The Magellan RoadMate 6000T is a high-end GPS navigation unit with a 3.5″ display. Unlike many other vehicle navigation units, both the touch screen and buttons are used for navigation. The units GPS functions are powered by a SiRF Star III receiver which is highly regarded for its GPS performance. The 6000T has Bluetooth for hands-free phone calls and is Traffic enabled allowing users to avoid traffic delays using real-time traffic information. Also included is the popular text-to-speech functionality whereby street names are pronounced which Magellan call SayWhere.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth wireless technology allows the Magellan 6000T to connect to compatible mobile phones for hands-free phone calls using the built-in microphone and speaker. When connected, you are able to access your mobile phone’s address book through the Magellan 6000T for making calls.

Traffic Enabled

Integrated in the Magellan RoadMate 6000T is a traffic receiver which provides live traffic incident reports to allow users to avoid accidents, slow-downs, road closures, severe weather, road work and other traffic delays. Traffic incident locations and details are available on the touch-screen and automatic re-routing around upcoming traffic problems is available. Traffic data requires a traffic subscription however, the units do include a free 3-month subscription. The 6000T prompts for the renewal the subscription at the end of the subscription period - which can be done at www.magellangps.com.

Display and Operation

As mentioned, the touch screen measures 3.5″ diagonally. The screen is a full-color, high resolution, transflective TFT which automatically adjusts backlighting to ambient light conditions.

Unlike many other car navigation GPS units available, the Magellan 6000T has buttons on the top, sides, and bottom as well as the touch screen. It’s unlikely that this mix will continue long with the release of new projected capacitive touch screen technology by Synaptics Inc used by the iPhone. A mesh of metal wires between two layers of glass registers a touch when the electrical field is broken. The capacitive touch screen technology provides very bright, crisp displays. Market research company, iSuppli Corp, expects that capacitive touch screen technology shipments will leap to some 21 million units by 2012.

Navigation

The Magellan Roadmate 6000T provides both turn-by-turn voice and visual guidance. Standard or 3D views are available for visual guidance.

There are numerous functions to assist you with navigating including:

• Multi-Destination Routing and Route Optimization - Select up to 20 destinations and optimize the most direct route between them
• SmartDetour - Customize the settings to automatically route you around sudden slow freeway traffic
• Auto night view - Adjust color and contrast for easy night viewing
• Auto Re-route - Quickly get back on track whenever you take a detour
• Interactive POI icons - Touch an onscreen icon for a nearby destination; see phone number and get an instant route
• Customizable route method - Shortest time, shortest distance, least use or most use of freeways, avoid toll roads
• Route exclusion - Select street or freeways to avoid
• Instant locate - One touch shows your location

An especially handy navigation tool is one which allows the configuration of proximity triggers. When within a specified range to a particular type of POI (eg. a post office) you will be notified by an alarm. Location based services are extending this concept to detecting other person’s willing to share their location information.

Maps

The North American version of the Magellan RoadMate 6000T comes with built-in maps for 50 United States, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Canada including over 6 million points of interest (POI).

The European version comes with built-in maps for 27 European countries: England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Vatican and San Marino.

Multimedia Features

Automotive GPS navigation devices are now expected to have some multimedia playback capabilities and the 6000T delivers with a digital music player and a photo viewer.

Out of the Car

An integrated battery allows drivers to operate the device away from the car. There is a Magellan RoadMate Tools Application CD with software that allows you to connect the RoadMate 6000T to a PC (no Mac support) and manage custom POI’s, photos, and music.

Magellan RoadMate vs

The Magellan RoadMate 6000T has Bluetooth for hands-free phone calls which its similar looking siblings the Magellan RoadMate 3000T and the Magellan RoadMate 3050T don’t. However, it doesn’t have the internal memory of the 3000T and 3050T, instead relying on its SD card. All three siblings share the same navigation buttons, display size, weight and dimensions.

Competition for the Magellan RoadMate 6000T includes the TomTom GO 910 and the Garmin StreetPilot c550 – both of which have internal memory.

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Magellan RoadMate 6000T Specification - North America and Europe Versions