Magellan announced their ToughCase yesterday for iPhones (3G and 3GS) and late gen iPod Touches. It’s a shame to just call it a case, because it really is a whole lot more. The case is not only water resistant to IPX7 standards, but it has an onboard rechargeable battery and a SIRFStar III GPS chipset that will deliver the same legendary performance that so many GPS units have enjoyed over the recent years with this chipset.

So clearly this isn’t geared towards using just when you are in the car navigating with the Magellan RoadMate for the iPhone, but also when you are outdoors enjoying other pursuits; like hiking, kayaking or Geocaching. Not only does the case protect but it also allows you to use the touchscreen functionality at anytime. Priced at $199, the case will be available at major retailers and is already available at the Magellan Website.

Full details below…….

Magellan GPS today launched the ToughCase, a refined yet rugged protective case, giving iPhone and iPod touch waterproof capabilities, ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and outdoor professionals.

Available worldwide, featuring built-in GPS, ToughCase enhances the accuracy of location-based and GPS applications for iPhone 3G and iPod touch, while protecting the device and providing unmatched accessibility to all iPhone and iPod touch features.

“The ToughCase is the ideal solution for all outdoor users. From kayakers to golfers, mountain bikers to construction workers, it provides a level of protection and performance previously unavailable in other cases,” said Justin Doucette, Director of Product Marketing for Magellan GPS. “The ToughCase protects against harmful elements such as dust, rain, mud, water and snow.”

The unique case design allows 100 percent access to Apple’s revolutionary Multi-Touch user interface, allowing users to receive and place calls while the device is protected. The ToughCase meets IPX-7 waterproof standards, enabling the device to be submerged at a depth of 1-meter for up to 30 minutes. The integrated 1840 mAh battery will double the life of the device based on normal usage and the built-in high sensitivity SiRFstar III GPS chipset delivers up to 3 meters of accuracy.

The ToughCase is compatible with iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS and iPod touch (second and third generation). The ToughCase will be available at MagellanGPS.com and Apple Stores at www.apple.com. The ToughCase retails at an MSRP of USD $199.99.

ToughCase extends Magellan’s comprehensive solutions for iPhone and iPod touch, which include the Magellan RoadMate turn-by-turn navigation app and the Magellan Premium Car Kit – an innovative 3-in-1 vehicle mount for the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G and second and third generation iPod touch enhancing their performance as a hands-free navigation solution.

The Magellan RoadMate turn-by-turn navigation app is available for $49.99 from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore/.

Source: GpsLodge
Read more here:Magellan ToughCase for the iPhone and iPod Touch

Magellan announced their ToughCase yesterday for iPhones (3G and 3GS) and late gen iPod Touches. It’s a shame to just call it a case, because it really is a whole lot more. The case is not only water resistant to IPX7 standards, but it has an onboard rechargeable battery and a SIRFStar III GPS chipset that will deliver the same legendary performance that so many GPS units have enjoyed over the recent years with this chipset.

So clearly this isn’t geared towards using just when you are in the car navigating with the Magellan RoadMate for the iPhone, but also when you are outdoors enjoying other pursuits; like hiking, kayaking or Geocaching. Not only does the case protect but it also allows you to use the touchscreen functionality at anytime. Priced at $199, the case will be available at major retailers and is already available at the Magellan Website.

Full details below…….

Magellan GPS today launched the ToughCase, a refined yet rugged protective case, giving iPhone and iPod touch waterproof capabilities, ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and outdoor professionals.

Available worldwide, featuring built-in GPS, ToughCase enhances the accuracy of location-based and GPS applications for iPhone 3G and iPod touch, while protecting the device and providing unmatched accessibility to all iPhone and iPod touch features.

“The ToughCase is the ideal solution for all outdoor users. From kayakers to golfers, mountain bikers to construction workers, it provides a level of protection and performance previously unavailable in other cases,” said Justin Doucette, Director of Product Marketing for Magellan GPS. “The ToughCase protects against harmful elements such as dust, rain, mud, water and snow.”

The unique case design allows 100 percent access to Apple’s revolutionary Multi-Touch user interface, allowing users to receive and place calls while the device is protected. The ToughCase meets IPX-7 waterproof standards, enabling the device to be submerged at a depth of 1-meter for up to 30 minutes. The integrated 1840 mAh battery will double the life of the device based on normal usage and the built-in high sensitivity SiRFstar III GPS chipset delivers up to 3 meters of accuracy.

