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Magellan Maestro 4050 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator
Submitted by zen on 9 March, 2008 - 15:48.
| Magellan Maestro 4050 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator |
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| Model | Maestro 4050 | | Producer | Magellan | | Media | Electronics | | Catalog | CE | | Rank | 23497 | | List Price | US$199.99 |
Goto Amazon.com
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No, this is not your perfect GPS. But with a price tag of $249, this can be the perfect GPS in the price range. Although the navigation and routing is lagging behind Garmin, Magellan does have a better POI database, and the hard to beat AAA tour book. Yes, the AAA tour book is not linked to the POI, but it can become rather handy in your next road trip.
The 4050 also has a innovative but useless voice command. It pick up most of the voices, but most of the time is not good enough. The experience is as annoying as dealing with a touch screen that works only 90% of the time. Even with a 10% failure, the feature will still be useless to most people. It may be a good selling point, but hardly a practical useful feature.
The route exclusion feature in 4050 (or 4040) is pretty lame. And the unit feels less responsive than the Garmin models. Hourglass, how the hell they dare to put hourglass in a GPS units. All the clumsiness of the Windows CE platform is inherited in this Magellan GPS unit.
But at $249 for a 4.3" with text-to-speech (so it will speak street name instead of just saying turn right here), it sure beats the Garmin models at the same price range.
Ok, the map is a bit old, it is in the 3rd quarter of 2006. But even the newer models, like 4250 only has map updated to 1st quarter of 2007. So it's really not too bad, only 2 quarters behind for the $200 difference. With that price, you can buy 2 map updates later on. Compare with 42xx series, it is also a bit thicker and with 1.5million POI less (42x has 6 millions POI, but 4050 and 4040 only has 4.5 millions POI), but again, for $200, the small sacrifice is not too much.
As for the AAA tour book, it is as updated as the 42xx series, and if you want a more updated version of your 4050 or 4040, you can download it at AAA site: http://ww2.aaa.com/scripts/WebObjects.dll/AAAOnline?page=Automotive93&association=caa&club=273
(you may need a AAA memebership to download the free update)
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Reviews:| Rating 3.5/5 from 89 reviews | | Magellan Maestro 4050 and customer service | | Rating: 4/5 2009-09-10 | Product is easy to use, VR command is a good feature, I have had no problems so far. Don't know how good it would be compared to Garmin.
For some reason Magellan Customer Support is lousy. Very hard to make telephone contact and email response is just no damn good. | | Dissappointed. | | Rating: 2/5 2009-07-14 | | It's so big and the base is so tall that it blocks vision, the display is hard to read in daylight, it tells me to go the wrong way at times, the street the names appear with dots rather on the streets themselves, and it shows me driving through fields rather than on roads at times. It does pick up satellites quickly, but the interface is cumbersome and requires taking one's eyes off the road too much. I haven't been able to connect to it with Bluetooth at all. Save your money for another model. I haven't tried the traffic because I'm either returning it or selling it. | | my magelon gps | | Rating: 4/5 2009-07-06 | | I am very pleased with my new Mageleon gps unit...I took a trip recently and it got me right to where I wanted to go...have had no problems so far, except when she doent want to talk to me somtimes and that frustrates me. | | Magellan Maestro 4050 | | Rating: 5/5 2009-07-01 | | We are enjoying the new device, and we look forward to some travel this fall where we can really put it to the test. California has lots of Spanish place names which are sometimes butchered by the voice, but the printed version is always on the screen when we can't understand her. We have not yet given "her" a name, but we will! | | Perfect GPS | | Rating: 5/5 2009-06-29 | | A+ GPS. It is like someone sitting by your side giving directions or even better than because it is so detailed. Could not ask for better. |
Editorials:Product DescriptionMagellan Maestro 4050 delivers a combination of elegant design and ease of use, Magellan TrafficKit, Bluetooth, Voice Control
Amazon.com Product DescriptionAmazon.com Product Description Re-engineered for easy use, the Magellan Maestro 4050 Portable Auto GPSSystem is the first portable vehicle navigation device to offer drivers the convenience of voice command capabilities. Keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road as you direct the Maestro 4050 with voice commands. Say "Nearest Restaurant", "Chinese Food", and select the restaurant of your choice. Then make a hands-free, Bluetooth call to order take-out and let the Maestro 4050 audibly guide you with turn-by-turn street name directions to the destination. With the Maestro 4050 at your disposal you're equipped to go to virtually any destination in the United States and Canada. And if you're concerned about traffic en route, you can maximize the Maestro's optional live traffic update feature -- just turn it on and you'll know which roadways to avoid. 
