Striving to compete with the GPS functionality built into an increasing number of phones, Magellan has announced a 2010 RoadMate product line whose screen sizes range from 4.3 to seven inches diagonally. We guess that most, if not all, of these PNDs are based on Windows CE, like many earlier devices from the company.

In the case of the top model, the RoadMate 3065 Commuter (right), Magellan doesn't list an operating system on its data sheet or in its manual. But, a company spokesperson confirmed to us via e-mail that Windows CE 6.0 was indeed the operating system of choice.

According to Magellan, all its 2010 RoadMate models come with free traffic alert functionality, via which information about both accidents and congestion is downloaded, and routes are automatically recalculated when necessary.

"The GPS navigator's primary benefit is no longer only to direct drivers to new places. Now, the Magellan Roadmate also gets you to places you may know well but gets you there quicker," the company states.

All models are also said to include spoken street names, six million points of interest, "QuickSpell" for error-free address entry, multi-destination routing, and an automatic parking lot finder. Most also include the AAA Tourbook, integrating information about restaurants and motels, Magellan says.

The RoadMate 3065 Commuter's traffic wakeup feature
(Click to enlarge)

Magellan says the top-of-the-line RoadMate 3065 Commuter adds an automatic "traffic wakeup" feature (above), through which the device powers itself up 30 minutes in advance of a driver's preset commute times. By so doing, it ensures that all traffic data is instantly available by the time a driver slides behind the wheel, the company explains.

The RoadMate 3065 Commuter also includes AAA roadside assistance functionality, meaning that the unit displays a toll-free member service number and a car's exact GPS location in one convenient location, says Magellan. The PND, which is compatible with Bluetooth-equipped phones, is said to have GPS accuracy of between 10 and 16 feet.

According to Magellan, the RoadMate 3065 Commuter comes with pre-loaded maps of the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, and has a microSD slot for future upgrades. It features a 4.7-inch screen with a resolution of 480 x 272 pixels, a 720mAh lithium-ion battery, and a mini-USB port, the company adds.

Features and specifications listed by Magellan for the RoadMate 3065 Commuter include:

• Processor -- n/s
• Memory -- n/s
• Expansion -- microSD slot
• Display -- 4.7-inch touchscreen with 480 x 272 pixel resolution
• Networking -- Bluetooth (version not cited)
• I/O:
  • mini-USB port
  • power input
• Battery -- 720mAh (life n/s)
• Dimensions -- 6.57 x 4.72 x 3.70 inches (167 x 120 x 94mm)
• Weight -- 5.93 ounces (168g)

Further information

More information about the Magellan RoadMate 3065 Commuter, which costs approximately $300, may be found on the company's website, here. More information about other devices in the company's PND product line may be found here.

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