Mio Moov 360

The mid-range GPS unit in Mio’s new Moov line, the Moov 360 is quite similar to the top of the line Moov 370. It offers many of the same features, but it doesn't include the TMC traffic antenna in the sales package

Units in the Moov series look quite similar to those in the previous DigiWalker line. Despite the 4.3in widescreen display, Mio has managed to trim the Moov 360 down to a respectable size. It’s relatively light and its plastic finish feels sturdy. The display has a reasonable viewing angle and is usable in direct sunlight. The window mount works well, although it’s a little bulky when compared to TomTom’s EasyPort mount. We didn’t like the power switch (we much preferred the single button used on the previous DigiWalker models).

The Moov series uses NAVTEQ maps, promising 100 per cent coverage of Australian roads. Units in the series have a redesigned map layout and a slightly altered user interface compared to previous Mio models. Most of the changes are positive, but the omission of the split-screen technology found on the DigiWalker C520 is disappointing. However, menus are clearly labelled and straightforward. Particularly impressive is the map display, which is no longer cluttered with icons.

Searching for an address or POI is easy, although it also reveals the Moov 360’s biggest flaw: speed. Though it eventually recognises your presses on the touch screen, there is significant keystroke delay when typing in an address. Speed isn’t an issue for the SiRF Star III receiver, however. The Moov 360 usually manages to lock onto a GPS signal within a minute of being turned on.

The MioMap 2008 interface uses standard 2-D and 3-D views, in addition to a traffic overview with reported congestion areas highlighted on the map. The maps have a reasonable level of detail; street names are easily readable and the current location is clearly marked. Mio’s automatic zoom feature is present; it activates every time you make a turn to give you the clearest possible route.

We were impressed with the Australian text-to-speech voice: it announces street names loudly and clearly and doesn’t have much trouble with pronunciation. The Moov 360 also includes a comprehensive package of safety alerts, including red light cameras, speed cameras, school zones, speed zones, accident black spots and railway crossings.

The Moov 360 is compatible with the SUNA traffic channel, but this is an optional extra — there is no TMC antenna in the sales package. If you are hell-bent on having this feature then it would be a wise decision to opt for the Moov 370, which includes the required TMC antenna in the box.

The Moov 360 is also equipped with live POI search, NavPix and 3-D landmarks. Prominent landmarks, such as the Sydney Opera House, are displayed in 3-D, allowing you to rotate the view 360 degrees to see right around the location. NavPix allows users to navigate using the GPS coordinates attached to geotagged images (there is no camera to take new photos, however). Live POI search is a service powered by TrueLocal that allows the Moov 360 to connect to your Bluetooth-capable mobile phone and search business listings. More than a million business listings are available, in addition to the 600,000 POIs already built into the Moov 360. Unfortunately, connecting to your phone and conducting a search takes longer than we anticipated. We also had issues when connecting our phone via Bluetooth, often needing several attempts to successfully pair.