Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Decent GPS Unit Let Down By Software Crashes, October 27, 2007
For a brief summary of this review, please scroll to the end.
Mio C720t Review:
First of all, allow me to begin by explaining something important about GPS systems... they are not 100% accurate all of the time. However, they do considerably reduce the amount of decision making required when driving. In fact, I would say that they do their job about 90% of the time, which isn't too bad if you think about it. The remainder is left for you to make snap judgments based on your own knowledge and instincts of the open road. These are decent odds if you like to keep your mind focused more on driving safely to your chosen destination.
With that in mind, what can the Mio C720t offer for you? Well, its navigation system seems to be very reliable. I have had the unit now for just under a month, and it has served well in getting me from `A' to `B.' I have tested it with my knowledge of the local roads, and so far it has done pretty good. My only other experience with a GPS system prior to this one was with a Tom Tom Go 720 (the magic number, apparently) which was OK but wasn't ready for release at the time. With the Mio, the mapping system is fantastic, and offers an auto-zoom function for junctions and intersections so that you can negotiate them clearly. I found this feature to be very handy indeed! In addition, the split-screen function was clear and informative... you can switch between different displays next to the map depending on what information you are trying to access. The first option shows you the basic details of your journey, including turn directions, current time, estimated arrival time, distance covered and remaining journey time, plus your speed. The second option displays the closest POI's (Points Of Interest) along with contact details and a brief description. Let me add that this unit packs in 12 million POI's, which is apparently more than any other GPS system out there! The third option gives you details of the closest local traffic problems. The fourth option lists the next four directions of your current journey, so that you can plan ahead, if need be. My only small gripe with the maps is that the color of the route by default is orange, and the interstates, when viewed from an angle, are red. Naturally, those colors look very similar unless you squint at the screen.
Speaking of which, the screen quality is outstanding, although you will have to go into the display options and maximize the brightness to really appreciate the clarity. In fact, you will find that that although Mio claims that the unit is "ready to go out of the box," in reality, you will need to change some of the settings to optimize the performance of the C720t, including the adequate text-to-speech function (which wasn't the default voice). Navigating the device is not as user-friendly as some of the other GPS units that I have seen, so if you are yearning for something that is a breeze to use, then you might be disappointed. The Mio takes some learning to navigate, especially with the settings and menus, but if you have a little bit of patience then it certainly pays off. As for routing and directions, you can select a destination by typing in an address, which is really simple, considering that the database will only reveal the remaining letters that are available as you spell. You can also search through the POI database by using the same method, which is very handy, and with such a high volume in the system you are very likely to find what you are looking for. In fact, I have been using the POI database like a directory to find a lot of my business and retail-based destinations, with the option of calling them directly when my phone is connected via Bluetooth (more about that later).
*For the record, the C720t is basically the C520 with a few added extras. And, unfortunately, like the C520 the software will crash occasionally. If you think that this is going to be a major issue for you then I suggest that you look elsewhere*
Allow me to move onto the extras that the Mio C720t offers. As well as an MP3 player and a video player, this is one of the first GPS units to offer a digital camera. The camera is 2.0 mega-pixels, which takes decent enough pictures and videos. However, the camera feature doesn't cease there... it also records the co-ordinates of where the picture was taken so that you can upload it to sites like Google Maps for sharing with the rest of the world, as well having the option later of being redirected back to the very spot where the picture was taken. The camera can also double as a business card reader by taking a picture of a business card and routing the information to your contact list. I have not tried this feature yet, so I cannot comment on its functionality, but it sounds cool! Going back to the MP3 player, my biggest issue with this unit is that I cannot play MP3s when I am using the map software. I was hoping that I could play music from this baby at the same time as following directions, but apparently this isn't possible. Oh, and if you want more details about the movie player function, I will simply say that it is good enough, but nowhere near the standard of an iPhone or iTouch. I would certainly only use the Mio for this feature if I had no other options available or wanted to travel lightly.
The C720t also comes equipped with a Bluetooth feature, which allows you to make hands-free calls to your compatible cell phone. I was very impressed with this function, and unlike the Tom Tom I could hear the other caller fairly clearly through the powered speaker on the cradle. Apparently, they could hear me OK, too! You can even export your contacts from your phone to the device, which was great, but for some reason the Mio never gives you the caller ID of an incoming call, even if it is in the contacts list (it just displays the number).
