Homer Simpson Is Not the Ideal TomTom Voice Skin

TomTom users have the notable perk that they can "skin" their GPS with celebrity voices. But I couldn't ride with Homer Simpson for five minutes before throwing his spastic ass right out the window. Here's the clip: More »

Why TomTom Sucks

TomTom's latest Go 740 Live is piled with features, but I've tested TomToms for five years, and in that time, nobody has fixed the platform's inherent problems. In fact they're only getting worse. More »

TomTom Updates Cheapo GPS Navigators With Not Cheapo-Level IQ Route Software

TomTom's two new entry-level GPS navigators—ONE IQ Routes and XL IQ Routes—are a lot like the existing ONE and XL, but with new cases and IQ route software from their pricier models. [TomTom, Thanks Dave!]

Garmin Nuvi 880 Voice-Controlled GPS Lightning Review

The Gadget: One of Garmin's flagship Nuvis, the 880 responds to commands from your voice, triggered by a little remote control you attach to your steering wheel. More »

TomTom Go 940 Live Leaked: Includes Live GPRS Traffic Data and Google Searches

A "leak" at a UK online retailer's site reveals a whole bunch of info on TomTom's Go 940 Live GPS system: it looks like the system comes with a GPRS unit to give it live traffic and fuel-price info and the ability to Google search. Yep, alongside the IQ routing and intelligent lane advice that the Go 930 and the new Pro units have is a TomTom HD Traffic unit using GPRS to garner local traffic info, weather conditions, and lets you Google for whatever info you might need on the road. That traffic info is gathered "via anonymous cellphone monitoring," but whether its these units that do the uploading, or a different system, is unclear. The unit's available on pre-order in the UK for around $800, with the Live service likely to cost $10-$15 per month, but there's no data on when it'll hit the US. [Handtec.co.uk via GPSLodge Thanks, Jay!]

Tomtom's Pro 4000 and 8000 GPS Units Come with Support Package

Tomtom has just come up with a suite of GPS systems for the "mobile workforce" dubbed the Pro series. The first units are the Pro 4000 and Pro 8000, and while the hardware is essentially unchanged from non-Pro models, there are a few tweaks. Firstly the software has a "menu lock" option, that's supposed to lower distractions and improve driving safety, the maps come with a free update that's to be used within a year, and there's a PIN lock to protect your data. Secondly the support package comes with a two-year extended warranty and a dedicated customer service line. The 8000 also has advanced IQ navigation, which plans routes using actual average drive times, and voice address-input and Bluetooth handsfree calling. The 4000 is out for $330 and the 8000 for $460. [Navigadget]

TomTom on the iPhone May Not Be Completely Dead

In an interview with TomTom spokesperson Yann Lafargue, French site Mac Generation hit on a few interesting tidbits about 3rd party navigation software on the iPhone. During the interview, Lafargue confirmed that there was a version of TomTom software running on the iPhone but he does not know if they will ever actually ship the product. You would think that the major reason for not shipping would be the clause in the SDK agreement that states "applications may not be designed or marketed for real time route guidance," but Lafargue insisted that is not a problem. More »

iPhone SDK Agreement Prohibits "Real-Time Route Guidance" and Saving Lives

It looks like hopes for a more robust GPS app for the iPhone 3G, with say, voice turn-by-turn navigation—or just a different way of doing things—might be well and dashed. The SDK agreement has a curious little clause that would seem to ban TomTom (or anyone else) from working their GPS magic: More »

TomTom Has Navigation App Already Running On the iPhone; Telenav Likely

If you were one of people who was all about GPS on the iPhone, you will be glad to hear that TomTom already has a version of their navigation software running on the device. Unfortunately, no other details regarding a release date, features or pricing have been released—but it stands a good chance of being the first, truly powerful GPS navigator for the iPhone. However, we have also heard that Telenav is hard at work on their own version—although nothing has been confirmed. [Reuters]

GPS Maker "Scared Sh*tless" by GPS in iPhone

Inside a mostly speculative piece about iPhone nanos and GPS on the next iPhone, Popular Mechanics does have one pretty solid nugget: The president of an unnamed GPS navigator maker (figure out who for bonus points) said he felt "scared shitless" by the prospect of an iPhone with GPS, because it'd be good enough for most users to never even glance at a separate GPS unit—with a decent-sized touchscreen and Google Maps interface, just add a carmount and you're good to go on foot or the road. In a way, this was inevitable. More »

