Jimmy Dodd
09-22-2004, 06:00 PM
<img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-mio168-FrontPage.jpg" /><br /> <br /><b>Product Category:</b> Pocket PC<br /><b>Manufacturer:</b> <a href="http://www.justmio.com">Mitac International Corp.</a><br /><b>Where to Buy:</b> <a href="http://www.justmio.com">Mitac International Corp.</a><br /><b>Price:</b> $499.99 USD<br /><b>Specifications:</b> Intel PXA 255 with 64MB RAM and 32 MB ROM. Integrated GPS module with map software.<br /><br /><b>Pros:</b><li>Built-in NMEA GPS module and mapping software;<br /><li>Big 1350 mAh battery;<br /><li>Mobile accessories kit.<b>Cons:</b><li>No Wi-Fi or Bluetooth;<br /><li>Antenna can be problematic when not in use;<br /><li>Battery is not user-swappable.<b>Summary:</b><br /><br />While GPS solutions for the Pocket PC have existed in the form of connectable devices for some time now, the Mio Digiwalker 168 from Mitac is the first Pocket PC released in the USA with a built-in GPS unit. The combination of GPS, mapping software, and a small size makes for a unique and compelling Pocket PC.<br /><br />Read on for the full review!<!><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>What's in the Package...</b></span><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-mio 168-Contents 1 Small.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 1: Contents of the Mitac Mio 168 package.</i><br /><br />Opening the package results in a virtual cornucopia of accessories including:<br /><li>Mitac Mio 168 Pocket PC;<br /><li>USB ActiveSync cable;<br /><li>AC to DC power adapter;<br /><li>2.5mm ear buds;<br /><li>2-sector (telescoping) stylus;<br /><li>Microsoft Outlook with ActiveSync CD kit;<br /><li>Mio Map software and map CD kit (2);<br /><li>Quick Reference Guide;<br /><li>Car Charger;<br /><li>PDA mounting holster;<br /><li>Glass mounting brace.<br />There are also the usual flyers warning about installing ActiveSync before connecting the Mio 168 to your PC, as well as a packing list and a list of service contacts.<br /><br />The version of ActiveSync included was 3.7, which I already had installed on my PC, so I was able to skip that step. The device had a good charge when it arrived but I withstood the temptation to start playing immediately and topped it off in about twenty minutes time. The manual states that a complete charge takes 3.5 to 4 hours, but on the occasion in which I drained the battery (more on that later) it took considerably less than that.<br /><br /><span><b>...And What Isn't</b></span><br />One of the first things I noticed upon opening the box was that the cradle was missing. I searched through the pile thinking it must be hidden within the wealth of included accessories, but upon reading the packing list I found that Mitac does not include a desktop cradle with the Mio 168. The documentation states that the desktop cradle is available separately, but I could find no reference to it on Mitac's website at the time of this writing. A Mitac representative told me that a cradle for another Mio device will work with the 168 with minor modifications (details of which will be available on the Mitac website). In the meantime, the conjoined USB cable and AC charger perform the job with a single connection point on the device.<br /><br />The second item that I missed was a protective case. For most Pocket PCs this would be a minor hindrance as several third party cases exist for most devices, and if a case for your exact model does not yet exist, several generic cases are close enough in fit and form to work well enough. The Mio 168 is more problematic in this area as although it is a fairly common size unit it has a large "lump" on its back - namely the antenna. Fortunately, at the time of this writing, Mitac is planning on including a slip case with Mio 168 when it officially ships.<br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>The GPS</b></span><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-mio 168-Side Antenna Extended Small.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 2: The Mitac Mio 168 with antenna extended.</i><br /><br />The built-in NMEA GPS is activated via software and can be used with the antenna extended or folded. The manual states that the best reception is obtained with the antenna extended in a horizontal position. Some quick experiments indicate that this is indeed the best position. The antenna pivots easily and locks into the completely folded position for storage. As can be seen in the photos, when closed the antenna is not flush with the back of the unit, so the lock can help prevent inadvertently opening the antenna which could result in damage to it while slipping the unit into a pocket.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-mio 168-satellite_capture.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 3: Satellite acquisition.</i><br /><br />Once the GPS is activated it goes into acquisition mode and checks the signal strength from each of the satellites. This can take a minute or more, depending on how good the signals are. Once signal acquisition is complete the unit is much more forgiving in terms of signal strength. I found that the device had to be mounted on my dash or on a window in order to pass the initial signal check when in a vehicle, but after that it maintained a reliable signal when laying on the passenger seat or on the console. Intermittent tree coverage, bridges, and tunnels didn't disrupt the signal, although, as expected, parking under a metal awning at a gas station caused a total signal loss and required a re-acquisition process to be performed before continuing.