Magellan
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Magellan intros 4.7-inch RoadMate 1475T PND for $299
Magellan's been on somewhat of a hiatus since being taken away by MiTAC, and while an unassuming FCC find has shown that it's still alive and well, we're thrilled to see the company's second actual product announcement in over half a year. The RoadMate 1475T is, for all intents and purposes, a refreshed RoadMate 1470 with a traffic receiver, though said traffic receiver works without any monthly fees. It features a 4.7-inch WQVGA anti-glare display, AAA TourBook listings, six million POIs, spoken street name guidance, highway lane assist, QuickSpell and NAVTEQ maps of the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. Not too shabby for just $299, wouldn't you say?
Maestro 4700 slips by FCC, proves Magellan still has a pulse
We know things may not be all hunky-dory in the world of PNDs, but seriously Magellan, you owe us an explanation here. After MiTAC snapped up the outfit's consumer products division way back in December of last year (yeah, half a year ago), we've heard absolutely zilch since. Until today, naturally. If documentation found in the always-telling FCC database is to be believed, it looks as if the long standing Maestro line is about to grow another member. The Maestro 4700 user handbook explains that the unit will boast support for voice commands, a OneTouch user interface, Bluetooth, traffic alerts and a presumed 4.7-inch display. We'd expect the company to come clean with an official price and release date in short order. [Warning: PDF read link][Via GPSTracklog, thanks Rich]
MiTAC buys Magellan consumer products division: 'take it away, Maestro'
MiTAC already did a bit of GPS reshuffling to start the year off, and now it seems a bit more of that will be required. Magellan -- the makers of the RoadMate, Maestro and Triton navigation systems -- has entered into a "definitive agreement to sell its consumer products division to MiTAC International," which goes a long way in explaining why development was suddenly halted last month on the promising Maestro Elite 5340 connected GPS. The deal is expected to close in January, and financial terms aren't being publicly disclosed at present time. So, what's this mean for both outfits at CES next month? It's hard to say, but we wouldn't count on a whole lot of new PNDs from Magellan. Hear that TomTom? You've got some slack to cover.[Via GPSTracklog, thanks Rich]
Magellan suspends development on Maestro Elite 5340 connected GPS
First comes the fallout at Dash, and now this. Apparently GPS manufacturers are finally caving to the realization that the vast majority doesn't want yet another monthly fee tacked on in the form of a connected GPS -- particularly when so many of the non-connected navigators work so well. TWICE has it that Magellan has "suspended development" on its Maestro Elite 5340 with Google Local search, noting that even though it "believes there is great promise in connected navigation, in the near term, consumers have shown an unwillingness to pay a steep price for PNDs, especially with the recent economic downturns." If you'll recall, we actually toyed with this very unit back at CES, and sadly, it seems those hands-on shots are as close as any citizen outside of the company will ever get to it.[Via GPSTracklog]
Magellan introduces 4.3-inch Maestro 4370 navigator
It's been a solid tick since we've seen a new Maestro, but the latest and greatest from Magellan is here to help navigate you into the nearest body of water, bridge or narrow lane. The unit offers up a 4.3-inch WVGA display, Bluetooth (and thus, handsfree calling), a built-in AAA TourBook, QuickSpell, rechargeable battery, integrated MP3 player, live traffic support and an FM transmitter. We don't really see anything super special here, but Magellan is mighty proud of this thing -- or, at least that's the impression we get from the $599.99 MSRP.[Via GPSTracklog]
Win a Magellan Roadmate 1400 satnav and 'Baja: Edge of Control' for the Xbox 360!
