When you need a bit of quiet time - in office, in a public place or while on the move - active noise cancellation (ANC) technology is what a lot of gearheads turn to.
ANC headphones sample the ambient sound using external microphones and produce a sound that is exactly opposite in phase - effectively cancelling out the sound. This happens in addition to your music or a voice call. When you have a set of premium ANC headphones like this Jabra (or our current favourite, Sony WH-100XM3), the outside world sort of ceases to exist.
The Elite 85h is Jabra's attempt to break into the premium end of the ANC market, where Bose and Sony have normally ruled the roost. The 85h tries to be different with a slightly larger design (but they're not heavy and just as comfortable as the others) and a fabric outer layer instead of just plastic. We liked that it has actual, tactile buttons instead of silly touch and swipe controls.
You can adjust volume, change tracks, accept/reject calls, invoke the voice assistant and switch between different ANC modes (off, on, hear-through). A nice hard case is supplied, along with an airline adapter, USB C cable and a 3.5mm cable to use them in wired mode.
Jabra Elite 85h has the best battery life in the business - almost 35 hours with ANC on. The companion app - though not necessary - should be downloaded in order to change the various settings, adjust equaliser, update firmware and switch moments (read: modes, like commute, public, private).
Apart from Google Assistant on Android and Siri on iPhone, there is support for Alexa too - you need to connect your Amazon account in the voice assistant settings on the app. We liked the amazing clarity of the voice calls and the efficient noise cancellation that's right up there with the best.
Unlike many others, this Jabra also connects to two devices simultaneously. And it has the best battery life in the business - almost 35 hours with ANC on. What we didn't like was the larger size and that the audio quality doesn't quite match up to the likes of the Sony and Bose despite costing the same.
Get it if you value the many features and battery life it has. However, if you prefer better music quality, the Sony remains our pick.
Fitness With Tech: Apps And Gadgets To Track Diet And Workout Results
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Track Health With Tech
29 Nov, 2018
By Karan BajajOur hectic lifestyles sometimes leave little time for a proper diet and exercise regime. Thankfully, tech can help you plan your diet, nutrition, exercise and track results for a healthier you. Karan Bajaj talks about some of his favorites.(Image: Getty)
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Fittr
29 Nov, 2018
This free app offers various tools including a BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) calculator, body fat percentage calculator, diet tool and even tells you your recommended heart rate for exercise basis your age. The app has its own social network where you can follow other users, join groups and interact with them. Plus, you can also choose a coach as per your fitness requirement (you will have to take one of the paid packages for the coaching service).(Image: play.google.com)
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HealthifyMe
29 Nov, 2018
HealthifyMe lets you track your weight, activity as well as your food and water intake. You can set reminders, create a diary, maintain health logs and get a weekly report based on your inputs. In the basic plan (Rs 199/month), the app offers an AI coach called Ria that helps you stay motivated and interacts with you for any queries. If you prefer human coaches, you can opt for paid personalized coaching where you can choose from nutritionists, fitness instructors or yoga coaches.(Image: www.healthifyme.com)
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Fitso
29 Nov, 2018
Fitso gives you recommendations on the basis of your BMI (which it calculates according to the height and weight your input). If you want to lose weight, it will give you the option to track your daily calories intake with a diet journal as well as ask you to burn calories with physical activity. You need to set a target weight and choose whether you want to do only a diet or diet & exercise. We like the clean app interface. You can also opt for a coach service which starts at just Rs 149/week.(Image: play.google.com)
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Fitpass
29 Nov, 2018
If you’re more of a gym person and do not want to miss workouts while traveling, Fitpass gives you access to 1500+ gyms. The app currently works in selected cities and you pay Rs 999/month for the service. You can view the fitness centers around you based on your locations along with details on their address, timing and the types of workout they provide. They also have plans for dieting and coaching plus an in-app store for purchasing supplements.(Image: play.google.com)
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