Cydle T43H 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this device instead of renewing my XM NavTraffic subscription. So far, I have been very pleased. Driving in the Los Angeles Area, I find the data to be much more accurate than XMs... and delivery over HD Radio is about 10X faster than I had become used to. I do wish that the device had a little larger screen, but the quality of the display and software's ease of use are quite good. After 60 days, I'm still very happy with my purchase and a few of my friends have bought one too.

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Navigon 7100 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I ordered my Navigon 7100 at the end of August and received it on September 7th. In the last few weeks, I have been all over .... New York City, Washington, Northern Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, San Francisco/Oakland, California, etc. For most of those journeys I have had my Nuvi 660 next to the Navigon 7100. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. Overall, my personal conclusion is that the Navigon 7100 is for me the way to go. I will be packing up my Nuvi 660 in a few days and sending it off to one of my kids.
Below I will list some Pros and Cons of the 7100. The 7100 has not by any means been flawless. But its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. And most of my complaints are easy software fixes. I feel that Navigon has gotten the message from those of us in the USA and is attempting to address our issues. They won't be here long if they don't. They may believe that they have the superior product but they may go the way of Beta in the Beta / VHS competition, if you remember that from years and years ago.
I have spoken to higher ups at Navigon and they could have brushed me off. Instead, once I got that far, I found someone willing to listen, acknowledge their shortcomings and say they will fix things. So far they have done so with the 4 GB fiasco. The rest remains to be seen. I am hopeful. I believe that they will now do what it takes. The people I have dealt with struck me as sincere and willing to do what it takes.
By the way, while I adjusted the route profile based on recommendations on forums and even from Navigon to the Optimum setting, I have found the Fast profile setting works best for me.
I also have turned off the Menu animation setting which seems to work better for me.
-----------------------------------------
Pros of 7100
Excellent screen and info. I like info and I get all I need with the 7100. I especially like the upcoming turn arrow showing up if it is a close turn to the next turn you are taking.
The 7100 adjusts for your time zone automatically. You need to do this manually on the Nuvi 660. In California my 7100 showed the correct time while my Nuvi was on Eastern time. I was only there a day and didn't bother to change it.
The 7100 makes it easy to engage the night/day mode, as well as 2D/3D mode. Though an auto setting for day/night would be a nice add-on, it is too easy to do manually to make a difference for ME. And I like the color scheme of the night view. Very cool.
Ability to block portions of route and have trip recalculated. Makes life easier if I want to avoid certain roads.
Seems to lock onto 1 or 2 more satellites than 660 when I was able to check, not always though, but a lot of the time which may help explain my next observation.
Its position in relation to the road in my observations was a bit more accurate than the 660. I would be just about passed the exit ramp when the 660 would show me just entering it.
I found the refresh rate to be a bit more frequent than the 660. While it may be an optical illusion, it seemed to be moving more often than the 660. Again, this is my personal observation and might help explain the above observation.
Reality View is excellent. It has helped me on countless highways. Once though it showed one more lane than the highway had. But it helped me navigate the right way anyway. This is probably the number one feature for me.
Lane Assist is not visible when Reality View is on, but if you hit the screen to disable Reality View (quick feature and easy to do) I often see the Lane Assist present there. Helped me getting to Oakland, Ca. airport as I exited and needed to turn left by showing me both lanes were left turn lanes way ahead of the pavement markings showing me that. Helped me to decide what lane to use for the upcoming turn.
Speed warning (caution) has helped me keep my speed where I want it to be. Though I got used to it and needed to remind myself that it isn't always there, especially on the local streets.
Time of arrival is more accurate for ME than 660. The 7100 would on short trips show 5 to 10 minutes longer to get there but ended up being closer to the actual time of arrival than the 660. On a 5 hour trip the 7100 showed arrival to be 35 minutes longer than 660 at the start. Ended up being closer to actual arrival time than 660. Nuvi kept adding time, even though trip was going smoothly. Much prefer a more conservative approach. Again this is what I experienced in my journeys.
Fairly fast recalculation of route when turn not taken (I did that intentionally at times to test it out). Though once it seemed to take forever.
Traffic info reception is excellent. External antenna not needed in major cities, but helps in outlying areas.
Windshield mount is easy to put on and take off. Stable and secure. Wobbles on occasion but not noticeably an issue for ME. Brings the 7100 closer to you than any other system I have used that I mounted on the windshield. And I found it has lots of adjustment options to get the view I wanted. Had my doubts at first, but love how it just floats near you. My Nuvi mount would fall off until I started using water on the rubber mount before attaching. Even then once or twice it came off.
Easy to spot a McDonald's on your route and by turning in its direction get to it fairly easily rather than search the POI database.
----------------------------
Cons of 7100
No feature to avoid HOV roads/lanes. I have an entrance ramp near me to a major highway that is open only during morning rush hours and is only for HOV use. The 7100 always wants to take me to that highway that way. I can never use it since it is only me in the car. And the times it tells me to go that way it is closed anyway.
I enabled the feature to avoid U-Turns, but the 7100 tells me to make them anyway, even if I could easily go around the block. I could understand it doing so if I am at a dead end but that hasn't been the case. There has been a clear view of the sky and good reception at the time.
My saved destinations do not show up on the map. It would be nice to see them as I go near them. The Nuvi shows all my destinations on the map as I go by them.
Text to speech needs improvement. While I have found that most streets are named, the pronunciation is awkward. If not spelled in a conventional way it is mispronounced. Centre becomes Cen-tray. Marble is Mar-blay. Stonefield becomes Stoney-field.
Toll roads are labeled as TOL for some reason. Even though there is plenty of space for it to be TOLL. As a result the text to speech says, turn onto xx "tall"... for TOL.
Battery life is not as good as I expected. It has a nice warning though to tell you that the battery is almost gone. Maybe Navigon should check with Apple and its iPhone for a better approach. '
Finding a Point of Interest if you don't know the city it is in is difficult. The Nuvi will tell you all the POIs close to you, though you have a long wait as it loads them to get to the next screen. If I want a gas station nearby it doesn't tell me if it is ahead of me or behind me. The Nuvi would give me arrows to help me see where it was. Not knowing could mean circling back to get to it rather than hit something along the way. Its POIs on the route don't give you a lot of options. I would much prefer getting a list to choose from than the ones the unit selects to position on the route I am taking.
Long start up time. Though it is a breeze when I stop for gas and get going again. It took seconds for the 7100 to crank up the times I bought gas or had a quick lunch. My Nuvi was still loading as I headed on my way. Blocks away it joined the 7100. Most of the time though (other than the quick stop routine), the Nuvi was the winner here.
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Again, these are all MY PERSONAL observations. I know others have had different experiences on many of these observations.
All in all I find the Navigon 7100 to be an excellent GPS for MY needs. And even though I paid a higher price for it when I bought it than it sells for today, I think I got my money's worth.
Is it perfect? Not at all. It has many things that could be better. Is it the best GPS I have come across and owned? Yes, I can honestly say that it is FOR ME. I have owned the Tom Tom GO, the StreetPilot III, the Nuvi 350, 360 and 660. For now, this is the one for me. I change GPS units often. Buying the newer maps was not worth it for me since if I added to that price what I could sell my GPS on ebay for it would come close or fairly close to buying a newer model. And I need the latest maps, which are outdated when they are released.
All in all, I am sold on the Navigon 7100. For ME it is a clear winner!
---------
10-18-07
In the last few days I have been to Memphis and Boston. I must say I am happy to report that the start up time when I get into my rental car seems to be quicker. Also, while I didn't expect to get traffic info in Memphis and almost didn't hook up the external antenna to pull in traffic, when I did I got an alert quickly about a 2 mile congestion spot on a highway on my route. I hit avoid and got diverted to side streets which got me to the hotel fairly quickly. I passed over the highway I was to go on and sure enough it was stop and go traffic. Really saved me time and aggravation.
In Boston I noticed a few things.... one is that in the underground tunnels the 7100 kept...Read more›

Click Here to see more reviews about: Navigon 7100 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

In the U.S., German-based Navigon may be the biggest name in gps you'venever heard. Navigon has long been a major provider of navigation software to automotive manufacturers for in-dash gps navigation devices, but only recently did they introduce portable navigation devices under their own name. What they offer up, however, demonstrates immediately that this is a company that knows navigation inside and out.
More about Navigon
Navigon...James Navigon The first thing you notice about the Navigon 7100 GPS Navigator is, well, the Navigon 7100 GPS Navigator. It's beautiful. It's the kind of device you'd expect an international spy to have in their rocket car. It's less than an inch thick, and its shiny black casing will go well with just about any car interior. Paying the same attention to every detail, Navigon's included car mount raises the bar even higher, with a design that is not only easy to use, but echoes the 7100's in a way that makes device and accessory become one, adding a touch of style and elegance to any vehicle's interior.


