TomTom has whipped the covers off three new portable GPS devices — the One, XL and Go 930 — as well as announcing the availability of traffic messaging by the end of July.
The fourth-generation One and second-gen XL — it's been shorn off its One appellation — have both been to the gym and now sport slimmer and sexier bodies. They also gain a new compact, collapsible windshield mount design, a larger, louder speaker, and text-to-speech smarts to use street names in turning instructions.
Although the look and feel of TomTom's navigation software hasn't been touched, some notable new features include Map Share and the latest Sensis (version 15) maps. Map Share, which has been available overseas for a while now, allows TomTom users to correct the supplied map — for example, add and remove traffic restrictions or alter speed limits. These corrections, once verified by a team of fact checkers, can then be shared via PC or Mac, with other TomTomites.
Map Share is also a feature of the top of the range Go 930, which should be available by August. Looking like a shinier version of the existing Go 720, the 930 features that model's MP3 playback, FM transmitter and Bluetooth hands-free. The 930 also monitors your car's acceleration and deceleration, which TomTom claims improves performance in the CBD, as well as providing service in tunnels. Unique to Australia, it comes preloaded with the maps for 45 countries. Australia, New Zealand, North America and western Europe (37 countries in all) are fully mapped out, while in the eight remaining countries, all in eastern Europe, only major roads are catalogued.
GPS devices connected to a traffic messaging network can inform the user of traffic delays along the way and, depending on the severity of the incident, users may choose to route around it. So, with the launch of traffic messaging in Sydney and Brisbane slated for late July — it's already available in Melbourne — TomTom also announced pricing of its traffic messaging gear. A traffic antenna is available for traffic-ready models for AU$149 — for those in Sydney and Brisbane this may entail paying for map upgrade. Alternatively the XL and Go 720 will come bundled with a traffic antenna for an extra AU$100 &mdash or AU$549 and AU$699 respectively.
One (4th gen)
XL (2nd gen)
Go 720
Go 930
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