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Three days with TomTom's Multi-Sport Cardio Sport Watch (2014)
TomTom's always made fitness wearables on the side, but now that everyone's in on that action, the Dutch firm has had to up its game. The 2014-era refreshes of its GPS watches now include optical pulse sensors that do away with chest-worn heart rate monitors and keep pace with at least one flagship smartphone. Is this hardware, however, the new gold standard for exercise gear in 2014? We grabbed the TomTom Multi-Sport Cardio Sport Watch, a device so good they named it twice, and put it through its paces.
TomTom's new GPS watches track your heart rate without a chest strap (update: US pricing)
Now that smartwatches have built-in heart rate monitors, it's not enough for GPS watch makers to require a chest strap for the same feature -- they've got to step up. TomTom, at least, is ready. It just revealed the Runner Cardio and Multi-Sport Cardio, both of which improve on the original Runner watch by combining position-based exercise tracking with an integrated optical heart rate sensor. The new wristwear lets you train based on intensity, ranging from low-tempo warmups to full-on sprints. If that's the kind of fitness monitoring you've been craving, you can pre-order the Runner Cardio and Multi-Sport Cardio for £250 ($416) and £280 ($466) respectively. Update: TomTom has since given out US pricing: it'll cost $269 for the Runner Cardio, and $299 for its Multi-Sport sibling.
TomTom inks new in-car navigation deals with Ford, Renault and Sony
With Apple, Google, and Nokia all vying for a share of the in-car navigation market, TomTom's hooked up with a team of automotive partners to keep its long-term aspirations alive. The first of the navigation firm's three new deals will see it provide maps, navigation and traffic updates for Renault's new built-in R-Link touchscreen tablet, which will feature in no fewer than 15 of the company's new models. TomTom is establishing a new partnership with Ford with the debut of a new app for the in-dash SYNC infotainment system, although you won't see it until sometime next year. The GPS provider will also include its mapping features in Sony's newest AV Center in-dash system, which features a high-res 6.1-inch display. As TomTom gradually gets pulled in two -- between deals with Apple and its ever-expanding list of car manufacturing partners -- maybe the portable dashboard GPS will soon find itself at a dead end.
TomTom's Runner and Multi-Sport watches now available
With all this talk of some prominent companies casting their wrists into the increasingly hot world of wearables, let's not forget the number of folks that have been toiling away in that world for some time now. Companies like TomTom, which is already on the, erm, pulse of the watch world. The GPS-maker announced plans for two new sporty additions to its line earlier this year, and now the Runner and Multi-Sport have found their way to the market. The Runner's got indoor tracking, a speedy GPS locator, desktop stat syncing, a heart rate monitor, 10-hour battery and waterproof / scratch resistant casing. The Multi-Sport's got all of the above, plus a bike mount, altimeter, motion sensor for swimming and a cadence sensor. Both are available now in the states, priced at $170 and $200, respectively.
TomTom pairs with TrafficLand to provide live roadside footage to devs
TomTom is looking to beef up its location based services portal by joining forces with TrafficLand to bring real time traffic video to its developers. TomTom's LBS will now incorporate TrafficLand's network of over 13,000 roadside webcams, enabling developers to integrate live footage into their location-enabled apps via the Traffic Camera API. TrafficLand's real-time video will join the other cloud-based location services TomTom provides to devs, like map content, routing and geocoding. For right now, TrafficLand covers only the US, UK and Canada, and it's not clear if the company plans to expand beyond those three countries anytime soon. For more information, you can take a gander at TomTom's full press release, embedded after the break.
TomTom refreshes GO sat nav, offers 3D maps and lifetime traffic information
In addition to some redesigned sports watches, TomTom has just launched a refreshed version of its GO GPS unit for drivers who still prefer a dedicated sat nav. The hardware comes with interactive 3D maps, a lifetime's supply of real-time traffic information and up to four free map downloads a year. It'll be available in 4.3-, 5- or 6-inch models, and purchasers will also get a free three-month trial of the Dutch firm's speed camera warning system. There's no word on pricing or availability yet -- everything we have is in the press release below.
TomTom makes own-brand GPS sports watches, no Nike swoosh in sight (updated: details)
When it comes to GPS sport devices, TomTom has decided that it doesn't need to linger under Nike's wing anymore. An update to the Dutch company's website has just revealed a pair of wearables that is meant to bring a whole new level of "simplicity" to exercisers. The TomTom Runner (pictured left) is, unsurprisingly, designed for joggers, while the waterproof Multi-Sport (right) can be used by swimmers and cyclists as well. Both will be available in the summer, and as soon as we know how much the units will cost, we'll fill you in. Update: Here's the PR for the devices.