Packed with Features When you stop ogling the outside and really start using the 7100, what you notice is that Navigon has decided to avoid media support and instead has focused on navigation-based features. This means the 7100 is packed, offering an array of features that are, at the time of this writing, unmatched at this price point. It provides you with turn-by-turn directions, including actual road names via text-to-speech. It includes built-in Bluetooth technology that enables hands-free mobile phone integration, which not only increases driver safety, but is fast becoming a necessity as states pass laws against talking on a cell phone hand set while driving. It warns you when you are exceeding the speed limit. It offers 2D and 3D map views with incredibly precise road visualizations (more on that below). Its Navteq data contains millions Points of Interest (POIs) such as restaurants, hotels, golf courses, gas stations, banks, etc.

Reality View and Lane Assistant The 7100 has two features that are a great help in negotiating unfamiliar or complicated road systems. Lane Assistant recommends the best lane for you to be in relative to the proposed route, so you won't find yourself trying to move over three lanes when the freeway splits. Reality view guides you with photo-realistic 3D images of junctions, complete with actual sign text and exit ramp guidance. This makes translating what the navigator is telling you to what you see on the road instantaneous.

Free Traffic for Life This is a biggie. The Navigon 7100 comes is the first GPS device to offer subscription-free, real-time traffic information via the integrated traffic receiver with no additional fees or setup for the life of the product. Be advised on traffic flow and incidents, as well as the best alternate routes. The traffic info starts working as soon as you get the 7100 out of the box.

Zagat Ratings and Branded Icons for POIs All of Navigon's gps navigators offer Zagat ratings and reviews for their POIs, so while this device may not get you a beer, it can tell you where to find the best one. Branded icons displayed on your map make it easier to navigate to a familiar location of your choice.

Superior Software and Hardware The features and functions of the Navigon 7100 are controlled via intuitive, easy-to-use animated menus that use predictive text input to quickly and easily select your city, state and address. Maps and menus appear on its extra-large and elegant, high-contrast 4.3-inch, full-color touch-screen display with an easy-to-read 16:9 aspect ratio for an exceptional view of the road. The Navigon 7100 includes a powerful Samsung 400 MHz processor, a fully integrated SiRF Star III GPS chip, 64 MBs of both RAM and ROM built in, and a rechargeable 1,200 mAh lithium ion battery that is rated for 4.5 hours of continuous use. All this is housed in an ultra-thin, sleek piano black housing that weighs only seven ounces, and measures just 5.1 x 3.5 x 0.9 inches (W x H x D). The Navigon 7100 even comes pre-loaded with complete maps of the U.S. and Canada, providing you with superbly accurate, seamless door-to-door directions wherever your vehicular travels might take you.

Note that the 7100 runs on the Microsoft Windows CD Net 5.0 operating system. A PC is required to use additional map data, and in such cases users require Windows 2000, ME, XP or higher, as well as a CD ROM drive and a USB port. An SD/MMC card reader is recommended as the 7100 not only uses SD cards, but also comes with a 2 GB SD card in the package.

What's in the Box The Navigon 7100 preloaded with North American maps, 2 GB SD card, car charger, wall charger, car mount, USB cable, CD and user manual on DVD, quick installation guide, and warranty information.

About Navigon NAVIGON has been a leader of GPS navigation since 1991, and has a long history of industry innovations. NAVIGON created the world's first dynamic personal GPS product in 1996, launched the industry's first navigation software for the Pocket PC in 2000, and unveiled the first Traffic Message Channel-based (TMC) avoidance feature on mobile navigation product in 2002. NAVIGON has helped revolutionize how consumers get from place to place with software products for practically any navigation-ready hardware. Personal navigation devices (PND), smartphones, and in-dash navigation systems directed by NAVIGON's award-winning MobileNavigator (MN) software delivers reliable information on millions of destinations in an intuitive, easy to use format. NAVIGON is a valued partner to the automotive industry, and in 2006 strengthened its category competency by acquiring NAVTEQ's navigation software business. NAVIGON is a privately-held software company based in Hamburg, Germany, with NAVIGON USA headquarters in Chicago, IL.

