CHIGEE AIO-5 Lite: Come for CarPlay, keep for computerized video seize

Welcome to 9to5Mac Gearbox. Whereas Gearbox is primarily written for motorcycle riders, you’ll discover that driving know-how isn’t at all times only for bikers. Keep protected and benefit from the journey!

Apple CarPlay is turning into extra widespread on bikes, however infotainment programs are sometimes solely provided on high-priced touring bikes. Luckily, there’s a improbable aftermarket answer for including CarPlay to virtually any motorbike. I’ve been testing the CHIGEE AIO-5 Lite, an all-in-one system that features a CarPlay/Android Auto show, entrance and rear cameras, and an built-in security system to maintain riders alert. 

Simple sufficient improve

Particularly, I put in the CHIGEE AIO-5 Lite on a 2020 Honda Insurgent 500, a normal cruiser that’s spec’d properly for brand spanking new riders. 

With its entrance and rear cameras, the AIO-5 Lite makes for an ideal security enhancement for brand spanking new and skilled riders. Set up is straightforward sufficient if you happen to’re comfy with working wire and accessing your battery. Just a few YouTube movies helped me alongside the best way.

Digicam advantages

My pal and fellow rider Jon had an ideal description for one profit I described. AIO-5 Lite helps you to see your rearview whereas sitting at an intersection and searching ahead towards the cease mild.

Or as Jon put it, AIO-5 Lite gives a rearview mirror. And he’s precisely proper. Aspect mirrors may give you a glimpse of your environment, however there’s nothing like a rear-facing digital camera that may warn you of oncoming site visitors. Luckily, I didn’t want to check how rapidly I might evade a car racing towards me. Nonetheless, the peace of thoughts of a 360-degree view whereas sitting at a cease mild offered reassurance.

Each cameras additionally act as presence sensors together with whereas driving. That is helpful when driving in site visitors or teams. When a car or bike will get too shut, each visible and audible cues will warn you. 

Report each a part of each journey

However the one factor that riders I met whereas testing the AIO-5 Lite appreciated was the onboard digital camera system for at all times capturing video.

The AIO-5 Lite has 32GB of onboard storage, and you may increase it with extra storage. The unit accepts as much as a 256GB microSD card that’s secured with a rubber door that latches with hex screws. The unit contains the required screwdriver. The unit additionally attaches to your bike in such a approach that somebody can’t simply stroll by and steal it.

Now again to the always-on video seize: As long as the bike is powered on, the AIO-5 Lite is routinely recording video from the back and front cameras. This gives two separate video recordsdata that you would be able to wirelessly ship to the iPhone or Android app. 

Whereas it was CarPlay that originally caught my consideration, it’s this always-on video and audio recording that made me love the AIO-5 Lite. Critically, recording begins moments after you interact the ability change in your bike — earlier than you even crank the engine. When paired with a excessive capability microSD card, this allows you to use the digital camera system as each a touch cam for capturing incidents and a technique to file your rides with out serious about it.

Concerns

The Sony sensors utilized by the digital camera are rated for 1080p, and the footage it captures contains overlays on the prime and backside, however you’ll be able to simply crop in barely and have a clear video clip to share on social media. In the event you’re in search of increased high quality to seize and share your rides, although, a good motion digital camera could also be a greater match. Moto vloggers, in fact, sometimes seize a number of angles for extra fascinating views.

If there’s a technique to disable the video overlays, I missed it. I additionally had no luck transferring the video utilizing the microSD card and a card reader on my iPhone or Mac; app switch solely. But when I might add one function, it might be some onboard low energy video seize to observe your bike when parked in public locations. Whereas the unit at all times data whereas powered on, it will possibly’t file when your bike energy is switched off.

Bike CarPlay

And at last, the CarPlay expertise. CHIGEE helps wi-fi CarPlay so there’s no requirement to mount your iPhone and join a cable. As a substitute, the AIO-5 Lite will routinely and wirelessly hook up with your iPhone and show CarPlay on the 5-inch LCD display.

Whereas this was actually the smallest CarPlay show I’ve ever examined, it was additionally completely usable and positively helpful. There’s not a lot fiddling round with a show that you must do whereas driving, however having a compact CarPlay display made utilizing Apple Maps pretty much as good as in a automobile. Google Maps and Waze additionally work with CarPlay.

As for audio, I used my traditional setup with my iPhone in my pocket and a single AirPod in my ear. Having visible entry to the Music and Podcasts at cease lights was a lot faster and safer than pulling out my cellphone. Spotify, Overcast, and different music and podcast apps are additionally suitable.

Alternatively, I might have powered up the Sena headset with my helmet — it pairs to my iPhone identical to Bluetooth earphones — and used CarPlay to manage and listen to navigation, leisure, and cellphone calls.

All in all, CHIGEE makes a powerful all-in-one answer for including CarPlay or Android Auto to virtually any motorbike with out paying touring bike costs. Simply cruising round with the AIO-5 Lite attracted some potential clients as fellow riders had been impressed with the worth. 

You may take dwelling the CHIGEE AIO-5 Lite for $598 for the total digital camera expertise. In the event you solely need the CarPlay/Android Auto expertise, CHIGEE provides the AIO-5 PLAY with no cameras/security options for $399.