TomTom U.S. & Canada ($99.99)
Version – 1.1
REVIEW – “TomTom brings GPS to your iPhone!”
There has been a lot of competition for GPS apps since Apple released iPhone OS 3.0, and TomTom has 
been there right from the start! TomTom has always used one of the best map and Point Of Interest (POI) databases currently out on the market, and with this app you get access to that amazing database. If you are looking for a GPS solution that has the support of a big player in GPS and just works, you should definitely take a look at this app!
When you open this app up the first thing you are greeted with is a map screen with a “Poor GPS Reception” message at the bottom of the screen. Don’t worry though, because it goes 
away in just a few seconds once the app gets a solid GPS signal. As I used this app there were a few times that the GPS signal seemed to lag a little bit, but I had no trouble getting a signal anywhere that I traveled.
While it may sound a little expensive, you might also want to look at TomTom’s car kit which now sells both online and in Apple’s retail stores. This unit is designed to not only hold you iPhone, but also to improve its GPS reception, make it double as a hands-free car kit and will even allow 
you to play your audio directly on your car’s stereo.
When you open up this app to the main map screen you will see your location, how fast you are going, how long it is until your next turn, which way your next turn is, how much time you have left in your current trip, and how much time is remaining to your current destination. All of these displays seemed accurate and were updated smoothly as I traveled using this app.
To open up the menu all you have to do is touch the map anywhere. If you want to hear the previous direction that has been given to you all you have to do is touch the information bar at
the bottom of the screen and it will repeat. The menu has a variety of options, but if you are just wanting to get right to navigating to a location just touch the “Navigate To…” button. You will then be given several options for entering in your destination. These options range from using your “favorites” list or TomTom’s built in Point Of Interest database, to just entering in the address.
While some of the apps I have tested had difficulty using the addresses in my “contacts” list to navigate, this app handled them beautifully. It even let me know if the recommended route used toll roads and asked if I 
wanted to avoid them! I tried a variety of addresses, and while I found a couple of addresses that did not exist in TomTom’s maps they did not exist in any other GPS app I have tried either. Most likely this was because they were newer subdivisions and not because the maps were inaccurate.
One of my favorite features of this app is the “Advanced Planning” feature. This allows you to easily set up a trip all the way from the origin and destination, down to each individual stop on the way there. This makes it easy to set up a trip and not have to change any settings in the TomTom app all the way to your destination!
My initial impressions of this app were that it does lack a few of the flashier features of some GPS apps such as Text to Speech and live traffic updates. However, where it lacks in some of the “flashier” features it manages to make up for in reliability and functionality. The maps in this app are top-notch, as is the POI database and the Advanced Planning feature. If you are looking for a GPS application that just works, and you would rather buy from a reputable company, you will not go wrong with this app. So head to the App Store and download TomTom today!
- David H.
Download Now!
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Developer – TomTom International BV
URL: http://iphone.tomtom.com/en-us/
DEVELOPERS NOTES
Turn-by-turn car navigation for iPhone is here.
***** TomTom News Flash *****
On 17 August 2009 TomTom launched its first navigation solution for iPhone and it’s been very well received.
With the launch of the TomTom app v1., the aim was to introduce a trustworthy navigation solution that makes the most innovative technology simple to use.
The ultimate goal is to add as many of the features and technologies that TomTom is renowned for as possible to the TomTom app.
TomTom is also conscious of the feedback that users give through iTunes and regards this as valuable input to making the TomTom app better and better.
TomTom will launch several updates by the end of 2009 that will include improvements on the general performance of the app, as well as additional features and technologies.
All of the updates that TomTom will launch in 2009 will be free to customers that have bought the TomTom app before the update release!
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TomTom app for iPhone
Everywhere you go, you can have the most advanced TomTom navigation technology to lead the way. The TomTom app puts award-winning technology at your fingertips, like IQ Routes™ which gives you the smartest, most efficient route any time of day.
Tap and go – Using iPhone’s innovative technology, the TomTom app lets you tap your way from A to B – putting you in touch with all the best routes. Scroll through the menu, or pinch to zoom in and out on a map using the iPhone’s multi-touch display.
Go your own way – Why follow the rest? See your route, your way. Simply rotate from portrait to landscape to get an easier view of the road ahead.
Meet up with friends – Find an entry in your iPhone contacts list, and the TomTom app will find the way there. It’s that simple.
Find a place to eat – Thinking of stopping for lunch on the way? Choose a restaurant, call to reserve your table, then find your way there – the TomTom app does it all.
The smartest routes – Is the shortest route really the fastest? TomTom IQ Routes™ will always calculate the smartest, most efficient route – saving you time, fuel and money. Only IQ Routes™ uses the driving experiences of millions of drivers to work out your route based on actual road speed data.
Speed Warnings – Stay safe and avoid fines. Going too fast? You’ll know straight away, with advanced visual warnings. You can even see how your speed compares with the limit at a single glance.
The world at your fingertips – Always be prepared for what’s around the corner. The TomTom app comes with an up-to-date, detailed map – and you can add worldwide locations to suit you.
You can also make the most of your navigation experience with the TomTom car kit for iPhone. Check it out on iphone.tomtom.com
Map coverage statistics:
Detailed map seamlessly covers the US and Canada with IQ Routes™ data for faster routing.
Countries fully covered (99.9%): the US (all states including Hawaii and Alaska) and Canada (all provinces) and Puerto Rico.
Check our FAQ section on http://iphone.tomtom.com for more information on:
- How to adjust the volume of the voice instructions within the application
- Where to find the manual to help you learn everything there is to know about using the app
- and much more…
Download Now!
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© 2009, Davidh. All rights reserved.