TomTom has updated one range of its dedicated GPS devices, and revealed a new line of GPS sports watches. The TomTom GO adds a new interactive map as well as more information for drivers, while the TomTom Runner and Multi-Sport marks a departure by the company from its previous Nike-branded efforts.
Several key iOS apps have received major updates today, most notably Skype and Skype for iPad. The pair can now access Messenger, Hotmail, and Outlook.com contacts after a person has entered their Microsoft account info. People who haven't used Skype before can now finally create an account from within the app, and instant messaging has been improved with selectable emoticons, and the ability to edit messages by tapping and holding. On the dialpad, saved phone numbers can be edited without having to visit a separate window.
TomTom has gone ahead and delivered its promised navigation app ($50, Google Play) for Android-powered mobile devices. The app brings offline navigation capability as well, making it suitable for driving to new and remote places. It's largely the same app as the one offered for iOS users, and includes radar camera warnings in some countries, free map updates, and traffic guidance, among others.
TomTom has updated its iOS navigation app, available for a number of different regions, to v1.11. Several improvements have been made, such as Foursquare integration, which lets users find places to go via the service with or without logging in; after logging in, though, the app also lets users check in at a location. Another upgrade is Bluetooth A2DP support, which lets users stream audio to any paired speaker nearby.
Velocomp has launched a new motorcycle mounting system for the iPhone, the iBike Moto. The mount is made of machined aluminium by motorcycle specialist Techmount, attachable to the handlebars and capable of swiveling 360 degrees. A water- and shock-resistant case covers the iPhone, closed by a Click-Latch mechanism. The included iBike Moto App acts as a digital dashboard and fuel gauge, as well as the mapping system. The iBike Moto is on sale for $80.
TomTom has offered up two new hands-free car kits, one for the iPhone and the other for Android smartphones. The iPhone version integrates the 30-pin adapter, while the Android version includes a microUSB charging cable to allowing it to accommodate a wide range of devices. TomTom says it has built-in a noise and echo cancellation function over a 2-watt speaker to boost call clarity when driving.
TomTom is making its Map Share service available to users of all its devices for free. Users can choose to update their device on a daily basis for the latest map information served up by fellow TomTom users. As the video below shows, updates available include crowd-sourced information on speed zone changes, different street names or blocked roads.
Two Maps-related features in iOS 6 will require at least an iPhone 4S or an iPad 2 to function, despite requirements for the rest of the OS, Apple has quietly revealed. A check of the official Maps page shows the fact mentioned only in a footnote. "Flyover and turn-by-turn navigation will be available only on iPhone 4S and iPad 2 or later," the page reads, adding that "some features may not be available in all countries or all areas."
The iOS 6 Maps app, revealed today, actually uses TomTom data as its primary source of mapping data, screenshots show. A check of the Acknowledgements section lists TomTom under copyrights. The app's corner menu, meanwhile, mentions "Data from TomTom, others."
RIM on Tuesday announced it has partnered with TomTom to bring the latter's HD Traffic service onto the former's smartphones. BlackBerry apps including Traffic, Maps, and Locate Services will get TomTom's touch, and even developers will have access to mapping and traffic for integration into their own apps. HD Traffic provides real-time traffic information to platforms.
GPS maker TomTom has released an updated edition of its flagship iOS app. Version 1.10 implements several promised social networking features, most notably Facebook integration. Users can choose to navigate to places and events listed on the website, and optionally share destinations and arrival times with others.
Portable navigator device maker TomTom has issued an over-the-air software fix for its so-called leap-year GPS issue. The Go Live and many other units were affected, and haven't been able to find their location since March 31. Users were met with a grey screen or poor signal message instead.
TomTom has announced a series of upcoming product changes at CES. Of special note is the company's iOS app, which will see a v1.10 update later this quarter. The new app will sport an unusually high level of social network integration, allowing people to pull information from Facebook and Twitter to navigate to friends, places, and events. Working in the other direction, people will also be able to share destinations and arrival times, whether via Facebook, Twiiter, email, or SMS.
Over in Europe, French carmaker Renault has said it will install R-Link, a seven-inch, voice-activated tablet into two new models due out in 2012. It will give users the ability to control it using their voice, the touchscreen or a steering wheel-mounted remote control. The system will link to user's smartphones and the cloud as well, for accessing social networks.
TomTom has announced plans to make significant cuts to its workforce, a move that will leave 10 percent of its current employees out of work. The layoffs are expected to help the company reduce costs as it struggles to survive in a market that has encountered difficulty maintaining hardware sales.
TomTom has released a new version of its GPS app for iOS, bringing the software up to v1.9. The title is now a universal app with a new iPad interface. The most attention has been dedicated to a new driving layout, which lets iPad users see the driving view and lane guidance images at the same time. Menu options, similarly, can be brought up without cutting away from the map screen.
