Some depressing lists - What's been dropped in new models

Andy_P · Last edited by Andy_P on Wed Dec 05, 2012 3:24 am; edited 15 times in total

While feeling grumpy about the HDTraffic fiasco, I started jotting down some of the features that TomTom have taken away from us over the years.

It got to be quite a long list!

I added some of my long-standing issues (i.e. things we've never had...) in a separate list. And then for balance I tried to make a list of what new features we've actually got (but that was rather short!)

I must have missed a few, so please add any thoughts of your own and I'll compile it into a master list.

Features removed or crippled on recent models:

Ever since the NAV3 models (Go1000/Via etc.)
POI 'search radius' introduced. POIs further than 50 miles cannot be found or searched for.
HD Traffic incident radius reduced
Itinerary Planning dropped (replaced by far inferior 3-4 waypoints)
Screen grab feature dropped
Picture viewer dropped
Bluetooth File Transfer dropped
Limited speed planning option dropped
Fewer options for distance/time display on "Show instructions/Show route as text" ('Distance to instruction'+ 'Distance since departure' have gone)
"Show route as images" dropped
Read aloud texts dropped
Read aloud Help-me dropped
Keyboard with numbers dropped (GOx40/x5050 used to have best of both, so you had numerals there only when you needed them most, eg for postcode entry)
Display of upper/lower case letters on keyboard dropped
Lists now in larger font so you only get five choices per screen.
That now means you can only select the very top item rather than the top two, unless you expand down to show the full list.
Re-arrangement or customisation of menus dropped
Fuel-prices dropped in UK
Backups not possible.
Addresses on POIs dropped in US - never had them in Europe
"Destination on left/right" announcement dropped (some models)
Male TTS voice dropped in UK- now no choice at all
Google Search maybe to be dropped? - It happened!
Variable speed feature of route demo dropped
"Send to TomTom" from Google Maps etc. dropped
More room taken up by traffic bar, but icons less easy to see.
Fonts used for 'now' and 'next' road are now SMALLER than old models.
"Turn off map display above a certain speed" dropped

Later in NAV3:

User-setting for warning distance when approaching speed cameras dropped
Waypoints reduced from 4 to 3 maximum
Google Search replaced by TT Local Search

Earlier (late NAV2):
Light sensor dropped.
Compass dropped (now back on NAV2 but nowhere near as good as it was)
FM transmitter dropped
Bluetooth audio dropped
MP3 player dropped
Text reader dropped
iPod control dropped
Bluetooth remote control dropped
SD card slots phased out and not enough memory put in to compensate - giving us the Zoned maps debacle (SD cards now thankfully returning to most models)
Maps with 'major roads of surrounding area' dropped
Road-type preferences settings dropped (very early on).
SDK dropped - no super-add-ons any more
Buddies dropped
Printed manuals dropped
Normal-sized user POI icons corrupted on v9.401 and above (NAV2)

Long-standing issues:
'Via' points not made obvious enough when driving past them - they need to be seen on screen and audibly announced. - Now sorted in NAV3 but not NAV2.
'Via' points ignored when the waypoint is set to a City/Town/Village centre
No optimised itineraries - or none at all in NAV3!
Itinerary section in NAV2 feels designed by someone else as an afterthought- doesn't have the right 'look and feel'
No "auto power on" with ignition on NAV2 - It *did* finally get added but then it was removed again!
Alternative routes offered - but not enough information given before accepting the new route - A 2 minute time improvement could mean a hugely longer distance to travel.

Speed cams still rubbish - months out of date on roadworks
No individual volume controls for Navigation voice/Warnings/Music/calls
Rubbish phone compatibility - getting worse not better
Poor battery life
Non-replaceable batteries (unless you know how)
Bad "contact bounce" and no “key click” feedback on the keyboard
No way to move cursor through names etc. for editing (can only backspace/delete from RH end)
Some models STILL using USB1

No 'caravan type' route planning option
Home and MyTomTom terribly clunky, Home often grinds to a halt on my PC
Fewer and fewer supplied accessories - no case, no home charger, no dedicated USB lead with new car charger (have to share home and car), no printed manual.
Rich POIs never implemented
POI brand icons never implemented in Europe.
Track logging ("Breadcrumbs trail") never implemented.

