The radio that's ready for anything
Is it a little too early to be talking Christmas gift guides? Perhaps, but UK-based DAB radio specialist PURE has a corker of a gift idea in the form of the new Oasis Flow.
The robust-looking radio arrives as the latest addition to PURE's award-winning line and is designed to "withstand the rigours of outdoor life".
Priced at £170 and weighing in at an equally-hefty 2.2kg, the 155mm x 230mm x 140mm system features a cast aluminium frame and rubber seals that help keep out dust, dirt and water. It isn't completely waterproof - so you wouldn't want to submerge it in a bath tab - but it is weatherproof, so you needn't worry about rain or moisture.
Whether you're in the garden, by the pool or working in the great outdoors, the radio's built to withstand most of what nature can throw at it.
Cube-like in appearance, the unit looks and feels strongly built throughout; from the rubber-capped ports to the two firm rubber dials, both of which deliver a distinct, strong click with each small turn.
The rubberised aerial can be detached and stowed neatly to the rear of the unit - helping prevent any accidental damage during transport - and a large, comfortable carry handle is integrated right into the radio.
And there's more to the Oasis Flow than just its rugged credentials. Like the original Oasis, it supports DAB and FM radio, but it now packs a few noteworthy upgrades - including a larger yellow-on-black 128x64 OLED display and a built-in wireless 802.11b/g aerial that introduces support for network streaming and internet radio.
A useful selection of over-the-air sources, and your iPods and MP3 players are also catered for through a dedicated 3.5mm input.
A headphone socket is available - and can be used to hook up an external speaker - as is a mini USB port for software updates and a connector for the bundled power adaptor.
Keeping the Oasis Flow attached to a mains power supply somewhat defeats the purpose, hence the integration of a rechargeable ChargePAK battery that's good for up to 15 hours of DAB radio listening. Though, your mileage will vary when using Wi-Fi-related features.
A DAB radio that's portable, rechargeable, weatherproof and able to stream web-based media? It's almost perfect. Almost.