TomTom Go Live 1000 packs capacitive touch, WebKit UI
updated 11:15 am EDT, Tue April 27, 2010
TomTom fights Garmin, iPhone with new GPS
TomTom ushered in a newer wave of GPS units today through the Go Live 1000. Like the Garmin nuvi 3700 it's up against, TomTom's GPS switches to a capacitive touchscreen much more naturally suited to finger input. The interface has been redesigned to match and is unique in being based on WebKit, the same web browser engine that runs Chrome and Safari.
At least in Europe, TomTom is also experimenting with bundling Internet services. Those who buy the new Go Live will get one year of cellular-driven access from Vodafone ranging from basics like live traffic to local searching and speed camera detection. IQ Routes is always present and uses historical data to judge when a detour will help avoid a traffic jam.
A relatively quick 500MHz ARM11 chip and 128MB of RAM should address the often-cited speed issues with GPS mapping.
TomTom isn't providing detailed launch information so far and only promises that the Go Live 1000 will ship in the summer. Almost all of its GPS units reach the US and render it likely that the 1000 will cross the border, although whether it will use AT&T or another carrier for the cellular link.