You love free things, right? Well, we love giving away things -- so that's kind of a match made in virtual heaven -- and let's be honest, in these dire economic times, you probably need all the free stuff you can get. Right now, we're in the extremely delightful position of being able to hand over a Magellan Roadmate 1400 GPS unit and a copy of the new Xbox 360 game Baja: Edge of Control, and all you have to do is leave a comment on this post. That's right -- so little effort for so much reward! Interested? Read the rules below!The rules: Leave a comment below. Any comment will do, though we'd love to hear how you plan to put this GPS unit and game into play (we're hoping not at the same time, of course). You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.) If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine. Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad. Winner will be chosen randomly. The winner will receive one (1) Magellan Roadmate 1400 GPS unit and one (1) copy of the Xbox 360 game Baja: Edge of Control. Approximate value is $310. Entries can be submitted until Monday, October 6th, 11:59PM ET. Good luck! Full rules can be found here.
Magellan Maestro Elite 4350 wants to help you drive into your next lake
Let's not kid ourselves, navigation devices are the latest technological threat to our health and well being in the US, making them guest of honor #1 at the Engadget HQ. This particular people killer, the Maestro Elite 4350 from Magellan, includes a number of life-endangering features, like 3D landmarks, text-to-speech, voice commands, Life Traffic info and -- worst of all -- built-in AAA travel info. It's a veritable death trap. There's also historical traffic info, which lets you know how fast a certain road averages for certain times of the week, which sounds pretty neat. There's a 4.3-inch screen, SD card slot, Bluetooth and an FM transmitter. No word on price, but don't expect cheap.
Hands-on with Magellan's new 5340+GPRS connected GPS device and others
Magellan really isn't kidding around when it says it's targeting flush boomers with its new devices -- although its reps wouldn't tell us exactly how much GPRS service would cost for the new $999 Maestro 5340, they did say it would be upwards of $40 a month. Sure, the service -- running on the device-only carrier Jasper -- looks nice, and the optional $100 GPRS cradle is kind of neat, but we're totally at a loss to see who would ever pay that much for Google Local access and the ability to email notes to the device. We also caught snaps of the new RoadMate 1212, the ridiculously expensive 5310, and the Maestro Elite 3270 -- which sure seemed like it had plastic around the screen to us, no matter how hard the reps insisted it didn't. Sure seems like there's a gallery down there -- you know the drill. %Gallery-12984%
Magellan pumps out eight new GPS devices, openly targets rich people
Magellan's brought a small army of GPS units to CES this year, dropping eight new units on us, including the new Maestro 5340+GPRS, which features Google Local Search and the ability to send addresses and notes to the unit from a PC. Magellan is also bolstering the low-end RoadMate 1200 series with the new $299 RoadMate 1212 and $329 traffic-enabled 1230, and introducing the similar 1400 series (pictured), which mirrors the 1200 series but ups the screen size to 4.3 inches. The Maestro 3200 series is joined by the Maestro Elite 3270, which completely eliminates the plastic border around the 3.5-inch screen and delivers about what you'd expect for 499: text-to-speech, voice control, Bluetooth, and three month traffic data subscription. The real action, though, is the new Maestro 5300 series, which debuts with two models: the absurdly-priced $699 5-inch 5310, which Magellan's press release openly targets at flush baby boomers (over $2 trillion in annual spending power!), and features a three-month traffic sub and text-to-speech, as well as built-in AAA TourBook travel guide info. The 5310 is joined by the somewhat less crassly-opportunistic 5340+GPRS, which adds in a GPRS cradle for all that live data action. It's not clear what service all those bits are coming down over or how much it'll cost, but we'll hit up the Magellan booth and get some hard answers soon.
