TomTom for iPhone - out now (also works on the iPod Touch)

AlanD

http://www.macrumors.com/2009/08/16/tomtom-for-iphone-appears-in-new-zealand-app-store/

mobius42

At that price, I could buy a stand alone unit that doesn't become unusable when someone calls me.

AlanD

i believe that if someone calls you, you can relaunch your nav app and continue talking.....

it's not ideal though....

Mikey23

Hmm, €79.99 isn't ridiculously pricey, but how much is the car kit?

ADSLUSER

Yep, it's in the Appstore now but for €79.99, all you're getting is the UK and Ireland maps. Full European version is not out yet. I'm waiting to see the reviews first before deciding. Navignon has just been updated to include more new features and for €79.99 (special offer until end of August), you get full European coverage!

AlanD

Western Europe is up alright...... €99.99!! Ouch....and then add in the cradle....

CivilEx

Downloaded it earlier - UK & Ireland maps. I have a (much) older TomTom One that I have been holding off upgrading...until now.

A few screenies below for the moment...I'll post back a more detailed review in a few days when I've road tested it.

Dman001

Good news. It turns out the TomTom App will with work with the Touch, when you use it with the TomTom cradle:

http://gizmodo.com/5339070/confirmed-tomtoms-gps-car-kit-will-work-with-ipod-touch-third-party-apps

Tom Dunne

Dman001 wrote: »

Good news. It turns out the TomTom App will with work with the Touch, when you use it with the TomTom cradle:

http://gizmodo.com/5339070/confirmed-tomtoms-gps-car-kit-will-work-with-ipod-touch-third-party-apps

Thanks for the link.

I've updated the thread title to reflect this fact.

AlanD

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Thanks for the link.

I've updated the thread title to reflect this fact.

Something to consider...the app in the app store says "For iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS", so it's possible that the iPod Touch version just is not released yet and might not be until the cradle is available. Just in case iPod Touch users download now, or have problems downloading now.

Tom Dunne

AlanD wrote: »

Something to consider...the app in the app store says "For iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS", so it's possible that the iPod Touch version just is not released yet and might not be until the cradle is available. Just in case iPod Touch users download now, or have problems downloading now.

Good point. However, I believe iTunes won't allow them to download a version that won't work on the iPod touch. Correct me if I am wrong here.

mobius42

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Good point. However, I believe iTunes won't allow them to download a version that won't work on the iPod touch. Correct me if I am wrong here.

No, it won't stop you downloading it if you have an iPod Touch.

bertie4evr

Do the maps cache?It would be a shame if they didn't.I'm on O2 payg and would rather it didn't eat credit.

nulabert

I imagine you can authorises this app on up to 5 PC's like you can with other apps? Saw a clip on cnet a while back where you can copy the app to the desktop and then copy it to another computer and authorise it.

If that worked, and you trusted a few friends/boardies, then 79 quid/ 5 = cheap sat nav?

Obviously i'm open to corrections!!!!

The Big Gig

Nuabert... correct.. have done it with the sling player app which was 29 dollars... !

On another note.. does the iphone not use its data for the GPS service.... so if you were abroad and using the sat nav would you not be racking up huge bills? does it essentially mean that sat nav apps are only practical for using in Ireland?

Mellor

AlanD wrote: »

Something to consider...the app in the app store says "For iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS", so it's possible that the iPod Touch version just is not released yet and might not be until the cradle is available. Just in case iPod Touch users download now, or have problems downloading now.

The reason it says iphone and not ipod touch is because it isn't suitable for the touch.
Think obout it for a second, how could it be used for the touch, unless you never left a wifizone???

mobius42

Mellor wrote: »

The reason it says iphone and not ipod touch is because it isn't suitable for the touch.
Think obout it for a second, how could it be used for the touch, unless you never left a wifizone???

That's incorrect. The maps come with the program, that's the whole point. They are saved to the memory of the iPhone. Also, Apple won't allow developers to use Google Maps for turn-by-turn applications, so it can't require an Internet connection for the maps.

The reason it says not suitable for the iPod Touch is because the Touch doesn't have a GPS chip. However, Tom Tom have announced that the Touch will work with the cradle when it is released; the cradle has its own GPS chip.

Purple Gorilla

Got the app and am loving it. It really is the best. I got the Western Europe version. It even went that extra bit further and automatically localised the voice to an Irish one :P

digitaldr

Anyone know if there's going to be a bundled price ie buy the hardware and get a voucher code to get the app cheaper?

dazedandlost

digitaldr wrote: »

Anyone know if there's going to be a bundled price ie buy the hardware and get a voucher code to get the app cheaper?

Thats exactly how I think it will work, holding out for that anyway... Still needs to be confirmed by Apple or TomTom how they will be selling the craddle...

digitaldr

I was just thinking that it could also work the other way around too ie people who have bought the app could be emailed a voucher code for the hardware when it's released. Wish Tomtom would update their site!

digitaldr

Just phoned tomtom they don't have a release date for the cradle and couldn't say if there'd be a bundled price or not.

bertie4evr

bertie4evr wrote: »

Do the maps cache?It would be a shame if they didn't.I'm on O2 payg and would rather it didn't eat credit.

Nevermind.I got it and it seems it has all the maps preloaded.I dont even need a connection to use it.

