Miss Direction

(Credit: Mio)

In mid-December, Magellan entered into a definitive agreement to sell its consumer products division to Taiwanese-based MiTAC International Corporation, which owns Mio Technology. The news was unexpected and at the time, there were questions about what would happen to the Magellan GPS brand. Fear not, Magellan fans, it will continue to exist along with its Maestro, RoadMate, and Triton product lines.

(Credit: Magellan)

On Tuesday, MiTAC finalized the purchase of Magellan and the new entity will be called MiTAC Digital Corporation. However, the Mio and Magellan brands will continue to operate independently in the United States but will share technology expertise. In addition, Mio revealed that while it will still offer in-car GPS, the company will move forward to develop a number of GPS-based lifestyle products that extend beyond portable navigation devices. Hmm, does anyone else smell GPS-enabled smartphones or is that just me?

(Credit: Magellan)

On Monday, Magellan Navigation Inc., entered into a definitive agreement to sell its consumer products division to Taiwanese-based MiTAC International Corporation and expects the transaction to be finalized by January 2009, though no specifics were given about the financial terms. As part of the package, MiTAC, which also owns Mio Technology, makers of the Mio Knight Rider GPS and the the Mio C520, will inherit the Magellan RoadMate and Maestro series of portable navigation devices and the Triton series of handheld GPS.

Though Magellan still has a decent retail presence in the United States and comes in third to Garmin and TomTom, the company has been slow to come out with new products and hasn't been able to keep up with the big two in terms of features, innovation, or support. Meanwhile, Mio has struggled with brand recognition in the States. Just how the two companies will integrate remains to be seen, but GPS Business News believes that MiTAC will do away with the Mio brand and build on Magellan's name and customer base. This would probably make the most sense, but either way, it's going to be an uphill battle.

(Official press release: Magellan)

With all the iPhone hysteria, I missed last week's Q&A--shame on me. Fortunately, the dust has mostly settled, so I'm getting back on track. And believe it or not, this week's question isn't about the iPhone 3G and its GPS capabilities--mostly because I haven't had the opportunity to try it out yet--but I could also use the iBreak. So let's get on with it, shall we?

Q: I need a unit that I can plug 10 to 15 addresses into and it will map out a route hitting all the addresses in the most efficient and orderly manner. Am I dreaming? --Annette via e-mail

A: 'Tis no dream, Annette. There are quite a number of portable navigation systems that support multidestination routing, even up to 15 stops. All the major manufacturers, including Magellan, TomTom, and Garmin, offer models with this functionality. Typically, there are two methods for creating these multistop itineraries. First, you can plan a trip from point A to point B like you normally would and then go back and add "Via Points" to that route. Alternatively, some models offer a Trip Planner (or Itinerary Planning--the name of the tool differs from brand to brand) where you can input all your stops at once and save and name your trip for use later.

As for routing, Magellan and Garmin offer route optimization, which should give you the most efficient course, but I'd double-check the directions before taking off. I've read that some systems are smarter than others. Unfortunately, TomTom does not have this feature at all. Keeping that in mind, Annette, here are several product recommendations. I'm not sure what your budget is for buying a new GPS, but I've tried to give you a good range here.

Garmin Nuvi 760
Magellan Maestro 4250
TomTom GO 720
Mio C520

I'd also invite the readers to pass along any suggestions. After all, you guys use these devices day in and day out, and I want this to be an open forum. Also, keep those questions coming!

This past weekend word leaked out that Mio Technology had a Knight Rider-themed GPS in the works, and now we can officially say that it's real. Since we were bound by NDA (nondisclosure agreement) till now, we couldn't really spill the full details when the news broke (please don't get me started on this) on Friday afternoon, but the floodgates are open now.

The Knight Rider GPS will indeed feature the voice of William Daniels (aka KITT), and there will be a database of names so you can customize the device to have KITT personally greet and talk to you (provided that your name is included). As far as navigation features, the specs will be similar to the Mio Moov 310/300, minus the real-time traffic. The portable navigation system is expected to ship on August 8 for $269.

Mio actually stopped by our office with a prototype of the Knight Rider GPS and was brave enough to leave it with us for a couple of hours. The video to the right shows what ensued. For the record, this is quite possibly the most embarrassing video I have ever shot (also they didn't have "Bonnie" in the name database, so we used "Katherine" for our lovely First Look shooter and editor. On another note, how do you not have Bonnie when one of the main characters of the Knight Rider TV show was named Bonnie? Sorry, I digress.), but we were just trying to capture the fun of the device. The voice of KITT and the flashing LEDs are certainly gimmicky, but it's still a blast to use and hopefully, it'll deliver on the performance front when we get a final unit in for a road test.

Mio Knight Rider GPS

(Credit: Engadget Mobile)

If you ever dreamed as a child (or as an adult) of owning a car like KITT of Knight Rider fame, you're dream is about to come true...sort of. Unless you're rolling in money, you can't have the actual Trans Am or David Hasselhoff, but you can have the next big thing. Word on the street is Mio Technology is prepping to release a Knight Rider-themed portable navigation system that uses the actual voice of William Daniels (the actor who provided the voice of KITT) to present you with audible directions. KITT's soothing voice will also greet you with various phrases such as "Hello Michael, where would you like to go today?" and the device features LED "scanner" lights. The Mio Knight Rider GPS is expected to ship in a few months for about $270 to $300. Details are still trickling in, but here is a little roundup of what's out in the blogosphere:

Engadget
Autoblog
Gizmodo
Ubergizmo

(Credit: GPS Business News)

Mio Technology is hoping to take GPS to new places, more specifically, beyond the car. At Computex 2008 (Asia's largest technology trade show), Mio unveiled a new concept product called the "PND (portable navigation device) camera" that integrates a GPS radio into a digital camera. Details and specs are pretty light at the moment, but according to GPS Business News, the device will feature a 3.5-inch touch screen and with the two integrated technologies, the camera will be able to geotag your photos.

