gogo CM310

Combining solid Destinator ND software, an MP3 player, a video player and a picture viewer with extra features like a calculator, world clock and games, the gogo CM310 is a solid entry into the GPS market. It also manages to stand out from the competition by using its own proprietary interface, and having "blinkers" protrude from its sides that flash when directing users to turn left or right.

Navigation

The gogo CM310 uses the popular Destinator ND software, also seen on the Hitachi models MMP-401 and MMP-501 and the latest ASUS S102 Multimedia Navigator. Unlike most other units, suburbs aren't filtered by state. Instead you'll get a full list of suburbs in Australia, with the state in brackets; for example, Fairfield (NSW) and Fairfield (VIC). Street names are then filtered by suburb, reducing the list of streets during searching to a manageable number. The CM310 allows navigation directly to a house number, intersection or to the middle of a street.

The main menu of the Destinator ND software is made up of many large boxes with text and coloured icons, so first time users shouldn't have any problems navigating it. There are icons for address, recent locations, favourites and points of interest (POI). Tapping the settings button on this screen also allows users adjust all navigational options. A host of POI's are available, such as airports, shopping centres, car park, hospitals and cafes. Importantly, the gogo also features red light and speed camera alerts out of the box. In total, the CM310 includes over 400,000 POI's.

The gogo uses the popular SiRF Star III GPS chipset seen in many other units currently on the market. It took between 30 seconds and a minute to find and maintain a solid GPS signal and we didn't experience any drop outs. Re-routing times were positive as well, taking just a couple of seconds in most instances.

The Destinator maps are simple and easy to read and can be zoomed in and out of using the large + and - controls on the touch screen, or the dedicated zoom buttons to the right of the display. Users can select either a 3D or 2D view, switch between day and night mode and plan multi-stop trips. The CM310 also has an avoid area feature; you can program the unit to avoid certain areas when you plan your trip, such as known traffic hot spots. Voice commands were fine, although there is only one voice English voice option, and the CM310 does lack some more advanced features such as reading out street names.

The gogo CM310 also distinguishes itself from the competition by having "blinkers" protrude from its sides. These flash when the unit directs users to turn left or right during navigation. They aren't really bright enough during the day, but come into their own at night and are therefore quite useful in ensuring you don't take a wrong turn.

Other Features

The CM310 is marketed as a converged gadget device, so it's not limited to navigation. While the extra features are a nice touch, none of them do an outstanding job. There aren't any major issues, but if you are looking for a portable multimedia player first and foremost, then there are better options on the market. That said, the combination of all these features in addition to navigation makes for a very solid device.

The most convenient thing about the CM310 is the fact that users receive a bonus 1GB SD card as well as an SD card reader when they register their device with Tyco, the distributor of the gogo. Multimedia files such as videos and music can easily be dropped and dragged onto the SD card using the USB card reader. Unfortunately, the CM 310 map data is stored on the included 256MB card, so if you want to use the 1GB card you'll need to switch SD cards and therefore won't have access to navigation.

The GPS antenna on the rear doubles as a desk stand to position the CM310 in an upright position, and this is an excellent aspect of the gogo's design. The gogo music player supports MP3 and WMV files, while the video player can only play AVI clips. The screen is unremarkable for video playback and photo display, lacking in clarity and detail, however it is adequate for the occasional holiday snap or music video. Our main issue with the CM310 as a multimedia player is with sound quality; both the speakers on the rear of the unit and the included headphones are of below average quality. We could only listen to the speaker on low volumes, as an increase to higher volume reveals notable distortion. A 3.5mm jack is included however, meaning you can use your own headphones or a third party pair of speakers, which helps rectify this problem. The gogo also features a calculator, world clock and a basic game titled Othello.

Design

The gogo CM310 has a straightforward, simple interface with clearly labelled icons. They aren't animated, but the bright orange background and white logos gives a sleek, clean feel, meaning the interface is ideal for first time users. The best feature of the interface is speed; the CM310 is fast to operate and we didn't experience any long load times when opening and closing applications.

The 3.5in, 320 x 240 pixel LCD makes it fairly easy to navigate through the unit, and a stylus is housed at the top if you don't want to use your finger. The screen is adequate, but it isn't as bright and clear as some competing models. Sunlight glare wasn't an issue though, as we managed to see the screen clearly regardless of the conditions. The gogo features dedicated buttons for menu, screen on/off, and zoom in/out controls, and these are to the left and right of the display. There is also a convenient, but small volume control on the right side, while a tiny power button sits on the left side. A standard 3.5mm headphone jack and DC input are also included.

The CM310 also comes packaged with a 256MB SD card that has preloaded maps of Australia, a USB card reader, window mount, headphones, an AC adapter, a car charger and a carry case. gogo doesn't supply battery life figures, but we averaged about three to four hours of use on a full charge which is about average. Also worth noting is the special offer at the time of review; any Australian P-Plate drivers who have received their licence in the last 12 months are entitled to $100 cash back when they purchase the gogo.