Mio P550 and MioMap 3.2. What they don't tell you

M8TJT

Power Switch.
Unlike the 168 that I already own which has a separate, sunken on/off switch, the 550 uses one of the ‘program’ switches on the front panel, causing it to switch itself on at the lightest touch in the pocket. Mio obviously acknowledge this, by the inclusion of the 5 second ‘auto off’ facility. Unfortunately, when MioMap 3.2 is running, this function does not work so a flat battery soon ensues.

Multi Tasking
When MioMap is loaded you appear not to be able to access the operating system to either start or switch to other programs. It is possible on my Mio 168 running MioMap 3.0 to both start and switch to other already running programs that I usually run concurrently with my nav software such a GPS dash and Traveli (camera detector). The lack of this facility changes the 550 from a high quality multi tasking PPC to a GPS navigation system only, not the pocket PC that I was ‘upgrading’ to.
Had I wanted a nav only device, I would have bought a TomTom or Garmin and continued using my 168 as a PPC.
On a positive note, the GPS receiver is is much better than my 168 and I like the mapping software apart from the aforementioned which I consider to be a seriously limiting shortcoming on a PPC.
Anyone know any different about accessing the OS?
Trevor

wilson843 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 12

I don't know about the Mio Map software but I run Tomtom on my P550 and the multi tasking works fine. Just press the "Today" key (the one above the on/off switch) and it takes you back to the today screen. From there you can run any other software and then return to Tomtom by tapping the icon at the bottom of the Today screen.

M8TJT · Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 1:32 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the 550 / Tom Tom Info.
Would be good if MioMap 3.2 worked like that.
Unfortunately MioMap takes all the buttons and joystick for its own use. (The one above the on/off switch tilts the map up.)

my old combination of MioMap 3.0 and Mio 168 leaves the top Start etc. bar showing, and if you reprogram the bottom left and side buttons on the 168, MioMap 3.0 doesn't pinch them back.

Do you have the same problem as me with the on/off switching?

Trevor.

wilson843 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 12

Yes! The on/off switch is ultra sensitive but I use a slip case which protects the screen and prevents inadvertent switching.

M8TJT · Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 1:35 pm Post subject:

Does it protect the on off switch? And from where did you get it?

Trevor

wilson843 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 12

Its the old one from my Ipaq 2210. Having said that, its been in my briefcase today and when I went to use the 550 the battery was flat!

M8TJT · Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 12:42 pm Post subject:

I rest my case melord, if you'll pardon the pun.

Trevor

Bluetrack · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jul 26, 2006 Posts: 12

I've had the same problem with not being able to access other applications while running Miomap 3.2. However, a clever guy "Roscoe" on www.mionav.com has designed a very nice skin that includes the possibility to minimize Miomap and thereby give the opportunity to access other applications.

Just have a look at www.mionav.com and look for journey_data_v1.3.zip. Works like a charm, so give it a try.

M8TJT · Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2007 5:52 pm Post subject:

Thanks for that.
Actually I sent my 550 back as unfit for purpose and got a full refund.
I have subsequently bought a Mio 710, Although it has the same problem with not being able to minimise MioMap, it does have TMC.
I like the MioMap software, and will give the link that you sent me a good look at, as there is at least one other program that I would like to run at the same time. This depends of course on whether GPSGate will run on the 500 OS. I will have to check this out as well.

Just had a look at your link. After a bit of a false start trying to find it, now found it. Seems to be a lot of good stuff that wil take a bit of absorbing.
Now made a favorites so that I can return easily.

I'll post my findings back here.

Thanks for your input.

Trevor

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