TomTom Go Live 1000: Apps and mobile phone tracking hit the road

TomTom is meeting the challenge of location-aware smart phones and free navigation software with a new souped-up sat-nav platform. The Go Live 1000 will be the first to add apps and real-time routes.

The Go Live 1000 packs a 500MHz ARM processor and capacitive touchscreen, boasting a WebKit-based user interface. It includes a SIM-card slot, 4GB of internal storage and 128MB of RAM. It'll be the first in a slew of devices to support third-party apps, downloaded via the Web or over the air via mobile partner Vodafone.

Maps have been updated, with improved graphics to cover more roads and addresses in 45 European countries. The driving interface includes a traffic bar on the right, showing how heavy traffic is ahead of you. A parking-assist feature points out car parks nearby. Real-time petrol prices, services and weather will also be updated by the unit. All this will be free for a year with the Go Live 1000, and less than €50 (£43) a year after that.

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Magellan RoadMate 1475T hits the streets

Magellan hasn’t exactly lit up the world with its offerings of late, but it is nice to know that they’re still in the GPS navigation system game with their latest device, the RoadMate 1475T. This model from MiTAC Digital Corp. will bring together premium features in a relatively compact body to make sure that you’ll always reach your destination using the most efficient route possible, regardless of whether this is your first time in a foreign land or not. What makes the Magellan RoadMate 1475T special is its ability to be equipped with traffic-enabled device (VPA) that offers subscription free, real-time traffic alerts, incidents and road congestion reports, letting you avoid all the potential traffic hotspots in the area..

Just like many other new models in the Magellan RoadMate series, the Magellan RoadMate 1475T will boast the revolutionary OneTouch favorites menu which will place personally selected addresses and searches within a mere click away. Once the user has identified and stored his/her preferred banks, restaurants and other destinations into the OneTouch favorites menu, they’re easily accessible regardless of where they travel, as the RoadMate 1475T dispenses with the closest preferred destinations there and then. In addition, the Magellan RoadMate series comes with searchable AAA TourBook listings that comprise of AAA Diamond Rated restaurants and lodgings, alongside attractions, events and campgrounds, making it much easier to plan your trip whenever you hit the road. You can also access AAA-Approved Auto Repair shops and businesses that offer AAA member discounts through the listings, and Magellan assures you they won’t bring you round the block like a headless chicken as all listings include the exact GPS location.

Features of the Magellan RoadMate 1475T include :-

* New 4.7-inch, WQVGA - color, anti-glare touch-screen display in an ultra-thin design
* Acclaimed easy-to-use OneTouch favorites drop-down menu with personalized search icons to easily find favorite places
* Features AAA TourBook listings and member Roadside Assistance menu
* 6 million points of interest (POI)
* Spoken street name guidance tells the user the street name and which way to turn before each maneuver
* Highway Lane Assist points the user in the right direction and ensures the correct lane will be chosen before the next interchange or exit
* Highway Exit POI search let the user find gas stations, restaurants and hotels near upcoming exits
* QuickSpell with New SmartCity Search intelligently narrows searches and checks spelling when entering addresses
* Offers multi-destination routing with route optimization lets the user plan trips with multiple stops in the order they want or optimize a trip for the most efficient route, saving them time and money
* Includes NAVTEQ maps of the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico

Expect to fork out a relatively affordable $299 for this puppy.

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TomTom White Pearl

Getting lost is no fun, not when you have a bunch of kids sitting in the back row who can’t stop asking the question, “Are we there yet?” Having a GPS navigation system is more or less indispensable these days, especially when driving around has gotten so much more convenient. For folks who tend to drive out of state frequently and head off to unfamiliar places, toting a GPS navigation system is a God-send since you don’t have to worry about folding up any maps once you’ve got your bearings, and there is always the software to blame before your wife lets loose on you a verbal tirade on how you are too stubborn to stop by and ask someone for directions. Hey, you asked the GPS software, didn’t you? TomTom is offering yet another model for the masses - the White Pearl, which is a special edition navigation product with a twist.

The White Pearl comes with a stylish, pearlescent design which makes it ideal for a gift, and it will definitely add a touch of glamour in your vehicle. Each purchase comes with a chic pearlescent finish EasyPort folding mount to match the White Pearl itself, and is based on the TomTom ONE IQ Routes edition, making sure that driving is stress-free all the way to your destination. In addition, TomTom has also thrown in new features such as special Points of Interest including ‘Places to be seen’ and ‘Shop ‘til you drop’, making sure everyone in the family has something to look forward to each time they step into the vehicle with you.

While we don’t know when the US will be getting this device, folks in the UK can get their hands on the TomTom White Pearl from this month onwards via Amazon.co.uk for the recommended retail price of £179.99.

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GPS navigation system save you gas

GPS manufacturer Navteq says it does. They recently released the results of a study that they had commissioned that show that drivers that have a navigation system used less fuel on an annual basis then drivers that don’t.

The problem is, because the Navteq paid for the study, you have to be a little cautious about their objectivity. Personally, I believe it. Having used a GPS satnav to travel long distances, I find that I can get from point A to point B much more efficiently than with a printed map or directions. Of course, on a daily basis the only real benefit would be if your GPS had traffic avoidance. But If you can avoid sitting and idling for long periods of time, you could save some fuel there as well.

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