Mio Moov S501, S401, and KNIGHT RIDER GPS Receivers

GPS manufacturer Mio (which also happens to own Magellan) have announced two low-cost GPS units, which will be released in the United States this summer. Are these recession busters? Or will Mio's attempt to make headway in North America cause confusion?

Mio Moov GPS

MSRP: $200

Mio S501

MSRP: $180

Mio S401

Mio KITT300

Magellan RoadMate

Magellan 1340

from $132.00

Magellan 1440

from $155.76

Magellan 1470

from $169.95

When MiTAC, maker of Mio brand GPS receivers, purchased Magellan last winter, it wasn't clear what they would do with their new acquisition. Magellan is part of the "big three" GPS receivers, along with TomTom and Garmin, though admittedly Garmin is so far ahead of the other two in terms of quality and success that it's a fairly toothless grouping. Mio-brand GPS receivers, while available in the U.S., were not very well known and enjoyed more success elsewhere in the world.

It seemed, then, that MiTAC would use Magellan to seamlessly enter the North American market under the guise of a familiar brand name. Recent announcements, however, confuse things a bit. Both Magellan and Mio have announced new GPS models that will be released at roughly the same time at roughly the same price points. For now, it appears that MiTAC is competing against itself, though it's unclear whether this is some sort of market test or simply the last release of new material before some sort of synthesis is found between the two brands. In any event, product diversity is good for consumers, and the two new Mio models might just be the right receivers for someone out there.

The Mio S501 and S401

The Mio S501 and S401 are part of the brand's Moov line of personal navigational devices. These two models are relatively simple, not at all high end, but also not as barebones as the comparable Magellan releases. The two models are virtually identical save for a slight difference in the display size. The Mio S501 has a large, 4.7-inch LCD display, while the S401 has a slightly smaller 4.3-inch LCD display.

These products use the new Mio "Spirit" interface, which is intended to be a simpler, more user-friendly way of using your GPS. There are some interesting new features, as well, including the ability to transfer driving directions from Google Maps right to the GPS device for navigation. The Moov receivers can also gather location information from geo-tagged photos, but the efficacy and importance of such a feature seems pretty minimal to use.

The most high-profile feature of the S501 and S401 models is their thinness. The S501 is just over 0.64-inches thick and the S401 isn't much bigger, at 0.71-inches. This increased comfort and portability makes it easy to slip them into a bag or pocket when not in use. That way, you don't have to leave your GPS vulnerable in your car, or be irritating at carrying around a heavy receiver.

Compared To Magellan's Models

The RoadMate 1340, 1440, and 1470 models from Magellan are close peers of the S501 and S401, though not exactly the same. Prices are hard to line up, since the actual price of the RoadMate 1470 (around $180) is much less than the $299 price tag suggested by the manufacturer. It's expected that the $180 MSRP of the S401 will also drop significantly upon its release.

The Mio models are more robust, with greater potential than the very low-key Magellan models. The S501 and S401 are more middle-of-the-road products; not too much functionality, but more than a straightforward navigational device. If you don't want distractions, go for the Magellan models. If you want a little style and flair with your directions, then the Mio models might make more sense.

Mio's KNIGHT RIDER GPS

Though it's been out for a few months now, it would be a shame to overlook Mio's amusing and nostalgia-inducing KNIGHT RIDER GPS receiver. When I first saw it, I assumed it was a promotional tie-in to the revamped Knight Rider remake that crashed and burned on NBC last season. I was pleasantly surprised, however, to see that it is, in fact, a tribute to the original show, and the vocalized turn-by-turn directions are voiced by the original KITT, William Daniels.

When most GPS receivers are, frankly, boring, it's nice to see a little spice like this. Mio has done something creative and entertaining with their functional GPS device, something that grabs the attention. There are lots of people out there who grew up watching Knight Rider and would probably enjoy having KITT tell them to take a left at the next ramp in his droll, cultured accent. It's silly, yes, but it's the kind of silliness that endears consumers to your brand, and it's something that the drab world of GPS receivers could stand to use more often.