iOttie Aivo View Review

Dash cams are increasingly more changing into an crucial accent for drivers. Not best do they file movies that can be utilized to end up fault in a collision, however in lots of circumstances they are able to scale back the price of automobile insurance coverage.

A reputation new to sprint cams is iOttie. It’s a emblem you could know for its smartphone holders and chargers which might be designed to paintings for your automobile (and  house). But it has expanded its vary to incorporate the Aivo View, a splash cam that has Amazon’s Alexa in-built for voice-activated instructions.

Features & Design

• Easy set up
• Remote Control button
• Records to a microSD card (now not integrated)

The Aivo View has a easy, blank design. The major unit is a rounded off sq. that measures 65 x 65 x 35mm, even though the casing does taper in opposition to the entrance panel the place you to find the digicam lens. On the best flank there’s a micro-USB charging port, whilst the left is house to a microSD card slot that you just’ll wish to fill because the Aivo View doesn’t have any inside garage.

The software doesn’t include a reminiscence card within the field, so issue within the additional value should you shouldn’t have a spare one you’ll be able to use.

Jutting out of the highest of the unit is a brief stalk that connects to the bottom (the photograph about is somewhat complicated as a result of we have photographed it the other way up).

The base attaches to the windscreen by way of a sticky pad, which turns out puzzling as iOttie gives a lot of suction-cup taste holders in its catalogue, and this technique calls for that you just completely affix the Aivo View on your windscreen.

However, all isn’t reasonably as it kind of feels: a small steel disc within the base is all that if truth be told sticks to the windscreen, whilst the remainder of the digicam may also be indifferent and reattached by way of its robust magnet. 

A protracted micro-USB cable is integrated within the field which connects the Aivo View to the equipped USB charger that itself plugs into your automobile’s cigarette lighter socket. Of path, best other people of a undeniable age nonetheless name it that: trendy vehicles ditch the real lighter and label it the 12V accent socket.

Routing the cord alongside the highest of the windscreen, down the A-pillar and to the accent socket may sound like slightly of a faff, however iOttie comprises a few cable clips that save you the cable from dangling in entrance of the motive force’s view.

As you’ll see from the photograph above, there’s no show at the Aivo View. So if you wish to view the photos that’s recorded at the microSD card, you’ll wish to use the accompanying app.

This could also be how you’ll be able to trade the default settings. If you’ve the Alexa app for your phone, you then’ll additionally be capable of connect with the Aivo View and factor a couple of instructions by way of voice whilst riding. iOttie features a bodily faraway keep an eye on button (which woks the use of Bluetooth) that you’ll be able to stick someplace in succeed in of the motive force and press it to in an instant take a photograph or file a video. 

iOttie Connect App

• See reside show of movies
• Change period of recordings
• Amazon Alexa (US best)

Once you’ve downloaded the iOttie Connect app and arrange your account, which best takes a minute or two. Then you’ll be able to connect with the Aivo View by way of a neighborhood Wi-Fi connection between phone and sprint cam and spot the to be had settings. 

The major web page displays the reside feed of the digicam alongside the highest, with two massive buttons for shooting video or pictures. The default surroundings is for the digicam to mechanically file two-minute loops of photos regularly and, when the microSD card is complete, return and overwrite the oldest clips. This is the best way all sprint cams paintings and way the Aivo View does not merely forestall recording when the cardboard is complete.

Note that recording begins mechanically while you flip at the ignition and prevent when the engine is became off. There is a Collision Detection function that registers a possible crash and marks the video as vital and guarantees it does not get overwritten when the cardboard is complete.

If you favor longer or shorter video clips, the app means that you can trade from one minute as much as 5 mins. There also are settings to resolve how lengthy a recording you get started your self (by way of urgent the bodily or on-screen buttons) will probably be. You can use the app to obtain decided on recordings or pictures on your phone, however the switch price is sluggish, so be mindful to do it in case you have a while for your arms. As an instance, one two minute video at 1440p solution took quarter-hour to switch from the Aivo View to my iPhone. Photos, clearly, are a lot sooner. 

