TomTom intros GO 720 with Map Share technology

TomTom doesn't appear to be letting that spat with Encyclopaedia Britannica stop it from rolling out new GPS devices, with its new GO 720 unit making its debut today, along with the company's new "Map Share" system. The device itself is a fairly standard affair, boasting a 4.3-inch WQVGA display, a 400MHz CPU, 64MB of RAM, an SD card slot, an FM transmitter, Bluetooth, and maps of the US and Canada pre-loaded on the unit's 2GB of internal flash memory -- an RDS-TMC traffic information receiver is also available as an optional accessory. The company's new Map Share system, as its name suggests, lets users make changes to maps and share 'em with others. While you'll apparently be able to make the changes directly on the device, you'll still have to use a PC to upload them for others to use, and to get your updated maps in return. Look for this one to set you back about $500 when its released in the US and Canada in late July -- a separate model, the GO 520, will also be available in Europe only.

[BikerCubMA @ Mar 26th 2008 11:08PM]

I love the technology of the 720. I just recently purchased it to replace my old Garmin Streetpilot 340. I have found the maps pretty good so far and the features pretty cool...the ipod connect feature is awesome! The problems I've had (and I think others on here) is the POI database loaded is pathetic. My garmin was like the yellow pages compared to this and this is frustrating as hell! I don't want to have to upload hundreds of tiny files so I can get every department store, restaurant and gas station around. ***I have my original map software from my Garmin. DOES ANYONE HERE KNOW IF I CAN CONVERT MY GARMIN POI DATABASE TO MY GO 720? If so I'd very much appreciate the help/suggestions! :-) Steve - (Boston Area) [e-mail]

[S2Kdriver @ Aug 11th 2008 3:44PM]

I've got the GO 930 and my POI database is solid. You can always update more POI sets from TomTom Home if you want more on your 720

[beanspants @ Jun 5th 2007 1:46PM]

every street in my city will soon become beanspants1 avenue, and my house will be a major point of interest. excellent!

[ScOObyDoo @ Jun 5th 2007 1:55PM]

I'm more interested in the technology Dash will offer in their device. This mapshare thing sounds pretty lame, it isn't realtime and like the previous poster said, it is open to all kinds of misuse...

[lostfool @ Jul 30th 2007 5:42PM]

Considering that you have to register on their website and that includes your product code, then making false reports will probably get you cut from any support. Additionally they have said that all changes will be checked out before release to other customers.

[RyanTV @ Jun 5th 2007 2:11PM]

Stay away from TomTom - Their customer service is absolutely terrible. They say that their unit's have a a 2 year warranty, but they will do ANYTHING to get out of replacing or repairing things for you.

If you area looking at a GPS, look into a Garmin. Excellent units and fantastic customer service.

[lozaccio @ Jun 5th 2007 2:26PM]

@ Engadget: How do you guys get your hands on pictures for products which were just announced? I could find any pics on www.tomtom.com for this model.

[Leoedin @ Jun 5th 2007 5:29PM]

Ever considered using the "read" link?

Engadget links to other sites. They aren't an original news site, but a news collecting blog. Almost all their posts have a "read" link.

http://laptopmag.com/News/GPS/TomTom-Launches-New-GO-720.htm

And, surprise surprise, there is a beautiful picture!

[lozaccio @ Jun 5th 2007 5:36PM]

Hey Smarty: the sarcasm is superfluous.

[mike @ Jun 5th 2007 2:29PM]

may be helpfull to companies who want to equip their roadies with uniform coordinates. maybe known company partners or customers or something

[lozaccio @ Jun 5th 2007 2:29PM]

I have a TomTom One and found their customer service rather good (not outsourced to f***ing India) each time I had to call them: [phone].

The one thing I dislike about the TomToms and their POIs is the fact that they contain no details/ phone number.

[Kevin Archibald @ Jun 5th 2007 2:46PM]

I love tom tom - best i've found so far.

So how do you modify the maps? if you are driving on an unmarked road (driving in space as it appears) can you make it draw as you drive?

That would be brilliant! Even if it adds an "unnamed road" and uses that in it's route calculations.

[Toby @ Jun 5th 2007 3:25PM]

The Map Share feature makes sense to me. We live in a world where everyone and everything is interconnected (I don't mean to get philosophical here), so it makes sense that this would be the next step in GPS devices.

[saycheese @ Jun 5th 2007 4:00PM]

Until Tom Tom updates their sorry excuse for maps and POI database for
the US, they are a waste of money compared to Magellan or Garmin. No
use having pretty UI and customization options if the core
functionality of the device is so hampered by the inferior maps.

I have the Tom Tom Go 700, and its maps and POI database suck
compared to Magellan and Garmin (or even Microsoft's Streets and
Trips).

[Nobuyuki Idei @ Jun 6th 2007 12:55PM]

I have a Garmin Nuvi 350, and the POI database is terribly outdated, for Chicago at least. You would not believe how many times I've wasted my time driving to a non-existing location. Aggravating.
Many times I've thought about the "Map Share" concept, because the maps are often flawed. Good job TomTom for finally introducing this feature.

[Bryan @ Jun 6th 2007 6:35AM]

I am all over this when it comes out. Was looking to upgrade my TomTom Go 300 and almost pulled the trigger on the One XL. For once, I wanted and it looks like it might pay off. We have a ton of new roads around here that get you places a lot quicker and my current maps don't have any of them. Being able to add them myself will be an incredible feature (if it works) :)

[Tom @ Jun 6th 2007 6:34AM]

Mapshare = no more paying for map updates! I don't know about some of the other posts, but TomTom for me has been the most accurate and useful gps I've used so far, I have a TomTom 910. Garmin is waaay overrated and has a bunch of useless features for insane prices, and Magellan is just not very user friendly. For the people who said TomTom maps suck, they don't even make their own maps, they get their maps from Tele Atlas, the largest map provider in the world. Garmin gets their maps from Navteq and I've had more issues with their maps than with my new TomTom 910.

[Nobuyuki Idei @ Jun 6th 2007 12:57PM]

Amen brother. I've had a Navman, which used TeleAtlas. Drove cross country with that thing. Never a problem. Now I have the Nuvi, and the maps suck (as do the POI db).

[fdf @ Jul 17th 2007 1:45PM]

I have one of the original TomTom Go units--what sux is that the touch screen came out of calibration (it's nearly impossible to press any of the letters on the edges of the keyboard(s)--the last 1-2 letters on either side. Apparently there's no fix to recalibrate the screen either and TomTom told me it would cost me more than the price of a new one to have that fixed (offered to give me an about to be discontinued TomTom 700 for $200 because of "my loyalty".). Am trying to decide whether to spring for the new 720 vs jumping ship to a Nuvi which my buddy loves. I wish there were some assurance that the same thing won't eventually happen to the screen on a new one.

[Steve @ Aug 24th 2007 12:12PM]

MapShare is free for 1 year, then it costs, something. No idea what. This aspect of tomtom sucks, the hidden costs.

The mac software crashed a lot until I unpaired my phone, got it working, and then re-paired. The website has been down for plus stuff for 8 hours. I finally got the Mac software via version tracker. Kinda lame.

The unit is great. Red Robin was marked in the wrong spot. I fixed it :)