Mio's C620 and C620t PNDs Take GPS Navigation Into Full 3D Mode

I don't really know what's with some of the consumer electronics manufacturers out there, but quite a lot of them have the very bad habit of announcing a very hot product and then leaving the poor consumers to "boil" for a few months (and sometimes, up to a year) before actually making available the respective device through their retail channels. And the latest example of such a marketing strategy comes from Mio Technology, who has finally decided to ship its C620 and C620t PNDs, after announcing them way back in August, at IFA 2007.

Although the devices are also relatively interesting on their own, their most important selling point (by far) is the fact that they run the new Mio 2008 mapping software, which includes around one thousand 3D landmarks, as well as digital elevation mapping to depict the local landscape, thus providing the motorist with a true 3D view of the road ahead. However, this wouldn't be possible without a good GPS receiver, and that's why the PNDs also incorporate SiRF Star III chipsets.

Furthermore, the Mio C620 and C620t feature the very latest Tele Atlas maps, as well as Mio's split-screen interface (displayed on the 4.3-inch TFT LCD display), which allows the user to view local points of interest and critical journey information, such as the next three turns and time or distance to destination alongside the full map. Moreover, the C620t model also features a built-in TMC receiver, which enables the reporting of any possible problems (accidents, adverse weather, etc.) awaiting on the road ahead.

The new PNDs from Mio Technology also provide certain multimedia and communications functions. Thus, the C620 and C620t sport integrated MP3 player and photo-viewer modules, as well as a Bluetooth module, which can be used for turning the PNDs into speakerphones.

Unfortunately, no pricing details have been issued for the time being, but these things will most likely come with some pretty hefty price tags (although we'll be paying for the software rather than the actual features).

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