| The Amsterdam-based TomTom, founded by | | | | Potential buyers will be feel their wallets lighten |
| Harold Goddijn, Peter-Frans Pauwels and Pieter | | | | when they buy the 920 but they'll be paying for |
| Geelen in 1991 have grown exponentially from | | | | one of the most accurate and simplest GPS |
| rather humble beginnings to become one of the | | | | systems on the market. TomTom Go 930 |
| world's leading producers of portable navigation | | | | TomTom 930 |
| devices, seeing their own revenues grow from 8 | | | | The 930 GPS system has many of the same |
| million euros in 2002 to over 1.7 billion euros in | | | | features of TomTom's previous models but |
| 2007 while seeing company profits grow from | | | | thanks to a great redesign looks much like the |
| roughly 1 million euros to 317 million euros over | | | | iPhone and the iPod Touch and the remote |
| the same period. Such success in a volatile | | | | control's design has been changed to match. The |
| economic period is in part from TomTom's | | | | power switch has been moved to the top, |
| continued commitment to excellence in the | | | | making it easier for users to turn the device off |
| industry. TomTom hopes to continue their | | | | and on and the speaker and external antennae |
| success and worldwide popularity with the release | | | | jack have been moved to the rear. Some new |
| of their 910 GO, 920 G0, 930 GO and 940 GO | | | | additions include a newly developed technology |
| GPS devices. And with each new model, | | | | known as Active Lane Guidance which gives |
| TomTom manages to perfect and refine their | | | | exacting detail for drivers who are driving on |
| popular GPS devices, creating an unmatched | | | | complex, multi-lane highways, Interstates and the |
| reputation in personal navigation devices. Even | | | | like who need to know how many lanes they |
| with minor issues, it's much more likely to find | | | | might need to cross over to get to their exit, |
| glowing reviews of TomTom devices than any | | | | which way their particular lane goes and so on. A |
| other manufacturer of personal navigation devices | | | | simple series of icons show the lanes and points |
| around. | | | | out which lanes drivers need to be in to make |
| TomTom Go 910 | | | | proper turns and the like. |
| When the 910 GO GPS system was first released | | | | This feature has worked very well on major |
| a couple of years ago, it was a revolutionary | | | | highways and streets but unfortunately not on |
| breakthrough in personal navigation as it was the | | | | more rural, country roads which can be quite |
| first GPS with preloaded maps of the United | | | | frustrating if you're making trips in the country. |
| States, Canada, Western Europe and Central | | | | Another new technology includes a program |
| Europe. Engineers redesigned the unit, creating the | | | | known as Static Intersection Images which is |
| 4 wide inch wide screen and several software | | | | designed to show where highways and |
| improvements from TomTom's initial offerings. | | | | intersections intersect; assisting drivers in |
| Other features include a 400 MHz CPU and a 20 | | | | simplifying complicated driving directions. TomTom |
| GB hard drive which are perfect for saving maps | | | | has made it easier for users to type in addresses |
| for particular routes you might need to save, the | | | | as you can switch from a touch screen |
| ability to connect and then integrate your iPod, a | | | | QWERTY-style keyboard, an ABC-style keyboard |
| Bluetooth enabled remote for hands free | | | | and an option for left handed users. |
| operation, and a 4" touchscreen with over 64,000 | | | | However, in a few reviews, users have |
| colors. The 910 is also one of the first GPS | | | | complained that the imaging process involved in |
| systems which has a POI (Point of Interest) | | | | the program works intermittently at best. One |
| database which makes special note any and all | | | | reviewer complained that the imaging process |
| points of interest such as hotels, hospitals, | | | | generally seemed to work somewhere in the half |
| stadiums, parks and the like. And with 36 different | | | | mile to quarter mile range which simply isn't |
| languages either preinstalled or easily downloaded, | | | | acceptable if you're driving at highway speeds. |
| this GPS system can be used in most major | | | | The IQ Routes programming has been greatly |
| Westernised countries with little difficulty. | | | | updated, so that it gives much more accurate |
| The user can program this little GPS to call out | | | | estimations on arrival times. Users of the 910 and |
| directions in your language - no matter where you | | | | 920 frequently complained about how estimated |
| are. However, some users have complained that | | | | driving times were usually off by at least 20%, IQ |
| the 910 GO has a rather outdated POI database - | | | | Routes now will also allow you to plan out routes |
| a database that has been known to make special | | | | several days in advance, figuring out traditional |
| notes for places of interest which no longer exist. | | | | traffic flow history and giving you a fairly |
| Some reviewers have complained that for some | | | | accurate estimate time based on traffic flow. |
| routes, the estimated time of arrival can be off | | | | Also, there's the updated RDSTMC traffic |
| by a noticeable degree, especially if you're | | | | receiver which works via cellular phone |
| somewhat familiar with the routes your 910 will | | | | transmissions for much more accurate traffic |
| suggest. A few other users have also complained | | | | readings. |
| that the 910 doesn't have the updated traffic | | | | The flimsy dash mount of the 910 and 920 have |
| information they'd need. Some other reviews | | | | been replaced with a much sturdier dash mount. |
