The in-car GPS system is without doubt one of the "it" gadgets of the moment, and they will be gracing many a Christmas tree come December. With its wealth of experience in building small electronic devices combining touch screens and wireless technologies, Taiwan was bound to pick up on the trend. Here is a look at how two Taiwanese brands compare to Netherlands-based TomTom, the global leader in GPS devices.
As soon as the packaging is opened, the ONE XL exudes confidence with its simple and sturdy construction. The only physical switch, on the top of the unit, is the power button; all other interaction is handled on the touch screen with a series of gestures and swipes that is both fun and intuitive. Details include the small brow on the top edge of the screen that helps block glare from the sun and provides a useful grip when sliding it into the docking mount.
The accessories that are included with the unit are also of higher-than-average quality. ONE XL gets top marks for the window mount that doesn't look like an architectural joist - it's good-looking enough to leave in place and small enough to safely stow away in the glove box.
In use, the software is clear and precise, though, like any navigation system, it is prone to occasional quirky routes with hilarious comic timing such as the voice thoughtfully directing the driver to turn around on a busy six-lane highway. Passengers also became highly alarmed when what sounded like a steam train barreling down Zhongxiao Road straight at the car turned out to be the auditory warning of an approaching speed camera.
Those considering the ONE XL may well want to look further down the product range. The ONE device lacks the 4.3 inch screen display and some of the features of its more expensive brethren, but the compact dimensions may be a plus for drivers with cramped interiors. Those who do want the extra screen real estate may want to wait for the GO 720 that will be launched this month sporting, among other things, voice control.
Mitac is the premier Taiwanese manufacturer of GPS devices and has many years of experience in the field. The Mio C720T is one of the latest GPS systems and has a couple of features that make it special.
The first of these is a 2 megapixel digital camera on the back of the device. This allows you to take a photo of a business card and use this as the destination of the journey. It's a great idea, but in reality the performance was less than perfect, and it was often quicker to manually enter the address. The other interesting feature was combining the photo with "geo-tagged" information - tracking the location of each photo. It's a fantastic addition, but there needs to a be a little more development work on the services side.
The design is much more angular than the subtler TomTom. Although it had a decent 4.3 inch screen, the chrome detailing meant that on sunny days glare became a problem, and at nighttime the row of LEDs became a little distracting.
Accessories-wise, the window mount is a little bulky and includes multiple screw adjustments for alignment and angle, and it allows you to leave the power plugged in to the dock when the device is removed. Unlike the TomTom, a mains power adaptor is included for charging at home.
The user interface is not as polished as the TomTom and certainly requires a little more learning as a result.
RSS