You know how TomTom is moving to a
WebKit-based UI with its new flagship
Go Live 1000 satnav? Well, there's good reason for it. While TomTom called it a "platform for innovation" at Tuesday's press event in Amsterdam, going so far as to show a few in-house developed prototype apps for Facebook, Wikipedia, and live street cams, it stopped short of revealing its true plan: an app store it can cuddle and call its own.
Pocket-lint had a sit down with TomTom CEO Harold Goddijn who revealed TomTom's plans to launch the app store by the end of the year. Apps that will easily migrate to its in-car platform, and to and from other WebKit based devices. In essence, it's TomTom's consumer-focused survival plan against free turn-by-turn offerings from Google and Nokia. While there's no doubt that dedicated satnav devices offer greater functionality and better performance compared to their part-time smartphone navigating competitors, selling the average consumer (not hardened road warriors) on the need for two devices won't be easy. Besides, are Facebook updates really that critical when driving? Pics of the Wikipedia and street cam sample apps after the break.
posted April 29th 2010 8:29AM
What the hell are they thinking?
@zman
Seriously, why in the heck would you be checking Facebook or your photos while driving?? Most people with a TomTom or any other navigation device, only use it in the car and that's it. No need for all that stuff while you're driving.
@zman
Is it going to update your status while your drive?
"I just totally turned right at the light. Saved 4 minutes on my trip!"
"Traffic is horrible. Going to take an alternative route!"
"10 minutes from my destination....Then it time for a Lost marathon!"
@zman this is for serious cool guys. all the hipsters in the world should have this kind of gadget.
@zman Yeah! Instead of fighting it they should engage it, they should work with one of the manufacturers i.e. Nokia, and make a phone with TomTom built in!!
@emopoops
... Why?
@zman
Ah... they want to replicate the success of the Kindle on.. no, they want people to stop buying smartphon... no that can't be it...I don't know man, but these guys will be missed...
Dammit Tomtom, puff puff pass!!!
@Plazmic Flame Ever thought about the person sitting next to the driver - who is NOT driving? :]
@theevil
I highly doubt TomTom would make a phone with its main competitor, maybe one of the countless Android-dependent companies would want to make a phone with them.
@theevil
I dunno,....something like Nokia's free turn-by-turn nav with voice guidance combined with the Terminal Mode thingie they already announced some months back, TomTom's move seems totally outdated.
@LAY LOL
@zman Would rather prefer the nuvi phone series than this -- hopefully tomtom will improve it. http://j.mp/garmin-nuvi-3700-viewed
Now I can update my facebook status when get distracted and I run someone over!
@JD01JD
"LOL, i jst hit a pedestrian"
@Wolfticket Mmmm, and combine facial recognition with a windshield facing camera and it could actually do a status message like "Wolfticket maimed JD01JD at the corner of 85th and Main."
@JD01JD For real... every device doesn't have to be connected to facebook.
I hate fb, but nowadays you have to have it :(
"facebook updates really that critical when driving?"
heck no. however, some ppl over here are going to disagree with me.
tomtom gps UI is slick and far better than garmin, or google if i might say. they should focus on enhancing the user experience and add functionality that really creates differentiation in this crowded market.
you've reached a dead-end, please make a u-turn.
Don't these guys ever give up? Garmin saw the writing on the wall. This is what's great about the free market... companies that fail to keep up with the times go the way of the dinosaur and eventually fail. New and innovative ones will spring up in their place.
@Eternity Ummmm.... Everyone seems to have a Tomtom gps, I don't think they will fail anytime soon....
LOL! If you think traffic getting into and out of manhattan is bad now, just wait until this drops.
i think its time to develop an app store for the fridge too! oder food straight out of the fridge, twitter around that milk is finished and that the eggs are expired ... this all app store thing just starts to become stupid ...
@theswiss like it hands it to you? and keeps track of stuff. see thats really just as convienyent as this tom tom thing
Yeah like we are looking to be using apps while driving.
