… Rather than battle to add more features to their dedicated GPS units, TomTom have taken the alternative route: add GPS to your existing all-in-one device. TomTom for iPhone (iTunes link) looks and feels like a dedicated GPS unit, but it is running as an application on your iPhone. It uses the internal GPS chip in your iPhone 3G or 3GS, and it just works. …
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rob-nz
Member
Hmm.. interesting. Screenshot graphics don't want to render in the forum page, but do in the review section.
Yeah, agree re samrtphones vs. dedicated portable GPS.
A built in factory fitted nav system integrated with the vehicle engine monitoring and environment management systems might be a different story. Having said that, if they'd just give me usb access to read-only data from those systems it would be pretty cool too!
Android is apprently next cab off the TomTom rank.
In the meantime, I've been using a free app called Nav4All on my HTC magic.
At present it has a very basic interface and only a choice of about 8 english voices, (Male and female, Brit and american, as well as comedic versions of both)but it works very well.
The graphics are just arrows and symbols, but you can get a map view, the voice prompts have been spot on so far, it has contact list integration, favourites, driving syles., remember parking space, track and trace etc. etc.
The routes have been pretty good, although it doesn't know about some of the more recent additions like the Highbrook off ramp.
And it's free! Gui update is due in a month or two apparently.
Rob have you seen the Fiat Eco-Drive system? I’m tempted to buy a Fiat just to have that USB diagnostic output.
And for the record, yes I am complete conflicted over Apple and the iPhone. Their walled garden sucks balls, but the phone’s usability and attention to detail keeps me coming back over and over again.
To the naysayers that naysay “but but but Symbian and WinMo have had GPS apps for years!”, I say: “I spent a few weeks with an iPaq on my dashboard and wanted to throw it out the window”.
rob-nz
Member
And for the record, yes I am complete conflicted over Apple and the iPhone. Their walled garden sucks balls, but the phone’s usability and attention to detail keeps me coming back over and over again.To the naysayers that naysay “but but but Symbian and WinMo have had GPS apps for years!”, I say: “I spent a few weeks with an iPaq on my dashboard and wanted to throw it out the window”.
Go with the little green robot I say! :-)
The Xperia X3 gets closer...
Mehul have you installed iPhone apps before? It couldn’t be more simple. Just hit the ‘Buy Now’ button in iTunes app store (either on your phone or on your PC), then after a short download it will appear on your phone.
a modern major-general
Inactive
“Ive read elsewhere that TomTom has confirmed that the cradle will provide GPS abilities to ipod touches and devices without GPS”
But will the cradle not provide GPS abilities to devices with GPS? Poor show!
Keith patton
Inactive
It doesn’t work with those bendy holders that stick in cig lighter socket, gps fails! Also multitouch is limited to map browse mode and is pretty clunky loading in tiles, should be smooth as as all local. Apart from that very cool.
GPS is completely free. I believe the TomTom maps sit on your device, so there is no data cost.
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