Magellan's GPS Car Kit for iPhone and iPod Touch: $130, coming next month
By Darren Murph 
posted November 28th 2009 1:28AM
posted November 28th 2009 1:28AM
We heard earlier this month that Magellan was looking to one-up TomTom by outing an iPod touch / iPhone GPS car kit of its very own, but a few critical details were missing: namely, a price and a release date. Thanks to a new product listing on Amazon (capped after the break), we at least have a clue as to when this thing will be shipping stateside and for how much. If you'll recall, this one's compatible with the 2nd and 3rd generation iPod touch as well as the iPhone 3G and 3GS, and aside from providing a built-in speaker, charging capabilities and a noise-canceling handsfree speakerphone, it'll also work with any navigation or location-based app -- not just Magellan's own $79.99 RoadMate program. The unfortunate part here is that Magellan has somehow managed to produce a cradle that's actually more expensive that the ludicrously overpriced TomTom variant, but those willing to part with $129.99 can place their order now and look for a December 11th ship date. [Thanks, Mark]
The iPhone is nice, but man do I hate that closed-platform one-app-at-once platform.
I'm pulling for Windows Mobile to improve, but Android 2.0 is so nice.. I really think it's the setting the standard.
Also, if available on the iPhone, I'd skip this software and just use GMaps. $130 for this set? Pft.
Nice mostly irrelevant response.
@Information Central
IPhone users are known for that. VEEeery well known may I add.
And you people complained about TomTom's ridiculous price. Looks like its the going rate.
And it's an idiotic rate. For under $100, you can buy an entire Garmin GPS unit that's not much bigger than the iPhone AND has the entire map database loaded at all times. You don't need Internet access and you don't need to cache routes to navigate. Plus, you can use your phone for other things while you're using the GPS.
These phone add-ons are dumb.
@Information Central
You do realize that the maps aren't picked up over the Net with these GPS apps right? That's only with the AT&T Navigator app, the TomTom, Magellan, etc, all have the maps on the iPod/iPhone and don't require a constant connection to pick up the maps.
@Jaylittles531 Is there an app to punch yourself in the face for buying this, or will we have to rely on the trusty old fart app to get the point across?
Does it provide any built-in GPS receiver as with the Tom Tom one?
This kind of product seems so worthless now with the new Google maps navigation.. eh
@Dunts
It works with an iPod Touch. So how again is it worthless? Even if Apple approved the Google Navigation in the app store, you'd still need some type of cradle like this to make it work with an iPod Touch.
Once again people are going to start comparing this cradle which is HARDWARE with Google SOFTWARE app.
@SC40095 There's an even bigger problem, as you'll need an Internet connection for Google Maps Navigation to work with an iPod Touch. It streams all it's map data from the Internet, none of it is stored locally. I do see Google partnering with some hardware manufacturers and wireless carriers to create a dedicated PND that ONLY runs Google Maps Navigation and charge $10 a month to use it.
@SC40095 ok who on earth is going to use an ipod touch for gps navigation? Sure it may work with some crazy dock, but use a freaking phone. thats why they put cellular data on them
@Dunts
Spose so if you want to keep yer portable everything device (of preferred brand) on your lap while driving, not charge it and not have a GPS booster.
And finally as others have mentioned, get off on paying to have maps streamed to you.
I would stick to paper maps. But i can never seem to fold them correctly.
Palm Pre - Sprint Navigation = It come free with the phone and works like a charm!
Damn. I have a 1st generation iPod touch. I was hoping to get this... Guess not.
Why not just buy a GPS for the same price? Well, why have more electronics in my car if I don't need them? Not to mention they're bulky, not loud enough to play over my radio, and many lack a good UI. The iPod/iPhone would b perfect... why neglect the 1st generation iPod Touch?
@Greg7388
Because not everything can support every revision out there.
@Greg7388 You being concerned with it competing with the radio confuses me. Road noise could be a problem but a radio can be adjusted, even muted if need be.
@(Unverified)
I like listening to my music pretty loudly. If you're not paying attention, it can be pretty easy to miss the directions, and not turn it down in time.
This has some decent features, but why no 1st Gen support? The processor isn't much slower, it runs iPhone OS 3, allowing accessory to application support, so what's the problem?
@Greg7388 I wonder if you've actually used a GPS? The UI on almost all GPS units is unbelievably simple and easy to use. I don't see how that makes for a good argument as if somehow it's going to be more intuitive to use an iPhone with an app running as opposed to just using a very simple device that does only one thing.
@Bobbo
Yes, I have.
