TomTom and Renault have issued an update for their Carminat partnership which comes embedded in certain small and medium cars and offers satnav functionality to drivers of those vehicles.

The update brings IQ Routes technology, which plans the fastest route for a given destination using the driving history of millions of users, and advanced lane guidance, which offers help for motorists who get stuck on difficult and unfamiliar junctions where they have to cross multiple lanes.

The update comes on SD cards that contain maps. If you're a Carminat user, you'll get it when you buy your next map or activate your latest map guarantee, which allows you to get the latest map for free within 60 days after you first use their device.

"Now users of Carminat TomTom can have smarter and safer routing by easily downloading the features themselves – a first in the automotive industry", said Giles Shrimpton, TomTom’s MD automotive. "This is an important milestone in our ongoing drive to help the automotive industry meet the needs of its customers".

Tags: Car And GPS Satnavs Renault Renault Carminat TomTom

TomTom issues update for Renault Carminat originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:37:29 +0000

The?TomTom for iPhone app has received an update on Wednesday bringing with it a number of promised features and a couple of new ones too.

New to the mix is compatibility for the original iPhone and iPod touch (all models), meaning that owners of the iPod touch, with the help of the TomTom Car Kit can get in on the?TomTom for iPhone GPS?action too.

Aside from that, features are as expected so that means advanced lane guidance for difficult junctions in both landscape and portrait mode, and text-to-speech functionality that will see street names and places read aloud as part of the spoken instructions.

In addition, TomTom's "Help Me" emergency feature from its in-car satnavs will be ported to the mobile platform, there'll be options to customise audio warnings, while maps and safety camera databases will see an update.

Finally the app will catch up with other offerings like CoPilot on the market by adding iPod player control "ensuring drivers can conveniently control their music from within the application".

The update is free to all those who have already downloaded the application.?

?

Tags: Phones Mobile phone apps TomTom iPhone apps iPhone GPS Car And GPS TomTom for iPhone

TomTom for iPhone updated originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:21:38 +0000

Here are the nominations for Best Car Gadget in The Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009.

The following products were chosen because we feel they represent the best car gadgets on sale in the last 12 months that are available in the UK.

The nominations are:

TomTom XL Live

CoPilot for iPhone

Navigon 8410

Jabra SP700

TomTom One IQ

Now in its 6th year, the Pocket-lint Gadget Awards, thought to be the longest running in the UK, pick the best gadgets and gizmos from the last year released in the UK.

Pocket-lint's vigorous vetting process means that all the gadgets up for nomination have to have been seen by a member of the Pocket-lint team (so far over 600) and have to have been available in the UK between December 2008 and December 2009.

The awards, voted by a panel of leading gadget journalists from around the world, including the staff from the Pocket-lint team, will decide the real must-have gadgets of the year, rather than those simply deemed cool or anticipated, being the definitive guide for consumers looking to buy gadgets.

Winners will be announced at an Awards evening in London on Monday 7 December.

If you would like to order tickets to the event please visit our awards event page.

Public voting will start on Wednesday 18 November.

?

Related links:

• link - vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009

Tags: Car And GPS Pocket-lint Awards Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 GPS TomTom ALK Technologies

Best Car Gadgets 2009 nominations originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:00:00 +0000

TomTom has now confirmed what Pocket-lint brought you news of back in early October - that its iPhone app is soon to receive a free software update.

The free update, which TomTom says is being submitted to Apple - almost as we type - for its approval, claims to bring "significant and advanced additional features".

This includes advanced lane guidance for difficult junctions in both landscape and portrait mode and text-to-speech functionality that will see street names and places read aloud as part of the spoken instructions.

In addition, TomTom's "Help Me" emergency feature from its in-car satnavs will be ported to the mobile platform, there'll be options to customise audio warnings, while maps and safety camera databases will see an update.

Finally the app will catch up with other offerings on the market by adding iPod player control "ensuring drivers can conveniently control their music from within the application".

We will bring you more on the Apple approval and the availability of the update as soon as we hear it.

?

Related links:

• News - TomTom car kit for iPhone on sale now

Tags: Phones iPhone apps TomTom GPS software Software updates GPS Apple App Store

TomTom confirms iPhone app update originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:33:59 +0000

First off congratulations to Paul Story who won last month's comments comp for his comment on the story "Amazon Kindle UK import orders begin". For those who didn't win, don't fret, because the kind folk at TomTom have sent a TomTom XL Live IQ Routes Europe unit for us to dish out for our November comments competition.

