Magellan
Latest
The best car GPS
By Eric Adams and Rik Paul This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. When readers choose to buy The Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here. After spending more than 70 hours researching the latest car GPS models and testing the top contenders over 1,200 miles of rural, suburban, and urban orienteering, we recommend the new Garmin Drive 51 LMT-S as the best in-car navigation device for most people. It's easier to use and more driver-friendly than the competition.
Magellan's new dash cam gives you a 340-degree view
GPS specialist Magellan has announced a number of new dash cams, including a high-end model with a hyper-wide field of view. The RoadMate 7670T-LM is a navigation system that also offers dual HD cameras, each with 170-degree wide-angle lenses. The idea is that you mount one at the front of the car and one at the rear to offer a video feed with a "340-degree field of view."
Magellan's Echo is a remote control for your smartphone
Magellan is a company known for its GPS products, so it might surprise you to learn that its latest smartwatch doesn't contain any mapping hardware whatsoever. Instead, the Magellan Echo works more like a remote display for your phone, streaming data from apps like Wahoo Fitness, Strava and MapMyRun. Once inside an app, not only can you customize what information is available on your wrist, but you can also assign buttons to control specific features on the phone - like your music player. Considering that it looks as unthreatening as an old-school fashion watch, we imagine there's plenty of scope for this to catch on.
Magellan's new RoadMate GPS stays relevant by including a dash cam
Dedicated GPS units may be less popular these days, but Magellan has figured out a way to justify their existence: strap a dash camera to the back. The company's upcoming RoadMate 6230T-LM DashCam can both guide you through unfamiliar areas and record video to an SD card, saving you the trouble of mounting two devices in your car. Magellan's hybrid design is also handy even if you don't need directions, since you can watch live video from either the built-in camera or an optional wireless backup cam. The new RoadMate won't ship until April, but it will also cost $230 -- a relative bargain next to purpose-built dash cams that offer many of the same features.
Magellan's Echo smartwatch now tracks your golf and skiing adventures
Magellan reckons that many smartwatch buyers are fitness mavens, and it's catering to that health-minded audience today with a big upgrade to its Echo Smart Sports Watch. The iOS-compatible wristwear now tracks data for a much wider range of activities beyond running, including golf, hiking and skiing; you won't need a dedicated device or special watch apps to get stats for that black diamond ski run. As before, the Echo offers basic control over both music as well as athletics apps like Strava and Wahoo Fitness. If you're interested giving the upgraded watch a try, you can pick one up today for $149 by itself, or $199 paired with a heart rate monitor. Android users should get Echo support sometime early this year.
Magellan SmartGPS review: further proof your phone is the only navigator you need
When speaking with executives from the Google Maps team earlier this year at I/O, I was reminded that Maps wasn't even a product in 2004. In less than a decade, one of Google's bright ideas has completely and unabashedly transformed the entire routing industry. (Avid readers will no doubt recall this graph, depicting real moves in the stock market moments after Google Maps Navigation was first introduced.) That development, coupled with the explosion in smartphone adoption across emerged markets, has left players like Magellan in quite the predicament. It wasn't that long ago that dedicated PNDs (personal navigation devices) were the gift to get for the holiday season. And indeed, many units from Garmin in particular delighted me plenty over the years. But the reality today is that PND makers have found themselves redundant. A few have resorted to innovating on the software side and nailing down partnerships with automakers and fleet-management firms in order to keep revenue rolling in, while Magellan has opted to create a new piece of hardware. That hardware, of course, is the SmartGPS. Rather than being a standalone PND suitable for mounting on one's dash or window, the device works best when used in concert with an accompanying iPhone or Android app (sorry, Windows Phone and BlackBerry users). In essence, the company is hoping that by creating a product that extends the functionality of your smartphone, you'll be inclined to hand over $250. After a week of road tripping through the US southwest, however, I'm inclined to believe differently.%Gallery-190765%
Magellan linking GPS hardware to smartphones with SmartGPS
