Well where do i start, this software is great, the various versions can be used on most smartphone (tomtom-mobile) as well as PDA's a lot of people dont know this, so whats a smartphone i hear you say, well. a smart phone is a mobile phone, which has a load of next generation capabilities such as java, MMS, multimedia players, and camera capabilties, and allows you to run software, the following are smartphones,
Nokia 6600 Sony Ericsson P800 Sony Ericsson P900 Sony Ericsson P910i Orange SPV-E200 Qtek 8080
basically they run the software and supply all the relevent info (where your goin) on the screen, now to get these
devices working you will need GPS,
Whats GPS? Global Positioning System now this basically bounces signals off sattelites to pin point where you are on the earth, no not james bond, REALITY,
Now you will need a GPS unit to connect to your phone/PDA which will work alongisde the Tomtom software, Tomom is an array of maps, which run in 3d on your screen, the GPS places you on that map, showing you the direction your going, the speed your going, and what to do next, The package comes with various maps, new maps can be downloaded to update your system,
How much does it cost to run this? doesnt cost a thing, Tomtom is software running on the actual phone, no GPRS needed here (GPRS is the way your phone connects to the internet) so you dont have to pay to run Tomom, the GPS also runs without any charges, the only charges you will incurr are payin for updates to get all the latest maps, of course this doesnt need to be done every week or month, its up to you,
Now there are 2 ways to get your GPS, basically its a small unit, smaller than the size of a 20 pack if cigs, (for all you non-smokers a 3" x 2" roughly,) they do varey, they come in a wired version, and a bluetooth version, so make sure you have a bluetooth compatible phone before buying, this basically sits in your car at all times, there are cheap GPS systems and high end modles, a reasonable price is around 60-80£. for the bluetooth model that is, for the wired version, depends if you want wires running along your dash. Tomom do offer bundles where you get both, i highley recommend these packages. the more expensive models have a better location rate, and refresh the service a lot quicker as other models.
So is it good, Well YEA, damn straight it is, this software is great, i just bought an SPV M1000 from my cousin who is upgrading, Tomom and GPS set me back about £150. the software itself is very easy to use, you basically need memory on either the phone/pda which you are using, you basically install the soft, and install whatever maps you want to use, you can simple enter a destination postcode, and Tomom will take you there, you can choose routes without toll roads, with toll roads, options to avoid traffic hotspots, the lot, you name it , Tomtom does it, you can add your locations in yoru favourites so at a click of a button it will start,
The commands are read out to you in voice, which is wicked, i love it, you can also choose your prefered language, so if you fancy a challenge, put it on french, lol,
overall this setup is great, and is a head turner when your mates get in the car, if your planning a long drive out of your area, this is where Tomom is most appreciated, i only recvently passed my driving test, so i'm kinda lost in most places, so its a great way to learn the roads,
Another great option with this setup is the speed camera maps, most retailers do give this for free with most packages, and it is basically a database of ALL the speed cameras in the uk, Man i love this software, again being a new driver, its great, as i aint got a clue where all the camera's are, in time you learn and know where they are, just remember once you get 6 points on your license in the first 2 years, you gotta retake your theory and the practical, so drive carefully all,
well i think i've covered everything its kinda late so i hope i have, overall if you get lost a lot, or you do a lot of miles out of the area, and are continuously looking at that A2Z, then this is idea, if you already have a smartphone, its a must, you can get a basic setup, with a standard pda, for about £250, and that includes the lot,
so i'll leave it here folks, hope this helps you in your hunt, and enlightens you somewhere, dont forget to rate my review,
cheers peeps
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
(+) Large clear menu for touchscreen. Quick setup to navigate to postcodes. Clear driving instruction. (-) Poor POIs, Lack of route preview. Missing villages. No cam preview found.
(+) Cheap compared to standalone, removes the need for seperate sat nav (-) No post code only search but this can be resolved with adding a house number of any house
3 brings together video calling, video clips, location based services and amazing content to browse and download. 3 has great offers and a huge range of the 3G handsets. Visit the 3 Shop to find more info. on offers
Advantages: Voice Guidence, Never get lost, Find places easily, Lots of features Disadvantages: Maps get out of date, Need loud speakers, Dependent on satellites
Advantages: Voice Guidence, Never get lost, Find places easily, Lots of features Disadvantages: Maps get out of date, Need loud speakers, Dependent on satellites
very helpful by (91%):
helpful by (9%):