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TomTom XXL 540TM World Traveler 5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Lifetime Traffic & Maps and World Maps Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)History with GPS Navigation:
I've used built-in Honda (Alpine), standalone Garmin, and Ford 'Sync' audio GPS navigation devices.
I loved the Honda navi for its size, and I hated it because updates were sparse and expensive.
I loved the Garmin for being up-to-date but I hated it because it always seemed to change its mind a lot, or direct me into strange areas.
I didn't really care for the Ford Sync navigation, as it wasn't a visual navi. Included for free with the car, but I choose not to use it. Maybe only good as a 'back-up' in case the TomTom fails-- though I don't think it ever will.
I sold my Honda and needed a new navigation system.
I bought the XXL 540TM for...
1) Screen size
2) Frequent map updates (4x a year + Map Share)
3) Ability to customize it (lots of settings to play with)
4) Well Known & Quality (I've always heard 'Garmin' is the best, but when I've tried Garmin, I didn't like it!)
5) Lane Guidance
6) IQ Routes (figuring out which roads were best to use)
By the way, in case you were wondering the "TM" stands for "Traffic" and "Maps", indicating there are free traffic and map updates. I had NO problems entering the "Lifetime Maps & Traffic" code provided.
What's in the box:
-> GPS device itself
-> Window mount (with suction cup)
-> Dashboard 'sticky' pad
-> USB cable (to connect to PC)
-> Car Power adapter
-> Set Up Guide
-> Slip of paper with 1 code, valid for Lifetime Map/Traffic updates
The first thing I did was hook it up to my PC and run all the updates. (A newer map was available + GPSFix + Map Share.) It took about 1.5 hours to update all of it. After it was done, it took up about 96% of the 2GB built-in memory. (I didn't check how much it used before updating.) Not a lot of 'wiggle room' to add more features. No built-in SD slot to add memory, either.
One major downside is that I don't like how easily the device 'pops off' the windshield mount. (See further explanation under "The BAD" below.) I am considering getting a (non-adhesive) weighted/padded mount to put on the dashboard.
The GOOD:
+ Screen size met my expectations. Easy to see everything on the screen
+ Startup time (including time to lock onto satellites) seemed fairly quick
+ Roads were up-to-date and labeled properly. Didn't find any errors
+ Allowed me to customize just about everything I wanted to.
+ It functioned perfectly as a Navigation device. This is where I felt Garmin was lacking. With all the features a Garmin has, it never seemed to 'navigate' the way I liked. Of all the features, the 'Navigation' is the most important, and TomTom does it well from what I've seen.
+ It pronounced some 'hard to say' roads perfectly! I'm sure I'll find some that are not right, but Garmin/Sync had a hard time saying road names.
The "OK":
+- Traffic is only updated by RDS (sent by local FM radio stations). This is what I paid for. RDS updated only major roadways (Interstates) and marked some accidents / road construction / road closures. It only worked when the power cord was plugged into the accessory power port on the car (as the cord functions as the antenna.) I would have preferred TomTom's GO/Live line of products which has a built-in 'cell phone' to grab more detailed and current traffic information. But, these were out of my price range. The XXL 540TM does "just enough" traffic to make it useful.
+- It takes some time to calculate a long distance route. But, I also know that it is using IQ Routes to choose the best roads. It seemed 1 or 2 seconds longer than it needed to be, but certainly not a huge problem.
The BAD:
- Internal memory not expandable. 96% used up without any 'extras' installed? Hope I don't need more...
- When browsing maps (dragging my finger) it is a bit 'laggy'. I don't expect perfection, but it seemed sluggish. Fortunately, I don't plan to browse maps often, so I'll deal with it. I tried turning off Points Of Interest (POIs), and turning off 3D maps (using 2D maps instead), and it really didn't seem to make a difference. I'm impressed with the detail it showed, but wasn't thrilled about waiting 10 seconds for the entire screen to finish 'drawing'.
- Windshield mount seemed to 'pop off' too easily. When suctioned to the windshield, I have to use 2 hands to 'hold' the GPS and keep it attached to the mount while I adjust. I suppose it is useful for people who leave the mount stuck on the windshield. I prefer to remove the device AND the mount and hide them when not in use. (I figure a thief will know that the mount is for a GPS, and that the GPS is hidden in the car somewhere.)I have yet to try this out on a LONG or COMPLEX road trip, but I have no doubts from what I've seen so far that it will be just fine.
OVERALL, I'm happy with the device. Happier than I was with Sync, Alpine, or Garmin. I consider myself an 'Average' navigation user (not a beginner, not an expert) and will update the review after using it more.
Sidenote: I ordered through Amazon, using "Beach Camera" seller. It was delivered ONE (1) business day after I ordered it! I used 'Standard' shipping, and FedEx (Home service) had it delivered fast. Very pleased with Beach Camera's shipping emails and speed!
=========================
UPDATE 11/18/2010:
I thought I'd provide an update after 6 months of using this TomTom device:
1) I am still very happy! It's the 1st GPS I've used that "just works" and I'm glad I don't have to mess with it.
2) I've mastered the technique of adjusting the screen position while simultaneously holding the suction base. Back in May when I first reviewed it, I was concerned about how 'easily' it popped off. Now, it is still annoying, but I've minimized the amount of times it happens by holding it appropriately. It doesn't annoy me enough to buy a different stand/holder.
3) The suction cup still holds on quite well. It hasn't fallen off yet. (I attach/detach from the windshield every time I use it.)
4) Traffic Receiver: I've been satisfied with alternate directions/road closings. It is quite accurate, even in rural areas where I didn't expect road closures to be displayed.
5) Long-distance travel: I've used it for a few long trips (1000+ miles) and had no problems whatsoever with it. I found the 'estimate' of time to be extremely accurate. It was no more than 10 minutes off. (I calculated the time I stopped for gas and added it to the original estimate.)
6) Battery life: I've found the battery life to be holding a little less charge than it used to, but nothing that I feel is alarming. Most of the time, I have the power cord connected anyway (so I can grab the traffic updates with the antenna built into the cord.)
Overall, this is my favorite GPS. I've been hooking it up to the computer less and less (meaning I am forfeiting new 'map share' corrections). I even decided NOT to get the latest map update. Why? Well, I feel everything is working just fine the way it is. I may update if I have the free time. This is in sharp contrast to my previous GPS experience, where I'd pray for updates to fix stubborn issues. The TomTom is just fine and I have had no major complaints. I am NOT in the market to buy a new GPS because I'm finally satisfied.
=========================
UPDATE 06/03/2011:
Here is an update after 1 year of using this device!
1) The battery is holding less charge than last year, but it still lasts 6-8 hours without needing a charge. Not a problem for me, because I use the car adapter most of the time.
2) I drove to Canada, and the maps were accurate! In fact, I liked that TomTom still told me the speed limits of the roads. (Sign said 100kph speed limit, TomTom showed 60 mph limit.) I found this helpful so I didn't have to squint at the tiny "kph" on my car's speedometer. I've made this trip before in the past (without my TomTom), and I chose to "Avoid Tolls" on this trip. TomTom found a very nice route that I had not known about. It used IQ Routes to get me around the rush-hour traffic too! I used the "Itinerary" feature for the first time, and found it worked quite well. I programmed 6-7 destinations the night before my trip. The next day, I simply opened the Itinerary and it asked me if I wanted to travel to the 1st one. I also ended up re-ordering a destination to later in the trip, and found an option to re-order. Very helpful!
3) I updated my map just once (right before my trip to Canada). I installed this on a new computer. I was worried that TomTom wouldn't 'know' that I was eligible for free maps on my new computer. But, I had no problem whatsoever! For those of you who don't know, all your map updates, downloadable color schemes, icons (etc) are done through the TomTom HOME software. You create an account with TomTom, and the TomTom HOME software uses that account to 'know' you're eligible for Lifetime Map updates.
4) I did discover 1 piece that doesn't work for me. I cannot use the "Safety Cameras" add-in from TomTom HOME. I haven't researched it though. I got an error message when trying to add it. No big deal for me, since I only planned to add it for curiosity. A quick Google search didn't reveal it as a widespread problem. I'll update this review if I find a cause/solution.
5) Yes, the GPS still "pops off" the mount too easily. It bugs me from time to time, but still not enough to buy a different mount/base.
6) Am I in the market for a new GPS? Nope! Still very happy with this one. (I got sick of every other GPS within 6 months of using it. But, knowing I still love this TomTom after 1 year says a lot!)
Good job TomTom, you exceeded my high expectations. Thank you!

Click Here to see more reviews about: TomTom XXL 540TM World Traveler 5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Lifetime Traffic & Maps and World Maps

Get street smart with the TomTom XXL 540TM World Traveler Edition--complete, 5-inch widescreen navigation featuring Lifetime Traffic and Map Updates. Outsmart traffic and minimize delays with Lifetime Traffic Updates. Based on incoming traffic events, your device will suggest alternate routes. And, with Lifetime Map Updates you'll always drive with the latest and most accurate maps. On average, 15% of the road network changes each year, so it is important to have the most up-to-date maps. With the XXL 540TM World Traveler Edition, you'll always stay current.


Switch on and it's ready to go right out of the box. Spoken turn-by-turn instructions, including street names, will guide you to any address in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe--including more than 7 million pre-loaded points of interest. The TomTom XXL 540TM World Traveler Edition is complete widescreen navigation.

Only TomTom has IQ Routes technology,* which shaves time off even the shortest trips by calculating the fastest route based on the time of day you are traveling. You'll always drive the smartest, most efficient route and save time, fuel, and money. Advanced Lane Guidance** uses photorealistic images to bring even more clarity to complex multi-lane exits so you can be more confident on the road.

TomTom has the most accurate maps, and with TomTom Map Share technology, you can instantly modify street names, street direction, POIs, road speeds, and turn restrictions on your own device.

The "Help Me!" menu provides added safety features so you can easily access local emergency providers. The award-winning Fold and Go EasyPort mount folds flat against the device, making it easy to take with you from car to car.

Maps of the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe Pre-loaded with maps of the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe. TomTom has the most accurate maps, and with TomTom Map Share technology, you can instantly modify street names, street direction, POIs, and more on your own device, as well as receive daily verified updates from TomTom. Spoken turn-by-turn instructions and 3D graphics will guide you to any address in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe, worry-free.

Lifetime Traffic and Map Updates*** Enjoy a lifetime of easy driving with two great features from TomTom. Lifetime Maps guarantees you receive four new editions of your TomTom map each year to ensure that you are always navigating with the industry's most up-to-date map. And, Lifetime Traffic sends updates to your TomTom every three minutes, so you can always steer clear of traffic delays and take the fastest route possible to your destination.

7 Million POIs Pre-loaded with more than 7 million points of interest in over 60 destination categories. Easily find millions of gas stations, restaurants, hotels, ATMs, and more on your route. Or, seek out a new tourist attraction, nightlife spot, or shopping center, and navigate directly to it. Customize by adding your own points of interest.

IQ Routes Technology TomTom IQ Routes technology puts the driving experience of millions of TomTom users into your maps to shave time off even the shortest trips. Calculates the fastest route possible based on time of day. With TomTom IQ Routes, you'll always drive the smartest, most efficient route. IQ Routes saves you time, fuel, and money.

Traffic isn't the same during Monday morning rush hour as it is on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Heavy traffic, rotaries, traffic lights, and even pedestrians can slow you down. The route you need changes depending on the day and time, so the shortest route isn't necessarily going to be the fastest. With TomTom IQ Routes, you'll always drive the fastest route.

Advanced Lane Guidance TomTom Advanced Lane Guidance gives you extra clarity when navigating difficult junctions by showing you which lane to take, so you won't miss your turn or have to make sudden, dangerous lane crossings. Photorealistic images and a pulsing green arrow indicate exactly which lane to use, so you can go confidently.

