Magellan Roadmate Announcement!!!

[Rad99004]

The problem is Magellan has to pay to license map updates. There's no way these companies will continue to give away free map updates for the lifetime of the product. That is just a stupid business move. The days of lifetime free updates are slowly ending on the App Store. Developers have already realized that you can not continue to support these products forever. In the end, the App Stores upgrade policies will be no different than any other software.

Good point but at the same time how much will we be paying by the time we get the hardware kit? Over $200 and were providing the phone.

Have you looked at what the stand alone units are dropping to in price.

Some for $60.

I'm hoping the software will have better features and will make up for this.

I also believe the price has some free updates included.

Once Google releases the free GPS app if Magellan and the rest of the companies are not providing a better product and value then why would we buy the next major version.

So I purchased Magellan GPS last night and used it this morning on my morning commute to work. The experience was great and look forwarding to the new updates.

I was happy to see that it took me the normal way I would go to work unlike TomTom that tries to make me go the extra mile.

Keep up the good work Magellan.

If anyone has questions about comparison with TomTom and Navigon I can give you insight since I have purchased them all.

What features are missing in Magellan that Tom-Tom or Navigon have?

 

[navguy]

Have you looked at what the stand alone units are dropping to in price.

Some for $60.

I'm hoping the software will have better features and will make up for this.

I also believe the price has some free updates included.

Once Google releases the free GPS app if Magellan and the rest of the companies are not providing a better product and value then why would we buy the next major version.

Not to repeat what Maggie said previous, but I will for your benefit ... "software updates will be free" and "map updates will be for a small fee" ... now small is relative, but no navigation company gives away maps for free, in fact maps can be a bit costly, so if Magellan sells for "small" fee that might be better than most of the top satnav companies.

you mention low end navigation costing $60 ... keep in mind, you get what you pay for namely lower quality maps w/ limited POIs (thus lower cost); similar to copilot, g-map, etc ... there's a price-point for every customer

also, i'm not convinced that google will blow our socks off ... it takes time to get good at this stuff ... i agree that there will be price compression, but i'd be shocked if these top navigation companies get much below $50 for the base app over the next year w/o coming up w/ alternate revenue sources like add on features ... enough rambling

 

[djinn]

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So I purchased Magellan GPS last night and used it this morning on my morning commute to work. The experience was great and look forwarding to the new updates.

I was happy to see that it took me the normal way I would go to work unlike TomTom that tries to make me go the extra mile.

Keep up the good work Magellan.

If anyone has questions about comparison with TomTom and Navigon I can give you insight since I have purchased them all.

What features are missing in Magellan that Tom-Tom or Navigon have?

Honestly Magellan did a great job incorporating the big features that TomTom and Navigon have. The only thing I have noticed is loss of gps and lag when in route. Whereas navigon is dead on and never loses signal.

One great feature that Magellan does offer is the auto zoom with the map.

 

[Davoo]

Hi EDH667

Hi Davoo,

Yes, the App has a feature called "Current Location"
Steps from the map screen:

• OneTouch
• Current Location

I have attached a screenshot below:

Please let me know if you have anymore questions.

Thank You,
Maggie

Thanks Maggie. One more question, If I buy the app for my 3Gs will I be able to transfer it to the next generation iPhone when I upgrade?

 

[GeekGirl*]

Hi Maggie
Is there a trial period, as i really want to make sure it a good app, so many negative reviews on Navigon kept me from buying that App.?

 

[rKunda]

I've been eyeing GPS apps for a while now, leaning more toward Navigon than any other, with CoPilot being my number 2 because of price (but I'm not as happy with the reviews). I think this one might edge out the others to take the first position on my want list.

I just can't afford the $ right now, but this app is very appealing, as it having a company rep come to forums and answer questions. (This is always a plus in my book!)

 

[maggie-macrumor]

Thanks Maggie. One more question, If I buy the app for my 3Gs will I be able to transfer it to the next generation iPhone when I upgrade?

Hi Davoo,

Absolutely! If you purchase our App on iTunes, you are the rightful owner and are allow to transfer it to any iPhone/iPod Touch.

Thank you,
Maggie

I've been eyeing GPS apps for a while now, leaning more toward Navigon than any other, with CoPilot being my number 2 because of price (but I'm not as happy with the reviews). I think this one might edge out the others to take the first position on my want list.

I just can't afford the $ right now, but this app is very appealing, as it having a company rep come to forums and answer questions. (This is always a plus in my book!)

Hi rKunda,

Thank you for considering us in your GPS App search. If you have any questions at all, please just let me know and I will response asap!

Thank you,
Maggie

 

[djinn]

Anyone else notice the speed latency when in route? I switched my option to the speed and saw it going from 30MPG (which was my continual speed) to 6MPG, 9 MPG, to 17MPG until stopped at a stop sign.

Things I have tried are turning off my wireless and restoring my iphone; same problem.

Maggie, is Magellan aware of this issue?

Navigon and TomTom aren't experiencing this.

