Showing posts with label garmin gps. Show all posts
Showing posts with label garmin gps. Show all posts

TomTom GO 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review

TomTom GO 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Well, I have to admit really falling in love with this device over the last week. The reason I bought it is actually because of third-party software package provided by a company called Equinux that makes the TomTom Go Mac OSX compatible. This software is not included, but it's easy to find on the web.
It's this software packages, callled Tam Tam, that makes the TomTom Go, to my knowledge, the first, truly MAC OSX compatible car GPS. Which in my humble opinion is a far better solution than jury-rigged coding for extreme hackers who try and force Garmin or Magellan to work with the Mac operating system machinse or the truly sad compromise of using Virtual PC, which, as far as I understand, makes your mac vulnerable to all those nasty virus and techno-terrors aimed at PC/Intel boxes.

In deference to the review guidelines, I won't put the Equinux URL here, but it's easy enough to find them on the web. The main reason I bring Equinux up at all is because if it wasn't for their Tam Tam Mac OSX software, I never would have bought my TomTom Go and, Man, I would have missed out on a wonderful device.
Anyway, the device, TOMTOM GO, is fantastic! The 3D map views are clear and easily read and once you switch to a map section that applies to where you are the TomTom has no problem getting a GPS connection - I'm making this assumption because I live and work in the hills of Tennessee, North Carolina Virginia and if it can get GPS reception here than that's really saying something.
Also, I splurged for the pre-loaded version, and I think I made the right call, just because I didn't want to take too many chances considering the, at the time, compatibility concerns, concerns which have since been fully addressed.
There is one down side, because the US map is sectioned into 6 or 7 maps, even if the maps are all loaded you can't go from a specific address in one section to a specific address in another section. This is a bit of a bummer, but once you get a hang of using the Major US Roads maps, which lack most specific addresses, and see how easy it is to switch maps as you go along, this is soon resolved. It's this flaw and the rather lousy mount that are the only reasons this is a four, and not a five, star review.
On the case of the mount, it too is a problem that is easliy rectified with one of those jell sticky, easy-to-peal off pads you can use on your dash. Better that than the permanted adhessive disc TomTom provides if your planning to attach their mount to your dash instead of your window.
Anyway, aside from the address to address multiple map problem and the dashboard mount problem, this device is great and if, like me, you are a Mac enthusiast who has been waiting for years for a Car GPS complete unit (not just a receiver) that's truly Mac OSX compatible, than it is here... after a fashion.
All in all, the TomTom GO with Equinux Tam Tam software is probably the best investment I made all year!


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Getting directions has never been so stress-free. The TomTom Go meets all your GPS navigation needs and more, offering a standalone, portable, easy-to-use car navigation device that incorporates navigation software, maps, and a GPS receiver in a single device. The TomTom Go also comes preloaded with state and regional maps of the entire U.S. and country-wide and regional maps of Canada, with maps of the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam available on CD-ROM. The TomTom Go is easy to mount on any dashboard or windshield and easy to remove if you want to place it in another vehicle. This unit runs primarily off a cigarette-lighter power cable, but includes a long-life rechargeable battery for portable use as well. The TomTom Go offers a vivid 3-D navigation view, which allows you to grasp your current position intuitively in the same manner in which you deal with the real world, which is particularly helpful when navigating junctions and roundabouts. You can also set the touch-sensitive LCD screen to a more simple 2-D display mode that increases the amount of text direction you can have on screen. Both views have day and night variations for easy viewing regardless of the lighting conditions. The modern and sleek design of the TomTom Go assures that it will fit in style with any vehicle, while its many features ensure it will guide you accurately and easily through any situation. This system doesn't require any subscription or start-up fees; you can simply take it out of the box, plug it in to your car, and start driving. The TomTom Go includes thousands of points of interest (POIs) in its maps, including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, and more. And to help make sure you get where you are trying to go, the TomTom Go provides clear spoken directions in any of its 11 included languages. The TomTom Go comes with everything you need to be up and running in no time. The package includes a convenient carrying case to protect your GPS unit during travel, an easy-to-follow installation poster, all the necessary power and connecting cables, and an installation CD containing PC connection software and extra maps. Simple and convenient for the modern traveler, the TomTom Go will help ensure you always know where you are, where you have been, and where you are going--and, most importantly, the way back home. What's in the Box TomTom Go GPS receiver, Secure Digital memory card with preloaded U.S. maps, TomTom software CD-ROM with Canada maps, universal mains power adapter, 12-volt cigarette lighter adapter, mini-USB cable, and user's manual.