Spoken Street Names Announces turn-by-turn directions aloud, including street and place names.

5-Inch Touchscreen Expand your horizons with a 5-inch extra-wide touchscreen. A widescreen allows an expanded driving view and easier menu operation.

Fold and Go EasyPort Mount The award-winning Fold and Go EasyPort mount provides maximum portability. It folds neatly onto the back of the device, so both are small enough to fit into your pocket or bag, and makes your device even more portable so you can take it with you wherever you travel.


*Feature only available in the U.S. and Canada **Feature available in the U.S. only ***Lifetime Traffic and Maps: You receive non-transferable traffic data and up to four non-transferable map data updates per year until the product's useful life expires or TomTom no longer receives map or traffic updates from its suppliers--whichever is shorter. Lifetime Maps available for the U.S., Canada, and Mexico only. Lifetime Traffic available in the U.S. and Canada. Details and terms at www.tomtom.com/legal.
All TomToms Feature
Plug and Go--Works right out of the box.

30-Day Latest Map Guarantee--Up-to-date, off the shelf.

TomTom Map Share--Modify your own map and benefit from other users' verified changes with TomTom Map Share.

Help Me! Emergency Menu--Easily access local emergency providers such as police, fire stations, and hospitals.

TomTom HOME--Always up-to-date.

Fuel Price Service (optional)--Know more, pay less.

What's in the Box TomTom XXL 540TM World Traveler Edition device, EasyPort mount, USB cable, adhesive disk, car charger with integrated traffic, and user's guide with lifetime maps voucher.

About TomTom Founded in Amsterdam in 1991, TomTom has established itself as a global leader in navigation by being an innovative company with a strong brand, clear customer focus, and high-quality products and services.
TomTom is the world's leading navigation solutions provider, with navigation products sold in 30 countries and in over 20 languages. To further our commitment to car navigation, TomTom acquired Tele Atlas maps in 2008 so we can continually provide the most up-to-date maps and intelligent routing.

We have our own mapping company! Did you know that every year roads change by up to 40% in high-growth areas? Tele Atlas manages this by using the world's most comprehensive systems to identify and incorporate these changes into our maps with unprecedented levels of speed and accuracy. All TomTom devices benefit from the Tele Atlas advantage--more coverage, more points of interest, and more freshness and accuracy.

Why TomTom? At TomTom, we believe that personal navigation should be as easy and safe as possible. We develop smart technology that gives you straightforward solutions and innovations to make life easy.

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TomTom XXL 550TM 5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Lifetime Traffic & Maps Edition) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I got TomTom550TM about two weeks ago. It replaced my TomTom Go 730 with 4.3" screen.
This will be my 5th GPS device so far. I consider TomTom Go 730 a pretty modern GPS with a lot of good features, so I will review TomTom 550TM in comparison to that one.
Let me start with the cons:
- No Bluetooth hands-free, FM transmitter, SD reader, etc. But, I disabled the BT and FM in my Go anyway and I do not miss them at all.
- Fewer menu options; mostly due to missing extra functionality, and some regarding what is displayed on screen. I find displaying the current speed and the speed limit on the screen redundant, it would have been nice to have the choice to display perhaps the compass instead.
And the pros:
- Simple menu! Who cares about 8 things when you are trying to just enter a new address?
- Large screen is a relief to your eyes. Driving in summer is enough strain on the eyes.
- Clever interface. The lanes are clearly displayed on the screen at critical times.
- Reads names of streets just like the Go does (though this is a standard feature now).
- Last but not the least lifetime traffic and map updates. Traffic updates are a nice to have, though I never was in a situation that they were critical with my older TomTom GPS. However, map updates are a must. I found myself looking for non-existent ramps and exits more often in the last year, so 550TM with its lifetime map updates will hopefully get rid of such annoyances.
Update: I have two important bits of info. As others have already mentioned, the firmware upgrade added the option to view the turn-by-turn list of directions as text. This was probably the most significant missing feature that people felt the need for. Secondly, when I tried to update the map, I found out that I have never paired my gps with my TomTom account before. Which is bad news, because I already tossed the retail box which had the activation code. The good thing is, TomTom customer service was really helpful and within a day I got the incident solved. I had to send a copy of my purchase receipt and give them the serial of my gps, and that was it. Big relief, because I really like this GPS, and I am planning to keep it for a couple of years at least.

Click Here to see more reviews about: TomTom XXL 550TM 5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator (Lifetime Traffic & Maps Edition)

Get street smart with the TomTom XXL 550·TM--complete 5-inch widescreen navigation, featuring Lifetime Traffic and Map Updates*. Enjoy a lifetime of easy driving with two great features from TomTom. Lifetime Maps guarantees you receive four new editions of your TomTom map each year to ensure that you are always navigating with the industry's most up-to-date map. And, Lifetime Traffic automatically sends real-time updates to your TomTom, so you can always steer clear of traffic delays and take the fastest route possible to your destination.


Since TomTom has the industry's most accurate and dependable maps you'll have access to one million more miles of roads than you would using other GPS brands. Navigate to any location in the US, Canada or Mexico--or directly to one of 7 million preloaded points of interest. Finding your way has never been easier, using TomTom's new EasyMenu and spoken turn-by-turn instructions including street names.

Only TomTom has IQ Routes**. This exclusive technology evaluates routes based on actual traffic speeds, rather than posted speed limits, and will recommend the fastest route for the time of day. You'll always be directed to the quickest, most efficient route. Advanced Lane Guidance provides extra clarity when navigating difficult junctions by showing you which lane to take, so you won't miss your turn or have to make dangerous lane crossings. Photorealistic images and a pulsing green arrow indicate exactly which lane to use.

Eighteen percent of the nation's road information changes every year. With TomTom's exclusive Map Share On-Demand Updates, you have the ability to update your own map instantly or download verified updates from other drivers. Update your TomTom daily or whenever you wish.

The "Help Me!" menu lets you travel with peace of mind. It provides added safety features so you can easily access local emergency providers such as police, fire stations, and hospitals. The "Where Am I?" feature pinpoints your exact location so you can accurately communicate it to emergency resources.

The award-winning Fold & Go EasyPort mount folds neatly onto the back of the device, so both are small enough to fit into your pocket or bag.

Maps of US, Canada & Mexico TomTom is known the world over for the accuracy and extensive coverage of its maps. TomTom maps include 1 million more miles of road than other GPS brands and have been rated highest in terms of quality and reliability.

Lifetime Traffic & Map Updates Enjoy a lifetime of easy driving with two great features from TomTom. LIFETIME Maps guarantees you receive four new editions of your TomTom map each year to ensure that you are always navigating with the industry's most up-to-date map. And, LIFETIME Traffic automatically sends real-time updates to your TomTom, so you can always steer clear of traffic delays and take the fastest route possible to your destination.

Note: You receive non-transferable traffic data and up to four non-transferable map data updates per year until the product's useful life expires or TomTom no longer receives map or traffic updates from its suppliers, whichever is shorter. Details and terms at www.tomtom.com/legal.

EasyMenu Easily access all of TomTom's powerful features through its simple and intuitive two-button menu. Just a tap gets you started, and easy-to-follow commands and recognizable icons lead you through a quick start-up process to get you on the road in no time.

7 million Points of Interest Comes preloaded with more than 7 million points of interest in over 60 categories. Easily find millions of gas stations, restaurants, hotels and more on your route. Or, seek out a new tourist attraction, nightlife spot or shopping center and navigate directly to it. Customize by adding your own favorites.

IQ Routes* Despite posted speed limits, traffic traveling along a road at 8 a.m. moves at a different pace than it does at 2 p.m. Actual traffic speed is affected by rush hour, traffic light changes, pedestrian traffic, day of the week, and more. Only TomTom offers exclusive technology that evaluates routes based on actual traffic speeds, rather than posted speed limits, and will recommend the fastest route for the time of the day.

Advanced Lane Guidance** TomTom provides extra clarity when navigating difficult junctions by showing you which lane to take, so you won't miss your turn or have to make dangerous lane crossings. Photorealistic images and a pulsing green arrow indicate exactly which lane to use.

Announces Street Names Keep your eyes on the road while your TomTom announces turn-by-turn directions, including street and place names.

