Crave

(Credit: TomTom)

When we took our first look at the TomTom app for iPhone, it seemed like a perfectly competent helper for getting from points A-to-B. But, we couldn't help but notice that a few of our favorite GPS navigation features were notably absent--particularly TTS instructions and graphic lane guidance.

Well, there's good news for users of the TomTom app in the form of a free update that adds these missing features, and a few more.

The update will add text-to-speech (TTS) for spoken street names and points of interest (POI) as part of the device's directions, graphic lane guidance which displays a visual representation of complex highway intersections with indications of valid lanes for the route, and a "Help menu" offering a shortcut to emergency number and directions to the nearest emergency services. TomTom is also enabling in-app iPod player control, so drivers won't have to exit the application to pick a song or playlist.

Also included in this update are a free map update and the inclusion of a safety camera database update. Users will be able to set audio warnings when approaching safety cameras or driving over the speed limit, possibly preventing citations and increasing vehicle safety.

TomTom tells us that the application update has been submitted to Apple and is pending approval. For current users of the TomTom app for iPhone, this will be a free update. For everyone else, the price of the app will remain at $99.

(Credit: TomTom)

TomTom's iPhone cradle for iPhone has quietly made its way into the Apple Store. So, if you're an iPhone user with an extra $120 bucks burning a hole in your pocket for a navigation accessory (or $220, if you don't already own TomTom's navigation app), pop over to the Apple Store for a look.

According to TomTom's representative, the Apple Store product page is for preorders and TomTom has not yet announced a specific date for the product's availability. If Apple's claim that the product ships in 2-3 weeks is true, we should be seeing it soon, rather than later.

We've already questioned the value of a $120 phone cradle. The general consensus among our readers was that the price is a bit steep for an accessory, even with the inclusion of the uprated GPS receiver, 12 volt charger, and speakerphone. We'll be able to put the issue to rest when we finally get our unit in for testing.

The TomTom Start will be customizable, inexpensive, and unavailable in the U.S.

(Credit: TomTom)

The Start is TomTom's newest entry-level car navigation device for the European market. Featuring a smallish 3.5-inch color touch screen and a fixed version of TomTom's (normally removable) EasyPort mounting system, the Start is aiming to be a low-cost, pocketable device.

The shape isn't the only thing that's been simplified. The menu's home screen has been simplified to two buttons, "Plan route" and "Browse map." No word has been given on if or how more-advanced menu options will fit into this scheme, but hopefully this reorganization will make the Start's menu as uncomplicated as the Garmin Nuvi menu hierarchy that we love so much.

Powering the route guidance is TomTom's IQ Routes and Map Share technology that have permeated the manufacturer's entire line of PNDs. IQ Routes uses aggregated speed data (both from the user and from other TomTom owners who choose to share their anonymous data) to choose the fastest route based on the time of day. Meanwhile, Map Share is an optional map-update service that employs user-generated corrections. Text-to-speech and graphic lane guidance appear to be absent, further differentiating the Start from the more-advanced One and XL lines.

Users can further customize their Starts (which are available with black or white shells) with removable covers (which cost 15 euros) available in six colors, or by choosing custom voices and start-up screens using TomTom's Home desktop software.

The TomTom Start is available in the U.K. and Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway with either regional maps or full European maps for 129 euros and 149 euros, respectively. Considering that the next least expensive IQ Routes-enabled PND (the TomTom One) is about 170 euros, that's a fairly good deal.

No plans for a North American release of the Start have been announced, but we're keeping our fingers crossed.

I think its safe to assume that the new XL 340S Live will look something like the standard 340S.

(Credit: CNET)

Don't you just love trickle-down? TomTom's Live connected service--which helped the GO 740 Live to win our coveted Editors' Choice award--is making its way down the product lineup to the XL series in the TomTom XL 340S Live.

We've already taken a look at the TomTom XL 340S (sans Live) and, as one might expect, all of the IQ Routes, TomTom MapShare, graphic lane guidance, and text-to-speech tech can still be found in the new model.

However, the addition of the Live connection brings fuel price updates, local Google Search, weather forecasts, and a feature called QuickGPS Fix--which supposedly speeds up satellite location, presumably through some sort of cellular triangulation.

AT&T will be providing the wireless data that powers TomTom's Live Service.

"With the new TomTom XL 340S LIVE, we are bringing unrivaled quality and truly connected navigation to the mass market," said Jocelyn Vigreux, president of TomTom Inc. "Now backed by the strength of AT&T's network, we're giving drivers the very best foundation on which to enjoy a range of useful, real time services."

The TomTom XL 340S Live will be available in retailers across the United States and will be priced at $299.95, which includes three months of Live Services. After that period, the LIVE services subscription is $9.95 per month.

