01/11, 1:00pm
Future iOS app will guide to network contacts
TomTom has announced a series of upcoming product changes at CES. Of special note is the company's iOS app, which will see a v1.10 update later this quarter. The new app will sport an unusually high level of social network integration, allowing people to pull information from Facebook and Twitter to navigate to friends, places, and events. Working in the other direction, people will also be able to share destinations and arrival times, whether via Facebook, Twiiter, email, or SMS.
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12/09, 1:15pm
Renault seeks developers for telematics platform
Over in Europe, French carmaker Renault has said it will install R-Link, a seven-inch, voice-activated tablet into two new models due out in 2012. It will give users the ability to control it using their voice, the touchscreen or a steering wheel-mounted remote control. The system will link to user's smartphones and the cloud as well, for accessing social networks.
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12/08, 7:50pm
Standalone navigation devices struggle to compete
TomTom has announced plans to make significant cuts to its workforce, a move that will leave 10 percent of its current employees out of work. The layoffs are expected to help the company reduce costs as it struggles to survive in a market that has encountered difficulty maintaining hardware sales.
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10/21, 11:35am
iPhone 3G to lose out on any future features
TomTom has released a new version of its GPS app for iOS, bringing the software up to v1.9. The title is now a universal app with a new iPad interface. The most attention has been dedicated to a new driving layout, which lets iPad users see the driving view and lane guidance images at the same time. Menu options, similarly, can be brought up without cutting away from the map screen.
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10/09, 7:15am
Tom Tom Top Gear Edition out now
Tom Tom has taken the wraps of its in Top Gear Edition GO Live GPS navigation system featuring the voice of co-host Jeremy Clarkson. It joins a range of devices now featuring the Clarkson’s unique take on driving (audio embedded below) including the PS3’s Gran Turismo 5 and the Xbox 360’s forthcoming Forza Motorsport 4.
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09/14, 6:20pm
LightSquared has tech to solve GPS-4G interference
LightSquared during a call on Wednesday that it had developed a fix for its GPS interference complaints. Working with an unnamed top GPS company, it hoped to rebuff GPS industry criticism with an example of GPS technology that could get an accurate position lock without running up against LightSquared's LTE wireless. The change runs on existing hardware and is "affordable," executive regulatory VP Jeff Carlisle said.
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08/29, 8:25pm
Apps include Yelp, Twitter, Expedia
TomTom has introduced its latest navigation device, the Go Live 1535M. The standalone GPS unit is claimed to be the first to offer a full app platform, enabling users to take advantage of travel apps and social networking features that have been available on various smartphone platforms. The Live connected services will include Twitter, Yelp, TripAdvisor and Expedia.
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06/27, 1:30pm
TomTom loses North American share fast in 2011
TomTom issued a warning Monday that its GPS units were losing share to Android and iPhone hardware faster than it first thought. Its North American stake was seeing a "faster rate of decline" than it saw at the start and would plunge 30 percent for all of 2011. Europe was seeing an expected 10 percent drop, but more of these GPS navigators were entry models and fewer were being stocked in stores.
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04/27, 4:00pm
TomTom data used for speed traps in Europe
Location data users choose to share with TomTom also ends up being shared with the police in the Netherlands, according to Dutch news outlet AD. The authorities use it to see which areas are the fastest travelled, and therefore where to set up speed traps. While data is anonymous and users cannot be identified when they're speeding, it still poses a possible fine to motorists.
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04/11, 12:15pm
TomTom ships Go 2535 M Live with HD Traffic in US
TomTom has began a widespread shipment of its Go 2405 and Go 2505-based GPS navigators in the US with the Go 2535 M Live, Go 2535 and Go 2545. The Go 2535 M Live first showed up at CES as the Go 2505 M Live while the latter pair shipped in February and sports voice recognition. The connected, five-inch Go 2535 M Live for the first time gives US users access to TomTom's HD Traffic services.
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04/01, 9:25am
TomTom VIA 1405, 1505 ship to the US
Following its brief tease at CES, TomTom on Friday shipped its overhauled VIA GPS navigators to the US. The 4.3-inch 1405 and 1435, as well as the five-inch 1505 and 1535, all have a much slimmer design with an EasyPort mount that more easily grafts on to the dash or the windshield. They mark the formal launch of a reworked interface, both on the touchscreen and through a new natural-language voice command system.
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03/24, 12:15pm
TomTom rebuffs rumors of map unit sell-off
TomTom executive committee member Taco Titulaer on Thursday rejected a rumor started by analyst group Mergermarket that it was selling off its map content division. The former Tele Atlas group would stay intact and wasn't on sale at all. Its navigation data was "core to [TomTom's] strategy and product offering," Titulaer told Reuters.
