sounded completely out of place coming from him. “If Gai-sensei sent you, your taijutsu must be impeccable.”

A moment of silence and they had their answer.

“If your taijutsu isn’t up to par with at least Kakashi-sensei’s, then why are you here?” Perhaps it was a little harsh, but it was true. They needed a sensei who could improve the skills that they already had, not one that would just fill a spot. “Is there anything you have to offer us as a sensei?”

“Punchy and rude.” Genma glared down at him. “Are you sure you’re a Hyuga and not a Hatake?”

Whatever commentary was being made about his personality, Neji ignored it. That wasn’t the point of conversation that he wanted to focus on at the moment.

“Do you have any redeeming qualities?” he continued, ignoring Tenten when she jabbed him in the side. A silent message for him to tone back the ‘rudeness’ that others might pick up in his words.

“I’m Konoha’s top weapons expert.” Useless to him and Lee, but he could already see Tenten starting to vibrate with excitement beside him. At least someone would get something out of this disaster. “A tokubetsu jonin of Konohagakure, member of Team Choza alongside Ebisu and Maito Gai.”

“Oh,” Lee’s eyes widened, “you, you were on Gai-sensei’s team?”

A sharp nod of the head, and Neji knew that Lee was gone. A chance to find out about Gai-sensei when he was their age, from someone other than Gai-sensei? Considering Kakashi-sensei never told them anything, this was as good as a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Still, there wasn’t much here for him. He had no interest in learning about weapons more than he already knew. Tenten was the weapons expert on their team and he wanted to leave that to her. It was her passion, he wasn’t going to impede on it. Plus he really had gotten his hopes up for that training Gai-sensei had promised him. 

“I think I’m going to go do something on my own.” He hadn’t actually meant to say that out loud, but with all eyes on him now he was kind of stuck. “It sounds as though this would be a great moment for Tenten to get some one-on-one training with someone who aligns more with her interests. While Gai-sensei certainly doesn’t leave her behind in our daily training, even helping her find her skills for summoning inanimate objects and creating a unique fighting style with it, he wasn’t the weapons enthusiast that Tenten was. 

“In that case, perhaps it would be best if Neji and I trained together today while Genma-sensei focuses on Tenten.” Lee’s arm came down around Neji’s shoulders as he spoke, a proud smile on his face when Neji looked over at him. “I could use the time to spar with my rival; what do you say Neji?”

Not an optimal situation, but better than nothing. 

“Does that mean…” Tenten looked up at Genma with hopeful eyes.

“I guess we’re focusing on weapons today.” The smile on his face says that the tokubetsu jonin is in no way adverse to this outcome. “Just try to stay out of trouble, you two. Gai will never forgive me if you two get hurt when I’m supposed to be watching you.”

“We’ll be fine,” Neji assured him. “Come on, Lee. Maybe today you can actually land a punch.”

“I will land five punches!” Lee proclaimed proudly, beaming when Neji glared at him. “Just you watch, Rival. You won’t be able to keep up with me during our spar.”

Unlikely, but he’d certainly be impressed if Lee did manage to do it.

Watching as Tenten returned her attention to her scrolls, sitting down beside them while Genma-sensei sat across from her, Neji turned and headed towards the exit with Lee hot on his heel. It would be best if they took their training somewhere else and avoided getting in the way of Tenten and Genma-sensei if they decided to start throwing weapons around.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Training was not going nearly as well as Neji had hoped. 

Lee was certainly doing better than expected. He had improved a lot since their last proper spar, meaning Neji was going to have to keep a closer eye on his teammate’s training regimes. 

Still, simple spars were not what he had planned for his day, and he was starting to get agitated with the entire situation.

Blocking another kick from Lee, Neji placed his hands on his waist and sighed. “This isn’t good enough,” he grumbled under his breath, watching as his teammate clambered to his feet. “I want to improve. I need to become more efficient in battle.”

“What do you want to do then?” Lee asked with a genuine interest that surprised him. He had no reason to be worried about Neji’s training, but he seemed as invested in it as if it were his own. 

Not to mention he didn’t really have an answer. The only way to get better was to find out what Gai-sensei had in mind for his training, and that wouldn’t happen until he was able to tell Neji himself what he needed to do to improve his gentle fist.

“We could go visit Gai-sensei.” Lee’s suggestion caught his attention, but it wasn’t that easy. If Gai-sensei was sick he was likely in no condition to give Neji his training plans. “I’m sure Sensei has it written down somewhere. He always has notes on our training.”

A true fact. Neji had seen the book that Gai-sensei always brought to their training. The one he wrote down new team formations and training ideas in. An idea he had gotten from Kakashi-sensei one day after forgetting the training plan he had come up with for the team. A common occurrence apparently, since Gai-sensei was used to challenging himself to new and interesting training methods and had never really thought about a set training plan before.

The sporadic self challenges didn’t work for everyone though. Neji himself preferred the well thought out plans that his Sensei kept in the book. 

Whatever it was Gai wanted to teach Neji, he must have written it down in his book. He wouldn’t risk forgetting about something that he spoke so highly of just yesterday. He’d want to make sure he remembered every detail. 

It was decided then.

“Let’s go find Gai-Sensei.” Meeting Lee’s eyes, he tilted his head when Lee gave him a confused look. “Don’t tell me you don’t want to go. He may be sick but we both know you still want to see him.”

“Well, of course I do,” Lee whispered, “but I wouldn’t want to impede on his recovery. Genma-san said that he was sick enough that he couldn’t come to training. For Gai-sensei to miss training he must be extremely sick. If we show up there he may try to push himself too much and impede his recovery.”

Surprisingly thoughtful of Lee, but deep down Neji knew his desire to see their sensei would outweigh such a thoughtful response in the end. Not that he would call Lee out on it. The choice was up to him in the end, but Neji knew what he was going to do.

“If you want to wait here, I’ll be back soon,” he promised, turning his back to Lee and doing a quick calculation of which route would get him to the Jonin apartments as quickly as possible. “I’m sure you’ll find a way to keep yourself entertained in my absence.”

Jumping towards the exit he couldn’t help but smile when he sensed Lee following right behind him. As predictable as always. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gai-sensei’s window was easy to spot even from the streets three floors down. With a large red tortoiseshell statue sitting proudly on the window sill, one that the team had all pooled ryo in together to purchase for his birthday a few months ago, it was hard for anyone who knew the man to miss which window belonged to him.

“Try not to knock down the statue this time.” He glanced over at Lee, who sputtered when he heard the jab. “We don’t have Tenten with us today to catch it before it hits the ground.”

Not that Lee and him weren’t fast enough to catch it themselves if it did happen to fall again. Tenten just always made sure to let them go up before her because she didn’t like being crowded on the small window sill together, so she didn’t have to go chasing after it when it fell during their last visit. She just caught it while she was waiting for them to go inside of their sensei’s apartment. 

“I won’t knock it over,” Lee promised. “But I will be the first one up there, so watch your step when you join me.”

With that said, Lee didn’t bother to wait for Neji’s response before jumping up towards the lowest available ledge. The only stepping stone he’d need to help him get up to their sensei’s window, though at the rate his skills were going Neji wouldn’t be surprised if he could make the jump from the street soon. 

Giving his head a shake, Neji quickly followed Lee, intent on getting the information that he had come for and leaving as soon as possible. There was no doubt in his mind that seeing his students would cause Gai-sensei to disregard what he needed to do in order to heal, and would result in him pushing himself to train when he should be resting instead.

“Oh…” 

Landing on the window sill by Lee’s side, Neji frowned when he heard the discomfort in his teammate’s voice. It was unlike him to say such a thing when it came to Gai-se—

“Oh…” It felt as if he had been slapped in the face. Of all the things to find themselves interrupting, it had to be this? “Didn’t Genma-san say that Kakashi-sensei was busy today?”

Lee nodded his head, but said nothing. His attention was focused completely on the scene in front of them. One that Neji really wished he wasn’t being subjected to at the moment. He was certain that finding your sensei cuddling up in bed with another person was something that every student wanted to avoid in their lives. 

It was awkward and made him wish that he had just continued his training without complaints. It was a much better outcome than… this.

“This hardly counts as busy,” he grumbled under his breath, glaring at the two jonin. “There’s no reason he shouldn’t have been able to train us if this is all that he’s doing.”

“To be fair,” Lee turned to look at him, a soft smile on his face, “Tenten is getting training that she otherwise would not have gotten. We should not be upset about that since it will hopefully improve her fighting style which can only make our team stronger.”

A true point, but Neji was still a little bitter.

Kakashi-sensei was a skilled in Taijutsu. He had to be in order to even stand a chance against Gai-sensei in their spars, or to keep up with him when they were battling side by side. He would be able to explain to Neji what he needed to do according to Gai-sensei’s training plans. They had all seen him using Gai-sensei’s training notes when he had taken over their training for him before.

“You two should be training right now.” Neji glared over at Lee when he responded to Kakashi-sensei’s statement by slapping a hand over his mouth, as if that would solve the problem of them being caught spying. “There’s no point hanging around outside. You’ve already been seen.”

He’d like to think that he could train himself to go unnoticed, but considering the tattoo he had seen on Kakashi-sensei’s arm during one of his competitions with Gai-sensei, he didn’t think it would be possible. The jonin was hardwired to notice everything and everyone around him. To go unnoticed around him would be near impossible. 

