Mio seem to bring out new navigation devices at a prolific rate. This new model, the Mio C728, distinguishes itself with its huge 7 inch QVGA (800 x 480 pixels) TFT LCD touchscreen. Along with the large screen and twin stereo speakers comes a suite of multimedia features for watching movies, view digital photos and listen to MP3s.

The navigation engine is based on the reliable and accurate SiRF Star III receiver which will perform well even in weak GPS signal areas such as built-up city areas.
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Technorati Tags: Mio C728

Mio have intended their DigiWalker C230 to be a compact and easy-to-use GPS navigator and importantly be an affordable purchase for consumers. It’s actually one step up from the entry level Mio DigiWalker C220 having text-to-speech functionality and 1GB of onboard flash memory compared with 256MB. Reduced accuracy because of a lower price is not a concern as the C230 has the same SiRF Star III GPS receiver as more expensive models which is also WAAS enabled. The SirRF Star III GPS receiver is widely recognized for its faster fix times, higher signal locking and tracking sensitivity and low power requirements.

Mio have not been tempted to save costs with a smaller screen, providing a similar 3.5” size, color, TFT touch screen which has and anti-glare treatment.

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Technorati Tags: DigiWalker C230, GPS navigator

From the partial quote in this post’s title by tiKiyoshi Hamai, North American sales director in Mio’s 710t press release you can tell that the company believes it is something unique in the consumer GPS market. While it is an impressive piece of technology convergence it has at least one other rival in the recently reviewed Navman S90i S Series car GPS navigator.

The Mio 710t has a very similar specification to the recently reviewed Mio 710 car and portable GPS device. Extra or superior features include:
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Technorati Tags: GPS market, Mio 710t

Mio’s DigiWalker C710 is Mio’s highest specification GPS portable navigation device. It distinguishes itself as such by being Bluetooth-enabled and having a suite of multimedia capabilities.

It does share some features with lower specification DigiWalker models such as the C220 including a large 3.5″ color, TFT touch screen which has and anti-glare treatment. Its GPS functionality is also powered by the SirRF Star III GPS receiver which is noted for its faster fix times, higher signal locking and tracking sensitivity and much lower power requirements as compared to other GPS receiver chips.
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Mio’s DigiWalker C220 is introduced by Mio as “stylish and spunky”, which may be so, but, the primary attraction is the low price. Mio’s DigiWalker C220 is Mio’s entry level, pocket sized, GPS navigation device. It’s still a fully functioning GPS device with the same hardware (SiRF Star III GPS receiver) as more expensive models but, without internal memory (SD card instead) or any multimedia capabilities. The SirRF Star III GPS receiver is noted for its faster fix times, higher signal locking and tracking sensitivity and much lower power requirements as compared to other GPS receiver chips.

Mio have not been tempted to save costs with a smaller screen, providing a similar 3.5” size, color, TFT touch screen which has and anti-glare treatment. The resolution is and adequate for the task QVGA (320×240 pixels).
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The Mio DigiWalker C310x, an update of the C310 model, is Mio’s entry-level navigation device. It’s a pocket size device (4″ x 3″ x 0.7″) which at six ounces isn’t going to weigh you down. Despite being an entry level device, the Mio C310x does have the same reliable and accurate 20 channel SiRF Star III GPS receiver which powers more expensive models.

The Mio DigiWalker C310x is intended to provide navigation assistance whether you are on foot, cycling or driving. It is also a digital media device having a built-in MP3 player. The Mio DigiWalker C310x comes ready for use with pre-loaded TeleAtlas U.S. maps (50 states plus Guam and Puerto Rico) stored in 1 GB of internal memory. Navigation can be by address, coordinates or by selecting one of the more than 3.5 million points-of-interest also stored. Personal POI can also be entered into the database.

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From reviews to date the Mio GPS products impress as “value for money”. The Mio P550 GPS PDA only reinforces this impression. The unit has the quick and accurate SiRF III GPS receiver, WiFi (802.11b/g), Bluetooth 2.0, a respectable 400MHz processor and 64MB of SDRAM and 2GB of flash ROM. The memory can be added to using the SD/MMC expansion slot which can accept up cards up to 2GB. The Mio P550 has no phone capabilities.

The Mio P550 GPS PDA comes preloaded, ready for use, with TeleAtlas maps of the United States and Canada. Mio’s MioMap is the navigation software.
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Mio have designed the H610 handheld navigation system to be a helpful companion in negotiating the urban environment. It’s an ideal traveler’s assistant, capable of locating business destinations, restaurants and other points of interest. The included WorldMate Travel Assistant software by Mobimate adds to the usefulness of the device with information-service mini-applications that can help organize and manage travel needs.

The Mio H610 has a 2.7 inch, QVGA (320 x 240 pixels), color, TFT touchscreen which is a reasonable size for a handheld navigation device. Powering the GPS functionality of the H610 is a 20-channel SiRFstarIII GPS Receiver Chipset which has the best performance in comparison to its peers including accuracy and the ability to lock onto GPS satellites even in poor signal reception areas (eg. urban jungles). The rechargeable Li-Ion battery will last 19 hours when the H610 is operating as a music player and 4.5 hours when providing GPS navigation.
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As discussed in our review of SiRF’s SiRFDiRect dead reckoning technology, Mio Technology, Ltd., has announced it’s new Mio A702 Smartphone with SiRFDiRect based Navsteadi(TM) high-precision navigation technology at Computex Taipei 2007. The dead reckoning technology incorporates acceleration sensors which provide dead reckoning data for greater navigational accuracy in weak GPS signal conditions. Previously this technology has only been available with expensive in-dash car GPS navigation systems.

GPS signal strength will improve when new next-generation, Boeing built, GPS Block IIF satellites with increased signal power are launched. The first is to be delivered next year.

The Mio A702 will have Windows Mobile 6 Pro, WiFi, Bluetooth, a MicroSD slot and a 3.2 megapixel camera. A firm specification is not available yet.

Image via newlaunches.

SiRF has introduced its new SiRFDiRect(TM) technology , which delivers to portable navigation devices the navigation accuracy and coverage which has previously only been available with expensive in-dash car GPS navigation systems.

The SiRFDiRect technology integrates the award-winning SiRFstarIII(R) architecture with low-cost, small footprint heading and acceleration sensors which provide dead reckoning data for greater navigational accuracy in weak GPS signal conditions. Significantly, SiRFDiRect technology allows considerable orientation flexibility without performance degradation. To ensure continuous optimum performance, the heading and acceleration sensors and continuously recalibrated by the closely coupled GPS/DR (Dead Reckoning) architecture of SiRFDiRect technology. (read more..)