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TomTom GPS Car Navigation SystemsTechnology once intended for military use is now becoming more and more common in civilian applications -- we're talking about GPS (what is gps? global positioning satellite) devices that bring highly detailed maps right to your fingerprints. You can now get a device about the size of a deck of playing cards that has complete maps of the entire US inside, including millions of points of interest that includes things like hotels, restaurants, parks, businesses. Just punch in an address or name, and it will show you a map of how to get there with turn by turn instructions. Make a wrong turn, and it adjusts to get you back on track. TomTom is a leading manufacturer of these GPS devices, which work by linking into radio signals broadcast by satellites in orbit around the Earth to determine your position at any given moment. Software then plots that location information over the maps, creating real-time mapping showing exactly where are you, which direction you are going, how fast, and what streets are around you. If you haven't seen a GPS navigation system in work, you don't know what you are missing! In this guide we will focus on the GPS systems from TomTom.
TomTom GPS Mapping DevicesSome high-end new cars come with built-in GPS systems in the dashboard. But for most people, getting a GPS means sticking a little LCD screen onto your dashboard or windshield, and running a power cord into your cigarette lighter -- instant GPS system! TomTom, Garmin, Magellan, and others are specialists in these consumer GPS devices. TomTom offers a number of different models, ranging in price from about $299 to $599. The TomTom GO 910 comes with 20GB of storage space total, with 12GB empty to hold whatever pictures or MP3 songs you want to load onto it. You can play back music through the built-in speaker or through your car stereo. It has a large 4" LCD touchscreen, with 480x272 pixels resolution, and 64,000 colors for great visibility. Light sensors allow the screen to increase or decrease its brightness automatically, so it is easy to see day or night (and not blinding at night!). The internal rechargeable battery lasts about 4 hours when not plugged into your cars power source. The included maps cover all of Europe, Canada, and the United States. For international users, this thing even comes with 36 different languages it speaks when reading direction prompts. The TomTom GO 910 sells for $499, which is about inline with competitive products. These things are really easy to use. There are no complicated buttons or commands to memorize, just simple icons to press on the screen with your fingertip. You enter names and addresses by "typing" with your fingertip on a mini keyboard, but other than that you just touch the things you want, drag the map with your fingertip, etc. Most people master the user interface on these things within minutes. For example, the icons on the main screen include: Navigate To, Find Alternative, TomTom Traffic, Mobile Phone, and Change Preferences. The car installation kit is very easy to use. There is a suction cup unit that connects to your windshield, usually up around your rearview mirror - once in place, twist it to lock it in place. There is a power connecter here that you plug the cigarette lighter power converter into. All that's left is to hook the actual TomTom GPS device in place - it snaps right in. You can watch a video of how to install the TomTom GPS unit here. A Overall, we liked the 910 almost as much as we like the Garmin Nuvi, which was our first and favorite GPS device. But these TomTom units are real close runner-ups for being the best GPS devices on the market.The TomTom GO 510 also comes with a 4" LCD touchscreen, and can work with your bluetooth-enabled phone as a hands-free dialing solution. The GO 510 is cheaper at $399, and includes complete maps for US and Canada (does NOT include Europe like the 910 does). It does not have the hard drive storage that the GO 910 does -- instead it comes with a 1GB SD card that is loaded with the map data. It does come with extras, like real-time weather reports and forecasts, and access to the TomTom Plus Services, which gives real-time traffic information for European users (extra fee charged for these services). You can also connect your iPod to the GO and control it through the touch screen. Hands-free calling works with these phones:
The other popular TomTom models include GO 710, TomTom ONE XL (their biggest seller, $399 -- the XL upgraded the standard ONE with larger screen), TomTom GO 700 ($499), and TomTom GO 300 ($399). Their website is TomTom.com where you can see pictures and read more information on all the most popular TomTom GPS models. TomTom GPS for Motorcycles - TomTom RiderWhile its tough trying to read a normal map in a car, it is impossible on a motorcycle. So TomTom also makes a GPS device for motorcycles and scooters, called the TomTom Rider. It's designed to worked with gloved hands, has an anti-glare screen, it is waterproof, it comes with a 4 piece mounting bracket, and it has a bluetooth headset so you can hear the verbal prompts inside your helmet -- it even increases and decreases the volume automatically depending on how fast you are going. And while the TomTom Rider is designed for motorcycle use, it is of course portable and can be taken with you and used in a car -- there is even a special car mounting kit you can get. Here are the tech specs:
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