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Posts Tagged ‘TomTom’

New TomTom app for the iPhone

Monday, September 12th, 2011

The latest version of the TomTom App for iPhone (Version 1.8) now includes the latest maps of countries in Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand and Indonesia. A new multi-stop routes driving feature is also included.

Use the iPhone as a Portable Navigation Device for turn-by-turn navigation.

The South East Asia, TomTom App for iPhone (Version 1.8) can be downloaded from the App Store for USD $69.99. It works with iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS & iPod touch 3rd Gen running iOS4.

The new multi-stop routes feature makes it easier for drivers to make multiple stops on a single route, by letting them add up to five stop-off points when they plan their journey.

Multi-stop routes enable the driver to stop by a bank or petrol station enroute, or a diversion to pick up a friend as part of a longer journey.

This removes the hassle of entering a new journey for each leg of the trip and means that the driver can get an accurate estimated time of arrival for their final destination.

Tags:Apps, GPS, iOS, iPhone, PND, TomTom
Posted in App, Gadgets, GPS, iOS, iPhone, Phones, Prices, Software, Specifications, TomTom, Travel, Utility | 1 Comment »

Company byte: TomTom

Sunday, September 11th, 2011

TomTom (AEX:TOM2) is a major supplier of in-car location and navigation products and services.

Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Amsterdam, TomTom has over 3,500 employees and sells its products in over 40 countries. Its products include portable navigation devices, in-dash infotainment systems, fleet management solutions, maps and real-time services, including TomTom HD Traffic.

Here is TomTom’s route planner which includes live traffic information (not available for some areas yet, including Singapore).

TomTom introduces in-car fast charger for up to three devices

Saturday, September 3rd, 2011

Available today at S$45 (with GST), the TomTom High Speed Multi-Charger can charge up to three devices at once – and at a rate up to four times faster than a normal USB charger.

TomTom High Speed Multi-Charger at S$45 (w GST)

The compact charger ensures that the GPS unit receives the right amount of power and that all devices receive full power charging simultaneously as there are two dedicated USB ports to provide full-power at all times. Most comparable products charge up to 2.1 amps, split between ports.

“It’s the first TomTom accessory that enables users to charge their TomTom device and other mobile devices like a smart phone, tablet or power-hungry DVD player at the same time,” says Nick Saisanas, Marketing Communications Manager, TomTom Asia Pacific.

As well as a 1.2 amp USB charging port suitable for mobile phones or MP3 players, there is a 2.1 amp port to speed-charge high power USB devices such as tablets or smart phones. The TomTom High Speed Multi-Charger will re-charge up to four times faster than a normal USB charger without impacting the other port’s charging capability.

There’s also a dedicated port for powering 12V in-car devices. This multi-port full power functionality means that drivers who are always on the road can charge and use all their electronic devices during their trip.

Those planning an upcoming weekend get-away with the family will also be able to keep children happy with on-the-go charging of items such as tablets and mobile phones – all while navigating.

Tags:car, charger, GPS, TomTom
Posted in Accessories, Gadgets, GPS, Launch, Phones, Prices, Specifications, Tablets, TomTom | No Comments »

COMEX 2011 promotions: TomTom PNDs

Sunday, August 21st, 2011

TomTom will be at COMEX 2011 in Hall 603, Booth 6711, with promotional prices and free accessories for its XL 250, XXL 550 and GO 750 portable navigation devices (PND), as well as additional accessories at discounted prices.

Each TomTom PND purchase will come with a free Bonus International Map of your choice (valued at up to S$115), and a FREE TomTom USB Home Charger (worth S$45) – a universal power charger that plugs straight into the wall, with adaptors for various regions.

COMEX 2011 promotions for TomTom portable navigation devices

All three models include handy features that include: Advanced Lane Guidance, spoken street names, Help me! Emergency Menu, TomTom’s latest map guarantee, free daily map updates with TomTom Map ShareTM and postcode search. They also come with maps of Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei, Hong Kong (new) & Macau (new).

DBS Credit Card members will also receive a TomTom Adhesive Dash Disk (worth $13) for each TomTom purchase made through a DBS credit card. Additional price offers will be announced during the show.

TomTom XL 250 South East Asia

COMEX Price: S$169
Usual Price: SG$229

The TomTom XL 250 sports a 4.3” touch screen with easy two-button menu access.

TomTom XXL 550 GPS reduced from S$299 to S$229

The TomTom XXL 550 South East Asia

COMEX Price: S$229
Usual Price: SG$299

The TomTom XXL 550 has a larger 5” touch screen and expanded menu options.

TomTom GO 750 GPS reduced from S$349 to S$289

TomTom GO 750 South East Asia

COMEX Price: S$289
Usual Price: SG$349

The TomTom GO 750 features Bluetooth hands-free calling, a 4.3” touch screen, and expanded menu options and includes an additional FREE original TomTom GO Carry Case worth S$59.

Additional TomTom Accessories
TomTom presents a full range of mounts that bring your device within reach, within line of sight. The convenient mounts also allow simple docking and results in a safer, less stressful drive. (All accessories sold separately, while stocks last).