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03/23, 12:50pm
Data to be used for avoiding enforcement
TomTom has announced that it is now licensing its speed camera database to third-party developers. The content includes more than 50,000 warnings spread across 24 different countries. Fixed speed cameras serve as the primary focus, but the data also includes locations of red light cameras, speed averaging systems, and 'black spots' surrounding high-risk areas that have a history of high accident rates.
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02/22, 1:50pm
New TomTom navigators get voice recognition
GPS maker TomTom has introduced new portable navigation devices, broken up into two ranges. The Go 2435 and the Go 2535 editions both sport a thin design and get the same capacitive touchscreen introduced on the Go 2505TM. A newfound feature common to both lines is the intuitive Voice Recognition that lets users speak destinations while driving.
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01/06, 6:30am
Boosts performance with GPS tracking
Nike has introduced its new Nike+ SportsWatch GPS at CES 2011. It leverages the shoe-based Nike+ sensor to track time, pace, distance, calories burned and heart rate. Using Tom Tom navigation technology, the SportsWatch GPS will track what a user does, how they do it, and then motivates the user to improve on previous performances over the each route.
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01/05, 3:05pm
Options include 4.3- and 5-inch displays
TomTom has announced that it will bring its VIA-series GPS navigators to the North American market. The new offerings will include the 4.3-inch VIA 1405 and 1435, along with the 5.0-inch VIA 1405 and 1435. Each of the devices features a slim design paired with an EasyPort mount that adapts to windshield or dash mounts and a range of viewing angles.
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01/05, 2:45pm
GPS offers updated fuel pricing
TomTom has introduced an updated version of its 5-inch Go 2505 M standalone GPS navigator. The latest edition connects with the company's range of Live services, which provide a variety of real-time information. US users will be able to access updated traffic information, fuel prices, local search, and weather forecasts.
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11/03, 8:10pm
Garmin Q3 marks exit from smartphone business
Garmin while discussing its summer fiscal results today confirmed that it was quitting the smartphone business. The company decided after considering its position that it "cannot reach the scale necessary" to compete with others in smartphones and was shutting down its efforts. Staff involved in research and development would be moved to the in-car GPS team and other areas where the company was still growing, it said.
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11/01, 9:30am
TomTom Go 2405 and 2505 get non-stop rerouting
TomTom today unveiled a significant overhaul of its GPS navigators for the US through the 4.3-inch Go 2405 TM and the five-inch Go 2505 TM. Both have TomTom's newer user interface, which at once speeds up getting to core info and supports multi-touch. A capacitive glass touchscreen lets users pinch to zoom and swipe between screens.
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10/20, 11:45am
HTC smartphones to ship with TomTom maps app
GPS device maker TomTom and smartphone producer HTC have announced on Wednesday a collaboration that will bring the former's mapping software to HTC hardware. As such, the HTC Locations app will be preloaded onto smartphones throughout Europe and Asia. It is already and initially available on the Desire HD and Desire Z.
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10/12, 4:15pm
TomTom adds custom art option, roadside help plan
TomTom on Tuesday opened the customization of new navigators purchased online. Through a partnership with CafePress, TomTom lets users pick from hundreds of available designs, custom artwork and even uploaded personal photos. There is no indication how much, if anything, this option adds to the price of a device.
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09/30, 10:00am
Sony 660BT and 770BT GPS goes with TomTom
Sony today made a sharp break from its past insistence on in-house GPS and revealed two AV and navigation units that use TomTom for GPS. The six-inch XNV-660BT and seven-inch XNV-770BT take advantage of TomTom's mapping to bring in IQ Routes, which picks the quickest route based on historical traffic rather than just distance, as well as community-sourced points of interest through MapShare and lane guidance. Either unit gets a full set of maps for North America along with a year's worth of map upgrades.
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09/16, 6:05pm
TomTom Go Live 1000, Magellan flagships hit FCC
The FCC has leaked word of two new including the Magellan RoadMate 9020/9055 as well as TomTom's Go Live 1000. More is known about the latter device, as it will be based on a WebKit interface, which is new for TomTom. It will sport a capacitative touchscreen, a magnetic mount and connected services such as real-time traffic updates.
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09/09, 6:15pm
TomTom offers free iPhone 4 adapter for car kit
TomTom is now offering a free adapter to owners of the car kit to mount the iPhone 4 in their vehicle. Kits shipped starting in September include the new mount, while those who purchased the kits before that can claim the mount starting on September 10.
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07/08, 6:30pm
TomTom adds Yoda, Garmin gets KITT voice
As promised, TomTom has made Yoda's voice available for download for its compatible portable navigation devices. The speech pack is the third in a series of Star Wars character voices already on tap, joining C-3PO and Darth Vader. Han Solo's voice will be added in August.