As for the traffic feature, it has proved to be handy so far. The map will change the warning roads to blue, and will automatically reroute you around the trouble spots. Is it reliable, I hear you ask? Well, it's difficult to answer that question because I am always being directed away from the roads where there is supposed to be heavy traffic, so I rarely get to see what I am actually being diverted from. I guess that I will just have to trust the Mio on that call! Let me warn you, however, that to use the traffic feature you will need to have your unit wired up to the eyeballs! First of all, the traffic data is received through an FM traffic receiver cable, which needs to be suctioned to your windshield (basically, you are going to have a curly wire running from the back of the unit to the top corner of your windshield). Also, the device will have to be powered, as you cannot use the traffic service on the internal battery. So, you will either have to live with stray wires running around your cockpit, or you can do what I did and have it professionally installed. Just so you know, I had everything fitted at Best Buy and it cost me about $82. But, it was worth it! The traffic subscription is free for the first three months, and after that, it costs $60 for an annual service.
What else do you get in the box for your money? Well, the Mio comes with a handy case, a very sturdy mount and cradle (compared to other GPS units), a USB cable, a car charger, a wall charger, and a CD-ROM with some basic software. My only concern so far is that I cannot seem to find a way of keeping my device updated using the internet, but hopefully that will be resolved in the future. On a brighter note, I have just discovered that Mio will soon be offering maps of other parts of the world, which will be sold in the form of SD cards to plug directly into your device.
When everything is functioning properly, I am very satisfied with abilities of the Mio C720t. It is a feature-packed unit that is almost half the price of the equivalent Garmin, and worth every penny. However, Mio still haven't worked out the system crashes, which were problematic on its little bother, the C520. So, the device will unexpectedly restart when you are following directions, which can be a problem if it happens at an inconvenient point along your route. I would say, on average, that the software restarts itself between 3 and 4 times a day. Reading the reviews of the C520, I noticed that some folks had this problem whereas others didn't. My only logical explanation for this would be the locale, as in some cities have more streets and therefore more possible routes to calculate. Maybe it can only handle so many calculations at once, which would suggest that more memory is needed in the device to handle the denser populations. I contacted Mio about this issue and they told me to send the device in for repair. I chose not to do this, as I knew that rebooting the software wouldn't help the situation, which is what Mio said needed to be done.
In conclusion, I have a decent GPS unit with many features, but am frustrated by the consistent restarts. If only Mio would sort out this problem, once and for all, then they may be better competition for the likes of Garmin and Tom Tom, particularly with their flagship models, like this one.
In summary:
Pros:
-Great looking device with fantastic screen quality.
-GPS mapping and directions are reliable.
-12 Million POI's is hard to beat, and very handy.
-Traffic feature is useful and functions well enough.
-Price is reasonable compared to competition.
-Cradle is sturdy and rarely comes unstuck.
-Speaker is loud and clear when attached to cradle.
-Auto zoom function is very useful.
-Camera and MP3 player are handy if you want to travel light.
-Geotagging not offered elsewhere yet.
Cons:
-System restarts are frequent and a...
Read more ›
|
|
|
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly Accurate GPS Unit, December 24, 2007
I have this unit for almost 2 months now after using 3 units before. The C720t unit is a HIGHLY ACCURATE unit that never goes wrong or take you through longer routes or provide false information like one of the GPS units I had before. The screen is clear and bright and provides all necessary information such as the time left and the distance remaining, the upcoming street and provides 3 warnings before a street where there will be a left or a right turn. I never felt uncomfortable or afraid of losing my way. The text on screen is large and the sound is clear.
The unit have a decent battery life but have a car charger too and a sturdy holder and a nice padded case.
It also have a decent quality camera that the GPS can later guide you to the place of the picture which I consider a cool feature, although easy to do. There also several other bells and whistles in this unit such as a MP3 player, Bluetooth connection to your mobile so that it can dial the number of any POI, card reader, and a contacts database.
Now, best of the show is the POI database that have 12 Million POIs. This is the best feature in this unit. When you search for any POI by a keyword it provides a long list of places starting by the closest place, such as 72yds, 1 mile, and so on. You can search by a keyword such as Macy or Lobster (for Red Lobster) or by a general word such as mall or airport.
It keeps a history of all the places that you have visited before, or you can write all the places you intend to go to and then recall them on the road by just one touch and a touch on the ROUTE TO button.
This is an excellent GPS unit that you have to buy and I do not believe that it have an equal on the market.
|
|
|
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
OK GPS let down by mapping, POIs, TMC, March 2, 2008
The Mio 720t is my second GPS. I'll review it in sections.
