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The RoadMate iPhone app borrows the interface of the RoadMate line of navigation devices.

(Credit: Antuan Goodwin)

As the PND vs. smartphone battle for navigation superiority continues, we're seeing more of the GPS heavyweights hedging their bets by developing application versions of their standalone GPS devices, while others push toward adding cellular technology to their portable devices in a bid to even the playing field.

Magellan finds itself in the former camp with the announcement of its Magellan RoadMate for iPhone turn-by-turn navigation application. The application is compatible with the iPhone 3G and 3GS models and will be available soon on the App Store at an introductory price of $79.99 (which will jump to $99.99 sometime thereafter).

Routing is quick, even when plotting four simultaneous courses.

(Credit: Screenshot by Antuan Goodwin/CNET)

The Magellan RoadMate for iPhone inherits many of the features that we liked when we tested the RoadMate 1470 standalone navigation device, such as the OneTouch user menu--a customizable shortcut menu that allows users to store frequently accessed addresses, POIs, and searches--and the ability to calculate and compare multiple routing options simultaneously. The RoadMate app also uses the same Navteq maps as the standalone unit. Maps and POIs are stored locally so you can keep navigating even without a data connection.

Other positive features that stand out are spoken text-to-speech street names, an oversize on-screen keyboard that's easier to use at an arm's length than the iPhone's default keyboard, native access to the iPhone's contacts list, and graphic lane guidance with digital highway street signs. In-app music control with playlist creation isn't critical to getting from point A to point B, but it's nice to have. 3D building data for major cities may be nice for users who navigate visually, but I think it's more of an eye candy thing than a truly useful feature.

Once you get where you're going, the RoadMate app automatically remembers the location of your car so you can find your way back and can switch to a Pedestrian mode for further navigation on foot.

I got my hands on an advanced copy of the Magellan RoadMate for iPhone app for evaluation and found, for the most part, that it worked as advertised. The app booted quickly and responded snappily to my inputs when tested on an Apple iPhone 3GS. A positive side effect of locally stored maps and POIs is that searching and routing with the RoadMate app is lightning fast, even when calculating four simultaneous routing options.

(Credit: Josh P. Miller/CNET)

When most shoppers think of "GPS" their minds immediately rush to TomTom and Garmin Nuvi, but there are other brands and models that also deserve a closer look, for example Magellan's RoadMate 1470.

Despite having a larger-than-average 4.7-inch color touch screen, the RoadMate 1470's slim profile makes it quite easy to fit into a pocket. After powering the unit on, we were pleased to find that the 1470 offers snappy performance and a well-designed interface that gives users a good deal of flexibility over their routing when they need it, yet still remains simple when they don't. Also, the RoadMate's capability to calculate multiple routes simultaneously makes it a great PND for map geeks and driving enthusiasts looking for the road less traveled.

However, our experiences with the RoadMate 1470 weren't all sunshine and lollipops; we ran into a few snags with both the onscreen keyboard and the poorly thought-out car cradle.

So how does the Magellan RoadMate stack up against the competition? Check out our full review to find out.

This surprisingly well-equipped navigation system can be yours for just 60 bucks.

(Credit: CNET)

Ladies and gents, we have a new low! Buy.com has the Magellan RoadMate 2200T GPS for $59.99 shipped (after a $30 mail-in rebate). It's a refurbished unit, but it's also the least-expensive navigation system I've seen yet.

Needless to say, this model is a couple years old, so don't expect a lot of bells and whistles. It does offer text-to-speech, music and photo players, an optional traffic-monitoring kit, and a "smart detour" feature. Hmmm. Come to think of it, you get some bells and whistles, after all. It's even waterproof!

CNET awarded the RoadMate 2200T 3.5 stars out of 5, the major complaint being its sluggishness in switching between applications. I don't know about you, but I can live with that--seeing as I'd probably never use the other applications, anyway.

Because this is a refurb, the warranty lasts just 90 days. The rebate offer (PDF) expires February 4, but I suspect that these RoadMate 2200Ts will sell out well before that date. A full-feature navigation system for $60 is really tough to pass up.

(Credit: Magellan)

On Monday, Magellan Navigation Inc., entered into a definitive agreement to sell its consumer products division to Taiwanese-based MiTAC International Corporation and expects the transaction to be finalized by January 2009, though no specifics were given about the financial terms. As part of the package, MiTAC, which also owns Mio Technology, makers of the Mio Knight Rider GPS and the the Mio C520, will inherit the Magellan RoadMate and Maestro series of portable navigation devices and the Triton series of handheld GPS.

Though Magellan still has a decent retail presence in the United States and comes in third to Garmin and TomTom, the company has been slow to come out with new products and hasn't been able to keep up with the big two in terms of features, innovation, or support. Meanwhile, Mio has struggled with brand recognition in the States. Just how the two companies will integrate remains to be seen, but GPS Business News believes that MiTAC will do away with the Mio brand and build on Magellan's name and customer base. This would probably make the most sense, but either way, it's going to be an uphill battle.

(Official press release: Magellan)

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)

Your car may not answer when you talk to it, but we've got four GPS devices that will. The latest, cutting-edge GPS devices not only guide you to destinations and show you traffic conditions, but also respond to voice commands. You can fit your car out like the Knight Industries Two Thousand with one of these devices. They'll help you get where you're going, but they won't make your car bulletproof.

See four GPS devices you can talk to.

