One day before the official opening of the German electronics fair IFA (Berlin, 4-9 September), TomTom has announced new models in their GO range. This Autumn the company will release the TomTom GO 950, the GO 750 and in some countries line the UK also the GO 550 LIVE to the market.
Hardware
Hardware-wise, the new series hardly differs anything from the previous GO generation, the x40 series. TomTom themselves claim the integrated speaker has improved, but on the outside there are no obvious changes to be noticed. So no big steps forward in that area.
NavCore 9
Something that is an important novelty is the navigational software which ships pre-installed on the devices. The new version of NavCore, which has reached version number 9 now, has had a lot of attention paid to improving the user interface. This should make the devices easier to use and relevant information should be offered to the user in a more user friendly display.
LIVE snapshot
The new function, LIVE snapshot, plays an important role. It accomplishes this by displaying the traffic information, the cheapest petrol-filling station and the safety cameras which may be expected on your route, all before you depart. Once you're on your way you will receive regular updates. As you can see on the photo to the side, TomTom uses tabs for this.
Another novelty is the 'Enriched Points of Interests Database' menu for a quicker choice of your destination and the option of choosing an 'Eco-Route', which provides you with the most fuel-efficient route. NavCore 9 is also said to calculate the routes a lot quicker and the menus are now animated.
Below you'll find a nice 'hands on NavCore 9' movie clip!
Maps
The high end model of the new series, the GO 950 LIVE, is shipped with maps of the United States, Canada and 45 European countries including (for the first time) Malta, Greece and Turkey. The 950 also features Enhanced Positioning Technology (EPT) for navigating without a GPS-fix.
The GO 750 LIVE offers maps for 45 European countries and the GO 550 LIVE (unkown yet if this model will be available in the UK) is meant for navigating only in a specific Country or Region.
Prices of the new x50 range have not yet been announced.
It was me!. I'd swear that the 03 Sept press release indicated that the 550 was not a certainty for the UK. However that is no longer stated. In fact there is a link to some nice pictures of the x50 series boxes. I'm certain that the release has been changed, because I'd have taken the link to look at the boxes if it had been there. On the other hand why change a press release that has been and gone?
Just realised that it is the announcement about x50 in the banner on this forum that says it is not certain the 550 is coming to the UK.
AFAIK only the 550 is questionable as to a UK launch the 750 and 950 should still be made available, it will be interesting to see what they do with this product range and how it will be judged by the public when compared to the other hardware TomTom have released. Lets wait and see what Tuesday has to offer though - Mike
Make sure you have a good look at the x50 models before you part with your money Lee! Apart from the new software (which is very likely to filter down to the x20/30/40 models soon) there is very little (if any) difference between the x50 range and the older models.
I was looking at the x50, but as you say Andy, apart from the software, overall there is not much difference between that and my trusty 720, which I think I will hang on to.
I have seen on Amazon that the 950 will be available 6th November. However what puzzles me is that the 950 is priced at £299.99 and the 940 is £391.48, why.
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11-03
September 3, 2009 - 11:03 h
One day before the official opening of the German electronics fair IFA (Berlin, 4-9 September), TomTom has announced new models in their GO range. This Autumn the company will release the TomTom GO 950, the GO 750 and in some countries line the UK also the GO 550 LIVE to the market.
attention paid to improving the user interface. This should make the devices easier to use and relevant information should be offered to the user in a more user friendly display.
