TomTom Go app (for android)

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shk292

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#171364 15-Apr-2015 11:41

Has anyone else tested the TomTom go app recently, now you get 75km to try for free?

I've just used up my free trial (a day's return commute for me). I won't be paying for the full version.

I liked:
- current speed and speed limit display (although this was blocked by the 'free KM remaining' message for half of the trial)
- the overview bar to the right which shows fuel stations and parking
- ease of searching for destinations

Didn't like:
- slower to start than Google maps
- and the deal-breaker - the traffic info is useless. Doesn't see delays until you're already stuck in the traffic. Makes no attempt to route around traffic jams. When you manually re-route to avoid traffic, constantly directs you back towards the congested road you've just left. Compare this to Google maps, which has accurate traffic info and cleverly directs you by the quickest route, offering alternatives with predicted time differences

Hard to see how TomTom thinks they can sell a premium product which is fundamentally worse than what Google offer for free.

Wade

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#1284637 15-Apr-2015 12:19

I read it as you can navigate 50 miles a month on the free license?

It must be hard to make money from a GPS app when you have Google/Drive/Apple continually improving what they do and chucking it out there for free

Doesn't the traffic info come from other users? In which case surely Google with its location tracking must have multitudes more data at its fingertips #BigBrotherWorking4U :P

dafman

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#1284641 15-Apr-2015 12:23

Why would you pay for an app when google navigate is free?

scuwp

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#1284657 15-Apr-2015 12:33

dafman: Why would you pay for an app when google navigate is free?

Still a long way to go to match the offerings of a stand-alone GPS unit. Tried dumping the TomTom for Google, it was like going back to the old days of being sent down stupid routes and travel times were incredibly wrong most times. Not to mention the data used. After a week trying Google, put the TomTom back on the dash...so much better, for now anyway. Looked at using the TomTom app, but the reviews were not overly encouraging so haven't bothered.

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nakedmolerat

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#1284665 15-Apr-2015 12:38

No, the traffic is live update traffic.

I would have thought it should be the same as the TomTom standalone unit which has saved me hours by avoiding the traffic in auckland!

shk292

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#1284776 15-Apr-2015 14:46

dafman: Why would you pay for an app when google navigate is free?

That was what I was hoping to find out by testing the app. Short answer - you wouldn't

shk292

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#1284779 15-Apr-2015 14:53

nakedmolerat: No, the traffic is live update traffic.

I would have thought it should be the same as the TomTom standalone unit which has saved me hours by avoiding the traffic in auckland!

I haven't tried a standalone unit with traffic info, but if it's the same info and algorithm as the app, then Google is better.

My example is I commute to the Takapuna area from the Hibiscus Coast. I know, and Google maps knows, that leaving the motorway just as it turns into a car park (usually Greville or Oteha Valley) saves me about 20 minutes in the morning compared with remaining in the slow moving car park.

TomTom told me to stay on the motorway all the way to Esmonde Road. When I left at Greville, it spent the next 10 minutes telling me to do a U-turn to rejoin at Greville, then later directing me to Constellation etc. Not useful

Wade

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#1284814 15-Apr-2015 15:13

scuwp:
dafman: Why would you pay for an app when google navigate is free?

Still a long way to go to match the offerings of a stand-alone GPS unit. Tried dumping the TomTom for Google, it was like going back to the old days of being sent down stupid routes and travel times were incredibly wrong most times. Not to mention the data used. After a week trying Google, put the TomTom back on the dash...so much better, for now anyway. Looked at using the TomTom app, but the reviews were not overly encouraging so haven't bothered.

That's interesting as I found the complete opposite and to be honest I have not used my TomTom in so long I actually don't even know where it is so things may have changed in the last year or so.

A few months ago I drove from PN to Akld using Google Maps and when i thought to check data usage it told me i used something like 40mb or less, that's for a 6 hr journey so to me that seems relatively data efficient

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Technofreak

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#1284829 15-Apr-2015 15:28

Nokia have Android and iPhone versions of their Here Maps and Here Drive apps. I haven't tried then as I have a Nokia with them pre installed. So far as i Know it's all free.

No need for a data connection - maps are downloaded/updated onto the phone over WiFi, you can sync favourites to your device. Might be worth a try.

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dickytim

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#1285287 16-Apr-2015 07:49

I have the iOS TomTom app and I used it extensively until I got a Carplay headunit, I now use AppleMaps as the TomTom app isn't carplay approved.

To be honest I haven't had any issue yet with Apple Maps but I haven't driven through an area where I didn't have 3G coverage.

Wade

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#1285317 16-Apr-2015 09:03

Technofreak: Nokia have Android and iPhone versions of their Here Maps and Here Drive apps. I haven't tried then as I have a Nokia with them pre installed. So far as i Know it's all free.

No need for a data connection - maps are downloaded/updated onto the phone over WiFi, you can sync favourites to your device. Might be worth a try.

I have the Android version as a backup to Google Maps, it's as good as any standalone device or app i have used previously, fairly full featured app especially given the price Frrrreeeebieeee! Zip! Zero! Nadda!

You can download as many region maps as you want again all for free

If i was travelling overseas this is the app i would use, preload the maps here in NZ and enjoy data free navigation abroad