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TomTom confirms new taxi-ordering service, beginning trial rollout in Amsterdam
TomTom has been continually upping its navigation game, what with its partnership with Apple in iOS 6 and the HD Traffic 6.0 upgrade and requisite Android app announced this summer. Far be it from the Dutch service to rest on its mapping laurels, though: it's now poised to take on Uber and other players in the taxi-hailing world. Last week, The Next Web reported that the company acquired the taxi-fetching app maker TXXI in an effort to roll out a TomTom cab-booking service, and today the site reports that the theory is now confirmed. Speaking with TNW, TomTom said it indeed bought TXXI to "help develop tools to support the taxi market," with initial efforts focusing on Amsterdam. Last month, the company began a trial program in that city to let restaurant and hotel guests order a taxi from a mini-kiosk called the Taxi Butler. On the cab side, there's the so-called Taxi Assistant, a TomTom-branded device which alerts drivers to incoming requests. No word on whether the company will eventually introduce mobile apps, but we'd say it's a pretty safe bet.
TomTom announces HD Traffic upgrade, BMW Partnership
TomTom is announcing HD Traffic 6.0, an upgrade to its live traffic service that's reportedly 90 percent better at identifying roadworks and 65 percent better at spotting closed roads. At the same time, the company's teaming up with BMW to offer GoLive device integration with selected 1, 3, X1 and X3-series vehicles. Pop down to your local dealer, and a specially designed mount will integrate the gear with your car's entertainment and audio systems, muting directions when you're on a call and so-forth. Both are available from today, with HD Traffic expanding to a further 23 countries before the end of the year.
TomTom bringing its navigation app to Android in October, keeping mum on the details
Following the release of its smartphone hands-free car kit, TomTom is previewing its new navigation app for Android handsets at Teutonic trade show IFA. When it arrives in October, it'll offer navigation, traffic and IQ routes to tempt users away from Google's bundled navigation applications and onto the company's paid service. The terse teaser is bundled after the break, but until the GPS maven opens up about its new platform, we'll just have to be patient.
Engadget's back to school guide 2012: accessories
Welcome to Engadget's back to school guide! The end of summer vacation isn't nearly as much fun as the weeks that come before, but a chance to update your tech tools likely helps to ease the pain. Today, we've got a slew of accessories -- and you can head to the back to school hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back -- at the end of the month we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- and hit up the hub page right here! Sure, you may need ultraportables and such to get the bulk of your work done, but you also need a few add-ons to make tasks just a bit easier. In this installment of the back to school guide, we'll offer a collection of accessories that will do just that. From extra batteries to external hard drives and peripherals, what you'll find here should help you get through a day of back-to-back classes, without the need to worry about losing all those term papers if something goes wrong with the SSD. Of course, not all of these are meant to aid in serious, head-down studies. We also tackle a few options for keeping fit and iPad-powered study breaks, too. So head on past the break for the rundown on a gadget stash that'll help you ease back into the flow of things this fall.
TomTom refreshes Navigation app for iOS, adds social features
TomTom has refreshed its Navigation App for iPhone and iPad with a new user interface, Foursquare integration and constantly updated maps. It'll also automatically check into your favorite hangouts to avoid forgetting to oust your frenemies at your local coffee house. The revised application will also help you avoid French speed traps that don't fall foul of new laws on traffic alerts, with the whole thing playing very nice with the recently announced car kit. The app retails for $50 (€70) in the App Store -- although we're not sure how popular it's going to be if those same features will be bundled in iOS 6.
TomTom launches new hands-free dashboard mount for smartphones (video)
TomTom is busting out a pair of new smartphone cradles to ensure your handset sits snugly on the windshield of your whip. The Hands Free Car Kit is available in both iPhone or microUSB (for all other smartphones) versions and comes with a built-in two watt speaker, extendable microphone and fast charging. Both editions are available for £80 ($125), while an iPhone-specific bundle that comes with the company's navigation app will set you back £130 ($204).
MapQuest picks TomTom Maps to power iPhone and Android turn-by-turn navigation apps
Still trying to figure out which way to turn when it comes to on-phone navigation? How's about a free option to ponder? MapQuest's gratis iPhone and Android programs are set to get a heck of a lot better, and soon. The company just announced that TomTom would become its maps provider, enabling it to provide coverage for more than 7.5 million miles of roads across North America. Interestingly, it seems that TomTom is finding new life after the death of the PND (personal navigation device) in software; just last month, Apple knighted TomTom to power its own internal Maps app, which is set to debut with iOS 6.