<br /><br />The GPS uses com port 2 to communicate the data stream, so any mapping software that can be configured to read NMEA data on port 2 should work. I configured Microsoft Pocket Streets to use the Mio 168's GPS with almost no effort and other GPS client software should work as well.<br /><br /><span><b>Mio Map Console</b></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-Mio 168-Mio Map Console.gif"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-Mio 168-Mio Map Console_resize.gif" /></a> <br /><i>Figure 4: Mio Map Console. (Click on image to see larger image.)</i><br /><br />Of course GPS with no mapping software isn't of much use and the Mio 168 comes complete with a set of maps and tools. The maps, which are included on 2 CDs, cover the USA (including Hawaii, but excluding Alaska) and Canada and total almost 1.5 GB in size. Since most of us aren't running around with an extra gig-and-a-half of free memory on our Pocket PCs the CDs include a desktop application called Mio Map Console that lets you pick and choose from among nine standard maps of areas that you want to install. Changing downloaded maps is easy: you simply select the standard map(s) that you want installed to your Pocket PC and click the Change button. Selected maps are downloaded and formerly downloaded maps that have been unselected are removed. Maps can be downloaded to main memory or a memory card.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-mio 168-Mio Map Console Regional Map.gif"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-mio 168-Mio Map Console Regional Map_resize.gif" /></a> <br /><i>Figure 5: Selecting regional maps with Mio Map Console. (Click on image to see larger image.)</i><br /><br />The standard maps are still rather large, each covering multiple states or all of Canada at as much as 250 MB, so there is a facility for cutting maps and creating custom map areas that can then be downloaded in the same fashion as the standard maps. To create a custom map you simply select the standard map that contains the area you are interested in, and then click Cut Map on the toolbar. This opens up a new window that displays the standard map in more detail and gives a list of subregions that you can select. Most of these are based on state boundaries so it is relatively easy to, for instance, select only Tennessee for download.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-mio 168-cutter.gif"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-mio 168-cutter_resize.gif" /></a><br /><i>Figure 6: Cropping a custom map. (Click on image to see larger image.)</i><br /><br />If the defined subarea is still too large for your needs a cropping tool is provided for manually defining an area to use for a custom map. This tool allows you to select any rectangular region as a map. The maps can be zoomed in for more accurate selection of the desired area, and estimates of the resulting file size are available before creating the map. An address lookup tool and a points of interest tool allow the user to search for a specific address or a POI (such as airports, city halls, ATMs, golf courses, etc.) on the map before cropping. Once the area is selected clicking Cut Map on the toolbar asks for a name and description for the area and then creates the custom map.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-mio 168-Mio Map Console with custom maps.gif"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-mio 168-Mio Map Console with custom maps_resize.gif" /></a> <br /><i>Figure 7: Mio Map Console with custom maps displayed. (Click on image to see larger image.)</i><br /><br />Once a subarea map or custom map is created it shows up in the Console window under My Maps. These maps can be selected and deselected for installation to the Mio 168 just as the standard maps are.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-mio 168-Mio Map Outdated.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 8: Mio Map's outdated maps warning.</i><br /><br />I found the maps of my area to be fairly accurate, although several major road changes made in the last few years weren't included. Coincidentally, during my use of the Mio Map software a dialog box began popping up when I would switch maps, saying that the maps were out of date and directing me to visit the website <a href="www.destinator1.com">www.destinator1.com</a> for map updates. <br /><br />The Destinator Personal Navigation System is the software Mitac rebrands as Mio Map and can be obtained for systems other than the Mio 168, either alone or bundled with one of several GPS devices through the Destinator website. For updates to the maps themselves the Destinator site forwarded me to a site for NAVTECH (Navigation Technologies) who owns the copyright for the map data in Mio Map. The cost of updates to the maps and to the mapping software for owners of the Mio 168 wasn't apparent on either of these sites at the time of this writing, though that may have changed by now. A spokesman for Mitac explained that all updates to the maps would be done through NAVTECH, not through Mitac, and that inquiries should be made through them.