“I guess we’re going inside.” Not waiting for Neji to agree, Lee slipped inside of the open window and set his feet on the floor, smiling when Kakashi-sensei glanced over at them from the bed. “Hi.”

Following his teammate into the apartment, Neji frowned as he looked at the scene in front of him. It still made him a little uncomfortable seeing the pair like this. So exposed and open. It was as if he was intruding on a private moment.

“You can stop making that look, Neji.” Kakashi closed his eyes, though for once Neji could see the way his lips turned upwards into a smile. The usual dark blue mask was nowhere in sight and it only made Neji feel worse about being here. “It’s not like you caught us doing adult things. We’re just laying in bed.”

As far as he was concerned that was ‘adult things’. He certainly didn’t know anyone his age that would cuddle up to one of their friends when they were sick, hiding their face in the other person’s neck. Frankly, Gai-sensei looked like he was comfortable where he was. Like he couldn’t imagine being anywhere el—

“Oh.” Scrunching up his nose, Neji glared at the silver haired jonin. How had he not realized this before? “Really? You?”

“That hurts.” Kakashi-sensei threw a hand over Gai-sensei’s back, right where his chest was hidden under the other jonin’s body. “Am I not good enough for your sensei?”

This really wasn’t something that he wanted to be thinking of. His sensei’s love life was none of his business and it wasn’t why he was standing in this room staring at the pair with disgust.

“I don’t understand.” Neji closed his eyes, willing himself not to look at Lee with a look of utter annoyance. “Is there something that I am missing?”

Sometimes he wondered how Lee can be so dense about the things going on around him, but there was also a part of him that wished that he could miss the obvious once in a while. Like now, in this exact moment.

“We came here for a reason, Lee,” he reminded his teammate, cringing when Gai-sensei shifted in Kakashi-sensei’s arms and turned his face towards them with a happy sigh. “W-we really should get going quickly.”

“Gai-sensei looks comfortable.” Lee took a step forward and leaned in close, grunting when Kakashi-sensei reached out and flicked him in the nose. “Owww.”

“If you’re looking for his notebook it’s in the top right drawer of his desk.” Narrowing his eyes, Neji glanced over at the drawer in question, questioning himself for the first time since he had decided to come steal a glance into his sensei’s notebook. “But if I can offer you some advice…”

He wasn’t particularly fond of receiving advice from anyone other than his sensei, but it was unlikely that Kakashi-sensei would let him leave without saying whatever it was that he wanted. 

“Let me guess.” Crossing his arms over his chest, he sighed. “Don’t look in the book and just hope I can improve myself without Gai-sensei’s training plans?”

“Well, it worked for Gai.” Tilting his head, Neji leveled the jonin with a look that told him to explain himself. “When he was young a lot of Gai’s improvements came from his own determination to become stronger. He didn’t rely on his sensei to have all the answers for how he could become stronger, though he did listen to him when he had suggestions.”

Pursing his lips, Neji glanced over at the drawer once more. He really had been looking forward to whatever it was that Gai-sensei was going to teach him. It had been the only thing he could think of since they finished dinner yesterday and all went their separate ways.

The ways he would be able to improve himself. How much stronger he could get.

Of course, he had always been able to improve himself even before he became part of Team Gai. While he was naturally talented he still had to train to keep his skills honed, so why wouldn’t he be able to improve himself with his own hard work as well? Lee and Tenten were able to do it, so perhaps he could as well. Even just a little bit. 

“We weren’t here for the book anyways,” he lied, knowing full well that Kakashi-sensei could see right through him. “Lee was worried about Gai-sensei. It’s rare for him to get sick so he wanted to check in on him.”

For a moment he thought that Lee might argue with him. He had no right to lie for him after all, and nothing to gain from it.

But Lee said nothing, and just smiled when Neji looked over at him.

“I guess now we know that Gai-sensei is in good hands.” Lee smiled back at him. “We should get back to training.”

Nodding his head, Neji turned his back to the bed and made his way towards the window, well aware that Kakashi-sensei was watching him every step of the way. Stopping in front of the open window, he took one more look back at the bed. 

Other than moving his face out of Kakashi-sensei’s neck, Gai-sensei hadn’t budged at all since Neji and Lee’s arrival. Not even the smallest action to show that he was trying to get more comfortable, or that he was restless. 

Sick with a fever and drained of all of his energy, Neji absolutely expected to see his sensei having a restless sleep. It wouldn’t be new to him, since he was always tossing and turning in his sleeping bag whenever he slept during one of their many training days that ended with them sleeping under the stars. 

But he looked comfortable, and somehow Neji knew it wasn’t because he just didn’t have the energy to move. For some reason the jonin with endless amounts of energy and a constant urge to keep moving and stay active was calm, content and comfortable laying there in Kakashi-sensei’s arms.

“I don’t understand his taste,” he admitted, smiling a little to himself when Kakashi-sensei chuckled. “But I’m glad he has someone who’s got his back.”

“Always.” A simple word full of so much promise. Neji didn’t think it was possible for someone to convey so much love and trust with so few words, but there it was. “Now get out of here, before he wakes up. It took me an hour to get him to lie down and go to sleep.”

Somehow that didn’t surprise Neji at all.

“Come on, Lee,” he glanced back at his teammate, “you still have to hit me in training.”

He could see Lee bursting with excitement at the reminder of his own personal challenge, and for the first time that day Neji thought that maybe it wasn’t such a waste. He wasn’t going to learn how to improve his gentle fist, not today at least, but he’d get to see Lee try to hit him in a fight.

And honestly, that itself was entertaining enough to make up for the loss in his training.

[freewheelen]

DEMO RIDE: 2019 Husqvarna Svartpilen & Vitpilen 401/701

Size does matter, and in this case, smaller is better.

It’s no secret that Husqvarna’s dirt bikes and dual sports sell themselves. Touting a storied motocross/scramble history, it’s easy to see why the off-roaders are so popular with the public. On the other hand, the company hasn’t seen much success with its street-oriented lineup. With 2019s still occupying the showroom floor and the pressure of Q3 looming, Husky recently visited Azusa, California to jumpstart the sales of their Svartpilen & Vitpilen lines. Labeled the Real Street tour, the series of demo events featured both models in their 401 & 701 variations, casting a veritable spotlight on their often overlooked street bikes. 

But the Svartpilen & Vitpilen aren’t afraid of the spotlight, you could even say they were crafted to bask in it. The first thing you’ll notice when you gaze at the Svartpilen & Vitpilen is the unconventional design. It’s not a stretch to say that the aesthetics of the lineup resemble something out of a Scandinavian furniture catalog. With minimal, flowing lines, the Svartpilen & Vitpilen would feel right at home with your Poäng and Klippan. 

Yes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but the neo-retro style aims directly at a younger, urban demographic that gravitate toward classic, simplistic forms with a utilitarian edge. Whether you fancy the looks of the bikes or not, you have to admit that the fit and finish is quite impressive. However, I do feel the designers tragically overlooked the speedometer, as its more akin to a gym teacher’s stopwatch than a proper gauge. Not to mention, the highly reflective glass and mounting angle make render the information illegible. Aside from the hideous - and quite useless - instrument cluster, the Svartpilen & Vitpilen reek of smart sophistication.  

But I can see how that elevated design could be a barrier for potential buyers. Due to the refined, “Swedish” aesthetics, one could quickly distinguish these models from their intra-brand cousins, KTM’s Duke and Enduro. With hopes that the public will embrace these models the same vigor as they’ve taken to KTM’s lineups, Husky is just trying to get more booties in the saddle, and I’m more than happy to oblige. 

Sharing the motor of KTM’s 390 Duke and 690 Enduro R, Husky’s Svartpilen & Vitpilens benefit from two well-tested mills. Both engines push the boundaries of power that a single-cylinder engine should produce. Despite the lack of pistons to share the load, the vibrations on the 401 & 701 aren’t excessive (take that assessment with a grain of salt - I ride a Harley). 

While the 701 delivers its power in a smooth, linear fashion, I found myself smitten with the 401′s punchiness. Glancing at the spec sheet, I noticed that the 701 reaches peak torque of 53 ft-lb @ 6,750 rpm with 75 hp topping out @ 8,500 rpm. Comparatively, the 401′s max torque (27 ft-lb) hits @ 6,800 rpm and horsepower (42 hp) @ 8,600 rpm. With about half the power and three-quarters of the weight of the 701, the 401 shouldn’t feel nearly as torquey. Additionally, both motors achieve max torque and horsepower at practically identical rpms, leaving me perplexed with my preference for the 401 - aside from the butt dyno. 

No, I can’t support my fondness of the little thumper with cold hard data, but I can attest that the majority of the riders attending the demo agreed. I know anecdotal evidence is the least persuasive argument, but the 401 simply felt like a more agile from side-to-side and provided great acceleration in short bursts. And I may be rationalizing here, but those darting characteristics seemed appropriate for two models that translate to white arrow (Vitpilen) and black arrow (Svartpilen). The 701s weren’t bad motorcycles in the least, they just didn’t imbue the same excitement as they’re diminutive counterparts. Size does matter, and in this case, smaller is better. 

