We at TomTom are proud to announce that the TomTom GO 910, GO 510, GO 700, GO 300, ONE XL and ONE devices are now compatible with TomTom’s latest software. This allows users of these devices to utilize TomTom’s exclusive map improvement technology Map Share™ and to get access to the unique ‘Help Me!’ safety features.

TomTom Map Share™ and ‘Help Me!’ already are pre-installed on the TomTom GO 920, GO 920 T, GO 720, ONE 3rd Edition, ONE XL, and ONE XL•S.

“At TomTom, we believe that all of our customers should have easy access to our latest technologies and innovations,” said TomTom Inc. president Jocelyn Vigreux. “This free software upgrade underscores TomTom’s commitment to ensuring that existing TomTom users can get the most out of their investment in TomTom devices. By enabling our users to benefit from all the latest TomTom innovations, we are helping more users continue to get from A to B as accurately and safely as possible.”

TomTom’s newest software can be easily downloaded and installed via TomTom HOME. When the TomTom ONE XL or TomTom ONE device is connected, a free-of-charge upgrade to TomTom’s latest software will be offered.

To use Map Share™ and ‘HELP ME!’ features, users must maps version 6.75 or higher. Users of the TomTom ONE model with a map version earlier than 6.75 can purchase the latest map version through TomTom HOME at www.tomtom.com/maps.

To watch a video about how Map Share™ works, check out this previous entry and click here for more information about ‘HELP ME!’ features.

Popularity: 70% [?]

New maps for the U.S. and Canada are now available on DVD for all TomTom users. They are part of a special promotional program through March 31, 2007.

• The new maps are free plus shipping and handling for GO 910 & 510, ONE, and NAVIGATOR 6 users.

• GO, GO 300 & 700, RIDER, and NAVIGATOR 5 users pay only $49.95 plus shipping and handling for the new maps.

• These special promotional prices are valid through March 31, 2007. The new maps will be $149.95 thereafter.

• The new maps are available via TomTom.com.

The latest US/Canada maps include:

• More than 410,000 new road miles

• Improved road detail and visual representation of surrounding areas

• More than six million new household and business addresses

• Updated Points of Interest, including more than half a million new POIs

• More one way indications, restricted turns, signposts and updated intersections

• Updated shopping centers and golf courses

This latest release is based on the Tele Atlas MultiNetä 2006.10 global digital map database. The content is developed through the most comprehensive and advanced industry processes for anticipating and detecting real world change, and contains data from more than 50,000 authoritative resources. Today, nearly 90 percent of all e911 calls in the US annually are routed using Tele Atlas maps, encompassing about 100 million emergency response calls each year in states including CA, TX, NY, PA, FL and OH. Now TomTom is bringing this same quality content to its end users.

To get your new maps DVD, all you’ll need is:

1. The serial number of your GO, ONE or RIDER, (where is it?) or
2. The product code for your NAVIGATOR product (where is it?).

Get Maps Now

Popularity: 26% [?]

A few months back (OK, fine, it was almost a year ago), we posted instructions on how to change the splash screen on your TomTom GO x00. A lot has changed in that time. Ummm, the seasons for one. Also, TomTom has released a few new products.

So, GO 510 and 910 users, this one’s for you! Follow these instructions to customize your device’s startup and shutdown splash screen:

1. Select the image or photograph you want to have displayed on your TomTom GO 510/910

2. Re-size the image to 480 pixels wide x 272 pixels high.

3. Save the image as a 24-bit Bitmap file named “splashw.bmp”

4. Plug Your TomTom GO x10 into your computer via the USB docking station

5. Open your TomTom GO x10 “hard drive” within My Computer

6. Locate the original splash file which is called “splashw.bmp” and rename it “splashw1.bmp” (this naming allows you keep the original TomTom splash screen)

7. Copy the new image (splashw.bmp) from your computer to the same TomTom GO x10 directory

8. Disconnect and boot up your TomTom GO. Your personalized picture should be there to greet you when you turn it on or off!

I’ll tell you what: Give it a try and send us your results. E-mail images of your new splash screens to splashscreen@clubtomtom.com. The best of the best new TomTom splash screens will be featured here at Club TomTom.

Popularity: 21% [?]

In its May 2006 issue, PC World tackles the world of GPS, identifying the TomTom GO 300 as its top pick among portable GPS devices.

Here’s what else they had to say about the GO 300 in their article “Never Ask For Directions Again”:

TomTom’s Mighty GO 300

Our top pick, TomTom’s Go 300, is an impressive package, from its extensive features to its smooth and streamlined maps and menus. At around $600, it’s also pricey for an SD Card-based unit–though its built-in Bluetooth may account for part of the higher cost. With a Bluetooth-equipped GSM/GPRS cell phone for connecting to the Internet, the Go 300 can download traffic and weather reports and other data (including comic voices for directions). These TomTom Plus services are free now, but they’ll be offered by subscription beginning in 2007, the company says.

TomTom’s maps are cleanly designed, the menu system is easy to use, and the unit is replete with extras such as the ability to tie speaker volume to your car’s speed. Other pluses are a robust, flexible mounting bracket and a built-in help system.

One annoyance involved searching for points of interest: I couldn’t look up a local Home Depot by simply typing in the business name. I had to input the category and go through a long and frustrating search. Fortunately, as you choose a category or address field (such as city or street), the Go 300’s dynamic menus display recent entries or selections for that field, which can speed things up.

As a real-time navigator, the Go 300 is capable but not perfect. It delivered turn-by-turn prompts clearly and quickly, but also routed me along a slow path through town in my streets-and-highway test.

Bottom line: Slick design and good performance make the Go 300 a slam dunk, especially if you have a Bluetooth phone and are willing to pay for up-to-date traffic and other information–but local business lookups can be irritating.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Since 2004 TomTom has attended CeBIT in Hanover, Germany and with every year that passed the stand grew bigger.

 

The 2006 CeBIT stand for TomTom was around the 300 square meters and had two floors. The downstairs floor contained more then 70 products, varying from TomTom RIDER, to NAVIGATOR 5, MOBILE 5, TomTom ONE to our newest GO range; GO 510, GO 710 and GO 910. But there was more to see on the first floor, we had a motorbike, a scooter and one quarter of the stand was dedicated to TomTom WORK, TomTom’s solution for fleet management. The second floor contained 3 meeting rooms, a bar and a lounge area. During the 7 days of the fair the stand was packed and full of trade visitors, consumers and journalists, all interested in TomTom and the cool and exciting products.

The stand was one of a kind; very stylish and unique.

 

 

This year we can say that TomTom’s presence at CeBIT has again been very successful.

Popularity: 13% [?]