 

[Davoo]

Hi Davoo,

Absolutely! If you purchase our App on iTunes, you are the rightful owner and are allow to transfer it to any iPhone/iPod Touch.

Thank you,
Maggie

Thanks again Maggie. Sold!

 

[Rad99004]

Quote:
Originally Posted by maggie-macrumor
Hi Shane

All software updates will be free. However, map updates will be provided with a small fee. If this changes, I will let you know asap!

Thank you,
Maggie

I don't think any of the GPS Navigation apps have charged for map updates yet. I imagine the plan is to get a good user base first.

I feel sorry for the guy who buys the app and has the DLC option to buy the map update the next day.

I under stand Magellan has to make additional income eventually.

I just hope the map data and program data can be updated independently to reduce download size; the program continues to have improvements that go beyond the stand alone units;Magellan strives to be better than the rest of the pack.

 

[ShaneXman]

UPDATE:

I just received this email from Magellan...looks like the car kit really isn't coming out till January 5th (like Amazon says).

UPDATE:

I just received this email from Magellan...looks like the car kit really isn't coming out till January 5th (like Amazon says).

Maggie,

With that said, how do we go about applying that discount to my Amazon pre-order? It seems like it would behoove me to cancel the order on Amazon, and just order directly through Magellan. Please advise. Thanks again!

 

[LeonPro]

Received the email also today. Waiting for the release of the Premium Car Kit to supplement the app.

Maggie,

I have a question about the Premium Car Kit - what is the socket to power it? Does it have a mini USB socket to accept the power? The reason I'm asking is that I have hardwired my car with a mini USB to power my "other" GPS. I can plug that mini USB to the Premium Car Kit without having to use the one provided by Magellan.

Can you provide more information as to the power requirements of the car kit.

Thanks.

 

[ShaneXman]

Received the email also today. Waiting for the release of the Premium Car Kit to supplement the app.

Maggie,

I have a question about the Premium Car Kit - what is the socket to power it? Does it have a mini USB socket to accept the power? The reason I'm asking is that I have hardwired my car with a mini USB to power my "other" GPS. I can plug that mini USB to the Premium Car Kit without having to use the one provided by Magellan.

Can you provide more information as to the power requirements of the car kit.

Thanks.

Just a heads up bud, you can view a lot more detailed photos on Amazon...

Link: http://www.amazon.com/Magellan-Prem...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1260602222&sr=1-1

Judging by the photos, it appears as though the Magellan Premium Car Kit does in fact use a mini USB power connector...so your hardwired setup should be more than sufficient.

Closeup...

I hope this helps.

 

[LeonPro]

It does help. Thank you for the photos ShaneXman. That's a mini USB alright. Hopefully the power specs are standard for mini USB requirements.

Now, hopefully ProClip builds a part for this Premium Car Kit so it doesn't have to stick via the windshield.

 

[navguy]

Now, hopefully ProClip builds a part for this Premium Car Kit so it doesn't have to stick via the windshield.

Looking at the back of the mount (and this is probably a long shot), but I wonder if that ball and clasp is similar size to, or usable with, the Garmin Nuvi mounts ... ? Make for a lot of reuse on the fixed portion of the mount.

 

[LeonPro]

Interesting you said that because I was thinking the exact thing, but I just couldn't make it out in the photos. If that's the case, I'm currently using a Garmin Nuvi GPS in my car via the ProClip mount. I can just snap the old Garmin off and snap the Magellan on the ball mount as well as the Garmin mini USB to DC 12V plug.

Otherwise, if the ball mount for Magellan is a different size then it still should be easy for ProClip to create one.

 

[powerdog]

user manual?

Maggie, I'm very impressed with the iPhone app so far...much better than my old PND.

Do you plan to have a PDF manual available for download? It would be very helpful.

 

[ShaneXman]

It does help. Thank you for the photos ShaneXman. That's a mini USB alright. Hopefully the power specs are standard for mini USB requirements.

Now, hopefully ProClip builds a part for this Premium Car Kit so it doesn't have to stick via the windshield.

According to a question/answer early on in this discussion, and the product description on Amazon which states that it comes with an "Adhesive Disc"....I think there are other options for mounting this kit in the car.

Here's the previous post as well...

Hey Maggie I was wondering if you could give us some more info on the car kit?

1) what type of gps chip/reciever does the kit use?
2) does it come with adhesive disks so we can mount it on a dash board?


Thanks for all of your help, I will be posting a review later on after all of my tests.

Hi Jape,

1. Sirf Star
2. Yes, it does come with an adhesive disk that allows the user to mount his/her car kit on the dashboard

Thank You,
Maggie

 

[EDH667]

I noticed this on the Magellan website. It appears they will shortly have a Western and Eastern United States version of the iPhone app. I'm assuming that they will be very competitive (or less) with the $49.99 TomTom price for their United States version.

I found questions and answers on the Magellan website Knowledge base. It appears that the Premium Car kit will work differently than the TomTom car kit in a few different ways like being able to keep the Bluetooth connection after disconnecting the iPhone. It also appears that to remove the iPhone you may need to use two hands, different than the one hand approach of the TomTom kit.

