"7.99 a month without any subscription at all so you can opt in and opt out as and when you see fit"
Since when did the words 'subscription' and 'contract' become analogous? Or are TomTom trying to show my right to cancel a direct debit if and when I choose as some kind of generosity on their part?
I still have Tomtom software on my machine for my neighbour who bought a new Tomtom but suffers from (a) having a Mac (not terribly well supported) and (b) having less bandwidth which means an update requires ages. As he already is an OAP I decided to do it for him before he passes away..
I used TT on a Palm, and on a Sony Ericsson UIQ 3 (P1i, which isn't really supported but it works), and that was subsequent versions, both with Bluetooth sat receivers. Compared to the Mio approach I must say I prefer the Mio, although that has a few options it still needs to introduce like switching to a dimmed map in the evening (you have one level of backlight and no "blue coliur" map for at night like TomTom).
But its zooming and map tracking is much more comfortable than Tomtom. You approach a roundabout, it will tilt the map to show you the right exit. Multi-level motorways? No problem, it's clear. Knee deep in the menu but need to go back to its main function, being a map? Top level button is always there.
Your mileage may vary (pardon the contextual pun) and presonal preference may differ and all that, but I prefer the Mio..
One thing that a lot of people don't realise about TomTom products ist that the software is continually updated. So a lot of the cool things that new TomToms can do, can also run on old TomToms with a software update. I have an old TomTom GO 700, but the software features that it has today are much, much better than when I bought it. Kudos to TomTom, I thinl.
£250 for the satnav and don't forget to £100/year charge to actually use the thing,
And live traffic isn't useful because it only covers those that it deems to be 'major' roads - which outside London is bascally motorways and half a dozen major A roads... Until someone comes up with a traffic system that covers every road it's always going to be worse than useless - it will move you off a perfectly fine but slowish motorway onto an 'alternative' route that's blocked solid because it doesn't know the traffic situation on the alternative route (on top of that its update frequency sucks and it will often 'avoid' completely nonexistant delays).
Says on the video - it's a demo. So, as a demo, it's nothing but a tissue of lies by the people who make the product, because that's what "demo" means - "to lie about or omit important information about a product and hope nobody notices".
Which begs the question why is the El Reg logo all over the video? Have they stopped biting the hand that feeds IT, and started bending over and spreading it for those who feed IT? Are they starting to bite the hand that *is* IT, rather than simply the hand that feeds it? Important questions that need answering.
As Graham said, it's an ad for a Sat Nav, that presumably also has some form of GSM capability.
So once your 3 month trial is up, your £250 Sat Nav will increasingly become out of date unless you pay them a further £8/month.
With Sat Navs starting to add mobile phone type features, it'll only be a matter of time before they'll offer to answer your phone with "Sorry, I'm driving at the moment, but I'll get back to you when I reach my destination in approximately 8.5 minutes" - or if the caller presses a few buttons to indicate it's urgent, the Sat Nav will automatically redirect you to the nearest safe place to stop...
But even then, what's the betting the mapping will be less than perfect, and Sat Chavs will still willingly follow its soothing tones into a 4' deep ford, or to the edge of a cliff, or down a narrow lane / footpath with nowhere to turn around...
Then again, at least the ad showed the functionality in real time, unlike the "Sequence shortened and steps removed" ads for the "There's an app for that" phone.
I'm following Graham with the tombstone icon - you're supposed to offer cynical reviews of technology, not blindly post manufacturer's ads for the product...
My mileage certainly does vary compared to Peter's, as I find the Mac support for Tomtom devices to be fine. I've been using Tomtom home (Mac version) for over a year now, and there's nothing wrong with it. It's been updated a few times too, so it doesn't look like they're just focussing on the Windows version. That's not to say Peter shouldn't continue updating the device for his neighbour - I'd do the same in that situation!
Garmin nuvi 255W GPS (Vehicle, 4.3" LCD)
Garmin nuvi 765T GPS (Vehicle, 4.3" LCD)
Garmin nuvi 265WT GPS (Vehicle, 4.3" LCD)
Garmin nuvi 755T GPS (Vehicle, 4.3" LCD)
Tomtom XL 340S GPS (Vehicle, 4.3" LCD)
Tom Tom flags down 'live traffic' XL satnav
Mark Monaghan
Oops 1:34 #
Posted Saturday 30th May 2009 10:07 GMT
The moral of this tale is...
Make sure the battery is charged before you do the demo.
It's the one with the solar panel on the back.
Anonymous Coward
Was that a review or an advert #
Posted Saturday 30th May 2009 12:22 GMT
It's hardly the biting Reg stuff we expect
jon
I want one... #
Posted Saturday 30th May 2009 12:22 GMT
...I guess I'll have to buy a car >.<
Anonymous Coward
nice advert #
Posted Saturday 30th May 2009 12:22 GMT
but where's the news story?
Graham Marsden
So... #
Posted Saturday 30th May 2009 12:22 GMT
...I've just watched a 2 minute advert for Tom Tom on El Reg...?
Jeremy
Subscription #
Posted Monday 1st June 2009 08:33 GMT
"7.99 a month without any subscription at all so you can opt in and opt out as and when you see fit"
Since when did the words 'subscription' and 'contract' become analogous? Or are TomTom trying to show my right to cancel a direct debit if and when I choose as some kind of generosity on their part?