Garmin to power future Mercedes-Benz infotainment systems
It looks like Garmin has managed to lock down a very solid deal following its automotive group's compelling demo at CES. The company's in-dash GPS software is now set to roll out with future Mercedes-Benz models -- Garmin's navigation system is scheduled to be fully integrated within the next four years, and will begin appearing with select 2014 models. The solution sounds similar to the version we saw on display during CES, and includes a primary panel in the center console, along with a secondary display located behind the steering wheel, tasked with providing key driver stats, along with next turn info, for example. Mercedes will share more details once specific launch vehicles are announced, but Garmin said to expect features like Advanced Driver Assistance (ADAS), to help out with vehicle positioning, while the car manufacturer will bring tools like a rotary controller and voice commands to the table. What remains to be seen is how TomTom will fit into the mix -- last month, the company announced plans of its own to provide HD Traffic service to certain Mercedes vehicles, though it's unclear if the two GPS giants will be working together on this latest venture. Update: Garmin reached out to clarify that the company will be providing the GPS software for Mercedes-Benz's own infotainment solution. So it's not all Garmin under the hood.
TomTom partners with Fiat and Toyota to deliver in-dash navigation, traffic (update: Mercedes, too)
If you're a GPS company, one way to keep the smartphone feature creep at bay is to strike deals with car manufacturers, and bake your wares into their vehicles. TomTom has done particularly good securing these partnerships and Fiat is just the latest company to sign on the dotted line. Its navigation software will be built into the Uconnect Radio Nav systems found in the 500L series from the Italian car marker. It will eventually roll out to other vehicles and Fiat brands, but there was no timeline given. TomTom also inked a deal with Toyota's European arm to put TomTom HD Traffic in any vehicle packing a Touch&GO in-dash device. For more, check out the PR after the break. Update: TomTom announced that it'll also be doling out traffic info to select Mercedes-Benz vehicles in 12 European countries via HD Traffic, which will be baked into the luxury car-makers COMAND nav system.
TomTom to supply maps to Intel's Telmap, creates a total navigation app package
Intel scored access to code for location-based services when it acquired Telmap, but it didn't get the all-important location data needed to make the code sing. Rather than leave developers to find the content themselves, Telmap has struck a deal to get mapping information from TomTom. Navigation apps built around Telmap's work will soon have access both to TomTom's base maps as well as 3D maps, junctions, points of interest and voice mapping. While there's no mention of exactly when TomTom data will show up, the union is characterized as a "long-term partnership" -- we'd expect TomTom routing to quickly become a mainstay of Telmap's platforms (and potentially Intel's) in the near future.
TomTom Rider motorcycle GPS gets refresh, for those born to be guided
It seems a safe bet that any contemporary Easy Rider reboot would be vastly different from its predecessor. For one thing, there's the whole GPS thing to contend with -- and surely there'd be a little friendly product placement in the form of the TomTom Rider (New Orleans isn't gonna find itself, after all). The company has updated its long-running motorcycle GPS line to feature a new 4.3-inch "glove-friendly" weatherproof display and the ability to create, upload and share routes via Bluetooth. Bluetooth functionality also makes it possible to get in-helmet audio directions, so you don't have to stare down at that screen the whole time (when you should be looking at the, you know, road). And for those who don't like the straight and narrow path, there's the Winding Roads to help you find routes with more bends. The Rider is currently listed at £329.99 ($511) for pre-order.
TomTom intros iPhone app for its taxi trial service, helps Dutch get home quickly
There's been a perpetual catch with TomTom's taxi hailing service in Amsterdam (and now Rotterdam): passengers have to hail from a specific terminal, which isn't much help when they just need a ride home from the club at 2AM. The Dutch don't have to necessarily forgo one convenience for another now that there's an iPhone app. Edging closer to services like Uber, the TomTomTaxi app lets travelers order a cab from their own devices, learn about drivers and choose favorite drivers if they have good experiences. The software may keep rude surprises to a minimum, as well, when both the driver and travelers can see the fastest route for themselves. Expansion outside of the Netherlands is still a mystery, although there's an Android app on the way that should cover a larger swath of taxi seekers.
IRL: Rosetta Stone, PocketWizard and the TomTom Via 1530
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. Fun fact: this edition of IRL was compiled and timed up about a month ago -- well before we set foot in Vegas to spend a week at CES. We figured, we'd be too busy covering the show, and that we'd be too exhausted afterward to immediately get back to our regularly scheduled workloads. (Ed note: I hope I came out alive -- Dana.) At this point, of course, CES has come and gone, and despite the 18-hour work days, we'd say we had a good time. Nonetheless, we need the literary equivalent of a Tums after a seven-day avalanche of posts, and we suspect you do too. What better, then, but a column about older tech we've lived with a while? We even threw a CD-ROM mention in there for variety's sake.
TomTom HD Traffic 6.0 upgrade ready for consumers, hopes to guide them through LA traffic
Stuck in traffic? Get off your phone, then update your TomTom -- the company announced today that its latest traffic service update, HD Traffic 6.0 is ready to get you out of that traffic jam. The updated service sources real-time data anonymously collected from other TomTom users, and promises to identify 65 percent more road closures than its previous system. Culling data from the service, TomTom was even able to identify Los Angeles as the most congested city in North America -- though we'd hardly consider a call that obvious roadway clairvoyance. On the other hand, we're not about to argue with anything that gets us off the road faster. Read on for TomTom's official press announcement.
