GPS maker Magellan has announced its new Triton series of feature-laden handheld GPS receivers. The line of six Triton GPSs all feature color touchscreen inferfaces and IPX-7 waterproofing standards, meaning the units can handle immersion in one meter of water for 30 minutes, and are designed to bundle together features and capabilities which appeal to a broader range of outdoor enthusiasts. The Triton series are also compatible with National Geographic’s Topo series of outdoor recreation maps, which cover all 50 states and run the gamut from atlas-style maps to USGS surveys—the maps can be layered on the Tritons for what Magellan calls a “best-in-class mapping experience.”
“The new Triton series of handheld receivers was designed to bring handheld GPS to a new and expanded audience with the kind of experience our team of outdoor enthusiasts have dreamed of,” said Magellan’s senior director of marketing Stig Pedersen, in a statement. “The Triton is the ideal backpack or tackle box companion for hikers and backpackers, hunters and fishermen, boaters, and geocachers.”
At the high end, the Triton 2000 offers a 2.7-inch LCD display, a 2 megapixel camera, an SD card slot, an electronic compass and barometer, along with a speaker, microphone, and LED flashlight. The unit is pre-loaded with base maps, and users can also upload maps, routes, and waypoints, using Magellan’s new VantagePoint software. The microphone also lets users tag waypoints with audio notes (“don’t pee behind the big bush: there’s poison ivy!”). The Triton 200 will carry a retail price of $499.
Stepping down a little bit, the Triton 1500 will retail for $399, and lacks the 2000’s 2 megapixel camera, compass, and barometer. Getting smaller, the $249 Triton 500 offers a 2.2-inch QVGA screen, and brings back the compass and barometer (whoo!) but lacks the flashlight, mic, and speakers. The remainder of the line all have 2.2-inch LCD displays: the $199 Triton 400 offers a “pointer and compass screen,” while the $149 Triton 300 loses the SD card slot in favor of 10 MB of built-in memory for map storage. Finally, the $129 Triton 200 loses the capability to upload maps using the VantagePoint software, but runs on two AA batteries, which may make it easier to keep going on long hauls.
The Triton series should be available in September in North America, with sales in Europe starting in October; a series of accessories (vehicle mounts, cases, etc.) will also be available. Through December 31, 2007, Magellan will be donating a portion of proceeds from Triton sales to the National Park Foundation; the company is also giving 500 Triton GPS’s to the NPF to assist its programs.
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