TomTom 130, 130s, 330, 330s: One and XL Redesigned, Stow-Away Mount

Today TomTom announces all new TomTom One and XL navigators. The software doesn't appear to be any different, but the exteriors have been streamlined even further, and the company introduced a new EasyPort mount that can stow-away in the back of the device itself, so you don't have to worry about leaving your mount in the car. TomTom also revamped the audio system, so that commands are "even more loud and clear at all times"—apparently previous versions sounded too garbled or weak, but not anymore. More »

YourPND Lets You Record Your Own GPS Nagging

If you don't get enough nagging at home, now you can record your wife's voice on the YourPND website, and in just a few minutes, for $10 you can download files that you can transfer to your TomTom GPS navigation system, giving you the pleasure of having her yelling at you for getting lost wherever you go. Or hey, get your dog to bark at you when you get lost; that would be even better. Even though it only works with TomTom models so far, compatibility with Garmin, MyGuide and Mio GPS devices is forthcoming. [Navigadget]

London Cab Driver Takes on Sat-Nav—and Beats It By 27 Minutes

The BBC pitted the wits of a black cab driver against the latest GPS technology in an effort to find out whether man or gadget rules the mean streets of rush-hour London. And, in a result that will not surprise TomTom-challenged Londoners one bit, although the TomTom GO 720 won the first round, Andy the cabbie completely p0wned the Sat-Nav. More info below. More »

TomTom Teams Up With Google Maps for One-Click Navigation

Google and TomTom have joined forces to make their products compatible. Thanks to the "Send to GPS" button that Google has added to Google Maps, you can send routes from Google Maps direct to your navigation device via TomTom Home. See how it works in the video below. More »

Garmin Renews Navteq Vows

Garmin has decided not to pursue purchasing Tele Atlas, and instead signed a six-year deal with Navteq, agreeing to help Navteq improve its data. For those of you playing along at home: TomTom will likely get Tele Atlas, and Nokia's takeover of Navteq won't affect Garmin's long-term relationship. [Garmin]

Garmin Buying Tele Atlas?

Garmin says it will outbid TomTom for ownership of map provider Tele Atlas. Ironically, Garmin has always used data from Navteq, which is now being purchased by Nokia. Soooo Days of Our Lives. [Garmin]

Panasonic Introduces Strada CN-GP50U, Its First Portable GPS Navigator,

When Panasonic introduced its Strada in-dash GPS system, I was like, "Where's the portable, dudes?" Well, it's here. The $500 Strada CN-GP50U will have the usual premium features such as Navteq maps of US, Canada, PR and Mexico, an SD slot and Bluetooth for hands-free calling, but it will also have Voice Command for setting destinations without touching the screen. TomTom and Magellan have both promoted this feature, but we have yet to see it really take off. We'll be sure to play around with one when the arrive in December, and let you know how it goes. (Jump only if you want the press release.) More »

Nokia is buying Navteq, the world's biggest digital map maker, for $8.1 billion. Nokia wants to be a leader in location-based services, and buying Navteq gives it the best access to the best database. GPS-maker TomTom is in the process of buying Tele Atlas, Navteq's only major worldwide competitor. [NYT]

GPS Makers Garmin, TomTom, Mitac Pondering Mobile TV To Devices

The three GPS manufacturers, Garmin, TomTom and Mitac, are considering adding Mobile TV functionality to their portable GPS devices, reports DigiTimes. Whether all three, or even one, will eventually allow you to watch TV while driving is still up in the air, but their reasoning is that your time spent navigating is small in proportion to the total time you spend driving with your car with the nav system off. Unfortunately, having a video device in the view of the driver while the car's in motion is illegal in many states here; when watching TV while driving is outlawed, only outlaws will watch TV when driving. [Digitimes]

TomTom Introduces GO 920 and GO 920T with Voice Controls

TomTom will ship a new high-end navigator in the US, the Go 920 series, including the $599 Go 920 and the Go 920 T (for "traffic"), which will sell at a premium likely to be $100 more. The key to the new flagship is voice control: you can use TomTom's Voice Address Input to name your destination out loud. More »

HTC TyTN II Becomes Official in Europe

The phone we've previously known as the HTC Kaiser or the 8925 has just been named the HTC TyTN II for the European market. The Windows Mobile 6 phone will be available under T-Mobile, Orange, Vodafone and Telefonica (includes O2), and will have the standard 3.5G connectivity, Windows Mobile 6, HTC's Home screen, GPS, TomTom Navigator 6, 3-megapixel camera, 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.0, microSD card and the flip-up screen. No price was specified, but if the first TyTN was any indication, this will be expensive. [HTC Europe]

TomTom 920 the New Flagship GPS Navigator?