Tom Tom has taken the wraps of its in Top Gear Edition GO Live GPS navigation system featuring the voice of co-host Jeremy Clarkson. It joins a range of devices now featuring the Clarkson’s unique take on driving (audio embedded below) including the PS3’s Gran Turismo 5 and the Xbox 360’s forthcoming Forza Motorsport 4.
LightSquared during a call on Wednesday that it had developed a fix for its GPS interference complaints. Working with an unnamed top GPS company, it hoped to rebuff GPS industry criticism with an example of GPS technology that could get an accurate position lock without running up against LightSquared's LTE wireless. The change runs on existing hardware and is "affordable," executive regulatory VP Jeff Carlisle said.
TomTom has introduced its latest navigation device, the Go Live 1535M. The standalone GPS unit is claimed to be the first to offer a full app platform, enabling users to take advantage of travel apps and social networking features that have been available on various smartphone platforms. The Live connected services will include Twitter, Yelp, TripAdvisor and Expedia.
TomTom issued a warning Monday that its GPS units were losing share to Android and iPhone hardware faster than it first thought. Its North American stake was seeing a "faster rate of decline" than it saw at the start and would plunge 30 percent for all of 2011. Europe was seeing an expected 10 percent drop, but more of these GPS navigators were entry models and fewer were being stocked in stores.
Location data users choose to share with TomTom also ends up being shared with the police in the Netherlands, according to Dutch news outlet AD. The authorities use it to see which areas are the fastest travelled, and therefore where to set up speed traps. While data is anonymous and users cannot be identified when they're speeding, it still poses a possible fine to motorists.
TomTom has began a widespread shipment of its Go 2405 and Go 2505-based GPS navigators in the US with the Go 2535 M Live, Go 2535 and Go 2545. The Go 2535 M Live first showed up at CES as the Go 2505 M Live while the latter pair shipped in February and sports voice recognition. The connected, five-inch Go 2535 M Live for the first time gives US users access to TomTom's HD Traffic services.
Following its brief tease at CES, TomTom on Friday shipped its overhauled VIA GPS navigators to the US. The 4.3-inch 1405 and 1435, as well as the five-inch 1505 and 1535, all have a much slimmer design with an EasyPort mount that more easily grafts on to the dash or the windshield. They mark the formal launch of a reworked interface, both on the touchscreen and through a new natural-language voice command system.
TomTom executive committee member Taco Titulaer on Thursday rejected a rumor started by analyst group Mergermarket that it was selling off its map content division. The former Tele Atlas group would stay intact and wasn't on sale at all. Its navigation data was "core to [TomTom's] strategy and product offering," Titulaer told Reuters.
TomTom has announced that it is now licensing its speed camera database to third-party developers. The content includes more than 50,000 warnings spread across 24 different countries. Fixed speed cameras serve as the primary focus, but the data also includes locations of red light cameras, speed averaging systems, and 'black spots' surrounding high-risk areas that have a history of high accident rates.
GPS maker TomTom has introduced new portable navigation devices, broken up into two ranges. The Go 2435 and the Go 2535 editions both sport a thin design and get the same capacitive touchscreen introduced on the Go 2505TM. A newfound feature common to both lines is the intuitive Voice Recognition that lets users speak destinations while driving.
Nike has introduced its new Nike+ SportsWatch GPS at CES 2011. It leverages the shoe-based Nike+ sensor to track time, pace, distance, calories burned and heart rate. Using Tom Tom navigation technology, the SportsWatch GPS will track what a user does, how they do it, and then motivates the user to improve on previous performances over the each route.
TomTom has announced that it will bring its VIA-series GPS navigators to the North American market. The new offerings will include the 4.3-inch VIA 1405 and 1435, along with the 5.0-inch VIA 1405 and 1435. Each of the devices features a slim design paired with an EasyPort mount that adapts to windshield or dash mounts and a range of viewing angles.
TomTom has introduced an updated version of its 5-inch Go 2505 M standalone GPS navigator. The latest edition connects with the company's range of Live services, which provide a variety of real-time information. US users will be able to access updated traffic information, fuel prices, local search, and weather forecasts.
Garmin while discussing its summer fiscal results today confirmed that it was quitting the smartphone business. The company decided after considering its position that it "cannot reach the scale necessary" to compete with others in smartphones and was shutting down its efforts. Staff involved in research and development would be moved to the in-car GPS team and other areas where the company was still growing, it said.
TomTom today unveiled a significant overhaul of its GPS navigators for the US through the 4.3-inch Go 2405 TM and the five-inch Go 2505 TM. Both have TomTom's newer user interface, which at once speeds up getting to core info and supports multi-touch. A capacitive glass touchscreen lets users pinch to zoom and swipe between screens.
GPS device maker TomTom and smartphone producer HTC have announced on Wednesday a collaboration that will bring the former's mapping software to HTC hardware. As such, the HTC Locations app will be preloaded onto smartphones throughout Europe and Asia. It is already and initially available on the Desire HD and Desire Z.
