By 
Is TomTom a big enough name to pry you away from the Google Maps gravy train? If so, you’re in luck – they’re currently working on their Android application. This doesn’t come as much of a surprise considering TomTom has collaborated with others in the past on Android for unique navigation applications. Unfortunately, we don’t know how exactly “soon” is as that’s all they gave us as far as any time frame goes. [PocketsGPSWorld]
hopefully it gives us downloadable maps, so when I lose my data for half an hour it’ll still know where I am
Not interested…
Tom Tom should make Android hardware. Their navigators are sexy!
Good for you. But real people need something a little bit better than GMaps, which requires a constant data connection.
Actually Top Gear, contrary to what you think you know, Google Maps does not require a constant connection either to get you to your destination or to get you there after you’ve deviated off course without a signal. Test it out sometime.
Douchenozzle.
Tom Tom and Garmin are head and heels over Google and there free Maps service. I would gladly pay for a 5 year svc from them! They need the cash flow to promote innovation and ideas! Google can only go so far with advertisers dollars IMO!
Ironclad logic right there Steven. Like you we should throw them a bone, say, a couple bucks a year, in order to get better and better and Google Maps’s days of progress and innovation are numbered because Google, among other things, brokers ads. You really know what you’re talking about. I wish you were a financial analyst so I could pay you to manage my stock portfolio because you really got it down based on what you just said right there. You dog fluffer.
Until Google provides other countries with turn-by-turn navigation, this is what I HAVE to rely on. (Norway here, using CoPilot at the moment)
Never tried Tom Tom, but I do use a Garmin Standalone GPS. Based on that, I’d love to have Garmin on my phone, but I’d like the old MSN service (Was discontinued by MS) on it with the gas prices and movie showtimes. That was really handy!!
Google Navigation FTW. The only situation where I prefer an alternative is when traveling as data roaming is too expensive.
Google already supports many countries, not only USA.
Initial interest at Tom Tom on Android = neh. Interest after remembering Tom Tom has Darth Vader and Yoda voices for navigation = booyah!
TomTom sucks in SoCal. Gets me lost 1 in 10 times to roads which don’t connect within their route. Or sends me on convoluted routes when there are preferable ones available. Google Nav is so superior in every way (routes, accuracy, superior view). imho.
there is no such thing as data roaming in the us…only in other countries….well at least for tmobile anyway
What happened to the Route66+Navigation they were working on with route66? That looked awesome… you put your phone on your dash, camera pointing out the window, and it showed a virtual car for you to follow.
People who are complaint are both right and wrong at the same time, google maps and nav is an excellent service, especially when one considers the price(free). However as a long time Tom tom user on the old ip4 I love the fact u don’t need a data connection. I never use my iPhone for anything more than a iPod touch or gps as I love android far more, and it’s far better. With that said, offline navigation is the only thing I can think of that iOS might have over android. I only see one issue with this and it comes by way of most htc phOnes, this is a huge app, likely more than a GB of space! WTF are people who own old EVO and Dinc phones suppose to do? Erase every app on there and still not have enough space? I’m sure they will remedy this before release but just a thought. Can’t wait for this on my gs2. ( which I don’t have yet but will soon as it drops!)
@google-ce7a714d48c24ca5b29a30d51a141232:disqus It is true that tomtom is dedicated to one specific task: getting you from A-B in the fastest route without trafficjams. For others it’s merely copying these innovations, offer them for free, and making money from advertising.
Now people can be thinking that Google Maps is way cooler, but the fact is that they buy their maps from tomtom, and basically copy inventions from GPS companies like tomtom.
TomTom is now already discovering new areas to innovate and make money. Check here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Rc12x-XlYQ
These areas (avoiding congestion based on cellular data) will some day also be copied. And then TomTom will find even different revenue streams.
What I’m trying to say is not that one businessmodel is better than the other. Google has made a lot of information accessible, and I like it. What I do want to stress, as you say, that without innovators, there’s not really much to copy and offer for free.
The first wave of innovations will be all about traffic. Like the HD traffic in the video. That will at some point be a common thing as well.
The second wave I think will be much about safety. For instance, if all drivers are connected, my system can warn me when traffic is coming from across a corner, where I cannot yet see it. All cars will communicate with eachother. Also, these systems will be able to ‘reproduce’ traffic incidents, which at some point will be interesting for both police and insurers (who want to know who was to blame for an accident). All this, for now looks rather farfetched, but I know they are now experimenting with systems like these.
Tom Tom public relations post. Why pay for something Google does better for free. Android users don’t throw their money away like Apple users do.
Well, I guess you’re right. I may be a fanboy. But only because people tend to like Google and overestimate Google even more. Just because it’s free, doesn’t make it better. It’s just lowering expectations. Also it doesn’t drive innovation really. Which was the point made by Steven, which i approve.
OH THANK GOD YOU APPROVE.
I was worried.
Ok, point taken. I also read a lot of car manufacturers like Ford, are innovating in connected driving, including collision warning. So this whole industry has a lot of players and different possible directions. Google not the only or most important one to further grow in this market.
TomTom decided to sell thier users data to the Dutch Police, so they could better place speed traps. Because of this they will never get a single dollar from me ever again.
Don’t be so misinformed. If you really are.
Unless its free, with lifetime maps and traffic, I see no reason to stop using Google Maps.
If the price is decent then I’d be willing to buy it for my Android.
But, whether you like Google or not, it’s hard to justify paying $50
(which is how much the iPhone app is) for something that is free from
Google….even if it’s not as good.
i had it on the iphone and it royally sucked.
Who cares about tom tom on android. It would have to be free for me to just try it out.
As long as I can use it offline (unlike Google Maps) I will buy it. Assuming it is fairly priced.
Garmin should take notice as TomTom is moving the right direction. If Garmin doesn’t act soon, well you already know the end result of that…I don’t know what they are waiting for. Since Google Nav is still free and works really well, I don’t see myself transitioning to another navigation app unless they add something that I would like Google Nav to add in the near future which are Speed Limit information, the option to download the map via SD card rather than streaming, and lastly a more revamp navigation UI like something more Garmin like set-up or better. We could only dream right?…
if it needs data connection, then free it shall be.
if it can be used offline, paying something for it is still okay…but not something subscription based.
other than these two cases…tom tom app = fail.
that’s how i see it cuz i do like offline apps better than data connectivity since data connectivity can be done just by going to a wifi hotspot.
Non-Data GPS is already free on most Nokia’s now. Just sayin’
Finnaly the SUCKY GOOGLE MAPS gets out the way, maybe this is enough to push them to MAKE their application usable in OFFLINE mode!