New Magellans since 4350/4370 do not support custom POIs

Get bought by Mio? If I remember correctly, Mio's weren't easy to add POI to either. This could be the result of the acquisition and the change in corporate governance.

In January Magellan was acquired by MiTAC International Corporation. MiTAC also sells gps units under the Mio and Navman brands. I don't have any experience with either Mio or Navman brands. I don't know the development time line for gps units. It certainly is possible that MiTAC had a hand in the decision not to support custom POIs.

Currently Navman only sells one model in the US exclusively through Radio Shack. Mio has about 8 models in the US and has wider distribution. Apparently Mio started out as a maker of PDAs and then moved into the PND market.

You're right. MM 4350/70 does support custom POIs but there isn't option to set alerts. Therefore the use of the Red & Speed Camera file is almost useless.

It's always interesting to see how an aquiring company can value an asset and then completely screw it up. While I own a magellan unit, when it comes time to replace it, it will be based on which is the best value for the money. Not having the ability to add alerts is a deal killer.

MM 4350/70 does allow POIs to be visable on the screen. However, there is no audible proximity alert.

I hope you're not looking at the screen all the time while driving.

And there is no choice of the icon. Old models, that used POI File Editor, at least had option of those 30-40 preloaded icons, but now, with the Content Manager, there is no option.

I think MM 4350/4370 is a great unit, with many great features, but lack of the ability to customize unit will be IMHO deal breaker for many potential buyers.

The 4350/4370 uses NavNgo's iGO8 software. This software does support speedcam and red light cam alerts but Magellon choose not to include this feature. I have not tried this, but I understand that the feature and the various optional paramenters can be enabled in the 4350/4370 by editing the sys.txt file and placing the speedcam/red light cam database in a "spud" file on the unit. If you think this might be of interest, I'll try to research this further.

The software also supports a "Manage POIs" menu that allow the user to add and edit custom POIs individually including assigning icons. But again Magellan choose not to include this feature.

I do understand that the preloaded icons can be assigned if the custom POIs are loaded into the "user.upoi" file rather than using kml files. Use of this file is not documented for end users. Apparently use of this file is intended for value added resellers and business use. I intend to provide a post on using the "user.upoi" file in the Custom POI "How to" thread in the next few days.

I agree with you that the 4350/4370 is a great unit. However, this is not the unit for those that must have speedcam/red light cam support. Since the software supports it, Magellan might implement it in a firmware update, but I would not hold my breath. One thing is that it does not appear the database file is designed to be edited/updated by end users. It is not in the standard iGO8 documentation and I only know about it through various GPS forums.

The subsequent models do not appear to even support custom POIs. Although it is possible that support for custom POIs is an undocumented feature.

It would be great if you could find a way to enable those features.

Well I did manage to find the "spud" file and update that. But it seems no matter what I put in the "sys.txt" file I can't seem to enable the speedcam feature.

I read somewhere that for European market (I think it was European) you can get units preloaded with speed and redlight cameras file. The unit by itself has a folder named "speed cameras", or something like that. Strange that they didn't leave a way for us to install and use such files.

Activation of speedcam alerts in Magellan Maestro 4350/4370 is described here:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/18393#comment-158310