Home PageFacebookRSS News Feed
PocketGPS
Web
SatNav,GPS,Navigation
Pocket GPS World - SatNavs | GPS | Speed Cameras: Forums

Pocket GPS World :: View topic - Are TomTom moving to a fully closed system?
 Forum FAQForum FAQ   SearchSearch   UsergroupsUsergroups   ProfileProfile   Log in for private messagesLog in for private messages   Log inLog in 

Are TomTom moving to a fully closed system?
Goto page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Pocket GPS World Forum Index -> News And Latest Information
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Darren
Frequent Visitor


Joined: 11/07/2002 14:36:40
Posts: 23848
Location: Hampshire, UK

PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 10:06 am    Post subject: Are TomTom moving to a fully closed system? Reply with quote

pocketgpsworld.comThe arrival of TomTom's START device saw the first unit that could not natively support third party POIs including our speed camera warnings.

Now it seems that TomTom have seen fit to roll out this dumbed down feature list to the XL-2 IQ, XL-2 IQ Live and Ease. Whilst there was a work-around that permitted users to install custom POIs, TomTom have now blocked this with a software update.

Is this a move to differentiate budget models from premium devices or are we seeing a move by TomTom to control their devices and restrict what users can install upon them?

As content providers it is only fair that we declare a vested interest in this issue but the move sets a worrying precedent. Are we going to see further moves to secure the content and prevent third parties from competing with them?

If we take speed camera data as an example, our subscribers have long known how poor TomTom's data is in comparison. If they lock down their units then you will no longer have the benefit of choice in choosing who provides the speed camera data or be able to install community provided POIs.


_________________
Darren Griffin
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
BigPerk
Frequent Visitor


Joined: Sep 06, 2006
Posts: 1618
Location: East Hertfordshire

PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 10:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

How ironic. After months of user badgering Navigon have finally just moved - in the opposite direction! Razz

I hope this restriction is widely publicised, so that people who need/wish to use 3rd-party POIs are able to decide whether they need to vote with their feet, rather than buying in ignorance and finding out too late.
_________________
David
(Navigon 70 Live, Nuvi 360)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
mikexgough
Lifetime Member


Joined: Mar 29, 2010
Posts: 7
Location: Cambridgeshire

PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 10:25 am    Post subject: bye bye Reply with quote

I guess for many it will be bye bye Tom Tom..... Very Happy I have found their POI to be very poor..... Maps are not too bad.... Personally I feel that it a bad thing not only for End Users but also Tom Tom as end users will ditch the marque..... me for one...
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
shelmo
Lifetime Member


Joined: Sep 09, 2006
Posts: 13

PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 10:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I for one have never liked Tom Tom but that is just my preference.

Would closing the system not be against the EU and other countries laws in restricting competition.

I am thinking of the recent case with Microsoft Internet explorer where they were forced to offer you other browsers.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Matt865
Regular Visitor


Joined: Dec 30, 2006
Posts: 92

PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 11:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I wonder if they'll move to some kind of Apple 'App Store' type system? You might be able to sell the speedcam data but will have to do it through them and pay them a fee.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Duddy
Lifetime Member


Joined: Dec 09, 2006
Posts: 219
Location: Manchester UK

PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 1:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

BigPerk wrote:
How ironic. After months of user badgering Navigon have finally just moved - in the opposite direction! Razz

I hope this restriction is widely publicised, so that people who need/wish to use 3rd-party POIs are able to decide whether they need to vote with their feet, rather than buying in ignorance and finding out too late.


I agree.

It also needs to be pointed out not only how poor TT POI's are but the great advantage on having up to date POI's and how useful they are.

I used to have a TT one v2 but now use CoPilot on a Legend phone but people have asked me what SatNav to buy who don't have a full featured phone and until now I have recommended TT but no more, I'll warn then off full time.

TT should take note of Epsom Printers business plan in trying to make everybody buy only their print cartridges by chipping them but like me many people (when their Epsom printer died) moved to another manufacturer and how Epsom sales have dropped (I think many people who buy Epsom don't relise what a none bargain they are letting themselves into) TT likewise.
_________________
HUAWEI P30 Pro (new edition) with Speedtrap Alert & alcatel1 for SatNav
CoPilot 10 with CamerAlert
RoadHawk in-car video
Reading glasses getting thicker as is my waist
Retired but want to go back to work for a rest.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Wazza_G
Lifetime Member


Joined: Jan 10, 2006
Posts: 584
Location: Guildford (Regrettibly)

PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 2:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Can someone recommend a decent alternative to TomTom?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
G1LIW
Lifetime Member


Joined: Jun 19, 2006
Posts: 212
Location: Sahrf Lunnon ;)

PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 2:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wazza_G - I hate to say it, but they're the damn market leader for usability. Others are better at, say, lane Assist, TTS, and so on, but TT is still the leader when it comes (up until the above, that is) to 3rd party POI files (they pioneered the OV2 format, after all), and ease of use.

