TomTom Sat Nav
Tom Tom Sat Navs
One of the most popular makers of automotive navigation systems, Tom Tom is a Dutch-based company that provides consumers with TomTom sat nav stand-alone units and Tom Tom sat nav software that can be used on mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs). Tom Tom is currently one of the market leaders in Portable Navigation Devices and has offices in Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, Africa and the Middle East.
What type of products does TomTom Sat Nav offer?
There are two types of products currently offered by TomTom sat nav and these are navigation devices, which are stand-alone TomTom sat nav units, and navigation software that can be installed on a wide range of mobile devices.
Both products use a standard TomTom sat nav interface that uses a slanted bird’s-eye view of the map, although the TomTom sat nav interface does offer a direct overhead view of the map as well. The TomTom sat nav units use a GPS receiver that allows the device to display the exact location and once you have entered your destination the TomTom sat nav provides both spoken and visual direction on how to get to the location you have chosen.
Some of the TomTom sat nav systems allow for mobile devices to be integrated using Bluetooth and will provide data regularly updating maps of traffic congestion on the route you are taking and can even provide alternative routes on your TomTom sat nav device to avoid congested areas.
What is the current TomTom sat nav product range?
Tom Tom currently offers a wide range of Tom Tom sat nav products that will suit the individual requirements of each user. The Tom Tom sat nav product ranges available are as follows:
TomTom One and TomTom One XL – These are the entry level units of the TomTom sat nav range and offer the standard map displays, touch screen and both verbal and visual directions. The TomTom sat nav devices also provide easy in-car mounting and are plug and go ready, which means that there is no setting up required before you can use the TomTom sat nav device. The TomTom One XL version has a slightly larger 4.3” screen than the screen on the TomTom One. The TomTom One and One XL are the lowest priced units in the TomTom sat nav range and are excellent for those just looking for a basic sat nav device.
TomTom Go and TomTom Go Live– The TomTom Go and Go Live are all-in-one GPS navigation devices that offer users all the functions of the TomTom One range but also come with extra features like:
IQ route management, which allows your TomTom sat nav to find the fastest routes using actual road speed data and provides the best route depending on the time and day.
Advanced lane guidance, which provides TomTom sat nav users with a high level of clarity when navigating the more difficult junctions.
This TomTom sat nav range also provides more accurate GPS positioning, faster route updates if you make deviations to your route, and has a text to voice facility to advise you of road names and numbers. This TomTom sat nav range is more expensive than the TomTom One range but offers more features and the hardware is higher specification and therefore much faster.
The TomTom Go Live has the added benefit of the Live service, which provides TomTom sat nav users with access to facilities like High Definition Traffic, fuel prices, safety alerts and Local search using Google. This service is free to TomTom sat nav users for the first three months but after this period a monthly subscription for the service will be required.
TomTom rider 2nd edition - This TomTom sat nav device is for use on bikes and although it offers the same facilities as the in-car version it does have features unique to bike riders.
The touch screen on this TomTom sat nav device is 3.5” and is glove-friendly.
The TomTom sat nav device is secured to the bike using a secure RAM mount, which is a robust design that can handle the extreme conditions that can be experienced on a bike.
The Cardo helmet connection allows riders to use their TomTom sat nav device to make calls using wireless bluetooth connectivity.
Tom Tom Navigator 6 – This TomTom sat nav software package provides mobile and PDA users with TomTom HOME software and maps of 20 countries in Western Europe. The TomTom sat nav software is quick and simple to install and provides street level maps for almost every area.
Once the TomTom sat nav software is installed on the mobile device it offers easy-to-use menu systems that will allow you to plan your routes in any way you wish. The TomTom sat nav software provides both 2D and 3D maps and uses visual and verbal instruction to direct you to your destination.
Sat Nav News
Do you trust your sat nav?
Whilst many drivers in the UK have sat nav devices in their vehicles the results of recent research have shown that only a minority of drivers actually trust their sat nav systems.
Over recent years sat nav devices have become increasingly popular in the UK, and more and more people have started to use sat navs in order to get around with speed and ease. These devices are now used by regular drivers as well as professional drivers, and there are many different makes and models of sat nav available with prices to suit a range of different needs.
However, whilst sat nav devices have proven very popular amongst many drivers recent research has shown that only a minority of drivers really trust their sat nav devices. The research was carried out by Manheim Auctions, and as part of the survey three thousand drivers were polled about how much they trusted their sat nav devices.
The survey results showed that over one third of the drivers polled had got lost as a result of following instruction from their sat nav devices. Around fifteen percent of those responding also said that they blamed their sat navs for making them late for important events such as weddings or job interviews.
Around thirty percent of respondents said that their sat navs had caused them to have arguments with fellow passengers, and only one in eight of those surveyed said that they actually trusted their sat nav device. However, many experts are concerned about how reliant many drivers have become on these devices, with many failing to use other tools such as traditional road maps or an A-Z.
Source - Pocket GPS World
Sat navs directing lorries through village
It has been reported that sat navs are directing lorries through a village and are causing damage to a bridge and to properties as a result of this.
Sat nav devices have become increasingly popular over recent years, and many people have become reliant on these devices in order to get around with ease, speed, and convenience. These devices are used by the general public when driving as well as by those that drive for a living, such as lorry drivers, as it makes their job considerably easier.
However, there are concerns that sat nav devices may be sending some lorry drivers through a village, and causing damage to properties and a bridge in the area. Reports claim that lorry drivers going through the village of Beddgelert in Gwynedd are simply ignoring warning signs and are instead simply following their sat nav instructions and continuing on through the village.
One guest house owner in the area explained how the lorries had damaged her property, stating: “As a lorry came down it caught my building. It came round the corner and it actually pushed one of the windows in. I’ve got some guests in that room. It’s been pushed in a good six inches or so but it’s not collapsed.”
Another guesthouse owner claimed that her property was being damaged on a regular basis by lorries that were passing through because they were following instructions from their sat navs. She said: “Our house was built 150 years ago and I think the wall was built at around the same time. The wall is being knocked by large lorries coming round that have lost their way, shall we say, with sat-nav.”
Source - BBC
Why use handheld sat nav devices?
Whilst the benefits of having an in-car sat nav device may seem quite obvious many people may not be aware of just how useful having a handheld sat nav device can be.
Many drivers these days have become reliant on their sat nav devices in order to get around and find their way to their chosen destination easily, quickly, and conveniently. In fact, sat nav devices have become so useful that many drivers would not imagine going anywhere without one, and a huge number of drivers now no longer bother with A-Z atlases and maps, preferring instead to use their sat nav devices.
TomTom One IQ Routes Europe can make ideal travelling companion
More and more of us these days are using sat nav devices to make travelling easier, and the TomTom One IQ Routes Europe could prove to be the ideal travelling companion for those that travel both in the UK and in other parts of Europe.
There are many sat nav systems and manufacturers on the market these days, and one of the most well known manufacturers is TomTom, which is known for its innovation, affordability, and high quality when it comes to sat nav devices. The manufacturer offers a range of sat nav systems within its range to suit a wide variety of needs and pockets, and one of these systems is the TomTom One IQ Routes Europe.
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GPS smart phones rivalling sat nav devices
According to a recent report high specification smart phones that come with GPS capabilities are increasingly competing with traditional sat nav devices
Many drivers these days have a sat nav device that they rely on to get around, and the sat nav devices that are available these days offer all sorts of features from lane assist and specialist features for HGV drivers to points of interest and much more. However, despite the evolution of the trusty sat nav there is a chance that the popularity of these devices could wane as a result of theavailability of GPS features on smart phones.
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