TomTom updates its Android app to make it, you know, work
We've journeyed with the TomTom Navigator app for Android and it's been great -- except for one brake-punching problem. Version 1.0 was only compatible with phones that happened to have a display width of 480 pixels (WVGA or FWVGA), which meant that our Galaxy S IIIs, Nexus 4s and other favorite handsets all had to be left at home. That issue has now been fixed in v1.1, along with some other, less fundamental niggles. In particular, you can now download the large offline maps to microSD rather than filling up internal storage, and TomTom also says map downloads can be completed with the app running in the background -- although there's no mention of downloads being resumable. One thing that certainly hasn't improved is the price -- if you want to travel across the USA and Canada, for example, you'll find that Navigator for Android is precisely $50 more costly than Google's offline offering or Nokia Drive for Windows Phones.
TomTom unveils location based services, portal to help put developers on the map
Thanks to a certain fruit company and its cartographic woes, many folks are aware that TomTom provides mapping services to third-parties. Now the navigation company is offering cloud-based services like map display, routing, traffic and geocoding to all, alongside a developer portal with the tools to program them. That'll pit it against rivals like Nokia and Google in providing location data for fleet management, traffic planning or geolocation analysis apps, for instance. Naturally, there's a fee to be paid for all those goodies, but to get you hooked, the company's offering a 90 day free evaluation of its SDK and API. Need directions to the PR? Take the first left, then head after the break.
Addon Spotlight: Mapping and Navigation
Carbonite. Carbonite, Carbonite, Carbonite. It's the addon that will not leave my inbox alone! The hugely popular and, just plain huge addon suffered a bit of a rocky period around the beginning of Mists of Pandaria. An update from the developers did not seem to be forthcoming, so a fan named Rythal took it upon himself to create a fan update for the popular multipurpose beast. The developers then reappeared, apparently less than impressed with Rythal's efforts, and launched their own update. Rythal politely bowed out of the official Carbonite threads and forums, and set up shop on his own site, where he continued to post unofficial updates. Then, a while back in late September/early October, the original developers and owners of Carbonite decided that they really didn't have time to maintain this behemoth of an addon. The discussion began about the possibility of making Carbonite Open Source, meaning that Rythal could officially release his patches, and that he and others could push ahead with modularizing, updating, and generally improving Carbonite.
TomTom Navigator hits (some) Android devices, we go hands-on
TomTom just released its Android navigation app on Google Play to the robot-toting hordes, some three years after its iOS version debuted. Unfortunately, quite a number of newer smartphones, like the Galaxy S III, aren't yet compatible, due to a current resolution limitation of 800 or 854 x 480 (WVGA or FWVGA). That didn't deter us from wanting to take it for a spin anyway, so we took our old Galaxy S out of mothballs -- and there's no place better to sample a GPS maker's wares than rural France, which has endless tiny tracks criss-crossing the countryside. To see how we made out, head past the break for the rest of the story.
TomTom finally hits Android starting at $50, not ready for all devices (video)
As TomTom promised, Android users can now be guided offline by the nav company -- unless you happen to own a Galaxy SIII, Galaxy Note II, Galaxy Nexus or a handful of other recent, popular smartphones or tabs. It said most models would be compatible by year's end, but if you do have one that works already, you'll get all the features that iOS users have enjoyed for quite a while: radar camera warnings (depending on your country), eco routes, contact navigation, free map updates and traffic guidance. The app is now available on Google Play starting at $50 for the US and Canada maps, an "introductory offer" that's 10 bucks cheaper than the same iOS version, so you might want to check the source before that price goes up -- if you've got the right device, of course. We're hoping to take a spin with the app soon, but meanwhile, you can check out a teaser video and the PR, after the break.
Editorial: Apple's smart Maps maneuver
More Info Nokia stacks up its maps next to Apple's and Google's, politely suggests it comes out on top (update: more detail) Apple says it's 'just getting started' on Maps for iOS 6, are you willing to wait? (poll) MapQuest picks TomTom Maps to power iPhone and Android turn-by-turn navigation apps It might seem as if Apple chose its iOS 6 release last week to practice the biblical directive to love one's enemy. For, by ejecting Google Maps from updated iPads and iPhones, Apple hath caused glorious comparisons to shine upon its foe. If most people were unaware of comparative feature sets and quality aspects that distinguish Google Maps from Apple Maps, every tech-loving person on God's earth is an expert now. The media love a bloodbath, and Joe Nocera led the rhetorical pack by calling Apple Maps an "unmitigated disaster" in a NY Times piece. He wondered whether such calamity would have ensued if Steve Jobs (who called the 1998 "hockey puck" mouse the world's best pointing device) were guiding the company's product evolution. Mr. Nocera argues the Maps replacement as an indicator that Apple has peaked. I argue that replacing Google Maps with Apple Maps was shrewd, inevitable and an indicator that Apple understands the true battle it wages.
