Article by: maft
Date: 3 Sep 2009

TomTom have today announced the new x50 range of devices. With IQ-Routes as standard the 550, 750 and 950 feature a new optimised and more intuitive user interface. TomTom claim the new x50 range "calculates a route faster than ever before and ensures drivers are ready to go within seconds".

The voice command has been massively improved with over 100 tasks available to control just by speaking; these include route planning, changing preferences and making a phone call. The speaker has also been improved.

The 950 includes Enhanced Positioning Technology (EPT) which was also seen in previous 9xx models and allows the drivers position to be better estimated with low GPS reception (such as in tunnels).

The x50 range will be available in Autumn and as soon as we have them we will post more information on the full specification and some more images.

Full Press Release:

Berlin, 03 September 2009 – Today, TomTom announces its new flagship series TomTom GO x50. The three portable navigation devices; TomTom GO 950, TomTom GO 750 and TomTom GO 550 combine TomTom's leading IQ Routes™ technology, stylish design and powerful route calculation with a completely optimised user interface. Full attention has been paid to the integration of TomTom's routing technologies into the user interface of the device, making it more intuitive and easier to operate. "As the world's leading provider of navigation solutions and digital maps, it is our duty to constantly break new ground, developing unique technologies with the sole purpose of making the driver's journey more reliable, predictable and affordable," says Corinne Vigreux, Managing Director of TomTom. "All the models of the new TomTom GO x50 series have been designed to do exactly this. They are fast and easy to operate and take the stress out of any driver's journey by providing the latest travel and delay times."

Optimised functionality

The TomTom GO x50 series now also features voice command and control. For the first time users can operate their device by using their voice. Over 100 tasks can be activated by voice, like planning a route, changing preferences or making a call. This means drivers can keep their eyes focused on the road and their hands on the wheel, contributing to road safety. In addition, The TomTom GO x 50 series has an enhanced speaker, which ensures clear voice instructions and improved hands free calling.

On top of this, new menus including a frequent destinations menu have been added to calculate a route to a frequently visited destination easier and faster. Finally, an Eco Routes option has been added to the route options menu, so drivers can select the most fuel-efficient route to help reduce their impact on the environment.

Enriched Points of Interests database

In selected European countries, the new TomTom GO x50 series has been enriched with third party Points of Interest (POI's) content, including Yellow Pages in Denmark, Merian Scout in Germany and Guia Campsa in Spain.

Increased map coverage

The TomTom GO x50 series features more maps than ever before, including Malta, Greece and Turkey for the first time. In addition, all devices offer TomTom's unique Map Share™ technology which allows users to make instant changes to the map and share these with others through TomTom HOME, TomTom's free desktop application. TomTom GO 950 comes with pre-installed maps for door-to-door navigation in US, Canada and 45 countries in Europe and offers Enhanced Positioning Technology (EPT) for uninterrupted navigation even when driving through tunnels; TomTom GO 750 offer seamless door-to-door navigation across 45 countries in Europe; TomTom GO 550 features maps of a selected country or region in Europe.

Price & availability

The TomTom GO x50 series will become available this autumn. Pricing will be revealed upon product availability. Availability varies per country

