My questions in lowercase, MIO responses in capital letters

Map Software support - Will updates to the software and maps be free, and if so, for how long after purchase? If software (the Mio branded v3.2 of IGo on this unit) has a different policy then the map software updates (since you’re contracted with different companies for maps vs. navigation), could you please specify? Will there be a place to download these on the Mio site as I can’t locate them at the moment?
MAP UPDATES WILL NOT BE FREE. THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2007. THEY WILL BE A COMBINED UPDATE OF IGO SOFTWARE AND TELE ATLAS MAP DATA, SAME AS THE CURRENT PRODUCT.

Lane changes – I’m unfamiliar with car navigation GPS software in general. Is the software or sensitivity enough to alert to the need to lane change to avoid being funneled off by exits you don’t intend to take, and does it specify to “Stay Right”, et cetera?
THE SOFTWARE DOES SAY “KEEP TO THE LEFT” OR “KEEP TO THE RIGHT” WHEN A MAJOR INTERSECTION WITH MULTIPLE ROAD SPLITS IS COMING UP ALONG THE DRIVING ROUTE.

Pedestrian mode – Ok, if I were to use this unit to mark a boat dock, would it be able to show me an arrow or something of that manner to give me general direction if I’m trying to navigate back to that location in a boat while on a lake?
THE UNIT DOES HAVE PEDESTRIAN MODE. ALSO, YOU CAN PLACE A CURSOR ON ANY POINT ON THE MAP AND SAVE THAT POINT UNDER “MY POIs”. YOU CAN THEN ASSIGN CATEGORY ICONS TO THE POIs THAT CAN LATER BE DISPLAYED ON THE MAP AT YOUR PREFERENCE.

Jeep trails – Say in CO, I’m assuming none would be included in the maps. Are there additional map packs available? Also, if I were to start on a trail, is there a way to record that path and then reverse it and have the unit navigate me back along the same path back out?
NO OUTDOOR MAP CONTENT IS CURRENTLY PLANNED. CURRENTLY THERE IS A WAY TO RECORD ROUTES FOR THE PURPOSE OF GETTING A SUMMARY REPORT AT THE END. WHILE THERE IS NOT “AUTO RETURN” FEATURE, IT IS VERY SIMPLE TO RETURN TO THE ORIGINAL DEPARTURE POINT BY SELECTING IT FROM THE HISTORY SCREEN AND CLICKING “ROUTE TO”.

MP3 – Is the MP3 and navigation operable at the same time? As navigation voice warnings sound, does it mute MP3 output and then resume when the Voice guidance ends? If so, I’m assuming this could be used with great success with a separately purchased FM transmitter?
YES. THE MP3 CAN PLAY WHILE NAVIGATING. THE NAVIGATION INSTRUCTIONS DO SUPERCEEDE THE MUSIC FOR EACH VOICE INSTRUCTION. THE MUSIC RESUMES RIGHT AFTER THE INSTRUCTIONS. YES, THE DEVICE HAS AUDIO OUT (FOR HEADPHONES) WHICH CAN ALSO WORK WITH AN EXTERNAL FM TRANSMITTER.

AC charger – It looks as with the 310x this has been eliminated with the included accessories. Where can one be obtained, and for what price?
WE PLAN TO SELL THE AC CHARGER SEPARATELY VERY SOON (EARLY Q1 2007)

Additional mounting brackets – Again, where can be obtained and cost?
WE ALSO PLAN TO SELL AN ADDITIONAL CAR KIT, FOR USE IN A SECOND CAR FOR EXAMPLE, VERY SOON (EARLY Q1 2007)

Protective Case - Is there a protective case made for this model to protect it when putting into purses / pockets for use as a pedestrian device? If so, would you provide a link or information on it (something that demonstrates the screen protection when not in use), as well as product availability and pricing?
A MIO DEVICE PROTECTIVE CASE CAN BE OBTAINED TODAY FROM A VARIETY OF ON-LINE VENDORS SUCH AS http://proporta.com/search.php?q=MIO

A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR C710/C310 PRODUCT ACCESSORIES WILL BRING UP A VARIETY OF OPTIONS.

Specifying a route – How easy / possible is it to input your OWN route to a destination, and have the unit prompt you on your specified route?
IT IS VERY EASY TO ENTER A DESTINATION. YOU CAN THEN GO INTO THE ROUTE SETTINGS TO PREVIEW THE DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS LIST AND CHOSE TO AVOID CERTAIN ROADS OR ROAD SEGMENTS, THEREFORE CUSTOMIZING YOUR ROUTE AS DESIRED.

