Magellan Announces GPS Car Kit for iPhone and iPod Touch

[trainwrecka]

I know it is easy to hate on the price of these things, but convenience comes at a price. You can either leave this mount in your car, and only need to worry about the iPhone - which you would have on you anyway - or you can worry about the iPhone and stand-alone GPS. Most people pay to condense things.

Don't believe me? Ask yourself why you pay for an iPhone when your old cell phone + laptop did the same thing.

 

[wackymacky]

These are too expensive currently, but the more manufactories making them the better as this will bring the price down.


My one thought is though, will they work with the 2010 iPhone (+/- O.S 4.0), otherwise it will be a waste of money!

 

[navguy]

These are too expensive currently, but the more manufactories making them the better as this will bring the price down.

Maybe a bit ... but I'd expect to see the price of the App have a lot more price compression than the hardware ...

Hardware depends on the quality and cost of parts, the markup tends to remain constant ... the only way the cost will compress is if they use less costly and ultimately quality parts ... and I hate when that happens ... you'll get unusable bluetooth speaker phone, no AUX out, and GPS chip will become closer to phone's

A Tier 2 hardware company will definnitely build one of these for less, but w/ powered mounts already costing $35 - $50 on Amazon; when you add bluetooth, speaker, and GPS ... I'm guessing that $50-$75 wil be a good deal but forget quality ...

Since hardware has a fixed cost pricing structure, I don't see the Tier 1 companies won't go much below $99 over time ...

 

[MSUSpartan]

If this is made by Apple, everyone here would talk about what a great deal it is... Maybe even underpriced.

 

[nsayer]

Loose phone reception or have network problems with AGPS, and you're lost.

The iPhone can, apparently, still get a fix without the cell network operating. It may just take longer. Of course, without the cell network or wifi, the Google maps app will only show you the checkerboard. The GPS map apps you buy in the store for $x9.99 also load a few hundred MB worth of maps in, meaning they'll work even without the network.

 

[iMacMomma]

Gps??

Too pricey but I have built in GPS and a charger so why???
Why doesn't Apple focus on working out tethering in the US with AT&T??That's what we REALLY need!

 

[lfine39]

Call me crazy but I want this yesterday..... could not wait to order I have tried every cradle/holder for my cased iphone all crap I just saw youtube video on this and wish it was available today....... I would be installing right now...........

 

[DigMe]

I would love to have this and I love the bluetooth phone/iPod/GPS integration of the iPhone with Navigon installed but I don't think I'll ever be able to bring myself to spend that kind of jack for it.

I wouldn't have bought Navigon either if I hadn't gotten a buttload of iTunes gift cards for Christmas and it hadn't been on sale for $60. It's a nice app though.

brad

 

[navguy]

The iPhone can, apparently, still get a fix without the cell network operating. It may just take longer. Of course, without the cell network or wifi, the Google maps app will only show you the checkerboard. The GPS map apps you buy in the store for $x9.99 also load a few hundred MB worth of maps in, meaning they'll work even without the network.

to confirm, i can use my prior 3G phone w/o SIM card to run Navigon ... granted no traffic or google search while driving, but for regular navigation features works fine w/o cellular signal.