Magellan RoadMate 9055 Review

Innovation and technologies continue to fuel competition and that is true for many of the digital devices that exist today including the ones that target specific markets like car GPS navigation devices. Big companies like Garmin, TomTom, and Magellan, are going all out to please the different sections of this large audience in hopes for almost every being to rely on the convenience and accuracy of a GPS unit. When it comes to accuracy, the concerns are not as high as they used to be because many of the latest devices function just fine and are accurate enough for most customers to be satisfied with. More work is going to extra features and interface improvements to make these devices even more attractive. This explains the recent jump to 5-inch GPS devices since the benefits of having a larger view of the map really shine. Magellan is taking even a bigger leap with the Magellan RoadMate 9055 by going 7-inches.

Latest Update: The Magellan RoadMate 9055 is Now on Sale at Amazon.com

Magellan RoadMate 9055 GPS Navigator

Design

The size of the Magellan RoadMate 9055 is comparable to a tablet device so it is not something that will fit in your pocket. But the larger size is well worth it because it can display visuals in WVGA or 800 by 480 resolution. With a resolution like that, maps look very good even when you zoom out.

Interface

Magellan's OneTouch Menu

The larger display and resolution also makes the interface more accessible and visible even if you mount out on your windshield. Getting to the map is easy from the home screen and from there, you can track your position optionally bring up the OneTouch Favorites Menu when you need to head destination very quickly. It shows 15 large icons per page where you can assign each one to a special point of interest. Some icons already have a function so you can use this feature even without configuring. If you need to go to other places that you do not visit frequently, you can still use the QuickSpell feature that makes destination entries easy by highlighting keys on the onscreen keyboard that complete a destination.

Navigation Features

The Magellan RoadMate 9055 supports multi-destination routing so you can plan in advance all of the routes you plan to go through the whole day. Once finished, you can check the order of these routes and optionally change it for better organization. While you go through these routes, you will find several of the 6 million points of interests that populate the device's database. It covers all the 50 U.S. states as well as Canada and Puerto Rico. You also get lifetime traffic alerts without the need for subscribing so you know what to expect and plan ahead when traffic is detected. Text-to-speech technologies power the spoken street name guidance system so you will never make a wrong turn and you won't have to check the large screen frequently just to make sure.

When you head to the highway, you can rely on the Highway Lane Assist feature to make the proper exit without backtracking. Just pay attention to the screen so you can see the road signs being enlarged and make sure that you are on the indicated lane so you will never miss your turn. Once you have found that exit, you can use the Highway Exit POI feature to scan for any gas stations, restaurants, hotels, and other key stops that are nearby.

Extra Features

The large screen is really the main attraction here and some of the extra features take advantage of it like the audio/video input which lets you hook up back-up cameras so you can play back external video to the display. You can also connect Bluetooth-enabled phones to you can turn your large 7-inch display into a reliable hands-free speaker phone. This opens up a very safe way to make and receive phone calls without distracting your driving.

You can also use the AAA TourBook Guide as reference to find out the best places in a specific city to dine or stay. Any AAA approved places have matching ratings and they are sure to save you some money. AAA also provides the AAA Roadside Assistance feature so you can quickly glance at your current position in coordinates so you can call the assistance number displayed on the screen for help. Both features may be used without subscription.

The Magellan RoadMate 9055 is basically a blown-up RoadMate device. It is better to see the device up close and personal so you can see if you can really benefit from the display. As far as performance goes, the navigation features are good. It is recommended for purchase if you have a large vehicle.

List Price : $299.99

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