That said, CoPilot is getting good comments, as is navigon and iGo; I'm betting that the online providers (Google and Ovi) will also start thinking about user-defined 3rd party POI lists before long as well - it's too important an issue for them not to, I think.

I think it's safe to say that all have their "quirks"; it's finding a safe compromise that you can live with, that'll be the deciding issue.

Good luck, and don't forget to let us all know!
_________________
Roger, G1LIW
Google Pixel 3a XL Android Smartphone | SatNav Sygic for Android | Waze for Android | CamerAlert for Android | Blog http://rogersblant.blogspot.com/
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Froggy
Regular Visitor


Joined: Sep 28, 2005
Posts: 147
Location: Glasgow

PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 3:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I ditched Navman partly because no new maps were forthcoming, but largely because they could only use a very limited number of POIs. If Tomtoms can use none in the future, they will also have lost me... Evil or Very Mad
_________________
GO 750 Live HD Traffic, Map Europe 930, Navcore 9.510
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
jkdwiz
Occasional Visitor


Joined: Mar 24, 2008
Posts: 3

PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 4:08 pm    Post subject: Patent related perhaps? Reply with quote

It's sad to see TT seem to be closing 3rd party info.

I wonder if this could in some way be related to their recent patent issues with Microsoft. I haven't seen any of the new devices but I'm guessing that you can't mount them as a file system any longer, if that's the case TomTom can use any file system they like on the PND since they don't need to support Desktop file systems like fat32 any longer. TomTom's devices are Linux based so they can use an open source file system like ext2 and stop paying Microsoft for the rights to use their patents on fat32.

Just a thought. Of course TomTom could simple include a driver for TomTom Home which would allow 3rd party POI to be installed if they wanted to. I'll stick with my G0930 for now I think.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
MaFt
Pocket GPS Staff
Pocket GPS Staff


Joined: Aug 31, 2005
Posts: 15125
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire

PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 4:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

the GO 1000 is using a WebKit-based operating system... guess will have to wait and see what (if any) 3rd party POI support will be available on their new flagship model...

MaFt
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
jkdwiz
Occasional Visitor


Joined: Mar 24, 2008
Posts: 3

PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 5:05 pm    Post subject: Go1000 and webkit Reply with quote

MaFt wrote:
the GO 1000 is using a WebKit-based operating system... guess will have to wait and see what (if any) 3rd party POI support will be available on their new flagship model...

MaFt


Just wanted to clarify a point. Webkit is a browser engine not an operating system. It's used in the Safari Web browser, Google Chrome web browser and a whole bunch of other things ( see this link for info http://trac.webkit.org/wiki/Applications%20using%20WebKit )

As a browser engine it's just the presentation layer and still needs an operating system to sit on top of. Up until now TomTom have used Linux, I can't see why that would change since it would involve a major rewrite I would think, dropping a Webkit front end in would be pretty simple though.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Darren
Frequent Visitor


Joined: 11/07/2002 14:36:40
Posts: 23848
Location: Hampshire, UK

PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 5:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Indeed that is true. But the blame for the confusion lies with TT who used the term "new webkit based operating system" at the launch event.

But yes, webkit is the front end and it is safe to suppose that the underlying OS will still be Linux based.
_________________
Darren Griffin
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
gezzs
Occasional Visitor


Joined: Aug 20, 2008
Posts: 1

PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 7:57 pm    Post subject: Re: bye bye Reply with quote

Oh c*ck! I've just upgraded to a Tomtom XL 2 QI, and jumped on here to download the latest POIs. Can't believe the have locked it down. ARGH! Evil or Very Mad
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
MaFt
Pocket GPS Staff
Pocket GPS Staff


Joined: Aug 31, 2005
Posts: 15125
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire

PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 10:51 pm    Post subject: Re: Go1000 and webkit Reply with quote

jkdwiz wrote:
Just wanted to clarify a point. Webkit is a browser engine not an operating system.


Darren wrote:
Indeed that is true. But the blame for the confusion lies with TT who used the term "new webkit based operating system" at the launch event.


yes, i know what webkit is. but as darren states, tomtom did announce the 1000 to have a webkit-based os - which admittedly confused me but i just assumed they had some different version of it or something...! :/

regardless, they have clearly changed something major in the go 1000 to warrant a mention of webkit / new os and the question remains, will it accept POIs from 3rd parties?

MaFt
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website







Posted: Today    Post subject: Pocket GPS Advertising

Back to top
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Pocket GPS World Forum Index -> News And Latest Information All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Goto page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7  Next
Page 1 of 7

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Make a Donation



CamerAlert Database

Click here for the PocketGPSWorld.com Speed Camera Database

Download Speed Camera Database
22.034 (27 Mar 24)



WORLDWIDE SPEED CAMERA SPOTTERS WANTED!

Click here to submit camera positions to the PocketGPSWorld.com Speed Camera Database


12mth Subscriber memberships awarded every week for verified new camera reports!

Submit Speed Camera Locations Now


CamerAlert Apps



iOS QR Code






Android QR Code







© Terms & Privacy


GPS Shopping