NaviGadget

MTI Micro last week unveiled a new embedded micro fuel cell prototype design for handheld GPS devices called Mobion. Mobion powered GPS prototype provides three times as much energy as GPS devices powered by four disposable AA batteries and can generate up to 60 hours of continuous power and provide weeks instead of days of typical usage.

This new Mobion powered GPS prototype also includes a USB interface, allowing you to use it as an independent energy source for a variety of purposes, including for recharging mobile phones, digital cameras, portable media players and other handheld electronic devices. The Mobion powered GPS prototype can be immediately recharged by refilling it with methanol.

Magellan RoadMate 1430 finally appeared on Magellan’s website after we announced the 1400 series back in January from CES 2008.

RoadMate 1430 is the top of the line product in this series featuring Live traffic capability which is not offered in RoadMate 1412 or RoadMate 1400.

This model also features text-to-speech feature, 4.3″ touch screen, and 6 million points of interests. Maps are from Navteq, and the Live traffic feature we just mentioned is free for three months.

Delay advisories along your route appear on the touch screen with details about the incident. Your Magellan GPS calculates your ETA based on traffic conditions and automatically offers a new route option when there’s a quicker way.

RoadMate 1430 is already available on Amazon for $400.

Magellan RoadMate 1425 is pretty much identical to 1415 but also adds a fully integrated live traffic feature and lifetime subscription to the service.

Here are the full set of features for the 1400 series:

• New 4.3-inch WQVGA full-colour, anti-glare touch-screen display
• Acclaimed, easy-to-use, intuitive user interface
• Fast and precise Centrality Atlas III GPS chipset delivering superior GPS performance and navigation
• 2-D and 3-D map views with auto day/night mode switching
• Trip computer and trip planner
• QuickSpell, which intelligently searches and checks spelling when entering addresses
• SmartDetour to route drivers around heavy or stationary traffic
• Postcode search: 7-digit postcode searches in the United Kingdom and 6-digit postcode searches in the Netherlands
• Pre-loaded speed-trap database providing known camera locations for each region
• SD card slot for maps
• USB port for PC connection and in-vehicle power

Magellan RoadMate 1425 will be available in Europe and retail for 279 €.

Magellan RoadMate 1415 is the new addition to the 1400 series which was announced yesterday in Hannover, Germany. The base model RoadMate 1400 was already revealed back at CES, and now they expanded the features by adding text-to-speech and including maps with full European coverage instead of regional maps.

Magellan RoadMate 1415 is priced at 229 € and is designed for the European market.

Magellan’s two way connected GPS navigation system Maestro 5340+GPRS is already available for pre-order for only $1200!!!

Maestro 5340 is the most expensive GPS navigation system you can buy from Magellan which offers a 5″ screen, text-to-speech, Bluetooth, live traffic information, advanced voice command for menus and addresses, 3D landmarks and 1,400 additional building displayed in 3D, MP3 player, video player, new screen and case, and OneTouch interface. The +GPRS version gets you upgraded Google local search and live internet access. Without GPRS it costs $1000.

Magellan plans on shipping the Maestro 5340 late April and there’s still no information on how much they’ll charge for the GPRS service. Also don’t let the slim profile fool you. The GPRS module is quite bulky and the FM traffic receiver is integrated into the car charger.

Magellan Triton is expected to be a big hit among hikers and geocachers with its color 2.2″ screen and rugged IPX7 waterproof design. Of course the price will be one of the best selling points for Triton 300. It is only $146 at Amazon, and we bet if you wait a couple months you can get it for even cheaper.

Triton 300 is compatible with National Geographic TOPO maps, and features new Magellan VantagePoint content management software. Another nice convenient feature on the Triton 300 is the fact that it uses two AA batteries.
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We got our hands on the Magellan Triton Comparison Chart that includes Triton 200, Triton 300, Triton 400, Triton 500, Triton 1500, and finally Triton 2000.

The Triton’s price range from $127 to $468 depending mostly on scree size, processor speed, availability of an SD card slot, and various other things which is shown in detail in this Magellan Triton Comparison Chart (PDF!). Did you know Triton 2000 even includes a 2MP digital camera and a flaslight?

Maestro Elite 4350 was not mentioned in Magellan’s recent press releases but we got our hands on their dealer spec sheets. It looks like we can expect the Maestro Elite 4350 to come out very soon.

First off the main screen has changed just a bit - as a result of the new OneTouch user interface. Other new features include Live Traffic Info, historic traffic data for over 750,000 miles of roadway in the 48 contiguous United States, including average speeds for every hour of the day and day of the week.

Maestro Elite 4350 also features voice commands and control, 3D landmarks, text-to-speech, and finally built-in AAA travel information.

As for hardware, Maestro 4350 features a 4.3″ touch screen, Titan GPS chipset, 2200mAh Li-Ion battery that can last up to 4 hours, SD card slot, bluetooth, and an integrated FM transmitter.

We don’t have any info on pricing but most possibly it’ll be over $500.

Magellan announced the new Maestro Elite 4370 at CES 2008 last week. The 4370 offers 4.3″ screen which they say is the most responsive out there and is the first true flat touch display since they’ve eliminated the plastic bezel housing.

Maestro Elite 4370 will feature text-to-speech technology that announces street names, Bluetooth capability for hands-free calling, pre-loaded maps of North America, Puerto Rico and Mexico and more than 6 million searchable points of interest (POIs).

It’ll be available first quarter of this year.

Magellan has a new addition to their Maestro lineup that is geared for people with bad vision and poor hand eye coordination… or ‘baby-boomers’ as they’d call them. Bad bad joke…

Maestro 5310 has a big 5″ screen, up to 35% increase in readability thanks to its larger map and font sizes, and a straightforward navigation experience.

Maestro 5310 offers built-in AAA Tourbook as a travel guide and roadside assistance, and is capable of receiving live traffic information (3 months subscription free with purchase). Maps cover the 50 states, Canada, and Puerto Rico and points of interest offer 6 million items in its database.

Magellan Maestro 5310 will cost $700 when it comes out first quarter of this year.