The rules of the competition are simple, you can enter as many times as you like by simply commenting on any story. It doesn't have to be in depth, detailed or technical, but it does have to be useful, helpful or funny.

You don't have to sign up to comment on the stories, we just ask for your name, location and email address - that does not show up online and is not passed on.

The TomTom device measures 123 x 80 x 18mm and features 4.3-inch touch display, the screen being bright and a convenient size enabling ease of use whilst driving.

Along with Live HD Traffic, now with added support for Europe, the TomTom XL Live has excellent route guidance and with the added MapShare feature, it allows for easy updating of maps within the TomTom community.

To be in with a chance of winning this top-notch effort just comment on any story during the month of November. At the end of November the Pocket-lint team will take a look and choose what we believe is the best one.

Make sure you take a look at Pocket-lint's full review where it received a 9/10 score.

?

Tags: Audio accessories Biz Car And GPS Dad Gadgets Gaming Hardware Home And Kitchen Home Cinema Phones Cameras Software Sports Fitness TomTom GPS Competitions

Win a TomTom XL Live IQ Routes Europe originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:42:25 +0000

TomTom?and?Garmin?saw their share prices plunge on Wednesday, supposedly following the announcement from Google that it was entering the "Real time" navigation sector.

The news coincidently came as TomTom announced poor Q3 results with earnings down over 64 million euros based on last years figures.

"In regards to today’s news, there are a lot of interesting developments and opportunities in the digital mapping and navigation markets", a spokesman told Pocket-lint before adding that "We believe there are opportunities for all of us".

TomTom who has offered mobile software for sometime has only just moved into the?iPhone?app market space with its dedicated app and car docking system.

"We’re seeing a growing number of customers adopt our solutions and have expanded our market reach to include not just automotive but wireless and enterprise customers".

Google Maps Navigation will go live, initially in the US only, on 6 November on Android 2.0. A product manager in Google's Mapping department told Pocket-lint that the company currently has no plans to port it to other operating systems.

?

Read

Tags: Car And GPS Biz Google TomTom Garmin GPS Google Maps Navigation

TomTom shares plunge on poor Q3 results and Google announcement originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:54:00 +0000

If you can live without a CD player in your motor then TomTom has an in-car satnav and "infotainment" offering that might be right up your street.

The TomTom GO I-90 is a way of giving even older cars in-car integrated satnav using the double DIN space in the car's dashboard.

As well as a full-fat TomTom device pre-loaded with European maps, the Go I-90 provides full radio integration with the car speakers for audio for spoken instructions, or making hands-free phone calls.

There's also USB connectivty to hook up an iPod or other MP3 player for playback via the car's speakers.

For those who don't want to leave such a bit of kit sitting in their motor, or who want to take it out and use it in another vehicle, although integrated, the device is still portable so can be removed.

The Go I-90 will be available to buy through specialist retailers throughout Europe from December 2009 priced at 599 euros (?550) - which does not include the recommended installation costs.

Tags: Car And GPS TomTom GPS Car gadgets Radios Hands-free

TomTom GO i-90 in-car infotainment solution announced originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:38:05 +0100

In the States, TomTom has announced the launch of the "competitively priced" TomTom XL 335S with a 4.3-inch touchscreen.

Highlights for the new model include text to speech including street and place names, TomTom's "IQ Routes" technology and advanced lane guidance.

With complete maps of the US and Canada and featuring 7 million points of interest, the XL 335S also gets TomTom HOME desktop software with Map Share tech and a "Fold and Go EasyPort" mount.

The new TomTom XL 335S goes on sale at retailers in the US and Canada for $239.95 which translates to ?150, but TomTom tells us there's no plans for this to launch in the UK just yet.

Tags: Car And GPS GPS TomTom TomTom Xl 335S

TomTom XL 335S launches in the US originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:03:17 +0100

TomTom's well-publicised TomTom car kit for iPhone is now on sale and can be bought from the TomTom web store and Apple online store from now.

As many of you will know, the kit comprises of a secure mount that docks iPhone into position on the car windscreen or dashboard, using a twist-and-lock motion, for widescreen or landscape display.

As well as docking the iPhone, the kit also incorporates a built-in GPS receiver that claims to boost reception and improve positioning accuracy.

There's also a built-in loud speaker and microphone that allows for hands-free calling while driving and can play iPhone music through the AUX OUT port on a car stereo.

