Test Drive: Magellan RoadMate iPhone app challenges best

Dec 30, 2009 11:00 AM

There has been a rush to deliver turn-by-turn navigation applications for the iPhone since OS 3.0 was introduced. Companies small and large have flooded the iTunes apps store with software, then proceeding to deliver rapid-fire updates. The Consumer Reports GPS Team has been challenged to keep up with the most significant offerings and captivated by the rapid progress these programs have been making. A new wrinkle is the first application from Magellan, a long-standing portable navigation maker (PNDs).

Magellan has made significant progress with its latest PNDs. Once a distant third place to Garmin and TomTom devices in our ratings, the newest Magellan units have performed quite well, with appealing graphics, intuitive interfaces, and welcomed features. The company has done an admirable job porting these elements to its iPhone app, giving its version 1.0 the feel of a more matured program.

The app integrates well with the iPhone, working well with the contact list and controlling music effectively. However, this initial version does lack some of the laudable features found on the company’s PNDs, including multi-destination routing, ability to exclude a road, and traffic integration. To improve on the inherent iPhone limitations, Magellan will soon offer a car kit that has a more-sensitive GPS receiver built into a mount.

For further insight, read our full Magellan RoadMate iPhone app review. Before choosing an app, check our navigation app buying advice and ratings of competing iPhone apps.

—Jeff Bartlett