Magellan and Google buddy up for Maestro Elite 5340+GPRS
The GPS magicians at Magellan and the search wizards at Google have combined their relative (and also fantastical) talents to deliver the Maestro Elite 5340+GPRS, a GPS unit rocking some GPRS cellular capabilities. That wireless data's going to be put to good use, enabling things like real-time traffic (see ya FM traffic receiver of yore) and creepy Google functionality like pointing out the closest proctologist (just around the corner!). But all this fancy technology isn't coming cheap: the unit will retail for $1299, not to mention an as-yet-to-be-determined monthly GPRS fee. At that price, they oughta program in directions to your local poorhouse. [Thanks, Rich]
Magellan Maestro 3100 hacked to add file manager / media player
Although we've already seen Garmin's c510 / c530 get hacked up earlier this year, now it's time for Magellan's Maestro 3100 to head under the knife. The engineering David Goeken managed to personalize his unit with a custom splash screen, a beefed up POI file, a file manager for adding / sorting through applications and a full-fledged media player for good measure. Granted, there's a laundry list of known issues to go along with it, but hey, what fun is a hack without a little troubleshooting? Before hitting the read link and rolling up your sleeves, you may want to grab a meal and a few hours of rest -- you'll need the energy just reading through the how-to guide.[Via HackADay]
DS Fanboy Review: WordJong
Destineer's WordJong is not a revolutionary game, and it won't be on any Game of the Year lists. Due to its origin as a PC downloadable and its simple concept, the game is destined to end up as a relatively low-profile release. And, while Destineer may not agree with this, that's probably fine. Not every game needs to be a big deal and the subject of endless discussion in magazines and on websites. WordJong deserves to be as mellow in marketing as it is in play. But WordJong does at least deserve not to be buried under all of the more hyped releases in November. WordJong is the very definition of a solid game: it is easy to understand, easy to play, well-designed, and leaves the player with a pleasant feeling. It also provides a unique option for online DS gaming. In its simplicity, WordJong is the embodiment of the addictive puzzle game.
Magellan's RoadMate 1200 keeps the low-enders happy
If you thought Magellan's RoadMate 2000 series was low-end, you ain't seen nothing yet. Turns out, the company has oh-so-quietly released a (relatively unsightly) RoadMate 1200, which has managed to slip under the radar until now. Spotted online in a number of locations for less than $200, this 3.5-inch navigator features a QVGA touchscreen, a Centrality Atlas processor, QuickSpell / SmartDetour functions, 1.3 million POIs, NAVTEQ maps of the continental United States / Puerto Rico / Hawaii on a 1GB SD card and a rechargeable Li-ion that's good for around three hours. It's a real yawner, we know, but there's a decent chance this thing's pricetag could sink even lower on Black Friday with a little luck.[Via NaviGadget]
Magellan introduces the MobileMapper CX pro GPS unit
GPS and mapping might be ubiquitous now, but all those cute little devices still need to get their data from somewhere, and Magellan's got the answer for the pro-level GIS user with their MobileMapper CX GPS. The WiFi and Bluetooth-enabled CX can interface with remote databases, connect to other units, and even browse the web, while the phone-inspired interface lets mapmakers and surveyors log data one-handed. The CX runs an open version of WinCE 5.0, which Magellan touts as being easy to develop for, and features SD expansion for those data-intensive field excursions. No word on pricing or availability, but we're certain the five of you who need this thing are already on the phone -- or driving to the nearest reseller in your crazy map-cars.
Magellan rolls out 4200, 3200 series Maestro GPS units
Magellan's let loose a slew of new additions to its Maestro line of GPS units, including three models in the widescreen 4200 series, and four in the lower-end 3200 series. Coming in at the top-end of the lot, the $500 Maestro 4250 unit boasts a 4.3-inch widescreen display, along with support for live traffic information, text-to-speech functionality, voice control, and built-in Bluetooth for some handsfree calling. The Maestro 4220 and 4200 each sport the same size screen and slim 0.7-inch design but scale back on some of the features like live traffic info and voice control. Leading the pack in the 3200 series, the $400 Maestro 3250 will give you the same live traffic info, text-to-speech and voice control of the 4250, but in a slightly smaller form factor with a non-widescreen 3.5-inch display. Rounding out the line-up the 3200, 3210, and 3220 each pack 3.5-inch displays as well, but with varying amounts of maps and features depending on the model. Look for these to trickle out over the course of September and October.[Via GPS Review]
