Magellan’s new Triton GPS includes a camera, compass, barometer and flashlight

While we think Magellan’s hopes of making a GPS the central convergent device are folly in the longer run, the company’s new Triton series of portable handheld GPS receivers feature an interesting and useful range of functionality - ready to use out of the box with built-in base maps, the ruggedised Triton 2000 features a newly redesigned user interface with color, 2.7-inch QVGA touch screen that enables the easy selection of routes, waypoints and other features. It also includes a built-in 2MP camera, SD card slot, electronic compass and barometer, speaker/microphone and flashlight.

The Triton series of six new units is the first line of rugged, handheld navigation devices designed with a new user interface flow and screen graphics making Triton easier to use and more accessible to a greater population of outdoor enthusiasts.

The Triton series is significantly easier to use than previous versions of any outdoor GPS device, creating new opportunities to reach people who enjoy outdoor activities – an estimated market of 120 million people in the U.S. alone – but may not have used GPS in the past because of complexity, restricted features, and the limitations of available detailed outdoor maps. In 2008, more than 6 million outdoor GPS units are expected to be sold worldwide.

The full-featured Triton units offer full-color, touch-screen controls and the ability to record and attach audio to waypoint files. Other features unique to Triton include a built-in 2megapixel camera, digital compass, barometer and built-in LED flashlight. All of these features are elegantly integrated and designed to create an overall experience not found in any handheld GPS today.

IPX-7 rated and water submersible, the Triton series delivers ruggedness required by even the most demanding outdoor enthusiast.

As a result of an alliance between Magellan and National Geographic, the Triton series is the first outdoor handheld to offer users access to downloadable National Geographic topographic maps. This alliance with Magellan marks the first time that National Geographic maps will be made available on a handheld GPS device.

Additionally, Triton is the first Magellan handheld GPS to feature the new, free map and content management application, VantagePoint™, which enables users to easily upgrade and share information to and from their Magellan units. VantagePoint will allow Triton users to download additional maps onto their devices, as well as upload stored treks, waypoints and other recorded media.

National Geographic Maps

Magellan Triton is the first device to offer full, onscreen compatibility, usage and display of National Geographic’s maps. National Geographic offers its 28 titles of TOPO! outdoor recreation mapping software titles (covering all 50 states), which include five layers of maps – from National Geographic Atlas maps to the most detailed U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) topographic maps.

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