GPS, TomTom intros GO 930T and 730T with Lane Guidance and IQ Routes
By Nilay Patel 
posted March 3rd 2008 11:15AM
posted March 3rd 2008 11:15AM
Update: If you're in the Netherlands, UK, and Germany, you can also score HD Traffic versions of these bad boys as well, which come bundled with TomTom's new GPRS HD Traffic receiver. The tiny box plugs into a range of compatible TomTom models and provides high-quality traffic data. It's out in the Netherlands now and should be out in the UK and Germany later this year, with France to follow in 2009.
[Thanks, Tim]
Read - GO 930 and GO 730 press release
Read - HD Traffic receiver press release
I suppose you could just look at the road in front of you to see how the lanes are laid out...
what a novel idea!
This isn't much for telling you how the lanes are laid out, but for showing you which one to take.
Well sometimes you drive in unfamiliar cities, and their on/exit ramps are F'd up. My area around the Pentagon is the most screwed up system of ramps that could be designed.
Yes, not for showing you how it's laid out but advice on which lane to get in... old versions would just say "keep right ahead" or "keep left ahead"... lots of times when it says "keep left" to avoid an exit only lane, if you actually would go to the far left lane you might have trouble getting back over to the right for an up coming exit... so this lane advice is a much needed improvement.
When the lane markings are on the road, and there is a car sat directly on top of those direction in front of you, it's nigh on impossible to know what lane you need to be in here in the UK. On occasion, even common sense will fail you at a junction that does not follow a pre-conceived lane convention.
To add insult to injury the lane markings are usually painted about five meters before the junction itself, so by the time you know which lane you need to be in, you should already be in it!
This addition to the feature-set will be a huge help in removing an ever-present frustration with GPS for me. Not least when I'm driving in and out of London, where, due to the sheer amount of traffic, the lane markings have just about been completely eroded.
Wow thats cool.
It looks like the next generation of GPS devices are going to be pretty cool.
No reason they couldn't release upgrade firmware to current 720 and 920 users?!?!
Yes, $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Maybe for the 720, but I don't think software could add an accelerometer to the 920.
The 920 _has_ the accelerometer as well - it replaced the old method of determining position etc when the satellite signal disappears.
Doesn't Navigon already do the lane guidance?
They claim to -- I just bought a 7100 as a birthday gift for Dad, and lane guidance is one of the bullet points on the box.
Yes, the Navigon has Lane Assist. It's a pretty useful feature on multi-lane highways.
They do, and they make a beautiful job of the graphics.
TomTom graphics look like something out a 4-bit graphics application - ugly blocky pixelated eye-sore.
Apparently another undocumented new feature is an overly fanciful depiction of New Jersey.
very nice, tomtom is the the undeniable leader in the gps community....with products like the go 720 and xls and go 920, this announcement should solidify their leading role in the market...very exciting...
Maybe in Europe. But most of these features are either unique to European units, or already on other devices.
To issue a press release claiming lane guidance is a first on mass market GPS units is a bold faced lie. Navigon has had it for ages, as have most Japanese GPS units.
And their "IQ guidance" isn't that brilliant either. Magellan announced it for the Maestro 4250 back in January for the entire US, not just a few select EU countries
TomTom may be big in Europe, but in the US Magellan and Garmin rule. TomTom has horrendous service in the US with virtually no support available.
That's great, we have two tom-tom's, one in each car, and I wish I had a nickle for every time we missed an exit because we didn't understand first or second exit via listening to the tom-tom. It happens at least once a month!!
At least it renders the guardrails nicely.
so i'm guessing this doesn't have the new Sirf chipset?
The first mistake is voluntarily entering the Holland Tunnel.
And then advertising traffic prowess.
Newark looks way too clean on that screen shot. Must have been PS'd. LOL.
My old TomTom has had more map errors, unrecognized zip codes, and crashes than my Nuvi ever will...and the tech support is TERRIBLE and rude! I called them saying that it crashed every time I asked for directions to the Orlando Airport and the guy said "Well maybe you should charge the battery?" You mean in addition to the 16 hours it charged for just a bit ago? I do like their style of windshield mount though.
Is it compatible with GPS assisted walker?
Until TomTom can come up with a mounting system as convenient and "elegant" as Garmin's Nuvi mounting system, then they fail.
Also, having a GPS unit aimed at use in an automobile, that doesn't power on with ignition, is annoying.
Doesn't seem to be any really revolutionary new features in this gen of GO.
But the Traffic HD, now that's clever, much better than systems relying on other users using the same particular system/product like for example the "dash" and similiar products.
Anyone know what kind of GPS chip they use?
OH what a dissappointment the Tomtom 730 is and only for a one single reason: it lacks, IMHO, one of the main characteristics of a comfortable car navi, the ability to power on AUTOMATICALLY when the car's ignition is turned on.
Now what the heck were the software engineers of Tomtom think when they did not include one of the main functions in the software???? It really sucks, I every time I wanna listen to MP3s installed on Tomtom, I have to push the on button when I start my car, it is so rediculous! And besides, I hate wind screen suction cups so I have embedded the unit in the ashtray - but the switch on button is located in the corner which I cannot reach without a special tool. No way Jose, this one goes back to shop and will be replaced with a Garmin.
Software geeks of Tomtom, a friendly advice, act quickly and fix it!!