You can, in fact, use a microSD card reader for your computer or PC to replicate the recordsdata a lot quicker.

The app has a couple of different key settings, together with the power to file the GPS place of your automobile along the video or pictures. This is then displayed on a map when reviewing the photos for your phone. There also are choices to make a choice which information is displayed at the recording and whether or not sound is recorded or now not.

Alexa 

One of the Aivo View’s promoting issues is that it really works with Amazon’s Alexa app by way of a devoted ability, which means you’ll be able to keep an eye on the software along with your voice. Hands-free keep an eye on is in fact specifically helpful when riding.

Unfortunately, I used to be not able to check this as I’m primarily based in the United Kingdom and the Aivo View is lately offered best in america. The Alexa ability is in a similar way limited to these with a US Amazon account, and wanting faffing round with converting my very own UK account, it intended I could not test how nicely it labored.

What I know is that I wasn’t lacking a lot: instructions come with “Alexa, inform sprint cam to begin recording”, “Alexa, inform sprint cam to take a photograph” and “Alexa, inform sprint cam to activate [or off] the mic”.

Video high quality

• 1600p/30fps most surroundings
• Good low-light efficiency
• Sony STARVIS sensor

The just right information is that movies and pictures captured by way of the Aivo View are sharp and detailed. The Sony STARVIS symbol sensor does a fantastic task of shooting well-exposed photos that still has just right distinction. It is not dangerous at night time, both. The 140° box of view is completely same old for a splash cam, providing the best stability of shooting what is going down at the outer edge with out making cars in entrance (and their registration plates) too small to look.

You can use the app to extend solution to the rather strange 1600p/30fps, however the default surroundings of 1440p/30fps returns very usable high quality, whilst growing smaller document sizes. There are decrease settings too, together with the choice of 60fps at 1080p.

Here’s a couple of examples of video right through the day and at night time to turn the type of high quality you’ll be able to be expecting. Just consider that our video participant has compressed the recordsdata somewhat, so the originals have higher 

1440p/30fps (Night) 

1600p/30fps (Day)

1600p/30fps (Dusk)

1600p/30fps (Night)

There is a parking mode to be had, which is able to mechanically flip at the digicam and start recording if it senses any roughly have an effect on, however you’ll wish to energy the cam by way of a USB energy financial institution, as as soon as the engine is became off the digicam can’t draw any energy from the automobile itself.

Price & Availability

The iOttie Aivo View is to be had direct from iOttie in america. The corporate showed that it is going to send in another country, however in fact as I found out, that does not imply the Alexa function will paintings.

It prices $149.99 (approx £115/€139, however be mindful to consider taxes and import accountability if uploading). Other iOttie units are to be had in the United Kingdom and Europe by way of Amazon, so it might be that the Aivo View could also be offered in the community on Amazon but it surely wasn’t on the time of evaluate.

For possible choices, see our roundup of the most efficient sprint cams.

Verdict

As a primary try at a splash cam, the Aivo View is not dangerous in any respect. It ticks the entire vital bins: just right video high quality, simple operation, integrated GPS. Some may dislike the absence of a display and being compelled to make use of an app, and given this, you could be expecting it to be a little bit less expensive.

But if you are in search of a splash cam that is easy to put in and will get on with the task with out fuss, then the iOttie Aivo View is a cast selection. The video high quality is just right, even at night time, and the app doesn’t weigh down you with choices or require tweaking to get the most efficient out of the software. 

I’d have most well-liked the choice of a suction-cup mount, for Alexa to paintings outdoor america, and for iOttie to have bundled a microSD card within the field at this value. But the positives unquestionably outweigh those slight drawbacks. 

Specs

iOttie Aivo View: Specs

• 140-degree box of view
• Sony STARVIS CMOS symbol sensor
• Up to 1600p solution video recording
• Automatic loop recording
• Collision Detection
• Parking Mode (by way of exterior energy supply)
• Accompanying iOS & Android apps
• External Bluetooth button
• GPS
• microSD card slot
• Magnetic base
• 6.5cm x 6.5cm x 3.5cm

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