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We recently tested the newest hot item to come out of Tom Tom; The XL 340S Live. It was released at the end of September, following on the successful heels of the Live services on the high end "GO" range of products. Now, the competition in the mid range market just got a little more competitive.
When asked about their newest competitive entry, Jocelyn Vigreux, President of Tom Tom, Inc., said;
With the new TomTom XL 340S LIVE, we are bringing unrivaled quality and truly connected navigation to the mass market. Now backed by the strength of AT&T’s network, we’re giving drivers the very best foundation on which to enjoy a range of useful, real time services
You will be pleased with the features and results, and even more pleased with how little it will cost you. At an MSRP of $299, this is not an entry level GPS device, BUT, at ONLY $299, you get a lot more than you bargain for, especially if you consider other GPS models by other developers and manufacturers.
There are significant additions above the lower end line with features that mimic that of the high end editions. The biggest "greatness" to this device is the "Live" services, which were not seen in a midrange device, as they were only available in the high end one. The TomTom XL 340S LIVE comes with a range of many needed services that are received via a built-in wireless modem. Three months of service is included in the box. Also as part of the live services are:
- TomTom Fuel Price Service Get the latest fuel prices on the go or in your area. Locate the lowest priced fuel and navigate directly to it.
- Receive local and five-day forecast so you can make plans based on the latest weather and road conditions.
- Locate satellites automatically and begin your trip even faster.
You can search right the main screen for points of interest via Google.. Yes, Google. It is not an internet device, however, the TomTom XL 340S LIVE allows for a POI and other local searches by Google. This is on top of the millions of Points of Interest that are pre-loaded on the TomTom XL 340S LIVE. Once you found what you want, guess what. Tom Tom will get you there.
The TomTom XL 340S LIVE enables users to always drive the smartest and most efficient routes, thanks to TomTom’s exclusive IQ Routes. It calculates routes based on historical speed measurements for every time of day and for every road segment, from large highways to small local roads. It can actually deliver you to your destination faster than conventional methods due to this.
Let's talk traffic. the XL 340S LIVE automatically and wirelessly receives and delivers to you, real-time traffic speed and incident reports every two to five minutes. Traffic delays can be heard audibly and are displayed on the screen. It then gives you the driver, the choice on whether or not to avoid it and offers you suggested routes that, combined with the IQ Routes, can save a substantial amount of time.
Tom Tom also incorporates MapShare. By their own acknoledgement;
- What is TomTom Map Share and how does it work?
o Map Share is a proprietary TomTom innovation that allows end users to submit map corrections and share them with the community at large.
o It is a key component in TomTom’s efforts to deliver the most up-to-date maps.
- What are the steps from map correction by the user to the implementation in a Tele Atlas map.
o When a user encounters an area of the road that is out of sync with the digital map, he/she may tap on the screen to enter a map correction.
o Next, the user may agree to share this with TomTom by accepting a prompt on the device. This correction will be sent via TomTom HOME the next time the user connects the device to a PC.
o TomTom then verifies the correction and offers it to Tele Atlas who then may incorporate it into a future map release.
- How are map corrections vetted by TomTom/Tele Atlas? Is any part of this process automated?
o TomTom’s process for verifying maps corrections is proprietary information, but TomTom has many quality assurance procedures in place to ensure corrections are valid and helpful to our customers.
- How do you guard against malicious use of the feature?
o The vast majority of Map Share submissions are legitimate; however, to guard against the few that may be malicious TomTom has a rigorous validation process.
- Is every correction that a user makes automatically sent to TomTom for validation?
- If the user agrees to share map improvements then their submissions will be uploaded the next time they connect to HOME.
As for esthetic's, you will like the XL screen at 4.3" which is pleasingly large. Thanks to the Tom Tom Home software that is automatically downloaded when you hook up the device to a computer, you will be able to make it more "yours" as well. With the software, you can download additional voices, color schemes, and even make your own to share.
All things considered, with its price point and good all around feature set, this is a great device to take on the road. Whether you drive for a living, or just take the occasional trip, this GPS will prove its value again and again.
For more info: The XL 340S Live can be purchased at most major retailers or at Tom Tom itself.
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