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Will it work with 1st gen iPhone?

Aug 05, 09 - 11:22 am Comment from: MacBart

With a price of almost $200, they can count me out.

No, 1st gen iPhone does not have GPS.

I will bet when it hits in America the price is $150 since TomTom gps can be had at that same price point.

Aug 05, 09 - 11:28 am Comment from: Amazin1

This is one smart company - rather than have your old technology displaced by someone else and lose all revenue, replace the technology yourself and keep the new revenue!

Aug 05, 09 - 11:29 am Comment from: Jamie

I bought a map for £5.99.

If you can read a map, you don't need TomTom.

It may work with 1st gen iPhones, perhaps even iPod touch, because the hardware includes its own GPS device to enhance that of the mobile device's. To my knowledge, Tom Tom has said that's an option they're looking into, but hasn't stated what direction they've decided on.

For what it's worth, that listing has been up on Handtec's site for at least a month now. Who knows what the deal is with it...

Aug 05, 09 - 11:44 am Comment from: Nkel

I wouldn't buy any expensive GPS app now because I can't get a satellite fix from my iPhone 3G.

The blue dot in Maps never flashes, and it jumps from wifi station to wifi station. If I zoom in I see a light blue circle around the dot.

The problem seems to have started when I updated to software 3.0.

Before buying something 3G users might want to see if they can do better than what I'm doing.

Aug 05, 09 - 11:44 am Comment from: _Bill_

The TomTom GPS dock has a GPS enhancer / extender, which is basically another GPS built-in to it. It remains to be seen whether or not it will work on 1st-gen iPhones. I think they'd sell more, but I'm not sure that 1st-gens can use the hardware API.

Aug 05, 09 - 11:46 am Comment from: iPhoner

@ Jamie

If you can send a letter, you don't need email.
If you can can ride a horse, you don't need a car.
If you can draw, you don't need a camera.
If you can read a map, you don't need a TomTom.

Unless - you prefer not to pull over on the side of the road to read a map and prefer to have instructions spoken out loud while driving. Also might be handy for hands free calling feature - but I guess finding a pay phone is always an option.

Aug 05, 09 - 12:00 pm Comment from: bobchr

@IPnoner
Good ones.

Jamie,
Does your map tell you where the nearest Peet's is or what the phone # of the restaurent you're looking for is? Or does not nag at you when you've taken the wrong turn? If so then I want one!

I'll stick with my Garmins in 2 of my vehicles and the built-in navigation in my Prius.

The iPhone screen is too small for a dash mounted navigation system. The larger GPS units are much easier to see at a glance then the small ones are and therefore safer to use.

Without being able to integrate it into the stereo system the hands free is going to be almost useless so every time you get or make a call you will have to disconnect the phone from the cradle. What a PITA.

Sure you can make it work but it's not that practical. There are much better options available. A decent Garmin unit can be had for the same price or less.

Aug 05, 09 - 12:30 pm Comment from: disposableidentity

@ iPhoner, not sure how Jamie posted here. I assume he already had a typewriter, not sure why he bought himself a computer.

$193.75 for TomTom's iPhone software? What are the TomTom execs smoking?

What TomTom model does this replicate — the Go, XL or ONE? At first glance, TomTom seems to be trying to sustain their old, hardware-based business model by making iPhone users pay for the hardware twice (once for the iPhone itself and a second time for TomTom's new "cradle" GPS enhancement hardware. This seems highly dubious and at the least, TomTom is gonna' have to go to some lengths to explain why more "smart" hardware is necessary.

At most, it seems to me these turn-by-turn iPhone Nav systems should be priced at about $50 (and even this seems high). This Nav software should be upgradeable whenever the customer feels the need to upgrade (not as a required, annual fee).

Get a clue TomTom. From this point forward, you (largely) are in the software business and you simply cannot justify the same high prices for software that you once charged for a hardware/software combination. Get a clue, TomTom. Stop trying to prop up your old cash flow model.

@ iPhoner

1. Email is just about as cheap or cheaper than sending an actual letter, a lot faster too. I do send letters and cards when I want to be more personable, but for as many emails as a send out, economically speaking, I'll stick with email. Make Tom Tom cheap as or cheaper than a real map and I'm there!

2. I would love to ride a horse to work!!! But I don't think the city would care to much for having me ride a horse down their streets and freeways, so I guess I can't. I do ride my bike when I can though, unfortunately bikes aren't allowed on freeways either.

3. Can't draw, so I guess I do need a camera. But even if I could draw, a camera can catch an image in a second or two, drawing, not so much. Plus with a camera, the image is a photograph, not a drawing. Drawing is cool, but it's not a photograph, the end results are different. Maps get you there and Tom Tom gets your there, the end results are the same.

4. I can read a map! and I've always been able to get to where I want to go using a map or directions. That's the same thing Tom Tom is for, right? So I guess it comes down to the novelty of having a dynamic map system that can also talk to you and tell you where to go and how much that novelty is worth.

