GPS Navigation

TomTom One XL has a bright screen and pre-loaded maps right out of the box. It also picks up your location quickly and has built in bluetooth capabilities. The main difference between the XL and the One is that the XL has a larger screen 4.3″ compared to it’s predecessor at 3.5″ and an option for real-time traffic via a bluetooth enabled device such as a cell phone. This unit is compact and very portable.

What is great about the TomTom One XL Gps?
The TomTom One XL has a large, bright touch screen and comes with pre-loaded maps right out of the box. This unit picks up your location quickly and has built in Bluetooth. This also enables you to add optional services, like real-time traffic and weather information as long as you have a Bluetooth enabled cell phone. I don’t believe this service is available in the United States at this time. I also do not an if it will ever be available in the US for this device. It has a large choice of routes including the fastest, shortest, non-toll roads, highways and more. This GPS also speaks instructions very clearly.

What is not so good about the TomTom One XL?
The unit does have text-to-speech capability. Restaurants are not listed by type in the POI database. It is not easy to view contact information. The menus are a bit laborious to get through. Bluetooth cannot be used for hands free.
TomTom One XL features include, and SD card slot, which allow you add additional maps and POI.
There is a power button located on the top of the unit, which is easy to press.
The TomTom has the mini-USB power inlet/connection on the bottom.
It has 2D and 3D map perspective as with most Gps’s these days.
This unit uses an internal lithium ion battery that the manufacturer estimates will last 2 hrs, but it does include a car power adapter.
The TomTom One XL offers numerous POI like, gas stations, motels, restaurants, ATMs, beaches and concert locations. However there is no easy way to search for these locations unless you are browsing the map.
You do have the option of choosing between 55 different voices with various accents that are built in to the device.

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How many times have you had that annoying voice tell you that you’ve just missed your left turn, but then it very kindly re-corrects and adjusts for your missed turn and tells you how to get to that Krispy Kreme in Richmond that you just need to have? Or maybe that was just me, but most people who have GPS/portable navigation systems in their cars have managed to settle down to having a small, inexpen52sive TomTom or other form of nav system that sits on their dashboard and is kind of small and petite.
While these things are incredibly valuable for when you’re lost somewhere, the fact is that the most recent iPhone and Smartphone is about to make GPS systems in cars obsolete. Yup, you read that right. Obsolete. In fact, the current iPhone has a function that allows you to find out just about your exact location, due to a nicely-tuned program with Google maps in that little beauty. The current iPhone will triangulate your position with a ton of different Wi-Fi hot spots in the area and attempt to pinpoint your location from there. Thing are about to get even more complicated in the business market, though, as the brand new Apple iPhone, the one that Steve Jobs is going to reveal in just a few days, is going to have an entire GPS system right inside that little machine that would all but destroy the market for GPS systems.
Not that the iPhone didn’t have enough bells and whistles to really get your techno-motor going, but with this nice little GPS system, you’ll be able to find out where you need to go no matter what way you’re traveling. This way, if you’re a pedestrian who’s trying to figure out where to go, rest assured that your iPhone can tell you. The new smart phone is also amazing in its navigation system.
And if that isn’t good enough for you, apparently, these plans have officially scared the life out of the manufacturers of the TomToms, S-Dals and many other GPS automotive navigation systems. The fact that the iPhone is going to be with their customer all the time will essentially eliminate the need for a dash-board navigational system, since they can just pull it up on their phone and keep driving, which, many people still seem to do.
The only problem with this entire thing will be having people learn how to adjust to the smaller screen of the iPhone without creating an unneeded distraction while driving. The smart phone offers a better screen that can make it easier to use.

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With the increasing popularity of Global Positioning System, a host of GPS related products are coming into the market. The GPS receiver is one of those products that comes in a variety of styles and is manufactured by numerous companies. TomTom is one of the leading brands in the UK.
For anyone interested in a GPS receiver, certain things must be considered prior to purchase including manner and frequency of use. Those who plan to use their GPS receiver may be interested in those models that have a greater range of features. TomTom GPS receiver gives you the most advanced technology with added benefits. The dedicated TomTom receiver weighs only a little more than 10 ounces and measures 4.5 by 3.6 by 2.3 inches that makes it the smallest all-in-one devices ever seen. Its multi color touch-screen display and black case with removable silver bezel surrounding gives it a look of tiny television screen. Its functions are so simple that you will get only two buttons below the screen. One is used for power and the other is used for removing the device from its mount.
This phenomenal GPS device is having another unique feature called as SD (Secure Digital). It is used for loading OS and maps. TomTom’s products emphasize innovation, quality, and simplicity of use, safety and consumer value. Therefore, TomTom GPS receiver is masterpiece in terms of quality. You can avail many benefits if you avail this GPS device. One of the key features is that it navigates directly form the PDA addresses book integrating TomTom software into the PDA menu.
TomTom GPS receiver is a perfect solution to all your connecting needs. It eliminates the need for connecting cables. It is so small in size and having a lightweight that it can be used in the car, or in your bag or pocket for use on bike or on foot. Thus it is the worthwhile device if you are a tech-savvy guy.

