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New TomTom for Android app moves to subscription model
Article by: Darren Griffin
Date: 25 Mar 2015
TomTom have re-launched their Android navigation app with a ground up re-write. The new app shares the same updated interface as their latest GO satnav range but, notably, will now use a subscription payment model where the app is free to download but features such as navigation, real-time traffic and speed cameras will require a subscription to access.
The app comes with 50-miles of navigation, traffic and speed cameras included for free each month, ideal for low milage drivers or to evaluate the app and services. A subscription will cost £14.99 for one year or £34.99 for three years. That compares favourably with the price of the old app. The old app cost £34.99, add on a one year traffic sub at £18.99 and it's not hard to see that this is good value for those who use it a lot.
Existing owners of the Android app have not been forgotten. For 50p they will get a three year subscription, the 50p fee being imposed by Google who have no mechanism for gifting free upgrades to new software like this.
It's a big change for sure. Some will no doubt balk at the subscription model but this new pricing structure makes sense and the inclusion of traffic alerts is a huge bonus.
The new app is now available on Google Play:
TomTom Android - Google Play
Source: www.tomtom.com
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 Posted by JockTamsonsBairn on Wed Mar 25, 2015 5:15 pm |
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Good to see that they are offering what amounts to a free trial!
Previously, there were a number of different Android Apps, "TomTom U.K. & Ireland", "Europe GPS Navigation TomTom", "TomTom Iberia", "TomTom Brazil", etc. depending on which map you wanted. There doesn't seem to be any indication, with the new version, which maps you get. Any ideas?
Will the new version allow the import of POIs?
Will the new version allow the use of the Camera Database to give Alerts?
Jock
TomTom Go 940 LIVE (9.510, Europe v915.5074 on SD & 8.371, WCE v875.3613 on board) |
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| Posted by JockTamsonsBairn on Wed Mar 25, 2015 5:22 pm |
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This page throws a little light on the map question!
| Quote: | | Access to all our maps |
Also, existing users can relax, they'll get their 50p back!!
Jock
TomTom Go 940 LIVE (9.510, Europe v915.5074 on SD & 8.371, WCE v875.3613 on board) |
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| Posted by alanlakes on Wed Mar 25, 2015 6:07 pm |
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I had the Tomtom U.K. & Ireland app. Updated and was offered 3 maps - U.K. & Ireland, Europe and Western Europe. Picked Western Europe which downloaded. No charges except 98p not 50p.
Have copied PGPSW camera files from "old" app into new apps folder which looks correct as it has same files in it as old app. Cannot see them on map but seem to think you did not on old app until using it under battle conditions.
All is well looking forward to using it.
Alan
Tomtom Go 6200, Tomtom GO Android app, Garmin GPSMap 62stc, Garmin Oregon 450, Memory map V5 & V6, Moto G6, CamerAlert, Copilot Premium, MM Tracker. |
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| Posted by iantj on Fri Mar 27, 2015 9:04 am |
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Based on the screenshot you have to hit the bottom left of screen (very small target) to do anything while driving?
Was that the same on the old android?
I use the iPhone app which lets you whack anywhere. Fairly useful if phone is on a mount. I loathe my wife's go for that reason (amongst others)
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| Posted by IanS100 on Fri Mar 27, 2015 11:52 am |
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| JaTe Wrote: | | iantj Wrote: | Based on the screenshot you have to hit the bottom left of screen (very small target) to do anything while driving?
Was that the same on the old android?
I use the iPhone app which lets you whack anywhere. Fairly useful if phone is on a mount. I loathe my wife's go for that reason (amongst others) |
No, just like your iPhone app you could hit the screen anywhere. |
You need to hit the little icon in the corner to go into any of the menus, but you can scroll around the map & pinch zoom anywhere else on the screen, which I reckon is a huge improvement. With the old app pinch zoom and scrolling could only be used on a different "View Map" screen which was a pita.
There doesn't seem to be any easy way to add POI, and it's impossible to mark a road as closed etc, so if TomTom hasn't marked a closed road (roadworks) as such on the map you will be constantly routed through it, as is happening with 2 major roads close to me 
Galaxy Note 4 / TomTom GO : CamerAlert : CoPilot |
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| Posted by Big_Daddy on Fri Mar 27, 2015 12:33 pm |
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Well no custom PoIs means I'm not upgrading!
I've paid the 50p to secure the offer but I'm not going to push the button to upgrade until a hero comes along with a way of adding custom PoIs to the new app. 
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| Posted by Big_Daddy on Fri Mar 27, 2015 9:04 pm |
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Thanks for that John. I've now upgraded and can confirm that the old app carries on working.
You do need space for both sets of map data. The new app is quite helpful in installing itself and its map to the SD card if that has more space than internal storage.
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| Posted by JohnF on Tue Mar 31, 2015 4:37 pm |
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I have the POI's working ok as per the above post. Thanks Big-Daddy. Has anyone cracked getting an icon to show on the map rather than a white blob. I have tried png & bnp files used in previous versions in the same directory with no luck.
Nexus 5, Ipod Touch 4G and iPAQ h2210 TomTom Navigator 6.75
Regards John |
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| Posted by JockTamsonsBairn on Wed Apr 01, 2015 12:01 am |
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| JohnF Wrote: | | I have the POI's working ok as per the above post. Thanks Big-Daddy. Has anyone cracked getting an icon to show on the map rather than a white blob. I have tried png & bnp files used in previous versions in the same directory with no luck. |
Nope stuck at the same point.
I've managed to establish that, on my Nexus 5, the icons shown on the map are stored in "\Android\data\com.tomtom.gplay.navapp\files\files\SceneRenderer\icons\xhdpi\pois" with a "unhelpful" name e.g. Airports are ic_map_poi_007.png (64x64). I've tampered with that successfully, adding the red cross to the black plane:
Dropping a PNG for a Personal POI in here doesn't show on the map :-(
I'm a new user of this version, so any input from a user of the previous version would be welcome!
Jock
TomTom Go 940 LIVE (9.510, Europe v915.5074 on SD & 8.371, WCE v875.3613 on board) |
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| Posted by IanS100 on Wed Apr 01, 2015 5:01 pm |
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| JaTe Wrote: | | The installed Speed Camera data is as bad as ever and comes nowhere near to this database |
I totally agree: I have the TomTom speed camera database showing on the app which is very good as they show up both in the side bar and on the map, so well done TomTom - sadly however, running CamerAlert in the background really highlights just how may cameras as missing from the TomTom database, so it's 9/10 for design but only 4/10 for content. Why on earth TomTom don't use the PGPSW database beats me
Galaxy Note 4 / TomTom GO : CamerAlert : CoPilot |
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| Posted by AliOnHols on Thu Apr 02, 2015 4:36 pm |
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Agreed.
For me it's a No-brainer of a business decision.
Buy a licence to use the PgpsW database, they could then re-write the software to allow 3rd party POI's so that executives and reps and delivery drivers, et al can drive to their clients, etc. This should stem the hemorrhage of TT users looking for these features elsewhere.
Garmin Nuvi 2599
Android with CamerAlert, OsmAnd+, Waze & TT Europe.
TomTom GO 730, GO 930, GO 940 & Rider2.
SatMap Active 10 & 20. |
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