<br /> <PAGEBREAK> <br /><span><b>Mio Map and POI</b></span><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-mio 168-Mio Map generic.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 9: Mio Map software.</i><br /><br />Using maps effectively on such a small screen poses a definite challenge. Coupled with the likelihood that the user will be driving an automobile while trying to navigate the user interface and viewing the map makes this doubly so. The Mio Map software provides plenty of features to make it easier to use the software in a difficult scenario. The screen can be scrolled in any direction by an intuitive drag-and-drop method which avoids the use of scroll bars. A thin scroll bar down one side allows for zooming in or out, although its size did pose a challenge while driving. Fortunately, the maps can be set to autoscroll and autozoom which usually means the user will not have to manually adjust them during a trip. Most features of the software are accessed through one of three large pushbutton panels that can be popped up from the menu buttons Destinate, View and Options. These menu items are spaced well enough apart that they can be accessed easily with a finger tip, thus precluding the need for pulling out the stylus. The pushbuttons are also of a size that makes it easy to tap the correct one with only a glance.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-mio 168-Destinate Menu.GIF" /> <br /><i>Figure 10: Mio Map's Destinate menu.</i><br /><br />The Destinate menu gives you several options for selecting destinations for routes. Destinations can be specified from an address, from a list of Points of Interest (which is downloaded as part of the map), from a list of previously saved Favorites, from a list of recent destinations, or from an address stored in the Contacts database. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-mio 168-Mio Drill Down.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 11: Drilling into an address makes selection quicker.</i><br /><br />Selecting addresses or POIs utilizes a drill down feature that minimizes the amount of user input that is required to specify your destination. Selecting from a Contact allows you to choose from the work address, home address, or other address stored in the database. Once the destination is selected, simply tapping Navigate generates the route from the current origin and displays the turn by turn instructions on the screen. Longer trips can be stored as a series of waypoints to navigate to in turn, and roads to be avoided can be selected as well.<br /><br />Mio map also has the ability to record tracks and store them for later playback. Simply hitting record on the Play screen starts the recording process. When the destination is reached simply hit Stop. The data is stored in a file that can be replayed on the map at a later time. The speed of playback can be adjusted up to 3 times the original speed. This is a handy feature if someone is showing you how to get somewhere. You simply record the trip and you can later review all of the turns at your leisure.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-mio 168-Mio Driving Directions.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 12: On screen driving directions.</i><br /><br />Driving directions are given on a turn by turn basis by on screen arrows and/or by voice prompts. The voice prompts are clear and generally give plenty of warning when they are approaching. If two turns occur in quick succession the voice prompt warns of this clearly ("left turn followed by right turn"). A nice feature of the software is that when Mio Map starts it adjusts the volume to the loudest setting which was loud enough to hear in my convertible with the top down. It also sets the backlight to the highest setting - a handy feature since the GPS is usually outside when used. Upon exiting, the software resets the volume and brightness to their original values.<br /><br />If you deviate from the given route the software first tries to redirect you back on course. This usually involves a U-turn or a trip around the block. If you continue off course the software automatically recalculates the route and continues to navigate to the destination.<br /> <br />I had only a few problems with the driving directions, most of which could be attributed to questionable map data on the back roads where I live. What should have been a left hand turn on some "T" intersections were misinterpreted as curves, not turns, but for the most part the driving directions were correct. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-mio 168-Mio Option Menu.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 13: Mio Map Options menu.</i><br /><br />The Options menu allows the selection of which unit system to use (km/h or MPH), the type and amount of information to display on the map (latitude and longitude, velocity and altitude, ETA/ETR, and distance), the map orientation (North is up vs. forward is up) and auto-zoom feature, and whether route planning should prefer shortest routes or quickest routes, and a selection of voice prompts and visual notifications. The latter of which came in handy to turn off the constant warnings of being above the speed limit while driving 65 MPH in a 70 MPH zone. A switch to select Planner mode or Navigation Mode for Routing allows you to create routes without the software constantly shifting the map to your current location.