In the technology world, there’s always a “next big thing.†Only a couple of years ago it was Wi-Fi, closely followed by Bluetooth. At first these were offered as add-on accessories. Then they became special built-in features on a select few high-end devices. Now almost every new Pocket PC has one or the other, or both, built-in and ready to use.
Today’s next big thing is GPS. Global Positioning System receivers tell you where you are and, coupled with mapping software, show you how to get where you want to go. While GPS has been commonplace in aircraft, boats, and luxury cars for a little while now, it hasn’t really made it as a popular consumer device. There have been GPS solutions for Pocket PCs, but to date users have had to put up with expensive and bulky adapters. The Mio Digiwalker 168 might change all that!
The bulge on the back
The Mio 168 is a fairly standard, low-end Pocket PC. It’s powered by an Intel PXA 255 processor running at 300 MHz, and comes with 64 MB of RAM and 32 MB of flash ROM (none of which is available as a user-accessible file store). These are not the sort of hardware specs that make your heart beat fast. However, when you flip the Digiwalker over and notice the hinged bulge on the back, you begin to realize that there’s something special about this Pocket PC.
The Mio Digiwalker 168 is manufactured by MiTAC, a Taiwanese company with considerable experience in designing and manufacturing Pocket PCs for NEC and others. That experience is obvious when you look at the 168. The device is well put together and doesn’t feel flimsy or weak. When I first started using it there was some concern that the hinge on the flip-up GPS antenna might be a little fragile. However, a couple of weeks of solid use have laid that concern to rest.
Bright screen and plenty of battery power
Other than the GPS, the Mio 168 sports a rather typical hardware configuration for a Pocket PC. The power button is on the left side of the device, just above a record button. I found that when the 168 was in a slipcase I kept accidentally activating this record button as I grabbed the device. The front is dominated by the 3.5-inch transflective screen that can display up to 64,000 colors at the current Pocket PC standard of 240 by 320 QVGA resolution. Hopefully, an updated device capable of VGA will become available when Windows Mobile introduces official support for full VGA. The screen is very bright, which is important considering that the GPS features are only useful when you’re out traveling. By running the screen at maximum brightness, you’ll be able to see your maps and other geographic information while in sunlight. The screen is substantially brighter than that of the iPAQ 2210.
Below the display are the small joystick and four application buttons (Fig. 1). As with all Windows Mobile devices, these buttons can be easily configured to launch whatever applications you’d like. I immediately reassigned a button to launch a mapping application. The hardware buttons are responsive and the small joystick is a real treat—far easier to use and more accurate than the larger navigation pad found on the iPAQs.
Fig. 1: The application launch buttons and a small but responsive joystick are located below the Mio 168 display.
In order to be able to use the 168 in the car as a navigation device you’ll want to mount it where it’s easy to see. And since you want to keep the screen brightness turned up, you should have an external power source. Fortunately, the 168 ships with a portable car mounting kit and a cigarette-lighter power cable (Fig. 2). The car mount attaches to a smooth surface with a powerful suction cup, with a lever to lock or release it. It attached firmly to the windshield of my car, and I could not remove it without releasing the lever. Once in place the 168 was very secure and did not fall out, even on bumpy roads. The cigarette-lighter adapter worked well, allowing me to keep the Digiwalker fully charged all the time with the screen brightness set to high.
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