Also offering the ability to charge the iPhone when docked, the car kit has a retail price of ?99.99 in the UK and will be available in the US via TomTom and Apple "in the near future".

The TomTom app is sold separately via the App Store for ?60. The app will soon see an update bringing Advanced Lane Guidance and an updated safety camera database as well as compatibility with 2G iPhones - until then, this kit is only good for 3G and 3GS models.

Tags: Phones TomTom GPS TomTom for iPhone iPhone accessories Apple

TomTom car kit for iPhone on sale now originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:16:54 +0100

TomTom has said that it plans to bring a number of new features to its TomTom for iPhone app in the near future as free upgrades to those who have already paid for the app.

Although the iPhone app already comes with IQ Routes, Advanced Lane Guidance and an updated safety camera database, other features will be added.

"I can confirm that these upgrades will feature Advanced Lane Guidance and an updated safety camera database amongst other features…", a spokeswomen for the company told Pocket-lint.

Furthermore our lady in the know said that the company was working to bring its HD Traffic system to the iPhone app, allowing users to check traffic details on the go via the built-in mobile phone connection.

The news comes as those who have bought the App await the availability of the iPhone Car kit from the satnav company.

Recently announced, it will cost ?99.

Tags: Car And GPS GPS TomTom iPhone apps TomTom for iPhone Mobile phone apps TomTom Car Kit

TomTom for iPhone app getting more features originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 23:06:25 +0100

According to what appears to be a leak from UK retailer eXpansys, it seems TomTom is to offer a new satnav device - the TomTom Start.

Aiming for the lower end of the market, the UK Start will be available for around ?120 - which works out at about ?40 cheaper than its iPhone GPS solution. The Euro version is priced at ?139.99.

Said to be easy to use, the Start gets a slimline design (94 x 81 x 20mm), a 3.5-inch touchscreen and what TomTom calls "simplified menus", perhaps aimed at the GPS first-timer.

The most commonly used options are said to be "only a touch away", while the device's new "EasyPort" mount claims to let you fix the TomTom to the windscreen "simply and easily".

With smart IQ Routes technology, there's also MapShare back-up, "Help Me" functionality and a range of StartSkins sold separately to customise the look of your TomTom Start, again suggesting the device is angled towards the younger, trendier and less affluent user.

?

UPDATE: This is now official and the StartSkins are available in six colours for ?12.95 each.

Read

Related links:

• Shop - eXpansys
• News - TomTom car kit officially RRPed

Tags: Car And GPS TomTom TomTom Start eXpansys GPS

New TomTom Start revealed by retailer originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:07:34 +0100

First off, as far as the winner for last month goes, we'd like to offer our congratulations to Tony Hedges for his comment on the HTC Hero review and all his input during its release. We'll be sending him a TomTom XL Live IQ Routes Europe.

For the month of October Pocket-lint has teamed up with Omio to bring you the chance of winning a Nokia 5530 XpressMusic.

The phone features a 2.9-inch touch interface and a homescreen that offers one touch shortcuts to the likes of Facebook and MySpace, and as with similar Nokia phones, the 5530 gets the scrolling "Contacts Bar" for direct access to 20 people and their latest conversations and updates.

Being an XpressMusic model playback is all important and it doesn't disappoint with up to 27 hours of playback time, as well as a 3.2-megapixel camera along with Wi-Fi rounding off the package.

If you're weren't sure of what Omio is all about, here's a quick run down in their own words:

?Omio.com is a mobile phone comparison site that uses an innovative interface to help users navigate the vast array of mobile phone deals and phones from all the major mobile manufacturers".

"Users can filter over half a million deals by anything from price to colours, ensuring they get the right deal at the right price. Whether you're looking for a new phone or simply want to research what's available, Omio.com offers the most up-to-date information".

The rules of the competition are simple, you can enter as many times as you like by simply commenting on any story. It doesn't have to be in depth, detailed or technical, but it does have to be useful, helpful or funny.

You don't have to sign up to comment on the stories, we just ask for your name, location and email address - that does not show up online and is not passed on.

So get commenting and the winner will be chosen at the end of October.

Related links:

• Video - Nokia 5530 XpressMusic

Tags: Audio Biz Car And GPS Dad Gadgets Gaming Hardware Home And Kitchen Home Cinema Phones Cameras Software Sports Fitness TomTom GPS Competitions Nokia 5530 XpressMusic

Win a Nokia 5530 XpressMusic originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:30:10 +0100