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lbendlin
Pocket GPS Staff
Joined: 02/11/2002 22:41:59
Posts: 11878
Location: Massachusetts, USA
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 Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2005 11:48 pm Post subject: |
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| MikeB wrote: | The way TomTom have structured their software platforms doesn't favour any specific hardware as this can be abstracted from the main codebase. This was the whole idea of the system enabling a common navigation engine where the main development happens then the customisations for each hardware platform are made.
With this philosophy in mind this gives the PDA and SmartPhone platforms an equal priority as far as the software goes.
The difference comes with the hardware. Obviously TomTom has no (or little) influence as far as PDA and SmartPhone manufacturers are concerned, but as SatNav moves into the mass market it will be the GO style of device that will take the main share of the sales. For TomTom it makes a lot of commercial sense to focus a lot of energy in this area. Hopefully the benefits from this will be passed back to the PDA users through their software infrastructure. |
I would think that the PNDs like the GO are just a passing phenomenon. The future will be with the smartphones that have both channels - integrated GPS for location finding and Mobile data connection for the tracking, LBS etc. (Putting Bluetooth on the GO was a pretty smart idea, even if the implementation is still flawed)
The "problem" of the PPC platform was that a solution existed (3.07) but it was not portable - all other platforms required different implementations. That's the only true reason the Pocket PC version was lagging behind for a while (if you can call it that thinking of the many cool features in 3.07 that haven't made it into 4.x and 5.x)
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julianbarker
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Joined: Apr 12, 2005
Posts: 431
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| Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2005 12:12 am Post subject: |
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| MikeB wrote: | | The difference comes with the hardware. Obviously TomTom has no (or little) influence as far as PDA and SmartPhone manufacturers are concerned, but as SatNav moves into the mass market it will be the GO style of device that will take the main share of the sales. For TomTom it makes a lot of commercial sense to focus a lot of energy in this area. Hopefully the benefits from this will be passed back to the PDA users through their software infrastructure. |
Whatever - TTN4 and TTN5 look like they have been designed to work like the Go versions, rather than the Go versions being made to work like the well tried and popular TT3. The result is products that are not ideal for PPC users, and do not compete well with other products on features or reliability.
Concentrating on niche hardware like Go looks like a dead end to me when in less than 5 years most people will have mobile phones capable of navigating. |
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SimonCatlin
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Joined: Jan 11, 2004
Posts: 565
Location: London
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| Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:13 pm Post subject: |
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Interesting that no-one mentioned the NavTeq Solution in Rider. Having now seen it, did it have the Navteq database? Secondly, did TomTom mention map supplier choice (Navteq vs TeleAtlas) being introduced in TTN6?
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iPhone5, TomTom, Google maps, Navfree, Viewranger and Apple Maps (ekk) |
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chris_w
Pocket GPS Verifier
Joined: Nov 09, 2004
Posts: 628
Location: West Yorkshire
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| Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:36 pm Post subject: |
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| julianbarker wrote: |
Whatever - TTN4 and TTN5 look like they have been designed to work like the Go versions, rather than the Go versions being made to work like the well tried and popular TT3. The result is products that are not ideal for PPC users, and do not compete well with other products on features or reliability.
Concentrating on niche hardware like Go looks like a dead end to me when in less than 5 years most people will have mobile phones capable of navigating. |
I have exactly the opposite experience - After owning a Garmin GPSV and Streetpilot III (both really reliable) I bought a PDA based system (Navigon) which although it was functionally rich managed to be the most unreliable and high maintainance system I have owned - this was mainly down to the PPC reliability and it's Operating System quirks. IMHO this is due to the wide range of applications,PPC limitations and hardware spec for the PPC which can confilct/go wrong and generally cause issues. I have had similar reports around the office from owners of TT and other products on PPC.
Again IMHO the PPC/smartphone market is nearing it's end and all in one systems are beginnning to take the lead - why? because a specialised platform on specific hardware is much easier to develop for, it's more reliable and it enables you to start making serious progress without having to worry about what HP and Microsoft are producing in their next product release and how you can get your new idea to work on it - you have control.
A prime example is the inclusion of a handsfree kit on the GO500/700 and the remote control. This has introduced phone dialing and SMS software.
I've just bought a TTGO and I'm very impressed with it.
If this is the direction of TT's standalone products I can't wait to see what they come up with next.