But the size variation didn’t stop at the engine. The differing braking systems on the bikes occupied two different build quality standards. Even with the 401′s “budget” brakes, both systems felt well-suited for their classes with adial-mounted Brembo clampers blessing the 701s and ByBre calipers getting the job done on the 401s. 

Despite the fact that both models lack dual-discs, the calipers delivered a reassuring bite while riding in urban environments. Yes, an extra rotor and caliper up front would certainly push the models in a more performance direction but we didn’t take the Svartpilen or Vitpilen into the twisties and the stock brakes would suffice where most buyers would ride these bikes - in the city.

When judging the two models on ergonomics, I kept their natural habitat - urban environments - in mind, as both maintain a fairly sporty position. Starting with the Vitpilen, I immediately noticed the aggressive, forward-leaning stance. Positioning my head directly over the front wheel, the Vitpilen made me want to slalom through mid-day traffic at full throttle. However, that state of mind prooved more enslaving than freeing. After all, I was on a demo tour. If “it’s better to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow,” nothing is worse than living that platitude in reverse. If you’re looking for a nimble, aggressive, lane-splitter, the Vitpilen has you covered, but make sure your journey is manageable, as I already felt the tension in my wrists by the time we returned from the short ride.

On the other hand, the Svartpilen utilizes high-rise bars to position the rider at ease. From the upright posture, I was content to stay in line and putt along at a legally acceptable speed. Sure, I tugged on the throttle from time to time, but the relaxed stance felt more conducive to congested road conditions. If the Vitpilen’s ergonomics equate to a Supersport, the Svartpilen would be it’s Naked/Standard counterpart. Both bikes are aimed at city-dwellers and while it would be a stretch to say that either of them let you stretch your legs out, neither of them feel cramped. Though I’d probably opt for the Svartpilen in most situations, if I were visiting one of the local canyons (GMR, HWY 39, etc), I’d certainly side with the Vitpilen.

While the ergonomics shift the rider into different postures - and different states of mind - the road manners of the bikes are quite similar. With all models under 6 inches of travel, I could easily flat-foot each bike. Despite its smaller stature, the 401s benefited from the same WP 43mm inverted forks that graced the front end of the 701s. On the road, each bike was compliant and responded immediately to my every input. Particularly, the Vitpilen - with its clip-ons and head-down posture - reacted to every adjustment of my body. 

Not only did the suspension allow the bikes to cut from side-to-side, it also made the 401s and 701s feel planted. From soaking up potholes to providing stable steering at speed, KTM’s proprietary suspenders highlighted how fun these machines can be. On the contrary, the lack of suspension travel on the Svartpilen did beg the question: couldn’t this model be much more fun? Aside from ergonomics and a few bits of design (paint mainly), how does the Svarpilen distinguish itself from the Vitpilen? 

And that’s where I got to thinking about the lack of sales for these two models. After taking everything into consideration, it seems like Husqvarna’s “Real Street” motorcycles are going through an identity crisis. Are these bikes retro or performance? Can you consider a motorcycle “premium” (as the price would suggest) the dash looks more like a digital alarm clock and it doesn’t come with dual-disc brakes? But maybe it’s less of an identity crisis and more of a false identity. For instance, Husqvarna outfits the Svartpilen with dirt tracker styling yet they can’t endorse taking the low slung machine off-road. Even with the aesthetic hinting at dirt-capabilities, the Svartpilen is essentially a naked bike with knobbies. 

Broadcasting a false image can ensnare potential buyers - or it can turn them off (like it did for me). Intoxicated by the snappy acceleration of the 401, I actually looked into purchasing a Svartpilen following the demo. But the lack of off-road capability soon soured my initial enthusiasm. If it can’t hang in the brown, why outfit it with Pirelli Scorpions? Why adopt tracker design cues? What’s the point of making form decision if it’s contrary to the function? That disillusionment made me look at the Svartpilen & Vitpilen differently. 

With an MSRP of $6,299 for the 401 and $11,999 for the 701, it’s easy to see why the KTM-owned brand is having problems moving units. Coupled with the unconventional design (which I actually love but can understand how some wouldn’t), Husqvarna has it’s work cut out. Along with the lackluster sales figures of the Svartpilen & Vitpilen, the Real Street Demo stop in Azusa failed to highlight the full capabilities of models. With the near highway miles away, riders were relegated to a jaunt around the block. As a result, I never got the gearbox past 3rd and that doesn’t instill much confidence in potential customers. The combination of disorganization, bikes-to-rider ratio, wait times, and early wrap-up, I’d venture to say that the demo barely moved the needle on these two bikes.

With all that said, if you’re looking for a stylish motorcycle to ride in the city, Husky’s street lineup may be a good option. The brand continues to promote their 0% APR (up to 48 months), so you may score a new Svartpilen or Vitpilen for a great price. For my intents, the bikes are too niche in design and too specialized in purpose, but that doesn’t mean they won’t work for you. I guess the best advice I can give to potential buyers is to test ride as many motorcycles as possible. I know I will be!

[kaialone]

Kirby Star Allies Translation: Sound Staff Round-table Discussion

(This contains late-game spoilers for Kirby Star Allies)

On the official website for the Star Allies soundtrack, they recently posted a little "round-table discussion" featuring Shinya Kumazaki (General Director), Hirokazu Ando (Lead Sound), Jun Ishikawa, and Yuuta Ogasawara (both also worked on the sound and music).

It's basically a little "preview" of the sort of discussions from the booklet that is included with the sountrack itself.

If you’re interested in reading my translation, head under the cut.

--

Note that when they mention the titles of some of the tracks, I translated those myself too, because no official English translations exist as far as I am aware?

And I used the localized names of games and characters here, because I feel more people would know them.

Now, onto the translation itself.

--

Sound Staff Round-table Discussion

The booklet included with "Kirby Star Allies - The Original Soundtrack" will feature a round-table discussion with the general director and sound staff of the current title.

In commemoration of its release on February 14th of 2019, we are adding a small extra episode to this website, which is not included in the book itself.

Please have a look.

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An Anthology Title that Welcomes a New Face

Kumazaki:

One of the themes of "Star Allies" was to aim for an "anthology" of the iconic Kirby, to act as a milestone for its 25th anniversary. Mr. Ando, who is part of HAL Laboratory's leading sound staff, and Mr. Ishikawa, who has been working with us from the very beginning, what are your thoughts on the musical composition?

Ando:

This project left an impression that was like "Do you know your roots?", but it did have this strong feeling of creating something fairly straightforward and iconic. Though there was also the intention to make it interesting with things like quirky melodies and sounds, similar to the "Planet Robobot" days.

Ishikawa:

Altough I was somewhat aware of it, as a composer I don't create melodies or chords with the feeling of it being an anthology like that.

Kumazaki:

I see. The main theme of "friends" was not to create that either. In taking advantage of each idea, the decision came naturally. (*This will be featured in the Sountrack Booklet) And the new face, Mr. Ogasawara, who has many struggles and build up his career, now ended up participating in a Kirby sound production for the first time. I would image that there was a lot of pressure, but what did you think?

Ogasawara:

Yes, I did feel a bit more comfortable when I worked on the music for the minigames at first, because those have a different approach, but I really felt the pressure when it came to the main part.

Kumasaki:

You did already have a career prior to this, but integrating took a lot of time at first, right? Mr. Ando, who is also under my supervision, had a somewhat sour reaction for a while, so I thought "Is this gonna work out?" Your seniors were hard on you, weren't they?

Ogasawara:

Yes, that's right.

Kumazaki:

I always felt that it's nice to see teacher-and-pupil relationships like that, though. Like we discussed (*This will be featured in the Sountrack Booklet),"The Wind that Blows on Earthfall", which Mr. Ogasawara was in charge of, eventually reached a degree of perfection that even left his seniors speechless. But, "The Ancient Tower Towara" also ended up becoming a heroic, marvelous song. ...Mr. Ado, Mr. Ishiwaka, do you know this song? Tetteteeen, Terereterereretettetetteen♪ (He hums the melody)

Ando:

That melody is very Ishikawa-like.

Kumazaki:

Yes, correct. I was actually thinking of the flute phrase that flows through Meta Knight's stage in the Popstar level.

Ishikawa:

Oh, I see.

Ogasawara:

For me, it all started with a tower like that, too.

Kumazaki:

Mr. Ishikawa, you were in charge of Meta Knight's stage. That was a first for you too, wasn't it? Now that we're talking about this, while I do supervise everyone, we don't discuss these topics among one another that often.

Ishikawa:

That's right. For the most part, we don't communicate with words, but with sounds and numeric values.

Ogasawara:

Creating these songs was also the busiest time of the production, so there was less time to talk. It felt like we we're creating them telepathically.

Kumazaki:

When you enter the 4th scenario, the Space level, it's the first time that there's 3 composers at once. With a promising new star joining, I thought this new development was beautiful as I directed it, and divided it like that. But, I was pretty busy during the development of the main part. Since before its completion, I thought about incorperating elements of something like an anthology title in the free updates. But, without being limited too much by that, I also thought that we should create songs that aren't for anyone else, by utilizing the sound staff's raw creativity.