So what IS new:

Pinch zoom/ gestures on some models - does anyone use it?
Bright screen - but v. reflective now
Forward/backward through menus - Great idea, can we have it on all the older models please?
Improved mounts, but now getting worse again with the horrible "Easyport" mounts on the Via and Start models.
Faster routing - v. good
"Markers" on map view
Disable auto-zoom
Favourites can be exported as an ov2 file - Good
TripAdvisor ,Twitter etc. - Don't seem very popular with users at all!

erm..
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"Settling in nicely" ;-)

DennisN · Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 1:12 am Post subject:

Inventory planning? Spelled I-T-I-N-E-R-A-R-Y perhaps?
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Dennis

If it tastes good - it's fattening.

Two of them are obesiting!!

AliOnHols · Pocket GPS Verifier Joined: Oct 15, 2008 Posts: 1940

Hi Andy_P, great (or not so great in reality) list.

PRO - I quite like the labels that appeared in 8.351 NavCore map view. "home", "destination", etc. I use this feature a lot. Not sure if you still have them though.

NEG - I remember reading in tt blurb that they collect your tracks and analyse the data. So, logging tracks and making a UI for it is my biggest "never had" gripe.
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Garmin Nuvi 2599
Android with CamerAlert, OsmAnd+, Waze & TT Europe.
TomTom GO 730, GO 930, GO 940 & Rider2.
SatMap Active 10 & 20.

mikealder · Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 8:51 am Post subject:

Auto power on - Dropped
Custom Menu support - Dropped

The Go-700 was supplied with a mains charger as was the x10 series and the original TomTom One bu tits a long time since the mains charger has been part of the kit supplied with the device - Mike

mpwilson99 · Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 9:46 am Post subject:

Nothing like upgrading to downgrade, hence thats why I keep to my old technology which still works really well in my opinion.

From your list of dropped items, i tend to use these alot...
POI search radius crippled
Inventory planning dropped or crippled
Limited speed planning option dropped
Compass dropped
Keyboard with numbers dropped
SDK dropped

From the whats new, ..kinda.
I use the Disable Zoom feature -to set my own distance of sight!
For the menus, i have a back & fwd button setup in the SDK menu!

MPW
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TomTom 700 GO user since Dec 2005.
TomTom PDA XDA user since Dec 2007.
TomTom HTC HD2 user since Jul 2012.

IanS100 · Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 4:49 pm Post subject:

I hope TT aren't planning to drop Google Search from current models, I don't use it a lot but I've found it to be very useful on a number of occasions!!

MrT · Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 8:33 pm Post subject:

One I really miss from the old TT Navigator was the recording of the GPS log which you could later transfer as an NMEA file.
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Drivelux

Milesey · Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 1:18 pm Post subject:

I've just bought a 1005 since my 940's traffic sub had run out, so thought it worth taking plunge on a new TT model (probably for the last time!). These are the points that for me personally have had the most effect ...

- Can't believe that auto power-on is STILL not re-implemented since they removed it after the 910.
- Ability to only upload only 1 POI file at a time (needing the icon to have a separate upload as well!) is really poor.
- Is it right they've dropped the light sensor? What an absolute pain that was driving back last night! OK, you can switch manually, but this was meant to be an upgrade?!?
- I'm in two minds about the recent HD Traffic radius change. I do a lot of north to south driving and having routes based on traffic which is 4 hours ahead often sends me the wrong way, so jury's out on that.
- Lack of separate cable for PC

Speed of operation and the UI are very nice but the screen is very reflective though. Overall thumbs up, but only just.
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(Older kit: TomTom Go Original, 910, 940 Live, 1005 Live and Snooper S4 Neo. Mazda TomTom NB1 built-in).

falkirk81 · Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 2:00 pm Post subject:

The new unit should automatically adjust to night mode when the sun sets, my GO 950 does that and I believe my GO 1000 also does that. I agree that a light sensor was a great idea, until the disabled it on my GO 950, then stopped putting them into the new versions Sad

Steven
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Tomtom GO 1005 LIVE

iPhone 12

Milesey · Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 2:22 pm Post subject:

falkirk81 · Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 2:24 pm Post subject:

Yes, sunset here in Newcastle is 9.25pm tonight so the unit should switch to night mode around then as long as it has a GPS fix. If not, check in the brightness settings to make sure the device it set to adjust to night mode automatically!

Steven
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Tomtom GO 1005 LIVE

iPhone 12

mikealder · Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 2:56 pm Post subject:

The Go-940 Live was (and still is) the best device produced to date IMHO - Why didn't you just extend the Live subscription on it? - Mike

Milesey · Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 8:47 pm Post subject:

DennisN · Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 8:58 pm Post subject:

Milesey · Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 9:12 pm Post subject:

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