Now, this isn't a completely novel idea. We've seen GPS modules that you can add to cameras, such as the Pharos Trips & Pics and the Sony GPS-CS1KA, to get this functionality. However, Mio's device aims to do away with extra accessories and let you carry just one do-it-all gadget. No word on when the camera will be available and even if it will make its way to the States, but perhaps SiRF Technology founder Kanwar Chadha's prediction is coming true? Will 2008 be the year where we see major manufacturers integrate GPS into digital cameras? And do you think this is a good idea?

(Credit: Mio Technology)

While we weren't entirely in love with the Dash Express portable navigation device (PND), it certainly set off a trend of connected GPS devices. First, Magellan announced its Maestro Elite 5340+GPRS at CES 2008 and now Mio Technology announced its plans for a connected GPS at CTIA 2008.

Partnering up with the ATX Group, an automotive telematics service provider, the two companies are developing a PND that will provide real-time content and services. With the mobile Internet connection, the GPS device will be able to provide you with weather information based on your current location or planned destination, traffic updates, and local business searches. Mio expects to ship these new connected PNDs during the second half of the year.

You heart Garmin

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)

When you think of GPS, what brand name comes to mind? Would it happen to be Garmin? Because according to a new study by marketing research firm BrandIntel, Garmin is the most discussed portable navigation system and holds the best overall sentiment score with consumers. But it shouldn't get too comfortable or complacent, because TomTom, Magellan, Mio, and Lowrance are hot on its heels.

Based on an analysis of search results from "online consumer communities" (i.e., blogs, forums, and so forth) across the Web during July 2006 to August 2007, BrandIntel's GPS Navigation Systems Report found that Garmin made up 42 percent of the 7,000 consumer mentions, while TomTom was a distant second with 15 percent. Magellan garnered 13 percent of the results; Mio had 10 percent; Lowrance scored 5 percent; and 12 percent went to other vendors. However, the competition gets fierce when it comes to customer sentiment scores. Once again, Garmin took top honors with a 3.9, while Magellan, Mio, Lowrance, and TomTom were all close with scores of 3.7, 3.6, 3.6, and 3.5, respectively.

Garmin lead the pack for its functionality, features, ease of use, and appeal, but price seemed to be a sticking point, which I can understand. I find that even its entry-level models, such as the Garmin Nuvi 200, are overpriced for what they offer, especially when you compare them to the competition like the Mio DigiWalker C230. Speaking of which, Mio as well as Lowrance got kudos for their displays and touchscreen functionality. Other findings of the study reveal that map software, Bluetooth, and MP3 compatibility are all key features consumers consider when buying portable navigation systems.

I found several points of this report interesting. First, it really doesn't surprise me that Garmin and TomTom are the two most discussed GPS companies. They have the brand recognition, offer some of the broadest range of in-car GPS, and are the most aggressive in terms of advertising. Meanwhile, Magellan and Lowrance have a loyal following of customers but seem to rely more on word of mouth for advertising and discussion. And I've said this before, but in my opinion, Mio is an up-and-comer that could give the big boys a run for their money. Yes, Mio's presence and reputation for customer service in the States isn't the strongest, but it's ramping up those efforts. More than anything, though, the company offers solid products with a good set of features at an affordable price--yeah, it's that simple.

TomTom

(Credit: TomTom)

What I found particularly surprising is that TomTom was at the bottom of the list for consumer sentiment. I've always found TomTom's GPS easy to use, sleek, fairly priced, and capable navigators. Plus, I like that the company concentrates on bettering the navigation functions, rather than adding superfluous features. And while we're on the topic, MP3 compatibility? Really? You want this on your GPS device? I just don't see the need.

So with all that said, I'd love to hear from you. Who is your favorite GPS manufacturer and why? Which features are on your ultimate wish list? Why is TomTom not feeling the love? Let me know!

Mio DigiWalker C720t

(Credit: Mio )

It seems like there's a new company hopping on the GPS bandwagon every week, trying to loosen the grip that big boys Garmin, TomTom, and Magellan have on the market. Truth be told, these three companies have been in the industry for a while, and they know what they're doing, so these newcomers have a tough task ahead of them. However, we've been pretty impressed with one company in particular: Mio Technology. With the exception of the Mio C220, which had a horrible screen, it has consistently churned out some solid portable navigation systems and always packs in a good value for the price. Today, Mio continues that tradition with the announcement of three new products: the Mio DigiWalker C230, the Mio DigiWalker C320, and the subject of this blog, the Mio DigiWalker C720t.

There a number of cool things about the Mio C720t. First, it has a really sleek design similar to the Mio C520 and boasts a 4.3-inch touch screen. It also has a built-in 2-megapixel camera with zoom, so you can take pictures and geotag them with location coordinates. You can then use them as photo points of interest (POI) or share them with others. We've seen this feature before on the Navman iCN 750, but the C720t takes the cake with a better lens and slimmer form factor. That said, we have yet to test out this feature so we'll stop with the praises there. The unit also ships with a vehicle mount that has an integrated Traffic Message Channel receiver, and you get three months of free traffic service from Clear Channel. Other highlights include Bluetooth, maps of Mexico, text-to-speech functionality, and 12 million POI. The Mio DigiWalker C720t should be in stores by early October and will retail for about $599.