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neil01
Frequent Visitor
Joined: May 06, 2005
Posts: 902
Location: Leeds
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| Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 4:02 pm Post subject: |
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| lbendlin wrote: |
I would think that the PNDs like the GO are just a passing phenomenon. The future will be with the smartphones that have both channels - integrated GPS for location finding and Mobile data connection for the tracking, LBS etc. (Putting Bluetooth on the GO was a pretty smart idea, even if the implementation is still flawed) |
While I definately see an expanding future in the Smartphone route; until smartphones get a screen more akin to the PND's/PPC's, which in turn would make them a little on the bulky side for many phone users - there will probably be a strong demand for other platforms.
It is simply a matter of which feature(s) of an all-in-one unit (phone/PDA/PND) you rate most highly, and what sized package you are prepared to accept.
And before anyone mentions the clip on ear things - there any many of us who wouldn't be seen dead wearing one! |
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Pedro-G
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Joined: Jun 13, 2005
Posts: 37
Location: Finland
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2005 12:45 pm Post subject: |
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Did you happen do discuss whether or not the SiRFstart III firmware of TomTom BT MkII can/will be upgraded? TomTom uses the first version 3.0.0, and some bugs which are a nuicance for some users are already fixed by SiRF, the latest firmware being 3.1.1.
More on the topic:
http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=25422 |
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@lexis
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Joined: 06/04/2003 23:42:36
Posts: 13
Location: Paris, France
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| Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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Nice article. 
And I can confirm, I was there. 
Mike,
It was nice meeting you too, and as you said : "All in all a thoroughly worthwhile day providing a valuable opportunity to meet the other Website Guys."
I also got some interesting information:
- the price for the Rider
- the 2 new maps providers for Eastern Europe and Australia
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GPSAndCo, french website dedicated to GPS |
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@lexis
Occasional Visitor
Joined: 06/04/2003 23:42:36
Posts: 13
Location: Paris, France
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| Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 2:44 pm Post subject: |
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| SimonCatlin wrote: | | Interesting that no-one mentioned the NavTeq Solution in Rider. Having now seen it, did it have the Navteq database? Secondly, did TomTom mention map supplier choice (Navteq vs TeleAtlas) being introduced in TTN6? |
I try to discuss with TomTom people regarding the Navteq choice for the Rider and they were not very fluent on the subject.
From what I know and understand : the Rider will be more a "show off" or concept product than a commercial success.
And they choose Navteq because they had to, a licence issue.
For the moment, I don't see the PDA and GO products using Navteq maps because of the price.
I would have been happy to see them having the same strategy as Destinator or Navigon for the maps : Navteq maps on retail products on TeleAtlas maps on OEM products.
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Robin2
Lifetime Member
Joined: Nov 24, 2003
Posts: 1441
Location: Swansea
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| Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 1:50 pm Post subject: |
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I have just come back from 4 weeks in France and picked up on this thread. I was surprised not to see a further TT5 patch on my return - there was one bug which TomTom told me in early July would be fixed in the next patch, but 5.1 still had it.
What I am really interested in is the ability to plan an itinerary off line - any mention of this at your meeting?
Robin
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TomTom One v3 Europe, Navcore 7.903, Western Europe 835.2420
TomTom Go 720 Europe, Navcore 8.351, Western Europe 855.2884
Satmap Active 10
Plus a lot of other PDA GPS kit, seldom used |
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Robin2
Lifetime Member
Joined: Nov 24, 2003
Posts: 1441
Location: Swansea
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| Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 8:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | . In particular we were interested in the way that TomTom were able to create a database of Speed Cameras for the UK, Belgium, and Holland within a few weeks. A task that has taken us over 3 years to achieve. Sander was unable to provide an answer for us and committed to provide us with these details later. |
It would be interesting to see if some of the (inevitable) errors in the Pocketgpsworld database are reproduced in the TomTom version. For example, in my home town, Swansea, your database shows 3 safety cameras on the Mumbles Road, just to the North of the junction with Mayals Road. In fact there are 2 - presumably the incorrect (most northerly) one is the result of slightly inaccurate reporting by one of your members. It would be interesting to see if TomTom reproduce this error
Robin
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TomTom One v3 Europe, Navcore 7.903, Western Europe 835.2420
TomTom Go 720 Europe, Navcore 8.351, Western Europe 855.2884
Satmap Active 10
Plus a lot of other PDA GPS kit, seldom used |
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ArferMo
Occasional Visitor
Joined: Sep 07, 2005
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 1:30 pm Post subject: Database source data |
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| Have TomTom owned up to where they get the information for their database from yet and how they produce it so quickly ?? |
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skjei
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Joined: Sep 20, 2005
Posts: 2
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