TomTom Bean Bag Mount (Recommended retail price: S$49)
TomTom Dashboard Mount (Recommended Retail Price: S$45)
TomTom Air Vent Mount (Recommended Retail Price: S$45)
TomTom Gooseneck Mount (Recommended Retail Price: S$45)

Tags:COMEX 2011, GPS, PND, promotions, TomTom
Posted in Accessories, Events, Gadgets, GPS, Prices, Promotions, Specifications, TomTom | 1 Comment »

Unexpected loss from TomTom as portable navigation devices lose popularity

Friday, July 22nd, 2011

Europe’s largest maker of portable navigation devices reported a surprise second-quarter loss after writing down the value of assets to reflect a declining market for those devices.

The company reported a net loss of 489 million euros compared with a profit of 34 million euros a year earlier. The average forecast of nine analysts surveyed by Bloomberg was net income of 10.7 million euros.

Portable navigation devices from TomTom The company took an impairment charge of 512 million euros in the quarter “reflecting the reduced outlook” for the personal navigation device market. Of the charge, 473 million euros related to goodwill. Sales decreased 13 percent to 314 million euros.

Earlier on June 27, TomTom had reduced its full-year profit and sales forecasts, saying U.S. demand for its devices had declined faster than anticipated and that consumers were opting for cheaper navigation systems.

Amsterdam-based TomTom was founded in 1991 and listed in 2005 After the statement, TomTom’s stock plunged 27 percent the day after. Its shares have declined 54 percent this year, reducing the market value of the Amsterdam-based company value to 812 million euros. Its U.S. rival Garmin has gained 5.6 percent this year.

Built-in car navigation from TomTom Maaike Noordhuis of Bloomberg reports that TomTom, which competes with Garmin and Google, aims to get more revenue from maps, services and built-in systems in cars amid a slowdown in sales of portable navigation devices.

Tags:Garmin, Google, GPS, maps, PND, TomTom
Posted in Figures, Gadgets, GPS, Tech news, TomTom | No Comments »

Getting to the first hotel in Weinheim

Friday, June 10th, 2011

Upon arrival at Frankfurt, we’d picked up the rental car and driven the 64km from the airport to Weinheim in slightly less than an hour. Thanks to the GPS, finding the hotel was a breeze.

This is the first time I’m using a TomTom GPS and so far so good. The GO 750 is easy to use and the turn by turn navigation for the dedicated GPS device is clear and timely.

NH Hotel Weinheim, a good base to explore Mannheim, Schwetzingen, Heidelberg and the surrounding region. Photo from www.nh-hotels.com

I remember the first time I’d used a GPS years ago, the voice instructions came so late I frequently missed turnings.

What does one look for in a navigational GPS device? Here are some things I look out for from my own experience.

Good database so that the hotel or sight you’re looking for is in the map data. Good road database also helps in planning a good route from start point to destination. I had this GPS in the past that repeatedly tried to direct me to enter an expressway by driving into a one-way EXIT from the expressway. I had to take things into my own hads and figure out how to get onto that expressway in France.
Good user interface so you can find that hotel or sight and select it for navigation. The “point of interest” (POI) is only useful only if you can dig it out from the map data. I’ve used devices in the past where I tore my hair out just to locate a specific hotel to get to but can’t find it – only to discover later that it was in the database after all. I couldn’t find it because I didn’t have the exact address down to the door number. Then again, in Japan you can just key in the phone number of that establishment, and the GPS gives you the location and route to that specific hotel or sight.
Intelligent route planning to give you the shortest or fastest or least congested (based on live traffic data) route, with quick adjustment of the route should you make a wrong turn. Again the GPS that came with the rental car in Japan was exemplary, it was dead accurate on estimating time of arrival – after taking into account the traffic congestions along the way.

Nice spacious rooms with plenty of power outlets. www.nh-hotels.com

Pre-planning

While still on the flight, I keyed in the six hotels that we are going to stay in for this vacation and saved them as my personal “Favourites”. It was a breeze on the GO 750. By simply keying in the postal code, the menu gave a list of streets to choose from. You can then type in the house number if you had it.

TomTom GO 750 dedicated turn-by-turn navigational GPS

It helped that I had consolidated all the full addresses of the hotels in a summary sheet, so that I didn’t have to rifle through reams of booking vouchers to find the addresses of the hotels.

By the way, in that summary, I find it useful to include other pertinent information like prices, phone numbers, check-in dates and time.

Having stored the hotel as a POI, I could set it as the destination the moment I got into the car and drive off. Rather than start fiddling with the GPS in the confines of the car park.

Tags:Germany, GO 750, GPS, TomTom, Weinheim
Posted in Gadgets, Germany 2011, GPS, Howtos, Opinion, TomTom, Travel | No Comments »

New update to the TomTom App for iPhone

Friday, April 29th, 2011

The update to the TomTom App for iPhone offers TomTom’s latest release of the maps of Malaysia and Singapore. Current owners of the TomTom App can update to the new version for no additional charge.

For new users, the updated TomTom App (Version 1.7) for iPhone is now available in the App Store for USD $59.99. The app is available on iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS & iPod touch 3rd Gen running iOS4.

Tags:Apple, Apps, GPS, TomTom
Posted in Gadgets, GPS, iOS, iPhone, TomTom | No Comments »

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