For more information, visit: www.tomtom.com

950 sports new interface layout

New Eco route options and route planning screen

Comments Posted by bedbug on Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:57 am Makes the iPhone app seem all the more antiquated! iPhone 4/4S (iOS 5.1.1); TomTom Western Europe (1.10)/USA & Canada (1.10); CoPilot for iPhone (8), UK mapping, Mac OS 10.8/XP Pro/Win7; Tongue firmly in cheek!   Posted by Wazza_G on Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:58 am Anyone reckon the IoM will be on it? Be alert.. This country needs more lerts.   Posted by Darren on Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:00 am And once again TT alienate early adopters. 940 no longer the best. But when will this OS make it to other models I wonder. As for the iPhone comment. No technical reason why the iPhone cannot do all of this other than TT not wanting to offer it and potentially lose sales. iPhone users are often early adopters who will spend money of the kit is worth it. Offer this functionality on the iPhone and and you don't need to buy a 950. Darren Griffin   Posted by MaFt on Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:15 am A bit more information: Quote: New menus including a frequent destination menu have been added to calculate a route to a frequently visited destination faster and more easily. An Eco Routes option has also been introduced, so drivers can select the most fuel-efficient route to help reduce their impact on the environment.   Posted by MrT on Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:19 am Oddly the above article makes no mention of Live Services although on the website they are referred to as the X50 Live range. I wonder if it will be worth the upgrade from the 940 or if to wait for the 960? Faster route calculations would be great if they work with the HD Traffic, I hate the current wait for the answer when about 500 yards from a junction and it is considering if there is a faster route available. What exactly is Live snapshot? Built in TMC for abroad or for when Live Services aren't working? Will the IQ routes offer better data than the maps that will be available for current units? What is the 1/3/6 month trial, different for 5/7/9 units or is the 1 month for the UK users? I will wait for the reviews before deciding if the extra features are worth the upgrade from the 940 and passing it to the other-half. Will it be the bug free? Drivelux   Posted by Matt865 on Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:21 am I'm not to worried about the early adoption of my 740 already leaving me with a supposedly lesser device.. I don't see anything significantly new. Mostly just re-marketing and some slight reworking of current functions. New voice commands? How useful will most of these be? You can already get the weather for your destinations, reroute to practically any destination whilst on the move and add cameras/favourite locations etc. I can't really think of anything else I'd really want to do. I bet the 100 tasks includes different variations of commands for the same function too. Frequent destinations? Those are already all stored as my favourites. Eco Routes? Motorways are where you get the best mileage, so how often will the eco route not just be the same as the fastest route? The only thing that would have been nice to have with my x40 would be the RDS-TMC dock... but how much more will they be charging for including that?   Posted by JockTamsonsBairn on Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:28 am Already discussed here News Team Wrote: The voice command has been massively improved with over 100 tasks available to control just by speaking; these include route planning, changing preferences and making a phone call. The active dock includes RDS-TMC which can be used abroad too and the speaker has also been improved. That had to be bought separately for the x40. But is it necessary if they extend the Live service? News Team Wrote: Ad 3: RDS-TMC traffic information is currently available in: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. RDS-TMC traffic information is also available in selected regions in the US, Canada and Australia. Looks like there is still no traffic for Ireland Jock TomTom Go 940 LIVE (9.510, Europe v915.5074 on SD & 8.371, WCE v875.3613 on board)   Posted by MrT on Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:42 am JockTamsonsBairn Wrote: Looks like there is still no traffic for Ireland What does it matter, you'll be there by tomorrow? Drivelux   Posted by JockTamsonsBairn on Thu Sep 03, 2009 11:27 am MrT Wrote: JockTamsonsBairn Wrote: Looks like there is still no traffic for Ireland What does it matter, you'll be there by tomorrow? With some of the queues I've sat in on the M50, I've had my doubts! Jock TomTom Go 940 LIVE (9.510, Europe v915.5074 on SD & 8.371, WCE v875.3613 on board)   Posted by pcaouolte on Thu Sep 03, 2009 11:58 am No mention of the feature that I would really like: a decent battery life. I have no desire to use the machine with a wire trailing down to the cigar lighter or to tear the car apart to fit a concealed socket. I have had a faulty tomtom car power adaptor that got VERY hot in use and I am thankfull that it was not burried behind the dash when it did this. I travelled across America in a hire car with a faulty power socket. My GO 510 managed more than 5 hours without being charged. I would upgrade to a new model if it offered me a similar battery life to the GO510. Paul   Posted by Mick_1959 on Thu Sep 03, 2009 12:19 pm I wonder if they have corrected the dreaded hands free phone stutter? I hope it is not a case carrying over the existing problems, but add more functions in hope it will entice the existing TomTom user. Mick Go 1005 in need of resuscitation GO 950 Dead, GO 920 Dead   Click here to view more comments...