Maps Mio Moov 200
. Pros Inexpensive.
20-channel SiRFstarIII receiver. Multisegment routing. Text-to-speech conversion. Strong language support. Cons Lacks vehicle profiles. Slow and limited POI search capabilities. Bottom Line The Mio Moov 200 is a good GPS value and provides a solid feature set for an entry-level navigation device.
Better POI performance would make it an undisputed budget winner. At the CeBIT trade show in March, Mio announced its new line of 'Moov' navigation devices. The previous generation of Mio products, all branded under the name DigiWalker, were powered by the company's version of Nav N Go's iGO software. (We've reviewed a number of these devices, including the fully-loaded, the moderately priced wide-screen and the entry-level 3.5-inch screen.) The new Moov devices are powered by in-house software developed using technology from Navman, a GPS company Mio acquired last year. As a result, the interface on Mio devices has changed considerably. Although I like some of the differences, especially the Moov's new text-to-speech conversion, multi-segment routing, and multiple language support, the company has taken a step backward in the way it presents points of interest (POI) information. And on our tests, the Moov 200 was sluggish with POI searches.
The Moov line consists of four products, all of which have the same core features, the only differences being screen size and live traffic data access. At the entry-level price you'll find the $179.95 Moov 200, the subject of this review, which features a 3.5-inch display. The next step up is the Moov 210, which runs to $199.95.
Amazon.com: Mio Moov 200 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Text-To-Speech. And Europe Maps.
It's identical to the 200 but throws in live traffic reports as part of the deal. At $229.95, the sports a larger 4.3-inch widescreen.
The top-of-the-line model, the, is identical to the 300 but, like the 210, includes live traffic informationa feature that makes the 210 and 310 much better deals. For $20 more you get a built-in live traffic receiver plus a one-year subscription to real-time traffic data. Thereafter, the traffic subscription is $60 per year. None of the models in the Moov line come with a ton of bells and whistles. They don't have, for example, the media players found on many of the older DigiWalker products. Nor do they have Bluetooth phone interfaces. Measuring 3.3 by 4.9 by 0.7 inches (HWD), the Moov 200 weighs in at 5 ounces.
It's on a par with the thinnest devices on the market, such as the and. In the package you get a standard suction-cup mount, a DC power-connector cable, an adhesive disk for dashboard mounting, a printed quick-start guide, and a USB cable. The included CD contains a user manual as well as the MioMore desktop application, which lets you install new maps as updates become available and add new voices onto the device. The unit features a conventional 3.5-inch, 320-by-240-pixel anti-glare screen, which is quite viewable even in direct sunlight. You also get a sensitive 20-channel SiRFstarIII receiver with, a technology that reduces the satellite acquisition time on a warm start of the device. The only hardware control is a three-position On/Off/Reset switch located on the top of the box. The touch screen is used for all other input.
Powered by Tele Atlas map data, the device includes maps for just the 50 states and Puerto Rico. If you're traveling to Canada, or, for that matter, living there, none of the current Moov devices will do you much good. Though its maps are limited, this GPS offers strong built-in language support: Each of the 17 languages to choose from comes with multiple voice options.
You also get text-to-speech capability, a handy feature that pronounces street names. Though the Moov 200 lacks vehicle profiles and modes, such as car, truck, or pedestrian, it does let you set preferences for the route type (shortest or fastest and use of freeways). You can also choose to avoid or receive warnings for toll or unpaved roads and ferry routes. Other options include which POI categories to display, type of keyboard (QWERTY or alphabetic), screen brightness, and map color schemes (there are ten options). A demonstration mode and a tutorial can be found on the Preferences menu.
Mio Moov 200 Update
The Moov 200 gives you traditional 2D and 3D views. You set your preference for the 2D view (North up or track up) in the Preferences menu.
Mio Moov 200 Map Update
Thereafter, you can easily toggle between views using the compass icon. The main map view has a menu icon in the lower left corner. In the center of the bottom of the screen, the Moov displays the current street name and addressextremely useful when you're looking for a particular house number. Within an active route, you can see a trip overview or get turn-by-turn directions with a tap of the compass. Your next turn is displayed at the top of the screen along with a graphic showing distance and the direction of your next maneuver. For on-the-road testing, I used the Moov 200 on my standard local routes and for several days in Phoenix, Arizona. The directions generated were good, though slightly different from ones suggested by the that I used simultaneously.
Mio Moov 200 Accessories
Instructions with street names were given at appropriate intervals, and route recalculation times for a missed turn were acceptable. Like Mio's previous entry-level product, the DigiWalker C220, the Moov 200 features a 3.5-million-entry POI database, but the way it handles POIs is disappointing. You can search for POIs by name or by city/area, or search for nearby POIs by category (parks, restaurants, and such).
By contrast, all three of the DigiWalker devices offer more search choices, so it's easier to find your POI. Additionally, when you search by name with the Moov 200, results are presented alphabetically by city name rather than by distance, which isn't as useful. And there aren't any POI subcategories, so although I could search for nearby restaurants, I couldn't specify Italian or Chinese. POI handling was sluggish, too. When I selected 'Search Nearby,' the device took a long 18 seconds to display the keyboard. The unit also coughed up all of the nearby POIs before presenting the keyboard to enter a search. The Moov 200, together with its more expensive siblings, represents a new direction for Mio.
It offers both text-to-speech and multisegment routingfeatures not often found on entry-level devicesat a price plenty of people will appreciate. Even so, although I like these new abilities and the device's ultra-sensitive GPS receiver, finding POIs with the revamped interface proved difficult and time-consuming. Yet, while I'd like to have additional POI options, text-to-speech conversion is a more important, 'must have' feature. For those on a tight budget, the Moov 200, at under $200, is definitely worth considering. More GPS Reviews: .