Click to see a video on the Magellan Maestro 4050's Voice Command system. | 
View larger - Side view |
AAA-enabled With built-in AAA travel information, the Maestro 4050 gives you instant access to the most trusted source for trip planning, searchable AAA TourBook® listings, Show Your Card & Save® locations for member discounts, approved auto repair facilities, attractions, events, and more. The Maestro 4050 also provides AAA members roadside assistance details, with exact location and a toll-free number. Plus, the Maestro 4050 is Bluetooth-enabled so you can connect your Bluetooth cell phone directly to AAA for immediate help when you need it most. Note: AAA member roadside assistance requires AAA membership. Easy-to-Use Navigation
Enter virtually any address on the freshly designed graphical touch screen, or select from 4.5 million preprogrammed points of interested and get turn-by-turn voice guidance to anywhere in the entire United States and Canada, right out of the box. Just turn it on and go. SiRFstarIII gives you the fastest GPS position accuracy in the industry, while SayWhere™ text-to-speech tells you the street name for each maneuver so you can focus on driving. Smart buttons and Magellan's unique QuickSpell™ function enable error-free spelling to minimize steps and give you a customized route to your destination with just a few screen touches. Bluetooth, Traffic Updates, and More
The Maestro 4050's Bluetooth wireless technology lets you make hands-free phone calls with your Bluetooth-enabled phone. The voice command and control function further enables hands-free operation so you can keep your eyes on the road. You can store or sync numbers and contact information through the easy-to-use touch screen, and even place calls directly through the Maestro 4050's integrated microphone and speakers. Add the optional Magellan TrafficKit™ to this device and you'll be equipped with live traffic incident reports, so you'll never get stuck on the freeway. Additional Product Features
- Voice command: Voice command control enables hands-free operation. The 4050 is the first portable GPS in the world with voice and command control
- Sophisticated and simple: Streamlined touch-screen buttons minimize steps to locate a destination
- Sleek design: Integrated GPS antenna provides excellent satellite reception in a slim and compact design
- Graphical interactive maps: Maps and destinations for the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico are built-in, so you can travel all over the U.S. and Canada and always know where you are and where you're going
- Traffic-enabled: Add the Magellan TrafficKit™ to your Maestro 4050 to get live traffic incident reports; activation and subscription fees apply
- Bird's-eye 3D view: Clearly see your surroundings in 2D or 3D; also choose between Map View, TrueView™ 3D split screen, and Maneuver List
- Rechargeable battery: Navigate even when you don't have access to power
- Multi-destination routing: Select up to 20 destinations and choose the order that best fits your needs
- SmartDetour™: Automatically prompts you to route around suddenly slow freeway traffic
- Auto re-route: Never miss a turn and quickly get back on track whenever you make a detour
- Auto night view: Adjusts color and contrast for easy night viewing
- QuickSpell™: Easily enter addresses with unique auto-complete feature that even corrects spelling
- Complete mobility: Transfer to any vehicle with no installation
- 4.5 million points of interest (POIs): Optimized database to easily find gas stations, restaurants, ATMs, and more. And with smart location you can search by name, category, and region. There's even a Coffee category so you can quickly find caffeine whenever you need it.
- Interactive POI icons: Touch an onscreen icon for a nearby destination, see name and address, and get an instant route
- Customizable route method: Fastest time, shortest distance, least or most use of freeways, avoid toll roads
- Route exclusion: Select streets and freeways to avoid so you can get there your way
- Address book: Create and store personal points of interest for easy reoccurring trips
- Instant locate: One touch shows your location; quickly advise roadside assistance or emergency services
What's in the Box Magellan Maestro 4050 Portable Auto GPS System, windshield mount and cradle, adhesive dash mount disk, cigarette lighter power adapter (12-24 watts), AC wall power supply/charger, quick reference guide, reference manual CD, USB cable, and a 3-month subscription to the Magellan's real-time traffic update service. Product Description 4.3" Wide QVGA Screen / Sirf Star III / 4.5 Million Points of Interest / US - Canada - Puerto Rico / Rechargeable Battery / Voice Recognition / Bluetooth 4.3 WQVGA Color Touchscreen w/ Anti-Glare - Improved On-Screen Graphics for Easy Readablility SayWhere Text-To-Speech Technology Dictates Upcoming Street Name & Distance to Turn Bluetooth Enabled TrafficKit Ready Pre-Loaded Detailed NAVTEQ Maps - -50 States, Canada & Puerto Rico American Automobile Association (AAA) TourBook Travel Information 4.5 Million Pre-Loaded Points of Interest - -Search for Businesses, Restaurants, Parks, & More Multiple Destination Routing with Route Optimization QuickSpell Quick & Easy Address Entry Integrated Rechargeable Battery - Approximately 3 Hours Battery Life About Magellan Magellan is a leader in the consumer, survey, GIS, and OEM GPS navigation and positioning markets. Recognized as an industry innovator, the Company is the creator of the award-winning Magellan RoadMate series and the Magellan Maestro portable car navigation systems, the Magellan eXplorist and the Magellan Triton outdoor handheld navigation devices, and the Hertz NeverLost car navigation system, the best-selling single frequency GPS survey product line on the market. The Magellan Maestro series includes such unique features as built-in AAA travel information and voice command and control driving which no other portable GPS manufacturer in the U.S. or Canada offers. The company is recognized worldwide through its Magellan brand and has experienced dramatic revenue growth as GPS technology has proliferated across a range of consumer and commercial applications. The Company is headquartered in Santa Clara, California with European headquarters in Carquefou, France.
Features:- The first portable GPS in the world with voice and command control
- Built-in AAA travel information, including member roadside assistance details and more
- Bluetooth hands-free calling for added safety (Compatible Bluetooth phone required, sold separately)
- Live traffic functionality provides real-time traffic updates (3-month subscription included)
- 4.3-inch WQVGA full-color, anti-glare touch screen
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