NaviGadget

TomTom cash for clunkers program

Nov 20, 2009 gps navigation, tomtom 1 Comment

TomTom just started a new trade-in program – kind of similar to the cash for clunkers deal we had here in the U.S. What you need to do is to purchase a new GPS navigation system from TomTom.com, estimate the value of your trade-in using their calculator, print the shipping label and send it in to their warehouse, and finally get your cash back in about 1 to 2 weeks.

We played with the calculator a bit – a Navigon 2100 we have sitting here with no accessories or cables was $35, a higher end Garmin 760 with charger, cables and mounting kits would get you as much as $177. That’s a good trade-in value! The question is would you trade in your Garmin for a Tomtom?

TomTom iPhone app now does text to speech

Nov 14, 2009 gps navigation 1 Comment

Yep. If you update your TomTom GPS navigation app for your iPhone it can now pronounce street names, as opposed to just saying “take next right”. This update shouldn’t cost you anything provided you already paid about a $100 initially. Of course you’ll have to hang in there until Apple approves the upgrade.

There are a few other updates other than just text-to-speech which include “help me” feature which can show you how to call and get to emergency providers, customizable audio warnings, updates maps and camera databases (for Europe only), and iPod controls from within the GPS navigation app so you don’t have to go back and forth.

iPhone GPS navigation apps list updated

Nov 12, 2009 gps navigation, phones, software Leave a comment

We’ve had this list for iPhone GPS navigation apps and we just updated it with the latest information. Let us know if you think we need to add more items to the list. The list only attempts to cover apps that can provide turn by turn directions for the iPhone.

Our list currently has:

• telenav
• navigon
• coPilot
• tomtom
• gokivo
• sygic
• navmii
• iGo My Way
• XRoad
• MotionX GPS Drive
• NDrive
• Mapquest

HTC HD2 GPS navigation

Nov 10, 2009 gps navigation, phones, tomtom Leave a comment

Here is a video of CoPilot and TomTom apps being tested on an HTC HD2 with WinMo.

Looks pretty sleek. However with CoPilot landscape mode isn’t all the efficient for making use of that screen. TomTom does a better job. HTC HD2 is a giant phone by the way…

south africa gets three new TomToms

Nov 9, 2009 gps navigation, tomtom 5 Comments

TomTom just announced three new GPS navigation systems for South Africa. These are TomTom Start, TomTom XXL, and TomTom GO 750.

The highest end of the three is TomTom GO 750 which offers hands free calling. The biggest screen however is on TomTom XXL, and the cheapest is TomTom Start.

TomTom Start has a 3.5 inch screen and comes with a safety camera database but only thousands of points of interests. TomTom XXL has a 5 inch touch screen and supports TomTom Map Share. TomTom GO 750 is the flagship product of South Africa and comes with latest routing technologies, offers an enhanced speaker for clearer voice instructions and hands-free calling.

Here are the prices:

• TomTom Start with a map of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland: R1399
• TomTom XXL with a map of Southern Africa: R2499
• TomTom GO 750 with a map of Southern Africa and European maps: R2999

TomTom car kit review

Nov 3, 2009 gps navigation, phones, reviews 1 Comment

Engadget has a decent review of the TomTom’s car kit for the iPhone 3G and 3GS. What they did was to use the iPhone 3GS with a regular car kit and let it use its own GPS receiver, and an iPhone 3G with the TomTom car kit.

In the end both iPhone’s performed very similarly suggesting it may not be a great idea to spend an $120 on the car kit on top of the $100 app… Read More …

google navigation

Oct 29, 2009 gps navigation, phones, software 5 Comments

Google – the supreme being of the internets – just announced their new GPS navigation application which will cost nothing. It will come standard on the Android 2.0 OS. And soon it will probably be offered on Blackberry, WinMo, and one day even the iPhone.

Before we go into the details of Google’s new turn-by-turn GPS navigation application – we would like to ask you? What do you think this will do to standalone GPS makers? Or more importantly what will all these iPhone GPS apps will do once it hits the iPhone? Do you think the stock prices changes of TomTom and Garmin were because of Google’s announcement?

Anyways – officially called Google Maps Navigation – the new application is an internet connected GPS navigation system with voice guidance. It will be part of Google Maps Mobile and will is already available on phone with Android 2.0.

Some features include ability to search by business name, search by voice, traffic view, search along your route, satellite view, street view, and finally a car dock mode for devices which support it.

A question that comes to mind is how will will caching of maps along your route will work – so you don’t have to rely on a 3G network. Can you get directions from LA to NY and have all the maps downloaded before you leave the Pacific?

On a separate note I would personally like to thank Google for not using Starbucks as an example destination. Instead they used In-N-Out :)

Check out all the videos: Read More …

TomTom GO I-90

Oct 25, 2009 gps navigation, tomtom 1 Comment

TomTom GO I-90 is the latest in car infotainment plus GPS navigation system from the company. This retro fitted device takes up 2-DIN on your dashboard and therefore can be installed in many cars, including older ones.

TomTom GO I-90 combines radio too so you don’t have to give up your favorite station but it lacks a CD slot. However that’s not all that bad since listening to tunes on your CD is so old school. GO I-90 does support USB storage devices – which would be a really easy way to bring your music on board.

Another benefit of TomTom GO I-90 integrated solution in addition to completely getting ridding of charging cables and mounts is that it works with the audio system in your car which should be nice and loud and interference free since it would mute your music while directions are being announced.

TomTom GO I-90 comes with maps of Western Europe pre-installed, supports bluetooth connected phones for hands free and will be available starting December 2009 for Є599.

More features: Read More …

tomtom car kit for iPhone at Apple Store

Oct 23, 2009 gps navigation, phones, tomtom 1 Comment

The highly anticipated TomTom car kit for iPhone has finally made its appearance at the Apple Store. It is going to cost $120 and will ship in two to three weeks. Some of the mentioned features include secure docking, enhanced GPS performance, clear voice instructions, easy charging, hands free calling, and the ability to play music through cars’ audio via cable.

Here are some specs for the TomTom car kit:

• Audio out: 3.5 mm
• Volume control: Yes
• Portrait/Landscape support: Yes
• Windscreen and dashboard mounting: Yes
• iPhone charging via CLA: Yes
• Dimensions: 5.17 x 2.7 x 1.96 in./131.43 x 68.68 x 49.86 mm
• Weight: 4.13 oz./117 g

TomTom for iPhone review

Oct 19, 2009 gps navigation, reviews, tomtom 1 Comment

There’s a new review for TomTom’s GPS navigation app for the iPhone. It does not review the highly expected TomTom car kit though – only the software.

The review was mostly very positive. Here is the bottom line for you:

The TomTom iPhone App is a solid first step platform onto which TomTom can build a world-class navigation product. The application offers a lot of capabilities that are damn convenient to have right in your iPhone. The trusted TomTom performance and ease of use is in there, as is the familiar layout. It is a simple navigation product that is a great addition to anyone with an iPhone who wants navigation