5-Inch Touchscreen Expand your horizons with a 5-inch extra-wide touchscreen. A wide screen allows an expanded driving view and easier menu operation.

Fold & Go EasyPort Mount The award-winning Fold & Go EasyPort mount provides maximum portability. It folds neatly onto the back of the device, so both are small enough to fit into your pocket or bag and can be taken with you wherever you travel.

*Feature available in the US and Canada only **Feature available in the US only

All TomToms Feature
Plug & Go--Works right out of the box.

30 Day Latest Map Guarantee--Up to date, off the shelf.

TomTom Map Share--Modify your own map and benefit from others' verified changes with TomTom Map Share.

Help Me! Emergency Menu--Easily access local emergency providers such as police, fire stations and hospitals.

TomTom HOME--Always up to date.

Fuel Price Service (optional)--Know more, pay less.

What's in the Box TomTom XXL 550TM device, EasyPort mount, USB cable, adhesive disk, car charger with integrated traffic, and user guide and lifetime maps voucher
About TomTom Founded in Amsterdam in 1991, TomTom has established itself as a global leader in navigation by being an innovative company with a strong brand, clear customer focus, and high quality products and services.
TomTom is the world's leading navigation solutions provider with navigation products sold in 30 countries and in over 20 languages. To further our commitment to car navigation, TomTom acquired Tele Atlas maps in 2008 so we can continually provide the most up-to-date maps and intelligent routing.

We have our own mapping company! Did you know that every year roads change by up to 40% in high-growth areas? Tele Atlas manages this by using the world's most comprehensive systems to identify and incorporate these changes into our maps with unprecedented levels of speed and accuracy. All TomTom devices benefit from the Tele Atlas advantage--more coverage, more points of interest, and more freshness and accuracy.

Why TomTom? At TomTom, we believe that personal navigation should be as easy and safe as possible. We develop smart technology that gives you straightforward solutions, innovations to make life easy.

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TomTom VIA 1535T 5-Inch Portable Bluetooth GPS Navigator with Lifetime Traffic Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Update on 4/20/11:
I continued to have significant issues with the TomTom device, and with absolutely no help from TomTom, Amazon allowed me to exchange the product (which was very easy to do!). The replacement device works MUCH better -- I'm not experiencing the bugginess or lack of responsiveness I had with the previous device. I'm assuming my original had a defect with the touchscreen. I'm quite happy with the device itself, but I left the rating at 3/5 stars for 2 reasons:
1) My review of the MyTomTom software as of April 2011 and the false advertising (see below) stands.
2) TomTom Support does not seem ready to support the new product or software yet.
For those who care most about the GPS unit itself though, I'm very happy with it -- intuitive, responsive, beautiful interface, and more capable than previous TomToms. Once TomTom fixes their software and support, I'm sure a review could easily give it 5/5 stars.Original Review on 4/14/11:
I was excited to buy this product recently, and receive it on 4/12/11.
However, I have to warn everyone considering any of the newer TomTom VIA line to be cautious.
First, TomTom recently retired their old "TomTom Home" software for new "MyTomTom" software. Many of the features on this Amazon page and on TomTom's page are NOT available because the new software is incapable of supporting those features. This includes map sharing (sharing updates), QuickGPSFix, speed camera updates, voice purchases, backing up your device, etc. I confirmed this via email and via a phone call with TomTom Support. Online forums seem to suggest that it could be months or longer before the software provides this. The phone support rep said that perhaps some of the features would be offered in 30-60 days.
Secondly, the device I received has a sluggish interface most of the time, and the interface will freeze (especially if there's no GPS signal) the rest of the time. The routing functionality is very fast, but it's not useful if you can't actually interact with the device. I received a bit of a runaround from TomTom Support, and even sent them a video I recorded of the problems -- they had no suggestions and suggested I wait for the next application release to fix the bugs.
Finally, the TomTom support site and reps are not ready to support these new devices. Their online support site has articles which fail to even list the new VIA line and their phone support menu doesn't even include it. When using email support, the support rep kept sending me articles on other TomTom models.
Just to summarize, you won't receive the features advertised (this is confirmed), and my experience with the device was poor from the start. I can't express how disappointed I am -- this looked an excellent product, and the interface is beautiful... but unusable.


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Garmin nüvi 2350LMT 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator with Lifetime Traffic & Map Updates Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought the Garmin as a gift for my wife and was thrilled about the lifetime updates for traffic and maps.
Setup and navigation is good. We like the big screen and the way the information is provided.
The lifetime map updates sounds like a great feature. Maps can be updated four times a year and the access using the web page was easy. But I have to wonder what Garmin considers "useful life" of the device. But even if they are only available for three years, then it is still cheaper than buying the maps.
The conditions of lifetime traffic updates are definitely not what I expected and the reason that I am thinking of returning the device. The ads that finance the lifetime traffic pop up on the screen and disrupt the navigation. This is obnoxious! This should be mentioned in the product description! I couldn't even find information about the ad financed traffic on the Garmin web page!

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The widescreen nuvi 2350LMT comes with free lifetime traffic and maps for the U.S., Canada and Mexico. It also includes lane assist with junction view*, trafficTrends historical traffic, myTrends predictive routing and ecoRoute. Pedestrian capabilities can be enhanced with optional cityXplorer maps for mass transit information.

Experience nuRoute Technology with trafficTrends and myTrends nuvi 2350LMT includes nuRoute technology with trafficTrends historical traffic and myTrends predictive routing. With trafficTrends, your nuvi 2350LMT automatically learns daytime trends for traffic flow to improve your routes and better predict your estimated time of arrival based on time of day and day of week. With myTrends, when you save your regular destinations in your "Favorites," your nuvi 2350LMT will, over time, begin to figure out where you're going even without your telling it! It provides time of arrival and relevant traffic information. So whether you're driving to and from work or a regularly scheduled weekly event, your nuvi 2350LMT will help you get there on time. No subscription or additional cost required.

Know the Lane Before It's Too Late No more guessing which lane you need to be in to make an upcoming turn. Lane assist with junction view guides you to the correct lane for an approaching turn or exit, making unfamiliar intersections and exits easy to navigate. It realistically displays road signs and junctions on your route along with arrows that indicate the proper lane for navigation.

Receive Free Lifetime Map and Traffic Updates With free Lifetime Map** and Traffic*** updates, you always have the most up-to-date maps, points of interest and navigation information available at your fingertips. Traffic information is updated constantly, and map updates are available for download up to 4 times a year. Both features are ready to go, right out of the box, with no subscription or update fees and no expiration dates.

Select Fuel-efficient Routes nuvi 2350LMT saves you gas and money with ecoRoute--a green feature that calculates a more fuel-efficient route, tracks fuel usage and more. With ecoRoute, you have a "less fuel" option as a routing preference. When selected, nuvi will determine if a more fuel efficient route exists based upon road speed data and vehicle acceleration data for a given route.

Navigate City Transit With its enhanced pedestrian navigation capabilities, nuvi 2350LMT is the perfect travel companion for getting around town. Download optional cityXplorer content to help you navigate city public transit. Know where to walk, where to catch the bus, subway, tram or other transportation and how long it will take to get there. cityXplorer maps are available for select cities throughout North America and Europe. And with prices as low as $9.99, you'll have money left over to spend in the big city.

See More With nuvi 2350LMT's widescreen display, you'll always get the big picture. View map detail, driving directions, photos and more in bright, brilliant color. Its sunlight-readable, 4.3" (10.92 cm) display is easy to read--from any direction.

Get Turn-by-Turn Directions nuvi 2350LMT has an intuitive interface that greets you with two simple questions: "Where To?" and "View Map." Touch the color screen to easily look up addresses and services and get voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions that speak street names to your destination. It comes preloaded with detailed City Navigator NT street maps for the U.S, Canada and Mexico with nearly 6 million points of interest (POIs) such as stores, restaurants, hotels, entertainment venues, gas stations, ATMs and more, and speed limits for most major roads.

Go Beyond Navigation Navigation is just the beginning. The 2350LMT includes many travel tools, including JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more. With photo navigation, you can download pictures from Garmin Connect Photos and navigate to them. With its "Where Am I?" emergency locator, you always know your location. Simply tap the screen to get your exact latitude and longitude coordinates, the nearest address and intersection, and the closest hospitals, police stations and fuel stations. The 2350LMT features Garmin Lock, an anti-theft feature, and is compatible with our free Garmin Garage where you can download custom custom voices and vehicles. Enhance your travel experience with optional plug-in microSD cards.

