KitSound Hive2o Speaker
Not every speaker has to offer audiophile quality sound and cost a small fortune. This waterproof wonder is cheap,
cheerful and surprisingly capable. But could it survive your next pool party?
KitSound
https://kitsound.co.uk
£19.99 (currently UK-only)
Compatibility: Bluetooth
output devices
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PROS AND CONS:
+ Good price
+ Waterproof
+ Detailed sound
- Lacks bass and depth
LAST WORD
It won’t please the hardcore
audiophiles, but as a fun,
affordable speaker, it’s great.
Perfect for outdoor fun and
pool parties.
RATING: 4/5
Moshi SnapTo
iPhone Car Mount
There are numerous in-car entertainment and satellite navigation systems on the market,
varying in price and quality. It's a huge market offering a vast array of opinions, but did you
know you already own the market leader? It's in your back pocket!
S
ummer’s here, and it’s time to
relax by the pool. What better way
to unwind than by blasting your
sounds through a waterproof Bluetooth
speaker? The KitSound Hive2o won’t
blow if it gets wet. It’s waterproof to a IP67
rating; you can immerse it in water without
causing damage. It’s available in black,
grey, blue or pink, and gives eight hours of
playing time on a single charge. A passive
radiator helps boost the bass sounds, and
if you have two of them, you can pair them
so one Hive2o acts as the left speaker, and
the other the right. Not a bad feature set for
such an affordable device.
We dropped the Hive2o into a sink
of water, and it is indeed waterproof
(despite the hilarious warning in the
instructions not to get it wet). Sound
quality isn’t bad at all. It’s very detailed,
even if the bass and depth are a little
weaker than we’d like. It distorts at
moderately loud volume too, but for
a fun speaker like this, it’s more than
adequate. IO
Moshi
moshi.com
£36.99, $39.95, 38,65 €
Compatibility: Wireless-
charging iPhone with
compatible case
er
PROS AND CONS:
- Well made, sturdy piece
of kit
- It sure is sticky
- Does go bit floppy in
landscape
- Doesn't do the do out of
the box
LAST WORD
One of the best in car
iPhone mounts I have used
although it is robbed of the
final point due to the lack of
out-of-the-box use.
RATING: 4/5
I
’ve been using my iPhone and the Maps app as a replacement Sat Nav and as the
base for my in car entertainment. Why would I spend cash on anything else when I
have the best option on my phone? It's brilliant! Unfortunately, finding a safe place
to mount the phone is a different matter. I have spent – sorry, wasted – a fair amount
of cash on the cheaper options. Sticky pads that don't stick. Sucker pads that really do
suck but don't actually stick. Mounts that don't hold the device with any substance.
Mounts that don't actually fit the larger iPhone models. You name it, I have angrily
shouted at.
The Moshi SnapTo not only counters all of the above woes but can be mounted
through the air vents or via the glue pad, which is so strong that I think my dashboard
would come loose before the mount does. I have been testing this for three weeks
and have no issues with either placement; well, almost. When held in portrait mode
the posable mounting remains locked in position, but in the rarely used landscape
position things aren't so good, as the iPhone slightly droops under its own weight.
The only major flaw here is that the iPhone is locked to the mount via magnets,
and requires a separately purchased Moshi SnapTo case before use. Which, of course,
means this doesn't work out of the box and also adds an additional expense. JG
AppleUserMAGAZINE