| have complained that the dash mount was terribly | | | | Some reviewers have complained that the 930's |
| flimsy and that the screen can be difficult to read | | | | voice recognition doesn't work too well, and many |
| in sunlight. Another user complained that changing | | | | have resorted to just typing in their destinations |
| menu functions took more tapping and scrolling | | | | instead. Other reviews have complained about the |
| than what they liked. Although the unit is has a | | | | amount of glare which comes from the shinier |
| priced competitively, it does have many of the | | | | touchscreen. And we have even come across |
| basic features that novice GPS users will love - | | | | reviews in which users have complained about the |
| with some minor problems. Some of these | | | | number of screens and options one has to go |
| problems were cleared up with the engineers at | | | | through in order to change menu preferences. |
| TomTom started work on the 920 GO GPS. | | | | Certainly, that's frustrating but for the most part |
| TomTom Go 920 | | | | users have loved the 930 and its accurate |
| The 920 GO GPS offered some refinements to | | | | positioning capabilities, and any complaints such as |
| its predecessor along with some new technological | | | | screen glare are subjective to the individual user. |
| advances. And aesthetically, TomTom redesigned | | | | TomTom Go 940 |
| the device, giving it a sleeker exterior finish which | | | | TomTom 940 |
| makes it look like a super, futuristic device. | | | | The 940 GO GPS system is will be among the |
| Positioning technology has been enhanced, | | | | most technologically advanced GPS units out in |
| eliminating many of the frustrating positioning | | | | the market. TomTom's engineers have further |
| issues which frequently came up in the 910. Plus, | | | | updated their IQ Route programming so that |
| users will be pleased to see several new goodies | | | | every route will be determined by historical time |
| added - including a new and enhanced traffic | | | | travel information for every road for every single |
| information option that updates and recalculates | | | | day of the week while continuously adapting to |
| routes every 5 minutes or so, a light sensor | | | | changing road conditions to constantly give drivers |
| which optimizes the viewing screen, 4 GB of | | | | the fastest, most economically sound routes |
| internal flash memory, an SD memory card slot, | | | | possible. Setting itself apart from the other GPS |
| along with the features users loved in the 910. | | | | units on the market, the 940 will have up to the |
| But most importantly, the 920 is the first of | | | | minute weather and traffic updates - and those |
| TomTom's GPS units to offer voice recognition | | | | are useful for just about any driver out there. But |
| programming so that drivers could enter in their | | | | what the new 940 GPS unit will have that no |
| destinations by simply talking to the machine. | | | | other unit will have yet is a local search connection |
| Already, many users have praised this | | | | through Google. Users can find local pizzerias, |
| development. After all, it makes it much easier | | | | seafood restaurants or anything they'd wish and |
| for driver's to program the device without having | | | | they could easily find it and get directions. Of |
| to take their eyes off the road to program the | | | | course, there are the other programs which |
| unit much unlike other units in which drivers | | | | TomTom users love to use. The tech savvy user |
| needed a companion to help program the GPS | | | | will love the new 940 GO! |
| while the driver was actually driving. The 920 was | | | | All of TomToms devices despite their different |
| also the first GPS system to offer the ability to | | | | technological developments come equipped with a |
| pre-plan and save trips, as well as the first to | | | | car charger which you plug in through the built-in |
| offer a built-in FM transmitter. | | | | cigarette lighter, a desktop mount for home |
| Also, the 920 offers the TomTom Map Share | | | | charging and uploads and the customary |
| feature in which TomTom users can update maps | | | | instruction manual. And they all proudly boast the |
| and routes for each other - in the event of new | | | | fact that they're incredibly easy to install and set |
| construction, a new building development or so on. | | | | up. |
| Some users have complained that they wish they | | | | When it comes to making that decision on |
| could shut off the bossy-sounding GPS voice | | | | purchasing a GPS system from TomTom or any |
| which shouts out directions. Apparently, the voice | | | | other manufacturer, we suggest that you do |
| is quite annoying while you're sitting in bumper to | | | | your research and consider what sort of |
| bumper traffic as it tells you that your turn is half | | | | programs and capabilities you need while weighing |
| a mile ahead! There have been reports of users | | | | the pros and cons of each device and each |
| complaining about how the weather and traffic | | | | manufacturer. Check out several store websites |
| services don't seem to work with some Verizon | | | | and review sites and see what previous users of |
| and Sprint cellular hand sets. And the most | | | | potential devices have been saying as they've |
| common complaint in the countless reports we've | | | | been quite useful for assisting with purchases of |
| seen is that despite the usefulness of the voice | | | | all sorts. No matter what your technical savvy, |
| recognition program, users frequently get | | | | the device which has the most useful capabilities |
| frustrated when it doesn't recognize certain | | | | and is the easiest to use within your price range is |
| sounds as well as it should, forcing users to go | | | | usually the best option. |
| back to typing in their addresses for directions. | | | | |