This Lunar New Year, we celebrate the Year of the Rooster and according to Chinese astrology, the rooster is a symbol of protection and fortune. The Chinese believe that people born under this zodiac sign have the ability to discern what's coming, like to think more and have a good plan when dealing with things.
With over four million Chinese scurrying across the island, traffic jams and, inevitably, accidents are bound to happen. Getting into an accident is the last thing anyone would want during such a joyous occasion.
Ain't no thing but a chicken wing
Just like a rooster, the Mio MiVue 658 Wi-Fi sits atop a high perch and looks out for its loved ones. The 658 Wi-Fi is a 1,296p video recording in-car dashcam that features an all-glass lens with a 150-degree viewing angle.
An all-glass lens ensures video quality is maintained at its peak over the camera's lifespan; plastic lenses tend to deform over time under constant exposure to heat and distort video quality. The 658 Wi-Fi is the higher-end sibling to the Mio C-Series and boasts added features like a capacitive touchscreen and a quick access microSD card slot.
The Mio MiVue Manager allows users to view GPS logs and other information captured by the dash cam
What separates the 658 Wi-Fi from the C-Series is the extra features it comes with. Not only is it able to sync to a smartphone via Wi-Fi, it also comes with parking mode recording, which records while the car is parked - kind of like an overnight surveillance camera through the use of Mio's Smart Box Cable.
The Mio Smart Box Cable, which is an optional add-on purchase, monitors the amperage of the car's battery and cuts off the power when it drops below a pre-set value. This is a failsafe that the guys over at Mio have come up with to ensure the dash cam doesn't drain your car battery while it is parked overnight.
Another cool thing about the 658 Wi-Fi is that it is able to connect to the Mio MiVue Manager - a desktop programme that allows users to view GPS logs and other information captured by the dash cam.
Winner, winner, chicken dinner
Looking for even more features in a dash cam? Check out the Mio MiVue 698. This bad boy is able to record at 1,296p and 1,080p, and boasts an all-glass lens with a 130-degree viewing angle. In addition, the 698 comes with Lane Departure and Front Collision Warning Systems as an additional safety precaution.
If that's not enough, the 698 is compatible with the Mio MiVue A20 rear cam, which records 1,080p@30FPS and boasts an F2.0 140-degree all-glass lens. Just like the Mio C-Series, the 658 Wi-Fi and 698 come with a suction cup mount and a free 16GB microSD card, as well as a two-year warranty.
Both come with Mio's Smart Box Cable, which has a one-year warranty, and are able to support microSD cards up to 128GB. A 16GB microSD card allows up to 2.5 hours of video recording on both dash cams; half of that for the 698 if it is connected to the A20 rear cam.
How much does it cost?
The Mio MiVue 658 Wi-Fi and Mio MiVue 698 are both priced at $299 and come with a free 16GB microSD card. For a limited time only, NaviCom Technology Pte Ltd is offering an Ultimate Dash Cam Bundle for the 698 - which includes the Mio MiVue A20 rear cam and Mio Smart Box Cable - for $399.
It is worth noting that while these models have a plug and play format through the 12V cigarette lighter port, these prices do not include installation.
Installation prices range from $30 to $50 for the 658 Wi-Fi and 698 front camera concealed wiring, and $80 to $100 onwards for the 698 with the A20 front and rear camera concealed wiring (depending on your car's make and model).
For more information on the Mio MiVue 658 Wi-Fi and Mio MiVue 698, head over to http://www.mio.com/sg/.
From now until the end of February 2017, Challenger will be having a special promotion for Mio dashcams at all its major outlets, as well as its Hachi online store at www.hachi.tech.