*Not available at all intersections/interchanges in all areas.

**Free Lifetime Map Updates entitle you to receive up to 4 map data updates per year, when and as such updates are made available on the Garmin website, for this specific Garmin product only until this product's useful life expires or Garmin no longer receives map data from its third party supplier, whichever is shorter. The updates you receive will be updates to the same geographic map data originally included with your Garmin product when originally purchased. Garmin may terminate your Lifetime Map Updates at any time if you violate any of the terms of the End User License Agreement accompanying your nuvi product.

***Lifetime traffic extends for the useful life of your Garmin traffic receiver (as long as you own a compatible Garmin GPS) or as long as Garmin receives traffic data from its traffic supplier, whichever is shorter. Traffic content not available for all areas. See www.navteq.com/rdstraffic for traffic coverage areas and www.garmin.com/traffic/fm/navteq.html for program License Agreement containing complete terms and conditions.

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TomTom GO 2405TM 4.3-Inch Portable Bluetooth GPS Navigator with Lifetime Traffic & Maps Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I liked this product a lot. The interface is smooth and it navigates very well to most destinations. I tested it driving around town for a couple of days and also included a longer trip. The only miscues I had were: (1) it thought a store I found through the POI was about a half mile further down the road than it was; and (2) from a parking lot, it wanted me to drive through the woods to reach a nearby highway (instead of driving out to the main road).
I have built in navigation systems in my wife's Honda Pilot and my BMW M3. This easily blows both of those systems out of the water. I see myself taking this with me when traveling to avoid using the rental car systems.
There were some unexpected pros to this:
- I loved the windshield mount and the way the cord attaches to the mount while the unit attaches through magnets - very clean and easy to take in and out of the car.
- the telephone bluetooth integration is perfect. It easily works with my blackberry 9700, downloaded my phonebook and easily routed my calls. It also will read emails and text messages for me.
- the speaker is very loud and the voices are easy to understand
- the battery lasts (nearly) forever - I would easily consider taking a weekend trip only running on batteries.
Some cons:
- the traffic integration is terrible. It only works when connected through the DC cord (not on battery - it seems the transceiver is part of the cord), and it takes forever to locate a Clear Channel traffic signal (I live outside NYC, with tons of high power Clear Channel signals nearby). The unit also seems to include downloaded traffic, but that appears limited to ongoing construction and known congestion (the kind that is always there) - not an accident on the highway.
- the screen is beautiful under ideal conditions, but is highly reflective and not good at an angle. It found myself constantly adjusting it when driving down the highway in bright sunlight.
- I couldn't figure out how to keep it zoomed out. On long trips (a few hours), I like to keep my navigation zoomed out so you can really see your progress. This keeps automatically zooming in each time there is one of those "stay in the left lane to stay on the highway" directions.
A note for bikers - the unit includes the ability to navigate for walking or biking too. However, there is absolutely no way I could figure to mount this to a bike. There is nothing on the unit itself to attach a zip tie or anything, and I could not locate a bike mount that would work with the magnet attachment this requires.
Overall, this is a great unit and TomTom has done a great job with the interface and (most) routing. I deducted one star (would be one and a half if possible) for the traffic integration and the screen reflections.

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The TomTom GO 2405TM offers Superior Driving Intelligence with Lifetime Traffic & Map Updates. Complete with premium maps of the US, Canada & Mexico, you can navigate to virtually any address – including over 7 million points of interest, like gas stations, restaurants, hotels and more. With TomTom maps, you have one million more miles of mapped road in the US than you would using other GPS brands – making TomTom maps the most accurate and dependable in the industry.

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Motorola Motonav TN765T 5.1-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Thanks to Amazon for a very prompt refund! In twelve years this is the only item I have ever returned to Amazon.
Let's start with the headlines, the good the bad and the ugly
Good:
* Very good screen resolution compared to other GPS of this type
* Address search is way fast - 6 seconds to calculate a coast to coast trip
* Good screen brightness
* Thin and light
* Lots of extras, live search options, fuel prices and all else
* Very good map and junction detail
* Physical map overlay on the 2D views
* Easy to change between 2D and 3D view
* Good phone integration - works with an LG Dare
* Good phone contact search
* Good volume and easy controls - but there is a down side
* Very well rendered 3D landmarks - but there's more to that too
* GPS lock on is very very fast. By the time it came up from cold the first time it was already locked on.
* The traffic receiver appears to be much more sensitive than the Garmin one
* Much better mount than Garmin or Tomtom, more reach, more adjustable and has locking joints.
Bad:
* Hesitates during text entry. Makes it difficult to know if it has accepted the keystroke and thus makes typing difficult
* Fiddly mount - not easy to locate the GPS correctly without practice
* Rear mounted buttons are easy to catch accidentally, especially when trying to adjust the angle
* If there's a way to enter custom POIs I haven't seen it yet
* Recent calls list appeared to be out of order, maybe oldest first?
* The adverts say Google, the menu says Bing
* The 2D North Up display hunts from side to side
* On high volume the speaker can be buzzy.
* Way fewer 3D landmarks than the advertising and manual suggest.
* Traffic information was iffy. It diverted me round incidents that were long gone or had never existed.
Ugly:
* Adverts! They come from the traffic receiver and interfere in other things.
* In 3D view the furthest you can see is about a mile. As you try to zoom further it turns in to 2D and reduces the distance you can see ahead.
* The auto zoom always zooms in until you are looking at just the next few hundred yards at most
* I took 16 minutes off a 90 minute predicted journey. It's hard to beat a Garmin route or ETA.
* Re routing likes to get you back to the route it suggested, long after it becomes ridiculous.Even after paying $330 for the unit and possibly another $50 per year for MotoExtras the traffic service is supported by advertising. This isn't just the little pop-up adverts that sit at the top right of the screen with no apparent way to dismiss them. I got a pop-up for Red Lobster, now I can't search for any restaurant without Red Lobster being inserted at the top. I guess they have a relationship with some vendors and push them to you. I thought I bought a GPS not an advertising portal!!!
To select a destination you can drag the screen, touch and move, don't tap. This works well in 2D. Just drag the map until you find where you want then zoom in to get a precise location. Hold your finger on the destination until the options pop up and select the destination flag. Alternatively tap the screen then enter the address or business name. I am in San Francisco CA, it took six seconds to plot a route to an address in the woods near Manchester NH, 2500 miles away. I could not route from the US to a Canadian destination, so cross border routes seem to be a problem.
POI searches are limited to your local, it showed me nearby locations for Elephant Bar but not the one in Dublin, 18 miles away, that I wanted to go to. Probably OK in a big city, not so good in central Nevada. I currently pay to not have adverts on my Nuvi 670, this doesn't not seem to be an option on the TN765t.
The windshield mount has adjustable locks on the moving joints, it give good flexibility and yet can be locked tight. Mounting the unit was a little fiddly, the locating pins are hard to find by touch.
It's a nice machine, but I am sending it back. A 3D view is best for seeing where you are and what is coming next but the way Motorola has implemented it robs you of the necessary long distance view. At under a mile you are only looking 40 seconds or so up the road. Not far enough to see where you are in relation to other things. With the auto zoom on, Garmin will show you hundreds of miles ahead when you have a long way to the next turn. The TN765t shows only a few hundred yards. Useful to see if there's a turn coming, but not to see if you are passing a city or coming to a ferry in ten miles.
When you are navigating somewhere the route is displayed down the left of the display as a vertical bar. The distance traveled is shown as a bar graph moving up from the bottom. Traffic issues are shown as red areas on the line. The time to go is shows at the bottom. If you tap this line you get an overall view of the route with known incidents and your route displayed, but it is very small. In the SF Bay Area on a Friday afternoon there are so many incidents that you can't see the route or the traffic. The Garmin traffic display works much better. The right 2/3rds of the display has plenty of resolution to show its normal display. The left has two buttons that allow you to select various views including route information, turn by turn directions, traffic details and so on.
Routing round traffic the Motonav initially didn't want me to leave I880 though the Garmin told me there was a 25 minute delay. Once the traffic cleared up the Motonav wanted me to take side roads in East Oakland on the opposite side of I880 from my destination. The Garmin knew there was no traffic and directed me straight home. At that time the Garmin was telling me I had 8 minutes to go and the Motonav said 19. I made it home in 6.
Connecting and syncing my LG Dare phone via Bluetooth was very easy. At full volume the Bluetooth hands free phone was buzzy and distorted, the far end said that the call was very clear, especially compared to the Garmin. Reducing volume cured that. Voice recognition was poor for my deep toned English accent.
The map display shows restaurants and warning indicators on the 3D display, it also shows Arco gas stations but not my favorites, Shell. I'd like to know how to add the POIs that matter to me. Maybe it's possible and I just haven't found it yet? In the Garmin and Tomtom it is easy to add the current POI list for Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts. For what it's worth the Tomtom does a better job of showing them.
To change between 2D and 3D tap the eye symbol on the left then tap the current setting and the three options are shown. In 2D modes you can zoom far out so that you can see the whole country. The 2D views also overlaid the physical map, so you could see the roads picking their way through the mountains. This can be very useful. You can also disable autozoom here.
The track up displays, 2D and 3D, hunt from side to side at low speed. When you stop the map sometimes spins as the position shifts slightly, GPS is accurate to 10m so you can appear to be wandering slightly even when stationary and especially when coverage is bad. Coverage was good and the Garmin doesn't do this.
Voice commands are clear and timely. Voice warnings are also given for 'safety cameras' and speed traps. If you want to mute the sound you just have to tap the button on the bottom right rear.
In the advertising and manuals the 3D views show a city with all the major buildings as landmarks. Right now there are very few shown in San Francisco, but there may be a download to improve this soon. I have not seen it, if I do I will update.
The map rendering is smooth compared to other PNDs I have used. Motorola obviously didn't go cheap on the processor the way Garmin does. Garmin tends to spoil the whole effect to save ten bucks on the processor. At freeway junctions the lane choices are shown at the top of the screen. Very useful, though not 100% accurate, 7 lanes shown when there are 8 or 6 in reality.
So, most of it works great, but some of the bits that I really rely on, and need, aren't acceptable. After about four hours of side by side comparison we still prefer the Garmin 670. They just haven't got the usability right. With the Garmin I very seldom need to change the zoom to see something else, when I am close to a turn I have the detail I need and further out I have the big picture. Garmin has always been good at the auto zoom.
So near and yet the issues are just something I can't live with.
Their web sites are still in Beta and the upgrade site isn't available yet, however there's an update application to download and install instead. Once I fired it up I was informed there were two updates, 12MB and 474MB, probably program and maps. I installed both with no problems. I believe I registered on three different associated web sites before I finally got a username and password for all the things I needed.
The Motorola Extras package is $50 per year or $100 for 3 years. I don't think I need that, my phone already does all that, so it provides nothing to me though it is convenient.
FWIW this is certainly not as good as the factory fit navigation in the Infiniti QX56 or the Ford Flex's Sync system.