Magellan Maestro 4350

(Credit: Magellan )

It's been a little while since we've seen anything from Magellan, but on Thursday, the GPS manufacturer revealed its latest in-car GPS, the Magellan Maestro 4350 series. Consisting of the Maestro 4350 and the Maestro 4370, both portable navigation devices feature a new user interface called OneTouch that gives you quick one-click access to your favorite destinations.

Basically, you preselect your favorite businesses (restaurants, banks, gas stations, and so forth) and addresses and then the GPS will provide a single page where you can just tap on the appropriate icon to navigate to the destination from your current location. There's no need to go through several menus or manually enter addresses since they're all in one place. You can also add applications, such as Bluetooth or multimedia to the OneTouch interface.

Shared features on both PNDs include text-to-speech functionality, integrated traffic receivers, Bluetooth, and lane guidance. The difference between the Maestro 4350 and the Maestro 4370 is that the latter has a higher-resolution touch screen and is available only at Best Buy. Both models cost $499.99, though Best Buy is having a sale on the Maestro 4370 where you can get it for $399. We should be getting our model next week, so check back soon for a full review.

Magellan Maestro 3100

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)

Q: 1. Is there any in-car GPS that allows me to review the route from start to finish without driving, once I input destination address in the device? If yes, which portable navigation device (PND) lets me review the route before actually driving? - Wize Chap via e-mail

A: Dear Wize Chap, turns out you have a lot of choices. Most in-car GPS offers route simulation or fly-over simulation (the name varies by manufacturer) that provides a running demo of your route from a bird's-eye view. It's useful in that it gives you an overall idea of what you'll be encountering along your drive before even hitting the road. That said, the tricky part can be finding the feature on the device, since it's often buried in the submenus and you may also need to turn the capability on in the settings menu.

On most systems, once you enter your start and end points, the PND will present you the map screen and start navigation. From there, you can typically find various review options, including a list of text-based turn-by-turn directions, whether you want to find an alternate route, add a waypoint, and so forth. It's usually in this submenu that you'll find the route simulation. I'm not sure what your budget is, Wize Chap, but if you're looking for high-end, the Garmin Nuvi 880 is a good choice, or the Magellan Maestro 3000 series or the TomTom One series for more low- to mid-range models.

This week, not one but two reader questions. Woo--getting crazy up in here. I kid, but hopefully, you're finding these posts helpful, and if you've got a question about your own, feel free to hit me up at bonnie.cha@cnet.com. That said, on with the show.

Q: Starting to look at GPS navigation devices, and don't know much about them. One of the vehicles that I may be using it in, does not have cigarette lighter. Since I have seen handlebar mounts for bicycles, I am wondering if these units are like cell phones and MP3 players in that they are rechargeable, since I always see them plugged in as dash-mounted units, I assumed that they needed to be plugged in to work. --ndhelp001 via CNET forums

A: Most of today's portable navigation devices (PNDs) come with rechargeable lithium ion batteries, so like today's cell phones and MP3 players, once fully charged, they can operate untethered for a number of hours.

The capacity of the battery varies by GPS model, but typically, you can get anywhere from 2 to 5 hours of use on a single charge, so provided that you're not going on any long road trips, it's possible to use one of these PNDs in your car that does not have a cigarette lighter. That said, I'd really try to keep that to a minimum. There are a number of other factors that can affect battery life, such as screen brightness and other radios (e.g., Bluetooth), and in testing these systems, I've found when not plugged in, the battery drains pretty fast so I wouldn't want you to driving in unknown territory and have the GPS die on you.

Something else to note: a number of GPS manufacturers only include a car charger in the box, so make sure to check the list of packaged accessories to see if you need to buy an extra AC adapter or not.

Magellan Triton 2000

(Credit: Magellan)

Q: Why don't you review GPS that are not for car use? Say review them for hiking ... or maybe geocaching. There are a number of new models out that can be carried on a person. All I ever see is GPS for cars. Just wondering. --Wolf via e-mail

A: Hey Wolf. Good question. Handheld GPS, whether it be for hiking, running, or geocaching, is definitely something I would love to review more of but unfortunately, it's just been hard to find the time. When I'm not reviewing in-car GPS, I'm tinkering with all the latest smartphones, so that keeps me busy most of the time. That said, I'm looking to expand to the other types of GPS and in fact, I just got in the Magellan Triton 2000 so be on the look out for that review as well as others. Also, if there are any products in particular that you want to see reviewed, let me know!

The TomTom GO 930 maps North America and Europe.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)

Q: I will be going to Italy next month, and I am being told that the Budget Rental Car does not have a GPS option. I am very nervous about not having help on the Italian roads. Can you recommend the right mapping system for Italy? Does the Magellan Maestro 4040 work in Italy? Any help would be appreciated. I only have a very limited budget to purchase a device, and don't need anything fancy. --Michael, via e-mail

A: Hi Michael. Driving in a completely new territory, especially in a foreign country, can definitely be nerve-wracking so I think it's a great idea to have GPS as reinforcement. You have two options: 1) you can buy a unit with maps of Europe already preloaded on the device; or 2) you can get a standard, domestic model and purchase regional maps to load onto your portable navigation device.

The model you mentioned, the Magellan Maestro 4040, ships only with maps of North America, and unfortunately, the company doesn't provide the option to add European maps. I'd suggest taking a look at the Garmin Nuvi 200 series. Not only can you add European maps ($149.95 additional), you can also get other travel tools, like a language guide. However, as you can see, the maps cost quite a bit, so it can add up. It's worth looking into the models that come with all the maps (North America and Europe) installed on the device, so you don't have to deal with transferring maps to the GPS. The Garmin Nuvi 270 and TomTom GO 930 may fit the bill. Hope that helps, and safe travels!