How do I secure my iPhone or iPod touch in the cradle?

There is an adjustment block located at the top of the cradle with a knob (located in the back of the cradle) that will push the block forward creating a snug fit inside the cradle. To adjust further, remove your device from the cradle, pull the adjustment block out, rotate 180 degrees and place back into the slot (this will increase the thickness of the adjustment block). Your device should now fit snug inside the cradle.

How do I remove the iPhone or iPod touch from the Car Kit once it has been installed?

Release the retaining arm that holds your device in place. Press and hold the release button located on the upper right hand side (if you the front of the cradle is facing you), while holding down the release button slide the retaining arm up. Now you can lean the device forward and pull up after you have cleared the retaining arm to release it from the pin connectors at the bottom of the cradle (Do not pull device further than the cradle will allow you to. If you pull to far forward you may break the cradle's pin connector).

Can I undock the iPhone from the Premium Car Kit and keep my Bluetooth® connection?

Yes. After initially connecting your iPhone to the Premium Car Kit, you can easily undock the iPhone without losing your Bluetooth® connection.

 

[navguy]

How do I secure my iPhone or iPod touch in the cradle?

There is an adjustment block located at the top of the cradle with a knob (located in the back of the cradle) that will push the block forward creating a snug fit inside the cradle. To adjust further, remove your device from the cradle, pull the adjustment block out, rotate 180 degrees and place back into the slot (this will increase the thickness of the adjustment block). Your device should now fit snug inside the cradle.

How do I remove the iPhone or iPod touch from the Car Kit once it has been installed?

Release the retaining arm that holds your device in place. Press and hold the release button located on the upper right hand side (if you the front of the cradle is facing you), while holding down the release button slide the retaining arm up. Now you can lean the device forward and pull up after you have cleared the retaining arm to release it from the pin connectors at the bottom of the cradle (Do not pull device further than the cradle will allow you to. If you pull to far forward you may break the cradle's pin connector).

that sounds cumbersome - and risky for the pin connectors ... i'm sure it's necessary to hold different size devices, but you'd expect that once it's sized for iPhone (vs. iPod Touch), it would be easy to snap in and release ... doesn't sound that way

thanks for sharing!

 

[ShaneXman]

that sounds cumbersome - and risky for the pin connectors ... i'm sure it's necessary to hold different size devices, but you'd expect that once it's sized for iPhone (vs. iPod Touch), it would be easy to snap in and release ... doesn't sound that way

thanks for sharing!

Maggie,

Can you shed some light on this?

 

[maggie-macrumor]

Maggie,

With that said, how do we go about applying that discount to my Amazon pre-order? It seems like it would behoove me to cancel the order on Amazon, and just order directly through Magellan. Please advise. Thanks again!

Hi Shane

Please do not worry! We WILL do something for you! Check your inbox for the answer!

Thank You,
Maggie

Received the email also today. Waiting for the release of the Premium Car Kit to supplement the app.

Maggie,

I have a question about the Premium Car Kit - what is the socket to power it? Does it have a mini USB socket to accept the power? The reason I'm asking is that I have hardwired my car with a mini USB to power my "other" GPS. I can plug that mini USB to the Premium Car Kit without having to use the one provided by Magellan.

Can you provide more information as to the power requirements of the car kit.

Thanks.

Hi LeonPro,

Yes it is a mini USB socket and the power specs are standard.

Thank You,
Maggie

Maggie, I'm very impressed with the iPhone app so far...much better than my old PND.

Do you plan to have a PDF manual available for download? It would be very helpful.

Absolutely! We are currently doing some last minute editing before we make it available to the public. It will release shortly.

Thank You,
Maggie

Maggie,

Can you shed some light on this?

Hi Shane

There is an adjustment block located at the top of the cradle where the user create a custom fit for your iPhone or iPod Touch. We chose this design because we realize that not all cases and skins are the same. Therefore, this block will allow the user to choose his or her desired fit. In addition, it will not damage the pin connectors because the cradle's connector is movable. It allows the user's iPhone or iPod Touch to be angled in different degrees. If you are still confused by this, please let me know and I will try to explain by posting up some more pictures for you.

Thank you,
Maggie

 

[LeonPro]

Thank you, Maggie.

I think everyone will appreciate close up photos of the:

1. Adjustment block
2. Pin connector
3. Ball socket at the back

So we can get a better idea of how this will fit into our respective iPhone + cases as well as how it will fit alongside our current vehicles.

 

[cmascatello]

Please do not worry! We WILL do something for you! Check your inbox for the answer!

Thank You,
Maggie

Maggie-

Will this offer be an item that all registered users that pre-ordered on Amazon will receive or do we need special communication with you/Magellan?

 

[maggie-macrumor]

Maggie-

Will this offer be an item that all registered users that pre-ordered on Amazon will receive or do we need special communication with you/Magellan?

Hi cmascatello

Customers who pre-ordered their car-kit on Amazon must register their App on our website www.magellangps.com. Therefore, we can track customers from their serial numbers.

Thank you,
Maggie