Mio 168 GPS Pocket PC

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.mobileplanet.com/private/pocketpcthoughts/product.asp?dept%5Fid=2621&pf%5Fid=MP970000&listing=1' target='_blank'>http://www.mobileplanet.com/private...70000&listing=1</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/MP970000.gif" /><br /><br />"The Mio 168s amazing GPS capabilities gets a fix on your position within a few seconds, even if you've just come out of a tunnel or parking garage, to keep you on track towards your destination. And even when you're not driving, the portable Mio 168 can present you with street directions as soon as you come out of a subway, so you'll never need to worry about losing your way.<br /><br />The Mio 168 uses a TFT LCD screen, providing benefits-such as clear visibility in strong light, high brightness and contrast, superior clarity, and exceptionally crisp image quality-that traditional STN or other 4096-color low-end color displays cannot match. The Mio 168 also integrates LED backlighting technology that protects your eyes through brighter, more uniformly illuminated screen images, while conserving power to extend battery life.<br /><br />The integrated GPS design of the Mio 168 spares you the need to buy multiple devices. You know immediately where you are without having to thumb through bulky map books or foldout maps. The Mio 168 uses Microsofts Pocket PC 2003 operating system, and with its sleek, ultra-light form factor, it's the ideal PDA, in addition to being the perfect GPS navigation system when youre behind the wheel."<br /><br />Pretty cool stuff for those of you who are hardcore about your GPS - this device even includes a car charger! ;-) [Affiliate]

[dma1965]

What are the specs? Has anyone reviewed this device? Does it come with mapping software ? If yes, what software? How is the battery life ? Inquiring minds want to know !

[Jason Dunn]

What are the specs? Has anyone reviewed this device? Does it come with mapping software ? If yes, what software? How is the battery life ? Inquiring minds want to know !

It's all on the Mobile Planet listing...just click on through. :wink:

******

Antenna: Flip-up integrated GPS patch antenna

Operating system: Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC

Processor: 300MHz XScale

Display: 3.5 in Color Transflective LCD, LED Backlight; 240 x 320 resolution, 65K colors

Memory: 64MB SDRAM; 32MB ROM

Dimensions:4.4" x 2.7" x .64"

Weight: 5.2 oz

Battery: Rechargeable 1350 mAh Lithium-lon non-swappable battery, up to 12 hours usage time without GPS functions on.

Indicator:
LED 1 ( Dual Color )

Battery Charging Amber ( Static )
Battery Full- Green ( Static )
LED 2 ( Single Color )

Notification Red ( Blinking )
Buttons/Switch: Power; 4 Programmable; 4-way joystick; voice recording; hardware reset switch; system reset button

Expansion Slot: One SD slot, SDIO capable

Input/Output:

Touch Panel: Resistive type Touch panel
Input Method: Stylus pen / On-Screen Keyboard / Handwriting Recognition
Microphone: Built-in type microphone x 1 (Mono)
Speaker: Built-in type speaker x 1
Headphone: 2.5mm Mini jack x 1
USB: USB 1.1 (Client) for ActiveSync
Infrared: SIR (30 cm, 115.2kbps)
Audio: Voice Recording (Mono); MP3 Playback support (Software)

Software: Professional Navigation MioMap (Please note: Alaska maps are not included)

Package contents: Mio 168; USB sync cable; AC adapter; stylus; car charger, protective holster; glass mount; quick reference guide; manual.

Warranty: Two year limited

******

[Pat Logsdon]

Looks like a decent device! I found this review of the unit (http://www.pdamobiz.com/show_news.asp?NewsID=12366) on a Thailand-based PDA site. From reading the review and looking over the specs, I'm not too happy about the 300mhz processor, but the GPS is top-notch - it uses a SiRF chipset. I'm not sure what the "MioMap" software is, though. From the screenshots in that review, it doesn't look like it's rebranded.

[24va]

I can live without two memory slots, but a non-removable battery is a MAJOR bummer for me.

[disconnected]

This unit isn't exactly what I'm looking for, but it makes me want to add built-in GPS as a nice thing to have on whatever my next PPC will be. I have a bluetooth GPS unit now, which is fine in the car (probably preferable, because you can put it near the windshield), but having it built in would be very cool when walking around a city that I'm visiting.

[Anthony Caruana]

What are the specs? Has anyone reviewed this device? Does it come with mapping software ? If yes, what software? How is the battery life ? Inquiring minds want to know !

I've got one of these and it's pretty cool. Benchmark wise (using Spb Benchmark) it runs pretty closely with the iPAQ 2210. The GPS is nice. It ships with a car mount as well as charger and there is an external antenna option.

With a faster CPU and removeable it would be a killer device. As it is it's based on the lowest end Mio and just adds the GPS.

The inbuilt MioMap app is not avaialble on all releases. North American buyers get the MioMap with maps of North America (I believe that they are based on/the same as Destinator..but I'm not 100% sure) Some Asian markets get maps of some Asian cities as well North America. I'm in Australia, and ours don't have any maps. It will be up to local distributors to bundle maps if they wish to.

I'll keep my 2210 as my main device and my wife will use the 168. Now, all I;ve got to do is stop her from turning the deive around to read the maps.