TomTom's iPhone car kit gets taken for a stationary test drive
By Donald Melanson 
posted Oct 7th 2009 6:24AM
posted Oct 7th 2009 6:24AM
It's been a long trip filled with hopes and confusion, but TomTom's iPhone car kit is now finally nearing an actual release (minus the bundled navigation app), and a few lucky folks are beginning to get their hands on it. While they unfortunately didn't get to take it for an actual test drive, the folks at Recombu did get to spend a bit of time with the device and deliver a few initial impressions, noting that the kit feels solid and easily accommodates your iPhone without too much effort. Interestingly, the site also says that TomTom told it that the kit will also work with "any sat-nav iPhone app," and that TomTom's own navigation app (which has apparently already sold thousands of copies) will be getting free updates. Head on past the break for a brief (and we mean brief) video.
Update: Exact sales figures removed upon TomTom's request.
Update: Exact sales figures removed upon TomTom's request.
Any kit for the iPhone that doesnt take in to consideration the fact that the phone lives in a case 24/7 is just plain stupid, I will wait for version 2 to come out until then I will use my univeral iphone/ipod/sat nav dock... Simples
Amen.
The need to tear my iSkin off every time I want to to use the mount would completely eliminate any convenience it adds.
I'm not saying TomTom has to design it to fit every case on the market, but at least make it a bit adjustable.
Anyone who puts their phone in a case is stupid.
@ mystic
anyone who states what you just did is even stupider
Stupid people are stupid stupid heads.
Have had my 3G for over a year with no case, and you'd be hard pressed to find a scratch anywhere on it. Just take care of your devices, it's not that hard.
I could care less about scratches honestly. The ones on the screen you can avoid with a screen protector. Scratches anywhere else I don't really care about. They're not the issue. The issue is YOU MIGHT DROP IT!
If you drop your iPhone onto a hard surface, there's a really good chance the screen will break. And you will have to spend $499 or whatever to get a new one. I've dropped mine more than once, but always in the case and nothing happened. If you think you can go a couple of years without dropping yours I wish you luck. You just might need it.
Doesn't look as great as the accessory for the Leo, but still better looking than most!
What accessory is that then? Links please!?
All the way at the bottom: http://www.htc.com/uk/product/hd2/overview.html
That does look good. And it charges too!
phone cases are so lame....especially cases for the iphone. it´s like buying a designer-chair and putting it behind glass. just spend 20 bucks more than for the case and get a proper phoneinsurance!
Only tards keep their iPhone in a case 24/7, so it turns out it's you who's just plain stupid.
I've had my iphone 3G for over a year now, and I use it everyday. I've never used a case and it still looks new. Only light scratches on the back, nothing to be concerned about. I even stopped putting screen protectors on it about 6 months ago.
I sang that same tune while owning my 1st Gen iPhone without a case, followed by my 3G. Never a problem and plenty of falls. Then the one fateful fall that hit in just the right place, and shattered the entire glass. I've cased it ever since.
80,000 copies = $7.2M gross (I realize apple takes a cut) and they can't give you a break when buying the kit? WTF.
Rick,
Please remove any references of our sales numbers or we will stop sending you free gadgets for favorable review.
Cheers, Tom Tom
@ Malte
That would be nice, but AT$T doesn't offer iPhone insurance here in the U.S.
So don't knock our cases if we want to Protect our $600 investment.
You can protect it by not being a butterfingers and dropping it. It takes some severe abuse to scratch an iPhone, it won't get scratched by just putting it in your pocket. People who think they have to buy a case for the iPhone are either the clumsiest people on earth, or they're ignorant.
Dear Jack,
You sir are a troll. Somebody who wanders the internet posting pointless tirades hoping to get a rise out of other people. The reality is that its not a bad insurance policy against dropping your iPhone and cracking the screen and spending $500.00 or more on a new one if you're still under contract. The people who want to maintain the beautiful thinness and take their chances, well they're not stupid people either. They're making choices. Its fine either way. Be happy with the choice you make. Other people don't have to agree with you. Its okay.
Thanks,
The Internet
Only idiots ruin a phone by sticking it in a cover. It's like buying a new sofa and keeping the shrinkwrap on, or buying a car bra. Just plain wrong. Have you got it clipped to your belt aswell?
I think you'll find, me old mate, that only idiots don't keep their iPhone in some sort of rubberised protective case; out of the five iPhones bought for senior staff at my company in October 2008, we'd knackered three of them by January 2009! I dropped mine in the toilet...we now have comprehensive (literally) insurance (and 32gb 3GSs, which is nice).
^^ and a case would have protected your phone from the toilet, right?
Umm have you ever seen the back of a black iPhone? It's a magnet for shifty finger prints. I have a case on my phone not so much for protection but to hide that ungodly backside...
What happens if someone calls you while TomTom is running?
the battery expldes!
the battery explodes!
It activates the Flux capacitor which, if you're moving at exactly 88mph, will let you time travel.
Seriously, it show the usual incoming call screen and you can answer or send it to VM.
And once the call is over you can click on the Tom Tom App icon again and relaunch the App and it will pick up where it left off, as will Navigon. And presumably the other GPS apps like Co-Pilot as well, though I can't verify that.
Too Bad TomTom sucks in relation to MobileNavigator by Navigon. And yes I own both. Won't be giving TomTom anymore of my money if I can help it. I was even happier using AT&T's product vs TomTom who still doesn't get DFW directions right.