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Garmin GVN 53 North American Remote GPS Navigation System Review

Garmin GVN 53 North American Remote GPS Navigation System
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
For quite sometime I was looking for a way to show the screen of my Nuvi 770 on a big screen for the passengers to see. I considered hacking the Nuvi but discovered the GVN 53. I hooked it up to a 40" plasma screen in our mini bus but the picture is a bit pixelated but still very usable. I wouldn't say that the product is faulty since I beleive it was not meant for such a large screen. I'm sure it will work well with smaller screens.
It worked well and the functions and menu is very similar to the Nuvi. For others who might be wondering, you cannot control the unit by touch screen that's why it came with a RF remote control. Navigating the menu using the remote was easy but entering data is not very convenient. The remote being RF doesn't have to be pointed to the unit like an IR remote. The signal of the remote is strong anywhere in the mini bus. The only problem I encountered was the unit sometimes hangs. Shutting the engine and restarting would reset the unit. I find it expensive considering it has no touch screen LCD like the Nuvi but a good solution to what I need.

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20 Channels - Warm Start 1 Second(s) - Proprietary, Headphone, DC Power Input, Antenna, Mini USB

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TomTom GO 2535TM 5-Inch Portable Bluetooth GPS Navigator with Lifetime Traffic & Maps Review

TomTom GO 2535TM 5-Inch Portable Bluetooth GPS Navigator with Lifetime Traffic and Maps
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I like all the information that is displayed on screen, although I think it can be grouped a little bit better. I like being able to see the POI's on the screen.
Magnetic mount works good, traffic avoidance was great. The unit kept me up to date on whether I was taking the best route to avoid the traffic.
However, I very much disliked having to press a button to activate the voice control. The Garmin 2460LMT lets me say "Voice Command" and automatically comes on. As much as I would like to keep this, the Garmin voice control feature wins out.

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TomTom GO 2505TM 5-Inch Portable Bluetooth GPS Navigator with Lifetime Traffic & Maps Review

TomTom GO 2505TM 5-Inch Portable Bluetooth GPS Navigator with Lifetime Traffic and Maps
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I have been using TomTom Car Navigation products for several years now. This is my 4th unit. The last unit I possessed was the 'TomTom GO 740 Live'. So I was excited about the newest offering from this company. Having used this product for a few days, here's my 2 cents.. (please remember, this is being reviewed in relation to other TomTom products. I am not comparing this to units from other manufacturers)
The Good..
** This unit is sleeker and better looking than any of the previous models.
** The 5" screen makes a world of difference compared to the 4.3" inches on most other models. So if you can, opt for the 2505 and not the 2405.
** The screen is brighter than other models. Seems to hold well in bright sunlight.
** Very crisp and pleasing visuals. The text and graphics are sharper and more responsive.
** Extremely quick planning and re-planning of routes - that's the new Turbo Routing feature. Works pretty well.
** The car dock is very innovative. Sturdier and better mechanics. The magnetic process needs a little getting used to, especially when undocking.
** The automatic time zone setting for the Clock is a nice feature.
** Comes with Lifetime Map updates and Traffic.
The Bad...
** There is no docking station! You need to plug the USB cable manually for syncing/charging with the PC.
** For Traffic updates, the unit needs to be plugged into the car charger since the RDS-TMC Traffic Receiver is integrated into the car charging cable.
** No LIVE services. So if you need Google service or latest gas prices, you are out of luck.
** No memory card slot. So if you run over the 4GB limit, better start deleting stuff.
** No FM transmitter. No option to play voice through the the radio.
** No music player.
** No compass option.
** Comes preloaded with only 1 English 'Computer' voice - 'Stephanie'. No options to download Voices!! Seriously, TomTom??!! (Update: TomTom says more will be available soon. No timeline yet).

The Ugly..
** As others have documented, no customization is possible - yet. Cannot update/download Voices, POIs, Maps, Color Schemes etc. You live with what comes pre-loaded. No timeline on when options would be available.
And a couple of irritants:
** The 'next street name' that displays at the top right hand corner is too small to read relative to everything else on the screen.
** When making a phone call using the unit's bluetooth, the call status bar at the top blocks the 'next street name'. And you can't get rid of that status bar until you hang up. That's pretty dumb.
In short, this is not quite a step up from the 740 as I had expected. The focus here seems to have been on the style, not much on the substance. Having used this for a couple of weeks now, I've grown to like it. Extremely efficient and accurate. If you're looking for a product that can accurately and efficiently get you from Point A to Point B, this is the one for you.
This seems like a product that was rushed into the US market without the proper support structure behind it. This is the US version of the TomTom 'Go LIVE 1005' launched recently in Europe. The customer service reps know very little about this product. There are no User Manuals online yet. The PC sync to the web-based MyTomTom is an utter joke.
Bottom line, if I had to do it all over again, I'd stick with the 740 until TomTom gets its act together on this one.