Hardware
The 720T is an attractive unit. It's easy to read from the wheel. Volume is good although not adjustable directly - it is either on or muted. This a flaw - you need directly adjustable volume to cope with times when you have the fan on high speed. Volume can be adjusted through master settings but this is inconvenient. There is a feature that varies volume with vehicle speed. The windscreen suction cup holds firmly and is easy to remove.
An unattractive feature the TMC antenna. Wherever you stick it it looks awful. Combined this with the power lead and you have an unappealing gaggle of wires. Not much you can do about it.
In its protective cover the unit is just trouser-pocket sized. Forget about your shirt pocket.
The on-screen buttons are small but unless you have Parkinson's or sausage fingers they are fine.
From 'off' it has a fair speed hardware boot but is slow to load MioMap. From standby it detects satellites reasonably quickly. From 'off' it takes a minute or more.
Software
The MioMap softer works satisfactorily and mostly gives good routing. Nothing beats local knowledge and occasionally it calculates a route you know could be bettered. When you're in unfamiliar territory it works fine. Despite having a master setting of 'no unmade roads' twice it has directed me down dirt roads, one little better than a fire trail (I turned back). To give the Mio the benefit of the doubt this might because the roads were incorrectly classified by Sensis (no surprises there). However with one of these routings even if it was a bitumen road it was a poor route.
You can import Outlook Contacts - a useful feature given the deficiencies in Australian POIs (see mapping).
I'm not much interested in the MP3 player, Bluetooth and other ancillary features and haven't tested them. A review on CNET refers to it having text-to-speech. It doesn't.
POI utility is poor. You have to specify where your POI is before you can search for it. You cannot search all included POIs directly. You can carry out a search for a POI around your destination, but if your destination is a POI outside the cursor or GPS position you're in a Catch 22 unless you know the 'settlement', as Mio terms it, as well. 'Settlement' translates as suburb. If you don't know what suburb your POI is in you're really stuck. The only way around this is to add across-town POIs that you are likely to want via Outlook Contacts. If I've misunderstood this or you know a way around the issue please add a comment.
Mapping
These comments are applicable only to Australia. The map database is supplied by Sensis (R14). It is adequate but has deficiencies that have been carried through from previous versions. As nearly all GPSs in Australia use Sensis mapping there's not a lot you can do about it - just learn the quirks and put up with it.
For example in R9 I reported the following glaring error (and if you're in Melbourne you'll sympathise) and this persists in R14: Heading north up Hoddle St to take the Eastern Freeway eastbound the system says, "Keep right in 800 metres", "Keep right in 300 metres", "Keep right in 150 metres". The Eastern Freeway on-ramp is on the left. If you keep right you've got no hope of making the turn. At 150 metres you're past a concrete traffic divider. Immediately after the "Keep right in 150 metres" it says, "Turn left in 80 metres". It's impossible.
POIs: Poor. I do a lot of travelling between major wedding venues. On a recent weekend five of the six I wanted couldn't be routed to because they are across town and I didn't know the address. A weird non-inclusion is The Cuckoo restaurant at Olinda - one of Melbourne's top tourist attractions. Fortunately I can add all these unsearchable POIs via Outlook Contacts. This is useless, course, if you're a visitor to a city or you've locked the house and are about to set out.
School zones are hard-coded as 40kmh so you get a speeding warning even when the normal speed limit applies. This is fair enough given the inconsistencies, strange rules and variable times that apply to school zones in Australia.
TMC
I bought the 720t because it has TMC. I was misled by Mio's website and POS advertising. The 720t doesn't have TMC; it is TMC-capable. I believed a subscription to TMC was included but it's not. The US Mio
website refers to a 90 day trial subscription. That's not available in Australia. In Australia TMC access costs an additional $129.
TMC information is neither timely nor accurate. It is a completely useless feature that I regret purchasing.
Frequently the MIO says 'TMC receiver not connected' when it is connected. This is a bug; it happens when you switch the unit on before placing in in the cradle. The solution is to switch the unit to standby and back on again while it is in the cradle.
Summary
A reasonable GPS let down (in Australia) by mapping problems and useless TMC. On current performance full retail price plus TMC is not good value for money.
With the benefit of hindsight I would be happier with a Garmin (my previous GPS was a Garmin) even though the issues with Sensis mapping would be the same.
I rate the hardware and software as a '4', POIs and TMC as '1' and mapping as '3'. As mapping and POIs are crucially important I'll give an overall rating of '2'.
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
Saving...
