Hasta La Gadget!

We’re actually surprised that TomTom’s still going strong after Google and Nokia unleashed their free satnav offerings many months ago. If you need some convincing, try this: following the launch of its Go Live 1000 series earlier this month, TomTom has just published a manifesto on its mission to encourage “better use of existing road capacity,” and eventually “reduce journey times for everyone by up to 5 percent where there is traffic.” Actually, by “everyone” TomTom means Europe, and according to its computer simulations, this would apparently require 10 percent of the continent’s drivers to be hooked up to its HD Traffic active load-balancing service. There’s no time frame given here, but it’ll probably be awhile — in the video after the break, CEO Harold Goddijn admits that out of TomTom’s 45 million drivers, only about 1 million (or 2.2 percent) are currently connected to its live services. That said, this figure might get a little boost once TomTom starts providing free traffic data to radio stations and TV channels as part of its manifesto (in return for some cheap publicity, of course).

On a related note, TomTom has also just rolled out HD Traffic 4.0, touting its “higher accuracy, reporting up to 200 percent more traffic jams during rush hours than previously.” Existing HD Traffic customers from eight nations — including Switzerland — need not fiddle with anything to utilize the new service, and by year’s end seven more countries will join the party. Meanwhile, we’re still waiting on TomTom’s own take on the App Store — who knows if the company will even survive long enough to reach its goals. We kid, we kid. Or do we?

Continue reading TomTom shows signs of life with Traffic Manifesto, aims to shorten European travel times by 5 percent

TomTom shows signs of life with Traffic Manifesto, aims to shorten European travel times by 5 percent originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 19:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche knows better than anyone that it’ll take a miracle for owners of many older 911s to upgrade, so rather than crying over it, it’s figuring out a new way to milk stale customers. The head unit you see above is described as the “Classic Radio Navigation System,” and apparently, it’s designed to fit within the dashes of 911 motorcars built between 1963 and 1977. In short, it offers a modern-day navigation experience within a radio that still fits the motif of those gorgeous pieces of iron, and at €595 ($776), it shouldn’t be a tough sell to any true collector. Word on the street has it that it’ll hit Porsche dealers next month, ensuring that you’ll finally be able to make that Thanksgiving jaunt to grandmother’s house without getting turned around. Now, if only we knew what kind of mapping software it’ll ship with…

Porsche stuffs modern NAV into retro radio, tips hat to loyal 911 owners originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 02:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Several months ago, TomTom introduced the TomTom Car Kit, which lets iPhone owners enhance the GPS ability of their phone while positioning it at eye-level for easy GPS navigation. But what do you do if you’ve upgraded to the iPhone 4 and your phone no longer fits in the holder? You just ask TomTom for your free adapter, that’s all. It’s nice to see a company doing the right thing and standing by its customers.

Follow this link if you purchased a TomTom Car Kit and would like your adapter. You’ll get a small external adapter that can be attached directly to your car kit. Orders will begin shipping in mid-September. All new car kits shipping after September 1 will include the adapter, so buyers won’t need to send for it.

We still maintain that you’ve got better options than TomTom when it comes to iPhone GPS software, but if you pulled the trigger before giving yourself a moment to consider what you were actually doing, this here news may just interest you. In an effort to maintain compatibility with Apple’s latest and greatest iPhone, TomTom is now including a simple adapter for all Car Kit orders going out on September 1st or later. If you ordered one prior to that, you can apply down in the source link for a freebie to be sent your way. Or just hack something up in the garage that looks like the insert above. Your call, vaquero.

Update: Full press release after the break.

[Thanks, Dan]

Continue reading TomTom offers free iPhone 4 adapter for Car Kit

TomTom offers free iPhone 4 adapter for Car Kit originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Powers That Be may think that they’re pulling the wool over our eyes, but we can see the planned fate unfolding in front of us. Before long, our arms will be effectively useless — after all, once you can game and navigate with just your face, why bother pumping iron and keeping those biceps toned? Over at Wireless Japan 2010, the Nakajima Laboratory at the University of Electro-Communications showcased a prototype that helps explain the latter. Dubbed a Wearable Personal Navigation System, this GPS-infused pair of glasses has integrated LEDs in the frame that wearers can see in their periphery; there’s also a magnetic direction sensor, which detects the orientation of the user’s head. Once you point your face in a given direction, the LEDs change color to let you know which way you need to head in order to walk, sprint or gallop to your destination. It’s hard to tell how long we’ll have to wait before we see these on Pearle Vision’s Buy 1 Get 1 rack, but the video after the break ain’t making it any easier to wait.

Continue reading Innocent glasses transform into GPS-equipped routing mechanism… on video!

Innocent glasses transform into GPS-equipped routing mechanism… on video! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 06:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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