Unplugging the unit - How exactly does the car charger attach to the unit? Does it have to be unplugged / disconnected from the unit itself every time you stop and want to put it out of sight, or does it connect to the windshield mount for some sort of drop-in / click-in removal functionality of the GPS?
THE CAR CHARGER HAS AN USB CONNECTOR THAT GOES INTO THE DEVICE USB CONNECTOR.YOU CAN USE THE DEVICE EITHER PLUGGED OR UNPLUGGED WITHOUT ANY CHANGE IN FUNCTIONALITY. THE GPS FUNCTIONALITY IS BUILT INTO THE DEVICE ALREADY. NOT OTHER CONNECTIONS ARE NECESSARY. THE UNIT DOES SUPPORT AN EXTERNAL ANTENNA IF YOU WANT TO FURTHER EXTEND OR ENHANCE IT’S GPS CAPABILITIES, BUT THIS IS NOT NEEDED AS THE UNIT HAS THE LATEST SiRF STAR III GPS CHIP BUILT ALREADY.

I posted this as soon as I saw I received it. Some of these answers I'm going to need some clarification to, but I present them as asked / replied to without editing. For example, you can tell they had no idea the point of my last question going off instead on GPS operation. I can infer this means yes, you have to unplug the cigarrete ligheter adapter from the unit every time however.

sumrtym said:My questions in lowercase, MIO responses in capital letters
Sumrtym,

Did you ask if C310 will automatically re-route if we, say, missed the exit? Just want to confirm, but I think this is one of the basic features. It will be a big surprise if C310 won't be able to.

sumrtym said:crossgar said:If the Staples unit is a C310 can it "easily" be upgraded to C310x with the iGo software?
All 3 stores are the C310x.

Although irrelevant given the above, upgrading the C310 to C310x (which is only software as a difference) is impossible without hacking an unlock of the unit, you having a copy of the software to do a complete install, et cetera. Hacking of a GPS in this manner to unlock it may cause problems requiring a complete reinstall of windows CE if/when things go bad.

staple don't have any mio staff online so far. where did you get the information the mio GPS are the same in stapes and CC?

happyjeryy said:

staple doesn't have any mio staff online so far. where did you get the information the mio GPS are the same in stapes and CC?
This guy seems to have done some legwork on that issue and thinks Staples will have the C310x

http://www.gpslodge.com/archives/008356.php

I plan to buy/price match later so I just bought a C310X at Staples today. This unit has the same item number 666810 as the one in BF ads.

What stupid luck. I was in a CC today to pick up something else and went to look at the GPS units, the kid there was a huge fan of the 310x and gave me a half hour lesson. It was one day for $299 so I grabbed one and was happy, searched to find out more about the unit and found the BF sale. Called the store, they said come in and they will PM (at least the gal I spoke with said a such). If they won't they'll get it back, it's not like I absolutely need it.

The biggest pain is the closest CC is 75 miles away. No idea how nutty BF is in this area (Pueblo, CO), used to be in the Chicago suburbs where it was unbelieveable. Anyone know?

LexLuthor said:This guy seems to have done some legwork on that issue and thinks Staples will have the C310x

http://www.gpslodge.com/archives/008356.phpI can confirm that Stap1es will have the C310x (not C310) on BF, unfortunately my Stap1es is NOT putting them on the floor at all so there's no possibility of a buy now, PM later They will be doing it on a "ticket" system so basically if you want one, you have to camp. Same deal @ Comp-USA, in fact they didn't even know they're having that model and said it won't be out until that day, unless they do it during their Thursday night sale. I'd love to hack one of these units and turn it into a cheap TomTom or something like that.

And there were already Wii campers out around here as of early this afternoon

sumrtym said:
AC charger – It looks as with the 310x this has been eliminated with the included accessories. Where can one be obtained, and for what price?
WE PLAN TO SELL THE AC CHARGER SEPARATELY VERY SOON (EARLY Q1 2007)


Picked up C310x at local Staples, charging it via AC charger right now.

GlassVial said:DiMAn0684 said:Picked up C310x at local Staples, charging it via AC charger right now.Lucky...wish my local store were selling them early, would/should be an easy PM. See if you can hack the unit and turn it into a Teletype 3100 LOL

Nice!! I will check if my local Staples has it!

DiMAn0684 said:sumrtym said:
AC charger – It looks as with the 310x this has been eliminated with the included accessories. Where can one be obtained, and for what price?
WE PLAN TO SELL THE AC CHARGER SEPARATELY VERY SOON (EARLY Q1 2007)


Picked up C310x at local Staples, charging it via AC charger right now.
So your saying yours is a 310x, not 310, and came with an AC charger????

That's completely opposite of my info on these units, that the 310 (different software) came with AC charger, the 310x with Mio branded IGo does not.

EDIT: Looking at the info on CC website, I see it does indeed list an AC charger. Good to know!!!! New question for those who have been to store to see it....are you seeing 2 different boxes, one with a red sticker stating 1 GB built-in memory free, and one without? Someone on the reviews at CC mentions this.