TomTom opens up MapShare to all 60 million of its GPS units (video)
TomTom has seen the inexorable rise of smartphone navigation and decided that it needs a cheaper way of updating its head units. Its cunning solution has been to open its MapShare community to all 60 million TomToms in the wild -- which was previously limited just to smartphone apps and select devices. MapShare works by allowing users to update their, erm, maps, when they spot a change has been made, which is then uploaded when they get home. It'll now be aggregated and pushed out as a free daily download. Users can filter updates, deciding if they want ones submitted by "some," "many" or those officially verified by the company itself -- so don't bother trying to game the system to make your morning commute easier.
Inside the process of creating navigational maps
PC Pro UK has a fascinating article about the navigational maps we use on our devices and how they are made. This behind-the-scenes look examines how the four biggest digital map providers maintain their vast repository of information. Nokia-owned Navteq has a database that includes 24 million miles of roads and makes 2.4 million changes to its database each day, says Navteq's vice president Frank Pauli. These changes are made based on information provided by users, governments and its own mapping efforts. Another big map provider is Dutch company TomTom. TomTom is not as big as Navteq, but it is able to effectively use data supplied by its devices which phone home with information. It also has an active base of users who send in 15 million map changes each year. There's also Google which PC Pro describes as having a "mishmash" of maps, some of which are licensed and some of which are generated in-house. Lastly is the OpenStreetMap project which started off small and has emerged as a major player in the recent years. OpenStreetMap relies almost entirely on user-based submissions that can modify a map within minutes. You can read more about each of these solutions in the PC Pro UK article. [via Slashdot]
TomTom, Apple sign global agreement for map data in iOS 6
During its WWDC keynote, Apple unveiled a new mapping solution for iOS 6 that'll replace the Google-backed Maps app. This new Maps app includes stunning 3D flyover maps and, for the iPhone 4S and iPads from the iPad 2 onward, turn-by-turn navigation -- a key feature of Google's mapping solution on Android that was not available in iOS's Maps app. Shortly after the new Maps app was described, digital maps provider TomTom confirmed that it signed a global agreement with Apple to provide maps and other related information, according to a Computerworld report. TomTom is a prominent name in the mapping and navigation business. The company has been producing digital map solutions for stand-alone GPS units and for other companies like Samsung, RIM and Google. TomTom's own line of iOS turn-by-turn apps sells for US$50 and up, but like GPS apps from Navigon and Garmin the apps include a full map cache that does not require a data connection. (Garmin also sells a maps-on-demand nav tool, and AOL's free Mapquest offers turn-by-turn navigation with map downloads on the fly.) On its website, TomTom says its has "up-to-date digital maps that cover over 200 countries and territories around the world." In its statement about Apple, the company said will provide some, but not all the mapping data needed for Apple's new iOS 6 Maps app.
New Apple nav app uses TomTom as primary provider
Our sister site, Engadget, is reporting that the new navigation app from Apple will use TomTom maps as a primary, but not the only source of street map data. We were sitting around wondering how people like Garmin, Navigon and others would feel about Apple providing turn-by-turn for free on iOS devices, and now we know that at least TomTom is in on the deal. Specifically, on the new nav app copyright page, it gives 2006-2012 ownership to TomTom and "others." TomTom started offering a navigation application for iOS back in 2009, and major competitors have offered full featured and excellent performing alternatives. Apple likely feels pressure from Android, which has provided a free navigation application from the start.
Apple selects TomTom as primary iOS 6 maps provider (update: confirmed)
Been wondering exactly which data service is replacing Google as Apple's map provider? According to these leaked screenshots (shown above) from the iOS 6 developer beta running on an iPhone 4S, it appears to be TomTom. The company is no stranger to iOS, as its navigation app and car kit have been available on the iPhone since 2009. On an interesting note, the maps application specifically mentions "data from TomTom, others," which means there may be other suppliers that aren't getting called out by name. We'll keep you posted as we hear more what's going on behind-the-scenes. Update: TomTom has independently confirmed to us that it indeed "has signed a global agreement with Apple for maps and related information." [Thanks, Anonymous]
TomTom's Nike+Sportwatch gets revamped, adds NikeFuel, subtracts price (video)
Nike and TomTom have updated the GPS-toting Sportwatch to include NikeFuel and maintain parity with its FuelBand active bracelet. NikeFuel is a universal standard that converts your exertions into a normalized score -- great for when you want to want to compare your exertions against friends with different hobbies. It's also heralding a revamped Nike Plus website where we hope it'll integrate with the recently announced Xbox edition. The Anthracite Blue Glow (or "Black and Blue") edition lacks a Nike+ shoe sensor so costs €150 ($190), while the other three colors will, pushing the price up to €170 ($215).
