We've just returned from a ride with the
TomTom Go Live 1000. In general, the device met our relatively high expectations set by a purported flagship navigator from the likes of TomTom. Unfortunately, the prototype unit guiding our vehicle was limited to a scripted demonstration on pre-selected routes. And when we did veer off course thanks to an unhelpful, but rather posh, voice guiding us to turn left a bit early, it took about 8 seconds for the ARM 11 device to reroute -- not bad but not exactly the 0 seconds we were promised during the pitch. Again, we were told that this was the result of using a prototype device... though it must be a near production-ready model given the summer launch timeframe. The unit also wasn't equipped with the automatic volume adjustment that raises and lowers volume based on the ambient noise around it. We did witness the Webkit UI in action and it does seem significantly improved based on our brief 15 minute test ride with it. However, it was still cumbersome enough to give our tour guide (a TomTom quality manager) fits as he tried to jump between 2D and 3D navigation modes. And the capacitive touchscreen was a mixed bag: at times it seemed to require the kind of finger mashing usually reserved for resistive screens; at others it was a bit too sensitive to effectively target
street names from a pick list while being jostled about on a Dutch road (accidentally brushing the display selected the entry either above or below the street desired). As bad as all this sounds, we had the good fortune to have a
Garmin nuvi 1690 in the vehicle with us to go head-to-head, flagship-to-flagship, and the Go Live 1000 was the clear winner in getting us back to our starting location. Check the Go Live 1000 in action after the break.
GPS, 
posted April 27th 2010 9:40AM
I'd love to try the capacitive touchscreen myself... Sure I love it on my phone, but do I want it on my GPS? I get this strange hunch that I'll walk away liking it, but realizing it doesn't really matter so much for me, since I don't drive much.
@Outsider Drive that much, as in, to locations I couldn't find without a GPS, anyways.
I wish they would start using more beefier procs on those GPS units.
@Cg006 Hopefully it will be improved. Also, one should realize that it'll be wise if you'll buy affordable cheap gps devices that'll suit your needs. Opinions.. http://j.mp/guide-cheap-gps
Video or it didn't happen.....
Oh, never-mind. Carry on plz.
I owned both TomTom and Garmin, i found TomTom almost impossible to use. It was slow, directions weren't clear. Garmin is simple and straight forward, turn right, turn left and everything is fast and accurate.
@Sea Urchin I'm with you on that. TomTom advertised big time on the radio and I finally got one. It's nice enough but Garmin simply does a better job.
Is it me or TomTom is more and more looking like Google Maps Navigation?
@gpmoo7 I think it is just you. However, to be fair, it is all just a picture of the one freaking earth. Some of them are bound to be similar.
Is it me or did it seem Frenchy didn't care much for the two Brits pointing out the devices flaws...
Why would they give you a prototype? "Oh here make all the assumptions you can on a device that won't be anything like what we're going to sell" I don't get it.
Because if it's great, the review is positive, and if it's bad, they can blame it on being a prototype.
@soniclooking
most Americans don't know what a prototype is. that's way too my syllables.
@soniclooking
Son, the whole point of a press event is to create noise in ANTICIPATION for a launch. You have to do this BEFORE a launch which means you have an UN-LAUNCHED (AKA prototype) device.
@tazp123
son, you're confused. all prototypes are unreleased devices; not all unreleased devices are prototypes. learn your contra-positives!
GLOSSY SCREEN WOULDN'T WORK FOR A SATNAV!
Am sorry but this has nothing on Google's GPS Nav on the Droid. Prototype or not, I am not sold.
TomTom is a Dutch company and being from Holland myself I bought one of their refurbished units. Then had to fight with TT to get an updated map. This agrevation says stay away from our products....which I will forever do!
depends
I've owned TT 910 and 940 but thats it for me. TT is kind of dinosaur GPS world playing catch up with the rest. The services like HD Traffic are overpriced and devices are behind (even their prototypes it seems) what the competitors are offering (Navigon 8450).