The ToughCase is compatible with iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS and iPod touch (second and third generation). The ToughCase will be available at MagellanGPS.com and Apple Stores at www.apple.com. The ToughCase retails at an MSRP of USD $199.99.

ToughCase extends Magellan’s comprehensive solutions for iPhone and iPod touch, which include the Magellan RoadMate turn-by-turn navigation app and the Magellan Premium Car Kit – an innovative 3-in-1 vehicle mount for the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G and second and third generation iPod touch enhancing their performance as a hands-free navigation solution.

The Magellan RoadMate turn-by-turn navigation app is available for $49.99 from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore/.

Source: GpsLodge
Read more here:Magellan ToughCase for the iPhone and iPod Touch – Onboard Battery and GPS Chipset

Magellan has announced their newest handheld GPS – one targeted at Geocaching, the eXplorist GC. With a color screen, easy to use controls and several customizations specifically for Geocaching, the new unit looks pretty appealing. The Geocaching customizations allow you to download caches into the unit, sort by their proximity to you, navigate to them and log them as found. The easy to see interface looks familiar to Geocachers and follows the themes that Geocaching.com has set up. The unit comes with a free 30-day trial to the premium Geocaching.com membership.

The eXplorist GC will operate up to 18 hours on a pair of AA batteries, and comes with a pair of light Lithiums; I prefer these to Alkaline when out hiking, especially on a multi-day hike when I bring back-ups. They are remarkably lighter than the alkaline ones and make a difference when unces matter.

The IPX7 waterproof rating will help you when the hike turns wet, while the customizable screens should help make the hike easier giving you the information you want in the moment. It’s carrying a USB interface, offers a 2.2-inch screen, and a SiRF III chip for 3-meter accuracy even in tough conditions. The price is $199 list, with no info on ship dates. Click the link below to walk through their product intro and leave your email behind to get notified when the units ship.

More at Magellan eXplorist GC

Full Press release after the jump…….

Magellan, a leading GPS brand, today announced the launch of the Magellan eXplorist GC, the first dedicated GPS device for geocaching that includes out-of-the-box paperless geocaching, pre-loaded with the most popular geocaches in the world, a brilliant color screen, rich graphics and an easy to use interface all packed into a rugged and waterproof device, that connects seamlessly to www.geocaching.com. The Magellan eXplorist GC will ship in April.

Geocaching is a high-tech version of a “treasure hunt,” where adventure seekers use GPS technology to hide and find physical objects, solve location-based puzzles, and share experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people of all ages and promotes a strong sense of community and support for the environment.

The Magellan eXplorist GC GPS receiver is made exclusively for geocaching with an intuitive interface and the ability to sort and search thousands of geocaches. The device has multiple fun and familiar graphics, such as smiley faces for logs and merit-based awards to show off your geocaching expertise.

“Magellan, a leader in GPS and navigation for more than 20 years, is pleased to introduce a dedicated GPS device for geocaching that exceeds the expectations of both novice and seasoned geocachers,” said Justin Doucette, Director, Outdoor Product Marketing for Magellan. “The Magellan eXplorist GC offers an amazing geocaching experience that includes a full end-to-end solution, from accessing geocaching.com to finding hidden treasures all around you to documenting your adventures and sharing with a growing user community of enthusiasts.”

Powered by two AA batteries, the device can provide up to 18 straight hours of outdoor adventure along with a highly-sensitive SiRFstarIII GPS chipset that provides 3-meter accuracy. Geocachers can easily mark finds and quickly add field notes. Additionally, the product comes pre-loaded with common outdoor GPS features such as waypoint creation, a worldwide basemap, active tracking and trip odometer.

The Magellan eXplorist GC GPS device will be introduced at an M.S.R.P. of $199.99. The unit will ship with a USB cable and 2 lithium disposable AA batteries. With the purchase of a Magellan eXplorist GC GPS device customers will receive a 30-day free premium membership to www.geocaching.com. Details and conditions of this offer are available at www.magellangps.com/exploristgc.

Magellan, the exclusive 2010 sponsor of Geocaching.com’s Cache In Trash Out (CITO), will host a CITO event in the San Francisco Bay Area in the month of April. CITO is an ongoing environmental initiative supported by the worldwide geocaching community, dedicated to cleaning up parks and other cache-friendly places around the world to help preserve the natural beauty of our outdoor resources. Details will be available soon at www.magellangps.com.

