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Last week at Computex in Taipei MiTAC had it's two new GPS devices, the Mio 169 Pocket PC and GPS integrated device and the Mio Digiwalker 269 pure GPS device.  The 269 features a 2.5GB hard drive so you can facilitate the large amount of data that map storage requires.  The Mio 169 offers a large design overhaul from the original Mio 168 GPS device and offers the improved landscape mode viewing.  Both devices are now available in Taiwan, the 269 will make it to Europe and they might eventually make it to the U.S.

Mio 169 product sheet (view larger image)

We reviewed the Mio168 a while back when it was released, and it was a nice device that offered the first GPS integrated Pocket PC solution at a very reasonable price.  What's interesting with this 169 update is that it fully utilizes the landscape mode of the Windows Mobile OS to the point where it is the default view and landscape is the intended holding and viewing orientation of the device.  If you turn it "rightside up" (portrait view) then the buttons are oriented "wrong".

Mio 169

Specs

• Intel PXA-255 400MHz Processor
• 32MB Flash ROM, 64MB RAM
• 3.5" TFT display, 240 x 320 pixels
• USB connectivity
• Infrared
• Dimensions: 125.6 mm x 79.5 mm x 24.2 mm (4.94 in x 3.13 in x .94 in) (l x w x h)
• Weight: 172.35 grams (6.07 ounces)
• Windows Mobile 2003 SE OS
• Integrated GPS using SiRF Star III GPS module

Mio 169 left side view

Mio 169 front view in landscape mode

Mio 169 right side view

Mio 269

The Mio 269 features a 2.5GB hard drive that already has maps pre-installed.  This is not a PDA, but rather a pure GPS device that offers voice command point-to-point navigation and points of interest location finder.  There's also 500MB of space available to the user for MP3 files only so you can use this device to play tunes.