I've found the resistive touch screens to be horrible for quick typing, the menu layouts to often be mislabeled, and simple features to be buried beneath too many sub menus.
Of course, I've only had very extensive use with a TomTom, however, I've used many others, including Navigons, Magellan, Garmin, and Sony.
The app would be much like the device, however, I'm sure input would be easier.
I suppose the biggest reason would be that I'd rather carry around my swiss army knife of electronics, rather than something from every section of Best Buy.
I guess I never realized that the pre-3GS iphones lacked GPS. However, this is probably the most expensive way to add it. I just got a phone with GPS, and it does make google maps nicer, but the radio triangulation wasn't bad enough to justify this thing and its price.
@ERock
this isn't correct. the iphone 3g does not have a compass feature, it does have a gps chip. the compass feature is integral, however, to a gps system and this is why it's good to have a cradle that can actually orient itself.
I really hope that the Creative Zii comes out soon. It has GPS built in AND can run Android!
Mix in Google's Navagation = EPIC
Even if I had an iPhone, I would never buy another Magellan product again.
So if I understand correctly, the Magellan buffers the info or stores the maps on the Ipod Touch, right? That would be a nice way to save connection charges for europeans, especially when travelling to a different country.
built-in GPS receiver! That explains it.
I dont get it. Why would you spend this much money on such a add-on? Why not just buy a nice GPS for around the same price?
I have a better idea... why not use Google Nav for free???
Oh wait...Only Android does...
@hyperhype
Any one with some common sense would just buy a stand alone GPS unit with turn-by-turn functionality.
Why are the phone apps so expensive? Is it because iphone users are dummies willing to pay more?
Because all black Friday I've seen dedicated gps devices going for under $100
$129 keep dreamin - I know they're apple customers & are used to
it, but why gouge them so much. Wait til next year they'll be in "Big Lots".
Keep kickin that but Google, just wait for the iPhone app - just a lil more pressure for the gps maker stocks :)
To all the people who don't understand why you want the maps in the phone ...
- if you live in europe, you need to roam a lot while driveing from country to country ... it costs a fortune ... so 130 is peanuts
- for people who want a sub 100 dollar dedicated unit, they re rubbish,
most off them are stripped down of most POI are slow ... bad screen hardly readable, I could go on ...
For 130 you also get noise cancelation Handsfree ...
I have Navigon europe it is by far the best navigation I have had, and I had them all TomTom included ...
Oh and best of it ONE devices ... and yeah I can call and navigate at the same time ...;-)
@vdb
Look if I have the hardware and all their bringing is software and a fancy dock, then $130 is absolutely way too much money! A ripoff even.
@Bobbo
No it isn'y ...
- Noise cancelation handsfree costs around 60
- cradle with charger costs around 40
- ergonomics ... only one device and not two, with two cables sticked to wherever you find the place to stick it
- and extra gps for even iPod Touches ... and that for 30 bucks pretty cheap to me
Unfortunately, it's a tad too expensive. Shouldn't it sell it for lesss without the software?
It should also have a non-cradle version, for people who want to use it outside the car.
@(Unverified) dual electronics upcoming cradle might fit the bill, no pricing yet + bundled with gps software. their website says releasing end of November
I just bought a wicked Garmin for 149 CAD -
yeah, I'm trolling
....
Why wouldn't you just buy a standalone GPS with a 4.3" screen for that price. Oh wait, iPhone users are sucker for overprice shit.
The one thing that had me interested in this was that it is adjustable, so I don't have to take my iPhone out of it's case to plug it into this unit. The price does seem a little ridiculous though.
The Droid comes with Google Voice Navigation for FREE. Why pay $130 bucks for this? I guess if you want an iPhone, you have to pay up the wazoo to use navigation. Sucks to be you.
@gallery69 Google's gonna treat their own system better than the competition. It's the way things are. At least Apple has the ability to ask for that to be put into the next iPhone while customers still have the option to get TomTom or Magellan software.
Here is the problem with these docks. They use your dock port.
So if you dock your iphone with your car radio its destroyed by the GPS dock.
Roffle, only idiots spend that for an iPhone.
Let's be serious, I'd much rather put that money into a dedicated GPS.
This is stupid. I just got 4.3" Garmins for myself and my dad and they only cost me $100 each. I have no reason to shell out $80 for just software, Magellan software at that.
Wait can you do turn by turn directions with the iPhone/iPod touch's built in google maps? or do you need that new google maps navigation app (only available for android now ¬_¬)
What's the point of buying a 130 dollar cradle when you can just buy a nice full fledged Gps for that price?