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Navigon 7200T 4.3-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigation (Factory Refurbished) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)In general, I am pretty good with navigation by myself, using only printed directions from Mapquest. I bought this unit mostly for my wife that has a lot of traveling this summer. It is our first GPS.
Of note - my unit had in the box a small cardboard with a sticker on it, that said it has Win CE 6.0 installed.
I previously had a chance to "lay my hands" on Nuvi 750. Pretty decent and very simple device. It was actually too simple for me. I then started looking for something that has more navigation options. All I cared about was navigation - I didn't take into account things like mp3, photo viewer, FM transmitter, bluetooth, nor even the speech recognition.
So we selected the Navigon 7200T, and for about $160 it was a very good deal, a lot cheaper than Garmins. Once it arrived, I disabled bluetooth and started testing it by letting it direct me to locations that I know well.
I live near Springfield, PA. First trip was to the PHL airport - I quickly figured, that the best route is calculated using "fast" profile. It took me the correct way out of the parking lot at the airport - unlike Nuvi. Then IKEA in Conshohocken, Port Richmond district in Phila, etc - the device was showing me routes that I would normally take. Best surprise was our recent trip to Staten Island, NY. Instead of my normal route: I95 to I76, through the Franklin bridge to NJ turnpike, it took us the other way to I476 and then I276 to NJ turnpike. It was truly the fastest route. Along the way it was *correctly* and *right on time* displaying traffic information about the jams on NJ turnpike. We got a little confused at the I476 to I276 intersection and took I276W instead of I276E - the unit immediately took us back on the right way.
On the "not so good" part - when we were approaching exits on the turnpike, the unit was displaying the lane guidance (very nice feature), but it was constantly telling us to "keep left", when we were supposed to pass the exit. It should be saying "keep straight" instead - gets a little used to. Another instance: we decided to take a break and have a coffee at Starbucks. Navigon nicely directed us to Starbucks at Exit 7 from NJ turnpike, but... there was Dunkin Donuts instead. Unfortunately we hate coffee from DD. And finally - a stressful moment was when we were going back home from SI, NY and we were to enter the I278. The main road we were on was turning left, and the ramp to I278 was straight ahead of us. The unit was silent - it didn't tell us to keep straight, nor to take the ramp. I had to look at the screen to find out where to go.
What I like about Navigon 7200T:
- Features (navigation) for the price - unbeatable for me
- Routing using "fast" profile is excellent
- Live traffic info - very helpful
- Nice screen showing POIs with brand icons
- Multitude of options and satisfactory level of complication - I hate overly simple stuff
- You can select which roads NOT to take when creating your route
- Making detour allows you to select what distance of your route is to be avoided.
- You can look up POIs in the upcoming exits on Interstates, or near your current location, and make a "stopover".
- Spoken directions (gets a little used to)
- Big buttons - easier to hit in a riding car, and a responsive touchscreen.
- Estimated arrival time is razor sharp.
What I like less:
- The unit sometimes doesn't tell you what it should (recalculating, keep straight, etc)
- It tells you to keep left on a highway instead of "keep straight"
- Navigon is gone from USA (not a big deal for me)
- Maps are from 2008. "Please Touch Museum" in Phila is in the wrong (old) location. Some stores in my neighborhood are shown with incorrect address (Oak Ave N instead of Oak Ave S).
- Battery life (even with bluetooth off) is less than 2h.
- Limited language and voice selection. There is only one English TTS voice (+ one French and one Spanish). Garmin had menu in Polish and a voice in Polish (not TTS though).
- No calculator nor unit converter (not a big deal also)
What I really don't like:
- You can't download POIs from internet, unless you buy "POI Warner" for 20 euro. On the other hand, that is an excellent application, but others have some of this features for free.

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Navigon 7200T 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigation with Bluetooth, Text-to-Speech, and Free Traffic Alerts Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have owned Garmins and Tomtoms. This gps looked very promising. It displays all the info Tomtom displays but Garmin doesn't plus it has a nice bright screen like Garmin, not TT. I was hoping for the best of both.
The good is that the 7200T routes well, no problems there. The lane assist works well although Garmin and Tomtom's implementation is a little better I think. Whereas Navigon displays the static reality few for a long time. Garmin and TT pop it up for a few seconds then go back to showing the lane assist diagram.
The Navigon is very wordy with its verbal instructions which is good. But with all the words, it doesn't speak 90% of the highway exit numbers. It rattles off the town and road, etc, etc but no exit number. What it does do though is display the exit number on the screen. This is ok if you have the eagle eyes. The fonts on the 7200T are tiny. It takes my old eyes 5 - 10 seconds to focus on the screen's small print after driving. It doesn't sound like alot but taking your eyes off the road for that long is dangerous. Don't know why they don't include exit number in the instructions.
The 7200T also displays street names. Unfortunately, every road that is not part of your route is displayed as a pencil line and each road is displayed with its street name in micro font size. Forget about being able to read them.
Another short coming is the 7200T's POI database. It is very small and is missing most national retailers, gyms, health clubs, doctors, dentists and who knows what else. Its POI search is also horribly broken. You have 3 choices. NEARBY - gives you POIs within a very small radius, too small. The next choice is CITY. Unfortunately, you have to know the exact city. Most other brands search NEAR CITY but not this. If the POI you are looking for is actually one town over, you will never find it. If you are in unfamiliar territory and don't know the adjoining citys to search individually, you are out of luck. The third choice is STATE. Most POI categories are not included in STATE so this choice is totally worthless.
On top of this all, the screen sensitivity is not great and the buttons are small. You will have to enter and address multiple times as you tapped the wrong letter or have to tap the same letter multiple times because it didn't pick it up.
So to summarize, it routes well but the screen fonts are so little its dangerous to look at while driving and the whole POI thing is terrible. Maybe a firmware fix will improve font size and change exit number verbal instructions. Maybe new maps will increase POI database size and add good search functionality. Until then, this is just another gps with lots of potential.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Navigon 7200T 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigation with Bluetooth, Text-to-Speech, and Free Traffic Alerts