Ishikawa:

As part of that, there was a reference to an old song, a short version of "Drawcia Soul" from "Canvas Curse", that made it in. But it's assigned to a "break" situation... Final Boss music as a "break"?

Everyone:

(laughs)

Ishikawa:

It's like "That's the Kumazaki way". Though if you hadn't said "It's an anthology" earlier, I think I would have said "Why are you using that song for a break?".

Kumazaki:

That was... because I didn't want to let people relax. (laughs) There's no time to rest, the battles continue. I wanted them to be immersed in such a trance-like state. It's the most difficult mode, which was added with the free updates, so there was also the intention for some of the series' most punchy songs to be featured. And that song seems to be the one that shows Mr. Ishikawa's secret creativity the most, so I had been looking for an opportunity to use it.

-

Enough Voice Clips for "Seven Generals of Magic"!?

Kumazaki:

Mr. Ogasawara, earlier we talked a bit about how you, the new face, demonstrated skills that even amazed your seniors, and created a lot of Kirby-like sound effects (*This will be featured in the Sountrack Booklet), but you were also present for the voice actors' recordings, and following the sound effects, you were even asked to incorporate voice clips into the game.

Ogasawara:

Right.

Kumazaki:

For the voice clips of the bosses, I remember showing the battle with President Haltmann from "Planet Robobot", and explaining "We made made something like this recently". During that time, for Haltmann's voice, the emotion-filled voice clips from the actor were adjusted for the game by Mr. Ando, and incorporated by me and the programmers. It's not just about being the voice of a character, but also adapting it to the scene, and refining it as a part of the game's soundtrack. My intent was to integrate it with the background music, but it went so far that I wanted to make Haltmann's battle music complete with that voice. So this time around, I listened to that, and thought "I want them to fit the scenes just like this", as the the voices of the Three Generals of Magic were put in.

Ogasawara:

Right. Making voice clips as sound effects in itself was easy by using past works and the like as a reference, but... Since I had never worked with the sounds of so many voices at once before, it was quite difficult to find a balance for their volume and the like, when it came to actually putting them in the game.

Kumazaki:

They play alongside so many different actions, way beyond what I had in mind. It's amazing. I thought that was pretty brave of you, Mr. Ogasawara. (laughs)

Ogasawara:

Personally, I wanted to make good use of them, since the voice actors put so much work in their performances...

Kumazaki:

And you also wrote a list of the sound effects, with instructions for the programmers, along the lines of "please have them play with a timing like this".

Ogasawara:

Yes. In that case, I made several lists for the Three Generals of Magic.

Kumazaki:

Since you were so particular about the specific finer details, Tanifuji, the programmer in charge of Three Generals of Magic, eventually started calling you "Death Ogasawara". (laughs) When they were about half finished with the first one, the blue General, you dropped another huge list for the red General on them. And as they were working on implementing that one, the dread for when it would be the yellow General's turn is what lead to you being called "Death Ogasawara"... (laughs)

Ogasawara:

Well... I did make seperate lists in several steps, because I thought it would be nice to be just slightly ahead. And then the programmer who was implementing them, Mr. Tanifuji, had some nightmares where it was like "There's actually Seven Generals of Magic now...!" (laughs)

Everyone:

(laughs)

Kumazaki:

You just keep putting them in, but the work won't end, and another list will show up.

Ogasawara:

I made so many variants, it really must have felt like it was "The Seven Generals of Magic".

Kumazaki:

But as a result, they don't feel like simple programmed patterns, even if you replay many times. Like the character's personalities were completed through these enhanced battle voice clips... Considering it was your first time, I think you did a good job, Mr. Ogasawara.

-

Surprising Sound Effects with Familiar Objects

Ishikawa:

The sound effects, and not just the voice clips, are completely different depending on wether you're watching a demonstration, or you're actually playing. For example, the Friend Train makes a "chooo choo" sound, but it uses different wave forms when it loudly plays on the "Friend Train" screen and when you press the button to jump. I thought it would be alright to use the same wave form for the sound and only use different values, but that didn't work out. Though, both of them are just me blowing into empty nutrition drink bottles, by myself, in the middle of night. (laughs)

Kumazaki:

Right. A similar sound may be used, but it's actually different sound material each respective time. Could you tell everyone about what some particular differences are?

Ishikawa:

In scenes where letters appear with audible sound effects, a sense of distortion was absolutely necessary. So I'd distort the wave form and put it in, have it play, see that it was not enough distortion and go back, change the distortion, and put it back in. And then it'd be too disorted, so I'd try again... With nothing but that distortion method, it took me about half a day of trial and error. In the end, the distortions and all the familiar sounds that play when you press buttons were made individually. In short, I know I said it before, but the way you hear the sound changes depending on wether you are hearing it while watching, or you're playing yourself. Even with sounds that are similar, there are cases where you need to change the wave form level, rather than just fiddling with the numeric values.

Kumazaki:

I understand. Everyone, please do try to listen for those differences for yourself when you play. Either way, I think it would be fun to play again if you think about how the "choo choo" is actually Mr. Ishikawa blowing into nutrition drink bottles.

Ishikawa:

The curling sound was me beating an empty can with my fist. (laughs)

Kumazaki:

That's Ice's friend ability Ice Curling, right? The "plonk" sound when it hits a wall.

Ishikawa:

I dug up an empty can from the trash. (laughs)

Kumazaki:

There's some things where you can try and try again to adjust them, and some things where it's some well thought-out recordings with nearby staff members or tools. The same is true for voices.

-

The Calories of the Entire Staff Combined?! The Voice of Void Termina

Kumazaki:

It's not just voice actors, some of the voice clips made use the voices of development staff members who understand the game well, too. One of them is the final form of Void Termina, or rather, what appears to be the voice from the 4th form. But, Void Termina was considered a mysterious being that can be anyone. And do you remember how because of that, someone said "let's put in multiple voices", rather than a single one?

Ando:

It was around three people, if I recall correctly...

Kumazaki:

Yes, it was the voices of four people. You, Mr. Ando, being a regular with in-game voice clips, Mr. Ogasawara with his comparatively younger voice, as well as Mrs. Todo, the director of "Team Kirby Clash Deluxe, because we wanted a woman's voice, too. And me. We wanted to try out a cry made by mixing voice lines from the four of us.

Ando:

By the way, what did we say? I can't remember.

Kumazaki:

It was "Irohanihoheto, Kirby".

(Translator's note: "Irohanihoheto" is a quote of the Japanese poem "Iroha". Notably, an edited quote from the poem also exists as an unused audio clip in Kirby 64.)

Ando:

Oh, right.

Kumazaki:

We each uttered those same words, "Irohanihoheto, Kirby...", all recording seperately. When I told you, you said "Oh, we're going with that". (laughs)

Ando:

But during the recording, I wasn't really sure what sort of guy would be saying it. Because I can't draw, you see.

Kumazaki:

That's true.

Ando:

And I don't know about Mr. Ishikawa, but I personally don't know the story completely. Ah, but I did know that it would be something that would show up at the end like that.

Kumazaki:

You say that, but I thought I had explained it properly from the start...

Ando:

Truth to be told, I didn't really understand the explanation, so...

Everyone:

(laughs)

Ando:

So, the recorded voices were to appear in the game afterwards, so they had various mixing and effects applied to them, right?

Kumazaki:

That's right. I wonder if as a result, it did manage to not be anyone's voice, but a mysterious being. With Void Termina's demon form and angel form before that, the workload for the staff members involved piled up, too. My recorded screams for King Dedede's voice didn't need to be altered that much by comparison. But what can I even say about that voice...? This development had one impass after the other, and it's like that voice is filled with all the energy and calories that my whole body had used up by the time it was over...

Everyone:

(laughs)

Kumazaki:

But seriously, during that recording I really did go over my limit so much that even now I think I'm about to collapse. The thought of at least someone out there enjoying it in the end lifted spirits, including those of the sound staff. But, it got to a point where you'd wonder if we had all gone a bit crazy, because this whole development devolved into something like an all-out war of the HAL Laboratory staff.

-

That's the end of that?! Surpassing Limits

Kumazaki:

There were long hardships, but I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to talk so frankly about the mood during the development, thanks to this round-table discussion that Okada, the soundtrack producer, organized.

Ishiwaka:

We normally never talk this much. We should celebrate this.

Kumazaki:

Yes, a celebration for this discussion. Though, I've talked with you many times, Mr. Ishikawa. A lot of times were while supervising, but we also had countless bizarre talks in the cafeteria at night...

Everyone:

(laughs)

Kumazaki:

Mr. Ogasawara, what did you think, looking back like this?

Ogasawara:

So many things were hard at first, like the BGM, the sound effects, the voice clips, and discussing those here. But I also feel sort of relieved.

Kumazaki:

I'm very glad to see a promising young man be so successful in this one. Development was difficult, but you did not let the pressure get to you, and truly worked hard until the end. Now then, what about you, Mr. Ando?

Ando:

This one has a lot of truly grand songs. I've never made final boss class songs with such an amazing, huge orchestra-style before. But, I guess you could say "It's an anthology, so when there's special songs like that, many people will be happy, right?" Putting in more and more will eventually become kinda tough.

