Considering a GPS System?

So have you finally gotten fed up with always getting lost when you’re in a rush? Are you thinking that maybe it’s time to look into getting a GPS system? Although most smartphones have some sort of navigation, there are many features on an actual GPS system that smartphones just don’t have. If you’re ready to look into this then read on. I’m going to let you know about some of the top-rated GPS devices available right now.

TomTom One 140-S
List Price: $199.95
Sale Price: $99 (at BuyDig.com)
I’ve written a review previously about the TomTom One specifically that discusses this system in detail if you are interested. This GPS device includes a multitude of maps and over seven million points of interest found within the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. It also has features like IQ Routes, lane assist, and multisegment routing. These are rarely found at such a entry-level price. This is definitely one to keep in mind.

Garmin nüvi 885T
List Price: $799.99
Sale Price: $276 (at BuyDig.com)
Now yes, this system is more expensive, but it has some fantastic features like voice recognition, text-to-speech conversion, enhanced MSN Direct services, great Bluetooth phone support, and tons of other advanced features. The advantage to this device is that there are now newer Garmin models, so you can easily find the 885T at a discounted price.

Magellan Maestro 4700
List Price: $299.99
Sale Price: 199.58 (at ANTOnlibe.com)
The Maestro features voice prompts, a responsive touch screen, fast route recalculations, and a feature that allows you to easily find your car in a crowded parking lot. The downside to this particular system is that it has extremely inconsistent voice recognition and can sometimes take quite awhile to lock your exact location.

Gamin nüvi 265T
List Price: $219.99
Sale Price: $125.99 (at eCost.com)
This Garmin model gives you quite a lot for the price tag. Something quite nice that they include with the 265T is a lifetime of free traffic updates. The device also includes an ecoRoute feature that can assist drivers in saving gas.

These are all reliable GPS systems that should satisfy your desire to always know where you are going. All that you have to do is decide which features you would utilize most, and you have found yourself a brand new, dependable GPS system.

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Americans Don’t Speed Much?

Before doing some research, I would have confidently said that a huge percentage of American drivers have the tendency to speed, but according to the GPS data from the TomTom this is not necessarily true.

Recently, the company compiled their data from the Speed Profiles database of the TomTom to see how many drivers that owned a TomTom were speeding. See TomTom’s IQ Routes and Tele Atlas map business unit feature can actually track the average speed of drivers on their routes.

I don’t know about you, but it seems that every time I get on the road there’s always some crazy maniac out there flying down the highway, but according to TomTom this really isn’t that many people. They reported that drivers from the fastest states in the country, Mississippi, New Mexico, Idaho, Utah, and Alabama, were staying within or slightly above the speed limits of 65-75 mph.

As amazing as it may seem according to TomTom, drivers out there just don’t seem to be speeding, well…at least the ones that own a TomTom.

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Looking for a short term mobile technology rental to to make your next trip a success? Call 800-736-8772 today and ask about our Nextel Rentals, Two Way Radio Rentals, or even our Aircard Rentals!

A Feature-filled Budget GPS System: The TomTom One 140-S

The new TomTom One 140-S has finally brought some competition to the entry-level GPS market. It has a multitude of features that makes it stand far above many people’s reigning budget GPS choice, the $249.99 Garmin nüvi 265T.

The first thing that will draw your attention to the TomTom is its sleek stylish appearance. Its features a glossy black case with chrome-accent trimming around the 3.5-inch touch screen. The whole GPS system measures 3.0 x 3.6 x 0.8 inches (HWD) and weighs a total of 6.8 ounces with the suction-cup mounting bracket. The Easyport mounting bracket is not exactly what you would call easy. To remove the GPS from the bracket, you must either pop the GPS out of the mounting systems or remove the entire apparatus itself from the windshield. The problem with just popping the GPS out is that it is very difficult to put back into the bracket, and the issue with removing the whole bracket is that it can be difficult to stick back on your windshield.

Although the TomTom One 140-S is very similar to its previous model, the 130-S, there have been some very exciting improvements to the system. The 140-S now sports a Quick Menu. This gives you the ability to choose up to six of your most used functions for easy access through onscreen shortcut icons. There are also new and improved maps on the 140-S and an expanded points-of-interest database that features over seven million entries that spread over all 50 states, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. The maps are pre-loaded on your internal memory, and with the TomTom’s Home application you can plot your trips and update your maps through your PC.

A disadvantage with the TomTom One 140-S is that it does not include live traffic capabilities. To solve this problem, you will have to purchase a USB RDS-TMC traffic receiver for $59.97. This does include a free subscription for the first year but will cost you about $60 per year after that.

One of the really cool features included in the 140-S is the IQ Routes. This technology will calculate your optimal routes based on previous knowledge of your average speed. These results will give a more accurate estimated time than speed-limit-only data. It takes a little longer to calculate your route, but it is obviously worth the wait for a more accurate prediction and quicker route.