"merge into traffic in 100 yards. you have a new friend request"
lol
@Broo And after you mowed down a couple pedestrians, you can watch the pictures on twitpic or facebook too!
@Broo
"Turn right to accept request or turn left to fly off cliff and reject request"
How about focusing on a better maps application and devices with better reception and battery life? If this is their survival plan, they are going to lose badly.
There's an obvious "Yo Dawg, I herd u like..." joke in here.
Now its just like the iphone! Can't make calls, but it does apps
@Karate Tortoise Then its like the ipod touch. But that one cant navigate you thru the big city jungle...
@Karate Tortoise seriously??? how many times has this joke been made, get some new material and call us when you do. and the iphone not making calls only applies to a few areas of the usa. ive never had one problem here in NJ with the iphone
Relax guys, I was kidding. Nobody I know has problems with their iPhone where I live either.
In all seriousness, this thing is a joke. TomTom doesnt seem to understand that the only way to truly beat the navigating smartphone club is to join 'em. They have to either 1-up google maps navigation in a free package of their own, or partner up with a phone maker and do their own blend of navigation phone like garmin is.
When I dock my Clarion, all functions other than GPS are disabled. It's a liability issue.
Maybe the apps are targeted for the co-driver who has nothing to do as the navigator takes care of all the navigating..? =)
@EngaD All kidding aside, but yes, thats it. People seem to forget that theres more than a driver seat in most cars.
@Bahumbug Indeed.
@EngaD
I just don't get it. Everyone keeps posting "What about the person who ISN'T driving"?
What about them? They can use his/her OWN device for playing. I don't want them tying up my GPS tweeting. If I bought a GPS and it's in my car, it's because I need it for navigation.
hands up who thought the pic was an ipad
It looks like they want to "do more" with a GPS like an iPod does more than just play music. They are hoping people will take the GPS and it will have other things they will use and then they can eventually have their own phone also. Converged devices...but Apple has a huge head start.
Somebody please buy TomTom and end their misery.
I love TomTom device and all... but they are fighting a battle that they can not win.
App Stores will work on mobile phones, tablets and desktops.
1. A hardware GPS is expected to do only one thing but do it very well and very a good price - should be no more than $100.
2. GPS software for phones and tablets should be their other focus.
Build one for every major mobile/tablet platform.
This GPS App Store is a distraction from their core focus.
Its amazing what companies will do when they're desperate
Why would I carry a GPS that does FaceBook, games, news, etc, but doesn't make calls or SMS, when I can carry a smartphone that does ALL of that, that I'm likely ALREADY paying for?
this is a bad idea.
give up while your ahead TOM TOM and all u other satNAV centric companies.
nuff said.
All i want is a Beefy GPS (good CPU/GPU on it) with Connected Services and an Aux Out cable with MP3 Player playback and a 5+inch screen. Thats it. is it that hard to come up with a device that can do all these things? Both TomTom and Garmin are forgetting the basics of what people want.
I sure hope the Facebook application is locked out while a person is driving. Can't have people driving and playing Farmville at the same time can we?
Gotta agree with the other posters. TomTom GPS's are by far the best. I loved having Navigator 5 on my Palm TX til my Pre replaced it. Telenav is just not as good, especially on the Pre. Too hard to use the keyboard and back swipe while driving. TomTom needs to focus on getting their great software on multiple devices. Make it available in the app stores of all the major smartphone OSes and maybe sell some kind of TomTom branded windshield mount that comes with a power cable for your device. Prove to the (somewhat still developing) turn by turn nav on smartphones market that TomTom software is the best. Better yet, partner with RIM, Apple, or Palm/HP and get the software included in new phones. If it becomes a selling point to have TomTom built in, manufacturers will pay them to license it.
@wasloan +1
Need a solution for navigation on my Pre that does not incur data and can load maps locally, so I can use it abroad.
Get your priorities straight, Tomtom. This goes out to Garmin as well.
Ohhhh no they didn't?! Wayy too stupid too late...
Who the hell needs facebook while they're driving?