Kumazaki:

I was impressed when you said to me "We're doing this much? Isn't it enough already?", in the middle of the work on this. But, even as you said this, you were working incredibly fast, Mr. Ando. There were times where, even if you had been asked for huge songs with difficult themes, you would just show up surprisingly quickly, with your arms wide open, saying "I did it!"

Ando:

Yeah, I did make a lot. And that's the end of that.

Kumazaki:

(laughs) True... I think we probably won't cram so many songs into a Kirby title again. There are many more episodes like this that we can't show here, but are featured in the booklet that's included with the soundtrack. If you happen to be interested, by all means, pick it up. We would appreciate it.

--

And that's it for this translation.

I hope you found this interesting and/or helpful?

I don't have a ton of experience with translating quotes of real people (as opposed to in-story text), so my apologies if it sounds a bit unnatural at times.

Either way, thank you for taking your time to read this!

--

[skammovistarplus]

Culture and Translation - S01 E02 C04-C07 and SKAM+ Clip 1

Hi hi! Okay, so I’ve both gotten a bunch of followers and the tag is a lot more poppin since the last time I posted one of these. Quick explanation: when I got into og Skam, I felt I had to piece together a lot of the cultural context behind it, such as, yes, Russetiden, but also stuff like the cost of a bunad or sex without protection. I’ve also read from multiple Norwegian people that the fansubs didn’t do justice to the slang Skam characters use. So these posts provide cultural context. They also provide explanations for the translation I went with in the subs and the best approximation to the slang the Skam España characters use on the show in the cases where I felt the translation didn’t fully do justice to the actual dialogue.

Note: these posts are based on my own subs/translations, so they might not make as much sense if you hadn’t watched those.

Note 2: You can check the culture and translation tag for the rest of the posts.

CLIP 4: In which I learn that a dj system is not a mixer.

This clip was shot in the Pinar de Chamartín subway station. It’s the only station that connects another line with lines 1 and 4, and the show thanks Metro Ligero in the credits. Pinar de Chamartín is a Metro Ligero subway station. (There are several kinds, depending on which company manages the station.) They probably used this station because it’s big and doesn’t get a lot of commuters. Otherwise, it’s completely out of the way of anything these characters would go to.

Hola acosadora! (“Hi creeper!”): would be closer in meaning to, “hi, harasser!” (which doesn’t flow well in English) or “hi, stalker!” (but Eva uses the word in English right after). So creeper it is.

Dale duro (Subs: Hit it hard): I don’t really have any comment about this, other than it seems to be Lucas’ signature phrase. He’s always saying it.

La gente se cree que hacen una movida los DJs que flipas (“People think DJs are some kind of crazy wizards”) Holy shit, I had so much trouble with this sentence. I wish I knew whether this line was on the original script or if Jorge’s actor reworded it. As per the FormulaTV article, the actors get to reword lines if they think it’d sound more natural some other way. Alas, I couldn’t think of how to translate “movida” in this context (it comes up again later), so I settled for the line in the subs. Let’s just say that the implication is that DJs are almost unknowable in their mad DJ skillz, what with the “movida” and the verb “flipar” that we’ve seen so often at this point. I find my translation much inferior to Jorge’s line, which provides such a vivid visual and is hilarious.

Hablando de punchi punchi (“Speaking of sick beats”): Jorge obviously doesn’t say sick beats, but he’s trying for an onomatopoeia for the beat in dance songs. There are a lot of variants in Spanish for this specific purpose of talking about the beat in a song. Another popular one is, “chunda chunda.”  I’m actually really proud of how I translated this line, lol. Too bad I can’t put it on a resume.

“¿Te renta?” is another idiom that often comes up on Skam España. I’ve been told it’s Madrileño slang, but I’ve personally never used it or heard it before the show. (Which doesn’t mean it’s not in use, lol, just that it hasn’t made its way to me yet.) A literal translation would be, “Is it worth it?” Jorge asks Lucas whether it’d be worth it to Lucas to do something this weekend, and Lucas responds going out for beers would be worth it to him. In this case, I didn’t go for the literal translation as this scene is already too long and involved to be throwing more idioms into the mix. Other times, I’ve translated it as is, because I do feel it sums Madrileños up well. Like, we can’t be bothered to do anything or go anywhere if we don’t feel it’s worth it.

Keli (“House”): This has been Madrileño slang for decades at this point. It just means house.

Sí, movidas, ya sabes (“Yeah, shit, you know”): “Movidas” comes up again, this time in the context of Lucas’ home life. Basically, there’s trouble, but the use of “movidas” implies movement, i.e. it’s an active, ongoing situation.

Tengo un programita (“I have some ‘wares”): The literal translation is, “I have a little software,” but I remembered downloading completely legal software from sketchy websites, which would call them ‘warez.’ I thought this phrasing would be more vivid for English speakers. Also, there’s really nothing about Jorge’s persona that suggests this software would’ve been obtained legally, so yeah.

It’s unclear what part of what Eva is saying Jorge reacts to when he says, “Fuck…” Personally, I think he’s impressed that Eva has scammed a rich dude out of an invite to that huge-ass house. But it could also be that he’s proud she’s making plans with the girl squad! Either way, he’s impressed!

Pico, pala, pico, pala (“Joke, flirt, joke, flirt”): OKAY. So, the literal translation of this is, “Pick, shovel, pick, shovel.” This is fairly common Spanish slang for the process of flirting with a girl until she is won over, or she is less reluctant to flirt back. Visually, it makes you think of a miner having to put in long hours of exhausting physical work in order to get results. It makes it sound like more scummy than it is, kind of? I translated it as “joke, flirt, joke, flirt,” because that’s what it usually amounts to. As we’ve seen from Jorge, he does voices, gives odd nicknames and generally aims to be cute in a cheesy way. That is the kind of techniques that are meant to win a girl over, or at least get her to joke along with you.

One more objectionable maneuver, which would still fall under the umbrella of pick and shovel, would be Cristian’s “my DMs aren’t working” move to get Eva to give him her cellphone number.

Final lines from the clip that didn’t make it to the episode:

Eva: But, okay, no. Save up or ask your parents to get it for your b-day, no?

Jorge: Nah, maybe I’ll just get one secondhand.

Lucas: And you lend it to me.

Jorge: Okay.

Lucas: But you can’t… [cuts off]

I love the way all the dj system talk ended up having no impact whatsoever on the plot. It’s not like I had to look specific terms or anything.

CLIP 5: The girl squad chooses an impractical, yet picturesque, meeting point

Eva is waiting right outside Tribunal subway station. I’ve met up with friends at this station probably since I was allowed to hang out on my own, lol.

You can barely make out a building behind the girls. It’s this one: Museum of History of Madrid. Entrance is free, and it has tons of cool stuff to check out.

The girls have a quick chat on how they’ve dressed up for Cristian’s party. Cris says it was about time they had a chance to dress up. Nora says she put on one of her daily outfits, but the girls don’t buy it and tease her over it. Honestly, she doesn’t look overdressed at all? She wore an actual dress for New Year’s Eve.

Maripili! (“Maripili!”): Maripili is a name, which Nora randomly uses to call Viri over. It doesn’t seem to be a meme, so I think Nora is just teasing Viri with a name that sounds dated and cutesy. It’s very gentle teasing though.

Al chino (“To the convenience store”): Eva instructs the girls to go to “el chino,”  which is slang for a type of convenience store owned by immigrants. These are usually Chinese immigrants, hence the name, but stores owned by Maghrebi and Latinx immigrants are also fairly common. The name “chino” has stuck regardless. These convenience stores sell a small range of foodstuffs, such as canned food, microwavable food, some fruit and vegetables, ice cream, bread, and, as the scene implies, booze. They also remain open longer than most grocery store chains, often until 23:30 on a weekday and way past midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. They’re not allowed to sell alcohol to minors, but I guess they don’t mind breaking the law? I don’t know, guys, we got older students to buy us booze lol.

Que me acaba de dar un cringe (“I just cringed a lot”): “Cringe” is an English loanword, which is obviously the word cringe.

Tú la que más, tú la que más (“You’re partying the hardest, you are”): The literal translation is: “You’re the most, you’re the most.” It’s implied that whichever girl is “you” (it’s the singular form, so Cris doesn’t mean all of the girls) is doing something the most, but the sentence doesn’t have a verb. Basically, it’s a way of hyping themselves up for the party. I assumed Cris meant “partying” from context, but it’s not explicit.

In the episode, clip 5 became two different clips to account for the train ride. That’s why there’s a timestamp in the middle of the clip when you watch the episode version.

Cristián lives in Pozuelo de Alarcón, an affluent Madrid suburb with its own city hall. At the time, twitter commentary from Spanish viewers was critical of the show choosing to make the girls meet in Tribunal, because public transit from Tribunal to Pozuelo takes too many connections and it’s not like Madrid isn’t rife with convenience stores. I included both the route the girls take, and an alternate for ur edification.

I just realized that when Viri goes over to greet Lara, you can clearly hear Lara saying, “what’s up, dude?” in response.

And also, when Eva begs Nora not to leave her alone, Nora teases Eva by saying the sentence back to her. That’s why Eva laughs and says Nora is being dumb.

A saco (“going all out”): “A saco” is that kind of slang that’s hard to translate, but Eva means that Viri is assertively taking the lead in pursuing (and making it clear she wants to make out with) ALEJANDRO, rather than waiting for him to notice her.

