Two version of the Clarion MiND will be launched in Europe with the first planned for March 2009. Expect to see the same version as we tested over at MIDMoves [Video Overview] but with the addition of a DVB-T receiver for high-speed soap-watching. (Get it now before they ban it!!)

Recommended pricing has been set at a steep 799 Euro but remember, this is more than just a navigation system, it’s a complete car entertainment PC with Video, TV, Email, Web Browser and Clarion portal integration. A 3G version is planned for summer 2009.

Here’s a presentation video from the Clarion booth at CeBIT.

More information and news links in the Clarion MiND page.

Well I guess it wouldn’t have made any difference if the ClarionMiND (yes, one-word due to legalities) had turned up for my 5-country day-trip; there’s no flippin Euro maps on it!

Despite that, I’ve quite enjoyed familiarising myself with it because in terms of finger-friendly user interface, it’s a real gem. Carrousel style menu system and a UI that appears to run through the whole system. Only some sub-menus within applications such as the browser and email client escaped the skinning and overall it has been fun to test out.

The ClarionMiND is more a desk-to-car PC than a mobile internet device. At least in the form i’ve got it here. With the base model having  a tiny 6W battery (good for about an hour) and no 3G, it’s a case of having to teather it to a phone via a Bluetooth ‘DUN’ profile if you want to get Internet access. Fortunately the Clarion software is set up with that in mind and there’s a section of the settings menu just for that.

The navigation is top-notch with fast routing calculation, a relatively smooth and stylish interface and what I would say is going to be a feature that many people are going to want, live Google location search. When you’re in the navigation system and connected to the net, you’re just a few clicks away from searching for the nearest restaurant or museum and you can almost guarantee that the info is going to be up-to-date as a result. Add in the ability to transfer locations directly from a google map viewed on a browser to the Clarion portal for later syncing and you’ve got some key features that sets it apart from many other ‘stock’ PNDs. Easy access to MP3′s, videos (i’m wondering if the docking connector supports an external/rear monitor) weather and regularly updated news are also useful features. Add in the live traffic info and you’ve got yourself a a high-end bit of kit. If only it had been black instead of white

The video is also available as a higher quality WMV and H.264 version. At YouTube too.

More details on the ClarionMiND here.

I had a bit of fun with followers on FriendFeed this evening and unboxed the ClarionMiND live with photos going to Flickr. Flickr photos are here.

Follow me on Friendfeed or Twitter to get notifications of other silly events like this. I’ll be doing an intro video and posting soon though so stay tuned here too!

Transcript of the Friendfeed session:

Images going up into my flickr stream (will appear in FF too) http://www.flickr.com/photos/u… – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

Nice box. White. Guess what color the ClarionMiND is……white!! Argh! – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

Looks brand new. Tiny, tiny 6W battery. Looks like its not 3G-equipped. This is definately one for use between car and home charger! – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

Simple car suction mount included. Apparently a full mount with electricals is available as an extra. – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

universal 100-240v charger and 12v car adaptor included. – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

On bottom, docking connector. RHS: USB, mini usb, 3.5mm headset, DC-in. Top: MicroSD, Power, Antenna cover. LHS: Nothing. – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

Feels extremely wight. I mean light – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

Looking for US-EU adaptor. Its not charged….! – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

Booted in 60 seconds. Super screen quality. Wow! nice UI. Really. – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

This is the sort of out of the box experience i expect from a MID. I havent started up a single app but i’m getting excited. – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

I think this is a WindRiver OS build. I can’t remember off the top of my head though. – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

Photos are starting to appear in my FF stream now. – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

That is one ugly device i tell you – Joao de Oliveira(BassoPT)

The whole experience is very slick so far. Browser is the same as on Compal but goes full, fullscreen. – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

Theres a dedicated youtube app. This OS has so much more consumer focus. Nice finger-driven UI all round. – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

Ah. YouTube app would be good if it could actually play back videos smoothly. Fail! – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

Ahhh. Scream. The Calc is Xcalc. I was using this 20+ years ago on Sun2′s. Hasn’t anyone come up with a nicer calc in the last 20 years – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

Silent so far. Some warming but nothing bad. – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

Realplayer app is actually more than the silly folder-based audio player on Compal. No genre search though. Grrrr. – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

Midlinux version on the Aigo is all silly. Specially because is in half chinese half english. Even when you select english. Couldn’t take it even for a day. I have xp in it now. thanks to JKK – Joao de Oliveira(BassoPT)

Diving into the navi app…. – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

Nice weather, traffic info. Easy to read. Trying to get GPS to lock…. – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

As I suspected. No EU maps installed by default. Not sure if i’ll be able to d/l them… – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

Nice gps-enabled Google local search app. Works – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

BTW. If you’re on the LVI15 going north, Jam factor is 5 and there are 3 incidents! Not that useful when you’re 6000 miles away but good to know – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

No office suite. Not suprising though! Notepad app is probably good enough for in-car. – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

COntacts app links with Navi but I dont see a way to sync yet. – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

So, with no 3G, no local maps and a very tiny battery, there’s no really much I can do with this here. Will contact Intel and Clarion tomorrow to see if I can get some EU maps. – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

Hope you enjoyed the Friendfeed unboxing. It was a bit of fun of course. More serious posting along with video will follow on http://www.midmoves.com – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

The most akward thing about this…MicroSD. NOT finger friendly! – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

MicroSD is SDHC compliant. Looks like 12Gb on board. Having slipped in an 8GB SDHC its now got 20GB. Not bad. – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

Consistent, slick UI throughout all software is so important for the end user to give them confidence that they’ve spent their money wisely. Consumers need good feelings. Like kids opening the right present at Christmas and not the wrong color one! – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

This Friendfeed unboxing was funny lol – Joao de Oliveira(BassoPT)

Dedicated audio buttong on front pops up audio controls anywhere. Very good. – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

Nice image browser app. traditional mosaic layout plus cards-on-table layout where you can push images around. A bit gimmicky and slow though. – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

Is it suppose to come with local maps? – Rodfather

Its only available in US/Canada right now so it comes with those maps. Maps look good. Local traffic info (TMS over Internet I think) also good. – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

I like the Google maps integration. Seperate Google maps application with GPS support. I’d like this on my other MIDs please! – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

OK. Thats really it for this thread. I wonder if i’ll be able to find this in 12 months! I wonder if Google finds it. How do I export it…..! – Steve ‘Chippy’ Paine

via Friendfeed live unboxing of the ClarionMiND CarPC/MID….watch for updates below as I unbox. – FriendFeed.