Electronics Gadget Reviews

Magellan Maestro 4050 4 3 Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with 3 month free traffic

Re-engineered for easy use, the Magellan Maestro 4050 Portable Auto GPS System 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

Easy to use navigation features SmartDetour and auto re-route. View larger.

Access built-in AAA information from your GPS touch screen. View larger.

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.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars What a terrific stress reliever!
I love my Magellan! This is my first GPS purchase and after researching the different brands/models on Amazon, I am very pleased with my choice. I bought this before a multi-stop trip to the midwest where I did not know the routes to my destinations. So I programmed in the addresses before leaving home and when I got into the rental car, I plugged it in, selected my destination and followed Magellan to the exact locations I wanted to go. Programming it was simple and following its directions was even easier.

My only complaint is with the bluetooth hands-free function speaker quality. It does work but the audio quality is mighty poor, both transmitting and receiving. This is no show stopper but it is a little disappointing. Finally, I discovered after my purchase, that a newer model will share my iPhone’s contacts list but tis model doesn’t have that function. Otherwise, this machine works perfectly for me.

2 Stars Shipped wrong item
I ordered and paid for a 4050 and when i tried to update the firmware, discovered I was actually sent a 4040. Shame on Amazon.

1 Star WORSE COMPANY I’VE EVER DELT WITH
I BOUGHT A MAGELLAN GPS AND HAD IT ONE DAY AND IT QUIT WORKING. I TOOK IT BACK AND EXCHANGED IT FOR ANOTHER MAGELLAN. I HAD THIS ONE FOR 33 DAYS AND IT QUIT WORKING. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE STORE WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND THEY SAID I HAD TO SEND IT BACK TO THE COMPANY BECAUSE I HAD IT OVER 30 DAYS. I SENT IT BACK TO THE COMPANY REQUESTING A REFUND DUE TO THAT BEING THE SECOND DEFECTIVE GPS. MAGELLAN REFUSED TO GIVE A REFUND, ORIGINALLY STATING THAT IT WAS BECAUSE WE BOUGHT THE UNIT FROM SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN MAGELLAN, AND TOLD ME I HAD TO GET A REFURBISHED GPS INSTEAD. EVEN AFTER ARGUING THE FACT THAT THIS STORE WAS AUTHORIZED TO SELL THE UNITS, AND AFTER SENDING LETTERS TO MAGELLAN’S PRESIDENT, NELSON CHAN, I WAS REFUSED A REFUND, AND I WAS SENT A REFURBISHED UNIT.

WAY TO GO MAGELLAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I MIGHT NOT HAVE RECEIVED A REFUND FOR YOUR PIECE OF JUNK, BUT AFTER HEARING OF MY EXPERIENCES WITH MAGELLAN, I KNOW OF NUMEROUS CONSUMERS WHO HAVE SHOPPED AND BOUGHT ELSEWHERE, WHICH TO ME, HAS MORE THAN MADE UP FOR NOT GETTING THE REFUND. HOPEFULLY THIS REVIEW WILL KEEP SOMEONE FROM MAKING THE SAME MISTAKE I MADE.

2 Stars Pretty good…despite software problems
I”m a regular guy with an average knowledge of computers and computer programs.

I can’t get any of the software to install for my Magellan. The firmware update simply will not install itself onto the unit. It *could* be my computer, but if I’m having this issue with mine, surely others are as well. Nor can I install the custom POI’s program either. It gives me a error code which the online Magellan support does nothing to help for.

Despite the software problems, we like it. It gets us where we need to go easily.

5 Stars Great GPS!
This is a very handy little gadget. I have had many uses for it already. The amopunt of information contained in this little unit is amazing! Well worth the money.

Buy/More Info

Motorola T305 Bluetooth Portable Hands Free Speaker Black

The perfect travel companion, the Motorola T305 Bluetooth handsfree speaker will help you stay wirelessly connected while keeping your eyes on the road–just clip to the visor and go. With the latest enhanced echo and noise reduction technology as well as a powerful 1-watt speaker, the palm-sized Motorola T305 allows for high-quality hands-free conversations in even the noisiest environments.

The Motorola T305 clips to your sun visor and provides easy handsfree communication while driving.

A convenient multifunction button allows the user to activate speech commands including answering and ending calls with the push of a button. The Motorola T305 takes advantage of Bluetooth 2.0 wireless technology to guarantee a crisp and speedy connection to compatible Bluetooth-enabled devices. Enhanced audio and a lesser chance of a dropped call means less frustration in heavy traffic.