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06/25, 12:40pm
Nokia head of R&D team goes to TomTom
Nokia Head Technologist Charles Davies is leaving the phone maker in favor of TomTom, it was learned on Friday. Davies led a strategy and architecture team of 200 for Nokia research and development, and there is no word on who will replace him. TomTom confirmed the move, but has not yet released any specific information.
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06/22, 7:55pm
Users can now take calls while navigating
TomTom has announced that its iPhone app has been update to take advantage of multitasking support in iOS 4. Users can now make and answer calls without interrupting navigation, as visual instructions are still presented even when a call is in progress. Version 1.4 also provides audio navigation instructions in the background if a user needs to switch to a different app.
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06/18, 6:00pm
Navigon iOS 4 app keeps directions active
Navigon today showed a version of its Mobile Navigator app with iOS 4's multitasking fully built in. The version 1.6 app now won't stop tracking position when the user switches away to another app and will provide voiced guidance even when another app is in the foreground. Calls also now won't disrupt the experience, although it carries the risk of a turn interrupting a conversation.
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06/17, 1:45pm
TomTom brings Dora, SpongeBob voices to GPSs
Navigation device maker TomTom on Thursday added two downloadable voices from Nickelodeon. Parents can now put the voice of Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants onto their navigators, allowing children to listen to their favorite TV cartoon characters while traveling. The two voices will say turn-by-turn driving directions, with other phrases from the cartoons thrown in.
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05/18, 4:25pm
Magellan brings map updates to GPS devices
Portable navigation maker Magellan has joined competitors TomTom and Garmin in offering free map updates on its GPS models. Some models, such as the RoadMate 3045-LM, get lifetime map updates, while others, such as the RoadMate 3045-MU, get only a single update.
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05/07, 11:50am
TomTom brings XL 350, XXL 550 PNDs to US
TomTom has quietly added two new portable navigation devices to its US lineup, the XL 350 and XXL 550. The models will have the same simplified interface as the TomTom EASE GPS. The two 4.3-inch devices are also based on the XL IR Routes edition2 models available in Europe.
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05/04, 4:00pm
TomTom offers Star Wars character voice to GPSs
TomTom has teamed up with Lucasfilm and VoiceSkins to bring official Star Wars voices to its portable navigation devices. The first available voice will be that of Darth Vader, which has launched on Tuesday and can be downloaded immediately. The voice of C-3PO arrives in June, with Yoda's arriving in July and Han Solo's joining the fray in August.
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04/29, 2:55pm
TomTom to use WebKit UI for outside apps
TomTom chief Harold Goddijn in a presentation said his company would create an app store for its GPS units. The company lead explained on Thursday that the new WebKit-based interface on the Go Live 1000 and future navigators would let developers roll out apps well-suited to driving. Augmented reality was floated as a possibility, although Goddijn expected it would only be a minor feature; it would require a camera to work properly.
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04/27, 11:15am
TomTom fights Garmin, iPhone with new GPS
TomTom ushered in a newer wave of GPS units today through the Go Live 1000. Like the Garmin nuvi 3700 it's up against, TomTom's GPS switches to a capacitive touchscreen much more naturally suited to finger input. The interface has been redesigned to match and is unique in being based on WebKit, the same web browser engine that runs Chrome and Safari.
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03/30, 12:05pm
TomTom intros Start 2 navigator for Europe first
TomTom hoped to take control of the low-cost GPS realm today in unveiling the Start 2. Its second-run 3.5-inch mapping device is its first in the class to get lane assist and at the same time gets text-to-speech for spoken street names. Drivers in busy areas can use IQ Routes for traffic avoidance based on historical info or else add an optional TMC adapter for live traffic updates.
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03/29, 12:35pm
TomTom brings lifetime map, traffic updates to US
TomTom this week said it will bring free lifetime map and traffic updates to owners of its portable navigation devices in North America. Map updates will keep devices up to date, with fresh downloads every few months, reflecting any new communities, roads and points of interest. Also, compatible models will get real-time traffic updates every three minutes, updating new total drive times and suggesting quicker alternate routes whenever possible.
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03/15, 12:05pm
Maps now support pinch to zoom
TomTom on Monday released an update to its self-titled navigation app for the iPhone. Version 1.3 brings a number of improvements, including Google search for finding points of interest or other information. Users can now view real-time traffic information or use pinch gestures to control the zoom level on the navigation map.
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02/22, 3:20pm
Avoids problems with windshield mounts
ProClip and TomTom have collaborated on a new car mount for the iPhone. As with some existing kits, users can fit the ProClip mount in a car for use with TomTom's iPhone navigation app. The ProClip gear attaches directly to a part of the dashboard, however, eliminating falls because of problems with windshield suction.