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Is the Garmin car GPS the best model to buy? Or should you go with Tom Tom? Opinion seems divided between the two makers, even though Garmin out sells Tom Tom over 2 to 1.
To help you decide between the two, I’m going to compare the Garmin car GPS with Tom Tom. Hopefully, this will give you a little help on deciding which company and which of their models is right for you.

Garmin Car GPS
Garmin sells 50% of the GPS devices sold in the United States. (To be fair, in Europe Tom Tom is the industry leader.)
There’s a reason for Garmin’s dominance of the U. S. market. They simply have more models to choose from at more price points.
I’m not going to discuss every single Garmin model in this article. But I will mention a few that I like at various prices.
In the entry-level market, you have the Garmin nuvi 200 and the nuvi 350. The nuvi 200 is a true entry-level device. It can do everything a GPS is supposed to (tell you where you are and show you how to get to where you’re going), but it doesn’t have many features beyond that.
The nuvi 200 currently runs about $150.
The nuvi 350, on the other hand, has a few great features like maps of the whole United States and Canada. It also can receive traffic and weather alerts (with subscription). At only $200, that’s a lot of GPS for the money!
In the middle of the market, Garmin has the incredible nuvi 760, which sells for just under $350. The 760 has a wider screen than either the nuvi 200 or the nuvi 350. It also has Bluetooth capability, traffic and weather alerts, and it can route its sound through your car’s stereo system. It also does multiple points routing, which means you can enter more than one destination in at a time.
Consumer Reports called the nuvi 760 the best overall GPS on the market, recently. I happen to agree.
At the high end of the market, there’s the nuvi 880. It can do everything the nuvi 760 can and also has several impressive cutting-edge features that no one else has. The nuvi 880 will set you back a cool $900, but if you’re looking for state-of-the-art, look no further!

Tom Tom
Tom Tom doesn’t really compete with Garmin at the high end of the market. Actually, no one does.
Where Tom Tom is most competitive is the low end.
Their Tom Tom One, 3rd Edition can do much more than the nuvi 200, but sells for essentially the same! If I were going to buy and entry-level unit, I would probably spring for the One, 3rd Edition.
In the middle of the market there’s the Tom Tom GO 920T, which sells for about the same as the nuvi 760 ($350). The GO 920T has Bluetooth and the wider screen. It also has Tom Tom’s own Map Share technology, which lets users actually correct Tom Tom’s map database.
Personally, I would go with the Garmin nuvi 760, if I wanted a middle range product.
So, my comparison ends up like this: Tom Tom One, 3rd Edition for $150, the Garmin nuvi 760 for around $350, and the Garmin nuvi 880 for $900.
There’s certainly more to know about GPS devices than just this. For one, there’s the company Magellan and their fine products.
But this at least will give you a start.
What you need to do now is get on an informative website where you can browse individual models and check out current prices.

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Surely if I keep on driving I’m bound to reach my destination, and yes we did need to pass through those ten other towns on the way. It’s a mode of thinking that has often got men into trouble. We are renowned for not taking instructions and heaven forbid we should take advice from our wives or partners.
What we men desire is a way of getting from point A to point B without having to put too much thought into it and without looking like a fool. We put the expectation on ourselves to be all knowing even though those around us know better. In this age of technology help is at hand. There are some great electronic systems available that can ensure you experience a stress free journey.
One such system is the Garmin GPS system. These units are interactive, so much so that they can do just about everything for you except drive the car. While there are other systems that are inbuilt into vehicles these systems are removable. This offers a clear advantage because the unit can be moved from car to car. The unit itself can be attached to the windshield, which is great because it makes viewing the screen easier and allows unrestricted access to the unit. There can be no real benefit if you need to look towards the floor to see where you are and not focus on the road ahead.
One of the other great attributes of this system is that it comes with voice software. This means that you don’t even have to look at the screen to see where you are. The system is designed to tell you new directions so you can focus on driving. This is beneficial to all passengers because there is no need for manual navigation.
There are many additional features to this system as well. For example, this system has specific locations programmed into it. If you’re hungry and looking for a coffee shop the solution is easy. The Garmin gps systems will inform you of every coffee shop that lies ahead. You can even see exactly where any store, shopping center, or restaurant is located. It will also tell you how far away they are and whether you need to veer from your current path to get to it.
When it comes to traveling on the road there are some things that you just can’t get away from like traffic. Why then wouldn’t you want to make life easier for yourself and use a system such as to Garmin GPS? There really is no excuse for getting lost these days. You can even get to your destination with little prior route planning.

Popularity: 61%

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