Another important feature to discuss is the Advanced Lane Guidance of the 140-S. This allows you to clearly see which lane you should be in to accomplish any upcoming maneuvers and informs you of any road signs that you can expect to see. Lane Guidance is an excellent safety feature that is difficult to find in any budget GPS systems. The 140-S also includes itinerary planning, which can come in handy when taking a multi-segmented trip.

The TomTom One 140-S is easy to operate, like its predecessor the 130-S. The volume has definitely been improved on the 140-S though, which is a welcome change. The 140-S can get as loud as you could possibly need, and conveniently increases the volume automatically every time the car goes over 45 mph.
The TomTom One 140-S has so many outstanding features for its small price tag. For $199.95 you can possess a GPS system that features a Quick Menu, IQ Routes, Advanced Lane Guidance, itinerary planning, and so much more. I feel that this budget GPS is definitely the way to go. With all the features that can’t be found in any other budget GPS system’s, how could you possibly pass the it up. The TomTom One 140-S is definitely a breath of fresh air.

TomTom Debuts TomTom Start in Europe

TomTom, the world's leading provider of navigation solutions, has announced the debut of TomTom Start today. TomTom Start is said to be an entry-level car navigation solution that is easy to use and is specifically designed for drivers who are new to car navigation or who don't often travel very far.

The light-weight device has a compact 3.5" screen and a semi-fixed EasyPort mount that allows it to fit into your pocket, a small bag or glove compartment. The menu is easy to understand and uses a two button interface - "plan route" and "browse map." It also gives users access to the safety camera database's several "points of interest." Users can also download the TomTom Home desktop software to gain access to even more content including start-up screens and a range of fun voices.

"With the introduction of TomTom Start, we have taken another step in democratising navigation by making it easy to use, accessible and affordable, but without compromising on providing drivers with the fastest route. Available in six stylish colours, the TomTom Start is equipped with the unique innovative solutions IQ Routes and Map Share technology,” Corrine Vigreux, Managing Director of TomTom said in a press release.

According to the press release, IQ Routes technology provides TomTom users with the fastest route, any time of day, with accurate travel times. It helps users plan their routes with a database of over 800 billion speed profiles worldwide. Map Share technology is unique to the TomTom brand and it allows users to make their own map changes so that other users may benefit from the corrections made each day.

New TomTom Car Kit for iPhone

According to TomTom's website, they will begin selling a new Car Kit for iPhone at some time in October. The kit will work for both the iPhone and iPod touch, along with other third party GPS applications.

So what does the Car Kit have to offer? A number of things including its own GPS receiver that, according to NaviGadget, works a lot better than the one already on the iPhone. It also includes a microphone and speaker for hands free calling, allows your phone to charge while driving, and streams music to your car stereo.

Unfortunately, the kit won't currently feature TomTom's iPhone app. The app, which sells for $100 in the United States, can currently be purchased through the iTunes App Store. There is no word on whether or not TomTom will add the app to the Car Kit bundle in the future.

Tom Tom Donates GPS Devices To Pan-Massachusetts Challenge

The Pan-Massachusetts Challenge (PMC) is an annual bike-a-thon fundraiser that supports the Jimmy Fund. The Jimmy Fund is an organization based out of Boston, Massachusetts that supports cancer research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The Pan-Mass Challenge is the leading athletic fundraiser in the country and raises more than 50% of the Jimmy Fund's annual revenue.

The Pan-Mass Challenge is a fully supported bike-a-thon that has varying paths available to take depending on your cycling skill and time availability. There is the traditional two day rides that have the original 190-mile trip, 180-mile trip, 163-mile trip and the 153-mile trip. Riders can also choose one day trips which encompass a 110-mile trip, 84-mile trip and 47-mile trip. The Pan-Mass Challenge runs through 46 towns throughout Massachusetts and has an expected 5,500 cyclists this year.

Monitoring the Pan-Mass Challenge is a daunting task. keeping track of the cyclists and efficiently getting to problem areas or downed cyclists could prove very difficult. However, this year at the Pan-Mass Challenge, Concord-based Tom Tom, makers of the popular GPS systems, are donating portable navigation devices to all of the emergency workers and officials helping in the Pan-Mass Challenge. with these devices emergency workers will be able to quickly navigate to the incident scenes and assist the cyclists efficiently.

The donation by Tom Tom is nothing new to the people of the Pan-Mass Challenge. Tom Tom has ongoing commitment to the Pan-Mass Challenge. For the past four years Tom Tom has contributed by two different means. Tom Tom has had both a team of riders and has had employee fund raising for the event. With donations, like the GPS devices from Tom Tom, are some of the key factors that make fundraisers like the Pan-Mass Challenge so productive and that take us one step closer to a better life for people all over the world.