Clarion MiND Mobile Internet Navigation Review

Clarion MiND Mobile Internet Navigation

Hardware Review
Manufacturer: Clarion
MSRP: $699.99

There are many GPS devices out there currently that can tell us how to get from point A to point B, but there are very few which can actually do more than that.  Enter the Clarion MiND, a mobile internet navigation device that is a GPS, and oh so much more.

The Clarion MiND, to be honest, is like having a personal computer in the palm of your hand, it is a mobile internet device in every sense of the word as it has all of the features you could ever want in one.

We will start off with some of the product features and the move through each of them to explain them more to let you know some of the amazing things that this device can do.

In terms of the specs, the device features a 4.8 inch WVGA LCD Display with touch screen, Intel Atom Architecture (800 MHz), 512 MB DRAM, Wi-FI, Bluetooth, GPS, amplifier/speaker, external headphone connector, 2 USB ports, microSD card slot, docking station, among other features.

For starters, this mobile internet device has a top-notch navigation system built right into it, giving you turn-by-turn GPS as the street names are read to you through the speaker.

The device comes pre-loaded with Navteq maps as well as tons of points of interest from both the U.S. and Canada.  In the Boston area where this was tested, we were able to pick up on tons of points of interest we were looking for.

Moving forward, there is also plenty of connectivity options here beyond just the GPS, as you can hook up to the web via Wi-Fi, as well as through a Bluetooth-connected cell phone.

Once you are hooked up and online, the true power of this device really comes out.  The user interface here is set up a scroll wheel of sorts as you use the stylus or your finger to scroll across the screen to select the various options.  Built in are the abilities to hop on the internet browser, MySpace, YouTube, e-mail, among other things.

The MySpace and YouTube features are nicely implemented as they let you check out your social network as well as some entertaining videos whenever you wish.

In regards to the internet browser I mentioned, it is based on Firefox and allows you to navigate online just as if you were on a PC.  The browser supports Flash and is implemented well, as it works flawlessly to be quite honest.

The only thing holding this device back currently is 3G support, but that is reportedly coming in a new version shortly from Clarion.

Anyways, onto the next feature, the weather courtesy of The Weather Channel.  Once you load this up in your car, you will get a nice car mode UI where you have the navigation, news stories, as well as the weather right at your fingertips in front of you.

There is also the ability to play your music, view movies, photos, etc.  This is all thanks to RealPlayer software which is pre-installed onto the device.  We were able to load this up with a MicroSD memory card (yes there is a slot for one), and enjoy MP3 files, as well as a few movies.

As stated, the navigation is done with the touch-screen where you can use your finger of a stylus.  This is a very well-made touch screen, similar to the iPhone to be honest in its feel.

In terms of typing, there is a keyboard set-up that is quite unique.  The soft keyboard appears on the screen, and is pretty easy to type for the most part.  When you are in navigation mode, you have the ability to narrow your search as you go, so if you type in M when searching for a state, all the M states appear above so you can just tap it, very cool.

To help with the navigation and e-mail support, a contacts list is also included to help you keep track of everything, as well as a PDF viwer to read e-mails you may get and store in the file manager, your e-mail etc.

Speaking of the file manager, this is where you have the ability to manage all of your files, you can even load this up with images and such to customize the backgrounds of the device, among other things.

My biggest complaint with the Clarion MiND was the fact that the battery life was pretty slim.  The battery life runs for about 1.5 hours at best, but is usually closer to around 60 or 70 minutes to be quite honest.  This was a nagging feature in the car for long drives as anything over that time period forced us to plug it into the car adapter, which is supplied in the box thankfully.  There is the option to buy a bigger battery pack, which is definitely recommended.

The Clarion MiND really is a phenomenal device to be quite honest.  The only nagging aspect of it is the fact that the pack-in battery stinks to put it nicely.

As a GPS device, it is absolutely flawless and works like a charm.  As a full-blown mobile internet device, it is also very impressive as it packs every feature you could really want.

Basically, the Clarion MiND is the perfect device for someone who does not just want a GPS device, but really wants something more.  The device, with all of its features and true value is certainly worth a look despite the MSRP of $699.99.  As stated, if you really want an all-in-one entertainment device with GPS, internet browser, e-mail, and all of that jazz, the Clarioni MiND is definitely recommended.

Final Score: 8.5  dbTechno Recommended!

Do you have a product that you would like featured on dBTechno? If so, drop us a line at vicb@dbtechno.com

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