For those looking for both style and substance, the NAVIGON 7200T is a standout among other GPS devices. Behind the 7200Ts elegantly designed extra-wide Flat-Panel touchscreen you will find an experience unlike any other with features that are both useful and exclusive to NAVIGON. Like Free Real-Time Traffic Updates, alerting you automatically of traffic issues ahead and rerouting you with the touch of a button all for the life of your device. Features like Voice Destination Entry allow you to simply enter addresses by voice while Bluetooth Hands-Free and Reality View Pro make navigating the road ahead easier and less stressful. Landmark View 3D adds a new dimension to your navigation experience with hundreds of landmarks displayed in richly textured 3D. The 7200T also includes a host of other features that will help guide you through your travels, like Advanced Text-to-Speech, DirectHelp, and Lane Assistant Pro.

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TomTom GO 2505TM 5-Inch Portable Bluetooth GPS Navigator with Lifetime Traffic & Maps Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have been using TomTom Car Navigation products for several years now. This is my 4th unit. The last unit I possessed was the 'TomTom GO 740 Live'. So I was excited about the newest offering from this company. Having used this product for a few days, here's my 2 cents.. (please remember, this is being reviewed in relation to other TomTom products. I am not comparing this to units from other manufacturers)
The Good..
** This unit is sleeker and better looking than any of the previous models.
** The 5" screen makes a world of difference compared to the 4.3" inches on most other models. So if you can, opt for the 2505 and not the 2405.
** The screen is brighter than other models. Seems to hold well in bright sunlight.
** Very crisp and pleasing visuals. The text and graphics are sharper and more responsive.
** Extremely quick planning and re-planning of routes - that's the new Turbo Routing feature. Works pretty well.
** The car dock is very innovative. Sturdier and better mechanics. The magnetic process needs a little getting used to, especially when undocking.
** The automatic time zone setting for the Clock is a nice feature.
** Comes with Lifetime Map updates and Traffic.
The Bad...
** There is no docking station! You need to plug the USB cable manually for syncing/charging with the PC.
** For Traffic updates, the unit needs to be plugged into the car charger since the RDS-TMC Traffic Receiver is integrated into the car charging cable.
** No LIVE services. So if you need Google service or latest gas prices, you are out of luck.
** No memory card slot. So if you run over the 4GB limit, better start deleting stuff.
** No FM transmitter. No option to play voice through the the radio.
** No music player.
** No compass option.
** Comes preloaded with only 1 English 'Computer' voice - 'Stephanie'. No options to download Voices!! Seriously, TomTom??!! (Update: TomTom says more will be available soon. No timeline yet).

The Ugly..
** As others have documented, no customization is possible - yet. Cannot update/download Voices, POIs, Maps, Color Schemes etc. You live with what comes pre-loaded. No timeline on when options would be available.
And a couple of irritants:
** The 'next street name' that displays at the top right hand corner is too small to read relative to everything else on the screen.
** When making a phone call using the unit's bluetooth, the call status bar at the top blocks the 'next street name'. And you can't get rid of that status bar until you hang up. That's pretty dumb.
In short, this is not quite a step up from the 740 as I had expected. The focus here seems to have been on the style, not much on the substance. Having used this for a couple of weeks now, I've grown to like it. Extremely efficient and accurate. If you're looking for a product that can accurately and efficiently get you from Point A to Point B, this is the one for you.
This seems like a product that was rushed into the US market without the proper support structure behind it. This is the US version of the TomTom 'Go LIVE 1005' launched recently in Europe. The customer service reps know very little about this product. There are no User Manuals online yet. The PC sync to the web-based MyTomTom is an utter joke.
Bottom line, if I had to do it all over again, I'd stick with the 740 until TomTom gets its act together on this one.



Click Here to see more reviews about: TomTom GO 2505TM 5-Inch Portable Bluetooth GPS Navigator with Lifetime Traffic & Maps

The TomTom GO 2505TM offers Superior Driving Intelligence with Lifetime Traffic & Map UpdatesΔ. Complete with premium maps of the US, Canada & Mexico, you can navigate to virtually any address – including over 7 million points of interest, like gas stations, restaurants, hotels and more. With TomTom maps, you have one million more miles of mapped road in the US than you would using other GPS brands – making TomTom maps the most accurate and dependable in the industry.Sleek New DesignThe GO 2505TM boasts a slim design, crisp, sharp graphics & intuitive user menus. And, using gestures on the 2505TM's sleek 5.0" glass touchscreen, you can easily swipe your finger to move from screen to screen, or pinch-to- zoom, for easy map viewing.Bluetooth and MoreMake and answer calls safely while driving with your compatible Bluetooth mobile phone, on your TomTom GO 2505TM. See incoming call information, make and answer calls and talk hands-free easily through your TomTom. Navigation functions will operate without interruption. And, with Voice Recognition, you can relax and let your hands stay on the wheel – TomTom responds to 130 different verbal commands, making navigation easier and safer than ever.Lifetime Traffic and Map Updates IncludedAlways outsmart delays with Lifetime Traffic. The TomTom 2505TM receives live traffic updates automatically to give you the most up-to-date traffic information available. As soon as a delay is found on your route, TomTom will alert you and, if you choose, will automatically re-route you to an alternative, faster route. And, only TomTom has IQ Routes, an exclusive technology that evaluates routes based on actual traffic speeds, rather than static, posted speed limits; TomTom will recommend the fastest route for the time of day, so you'll always be directed to the quickest, most-efficient route. TomTom is the only GPS with the technology to grow more intelligent each day. While other GPS devices remain static reporters of programmed information, TomTom devices are dynamic and ensure that your maps are always up to date. TomTom's Lifetime Map Updates let you start fresh every few months by downloading our latest full map edition, while TomTom Map Share On-Demand Updates lets you download verified updates from other drivers in between the full map releases, and as often as you wish. You'll never miss your exit with Advanced Lane Guidance; enhanced graphics show you exactly which lane to take in complex multi-lane situations. Secure your GO 2505TM to your windshield or dash, using the click & lock magnetic mount.What's in the BoxGO 2505TM PND with pre-loaded maps, Fold & Go EasyPort mount, USB cable, car charger with integrated traffic, adhesive disk, documentation, and redemption code for Lifetime Maps
All TomToms Feature
Plug & Go--Works right out of the box.

30 Day Latest Map Guarantee--Up to date, off the shelf.

TomTom Map Share--Modify your own map and benefit from others' verified changes with TomTom Map Share.

Help Me! Emergency Menu--Easily access local emergency providers such as police, fire stations and hospitals.

TomTom HOME--Always up to date.

Fuel Price Service (optional)--Know more, pay less.

About TomTom Founded in Amsterdam in 1991, TomTom has established itself as a global leader in navigation by being an innovative company with a strong brand, clear customer focus, and high quality products and services.
TomTom is the world's leading navigation solutions provider with navigation products sold in 30 countries and in over 20 languages. To further our commitment to car navigation, TomTom acquired Tele Atlas maps in 2008 so we can continually provide the most up-to-date maps and intelligent routing.

We have our own mapping company! Did you know that every year roads change by up to 40% in high-growth areas? Tele Atlas manages this by using the world's most comprehensive systems to identify and incorporate these changes into our maps with unprecedented levels of speed and accuracy. All TomTom devices benefit from the Tele Atlas advantage--more coverage, more points of interest, and more freshness and accuracy.

Why TomTom? At TomTom, we believe that personal navigation should be as easy and safe as possible. We develop smart technology that gives you straightforward solutions, innovations to make life easy.

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