Click Here to see more reviews about: TomTom GO 2505TM 5-Inch Portable Bluetooth GPS Navigator with Lifetime Traffic & Maps

The TomTom GO 2505TM offers Superior Driving Intelligence with Lifetime Traffic & Map UpdatesΔ. Complete with premium maps of the US, Canada & Mexico, you can navigate to virtually any address – including over 7 million points of interest, like gas stations, restaurants, hotels and more. With TomTom maps, you have one million more miles of mapped road in the US than you would using other GPS brands – making TomTom maps the most accurate and dependable in the industry.Sleek New DesignThe GO 2505TM boasts a slim design, crisp, sharp graphics & intuitive user menus. And, using gestures on the 2505TM\'s sleek 5.0" glass touchscreen, you can easily swipe your finger to move from screen to screen, or pinch-to- zoom, for easy map viewing.Bluetooth and MoreMake and answer calls safely while driving with your compatible Bluetooth mobile phone, on your TomTom GO 2505TM. See incoming call information, make and answer calls and talk hands-free easily through your TomTom. Navigation functions will operate without interruption. And, with Voice Recognition, you can relax and let your hands stay on the wheel – TomTom responds to 130 different verbal commands, making navigation easier and safer than ever.Lifetime Traffic and Map Updates IncludedAlways outsmart delays with Lifetime Traffic. The TomTom 2505TM receives live traffic updates automatically to give you the most up-to-date traffic information available. As soon as a delay is found on your route, TomTom will alert you and, if you choose, will automatically re-route you to an alternative, faster route. And, only TomTom has IQ Routes, an exclusive technology that evaluates routes based on actual traffic speeds, rather than static, posted speed limits; TomTom will recommend the fastest route for the time of day, so you\'ll always be directed to the quickest, most-efficient route. TomTom is the only GPS with the technology to grow more intelligent each day. While other GPS devices remain static reporters of programmed information, TomTom devices are dynamic and ensure that your maps are always up to date. TomTom\'s Lifetime Map Updates let you start fresh every few months by downloading our latest full map edition, while TomTom Map Share On-Demand Updates lets you download verified updates from other drivers in between the full map releases, and as often as you wish. You\'ll never miss your exit with Advanced Lane Guidance; enhanced graphics show you exactly which lane to take in complex multi-lane situations. Secure your GO 2505TM to your windshield or dash, using the click & lock magnetic mount.What's in the BoxGO 2505TM PND with pre-loaded maps, Fold & Go EasyPort mount, USB cable, car charger with integrated traffic, adhesive disk, documentation, and redemption code for Lifetime Maps
All TomToms Feature
Plug & Go--Works right out of the box.

30 Day Latest Map Guarantee--Up to date, off the shelf.

TomTom Map Share--Modify your own map and benefit from others' verified changes with TomTom Map Share.

Help Me! Emergency Menu--Easily access local emergency providers such as police, fire stations and hospitals.

TomTom HOME--Always up to date.

Fuel Price Service (optional)--Know more, pay less.

About TomTom Founded in Amsterdam in 1991, TomTom has established itself as a global leader in navigation by being an innovative company with a strong brand, clear customer focus, and high quality products and services.
TomTom is the world's leading navigation solutions provider with navigation products sold in 30 countries and in over 20 languages. To further our commitment to car navigation, TomTom acquired Tele Atlas maps in 2008 so we can continually provide the most up-to-date maps and intelligent routing.

We have our own mapping company! Did you know that every year roads change by up to 40% in high-growth areas? Tele Atlas manages this by using the world's most comprehensive systems to identify and incorporate these changes into our maps with unprecedented levels of speed and accuracy. All TomTom devices benefit from the Tele Atlas advantage--more coverage, more points of interest, and more freshness and accuracy.

Why TomTom? At TomTom, we believe that personal navigation should be as easy and safe as possible. We develop smart technology that gives you straightforward solutions, innovations to make life easy.


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