<br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>Mio Map and POI (continued)</b></span><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-mio 168-Mio View Menu.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 14: Mio Map view menu.</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-mio 168-Mio 3D View.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 15: Mio Map 3D view.</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-mio 168-Mio Birds Eye View.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 16: Mio Map bird's eye view.</i><br /><br />The View menu allows maps to be displayed in a two dimensional overhead view (like a paper map), in a three dimensional view (which gives a bit of perspective), and a "bird's eye view" (which is like the three dimensional view but with a higher perspective). There is no elevation on the maps so the three dimensional and bird's eye views don't show land features like hills, but they do give a slightly more realistic view of the road. <br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-mio 168-Mio Night Map.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 17: Mio Map in night colors. The labels and roads really stand out in the dark without blinding you.</i><br /><br />Also, the maps can be toggled between a day color skin and a night color skin. Switching to night color skin displays roads as grey on black which helps to prevent wrecking your night vision while using the device. Specific maps can be selected from the list of loaded maps from the View menu, and three different route views can be selected: Turn-by-turn which allows you to step back and forth through each step of the route, Driving Directions which displays a complete list of each turn in the route, and Show Route which zooms out to show the entire route along with the distance, ETR, and ETA.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-mio 168-gps_settings.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 18: Mio Map GPS settings.</i><br /><br />Because the Mio Map software isn't tied directly to the built-in GPS it is possible to configure it to work with any GPS unit. The COM port and Baud rate are fully user selectable, and the software supports both the NMEA and the SiRF communications protocols. The Find GPS button allows the Mio Map software to search for any attached GPS that communicates within these parameters.<br /><br /><span><b>A Caveat</b></span><br />The Mio Map software prevents the Pocket PC from being inactive so it will not enter sleep mode automatically while in use. This is useful as it avoids the need for manual intervention to keep the Pocket PC active while using the navigation features for an extended period of time. The user must be careful to shut down the Mio Map software when storing the unit, however, as simply turning off the Pocket PC will suspend operations, but will not exit the Mio Map software. If the Pocket PC is configured to enter run mode when a hardware button is pressed, the unit will start up and the Mio Map software will still be running in the background. This will prevent the unit from shutting down until manually made to do so. This can be an issue if you inadvertently turn the unit on while it is stored in a bag or briefcase and return only to find the unit with a drained battery.<br /><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>By the Way, It's A Pocket PC, Too</b></span><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-mio 168-front.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 19: The Mio 168 with the antenna fully extended.</i><br /><br />With all of the interest over the built-in GPS and the included mapping software it is easy to forget that the device is a first-rate Pocket PC. Powered by an Intel PXA 255 with 64MB RAM and 32 MB ROM the Mitac Mio 168 doesn't set any records for speed or storage, but it's no slouch either. It performs most tasks at an acceptable speed, and it includes an SD/MMC slot for expansion. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-mio 168-Sides Stacked Small.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 20: Size comparisons 1 (top to bottom): Mio 168, HP iPAQ h2215, Viewsonic V37. Note the Mio's antenna in the folded position.</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-mio 168-Tops Stacked Small.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 21: Size comparisons 1 (top to bottom): Mio 168, HP iPAQ h2215, Viewsonic V37. Note the Mio (which is face down) is narrower than even the h2215.</i><br /><br />The Mio 168 includes five hardware buttons and, although the review unit's icons were the standard Pocket Outlook images, three are originally set to activate the Mio Map, POI and GPS Status screens. The documentation shows the icons as images related to the Mio Map software so this may be different in the production models. Of course, as usual each button can be mapped to any application you wish. Four of the buttons themselves are arranged in pairs on either side of the D-pad, with the top buttons slightly bigger than the lower buttons. This gives the unit a slightly stylish look without affecting the ease of use of the buttons. The fifth button, by default Record, is located on the left side of the unit below the power switch.