Magellan has announced the nationwide availability of its new SmartGPS device. The hardware GPS for cars mates with an iPhone or Android app to provide the in-car solution with several advantages, including content from Yelp and Foursquare that's based on the user location and planned route. Live content includes fuel prices, traffic, local weather and traffic camera alerts. Rather than draining your cellphone data plan, the SmartGPS (which looks remarkably like a tiny iPad) is designed to cache the "heavy" content -- the reviews, photos and other data from Foursquare and Yelp -- via WiFi. The unit detects the wireless networks you've set up and will automatically connect when you're within range of your home or office WiFi. Downloaded content is kept up to date for your immediate area and the destinations/routes you program into the unit; you can also sync content via USB and a browser helper app on your Mac or PC. The hardware is initially available at Best Buy for US$249. The iOS app that provides the network links is free -- although it's not yet available in the US store, it should show up under Magellan's heading in the next week or so. You can find information for a destination on the Magellan app, then send it via Bluetooth to the GPS hardware in the car. The idea behind the SmartGPS is to blend the best parts of the smartphone experience with dedicated hardware. This approach will succeed or fail depending on whether people find the navigation solutions on their smartphones inadequate without dedicated hardware. Multitasking for music, phone calls or other activities while using your phone as a primary GPS unit can be annoying or dangerous, so there's something still to be said for an independent, but connected dashboard navigation unit. The Magellan SmartGPS has a 5-inch touchscreen, free lifetime map updates, traffic alerts, WiFI and Bluetooth radios and an AV input for connection to media devices and wireless back-up cameras. You can insert a microSD card for other media or data use. Consumers can upgrade to Premium SmartGPS apps for iOS, featuring turn-by-turn directions with voice navigation, for $49 with US maps / $59 with US and Canada maps. The iOS companion app will be available this month. iOS premium navigation upgrades are scheduled to be available in summer 2013. We've got a review unit of the Magellan device in-house now, and you'll see our full review soon.
Magellan's smartGPS navigator has built-in Yelp reviews, syncs with your phone (video)
It's no secret that the GPS business has faced an uphill battle these past few years. Thanks to smartphones there's less of a reason to invest in a standalone navigator, and while GPS companies have been selling mapping apps of their own, that doesn't quite make up for plunging device sales, now does it? Well, Magellan has an interesting solution: the firm just announced the smartGPS, a dashboard navigation device that's designed to work in tandem with an iOS / Android app. Naturally, both the smartGPS and the app have turn-by-turn navigation, so you can use either when you're in need of directions. But really, the device does so much more than that. Thanks to Magellan's new cloud service, all of your data -- recent destinations, etc. -- will get pushed across your various devices, including the navigator and mobile devices with the mobile app installed. (There's also a website where you can manage all of this.) By default, this syncing happens over your home WiFi network, but if you already left the house and are out of range, the smartGPS will instead use Bluetooth to talk to your phone. So what does this all mean? For starters, if you search for a restaurant on your phone, you can send it to your navigator so that you don't have to enter the address manually (and we all know how annoying that is). What's more, the navigator and app both have Yelp reviews and Foursquare offers built in, so if you wanted you could peruse reviews of cafes on your phone and then push the directions to the device. As an aside, it's neat to see user reviews built into a personal navigator, which isn't exactly a typical feature. It also seems pretty well-implemented: there are big, yellow stars indicating the overall rating, so you needn't worry about having to drive and read a two-paragraph write-up at the same time. By default, the driving map takes up the whole screen, so you can keep those Foursquare offers hidden if you find them distracting. The smartGPS will be available in March (price TBA) with applications for both iOS and Android. (Note: these won't take the place of Magellan's existing apps.) Turn-by-turn navigation will be a premium feature -- an in-app upgrade. That's all she wrote for now, but if you want to see the whole setup in action, we've got a demo video embedded just after the break. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Magellan unveils RoadMate GPS units with auto-replies to calls, earns fellow drivers' gratitude
Phone use while driving is still a serious problem in the US, even for those trying to quit -- which makes us happy to see Magellan doing its part to change travellers' habits. Out of five new RoadMate GPS units the company is releasing to the world, the Bluetooth-equipped, 4.3-inch 2255T-LMB and 5-inch 5265T-LMB models both carry a Safe Texting mode that can reply to any inbound voice call with a text, supplying either the arrival time or the promise of a call later on. All five of the navigators support a portrait view for more details of the road ahead, and the top two 5-inch devices support Magellan's $150 Back-Up Camera for delicate parking jobs. We'll have to wait until September before the RoadMates arrive, but the sub-$200 prices will be a relief to other drivers who want at least a few more eyes on the road.
