(Click here for a larger view of the Mio P560)

In an age of Windows Mobile phones that routinely include GPS, the idea of purchasing a device that lacks telephony seems almost quaint. But, counters Mio, the P560 makes a good tool for someone who wants GPS and PDA functionality, without having to enter into a new cellular contract in order to get it. The unit's lack of a camera may also be viewed as a security advantage by some enterprise customers.

While it is without wide-area networking, the P560 can access the Internet via 802.11b/g. It also features Bluetooth 2.0 and GPS, the latter via the omnipresent SiRF starIII chipset. The GPS software and maps included are not specified by Mio, since they "vary by region."

The P560 can operate in landscape or portrait mode, and has a 3.5-inch touchscreen display with 320 x 240 resolution. It uses a 400MHz Samsung 2443 processor with 64MB of RAM.

Flash storage varies by market, ranging from 512MB up to a generous 4GB. Storage is also expandable via an SD slot.

In addition to an headphone jack, the P560's case has LEDs denoting WiFi and Bluetooth operation, a five-way controller Mio refers to as a joystick, a dedicated key for launching mapping applications, and an unusual "cold boot on/off" switch that might be useful for conserving battery life between uses. An integral 1350mAh battery can power the device for up to four and half hours of continuous operation, claims Mio.

Features and specifications listed by Mio for the P560 include:

• Processor -- Samsung S3C2443 clocked at 400MHz
  
• Memory -- 64MB RAM and from 512MB to 4GB flash
  
• Display -- 3.5-inch QVGA (320 x 240) touchscreen display
  
• Wireless:
  • LAN -- 802.11b/g wireless networking
    
  • PAN -- Bluetooth 2.0
    
  • GPS
• Other I/O:
  • Mini USB 1.1
    
  • 1 x headphone jack
• Expansion -- SD card slot
  
• Battery type and life -- 1350mAh lithium-ion battery, providing four hours of operation
  
• Operating temperature -- -20 to 60 deg. C (4 to 140 deg. F)
  
• Dimensions -- 4.6 x 2.9 x 0.6 inches
  
• Weight -- 5.9 ounces

Another recently introduced PDA with GPS capabilities is the Getac PS535E. Both Getac and Mio are Mitac subsidiaries, and the two devices have an almost-identical feature set. The PS535E is larger and heavier, however, since it has a ruggedized shell and a 2400mAh battery claimed to provide eight hours of life.

Further information

Mio did not release pricing or availability information for the P560, but the unit appears to be available now.

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