RIM teams up with TomTom to bring HD Traffic to BlackBerry devices
Looks like executive switches aren't the only thing happening at Research in Motion this morning. Earlier today, the Canadian company announced a partnership with TomTom that will see the GPS outfit's HD Traffic service make its way onto BlackBerry devices. Essentially, this means a handful of BlackBerry applications such as Traffic, Maps and Locate Services will now be powered by TomTom's offering -- a feature we've previously seen on iOS and even your browser. Notably, RIM says developers are going to have access to "mapping and traffic" for use within their own apps, which is bound to make a few of you some Berry happy campers. Hey, at least RIM's making an effort.
TomTom's new sat nav: perfect for your van down by the river
If you're prone to hitting the road in a trailer or camper, you probably know that the road isn't exactly made to accommodate to your less-than-dainty vehicle. In a bid to express its deepest sympathies (and, you know, make money), TomTom is unveiling a device made specifically for caravan owners. In addition to offering the standard TomTom Live features for keeping up to date with traffic and weather reports, the Go Live Camper and Caravan includes warnings for narrow roads, low bridges and the like, and it also highlights the nearest rest stops and other points of interest for road trippers. And because you probably trade in that motorhome for a smaller set of wheels on occasion, TomTom lets you switch to a different profile, complete with customizable specifications for size, weight and speed. The Go Live Camper and Caravan will set you back £349.99, and as the price indicates, it's currently only set up to handle roads across the pond.
TomTom releases fix for leap year bug, gets GPS devices back on course
Not long after acknowledging that a leap year bug had borked a handful of its GPS devices, TomTom's releasing a fix to solve the problem. The company says some nav systems had tracking issues beginning March 31st, claiming the intercalary conundrum was mainly caused by a bug in the third-party software. Those whose GPS devices are acting a tad bit confused can head over to the source below, where deets on how to get things back to normal await you. [Thanks, Aryo]
TomTom confirms leap year bug is affecting a 'limited number' of GPS devices
Has your TomTom GPS let you down over the past few days? Then it looks like the company may have pinpointed your problem. It confirmed today that a leap year bug is preventing at least some models from obtaining a GPS position -- something that has apparently been occurring since March 31st. Exactly which GPS devices are affected isn't clear, with TomTom only saying that a "limited number of models" have been experiencing the problem. Unfortunately, the company doesn't have a permanent fix just yet, but it says that a hard reset of the device will temporarily resolve the issue if you find yourself in a pinch. Instructions to do that can be found at the source link below (you can also sign up to be notified when the permanent fix is available).
IRL: Rayovac Mobile Power Pack, a TomTom car charger and cleaning a DSLR sensor
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. This week's edition of IRL is geekier than usual because really, only the nerdiest of you would be reading a tech site when you could be pretending to be Irish. On tap (har!) we have James and Andy talking about their favorite ways to charge gadgets on the go, while Darren, a man after serious photographers' hearts, tells what happened when he took his beloved D3S in to have the sensor cleaned.
Forthcoming TomTom iPhone app to feature enhanced social integration
Just when you thought navigation apps pretty much had all the features you thought you needed, TomTom has thrown some fresh ideas into the mix. The company is at CES demonstrating an updated navigation app that uses social networks as a source for turn-by-turn directions. "According to recent studies, the vast majority of iPhone users use Facebook on their iPhone," Corinne Vigreux, Managing Director Consumer at TomTom said. "By integrating Facebook features into our TomTom App we make navigating to places, events and seeing friends even easier." The app, which will be delivered this quarter, uses Facebook places, events and friends as a source for destinations, and allows drivers to share their destinations and arrival time on Twitter, Facebook, email and SMS text. The update will be free for current owners of the TomTom iPhone app. Some example screens are below: %Gallery-144201%
TomTom powering Samsung Wave 3 Bada Maps
The ink is drying on the agreement 'twixt Samsung and TomTom for the latter's maps and location content will appear on the Wave 3 Bada smartphone. Owners of the device will get access to TomTom's global maps, point of interest information, 3D city maps as well as live traffic updates and speed camera notifications. It's premature to speculate, but given Android and Nokia's free GPS apps, we could see this as the start of a new direction for the mapping company. There's no word on if the service will be free to use or when it'll be available, but we've got plenty of other details tucked below the break.
