» News: TomTom CeBIT: GO x30, NC 8, HD Traffic Options

[Rob Ot]

Posted News:

TomTom CeBIT: GO x30, NC 8, HD Traffic

TomTom has premièred a number of new products in Hanover: the new x30 series with NavCore 8 and an external HD Traffic receiver.

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The yourNAV team

[hippy_1978]

Hi,

I thought the new HD was going to be a built in function and no need for an aerial any more?

Thnaks
Matt

[Bart]

This function is 'built in'. So to speak anyway. The PND needs to connect to the TomTom servers for this to work. This is done via GPRS on the mobile phone network. Hence the need for a SIM card and a mobile phone subscription.

There will also be TT PND's in the future with which you will be able to just slide this SIM card in (actually there already is one: the ONE XL HD - not available in the UK currently), but for now, TomTom chose this option to remain compatible with their x20 series and offer HD to a lot more of their customers without having to force them to buy a new device.

[stingray]

after the first few seconds of reading this i was starting to fume as I'd only last week purchased a 920T! Phew! I like the idea of better lane direction as this can be confusing on complicated junction exits; I've made this error more than a few times myself.

If like me u're using the 920T I assume one doesnt need the TMC receiver anymore?

   Post has been edited by stingray (Mar 3 2008, 21:12)

[shadamehr]

For those of us already using Traffic via Wireless Data, why exactly is a separate external unit needed plus a new SIM etc?

If we already have a two way data path, why do we need to get yet another sim card?

Or is this because of the exclusivity of it, in terms of Vodafone only?

I'm confused?

If it is because Vodafone is the partner, and only their masts and cells can be used to measure this, then why then still would existing Wireless users already WITH Vodafone still need a separate new add on and SIm?

[shadamehr]

Oh........

I see from the screen shots, that they have changed what appears on Page 1 of Map Corrections - i.e. the ones that get amended straight away.

Now you can change road speed, and change junction turn directions too, according to the screen shots.

Still no adding or removing roundabouts however, as this obviously requires too much actual map layour change.

[Bart]

I guess you still need an external unit and not only your Bluetooth enabled phone because indeed this is a Vodafone thing only. This way, also subscribers from other mobile phone companies can still use this service without having to switch. (you only need a prepaid Vodafone card for it to work)

There might be other technical reasons as well, like eg. not all mobile phones support gprs, and not all gprs supporting phones support it correctly. This way TomTom avoids all these problems.

[shadamehr]

I guess you still need an external unit and not only your Bluetooth enabled phone because indeed this is a Vodafone thing only. This way, also subscribers from other mobile phone companies can still use this service without having to switch. (you only need a prepaid Vodafone card for it to work)

There might be other technical reasons as well, like eg. not all mobile phones support gprs, and not all gprs supporting phones support it correctly. This way TomTom avoids all these problems.

Yeah, but what I had asked, was if you DO have Vodafone, and DO have Wireless Traffic already, why can you not use it that way.

The "avoid issues" point there is not valid, as that could exactly be said about standard wireless traffic...

"not all phones have gprs, not all support it correctly etc"

The exact same already applies to standard traffic - the onus is on the user to see.

So no different for HD traffic.

Why can't existing Vodafone users with Traffic simply switch to this.

The real reason, and what i am itching at I suspect, is a commercial one - they want your money all over again, and this way it ensures they get it *lol*

?

[jonstatt]

So if the 920 is identical to the 930 in hardware (except for the silver to black faceplate), will a software/firmware update come out for the 920 that makes it identical to the 930 in software as well? Or will they intentionally cripple the 920 to maintain a differentiator in the product line? I know the traffic support is mentioned, but what about the lane and IQ stuff?

   Post has been edited by jonstatt (Mar 3 2008, 23:43)

[Antti]

I truly hope TomTom has sense of releasing NavCore 8 very soon for x20 series since they aren't actually old. Especially the 920 (t)... I'm not that bothered about the HD receiver (sure they want to release that one ASAP even if its only useable in Holland right now...) Anyway, I don't get why they released x30 series if its 100% same as x20 minus the colours? What they actually released was NavCore 8 and HD traffic receiver.

[Antti]

Or will they intentionally cripple the 920 to maintain a differentiator in the product line? I know the traffic support is mentioned, but what about the lane and IQ stuff?

If they release NC 8 on x20 it will be x30 with different colour. However, we don't know if it will be released. However, that wouldn't be very smart move since 920 was only recently released.

[Bart]

Why can't existing Vodafone users with Traffic simply switch to this.

The real reason, and what i am itching at I suspect, is a commercial one - they want your money all over again, and this way it ensures they get it *lol*

I believe the reason is twofold. For one this makes sure every HD user stays in the network every time they use their PND. The keeps TomTom ensured of receiving the data they need to make this all work.

