TomTom for iPhone Review
Within the past several weeks, we’ve seen a fair number of GPS navigation apps show up on the iTunes App Store. TomTom [App Store Link] is the biggest name of the bunch. After saving up enough change, I pulled the trigger on the TomTom purchase.
Weighing in at 1.2 GB, it’s by far, the largest app on my iPhone. Map data includes the US and Canada, so this is not unusual. After downloading, installing, and doing a quick restart, the app was all set to go.
The main screen is what you’d expect from a TomTom. Clean with a simple view of where you’re headed. Once you input a destination, it will take the app a few seconds to calculate a proper route.
I tested all of this on a recent trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. At home, satellite acquisition was quick. The route I was given was a bit more complicated when compared to my usual route. Is it shorter than my usual route? I’m not sure but it didn’t seem like it was worth the trouble. On one part of the route, the directions got a bit confusing and I missed an off ramp. Thankfully, the TomTom did a good job of recalculating the route.
After about 20-30 minutes, I noticed that the app took a healthy chunk from my iPhone’s battery meter. Once I got to the boring middle of my trip, I exited out of the app. At this pace, no way would my iPhone’s battery survive the entire trip.
Once I got within 10 miles of my destination, I relaunched the app. Satellite acquisition was decent and the directions it gave were spot on.
The trip back to Los Angeles was similar. The only difference I noticed was the amount of time necessary for the app to get a decent satellite lock. Perhaps it was due to being surrounded by tall buildings? Seeing a dead gray screen with no idea of where to go makes for wasted time and frustration. I assume this has more to do with the iPhone’s GPS chip.
Overall, for a version 1.0 release, this is a decent navigation app. For the most part, it did a proper job of guiding me from point A to B. On extended trips a car power adapter is mandatory. With the GPS chip in constant use, I understand that the app shouldn’t be blamed for the crappy battery life.
The folks at TomTom promise future updates at no extra cost. If you have any second thoughts in regards to this rather costly purchase, I think it would be in your best interest to wait and see what these updates deliver.
It should also be noted that a competing app by Navigon [App Store Link] is available at a slightly cheaper price point. They recently released an update that includes text-to-speech guidance. Hopefully TomTom will eventually release an update that will put it at least on par with the Navigon.
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