CLIP 6: Viri lost a battle, but she didn’t lose the war!  

Nora’s ringtone is so… She truly leaves me speechless sometimes.

No soy celoso (“I’m not possessive”): I translated “celoso” as possessive, because if I translated it as “jealous” it would mean that Cristian, right this moment, doesn’t feel jealous of Jorge. In fact, what Cristian is saying that this is a general personality trait of his, like being blond. He is totally chill with any and all girls he is interested in having boyfriends. That’s not at all an obstacle!

It’s also a very corny thing Spanish guys say all the time when a girl says she’s taken, hence Eva’s uncomfortable smile in response.

As Inés and Alicia greet ALEJANDRO, he seems pretty annoyed by Viri floating around him, clearly laying a claim on him. The three of them intentionally crowd Viri out.

CLIP 7: Hard work pays off

En doce siglos (“in twelve centuries”): This is Amira’s catchphrase for measuring time. She also uses it during the truth or dare game.

One of the season 1 mysteries: what did Alicia say to Inés to make her leave so quickly? In hindsight, it doesn’t seem to have anything to do with Jorge, but that was one of the popular theories at the time.

Another detail: Cristian is behind Inés, seemingly on her side of this girl fight. ALEJANDRO’s crew seems to be pretty friendly with Inés and Alicia. They celebrated Inés’ birthday together, and often post ig stories together.

Social media:

I already mentioned this in a post, but Cris’ instagram makes it very obvious that Cris is a stoner. Her rainbow tops are peak Spanish stoner girl fashion, the soap video she regrammed is the sort of thing a stoner would be fascinated by, she follows ifyouhigh and highpeopledoingstuff, and she’s holding a blunt for her first ever ig pic. So yeah. I also just realized the implications, seeing she’s the s2 main. I don’t think she’ll lose a bunch of weed, but she might smoke it with 🐸?

“Perezón,” i.e. the title of clip 4, would literally translate to sloth or laziness, but its actual meaning is “what a drag,” as in “that party/those people/going to that rally is such a drag.”

Viri’s house is pretty basic-looking. What we can see of it looks like a working class household, but it isn’t the borderline hoarder situation in Vilde’s clip.

Eva watches an 11-episode show, which may or may not be Skam s1. The fun thing is she promises she won’t watch episode 12. The NYE special is listed as episode12 on the Movistar site.

Jorge got ahold of a charger after midnight!  

SKAM+ #1:

This clip takes place between episode 2 clips 6 and 7. Specifically, 20 minutes before the last clip.

Aitana is a Spanish singer born in 1999. She became famous thanks to talent show Operación Triunfo, where she came in second. At the time season 1 aired, she had only dropped two songs, Lo Malo with Ana Guerra, and Teléfono. Both of these songs played a prominent role on the show.

Cristian’s dad works at a record label! Explains Cristian’s huge ass house and mixing room!

ALEJANDRO asks Aitana where she’d like to hang out with him at Retiro Park. Retiro Park is one of the largest parks in Madrid. The park belonged to the Spanish Monarchy until the late 19th century, when it became a public park. It’s one of the most picturesque sights in the city and it’s overrun by people. So I don’t think it’s the place you want to take a celeb on a low-key date, but otherwise, good choice! Almost makes it seem like ALEJANDRO isn’t after sex!

Hasta yo preferiría a Aitana (“Even I’d rather Aitana”): That is… so lesbian of Viri.

Speaking of lesbians, Cris is also absolutely overcome by Aitana’s beauty.

In case you weren’t aware, Spaniards greet each other with two cheek kisses when we meet someone. Touching people’s hair without their permission, though, is still a no-no.  

[thebandcampdiaries]

PRODUC Presents 1970

A brand new rap album with a collection of 17 original tracks.

PRODUC’s music always stands out, because he is definitely not your average hip-hop artist. His most recent studio release, “1970,” is actually a fantastic example of what I am talking about it.

On this track, PRODUC channels the warmth and punch of old school hip-hop. However, he also knows when to enhance the clarity of the listening experience, blurring the lines between the modern scene and the golden age of the genre. His dynamic range is astonishing. He can explore different tonalities with a stellar twist. From raspy and warm lows to soothing highs, anything goes.

This stunning collection of songs marks an unprecedented step forward for this artist. PRODUC’s sound is becoming more personal and defined, one release at a time. Each track has something special to offer, with melodies that are easy to relate to and very catchy.

Having said that, PRODUC is not just about creating catchy and infectious hooks. He has a lot more depth, which makes his music all the more special for it.

Some artists are just entertainers. Others aim to accomplish so much more. They want to reach deeper within the heart and minds of the audience and create art with a much deeper purpose. With his killer lyrics, PRODUC definitely belongs to the latter category.

Right off the bat, one of the very first things that you might notice is definitely the fact that this track has got a lot of energy to it. The fact that the song has got somewhat of a retro twist is really amazing in terms of vibes. This actually means that the track has got a bit more of a swing to it, and there is that elusive “human” quality that’s sadly lacking in a lot of modern rap music releases on the scene today. Thankfully, PRODUC really set out to work very hard to give his songs a really distinctive texture. As a result, “1970” really stands out in the hip-hop panorama.

This astonishing album actually features 17 new songs. This is actually quite impressive. In a time when most rappers are even afraid to commit to short EPs and prefer to release singles, this artist is here with a massive full-length album, with 17 new songs. I mean, most new albums barely reach the 10-songs milestone! This is a true sonic journey, an experience that will take you on so many different paths, from the moment you press the play button, down to the end of the set list.

Some of these songs are atmospheric. For example, tracks such as “Mic Dreams,” with its fantastic experimental beat, almost makes me think of some of the later Mac Miller works. However, songs such as “Lay In The Breeze” definitely bring something different to the table. This song in particular definitely stands out as one of the highlights on this release. It is extremely catchy and unapologetic, and it actually features some of the most excellent hooks on the entire album.

Another song that’s worth mentioning is definitely “Let It Go.” To me, this is another album highlight, particularly due to its combination of killer grooves, punchy beats, and ambient soundscapes.

If you are a fan of artists as diverse as J. Cole, Drake, Snoop Dogg, or Nipsey Hussle, you are definitely going to enjoy this new jam by PRODUC, because it really hits the mark in all the right way.

It is not surprising that this charismatic rap artist is quickly generating quite a powerful buzz around his sound. With such a great combination of skills and cool sounds, anything goes. PRODUC has a distinctive approach to rap songwriting, and the fact that the songs on this album follow so many different directions is actually a testament to his mental openness and creative acuity.

Find out more about PRODUC, and do not miss out on “1970” and other amazing releases from this one-of-a-kind rap artist. The music is currently available via Soundcloud or on Spotify!

https://open.spotify.com/album/0qcbA5pEzflAKQwMDytoVJ?si=-xtXuuasRAmlGbZd50eMiQ

https://soundcloud.com/produc_of_la/sets/millions_4

[muenchkevin]

Best Budget Earphones of 2016

Finding the perfect pair of in-ear-earphones is always a tricky proposition. There are a multitude of factors that have to be kept in mind - sound quality, comfort, fit, looks and so on. Moreover, sound is a very subjective matter and people have different preferences when it comes to what kind of sound signature they like.

Some people prefer a bass heavy sound while others look for a neutral, well balanced and flat sound signature. What compounds the matter even further is the wide range of options available.

Let's take a look at the best budget earphones you can buy in India.We have listed earphones ranging from 600 rupees, all the way to 3,00 rupees, in the hope that you can find the one which suits your needs and budget.

1/10 Jays One

2/10 RHA S500

The RHA S500 are available for Rs 2,999 and deliver incredible sound quality for the price.

They are made of an aluminum alloy, and are thus extremely lightweight at just 10 grams. They also feature a tangle free cable with a cloth like texture. The S500 uses micro dynamic drivers with an impedance of 16 ohms, a frequency range of 16,000 - 22,000 Hz and come with a gold plated 3.5mm jack.

Out of the box, they offer an incredible 7 different types of silicon plugs and a carry pouch.

Coming to their sound, the highlight of the RHA S500 is their impressive sound-stage and neutral sound signature. However, for people used to the typical processed sound signature of earphones geared towards less discernible consumers, the highs may come across as screechy and the bass a bit lacking.

However, they deliver an incredibly detailed and balanced sound, and are a great buy at the price.

3/10 Sennheiser CX 3.00

The Sennheiser CX 3.00, with an MRP of Rs 3,599 are available for around Rs 2,600 on e-commerce websites.

These are incredibly popular, and come with a 1.2 m tangle-free, elliptical cable, a carry case and a right angled 3.5mm jack. They come with a two year warranty and look sleek, although some might find them too shiny.

They have a frequency response of 17Hz - 21Khz and an impedance of 18 ohms. Coming to their sound, they have a V shaped frequency response, which looks like the ‘rock’ setting of your equalizer. They are advertised for bass lovers and deliver the same, with crisp lows, which sadly do tend to crowd the sound-stage and sideline the highs and lows. As compared to the RHA S500, they have a more ‘fun’ sound signature that will attract the masses.