The second reason is commercial, no doubt. After all, TomTom is a company, and we all know the sole reason of existence for *any* company is to make money. Nothing wrong with that since this attitude brings us all these nice toys to play with.

I for one am very happy they released this HD power lead as an accessory, and not just went the easy route, by creating new HD compatible PND's which would force all TT owners who are interested in using this technology into buying a new unit even though their old unit might be identical in hardware.

Now *that* would be shameless imo...

[jonstatt]

It occurs to me that it would be in Tom Tom's interest to release NavCore 8 for x20 and lower devices sooner rather than later otherwise purchasers of the x30 will not benefit from enough user data for the IQ routes mechanism!

Also, Tom Tom may want to quickly get out an announcement regarding x20 upgrades or stores may find themselves in a difficult situation regarding sales for the next 2 months shifting old stock while waiting for the new. If they intend to upgrade x20 users with the latest software, they should announce it so that consumers will still buy in the meantime.

Are we sure the new TMC receiver would work on older units, or is there in fact a very subtle hardware change, which is the basis for the x20 to x30 transition. Interestingly in the UK I have found I get very good results with the revised TMC receiver (right-angle plug type) that comes with the 920. It held reception for over 80% of the time I drove over a 100 mile trip.

I have never seen such a short product cycle 920 to 930 before.

   Post has been edited by jonstatt (Mar 4 2008, 09:34)

[stingray]

Johnsatt,

"Right Angle TMC receiver plug"? whats all that about? I bought a 920T last week with the latest TMC receiver and the plug is not at right angles at all. Just a straight plug.

[Antti]

Are we sure the new TMC receiver would work on older units, or is there in fact a very subtle hardware change, which is the basis for the x20 to x30 transition. Interestingly in the UK I have found I get very good results with the revised TMC receiver (right-angle plug type) that comes with the 920. It held reception for over 80% of the time I drove over a 100 mile trip.

I have never seen such a short product cycle 920 to 930 before.

If you look at the specs of 930 there isn't any change in the hardware at all. They are exactly the same minus the colour difference. I read somewhere (pocketgpsworld ?!?) that TomTom would be releasing the IQ thinggy already mind or early (not sure) April for x20 series but you need new maps to benefit from it (new maps again...). Also 930 comes with maps of eastern europe and russia so that might have been reason why they wanted to have new series. Anyway, how on earth are they going to cram maps of NA, all of Europe and Russia in to 4 GB since its already almost full (are we loosing map detail on new maps or what). Its worth metoning that 930 has 4 GB internal memory so thats the same along rest of the 920 specs. So if they are getting money out of NC 8 due to incentive of upgrading the maps (IQ) there is no reason why they wouldn't rush it out for current x20 users.

Edit: Bought my 920 (t) and the TMC plug is straight... Anyway, I'm getting good reception.

   Post has been edited by Antti (Mar 4 2008, 13:08)

[jonstatt]

Apologies. I did a reversal. The new TMC receiver with the 920T has a straight plug.

[DarrenUK]

Tomtom have no excuse not to release the new firmware at least for the x20 range, as they are identical to the x30's and don't need re-working. If anything, going by some of the recent releases of HOME, they seem to use current users as beta testers for their new software!

Assuming the new software works ok, then they should be promoting that and just let the x30's filter in as the stock of x20's runs out. After all they cannot claim that they are new machines except colourwise (whoah! flashback to mobile phone releases!).

I for one am very pleased that these new features do not mean my go520 has to become a paperweight. I am looking forward to the lane assist, as like many others the previous keep left and keep right arrows were not accurate enough for me and caused mistakes.

[Antti]

I am looking forward to the lane assist, as like many others the previous keep left and keep right arrows were not accurate enough for me and caused mistakes.

I'm not 100% sure if my info is correct but I think that lane assist requires the new maps as well. IMHO TomTom is pushing it too far if this is the case since that would mean you need to buy new maps every 3 months to stay "current" (as if those maps were spot on).

[anchor]

It appears as there will a considerable premium to pay for the extras on the 930.

From the only UK site I could find that lists a price for the 930, it will cost about £469.

http://www.handtec.co.uk/product.php/1042/tomtom-go-930

In contrast, the 920T can currently be found for about £290.

The question is, are the new features worth an extra £179 for the average user; I doubt it.

[Andy_P]

Tomtom have no excuse not to release the new firmware at least for the x20 range

They aren't under any obligation to do anything of the sort!
I think it's quite amazing how they have (obviously struggled sometimes) supplied newest software to every old machine. Not a lot of companies bother to do that.