Magellan Premium Car Kit

~ Leesa

Ever get lost on the way to the trailhead?  Most people worry about getting lost IN the woods.  Me?  I’d be more likely to get lost on the way.  I have an iPhone, and rely on it for taking pictures, maps and the calendar (rarely use the phone itself).  When Magellan approached me about reviewing the Premium Car Kit, I was intrigued.

Description from Magellan:

• Built-in GPS receiver enhances performance A powerful, sensitive built-in GPS receiver provides fast and accurate directions every time.
• Turns your iPod touch into a GPS navigator* The built-in GPS receiver transforms your iPod touch into a full-featured GPS navigator with real-time, turn by turn directions.
• Works with most navigation or location-based apps* While optimized for the Magellan RoadMate app for iPhone, the cradle is compatible with most GPS navigation apps.
• In-car charging The cradle automatically powers and charges when connected. No need to worry about running out of battery.
• Noise-cancelling, hands-free speakerphone Full duplex speakerphone for crystal clear calls.
• Powerful, amplified speaker Use the volume control for loud and clear voice guidance.
• Secure, adjustable vehicle mounting Quickly secure the cradle to your windshield or dashboard and easily adjust for portrait or landscape viewing.
• Fits hard shell cases or silicon skins Accommodates most cases or skins for maximum flexibility when inserting into the cradle.

Magellan Premium Car Kit Cradle, from magellangps.com

DEVICE

• Dimensions (English)6.1″ x 5.8″ x 2.8″
• Dimensions (Metric)154.94mm x 147mm x 71mm
• Weight (English).8 lbs
• Weight (Metric)362.9g
• SpeakerYes
• Stereo Audio JackYes
• Temperature Range (F)14F to 158F
• Temperature Range (C)-10C to 70C

Once I opened the box that the Car Kit came in, I was able to connect it to my windshield in my car.  The suction cup holds amazingly well.  The cradle (the part that holds my phone) is easy to adjust so that I can easily see the phone.  I was equally impressed with how quickly I could then tighten the adjustment so that it did not move around once I found the right angle.   According to the directions, the Car Kit can also be mounted on the dashboard – although mine is not quite right for that.    I’m very happy though with it on my windshield.

Some of the features I’ve taken notice of already:

Hands free phone calls – I love being able to just click the ‘answer’ button and then ‘speaker’  and talk hands free.

Music – Now I can listen to the music on my phone, and from my Pandora app while driving.  The small speaker ampliphies clear and loud enough to work ok while driving.  Its great to be able to enjoy different types of music while driving long distances, without playing the station game.

Charging my battery – I like being able to charge the phone while driving, and without have a tangle of wires.

Maps – Having the Premium Car Kit hold the phone steady allows me to be able to read a map without fumbling around.  I have not received the Magellan RoadMate app for iPhone yet, but will update this review once I’ve had a chance to use them together.  Right now, I am using the map app that came with the iPhone.

I’m looking forward to using the Car Kit and Magellan RoadMate together and seeing how they work together.  I have some familiarity with using a GPS, and am curious as to how the Car Kit and RoadMate stack up.  Most of my GPS software is trail based, I’ll be interested in using the RoadMate and seeing if it keeps me from getting lost on the way to the trail!

Check back soon for an update, and a look at  the Magellan RoadMate app for iPhone.

Update  5/15/2011

I’ve been using the Magellan RoadMate app and Car Kit for about a month now, and its proven to be a great aid in getting me from point A, to point B (and C and D).  The Car Kit itself works well to keep my phone positioned so it is easy to see, without obstructing my view of the road.  A few small issues have occurred, but are not bothersome enough to make me stop using it.  One thing that is odd – if the weather changes too quickly, the suction releases the Car Kit from my window.  In Maine, it is not unusual to gain 30 degrees in a day.  Mornings in the spring are often just at the freezing point and can reach 60 F by mid-day.   The first time I came out of work and the Car Kit was not stuck to my window I panicked.  I thought it had been stolen.  When I got into the car I found it on the floor.  It happened 2 more times after that in similar weather.  Now that are temps are staying above freezing, it hasn’t happened again.  I’ll mention – it didn’t happen when the temps were staying below or close to freezing either, so I am assuming it is the change in temps that causes this to happen.  Also – it has never happened while the phone is in the cradle.

The one other issue has been that I have to ‘wiggle’ the phone onto the cradle.  It is easy to do two handed, but not with only one hand.  The only time that this has happened is if I need to use the phone while it is not in the cradle (for privacy) and then try to return it to the cradle while driving.  I now just wait until I stop to replace it.  Its probably safer anyway to just wait.

Now that I’ve mentioned those things, I’ll focus on all the wonderful features!  Atlanta – the reason I bought an iPhone in the first place.  I can now get out of the airport and to my hotel or work site without driving in circles and wanting to scream!  So easy to punch in the addresses, and have the RoadMate guide me.  In is so simple, that it amazes me how accurate it is.  For those of you who may accidentally go over the speed limit – it will gently remind you one time you are over the speed limit.  It gives you 3 warnings about upcoming turns.  First at 1/2 mile, then 1/4 mile and then as you approach it.  If you miss a turn, it will automatically recalculate the directions.

At home I punched in the address for a trail head I wanted to find and didn’t think I’d find it with the RoadMate, but hoped I’d get close.  It was off a dirt road that had been abandoned by the town.  I was amazed again when the directions took me right to the road, and within feet of the trailhead.   I’m looking forward to using this more during the summer, once school is out and I look for some more remote places to go hiking and kayaking.

Some of the features I’ve used:

Screen Shot of main screen, Magellan RoadMate iPhone App

Address: Type in your destionation, starting with the state and then city.  The App automatically gives you available options.  For instance, looking for Bobby Brown Road in Atlanta, Georgia. I typed Georgia, then selected ‘A’ for Atlanta, and then just touched ‘Atlanta’.  It then asked for the street, and I selected ‘B’, it then only gave me letter options of possible streets.  I selected ‘O’ and Bobby Brown showed up.  I selected it, and I then could select the number range of street address.  It saved a lot of typing, and I was sure the address was accurate.

Previous Destinations: On my next visit to Atlanta, I could tap on ‘Previous Destinations’ and then just select ‘Bobby Brown Road’, and it would automatically load the directions from where I was currently.

Points of Interest: I’ve used it to find restaurants, gas stations, and ATM machines.  It lists then in order of how close they are to your current location.  Makes finding things when out of town so simple!  My only issue has been that the closest restaurant to where I was the first time I used it happened to be inside the airport.  I didn’t realize that from the address given and was to the airport entrance by the time it dawned on me where we were headed.  It just goes to show that RoadMate displays the facts, and the user needs to pay attention also.

Contacts: This is linked to your contacts on your phone.  I do not see a way to have it give directions to the contacts automatically.

Return Home:  Reverse directions, or how to get home from wherever you are.  Nice feature, especially if you’ve been out driving around a lot and may be a bit lost.

I haven’t used the Emergency feature, but it gives you the closest hospital, police, repair facility and your current location.  I can see the last choice being vitally important in an emergency.   You can save trips, and find the city center also.

Screen Shot of Map

I am very impressed with all the features and especially the maps.  I am very visual – I like to ‘see’ where I am going.  The maps are clear and yet offer a lot of information as to side roads, exits and road services.  There is quite a bit of information in this App, and I am sure I will discover more uses for them as I continue to use it.  More to come in about a month – stay tuned!

Be Sociable, Share!

•