Magellan eXplorist 510 Marine Edition sets sights on boaters, out in time for Talk Like a Pirate Day
Although the Magellan range of navigation devices is primarily used by landlubbers, it should be noted that the original Portuguese namesake for MiTAC Digital Corporation's line of portable GPS units earned his reputation by navigating on water. As such, the release of the new Magellan eXplorist 510 Marine Edition for boaters can be considered to be quite fitting. Fresh from releasing seven new Roadmate GPS units, Magellan's latest addition to its eXplorist line boasts custom Navionics charts and data for US coastal waters up to two miles offshore. It also has information for inland waters -- including high-definition content for 12,000 lakes. Other features for the waterproof navigation device include a built-in camera and 3-inch color touchscreen that's readable in direct sunlight. The release of the eXplorist 510 Marine Edition is pegged for August at MagellanGPS.com and authorized dealers, with a suggested retail price of $479.99. For more info, go ahead and wade into the obligatory PR after the break.
National Geographic TOPO! maps find their way to Magellan eXplorist GPS devices
If you're more about the mountainous views, than Mountain View, then you might be pleased to hear that Magellan is bringing National Geographic's TOPO! maps to its eXplorist range of outdoor GPS devices. More specifically the 310, 510, 610 and 710 models. If you like the sound of the full color USGS topographic maps, then they are available on a subscription basis for $30 a year. If you don't already own a Magellan device, however, then you might be more interested in one of the forthcoming TOPO! bundles, if you can find your way to a retailer that is.
New Magellan RoadMate GPS units navigate by landmarks, steer clear of pesky traffic cameras
It's been a long while since Magellan comprehensively updated its RoadMate GPS mapping units, so the company's making up for lost time in style by introducing no less than seven new models in one shot. The RoadMate 2210, 2210T, 2220-LM, 2230T-LM, 5220-LM, 5230T-LM (pictured) and 5235T-LM all bring in a new Landmark Guidance option to give directions based on landmarks, not just those occasionally impenetrable street numbers. Traffic Camera Alerts are just as new and help you stay on the sunny side of the law when speed cameras and traffic light cameras are nearby, albeit at the cost of $30 a year after the first year is up. As Magellan is wont to do, the new GPS range is dictated by screen size and what features you'll get for life: the 2200- and 5200-series units carry respective 4.3- and 5-inch screens, while the LM and T badges signify lifetime map updates and traffic alerts. The range's prices start off at $100 for a RoadMate 2210 and scale up to $170 for a fully decked-out 5235T-LM.
Magellan Switch, Switch Up GPS watch hands-on (video)
It's hard not to think about personal health when you're at the Garden of Eden that is CES -- which is why we were especially keen to get our hands on Magellan's new Switch and Switch Up GPS watches. Designed with runners, cyclists and athletes in mind, these wearable devices sport a 1.26-inch display, which you can use to keep track of your distance, speed and a variety of other metrics. Both are also available with an accompanying heart monitor, and the Switch Up, in particular, comes with a Multisport Mounting Kit, which should help ease those triathlon terrain transitions. We got the chance to spend some time with the Switch and Switch Up, and we've got the video to prove it. Watch it for yourself, post-break.
Magellan's rough'n'tough Explorist 110 available today for $130
Magellan's eXplorist 110 is the sort of ruggedized GPS unit that the Bear Grylls crowd can get behind. It's the new waterproof entry-level model that's got chunky rubber buttons and GPS accuracy to around 15 feet. Pre-loaded with a world map, it'll consume two AA batteries for an 18 hour charge and can be hung around your neck with a lanyard. You'll even be able to set a breadcrumb trail for trying to find your car in a busy lot. It'll set you back $130 and it's available to grab from the company's online store as we speak.
Magellan announces RoadMate RV9145 GPS device, offers campground navigation for $350
Looking to get a jump start on your summer road trip? Magellan wants to help out, with the RoadMate RV9145. This latest addition to the RoadMate family of GPS devices features an "extra-wide" seven-inch display, which drivers can use to locate campgrounds and navigate the open road, even in low light conditions. With the RV9145, you'll have access to the Good Sam Trailer Life RV Parks & Campground Directory, which offers information on more than 11,700 campground locations across the US and Canada, including those with WiFi and other amenities. Each route, moreover, can be tailored according to your vehicle's height, width and weight, as well as your own preferences for scenic or expedient traveling. The device also comes packed with Magellan's Smart Detour, which offers alternate routes whenever traffic gets unexpectedly thorny, and offers both 2D and 3D mapping capabilities. No word yet on when this device will hit the market, but when it does, you'll be able to grab it for $350.