Source: GpsLodge
Read more here:Magellan eXlorist GC – Geocaching GPS

The most common handheld GPS question I get these days is about chipsets. People agonize about buying a unit without the SiRFstar III chip, partly because GPS enthusiasts like me have long sung its praises . So it’s time to set the record straight, or at the very least give you my opinion on the newer chipsets being used in current GPS receivers. First some background — up until couple of years ago, the SiRFstar III chipset was the gold standard for GPS receivers. Before this chip, reception in mountainous terrain and in other challenging conditions was often hit or miss. Manufacturers had to use the SiRFstar III or risk being ignored by the market. Then a patent dispute with Broadcom was settled, and not in SiRF’s favor either. Manufacturers began looking for high-sensitivity chipset alternatives, usually turning to MediaTek or STMicroelectronics. But are these new chips as good as the SiRF III? My take is basically yes. All high-sensitivity chipsets can pull in weaker satellite signals, which means shorter time to first fix and an improved ability to hold the satellite lock in difficult environments, but this can also result in more multipath reception errors. The firmware for these new chipsets was far from mature when first introduced; it is much more difficult to fine tune firmware for high-sensitivity chipsets. IMHO, with succeeding generations of firmware, units with the new chipsets are now nearly as good as SiRFstar III models, with some of the remaining minor differences coming from the lack of a quad-helix antenna on most new models. I still use my 60CSx for comparison testing, but lately the differences have been quite small and often difficult to discern. YMMV, but I’ll take the new interfaces and capabilities over earlier-generation models any day.

View original post here: 
Getting over SiRFstar III

We haven’t been talking about Medion for a while now, but no worries – they’re still alive and kicking. At the past IFA 2009 which ended very recently they announced their new model MEDION GoPal P4635. The new GoPal P4635 model has many premium features such as voice control, SiRFInstantFixll technology and TMC, which collects information from both intelligent transport services as well as a dynamic information service. There’s an integrated GSM module that receives this constant and real-time information on recent changes in the traffic, parking situation, gas prices and the weather. MEDION GoPal P4635 also has the new navigation MEDION GoPal 5 GPS navigation system software with a variety of safety-enhancing and practical additional functions.

The traffic information is relayed from Navteq Traffic which comes from various sources such as regional data centers and about 5,000 inductive loops on freeways. Also 4000 infrared detectors on motorway bridges as well as data of so-called floating cars from a fleet of over 50,000 vehicles are involved. Compared with the conventional TMC reception on FM this is considered much more information. With the new MEDION GoPal P4635, the user is therefore given a detailed overview of the entire traffic situation.

Starting September 2009, the MEDION GoPal P4635 will be available for about 350 euros. The purchase price includes one year of GSM service and after that you can get access for EUR 4.95 a month, or 49.95 per year.

MEDION GoPal P4635 specs:

• Built-in GSM module for intelligent traffic and dynamic info service
• EU map (43 countries in Western and Eastern Europe)
• MEDION ® GoPal ® Navigator AE 5 Navigation
• TMC, optional TMC
• Voice
• Lane Assistant
• Intelligent routing “Clever-Routes”
• Text to Speech
• Speed Ratings
• Tunnel Assistant
• Integrated PIN security feature
• ASB – “First Aid” Wizard * (only available in Germany)
• 4.3 ” flat panel touch screen display with 65,536 colors
• 128MB RAM. 1GB ROM
• SiRFStarIII ™ GPS Receiver
• SiRFInstantFixII ™ position for quick response
• Samsung 400MHz CPU
• Holder with integrated TMC antenna

Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget.

MEDION GoPal P4635 GPS navigation system

Source: Navigadget
Read more here:MEDION GoPal P4635 GPS navigation system

After acquiring SiRF just about a month ago, CSR is continuing their highly popular SiRF series with SiRFstarIV. This is not just plain old GPS receiver though. SiRFstarIV is a location aware architecture with self assistance (SiRFaware), and micro power GPS technology.

Advantages of SiRFstarIV is that it doesn’t drain your batteries, and it doesn’t need network aid to get a satellite fix. CSR claims their new platform can maintain better than hot start condition and therefore be turned off without worrying about startup delays.

SiRFstarIV has twice the search capacity of SiRFstarIII platform with enhanced sensitivity, ability to maintain hot-start condition while only using 50-500 microamperes, ability to support accelerometers and other sensors and DSP technology that searches for jammers and removes them prior to correlation for better GPS performance.

The first product from the new SiRFstarIV platform is called SiRFstarIV GSD4t and it is already out… press release

Brought to you by your GPS navigation site NaviGadget.

SiRFstarIV is out

Source: Navigadget
Read more here:SiRFstarIV is out