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Navigadget: Magellan just introduced a new RoadMate GPS with WiFi, called the Magellan RoadMate 5175T-LM GPSnavigation device.

The new GPS navigation system is already available for purchase for $300. It comes with a 5″ touch screen and WiFi connectivity. With the Wifi you get a built-in internet browser that lets you search for destinations on popular social travel sites or points of interest. You can also check for software or map updates and download them right there and then. (more…)

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DVice: Google has just released its free navigation software for mobile phones running Android 2.0, much to the chagrin of the big names in the GPS game.

While folks like Garmin and Magellan have plenty to fear, even companies that use an iPhone app have to be worried too, because this, like most things Google, is just so much cooler than anything out there.

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Garmin has tried to break out of the GPS-only world with its own phone partnership, but it seems to be way too little, too late in that market.

Magellan doesn’t even have a dog in the phone fight. Many companies are going the app route, but given the popularity of anything related to Google, it’s gonna be tough to compete.

One thing’s for sure: say “electronic maps” to anyone, and the first name they think of is the big G. While currently only available on the Android 2.0 system, Google has made it clear that it’s willing to play on the iPhone if Apple will allow it.

New smartphones have been announced by Motorola and Verizon that will be running Android 2.0 and Google Maps for Mobile, which the navigation service is a part of.

You have to wonder if anyone is going to buy a standalone GPS when so many navigation programs are available on phones?

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Electronista: Magellan has officially unveiled its first significantly redesigned GPS unit in recent years. As seen at the FCC, the Maestro 4700 is significantly slimmer than most other models even with its larger 4.7-inch touchscreen.

It’s also Magellan’s most advanced with 3D landscapes, Bluetooth calling and predictive traffic alerts that offers to reroute based on usual road congestion patterns.

The company’s mapping hardware also has an upgrade in software, with more space for bookmarked locations as well as a new address book, larger fonts that are more readable at driver’s seat distances and a parking-friendly mode that remembers a car’s location and switches to pedestrian mode.

To accommodate the smaller physical size, Magellan uses microSD cards for storage.

The Maestro 4700 should ship for $300 (€215).

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Electronic House: For a while there, it was easy to get lost in the GPS market. Now the smoke seems to be clearing just a bit. Hot on the heels of Magellan’s announcement, both Panasonic and Harman/Kardon say they are also getting out of the portable GPS market.

Harman introduced the Becker earlier this year. Also, Panasonic will keep its Strada in-dash navigation line, says Twice. The economy has been cited in both decisions.

Earlier this week, Magellan announced it would sell its consumer line to Mitac, the makers of Mio. Audiovox, JVC and Cobra are a few of the others that recently got out of the GPS market. 

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CrunchGear: Magellan is moving past the highly competitive consumer GPS market.

The entire sector will be sold off to MiTAC International, the folks behind the Mio GPS brand, at the end of January ’09.

The future of Magellan’s three brands, RoadMate, Maestro, and Triton, is unclear but one thing is for certain: there are way too many GPS options available. Sure, everyone should have the ability to make their own products, but there are a lot of GPS units on the market.

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PC World: Magellan is outfitting some of its GPS devices with more advanced topographic maps that it hopes will attract off-road and outdoor enthusiasts.

The AccuTerra maps and come from digital mapping company Intermap Technologies, with which Magellan announced a deal in February.

AccuTerra maps include elevation information, classified trails, paths and roads, specific points of interest (more than a million, according to Intermap) such as campgrounds, service facilities, and landmarks, all with the outdoor fan in mind.

Magellan devices supporting the AccuTerra maps are the Triton 400, 500, 1500, and 2000 units, and the eXplorist 400, 500, 600, and XL units. Customers who already have one of these devices can now download maps for the lower 48 states plus Hawaii from the Magellan Web site, according to a statement.

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KansasCity: A study of GPS gear by Consumer Reports has rated Garmin International’s Nuvi 760 as the best personal navigation device on the market.

The study, published in the magazine’s June edition, gave the Nuvi 760 an “excellent” rating, describing it as easy to use with good guidance and a number of advanced features.

Three Garmin Nuvi navigators were named among the top five by the magazine. The Garmin 660 was rated No. 2 and the Nuvi 350 was ranked fourth.

The Go 920T from competitor TomTom was rated third. The Maestro 4250 from Magellan was ranked fifth.

“Despite the influx of several new brands and models, longtime GPS brands…are still making the best Global Positioning Systems,” the magazine reported in a release.

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NaviGadget: SnowRanger from Mountain Dynamics is a set of maps that can be downloaded to Garmin or Magellan branded GPS navigation systems.

They have the resort maps for 64 North American, and 420 European ski resorts which include everything from trails, chairlifts, parks, lodges, parking lots and much more.

North American version runs on both Magellan and Garmin whereas European maps currently only work on Magellan navigation systems. Also you can buy regional maps for most of the regions if you don’t feel like paying too much.

They work on Garmin Nuvi’s too. All you have to do is insert the SnowRanger memory card into your device, and check the box on the next screen to show ski maps. When you are on or near the slopes your nuvi will start showing the correct map.

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GPS Tracklog: just got an email saying that Magellan will announce a new line of handheld GPS units at the Outdoor Retailer trade show early next month. The wording makes it sound like they may be introducing a successor to their eXplorist ine. Magellan will introduce the units at Outdoor Retailer’s Open Air Demo on August 7 and 8.They also say they “will announce partnerships that will change the landscape of the handheld GPS category.” Marketing hyperbole? Probably, but time will tell.

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GPS Tracklog: Early this year, GPS Tracklog posted about the GolfLogix GPS, based on the Garmin eTrex platform.  It turns out that Magellan is into golf too, as evidenced by the SkyCaddie SG3 and SkyCaddie SG4, which are based on the Magellan eXplorist line.

The SG4 is showing up in a couple of different places on Amazon, where it is attracting (depending upon which page you go to) both good and mixed reviews.

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Engadget: Encyclopaedia Britannica is suing TomTom, along with Magellan for alleged patent infringement.

Encyclopaedia Britannica is claiming that the companies infringed on some of its patents for a “computerized map system.”

Exactly how that applies to these particular companies and not everyone else, we’re not sure, though we’re sure we’ll be hearing more about it soon enough.

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Navigadget: Magellan just announced the release of its new 2200 series for the European market. Magellan prepared the 2200T which we already knew about but also introduced a new version called the 2250T (pictured below) which will include the maps of all of Europe whereas the 2200T will only include selected regions and will be available in France, Italy, Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark as soon as December 1st of this year, and the rest of the continent in early 2007.

Both devices, which Magellan claims they’re the “world’s first rugged, IPX-4-waterproof car navigation systems” can be upgraded to provide off-road navigation and real-time traffic capabilities.

Both measure 12.5 x 8.5 x 2.6 centimeters with an integrated battery and antenna, and are equipped with voice and visual turn-by-turn guidance with a 3.5 inch color touch-screen display for easy viewing of the 3-D birds-eye map screen.

Magellan 2200T will cost less than 300 euro and 2250T will set you back 350 euro at most.

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