Peter
Nah, done the TomTom thing.. #
Posted Monday 1st June 2009 08:33 GMT
I still have Tomtom software on my machine for my neighbour who bought a new Tomtom but suffers from (a) having a Mac (not terribly well supported) and (b) having less bandwidth which means an update requires ages. As he already is an OAP I decided to do it for him before he passes away..
I used TT on a Palm, and on a Sony Ericsson UIQ 3 (P1i, which isn't really supported but it works), and that was subsequent versions, both with Bluetooth sat receivers. Compared to the Mio approach I must say I prefer the Mio, although that has a few options it still needs to introduce like switching to a dimmed map in the evening (you have one level of backlight and no "blue coliur" map for at night like TomTom).
But its zooming and map tracking is much more comfortable than Tomtom. You approach a roundabout, it will tilt the map to show you the right exit. Multi-level motorways? No problem, it's clear. Knee deep in the menu but need to go back to its main function, being a map? Top level button is always there.
Your mileage may vary (pardon the contextual pun) and presonal preference may differ and all that, but I prefer the Mio..
Conrad Longmore
Updates #
Posted Monday 1st June 2009 08:33 GMT
One thing that a lot of people don't realise about TomTom products ist that the software is continually updated. So a lot of the cool things that new TomToms can do, can also run on old TomToms with a software update. I have an old TomTom GO 700, but the software features that it has today are much, much better than when I bought it. Kudos to TomTom, I thinl.
Shane Orahilly
So much button pushing... #
Posted Monday 1st June 2009 08:33 GMT
...shouldn't it be made illegal to use any of these services while driving? Looks like it might distract you.
Paris, as it's about time her cameras were updated live.
Chris
Where's the 'Advertising Feature' tag? #
Posted Monday 1st June 2009 08:33 GMT
It seems to be missing.
Tony Hoyle
Don't forget the cost #
Posted Monday 1st June 2009 08:33 GMT
£250 for the satnav and don't forget to £100/year charge to actually use the thing,
And live traffic isn't useful because it only covers those that it deems to be 'major' roads - which outside London is bascally motorways and half a dozen major A roads... Until someone comes up with a traffic system that covers every road it's always going to be worse than useless - it will move you off a perfectly fine but slowish motorway onto an 'alternative' route that's blocked solid because it doesn't know the traffic situation on the alternative route (on top of that its update frequency sucks and it will often 'avoid' completely nonexistant delays).
raving angry loony
why? #
Posted Monday 1st June 2009 08:33 GMT
Says on the video - it's a demo. So, as a demo, it's nothing but a tissue of lies by the people who make the product, because that's what "demo" means - "to lie about or omit important information about a product and hope nobody notices".
Which begs the question why is the El Reg logo all over the video? Have they stopped biting the hand that feeds IT, and started bending over and spreading it for those who feed IT? Are they starting to bite the hand that *is* IT, rather than simply the hand that feeds it? Important questions that need answering.
mittfh
Hardly a review... #
Posted Monday 1st June 2009 08:33 GMT
As Graham said, it's an ad for a Sat Nav, that presumably also has some form of GSM capability.
So once your 3 month trial is up, your £250 Sat Nav will increasingly become out of date unless you pay them a further £8/month.
With Sat Navs starting to add mobile phone type features, it'll only be a matter of time before they'll offer to answer your phone with "Sorry, I'm driving at the moment, but I'll get back to you when I reach my destination in approximately 8.5 minutes" - or if the caller presses a few buttons to indicate it's urgent, the Sat Nav will automatically redirect you to the nearest safe place to stop...
But even then, what's the betting the mapping will be less than perfect, and Sat Chavs will still willingly follow its soothing tones into a 4' deep ford, or to the edge of a cliff, or down a narrow lane / footpath with nowhere to turn around...
Then again, at least the ad showed the functionality in real time, unlike the "Sequence shortened and steps removed" ads for the "There's an app for that" phone.
I'm following Graham with the tombstone icon - you're supposed to offer cynical reviews of technology, not blindly post manufacturer's ads for the product...
Kevin McMurtrie
I waited for the Reg story #
Posted Monday 1st June 2009 08:33 GMT
But it didn't start after the advertisement.
Ian K
Hope El Reg was paid for that #
Posted Monday 1st June 2009 08:33 GMT
2 minute spiel directly from a TomTom guy about their wonderful new product, zero Reg input; not a single word of commentary.
This really was an advert masquerading as a new story.
Latentexistence
What about bikers? #
Posted Monday 1st June 2009 08:33 GMT
So when are Live Services coming to the TomTom Rider?
AF
Re: Mac support #
Posted Monday 1st June 2009 10:00 GMT
My mileage certainly does vary compared to Peter's, as I find the Mac support for Tomtom devices to be fine. I've been using Tomtom home (Mac version) for over a year now, and there's nothing wrong with it. It's been updated a few times too, so it doesn't look like they're just focussing on the Windows version. That's not to say Peter shouldn't continue updating the device for his neighbour - I'd do the same in that situation!