Magellan Maestro Elite 5340 GPRS adds Google search

Magellan showed nine new portable GPS navigation models and introduced several new features at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this year, including a pedestrian mode. This gives users the option of continuing to navigate on foot once the unit senses they've shut off the car. If the user accepts the change in guidance mode (from driving to walking), the device then ignores routing restrictions of one-way streets, keeps the pedestrians off highways, and, best of all for fans of malls and major tourist attractions, guides them back to their own car.

Magellan also announced a new partnership with Google that will enable mobile users to search the Web for businesses, events, aircraft parts (my airline could've used that one Sunday night), or whatever they might use the search engine for from home. A company representative said if a user keys in "cheesecake" for example, the Maestro Elite 5340 GPRS will return a list of businesses with the dessert either in their name or on their menu, and route them to the one of their choice.  (I imagine that the term "Starbucks" would also be heavily used by some of my colleagues.)

Using cellular phone technology, the 5340 can also provide traffic and weather information, and it enables drivers to wirelessly send addresses to the device from their PC for planning routes. Route changes or new directions can also be sent to a user on the road.

The Elite 5340 also features Magellan's OneTouch, a new pull-down menu that provides users with access to up to nine buttons they can pre-program for options of their choice - be they a favorite restaurant, the home of a relative, a search for local antique stores they can use wherever they are, or one-button connectivity for their MP3 library.

The Elite 5340 GPRS also has voice command capability, a 5-inch widescreen display, a USB port, and AAA Tourbook information. Priced at a laptop-like $1299, it is expected in stores in February.

—Jim Travers

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