January 11, 2009

CES - Conversations with TomTom

TT 740 unit

I could have titled this post "more about the TomTom GO 740 LIVE" since it was their only introduction this year and the main thing we discussed. Shortly after meeting, they learned the the unit had been given the Best of CES award by both CNet and Laptop Magazine. Here are a few more details on the device and some additional screenshots:

  • The unit’s INRIX traffic data covers 122 markets; traffic updates come every 2 minutes
  • The 740 acts as a traffic probe too, sending anonymized data back to TomTom
  • The cellular modem is built into the device, not the mount, and the device looks as thin as other GO units
  • Cellular service auto-activates
  • The mount has a new attachment mechanism, similar to the ONE series twist mounts, although it looks to be greatly improved
  • Google Local search details include payment, hours of operation, and more
  • The ongoing connection fee (after the first year trial expires) will be $9.95 per month
  • When you pull up the weather screen, the unit reads you the forecast
  • Voice recognition seems to be much easier to use than it was with previous models
  • Availability is slated for late March 2009

It really does look like a great device. TomTom and Garmin clearly have different models for connected services, with TomTom introducing this connected PND and Garmin, banking on consumers not wanting another monthly fee, going with the forthcoming nuvifone. Only time will tell who made the right bet.

TT 740 search details
TT 740 gas prices
Jan 11, 2009 11:33:56 AM | TomTom

The comments to this entry are closed.

NEXT POST
CES - A day late and a dollar short Okay, maybe two days late. I'm off to CES shortly, but there is method in my madness. I learned long ago that it's easier to cover these events from home when all the news releases hit the ether, and then catch the tail end of the show for face-to-face meetings. Plus I've got to be in Vegas for another meeting afterwards, so cutting back some time keeps me from being, oh, a thousand dollars short! The usual travel mode caveats apply to GPS Tracklog. Comment approval and response will be slow, and I probably won't be posting many GPS deals for the next week either. I do hope to wrangle some juicy details and insights from the GPS manufacturers though, and will post those from the road if possible, so stay tuned.
PREVIOUS POST
CES - Conversations with Mio Mio was showing off their new Moov S-series with the Spirit interface at CES. There really isn’t a lot more to add about that, though I am looking forward to reviewing them. I’m thrilled to see Mio include 12 million POIs, even on entry level models. With the move to the Spirit interface, they seem to have dropped plans to use Microsoft NavReady. And I did ask, but Mio wasn't quite ready to discuss parent company Mitac's acquisition of Magellan. The most interesting thing at the Mio booth was the prototype Mobile Internet Device (MID) shown above and below. Running Windows Mobile 6.1, they’re saying the device is pretty close to production and that we could hear an announcement soon. It has integrated GPS and WiFi, and a reported 8 hour battery life. I'm expecting it would be priced lower than netbooks. Of course you never know about these prototypes. Last year they were showing off a 3.5G phone, and there have been additional reports about it, but it was nowhere to be seen at CES.

Rich Owings

The Typepad Team

Search

Recent Comments