Providing up to approximately 14 hours of talk time or 14 days of standby time, the Motorola T305 helps provide support through a cross-country road trip or long weekend at home. The compact device also comes complete with useful accessories such as a mini USB vehicle power adaptor for easy charging.

Features

• Up to approximately 14 hours talk or 200 hours standby time from a single charge
• Easy to remove and use in another vehicle
• Echo and noise reduction technology minimizes background noise
• 1-watt speaker delivers clear audio
• Effortless controls–press a button for power, another for calls, and 2 more for volume
• Version 2.0 Bluetooth wireless technology

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Excellent Product! Much better than Jabra SP5050
I just got Motorola T305 in after preiously buying the Jabra version months ago. If you are looking for a car/truck speaker phone, this T305 works excellent on both road and highway. The Jabra I previously bought had very limited volume and you could not hear on highway travel even with windows rolled up. I read some of the minor complaints about this product in the other reviews and utterly ridiculous. The on/off button is small but who cares? As for a blue light not being seen perfectly in the daytime, again, who cares? You know the power is on because you turned it on when you got in your car/truck.

1 Star It does work, but try something else
I had high hopes for this thing, even though I was not particularly interested in buying a hands-free but for the state of CA mandate. Nice lobbying by the way, bluetooth manufacturers. That aside, here’s my review:

The good: pairs easily, easy to set up, looks pretty cool and is fairly unobtrusive. The rest:

Sound quality is OK at slow speeds but gets very difficult to understand when there is any wind noise from highway driving. Also, the volume peak is not high enough, and my car is not that loud (an accord). This is problematic as I am on the highway daily. Not sure if this is due to my iphone, however. But I’m reluctant to make phone calls on the highway because I know there will be a lot of “huh?” and repeating.

The battery life is good as recharged, but charging would be a problem if i were not on the highway so much. It only comes with a car charger and does not charge with the car off. So you have to plug it in to charge it while driving. Which means you better be in the car a lot to get it fully charged. Also, this is a problem because to talk with it while charging, you end up with a power cord stretched accross your face from the power source to the visor. Not cool.

It doesn’t engage quickly enough when answering, so there is a delay, and callers never hear you say hello. They always think there is a bad connection even if you wait to say hello, since all they hear is it pick up an no one answer for a while. This is really irritating.

Range is way too far. If I forget to turn the thing off (and you can’t see that it’s on in the daytime from that annoying blue light which is washed out by the sun) it picks up in my car when I try to answer when I’m in my house. I’ve missed a million calls like that. I guess I could remember to turn it off every time, so that’s partially my fault, but trust me… you will forget too. Especially in the day when you can’t see it’s on.

The volume buttons make a loud beep every time you try to turn it up (which you will constantly try to do), and the speaker cuts out with every beep. So if you want to turn it up mid-conversation, well, just don’t expect to hear anthing your caller says.

The blinking blue light right in front of one’s face at night is really distracting and annoying. So much for the concentration and safety allegedly created by these hands free sets.

So… overall, it’s got mediocre to poor sound, annoying blinking lights, charging issues, volume issues, range issues and answering issues. Given all of this, it’s just too much of a hassle. Way more of a pain than it’s worth. So I don’t even use the thing anymore. I just break the law and talk on the phone like I did before. It’s a heck of a lot easier, and rather than fool around with it, probably a lot safer too. Come to think of it, after writing this review, which was not initially going to be a rant, I really dislike this piece of junk and am kinda sore that I spent money on it. Save your cash.

5 Stars Motorola T305 Bluetooth
The Motorola T305 was Easy to install and connect to. Great reception clarity and volume control.

5 Stars Hands Free Economical Option
As always, Motorola has done a great job designing this hands free economical option for cell phone use while driving in a car. It is easy to set up and provides an ideal way to communicate SAFELY while driving.

1 Star It’s a pretty expensive paper weight
The audio is great and the voice dialing works. But people can bearly hear me, unless I take it off the visor and hold it close to my mouth. So in short, it’s pretty useless unless somebody can tell me how to boost the microphone. I’ll have to look at trying blue ant.

Buy/More Info

With technology moving at light speed, today’s car owners have the advantage of electronics that just a few years ago seemed an impossible dream. One of these incredible technologies that is now common place in most vehicles is GPS. With GPS, you can instantly get driving directions to practically any location in the country. And with today’s technology, not only is inputting a location simple and easy, but receiving voice guidance makes you keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the w