I'm thinking of getting the Navigon, seems a like a much better app than the TomTom. Just as well, my wife has the TomTom One in her car, I hate that thing, 1 out of 3 times the directions are completely wrong. Considering also the Navigon iPhone mount is going to run $50(ish)...that's at least half of what TomTom wants for theirs.
From the reviews the Navigon app appears to be the better choice, so I bought it and I'm generally quite happy with it. Have been using it for a few days while travelling. Works quite well really, with a decent feature set. Sure I wish it wasn't $89, but hey, its less than Tom Tom wants! And my wife and I can share it, so its really just $45 for each iPhone... And with a $12 windshield mount (which requires taking your iPhone out of the case unfortunately), it works quite well. I don't see the need for the stronger GPS chip or the louder speaker or the speaker phone or the other things the Tom Tom mount offers. Just say no.
"TomTom told it that the kit will also work with "any sat-nav iPhone app,"
does it means that turn an iPod Touch in a GPS?
no what this means is , it should work with other apps like navigon...
We're hoping it does. TomTom originally listed the iPod touch as a supported device, but has since removed it from it's FAQ.
Yes it's been announced it will work with the touch as well.
Before 'tards contradict me saying the touch doesn't have gps, there's a chip living in the dock itself, and that's what make it expensive.
For those who don't get it yet, the gps chip in the dock is meant to improve or grant gps reception to the iphone (2g/3g/3gs) or ipod touch
will be able to use it with other sat-nav apps like navigon (which i prefer more).......... this is probably the reason why TOM TOM is charging that much for this OVER-PRICED iphone accessories because your not obligated to buy the TOM TOM app, and they know people will use another gps app (like navigon) if they ever buy this.
@oclement: Yes I'm sure Tom Tom originally meant to support the iPod Touch and that was one of the justifications for the duplicate (but more powerful, in theory) GPS chip in the mount. But their Web Site doesn't list the Touch as supported. In fact it doesn't list anything earlier than the iPhone 3G as supported, which I don't understand at all. Presumably means you can't install it on the iPhone 2G. Go read it yourself. Its right on their web site.
I suspect the Apple license stuff (the little chips people have to embed to get "Designed for iPhone" etc working) is to blame. Presumably it would have worked except for that, i.e. they had to pay Apple more money for the chip that supports both iPhone and iPod. Just a guess though.
Anyway, its no longer listed as supported on the Tom Tom site, and after searching for a bit couldn't find any evidence of anybody trying it one way or the other.
I'm probably in the minority but me buying this hinges on how well it does as a speakerphone. If it costs that much and sucks as a headset replacement, then no dice.
I'm waiting till TomTom reduces the price of app and kit or at least bundles it at a better price...
If it works well with Navigon, they may have a sale...
My aging Garmin Nuvi needs a map update, and with the price they charge, I may end up with the Navigon app regardless, but a GPS boost could be helpful as well.
Still, lower the damn price.
Stupid video.
So what exactly does this get you besides a way to stick your iPhone to the wind shield?
As others have said there is a GPS unit in the mount itself, which means it can turn your iPod Touch (or 1st gen iPhone) into a GPS unit with the Tom Tom app.
I really wanted this as I don't have a BT headset, car charger or navigation so this was appealing but the price is just too high and the software has gotten poor reviews.
Just going to Bestbuy and comparing and you can get a Garmin Nuvi with widescreen for like $150.
They should offer a $30 off rebate on the mount if you buy the Tom Tom app. as well as updating it to meet what Navigon has already for less money.
Navigon is great. I will never buy a stand alone GPS....
I will NEVER add anything to obstruct my windshield!
@Donald Melanson
"Update: Exact sales figures removed upon TomTom's request."
Can you give elaborate on this? Wouldn't sales figures be news worthy?
It seems a bit odd that you would pull that information.
@Donald Melanson
I'm sure you are busy on other articles, but I would really appreciate a reply from you or Engadget about this. Removing the sales numbers seems lacking in impartiality.
I am very curious how many people will actually buy this. The first 5! TomTom models sell for EUR 159, EUR 189 and EUR 199. This is all cheaper or as expensive as the combined TomTom Europe for iPhone + car kit. I guess for the US the situation is similar. Why then would we want to have TomTom for iPhone?
I don't get it! Why are they promoting windshield obstructions? So stupid, since many jurisdictions in USA are prohibiting such.
In addition, MY glass is too far away; I do not care to reach way forward to adjust something or to read the screen!!!
when in october is this releasing? i'll most definitely purchase this since i only have an iPhone 2G with no data plan and seeing that this car kit works with it, i'll be buying this on release date.
Seems entirely possible that this will in fact work with the iPhone 2G, but the 2G isn't listed as compatible with the Tom Tom app on Tom Tom's site, so I'd read other reviews before you purchase it.
Am I the only one that has noticed the lack of a female dock port on the bottom of this? I have a dock connector on my car stereo and would like to use that to listen to music instead of blue tooth (and my car stereo has a speaker phone). I would like improved GPS signal but taking away the dock connection makes this a no go.
Interesting thing, Engadget... They diligently allow for other edited posts to retain their original stature with stricken text. Yet for this post, they remove the problematic text altogether.
I understand that the text in question was an accurate reporting of the number TomTom app copies sold, and that the ramifications are that we - the people - can crank out some math to figure out how much money TomTom (and Apple) are making. Y'all should have considered the ramifications before posting your story. I'm surprised I'm the only one mentioning this, aside from Peevish Adult and noco37.
So deleting stuff after the fact isn't cool. Please don't redact stuff, Engadget.