TomTom Navigator 2

[marlof]

<a href="http://www.tomtom.com/products/platform/products.php?ID=31&amp;Language=1">http://www.tomtom.com/products/platform/products.php?ID=31&amp;Language=1</a><br /><br />One of my favorite applications for the Pocket PC is TomTom Navigator. And I'm not alone in that. TomTom Navigator seems to be a big hit since it is seen by many as a killer Pocket PC application for European users. For those of you that are not aware of the products: TomTom Navigator is a routeplanner/mapping software product, that supports GPS and voice directions. Software like this combined with a GPS receiver can turn your Pocket PC in a personal navigation solution. From day one I was a big fan of the user interface in TomTom Navigator, and I liked the updated and detailed maps that came with the product. And now TomTom seems to be taking it up one level.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/tomtomnavigator2.gif" /><br /><br />So <a href="http://www.tomtom.com/products/platform/extra_info.php?ID=31&Section=93&Language=1&Extra_Page=25">what's new</a> for version 2? <br />• New up-to-date maps, that in many of the available country maps cover more than in TomTom Navigator 1.5<br />• Enhancements to the user interface, that includes a finger keyboard, a 3D view of your route, a better integration of points of interests, and find functionality on your map<br />• Door-to-door routeplanning by the use of housenumbers and postal codes<br />• The ability to store points of interests with one tap on the screen when you drive by them<br />• Planning alternative routes, including avoiding blocked highways<br />• Contacts/Pocket Outlook integrations lets you look up the address of your contact on the map<br />• Improved GPS software that covers Bluetooth support and quicker initialisation.<br /><br />TomTom Navigator 2 will be available from the beginning of April. You can get the software bundled with a (new and enhanced) GPS receiver for € 399 (excluding € 29 for a connection cable). Or you can get just the software for €169. And if you have bought one area, you can get the rest of Europe for €189. Existing users can get <a href="http://www.tomtom.com/products/platform/extra_info.php?ID=31&Section=1068&Language=1&Extra_Page=23">an upgrade</a> for €39.95.

[cessquill]

Upgrade form on their site from 2pm today (in whichever time zone that is!).

Keeping a close eye on it, as I can't wait for the upgrade...

[Andy Whiteford]

Got to admit, this is my fave gps/travel solution. Looking forward to v2 as there are a couple of small discrepancies in the current maps v1.5.

[JonnoB]

They seem to have forgotten there is a North American market....

[Scott R]

I like the low-flying bird's-eye view. If they don't offer North American maps, is there another product with the same sort of view and good usability that does? I've always been interested in GPS. Maybe I've find another use for my iPaq.

Scott

[Andy Whiteford]

Makes a change from all the US solutions that forget about the European market. ;)
Actually, TomTom brought out their RoutePlanner software for USA which was a great product and they may eventually do the same with Navigator 2. Not sure how their sales faired though which may dictate which regions are covered!

[Andy Whiteford]

I like the low-flying bird's-eye view. If they don't offer North American maps, is there another product with the same sort of view and good usability that does? I've always been interested in GPS. Maybe I've find another use for my iPaq.

Scott


Oh, forgot to answer this. Destinator 2 offers this 3d look although I don't find it as helpful as you would hope, mainly because it's just an elevated view of a 2d map, there are no 3d objects as such like buildings to help you get your bearings. Still an interesting addition that will be helpful to some.

[van_mierlo]

They seem to have forgotten there is a North American market....

Check out this (http://www.tomtom.com/products/platform/products.php?ID=201&Language=1). So a v2 will probably come too

[portus]

I wonder what kind of performance TomTom Navigator has, especially on real-time navigation and map rendering? Most PocketPC GPS Navigation software suffer from the performance issue - either map endering or both map and voice prompts lag behind seriously that they can not be used on practical real-time navigation.

A ppopular GPS navigation product from Canada has introduced birds-eye-view navigation a while back but the performance lag limits its practical usability. Don't know if the PXA255 architecture would help in this area ...

[Peseta]

I'm curious.

Is in real life this 3D / birds-eye view better for navigation than the heads-up 2D view or just "cool" with no practical improvement ?

[JvanEkris]

They seem to have forgotten there is a North American market....THat is the revenge for all those american companies forgetting the european market.

Jaap

[JvanEkris]

Unfortunatly, reports seem to indicate that due to the overwelming demand, they will delay delivery a bit (1st week of april).

Jaap

[Cornerstone]

I'm curious.

Is in real life this 3D / birds-eye view better for navigation than the heads-up 2D view or just "cool" with no practical improvement ?

You get more information on the screen. You can see upcoming turns farther in advance and this helps you prepare for the turn sooner. I use the "birds-eye" 3d view on Destinator 2 almost exclusively. I just wish it displayed all the navigation information that Tom-Tom does.

If Tom-Tom made a North American version, I bet that it would sell very well.

[Andy Whiteford]

I wonder what kind of performance TomTom Navigator has, especially on real-time navigation and map rendering? Most PocketPC GPS Navigation software suffer from the performance issue - either map endering or both map and voice prompts lag behind seriously that they can not be used on practical real-time navigation.

A ppopular GPS navigation product from Canada has introduced birds-eye-view navigation a while back but the performance lag limits its practical usability. Don't know if the PXA255 architecture would help in this area ...

Using the current version of Navigator (1.50), the performance is excellent, no discernable lag with prompts which I have noticed with Destinator 2. I expect version 2 to continue this trend.

[cessquill]

Navigator 1.5 runs just fine on my 3870, with Running Voice running along side it and a Points Of Interest monitor playing around in the background. iPaq was talking to both the t68 and GPS receiver over Bluetooth. Very cool indeed. Hopefully the maps on v2 will be more complete.

One of the GPS software packages - can't remember which now - generates its speech via a text->speak module, so it reads out all the road names. Waiting for that to become standard with baited breath.

[hollis_f]

They seem to have forgotten there is a North American market....

Check out this (http://www.tomtom.com/products/platform/products.php?ID=201&Language=1). So a v2 will probably come tooThe page you've linked to is for RoutePlanner. The European version of this only had major roads and, hence, was only useful for planning long journeys. The linked page says that RP-USA is for planning between cities/towns/villages - so I guess it has the same limitation.

Navigator has very detailed maps including very small streets. You can actually use it to get yourself from one exact location to another. RP will get you to a town, but it's not much use once you're there (which is, of course, the hard part of navigating).

[andrewpmoore]

You can now sign up to US Trials by of TomTom by visiting http://www.bostonpocketpc.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1431

As I live in the UK I've been using TomTom for quite some time, and have just got version 2 installed today - it's a great product, but use of my pocket pc by far.

[Andy Whiteford]

Nav2 seems to perform as quickly as the previous version (1.51). The interface is identical apart from a couple driving menus and the inclusion of the 3d view. Maps are obviously more current although in my ever changing neighbourhood, there are still some discrepancies, more an issue with the roadbuilders than TomTon though.

[JoshB]

Got email last night saying I was accepted into the U.S. field testing program for TomTom Navigator 2.

I'm under NDA, so I probably won't be able to share much, but I'm looking forward to testing this program out. It looks like it has great features and maps. I've been using my Magellan Meridian Gold handheld GPSr, with the Topo maps for street detail, and while it's nice, full color 3-D perspective with voice prompts and auto routing will be nicer. :D

[Andy Whiteford]

Youl will like Nav 2. I'm glad this is getting the US treatment as it's a great app and you guys will appreciate what TomTom have put together!