For me, I love gadgets and I love novelty and I might go up to paying $40.00 for that novelty. But, hmm, if it's more than $40.00, I might have to weigh the economy of a $5.00 map to cost of that expensive novelty.

Oh! And definitely no subscription based map systems... that's just stupid. Can you imagine if you were paying monthly to have a hard copy map mailed to your house each month, like a magazine subscription. Do you really need a new map each month? (AT&T;I'm looking at you.)

Aug 05, 09 - 12:48 pm Comment from: MacBill

The Google Maps application on the iPhone is so good (and comes for free) that it almost makes GPS navigation software -- particularly expensive GPS navigation software -- completely unnecessary. That Google Maps app has gotten me everywhere where I want to go.

Aug 05, 09 - 12:59 pm Comment from: skoopman

I already own a TomTom Go and while it's software for the iPhone is appealing, I don't think I can justify the cost. My wife can now use the original TomTom and I'll stick with the free Google Maps (I agree with MacBill-it does a great job).

Aug 05, 09 - 01:12 pm Comment from: Dirty Pierre le Punk

I was looking forward to this but there's no way I'm paying that price. It seems like I'd be paying twice. The whole point of the iPhone is that it replaces other units, not doubles up on basic features.

Aug 05, 09 - 01:20 pm Comment from: THE.MAC.GOD

"Since then the product has been on life support. Recently all marketing efforts for Ahake had been ceased and there hasn’t been a service upgrade for it in a long time."


Ahake.

;]

Aug 05, 09 - 01:22 pm Comment from: THE.MAC.GOD

^^^^

Logged in and it took me here instead of the Shake article.

Aug 05, 09 - 01:30 pm Comment from: bjh

Those TomTom guys are smoking something. Why would anyone pay close to $200 for an iPhone app and a $15 charger ? With Google maps you have navigation. And Garmin units are very sexy and cheap these days.

Aug 05, 09 - 01:35 pm Comment from: Cubert

No thanks. I think I'll keep relying on my own internal magnetic geode.

Aug 05, 09 - 01:44 pm Comment from: silverwarloc

My flux capacitor can take me back to the future.

Aug 05, 09 - 02:04 pm Comment from: TowerTone

my compass doesn't point north like it used too...

If it works with the touch...(gets GPS from mount)... i'm buying it.

The Cradle actually has its own, stronger, GPS receiver. That is why the cradle cost $200.

@Hunh?

I think, with that mindset, you might enjoy the windows world more. Derivative of Mac stuff, and cheap like those paper maps you're touting.

I'll just touch only one of your 'logics': you prefer horse or bikes over cars, that's fine and dandy and green. Except, I hope you never have to haul your derriere to hospital ASAP for yourself or a loved one.

Also, paper maps kill trees. Now go give one a hug.

Aug 05, 09 - 02:32 pm Comment from: Romeodawg

I would not pay more than $49 MAX for this software, and I wish they'd just charge $19.99 and own the market. They'd obviously sell a lot more apps, and everyone would buy the charger for $29.99...

And why isn't Garmin entering the iPhone market? The only reason everyone is waiting for Tom Tom is because they demoed first, but Tom Tom isn't very well known in the U.S. Why is Garmin being silent now in the iPhone market? Are they willing to just walk away?

@ Jamie

My wife cannot read a map and has no idea which way north or south is. In fact in our local town where she has lived for 40 years she has to ask which way to go to get to the airport and she's been there at least 60 times in the last 10 years.

Dunno what she would do if a call came in when she was in the middle of directions.

Aug 05, 09 - 03:34 pm Comment from: DogGone

I feel gouged.

I would really appreciate having the connectivity and additional features that the TomTom car kit would give but there is no way I would spend $200 for it.

Most iPhone car holders are ~ $20-40 so I expected the TomTom unit to be anywhere between $75-100.

Worst thing is that we have 2 iPhones and so I would have to buy 2 of them unless we want to switch out the holder each time.

I'll guess I'll have to wait until the price goes down or an alternative exists or just get the software. I have a pretty good holder now with aux and power connectivity.

There SHOULD be an app for that.

Meanwhile, try Viagra!

Viva!

Aug 05, 09 - 04:05 pm Comment from: ron

TomTom needs a different method of mounting the device in your car. The suction cup sucks.

WHATEVER!!! Just release the F-ing APP already!!! Better not be that pricy though!

Hahaha $200.

I will just wait for the next top selling iPhone navigation app selling for $9.95. Everything you need is already on the iPhone. TomTom is just trying to rip us off with stuff we don't need. external GPS? external charger? My USB car phone charger was only $5. Cheap but works fine.

Aug 06, 09 - 01:53 pm Comment from: iPol

@Jamie
((If you can read a map, you don't need TomTom.))

If you can read you don'^t need a television!
Ifyou can light a wood fire, you don't need a stove!