Mio Technology, manufacturer of portable navigation devices, today announces european availability of the C210. With the following features – all for 299€ – entry-level sat-nav need no longer mean compromising on performance:
- Full touch-screen entry and seven digit postcode recognition
- Full local Mapping and major roads of Europe with optional upgrades covering 24 European countries via the memory card slot (SD/MMC, up to 2 GB)
- TMC compatibility for live traffic updates and suggested alternative routes to avoid congestion (requires additional receiver)
- Safety camera database built in to alert drivers of camera locations, ability to add new cameras and with free database updates for one year
- Thousands of Points of Interest searchable by location, category or name, with an option to add your own
- Audio and visual speed limit warnings for every road in the country
- Crystal clear 65,000 colour touch screen with intuitive interface for extremely simple operation
- The latest SiRFstarIII GPS receiver for quick start up and accurate fixes in built up areas
Simple user experience
With a touch-screen interface and Mio’s latest predictive and intuitive navigation software – Mio Map version 3 – finding and navigating to a destination has never been easier. The C210 even provides a help section with explanations of features and functions, obtained by simply pressing the question mark in the top right of the screen. The C210 can provide visual and audio instructions in 16 languages while maps of 24 European countries are available from the Mio online shop and can be installed on the device via the 2 GB SD memory card slot.
Users can enter a full postcode for direct navigation. Navigating without postcodes is just as easy – as each letter of an address is entered the C210 narrows down the options into a list so the user can simply identify their destination. Navigating to work or home is even more straightforward – once these addresses have been stored in the device pressing the work or home button begins navigation. A destination history list allows the user to navigate to previously visited destinations by simply selecting from a list.
For detailed journey planning the C210 provides a step by step overview which the user can review and amend before setting off, meaning journeys don’t contain any un-expected surprises. If the journey is to be completed on foot the C210 can be used as a handheld device in pedestrian mode, conversely there are modes for large vehicles or caravans which avoid narrow streets and low bridges.
Thousands of Points of Interest (POI’s) – including restaurants, petrol stations and other local attractions – can be searched for by name, category or location meaning that the C210s usefulness doesn’t end when the engine’s turned off. The C210 will not only find a local restaurant or bar in an unfamiliar town but also guide the user there by foot. Additional POI’s can be downloaded from the Internet and added to the C210 via the USB lead.
Safety Camera Warnings
A number of key safety features have been built in to the C210, including a database of safety camera locations with free downloadable updates for the first year and the ability for users to enter additional safety camera locations should users find them. Users are given an audio and visual warning as they approach a safety camera location. If several users identify the same new camera location Mio will then verify the camera and make their locations available for all registered owners to download.
Avoiding traffic congestion
The C210 is the perfect device to help drivers avoid congestion with support for the Traffic Messaging Channel (TMC) system. With an optional TMC antenna plugged in, the C210 will receive live updates of traffic problems and hotspots and either automatically plan a new route to avoid problem areas or provide the user with a choice of a new route or continuing on the original route. In addition, there is also a taxi mode designed to take the user on short-cuts across towns and cities.
Safer motoring
The C210 provides a reminder of the speed limit of the current road and optional audio and visual warnings should this be exceeded. In addition to this there is an optional display lock which detects if the vehicle is in motion and prevents users interacting with the device, ensuring that users pull over before adjusting the settings or destination.
No performance compromise
With the latest SiRFstarIII GPS receiver, a 400 MHz processor and touch screen destination entry, the C210 offers performance and functionality previously only found in devices twice the cost. Yet is compact enough to be carried in a coat pocket or hand bag and weighs only 110g. The C210 has a crystal clear 2.7" LCD screen supporting 65,000 colours and runs on 4 X AA batteries which provide over 4.5 hours of navigation on foot with the backlight on and GPS function at full power. An in- car charger provides the C210 with power when the user is on the road.
Pricing and accessories
The Mio C210 has a recommended retail price of 299 € and is available in a variety of European high-street and online retailers. Included in the box is a USB lead for updating maps, POI’s and the speed camera database, a car charger, a windscreen mount and a dash board mounting kit. Optional accessories available from the Mio online store include additional maps of 24 European countries, a bike mounting kit and a Traffic Messaging Channel antenna
[Source: www.mio-tech.be]