Magellan Maestro Elite 5340

Magellan's new 5-inch Maestro Elite 5340+GPRS is an Internet-connected GPS that leverages GPRS to let users perform Google Local searches to find an unlimited number of POIs that are always up-to-date. In addition to searching for businesses, Google Local searches can be used to find events, concerts, tourist attractions and more.

The 5340 will also have real-time traffic information, local weather forecasts, gas prices, and will make it possible for users to send addresses and notes to the 5340 wirelessly from a PC.

The 5340 will also have all the standard high-end features like voice recognition, bluetooth, and text-to-speech.

The 5340+GPRS will be available in March 2008 and will retail for a whopping $1299, while the 5340 without GPRS will sell for $999. Wow.

The optional GPRS cradle provides wireless internet connectivity, shown above.

Magellan's GPRS-enabled windshield mount, Front.

Magellan's GPRS-enabled windshield mount, right side.

Magellan's GPRS-enabled windshield mount, left side.

The 5340 appears to have an updated interface that's easier to use than previous Magellan Maestros.

Magellan's new OneTouch interface allows users to customize the menu for one-touch access to features or addresses most commonly used. For example, you can assign one of the icons to store your favorite restaurant chain for a one-touch way to search for the nearest franchise. The OneTouch icons can be assigned as destinations, search queries, or frequently used features.

Local weather forecast displayed on the Maestro 5340

The Maestro Elite 4370 is a 4.3-inch GPS that features an ultra-sensitive touch-screen display, live traffic service and predictive traffic data, 6 million POIs, AAA TourBook and Roadside Assistance details, and advanced voice command functionality. Magellan claims the 4370 and 3270 (below) have the sharpest, highest resolution displays of any other GPS currently available.

The Maestro Elite 3270 is smaller, 3.5-inch version of the 4370.

In addition to the new Maestro Elite models, Magellan also announced 5 new additions to the less expensive RoadMate product line:

The RoadMate 1400 has a 4.3-inch widescreen, an updated interface, has maps of the continental US, Hawaii and Puerto Rick, 1.3 million POIs, and will retail in March for $299.

The RoadMate 1412 adds maps for Canada and Alaska, text-to-speech, bumps up the POIs to 6 million, and will retail for $349.

The RoadMate 1430 model further adds real-time traffic (including a free 3-month subscription) and will retail for $399.

Magellan's new RoadMate 1200 series are identical in features to the 1400 series, but have a smaller 3.5-inch display. The RoadMate 1200 will retail for $229, the 1212 will go for $299, and the 1230 for $329.

There was no sign of the much-rumored new Crossover 3150, but Magellan reps quietly acknowledged that an updated CrossoverGPS is indeed in the works and will debut at some point this year.

GPSmagazine will be performing in-depth reviews of all the new Magellan models as they become available.