Mio's Moov GPS units hit the States

If you've been waiting on the edge of your seat for Mio's new GPS satnavs to hit the States, it's time to break out the party favors. The PND-maker has just launched its Moov 200, 210, 300, and 310 touchscreen GPS units in the US, all equipped with SiRFstar III chips (with SiRFInstantFix II technology), pre-loaded maps of the US and Puerto Rico, and real-time traffic reports (on the 310 and 210). Prices range from $179.95 for the 3.5-inch 200, up to $249.95 for the 4.3-inch 310, and all four should be available on April 1st.

[Flashpoint @ Mar 24th 2008 9:58AM]

I'mwaiting for the Chinese made Nav units to hit $100 and be available in gas stations. Ultimately maps will be obsoleted but for now, not enough cars have navigation.

I can't tell you what a joy it is to have real time traffic reports on a big navigation screen. It makes the car more enjoyable to drive.

I remember when it was only luxury cars coming with navigation- now even Hyundai has em. Consumer cars even have heated/cooled seats now for less than $30,000.
I guess the next feature cars will need to make them more luxurious is massage chairs.

[samit @ Mar 24th 2008 1:06PM]

Errrr. Why no maps of Canada included?

[Eitel @ Mar 24th 2008 9:58AM]

I take any release on April 1st with a grain of salt.

[Flashpoint @ Mar 24th 2008 10:06AM]

I feel bad for kids bornon April 1st.

[wireless.nemo @ Mar 24th 2008 11:01AM]

Forgive my ignorance, but are these supposed to be any good?

[Dr. Evil @ Mar 24th 2008 11:03AM]

My Mio has served me very well. It's good to see them consistently under-price the big GPS makers. Street prices on these should be even lower.

[Eric @ Mar 24th 2008 11:28AM]

Serious question, since I'm beginning to think about a GPS. What would make me, a Mac user, go for this rather than something from Tom Tom or Garmin?

[NHAnimator @ Mar 24th 2008 11:29AM]

Why do cows need a GPS unit?

[Tony Rayo @ Mar 24th 2008 12:37PM]

I have been considering a GPS unit for my main car for sometime now and the higher up 310 model seems to have everything I could possibly want at a really good price. Just wondering if this unit will last me the next 5 years or so, or should I get a US unit that can be updated with new maps each year?

[anonymouspimp @ Mar 24th 2008 12:51PM]

Where are the little bells and whistles like a music player? Nearly every one of their competitors has one.

[i.c. weiner @ Mar 24th 2008 11:25PM]

who cares?

[anonymouspimp @ Mar 25th 2008 2:12PM]

You don't know much about competing for market share, do you?

i.c.weiner: "Here's my new product! It has less features than our competitors and it even costs the same!"

consumer: "Thanks i.c.weiner, I've been waiting for a product with less features to come out! Here's my money!"

[Vagrant @ Mar 24th 2008 2:04PM]

An older Mio model has worked fine for me. As previously noted, their pricing is aggressive.

[VicD @ Mar 24th 2008 4:00PM]

Why do automobile OEMs charge something like $1500 for navigation systems when you can buy higher-end up-to-date GPS systems for less than a third of the price? I swear, car dealers have even less credibility with me after one of them pushed for the option when I went car shopping last weekend.

[Jimmy Jones @ Mar 24th 2008 4:26PM]

Not sure I'll buy from Mio again.......My Mio C520t (just 6 months old) has been having "Fatal Error ....." frequently l8ly..and I'm just fed up.

Time to move onto Magellan or other brands..that are reliable.

[Jim Cropcho @ Mar 24th 2008 4:44PM]

actually, not just good for car drivers. gps units with audio output work much better for cyclists. just plug that into one ear, and it's like you've got a navigator sitting next to you.

[TIMMAH! @ Mar 24th 2008 9:14PM]

Mio makes some really nice hardware (I had a C310X, and a C220.) It's too bad their map data is the suck. All the GPSs that I've had using NavTeq data were much better than the Mios (Dell Axim running Routis, Garmin C330 and i3, Magellan 700 series, and Intellnav C2).

[Carl @ Mar 25th 2008 6:07AM]

Yay for maps of Holyhead, UK, on Engadget!

[Chris @ Mar 25th 2008 9:06AM]

And the firmware looks exactly the same as the one on my Navman S30. Huh?!

[NavMac @ Mar 25th 2008 5:57PM]

there is no Mc desktop for Navman nor Mio. Tom Tom and Garmin both have Mac desktop clients so ou can load maps, and update what ever else they have on there.

[George @ Mar 27th 2008 4:52PM]

Tomtom Go 720 has open source map corrections in mapshare...no other gps maker offers this.