<br /><br />The Mio 168 comes standard with a 1350mAh non-replaceable battery that provides exceptional battery life during non-GPS operations. Even with the GPS switched on I was able to use the unit continuously for several hours between charges. Fortunately, Mitac included an auto adapter in the package so as to preclude having to rely on the internal battery while using the unit for navigation during long trips. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-mio168-Back Small.jpg" /> <br /><i>Figure 22: The Mio 168's back, with the antenna in the stored position.</i><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>Sound and Vision</b></span><br />For a Pocket PC to be useful as a mapping solution it needs a screen that works well outdoors and a speaker that can be heard above normal driving conditions. The Mio 168 excels on both points. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-mio 168-Fronts Comparison Small.jpg" /><br /><i>Figure 23: (left to right) Viewsonic V37, Mitac Mio 168, and an HP iPAQ h2215, all at full brightness in a lit room. The Mio 168 has one of the brightest screens available in a Pocket PC.</i><br /><br />With a screen that is at least as bright as the Viewsonic V37 and far brighter than the HP iPAQ h2215, the Mio 168 map display can easily be seen on the brightest of days. Even tooling around in my convertible on a bright summer day was no problem for the Mio 168's vivid display. Likewise, the 168 has the loudest speaker I have ever heard on a Pocket PC. Listening to music with the headphones on required me to set the volume to the lowest level for it to be comfortable. I would have preferred for the volume to have a broader range of settings instead of simply being really loud for every setting but one. However, for the mapping software's driving directions the extreme volume is a plus. Even on the tiny built-in speaker (which is, thankfully, on the front of the device) the directions are remarkably loud and clear. I had no trouble hearing and understanding the directions while driving with the windows down, with the radio on, and even with the convertible top down. <br /><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>Additional Applications</b></span><br />Most Pocket PCs ship with a few unique applications in addition to the standard Windows Mobile suite (Task, Calendar, Pocket Word, etc.) and the Mio contains a few applications from Mitac beyond the mapping software.<br /><br /><span><b>eMenu</b></span><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-mio 168-eMenu.gif" /><br /><i>Figure 24: eMenu software.</i><br /><br />eMenu allows you to set up groups of shortcuts to applications on the device. These groups are displayed as tabbed pages and each can have a specific background image associated with it. Above the tab groups is a special area for system shortcuts. The shortcuts that appear in this area are limited to items specified in a check list and include Inbox, Calendar, Task, Battery, Memory, Time, and Region. Oddly enough only the last two items can be unchecked, as the others are permanently displayed. <br /><br /><span><b>E-Viewer</b></span><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-mio 168-eViewer.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 25: E-Viewer software.</i><br /><br />E-Viewer is a picture viewer/manager application. It is a little more feature rich than the standard Pictures application and makes it easy to move files around via its File Manager-like interface. Still, it is a bit sluggish after opening a couple of images, and I had trouble viewing several larger files that Pictures and the iPAQ Image Viewer have no trouble with. If you deal with a lot of imaging then you will probably want to replace this app with something a bit more feature-rich and robust. <br /><br /><span><b>MP3Player</b></span><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/dodd-mio 168-mp3 player.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 26: MP3Player software, showing equilizer.</i><br /><br />The Mio 168 comes with a built-in MP3 player in addition to the Windows Media player. This MP3 player features a graphic equalizer (with several presets) and includes buttons to disable the screen, set looping options, and a skinnable appearance. Beyond that it doesn't seem to have many features to set it apart from Media Player.<br /><br /><span><b>Mio Utility</b></span><br />The Mio Utility applet resides in the Settings menu and provides some basic information and control on the Mio 168. The device's ROM version, OS version, and unique device ID are given on the first tabbed page, while a second page allows control over the device's battery. Here users can balance their needs for performance versus battery life. The third tabbed page allows the user to configure what events will return the device from suspend mode as well as allowing the SD slot to power down during suspend mode.<br /><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>Conclusions</b></span><br />While the Mio Digiwalker 168 is a fairly average Pocket PC in most respects, the unit really shines for those whose needs include location and navigation services. With a built-in GPS and included mapping software the unit is far cheaper than most Pocket PC/GPS unit combos, and the super-bright screen and the extra loud speaker make the Mio 168 a great unit for outdoor and auto use. With the included 1350 mAh battery and the wealth of accessories geared toward the road as opposed to the desktop the Mio 168 is a great value for those seeking a Pocket PC/GPS solution.