4/10 Sennheiser CX 1.00

The younger brother of the CX 3.00, the CX 1.00 have a street price of around Rs 1,799 as compared to their Rs 2,999 MRP, and are great for those looking for a solid sound upgrade for less than 2,000 rupees.

They have a 1.2m symmetrical cable, a right angled headphone jack and are featherweight at 9 grams.

They have 28 ohm impedance transducers which claim to deliver deep and powerful bass. Just like the CX 3.00, they are also aimed at bass lovers. They come with 4 sizes of silicone plugs out of the box.

Their sound signature is again very similar to the CX 3.00 and have a V shaped frequency response. They are crisp and well detailed, but the bass lack the punch of the CX 3.00. However, for the very same reason, they are a tad more neutral and the lows don't overshadow the mids and highs as much.

5/10 Sony MDR - XB50AP In-Ear Extra Bass earphones

The Sony MDR -XB50AP are available on e-commerce websites for around Rs 2,200.

They are earphones designed with a single minded focus - to deliver tight and punchy bass. To deliver the same, they come with big 12mm neodymium magnet drivers and a powered bass duct. What sets them apart from the others in the list so far, is that they also come with an in-line remote and microphone for hands-free phone calls.

They come with 3 pairs of silicon sleeves and a carrying pouch out of the box and have a tangle free cable and a gold plated 3.5mm headphone jack.

One negative of the MDR - XB50 AP is that because of the huge 12mm driver units, they are quite huge and heavy, and difficult to wear for extended periods of time or whilst lying down.

Coming to their sound, they deliver incredibly tight, punchy and crisp lows, while also maintaining clarity in the mids and highs. Where they excel is at sub-bass, sounding exceptionally good in rock tracks. What makes them stand apart from other bass heavy earphones from the likes of Sennhesier or Skullcandy, is the fact that the bass, while being incredibly powerful, doesn't overpower the sound, and even the mids and highs are incredibly crisp and detailed.

However, they are not for people who primary listen to classical or instrumental music.

6/10 Audio Technica ATH-CKX5 BK Sonic Fuel In-ear earphones

There cannot be a top 10 list of earphones without one representative from the house of Audio Technica. The company is well known amongst music fans for it’s headphones, but it also makes good quality earphones at affordable price points.

Handful of a name aside, the ATH-CKX5 promise a perfect fit with their 360 degree rotating eartips and ‘C-tip’ design. They come with a carry case, 2 silicon plugs and 2 pairs of ‘C-tips’ out of the box. They are aimed at people who hit the gym or play sports and are available in a multitude of colors, namely black, blue, green, red, and white.

They come with 8mm drivers with an impedance of 16 ohms and frequency response of 15 ~ 22,000 Hz.

Coming to their sound, they again are focused a bit towards an emphasis on bass, however, the bass here is crisp and tight and doesn't take over the sound stage. Mids are a bit recessed, and highs are crisp and clear.

They are available for Rs 1,299 on most e-commerce websites.

7/10 Tekfusion - Twinwoofers In Ear Earphones

The Tekfusion - twin woofers, as the name implies are earphones made specifically for hardcore bass lovers and are available on most e-commerce sites for around Rs 1,299.

They come with a 1.2mm cable with a gold plated 3.5 mm headphone jack. They have 10mm drivers, with a frequency response of 19- 21 KHz and an impedance of 6 ohms.

As expected, these are not for those looking for a well balanced and neutral sound signature. These are for ‘bassheads’, with powerful and punchy lows that do tend to overpower the sound. The mids and highs are decent, however, unlike the Sony MDR- XB50AP which manage to deliver powerful bass without compromising on the rest of the sound, these deliver bass at an expense of clarity of the mids/highs.

The twin woofers are not targeting those who want a neutral sound, they are built for one purpose, to deliver powerful bass and they do an exceptional job of that.

8/10 Sennheiser CX 180 Street 2 in-ear-headphones

The Sennheiser CX 180 are an incredibly popular pair of earphones available for around Rs 840 online.

Much like the CX series, they are tuned to deliver a powerful, bass driven sound. They have a frequency response of 18 to 20,000 Hz and an impedance of 16 ohms.

While they may not match up to the likes of the CX 3.0 or the RHA S500 in terms of sound quality, they deliver an incredibly powerful package at their price point. They have a very fun sound signature, with good punchy lows. Their soundstage and clarity is lacking compared to more expensive offerings though.

There is a bit of distortion at full volume, and they do sound a little muddy in complicated and layered recordings. However, one has to remember they cost about 800 bucks, and for that price they are a great upgrade to bundled earphones.

9/10 Cowon EM1 In-Ear Headphone

These Cowon EM-1 are available for Rs 799 online and truth to be told, are exceptional for the price. They are not very popular and are an off-beat choice, but they deliver the goods and how.

They come in Black, Red and White and come with a 1.2 metre tangle-free flat cable and a gold plated headphone jack. They have big 10mm drivers with a frequency range of 20 to 22,000 Hz and a sensitivity of 103dB/mW. Sadly, they don't come with a carry case.

The sound quality is the biggest surprise here and they deliver crisp highs, clear mids and punchy lows, all without any element overpowering the other. The soundstage is decent for the price, however they do suffer a bit from sibilance.

Their build quality is also fantastic and they are a great buy for people looking for a neutral sound signature at this price point.

10/10 SoundMagic ES 18

The Soundmagic ES18, available for around 600 rupees, are clearly the best earphones to go for if your budget is less than 700 bucks. In fact, they sound almost as good as earphones two times their price.

They come with a 1.2 metre cable and are available in both Red and Black. They have 10mm neodymium drivers, with a frequency range of 15 - 22,000 Hz and an impedance of 16 ohms. They come with a gold plated L-shaped 3.5mm headphone jack.

They are incredibly popular, and for a reason, as they deliver a crisp, detailed and well balanced sound. They are tuned for a neutral sound signature, and are not for those expecting extremely powerful bass. Bass lovers, at this price point should look towards the CX-180 instead.

The Soundmagic ES18 are my personal pick for earphones on a very tight budget, and their sound really does belie their price point. In fact, they have no business being available for such a low cost.

source https://www.techradar.com/news/best-budget-earphones-of-2016/ from Blogger https://ift.tt/3AHVBXU Source Link Best Budget Earphones of 2016

[droneseco]

Black Shark 4 Gaming Phone Review: This Feels Like Cheating

Black Shark 4

9.00 / 10

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The Black Shark has the best controls and inputs for gaming. Its 720Hz touch response and pop-up triggers will actually make you a better gamer.

Specifications

Brand: Black Shark

Storage: 128GB, or 256GB

CPU: Qualcomm 870

Memory: 6GB, 8GB or 12GB

Operating System: Android 11

Battery: 4500mAh

Ports: USB C Type 2

Camera (Rear, Front): 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 5 MP, f/2.4, (macro), AF

Display (Size, Resolution): 6.67-inches (1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio)

Pros

144Hz refresh rate

Vibrant AMOLED screen

720Hz touch sampling

Magnetic pop-up triggers

Excellent value specs

120W fast charging

Cons

Camera performance is mediocre

Heavy gaming causes phone to get too hot without using optional cooler

Using the phone while charging can be awkward to hold

Several competitive games don't support more than 60fps

Buy This Product

Black Shark 4 other

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A few weeks with this phone, and its changed my perspective on mobile gaming. I’ve never enjoyed mobile games as much as I want to. The biggest thing that's been holding me back, especially for MOBAS and shooters, is the notoriously hard-to-use and imprecise touch-screen controls. With Black Shark's latest release of the Black Shark 4, they’ve got a couple of tricks to fix all that, the two biggest being, a highly responsive touchscreen, and physical buttons.

To celebrate the launch, Black Shark is offering a $30 coupon off the purchase price of $479 at AliExpress. This is valid until April 30th. Also, the first 200 orders will get a bonus original fluorescent case, and a Black Shark "Gaming Finger Sleeve" (we are just as clueless about that one, I promise you). If you'd rather order from the official site, the first 100 orders get a free case and fan cooler. 

We've been testing the Shark 4 for the past few weeks and were really surprised with not only how much more enjoyable games were compared to our non-gaming phones (an iPhone 12 mini and a Google Pixel 4a) but also how much better we actually were. In just two days, we quickly ranked up in games like Call of Duty Mobile, where we reached the master tier. We weren’t just playing better, we were outperforming everyone else. Coming from someone who doesn’t generally do all that well at shooters, that’s saying something. I used to be pretty skeptical about gaming phones, and for the most part, still am.

Of course, this phone does more than just game, but for this review, I’ll be focusing on the key features that make the Black Shark 4 not only stand out from other gaming phones but fundamentally changes the way you game with it.

Black Shark 4 Specs

Before even getting into the important game-related features, the device packs a lot of great specs at its price.

The Black Shark 4 uses the Qualcomm 870 processor, which is commonly found in many upper mid-range and affordable flagship devices. The Shark 4 Pro on the other hand, sports the beefier Qualcomm 888 which is currently Qualcomm’s most powerful processor.

The standard model is equipped with 6GB of RAM, which can be upgraded to 8GB or 12GB. Storage starts at 128GB UFS 3.1, which is very speedy, and can be upgraded to 256GB.

I’m reviewing the base version which includes the Qualcomm 870, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage.