(Credit: TomTom)

TomTom has finally released pricing for its iPhone car cradle, which is due for release next month. You can expect to lay down $120 when you go to pick up your cradle. That price doesn't include the TomTom turn-by-turn iPhone software, which will add an additional $99 to your purchase price, if you haven't already downloaded it.

So, that means that--at the end of the day--your pockets will be $220 lighter for the whole app and cradle kit, which is only about $20 more than we initially predicted.

Those wondering what you get for the extra cash should look here. If you're still interested after that, the TomTom iPhone cradle goes on sale in October 2009.

TomTom has a very easy-to-use menu with large buttons.

(Credit: Screenshot by Dong Ngo/CNET)

TomTom U.S. & Canada is the third full-feature turn-by-turn flat-fee navigation app with built-in maps in the App Store that covers the entire U.S. and Canada.

Like the first two apps, Navigon and iGo My Way, the TomTom app will turn your iPhone 3G or 3GS into a decently dependable driving navigator. However, like the other two, it's far from perfect.

The TomTom app took about 6 seconds to load on my iPhone 3GS, which is very fast (the other two apps took about 15 seconds), and displayed a very easy-to-use interface with big buttons. It also offers a quick and convenient way to enter an address or to find a point of interest (POI) from its very large database of POIs.

The map view of the TomTom is rather messy and much less beautiful- and clean-looking than that of the Navigon or the iGo My Way apps.

(Credit: Screenshot by Dong Ngo/CNET)

After almost a week of use, I found that both the map and POI database are slightly outdated. It once couldn't find an address and twice showed me POIs that were no longer in business. During this recession, however, it's not exactly the app that's to blame.

Good news is, like the Navigon after its first update, you can tap on a POI to dial it up, and I would highly recommend doing this before you decide to go there, just to make sure that it's still in business.

Similar to the Navigon, the TomTom can also pull addresses from the phone's contacts, which is a very convenient feature. However, while the Navigon is very good at reading contacts' addresses, the TomTom is very picky. It seems to only understand addresses that have a zip code. Take the zip code out and it will ask you to enter the address manually. This means more than 60 percent or so of the addresses in my contacts won't work. This is sort of strange, as the app won't require a zip code when you type in addresses manually.

The TomTom took very little time (a few seconds) to pick up a GPS signal on my iPhone 3GS, and its navigation was accurate enough. Once in a while it would probably lead you to a location that's slightly off from the actual address, but that happens with every GPS navigator I've used.

Of the three apps, the TomTom has the largest selection of voices, including many languages from English to Danish, Thai, and Chinese. With English alone, you'll find 11 different accents, both male and female. Still, like the other two apps, it doesn't have text-to-speech where it can read you the name of the street that you're supposed to turn onto.

The TomTom's map view, unfortunately, is not as good-looking as that of the Navigon or the iGo My Way. ... Read more

This will go great with my "Simpsons Sing the Blues" cassette.

(Credit: TomTom)

Homer Simpson joins the ranks of Mr. T and John Cleese as a downloadable custom voice for TomTom portable navigation devices. Fans of the longest-running American prime time entertainment series can now listen to Homer "woohoo" and "d'oh!" his way through your turn-by-turn directions. Along the way, Homer adds his own commentary such as, "Take the third right. We might find an ice cream truck! Mmm... ice cream."

The official Homer Simpson voice was recorded by Dan Castellaneta, the same voice actor from the television show, and is available for download using the TomTom Home software suite for $12.95 (or 9.95 euro if you're in the European Union).

I'm still holding my breath for a "Family Guy" Peter Griffin custom voice, but click the link to hear samples of Homer on a TomTom.

TomTom on iPhone

(Credit: James Martin/CNET)

With the announcement of iPhone OS 3.0, we knew that real-time, turn-by-turn navigation would soon become a reality on the iPhone. It was just a matter of when and how, and it looks like we finally got our answer on Monday.

Joining Apple onstage at the WWDC 2009 keynote, longtime GPS manufacturer TomTom unveiled its application for the iPhone, bringing maps and voice-guided directions to the smartphone. The biggest boon for drivers is the addition of the audible prompts, since the current iPhone is only able to provide text-based instructions through Google Maps. In addition, TomTom will offer a car kit for the iPhone, which includes a vehicle mount and car charger.

The TomTom app is expected to be available this summer, but as CNET's Erica Ogg and Kent German point out, the big question is how much this will cost. Mapping and navigation software isn't cheap, so it'll be interesting to see where they put the pricing on this app and how it compares with Sprint Navigation on the Palm Pre. Also, I have to wonder, would Garmin have been better off going the app route instead of launching its own Nuvifone line of GPS-enabled smartphones, which has yet to see the light of day?