Magellan unveils Switch, Switch Up GPS watches for runners, swimmers, extremists
Magellan is tossing its hat into the sporty ring today, with the Switch and Switch Up -- a pair of GPS watches designed for number-crunching runners, cyclists and other endurance enthusiasts. Boasting a petite, 1.26-inch display, these petite devices allows joggers to monitor and record their distance, pace and elevation, thanks to a sensitive GPS receiver that promises an accuracy range of between three and five meters. Its onboard ANT+ wireless technology, meanwhile, provides biometric and performance data culled from an optional heart rate monitor or a variety of other accessories, including bike sensors and power meters. Swimmers can take solace in the fact that the Switch is water resistant at depths of up to 50 meters, while truly hardcore Ironmen and women will be happy to know that they'll be able to store up to 60 hours' worth of data on the watch, which promises up to eight hours of battery life while in workout mode. The Switch Up, pictured above, offers many of the same benefits, but features a vibration-based alert system and ships with a multi-sport mount for bikers and triathletes. Magellan has yet to announce a release date for these watches, though the Switch will be priced at $250, or $300 with the heart rate monitor. As for the Switch Up, it'll cost you $300 (including the accompanying Multisport Mounting Kit) or $350, if bundled with the monitor. Head past the break for an extra image of the Switch.
Magellan's new RoadMate 5190T helps truckers find their way, like the do-dah man
Truckin'? Got your chips cashed in? Well then you might wanna put them toward the latest RoadMate GPS navigator from Magellan. Designed for commercial truck, bus and taxi operators, the company's new RoadMate 5190T boasts a five-inch color display that drivers can use to find the most pain-free routes from point A to point B. With the 5190T strapped to their dashboards, truckers will be able to set up customized routing based on their vehicles' precise specifications, while using Magellan's Highway Lane Assist feature to help negotiate more baroque highway interchanges or exits. The onboard information dashboard, meanwhile, provides constant updates on trucking speed limits, alerting drivers whenever they drift above a given threshold. There's also a tracking log that allows operators to store information on mileage, hours and other parameters, as well as a built-in speaker system that projects sound at up to 93 decibels. The device is priced at $380, though Magellan has yet to announce a launch date.
Magellan updates RoadMate USA with enhanced maps
The updated version of Magellan RoadMate (2.2) includes new features such as the most current maps available, red light camera and fixed speed camera alerts. The Junction View feature guides users through complicated freeway interchanges. A premium upgrade via an in-app purchase gives you live camera feeds and warnings about dangerous curves and school zones. You can also purchase additional voices for turn-by-turn directions. Magellan was an early provider of navigation software for the iPhone. The Magellan app has all the maps on board, so you will not use your data plan for basic navigation, although business searches and other special services will require an Internet connection. The app is available from the App Store at US$39.99 for the USA version, and $49.99 for the USA/Canada version. All existing RoadMate App users will receive a FREE update to the new version.
Wireless Back-Up Camera for the Magellan RoadMate checks your six
Most of us can get by with occasionally frequently checking our rear view mirror, but many bigger vehicles don't offer quite the same visibility. Hence the market for bumper cams in general and for Magellan's new Wireless Back-Up Camera in particular. The $150 add-on exploits the 7-inch LCD on your RoadMate 1700 or 9055, thereby avoiding the clutter of an independent system. The waterproof and dustproof camera fixes to your license plate and connects to a transmitter in your trunk, which then beams the feed to a receiver attached to your GPS. The system activates automatically when you go into reverse and boasts a 120-degree field of view, 45-degrees of vertical angle adjustment and a 45-foot range. The PR with full details is just a click away. Oh, and it helps if you remember to brake.
Magellan RoadMate 5175T-LM connects to WiFi, plans your Great American vacation
How do you spice up a standalone GPS in a market that just isn't pining for 'em any longer? If you're Magellan, that's easy -- you take a smartphone, gimp voice and app capabilities and, voila!, you have the RoadMate 5175T-LM. Eerily similar to its Garmin rival, this slab boasts a full WVGA display, WiFi (you know, for that inbuilt web browser) and AAA travel planning. Purportedly, those fine, fine amenities will enable you to "go from the car to the boardroom to the hotel," and maybe even on that cross-country trip, too. Judging by its built-in tour guide functionality and heavy emphasis on the suit-and-tie demo, we'd say Magellan's aiming this one at the fifty and over set. This shortlist of features doesn't come cheap, either -- with a $299.99 price tag, we'd understand if your wallet was eyeing greener pastures. Full PR gush after the break -- you're welcome, GPS enthusiasts.
