TomTom Macoute is ready to GO
2 Aug 2007 | 09:51 BST
Product: TomTom GO 720
Website: www.tomtom.com/GO720
System Requirements: Requirements - N/A if none
Price: £329, $500, 500
TOM TOM released a new GPS satellite navigation device, the G0 720 - its new top-tier product recently. Set to replace its 710, 910 and 510 range, this comes with a plethora of first-time seen features, from speech recognition to community based map updates. It was the latter that piqued our interest, and then the rest seemed to draw us in further and further, until we succumbed and decided to call it in for review.
There's a new slim-lined design behind this TomTom and it appears as if it's skipped a few, if not many generations. As it's clearly nowhere near anything else in its artillery to date. It looks akin to a Portable Media Player, rather than a functioning GPS unit. Clearly the firm is aiming for a much sleeker and less bulky appearance, much more pleasing to the eye.
TomTom GO 720
Dimensions are not always a fundamental deciding factor in choosing sat nav products, but a good screen is useful. With that the model is updated to a 4.3-inch WQVGA screen in a 16:9 form factor. It's powered by a 400Mhz processor, the same as previous models but now comes with internal memory of 2GB. That's packed with the maps for Western Europe - on earlier models it was bundled onto an SD card instead. The slot is still here, only it's been freed up for other uses. The weight has also been dropped to 220 grams from 300. Battery life hasn't been compromised, but upped to five hours with a Lithium-Polymer and not Lithium-Ion battery. All of this makes it appear more useable and friendly to use, in an odd way.
What isn't packaged is a charger as such - just a cradle for connection to a computer and it's recharged from there. This is, of course besides the cigarette-lighter power adaptor. The power connector is a bog standard five volt Mini USB, so a common AC supply that most already have will suffice. It just highlights that a computer is really needed and it's geared up just for that.
There's a user based map feature in the GO 720, based on a community of sorts of similar users. Beforehand the firm got about 15,000 reports a week of map errors, which owners never heard about again and just hoped it would be updated in next year's release. Now users can report the error directly on the 720, the fix is instantaneous and updated to TomTom when the device syncs to the computer. This is made available, once authorised, to every other GO 720 (along with GO 520) devices when they update. The tech is named TomTom Map Share, if all works as well as it can be it will be its unique selling point over the competition. It would be nice if older TomToms could utilise this technology in due course, we can only hope.
GO 720 - Map Share
There's voice activation/speech recognition on the 720. This proved useful in controlling the screen and options with voice commands rather than having to touch the actual screen. Surely the other way can be hazardous for driving, and perhaps even against the law in some countries. So a useful feature we think.
TomTom has improved the UI from previously models we've seen and come across. It's now easier to access frequently
used features and content. Also the maps are of greater quality too, with even building footprints next to the road
detailed. There's a new rich POI (Points of Interest) database included, rivalling that of the leader in kit of this
range - ViaMichelin.
GO 720 - Main Menu
There are two other interesting functions of value. The first is the FM radio function and the other is Bluetooth mobile phone pairing, where calls coming through to the phone can be seen on screen and answered via an inbuilt microphone. The other has a similar functionality to the iPod iTrip device, which can tune into a spare FM frequency. This can be utilised to provide the GO 720 audio over the car stereo, also music from the SD card can be played too. Nice possibly consumer-led additions, in synchronising the usefulness of several devices in just one.
Local emergency services have been linked into the GO 720, within the Help Me! Menu. With calling via a mobile phone possible from the screen to everything from a breakdown service to nearest doctor, all from your location. Navigation is shown too from the menu, in addition to just your location. There's even an emergency first aid advice and guides, from the British Red Cross in the UK model we saw. A vital service and needed in all sat nav devices, we're glad it's been included.
GO 720 - Help Menu
In Short
TomTom has shaped up with this device with some nice extra features. Clearly a winner is community support for
map updates and voice activation. Some features were left out from its predecessor, such as an AC adaptor and some
minor miscellaneous items. But that's nothing to really worry about, as many more functions have been added.
The Good
Map Share - user defined map updates, voice activation, Emergency services added.
The Bad
No USB power adapter/charger.
The Ugly
Maps updating needs a PC and can't be done over GPRS/mobile phone - in real-time.
Bartender's Report
© 2007 Incisive Media Investments Ltd. 2007