Burago

Anyone know how it compares to the Navigon App? I've always been lead to believe that the mapping Tom Tom use for Ireland is inferior to that of their competitors.

Purple Gorilla

TBH I don't see much of a difference. If you already have the Navigon app then there wouldn't be much difference in buying the TomTom app

digitaldr

There are only really two map providers - Navteq and Tele Atlas - GPS companies just license them and then use their own routing software. Navigon and Tom Tom both use Navteq maps.

Mellor

mobius42 wrote: »

That's incorrect. The maps come with the program, that's the whole point. They are saved to the memory of the iPhone. Also, Apple won't allow developers to use Google Maps for turn-by-turn applications, so it can't require an Internet connection for the maps.

The reason it says not suitable for the iPod Touch is because the Touch doesn't have a GPS chip. However, Tom Tom have announced that the Touch will work with the cradle when it is released; the cradle has its own GPS chip.

???
That was exactly my point. The fact that GPS isn't there at the minute for the touch (GPS being key for sat nav, otherwise its just a map), I mentioned wifi because people seam to love calling the google maps locate feature on the touch GPS

I'm aware that the cradle has a GPS, apparently it will be far better than the current iphone GPS (iphone will also use cradle gps and not its own I believe)

Burago

digitaldr wrote: »

There are only really two map providers - Navteq and Tele Atlas - GPS companies just license them and then use their own routing software. Navigon and Tom Tom both use Navteq maps.

Ok I thought they used different maps. Friend of mine has been using the Tom Tom App and has said that some pretty major roads are missing from it, an example being the ring road in Naas which is 2 years old!

ElNino

Burago wrote: »

Ok I thought they used different maps. Friend of mine has been using the Tom Tom App and has said that some pretty major roads are missing from it, an example being the ring road in Naas which is 2 years old!

You are correct Tom Tom owns Tele Atlas so they are hardly going to use Navteq maps. See link
http://www.tomtom.com/news/category.php?ID=4&NID=819&Lid=1

Tele Atlas maps are notorious for not being as well or as often updated as Navteq maps in Ireland. Therefore the Navigon app is likely to better outside Dublin.

di2772

As far as map updates go, which is the best Navigon or Tom Tom.

Do navigon give you free map updates? Because im sure Tom Tom dont.

Though i really do prefer tom toms interface. Is there a way to test out tom tom before buying it? Its a bit much to shell out without any way to get a refund if its no good.

thund3rbird_

Burago wrote: »

Anyone know how it compares to the Navigon App? I've always been lead to believe that the mapping Tom Tom use for Ireland is inferior to that of their competitors.

I'm using an iPhone 3G 16GB.

I've tried both apps [ ] and the Navigon appears to be better IMHO.

TomTom slow in updating in general & esp after making a turn
eg telling me to take the Xth exit at the roundabout when I already have.

Driving on any road, I have passed most junctions before the indicator on the map is at the same point.

Seems to have problems with the internal GPS as well, forever getting 'Weak GPS' messages - maybe something to do with encouraging people to buy the cradle as well? :rolleyes:.

The only thing I like about the TT is the interface, more user friendly.

Navigon app has been spot on from day one.

di2772

thund3rbird_ wrote: »

I'm using an iPhone 3G 16GB.

I've tried both apps [ ] and the Navigon appears to be better IMHO.

TomTom slow in updating in general & esp after making a turn
eg telling me to take the Xth exit at the roundabout when I already have.

Driving on any road, I have passed most junctions before the indicator on the map is at the same point.

Seems to have problems with the internal GPS as well, forever getting 'Weak GPS' messages - maybe something to do with encouraging people to buy the cradle as well? :rolleyes:.

The only thing I like about the TT is the interface, more user friendly.

Navigon app has been spot on from day one.

Sounds like some of the reviews of Navigon on here

CivilEx

I've been road testing my TomTom App (UK & IRE) over the last few days and I've been doing a good bit of milage, from Cavan to Mayo to Kerry. I have to say that I have been very impressed with it's performance so far. Its simple to use and I can't say that I have had any problems with it.

I was nervous initially that because a cradle is due for release with the App, the performance would suffer without it, but it performed well. Now most of my driving has been in a rural environment, so I can't comment on the performance in the likes of Dublin / Cork etc. I suspect that the way the marketing for it is going, that you probably will need the cradle with the stronger GPS chip if you are going to be driving mainly in the city.

The IQ Routes feature is new to me, which predicts how long it is going to take you to get to your destination and it has worked well. Battery usage with it is not a problem and for any of the journeys where I have used it, I have arrived with my battery always at 100%.

If you are using an fm transmitter or plugging directly into your car radio, the iPod function will be paused a split second before the direction is called out and re-started again where it was paused. If you receive a phone call, the TomTom App is stopped automatically while you take your call and automatically restarted once you hang up resuming to recalculate your route. You can of course start the App manually during a call and it will work away if you take your call on bluetooth or on speaker. So it is well integrated into the iPhone experience.

Finally, I would point out that I have been using the App on a 3G rather than a 3GS, but the performance has not suffered because of the slower hardware on the 3G but it is quite "snappy".

Overall I'm more than happy with it and I'd recommend it to anyone.