Rugged Magellan Triton 2000 boasts National Geographic maps
For those looking for navigational insight whilst trekking, Magellan's Triton 2000 should certainly fit the bill. Boasting a rugged, water submersible exterior, a two-megapixel camera, 2.7-inch QVGA touchscreen, digital compass, a barometer, built-in LED flashlight, and an SD expansion slot, this handheld GPS device even touts the ability to record and attach audio to waypoint files -- you know, so you can keep track of exactly how frantic you're getting as you venture off course. Furthermore, this gizmo is reportedly the first to offer "full, on-screen compatibility, usage, and display of National Geographic's maps," including its 28 TOPO! outdoor recreation mapping software titles that cover all 50 states. The Triton 2000 is slated to launch in North America next month and in Europe this October, and will retail for a stiff $499, but if you won't be needing all the niceties already mentioned, there's a full line of lesser-spec'd Triton devices on the horizon that are far more budget friendly.[Via GPSReview, thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Encyclopaedia Britannica sues TomTom, Magellan for alleged patent infringement
TomTom has already tussled with Garmin over alleged patent infringement, but it looks like the company has now drawn some ire from a slightly more unexpected source, with Encyclopaedia Britannica now suing it, along with Magellan and, somewhat curiously, American TV & Appliance (a retailer based in Wisconsin). So far, about the only thing that's known about the lawsuit -- which was filed May 21 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin -- is that Encyclopaedia Britannica is claiming that the companies infringed on some of its patents for a "computerized map system." Exactly how that applies to these three particular companies and not everyone else, we're not sure, though we're sure we'll be hearing more about it soon enough.
Magellan prepping CrossoverGPS 3150
Details are still pretty scarce on this one, but the folks at GPS Review have managed to dig up a few tidbits on a forthcoming addition to Magellan's line of CrossoverGPS devices, which are aimed at those who take the occasional trek off-road. From the looks of it, the big addition to this model, dubbed the 3150, is built-in Bluetooth, which was lacking from previous CrossoverGPS devices. GPS Review also speculates that a traffic receiver could come with the device as standard instead of an optional accessory. As for any other details, like pricing or availability, it looks like we'll have to wait for a more official announcement.
Magellan Maestro 3100 GPS gets reviewed
Magellan's recently unveiled Maestro 3100 probably caught quite a few eyes that were looking everywhere for a decent GPS system under $300, and GPSMagazine took the time to put it through the paces in order to give you a better idea of its true value. One of the biggest praises was (unsurprisingly) the price, as reviewers noted that the street price on this bad boy was actually closer to $250 at the time of posting. Furthermore, the thorough NAVTEQ maps, small and portable design, "improved UI over previous Magellan units," potent integrated speaker, commendable routing engine, and potentially most important, the complete lack of bugs or crashes garnered quite a few pats on the back battery compartment. Unfortunately, a budget navigation unit is bound to disappoint in at least a few areas, and the shorter than average battery life, chintzy windshield mount, lack of Bluetooth / text-to-speech / real-time traffic data, and quirky backlight left much to be desired. Of course, at the end of the day the folks managed to get where they were going without any major mishaps, and while it may not pack the luxuries found in high-end alternatives, the crew still chose to dub it "a bargain," but didn't hesitate in suggesting the Garmin nüvi 350 for those who can scrounge up an extra Benjamin.
Magellan launches Maestro 3000 lineup of GPS handhelds
There always seemed to be an inexplicable void between the Maestro 2000 and 4000 series, but now Magellan has finally filled that gap with the launch of the first two units in the 3000 lineup. Holding down the low-end, the 3100 navigation device sports a 3.5-inch QVGA touchscreen, SiRF Star III chipset, QuickSpell, turn-by-turn guidance, SmartDetour technology, over 750,000 POIs, and a three-hour battery life as well. Upping the ante a bit is the 3140, which mimics the aforementioned unit in most areas, but adds a few more niceties such as Bluetooth, text-to-speech, AAA TourBook information, handsfree calling, and an expanded map selection. Of course, there's nothing here to get overly excited about, but if something does manage to catch your fancy, you can snap up the 3100 later this month for $299.99, while the higher-end 3140 will hit in May for an extra Benjamin.[Thanks, Alloy]