The Shark comes in 4 color options including Magic Black, Black, Blue, and Silver. In the test box, they’ve included a case as well which covers most of the phone’s rear but has a few cutouts, which I assume are for improved heat dissipation.

Important connectivity includes 5G, Bluetooth 5.2, USB Type-C 2.0, and (thankfully) a headphone jack, which can be handy for a latency-free audio experience while gaming.

It also has a fingerprint reader in the middle of the right side. It responds quickly and is situated at a reasonably good height to reach it easiest when holding the phone with one hand. Smaller hands might struggle, however, as it is still a bit of a stretch given how big this screen is.

Screen and Size

Equipped with a massive 6.67-inch AMOLED screen that supports HDR10+, you'll see impressively deep blacks and vibrant colors. Everything has a very punchy pop and combined with its size, this makes it great for watching movies and browsing the web. You definitely have a lot of screen real estate to work with here.

The display could do with being a bit brighter, which I primarily wanted when gaming outdoors. This is a pretty common downside to AMOLEDs however.

Holding the Black Shark 4 with one hand is ultimately not very comfortable, and I most often found myself using both hands. Likewise, even though the phone is relatively thin at only 0.39 inches (10mm), it’s 6.42 inches (163mm) tall and 3 inches (76mm) wide. It’s not very pocketable and will likely stick out a bit.

The plastic build helps keep the weight relatively low at just 7.41 ounces (210g), which is slightly less than the similarly sized 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max.

144Hz Refresh Rate | Benefits & Limitations

The screen is actually very special in some key areas. For starters, it has a 144Hz refresh rate compared to last years’ 90Hz. You can keep up with fast movement more easily whether gaming or just scrolling because more frames are shown each second compared to lower refresh rate screens. It can actually make the phone feel snappier and more enjoyable to use because of how fluid everything feels.

It's important to note, however, that not all games and applications can take advantage of that 144Hz display.

For mobile gaming, a higher refresh rate screen can be great so long as the CPU/GPU can keep up. There are a good number of games that now support 144FPS or uncapped FPS, though many of the more popular titles like Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile and PUBG do not. Those are capped at 60FPS. Moreover, even if they did support it, you’d likely be hitting GPU/CPU bottlenecks unless you were playing at lower graphical settings.

While there are a growing amount of games and applications that support 144Hz, more graphically intensive ones still might not hit 144fps. Playing Genshin Impact, for example, with more demanding environments which had a lot going on, could easily dip the FPS to the low 40s and even 30s, with graphics set to maximum quality.

I don’t necessarily think fast refresh rate screens are a gimmick for phones, as they still have their advantages for certain games, apps, and the overall navigation of the phone. But they aren't as fully utilized as you might think. This is more of a limitation to the optimization of current games and the performance of current mobile chips.

Controls

720Hz Touch Sampling | Precise On-Screen Controls

What’s more impressive, however, and in my experience actually more beneficial to gaming, is its 720Hz touch sampling rate. Black Shark claims this to be “the most responsive smartphone touchscreen ever”. This high pressure-sensitivity makes it super easy to get precise movements for even the most competitive games.

Unlike with modern iPhones which have a 120Hz sampling rate, the slightest movements across the screen register more accurately. Higher sampling rates, as with the Black Shark, let the phone register your taps, flicks, and movements more quickly and frequently. This was immediately noticeable to me.

I've never been a huge fan of mobile gaming, primarily because the touchscreen controls never felt precise. With shooters=, I could never point and aim where I wanted to, making it overly frustrating. Movement and aiming with the Shark’s touch screen is a day and night improvement, but it doesn’t stop there.

Pop-Up Triggers

Introduced with last year‘s model, the magnetic pop-up triggers make their return with the Shark 4. The two top sliders reveal a left and right trigger button which can be custom mapped, via their Shark Center app, to any two A and B points on the screen. Having highly responsive physical buttons helped transform me from one of the worst at mobile shooters, to crushing the leaderboards.

At heart, I’m a PC gamer. Especially when it comes to first-person shooters and MOBAS, nothing has really come close to a mouse and keyboard in terms of fast and precise controls for me. That is until this phone arrived.

Honestly, at times it felt like I had an unfair advantage. Comparing the gameplay of just using the onscreen controls vs having the physical buttons is a huge difference. For shooters especially, being able to map your triggers to aiming down and the other to firing, makes you much more competitive. Your thumbs can focus on movement and aiming while your index fingers can handle shooting.

Combined with that high 720Hz pressure-sensitive screen, it actually gave me more precision and comfort compared to using an Xbox controller. While I don’t think I’m as good using this phone compared to my PC controls, it's by far the second closest thing.

Cooling

Keeping temperatures cooled is especially important with gaming phones. For the past few weeks, I’ve tested a number of long gaming sessions to see if the phone ever got hot to the touch or uncomfortable. Black Shark has upgraded their liquid sandwich design cooling system, which it claims is 30% more effective at heat dissipation. More graphically intensive games like Genshin Impact do stress the phone more and after a few hours, it can still get too hot.

FunCooler 2Pro

But, that’s where you then attach the optional "FunCooler 2Pro". Atrocious product naming aside, the heatsink and seven-bladed fan cools the phone noticeably in seconds. You can even see the temperature drop with its built-in display on the front. Of course, this has customizable RGB lights, because what doesn’t these days?

When paired to your phone’s Bluetooth, it can even be programmed to change colors based on the game you’re playing. At full “Frozen” speeds, it can get pretty audible, but it genuinely feels like a freezer is attached. Quieter fan speeds are available for when you don’t need that arctic cool. For less than $30, if you plan on gaming hard with this phone, it’s a no-brainer. Props to them for also making this compatible with other phones too, even iOS.

I would have liked to see a more integrated way of connecting and powering the cooler, however. Now you’ve got to remember to pack an additional charger and cable for the cooler if you take this on the go. Instead of having to power both the phone and cooler individually, a single charging solution would have been more convenient and easier.

Cameras

Cameras are more of an afterthought on gaming phones but are still worth mentioning. The Black Shark 4 has a triple camera system on the back and a front selfie camera.

The main shooter is a 48MP f/1.8, while the other two rear cameras are an 8MP ultra-wide and a 5MP macro. Compared to the iPhone 12 Mini (which sports a 12MP f/1.4 main sensor and a 12MP f/2.4 ultrawide) photos and videos overall weren’t nearly as polished and punchy as I'm used to, but by no means does that mean the Shark 4 was bad.

Most daytime side-by-side comparisons for stills were pretty close in fact. High contrast scenes, though, highlighted (pun intended) the weaknesses of these cameras and their processing. Switching between the 3 cameras and their modes, too, was much slower than I was used to. There was a noticeable delay before you could snap a photo and it wasn’t as seamless as iPhone’s and other implementations which allow you to tap to zoom in and out to switch between the cameras.

Selfies were alright. They did struggle with sharpness, however, looking overall soft, as well as struggling again in high contrast scenes.

Low-light shots were actually pretty decent if you held still for long enough. Most impressive, it seemed to retain the dark blacks, instead of making them bright purples like some cameras with their night modes often do.

That said, more cameras and higher megapixel counts do not give you the full picture (pun also intended). The 48MP images never looked sharper than 12MP iPhone shots, even when cropped in. Taking photos with the full 48MP was also a slow experience which required switching to a different mode as well as taking longer to actually capture the image.

I don’t see much practical use for the 5MP macro camera, given the niche use case and low resolution. It feels like an easy way for them to advertise having more cameras, while not necessarily having a single great one.

Video recording is decent but also has some quirks. The OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) is best for slow panning or tilting movements—anything too fast and it came off as very digital. 4K recording is limited to the main camera only;  switching to the ultra-wide lens brings the resolution down to 1080p.

Battery and Charging

Between all that, you have a 4500mAh battery that supports 120W charging (and that's not a typo), whcih can charge the phone to full in less than 17 minutes. That’s fast. Even using the standard 67W charger, you’ll charge to 100% in less than 25 minutes.

If you’re like me and frequently forgetting to charge your phone overnight or use your phone heavily for longer sessions, the combination of a long-lasting and quick charging battery is great.

One downside, though, is the placement of the USB-C port. While yes, the bottom middle is the most obvious and commonplace for the port, charging the phone and gaming at the same time can be very awkward, causing your hand to cramp as you try to hold and play around it. Moving the port to say the middle left or right side would have been a unique feature and way for a gaming phone such as this to distinguish itself from a “traditional phone”.

Not Just for Gaming

I used to think gaming phones were more of a gimmick without any noticeable benefits compared to their non-gaming variants. In a lot of ways, this is still true, especially with those potential bottle-necks I mentioned earlier holding the phone back from taking full advantage of their higher refresh rate screens and being stuck with the same clunky touch-screen controls.

The Black Shark 4 has addressed the biggest issue with mobile gaming, giving you a more responsive screen as well customizable triggers. This is the first phone I actually enjoyed playing more competitive mobile games on. Not only that, I was actually really good at them, which I think is reason enough to get this for most people.

Even if you’re not that big into gaming, you’re getting some pretty killer specs in an awesome package for less than $500 that are hard to match, let alone beat.

Black Shark 4 Gaming Phone Review: This Feels Like Cheating published first on http://droneseco.tumblr.com/