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02/19, 4:40pm
Figure took six months to achieve
Over 100,000 copies of the TomTom iPhone app have been downloaded, the company claims in its latest quarterly results. The title is one of the more expensive ones at the App Store, currently costing at least $60 in a US-only edition. It does however supply functions not available in Google Maps, namely turn-by-turn instructions.
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01/06, 12:10pm
Integrated mount foldable for transportation
TomTom on Wednesday announced that its entry-level EASE navigation system is headed for the North American market. The device features an integrated EasyPort mount which folds flat for portability. A 3.5-inch LCD touchscreen offers 320x240 resolution, while the company's EasyMenu interface has been improved with a simple two-icon layout.
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11/30, 2:50pm
Walmart, Dell, NewEgg show CyberMonday deals
As it's Cyber Monday, which follows Black Friday, many companies continue to offer sales on their wares, with electronics included. Among them are Walmart, Dell and Newegg, with the three retailers showing off what's on sale today. Walmart is taking the sale and extending it for the entire week, calling it Cyber Week. Standout deals from the retailer's 150 sale items include a 12-megapixel digital camera with a memory card and accessory kit for $89, a 10.2-inch Acer netbook with a case and USB flash drive for $268 as well as a 22-inch Samsung LCD HDTV priced at $248.
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11/25, 4:00pm
Special edition TomTom XXL gets more maps
TomTom on Wednesday introduced a special edition of its TomTom XXL 540S navigator, the World Traveler Edition. The main difference of the new product is the inclusion of maps of the US, Canada and Europe thanks to 4GB of total memory, whereas the standard XXL 540S contains full maps of Canada, the US and about a third of Mexican maps. Otherwise, there is the same 5-inch touchscreen and TomTom's routing technology.
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11/23, 11:15am
TomTom announces Walmart Black Friday deals
TomTom on Monday said two of its navigation devices will be offered at deep discounts at Walmart as part of Black Friday sales. This includes the ONE 125 SE and XL 325 SE. The former has a 3.5-inch touchscreen while the latter uses a wider 4.3-inch touchscreen. Otherwise, many share the same features, including preloaded US maps, the ability to speak out street names and a folding Go EasyPort mount.
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11/20, 3:20pm
Gear less expensive than iPhone model
GPS maker TomTom has revealed a new car mount, one designed exclusively for the iPod touch. The accessory reflects a recent update to the company's GPS app, which now includes Touch support. The new kit is little different from its more broadly-compatible iPhone version, mainly being $20 cheaper at a price of $100.
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11/19, 11:50am
Also adds lane guidance, text-to-speech
As promised, TomTom has released an updated GPS app for the iPhone. A previously unannounced feature is support for the iPod touch, which normally lacks a GPS receiver. As with the recent Magellan app however, Touch support can only be enabled by docking with a first-party car kit.
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11/13, 1:05pm
Best Buy Thanksgiving sale flyer leaked
The flyer for Best Buy's Black Friday/Thanksgiving sale has been leaked on the Internet ahead of its official release thanks to a copy posted today. Among the 'doorbusters' are a $300 PS3 bundle that includes two games, while an Xbox 360 bundle with six games will carry the same sticker price. Another front-page deal involves a 46-inch, 120Hz LED-backlit Samsung HDTV with free home delivery, hook-up and recycling for $1,600, or $1,000 off.
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11/12, 12:55pm
Part of free software update
The TomTom navigation app for the iPhone will soon receive a major software update, the company says. Some planned changes include the addition of text-to-speech, a feature common to most dedicated GPS devices, providing an audio description of directions for busy drivers. Also new is lane guidance, showing necessary switches at difficult intersections.
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10/28, 6:35pm
Google Maps helps GPS maker stock crash
Shares of GPS device makers Garmin and TomTom plummeted today through a combination of their quarterly results and the launch of Google Maps Navigation. Following both low guidance for Garmin's next quarter as well as poor results from TomTom, shares for the two fell 16.4 percent and 20.8 percent respectively and remained low through the entire trading day after news of Google's free, turn-by-turn mapping service became public.
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10/28, 3:50pm
Possibility hinted at in earlier statement
The combination of the TomTom iPhone Car Kit and its corresponding navigation app will not be compatible with the iPod touch or original iPhone, officials from the company now say. The Kit's product page has for a time said that while it can hold all iPhones, the matching app is only compatible with the iPhone 3G and 3GS. Regardless, a spokesman at one point claimed that company had simply not made any "public announcements" regarding the possibility of support through a software update.
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10/21, 5:40pm
Accessory adds built-in GPS antenna, speaker
Apple has added the TomTom Car Kit for iPhone to its US online store. The accessory provides an iPhone dock and an adjustable mount that can be attached to the windshield or dashboard. A built-in GPS receiver helps to improve accuracy compared to using the iPhone alone, while an integrated speaker and volume controls can be used to amplify the turn-by-turn instructions or hands-free calling.
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