TomTom on Tuesday opened the customization of new navigators purchased online. Through a partnership with CafePress, TomTom lets users pick from hundreds of available designs, custom artwork and even uploaded personal photos. There is no indication how much, if anything, this option adds to the price of a device.
Sony today made a sharp break from its past insistence on in-house GPS and revealed two AV and navigation units that use TomTom for GPS. The six-inch XNV-660BT and seven-inch XNV-770BT take advantage of TomTom's mapping to bring in IQ Routes, which picks the quickest route based on historical traffic rather than just distance, as well as community-sourced points of interest through MapShare and lane guidance. Either unit gets a full set of maps for North America along with a year's worth of map upgrades.
The FCC has leaked word of two new including the Magellan RoadMate 9020/9055 as well as TomTom's Go Live 1000. More is known about the latter device, as it will be based on a WebKit interface, which is new for TomTom. It will sport a capacitative touchscreen, a magnetic mount and connected services such as real-time traffic updates.
TomTom is now offering a free adapter to owners of the car kit to mount the iPhone 4 in their vehicle. Kits shipped starting in September include the new mount, while those who purchased the kits before that can claim the mount starting on September 10.
As promised, TomTom has made Yoda's voice available for download for its compatible portable navigation devices. The speech pack is the third in a series of Star Wars character voices already on tap, joining C-3PO and Darth Vader. Han Solo's voice will be added in August.
Nokia Head Technologist Charles Davies is leaving the phone maker in favor of TomTom, it was learned on Friday. Davies led a strategy and architecture team of 200 for Nokia research and development, and there is no word on who will replace him. TomTom confirmed the move, but has not yet released any specific information.
TomTom has announced that its iPhone app has been update to take advantage of multitasking support in iOS 4. Users can now make and answer calls without interrupting navigation, as visual instructions are still presented even when a call is in progress. Version 1.4 also provides audio navigation instructions in the background if a user needs to switch to a different app.
Navigon today showed a version of its Mobile Navigator app with iOS 4's multitasking fully built in. The version 1.6 app now won't stop tracking position when the user switches away to another app and will provide voiced guidance even when another app is in the foreground. Calls also now won't disrupt the experience, although it carries the risk of a turn interrupting a conversation.
Navigation device maker TomTom on Thursday added two downloadable voices from Nickelodeon. Parents can now put the voice of Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants onto their navigators, allowing children to listen to their favorite TV cartoon characters while traveling. The two voices will say turn-by-turn driving directions, with other phrases from the cartoons thrown in.
Portable navigation maker Magellan has joined competitors TomTom and Garmin in offering free map updates on its GPS models. Some models, such as the RoadMate 3045-LM, get lifetime map updates, while others, such as the RoadMate 3045-MU, get only a single update.
TomTom has quietly added two new portable navigation devices to its US lineup, the XL 350 and XXL 550. The models will have the same simplified interface as the TomTom EASE GPS. The two 4.3-inch devices are also based on the XL IR Routes edition2 models available in Europe.
TomTom has teamed up with Lucasfilm and VoiceSkins to bring official Star Wars voices to its portable navigation devices. The first available voice will be that of Darth Vader, which has launched on Tuesday and can be downloaded immediately. The voice of C-3PO arrives in June, with Yoda's arriving in July and Han Solo's joining the fray in August.
TomTom chief Harold Goddijn in a presentation said his company would create an app store for its GPS units. The company lead explained on Thursday that the new WebKit-based interface on the Go Live 1000 and future navigators would let developers roll out apps well-suited to driving. Augmented reality was floated as a possibility, although Goddijn expected it would only be a minor feature; it would require a camera to work properly.
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.
TomTom hoped to take control of the low-cost GPS realm today in unveiling the Start 2. Its second-run 3.5-inch mapping device is its first in the class to get lane assist and at the same time gets text-to-speech for spoken street names. Drivers in busy areas can use IQ Routes for traffic avoidance based on historical info or else add an optional TMC adapter for live traffic updates.
TomTom this week said it will bring free lifetime map and traffic updates to owners of its portable navigation devices in North America. Map updates will keep devices up to date, with fresh downloads every few months, reflecting any new communities, roads and points of interest. Also, compatible models will get real-time traffic updates every three minutes, updating new total drive times and suggesting quicker alternate routes whenever possible.
TomTom on Monday released an update to its self-titled navigation app for the iPhone. Version 1.3 brings a number of improvements, including Google search for finding points of interest or other information. Users can now view real-time traffic information or use pinch gestures to control the zoom level on the navigation map.
ProClip and TomTom have collaborated on a new car mount for the iPhone. As with some existing kits, users can fit the ProClip mount in a car for use with TomTom's iPhone navigation app. The ProClip gear attaches directly to a part of the dashboard, however, eliminating falls because of problems with windshield suction.