Hints of a new flagship GPS from TomTom, dubbed the 920, are showing up in TomTom's 720 software. That's good, because right now, its hard for consumers to tell the major differences between the 720 and the 910 (pictured above), which are similarly priced, with ~4 inch screens. The 920, would, in theory and speculation, have the best features from both, including, possibly, a SIRFstar III chipset. More »

TomTom Go 720 Lets You Improve Maps As You Go

There are many sweet things about TomTom's new $499 Go 720, but the most important feature is Map Share. If you've ever driven with GPS, you know how annoying it is when map data is wrong. Now, as you drive along, you can make five different kinds of correction on the fly. More »

TomTom One XL Makes Official Debut with Larger, Wider Touchscreen

We knew it was coming, and this morning TomTom officially debuted its new GPS handheld, the TomTom One XL. The new device will have a wide 4.3-inch touchscreen display with built-in Bluetooth and 32MB of RAM. It'll support real-time traffic displaying everything in 3D or 2D graphics with spoken-word instructions. The unit will be out in June for $399. – Louis Ramirez More »

Nokia Plans to Put GPS Chips in All Its Cellphones: SatNavvers Playing Ketchup

Bad pun, I know, but I couldn't resist. We've already reported on the TomTom and Garmin cellphone rumors earlier this week. And now here comes some more news that makes the rumors about the SatNavvers wanting to multi-task seem even more likely. More »

Garmin and TomTom Eyeing the Cell Phone Market

Ok, so maybe they're a little late to the party, but rumor has it that Garmin and TomTom are finally gonna make a move into the GPS-enabled cell- phone market. We've already seen a few phones encroach on their turf, so this move comes as a no-brainer from the two GPS giants. In the long run, this could mean that all phones will come with built-in GPS as opposed to just a few that feature it as a bonus. – Louis Ramirez More »

Gary Busey Lends his Voice, Personality for TomTom Navtones

Many celebrities have loaned their voice to TomTom to use for voice-guided navigation, but none as unique (debatable — Dennis Hopper and Mr. T have also participated in Navtones) as Gary Busey. Busey is known for a quite a few interesting "Buseyisms," like seen in the video above or in the link below that could make the average drive to the lake a lot more interesting. I am looking forward to my summer vacation a lot more. –Travis Hudson More »

TomTom Rider 2 Accidentally Leaked Online

The guys at TomTom accidentally leaked an ad for their new Rider 2, a GPS unit for motorcycles and scooters. Not that many details were revealed from the Flash animation (other than the fact the Rider 2 will have a redesigned mount), but if it follows in its predecessor's footsteps, chances are the Rider 2 will be water resistant, feature built-in Bluetooth, and sell for around $600, though hopefully TomTom gave their pricing a redesign too. – Louis Ramirez More »

TomTom Go 715 Gets Real, Will Come with Mobile Broadband

So that TomTom unit that was leaked not too long ago became official at CeBIT today, and just as we hoped it'll come with mobile broadband and a SIM card slot, so you'll be able to receive and send data through the interwebs. Other features include Bluetooth and spoken directions. No word on pricing or launch date yet, though we know it's being tested here in the U.S. as we speak. More »

Garmin Launches Even More Nüvis [Verdict: I'll Stick With TomTom, Thanks]

Following on from yesterday's Garmin Nüvi 200, here come a trio of Nüvis (Nüvee? Nüvilots?): the 600, 650 and 660FM. The 600 and 660FM are aimed at the European market, the former being a regional version of the 650, the latter bringing an FM transmitter to the 660. More »

TomTom Go 715 Doubles as Mobile Phone

Now that they've finished spilling the beans on the upcoming TomTom One XL, the FCC is leaking details on the TomTom Go 715, an all-in-one GPS with a trick up its sleeve—the ability to make and receive phone calls/text messages via a SIM card slot. Like its predecessor, the Go 710, the 715 will also have built-in Bluetooth for hands-free calling. No pricing or availability details were leaked, though the inclusion of a SIM card slot was enough to get our attention. Hopefully we'll hear more at CeBit. – Louis Ramirez More »

FCC Leaky Faucet: TomTom One XL

It's hard to believe that it was way back in August when the TomTom One first hit the market, but it seems a follow-up to this exceptional GPS unit is already in the works. The FCC has slipped out some information about the upcoming TomTom One XL. Our compadres over at Engadget speculate that the widescreen device will have 32MB of RAM, SD expandability and Bluetooth. Looks like a little bit of old, a little bit of new and quite a bit of snazzy. –Travis Hudson More »