New Tomtom Go app released worldwide

Uriel

Uriel

Uriel

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Just though I'd post this here in addition to the Mobile Phones section:

Uriel said:
If you look on Google Play there is a new app called "Tomtom GPS Navigation Traffic", released worldwide today. It's basically the same software that Tomtom use on their Tomtom Go series of satnavs. (Tomtom Go 5000, 6000, 400, 500, 600, 40, 50, 60).

It's been in Beta in Italy for the last few months.

The model is 'Freemium' so you get up to 50 miles navigation free a month. Anything over that you have to pay a subscription.

Users of the existing Tomtom android app can get a 3 year subscription to the new app for 50p, via an in app purchase within the old Tomtom app. This can be claimed back from Tomtom as cashback so it's effectively a free upgrade.

I'll probably give this a go and see if it will usurp Route 66 (which uses Tomtom maps and traffic) as my Satnav app of choice.
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It'll be interesting to hear how this compares to Waze. Could be useful in offline mode in Europe since Waze requires a data connection to download the maps.
 
I've previous been asked about differences between satnav traffic services and was asked in the mobile phones thread. Posted here too:

Uriel said:
Traffic basically.

Tomtom traffic potentially covers all UK roads and has a ridiculous number of traffic probes (all live tomtom PNDs and apps, all iphones and anyone who's on Vodaphone in the UK).

Google don't cover 100% of roads. Waze don't have enough probes. As it stands I can rely on Tomtom to avoid most traffic jams on my commute. Google misses out some key roads and Waze don't have enough probes to pick up most jams.

At the moment Google are avoiding fully integrating Waze and Maps, probably to avoid anti-trust legislation. If they do they will be a serious rival to Tomtom traffic. As it stands they aren't

Both Tomtom and Google miss some local road closures. Google is generally better for keeping maps up to date, points of interest and integration with Android.

To summarise Traffic coverage:

Tomtom (best traffic flow - used by Tomtom, Route 66, Sygic):
Road coverage: Jam information for potentially all UK roads, including side roads. Consistent Closure info for Strategic Road Network (Motorways and major A Roads). Inconsistent closure information elsewhere.
Automated traffic flow data sources for jams are Tomtom units, iphones, vodaphone handsets.
Journalistic data (roadworks, closures) from Highways Agency, Traffic Scotland, Traffic Wales, Transport for London, user reports (web or on device). Possibly some local authorities but this is inconsistent.

Google:
Road Coverage: Jam information for most main roads and city streets. Doesn't include some minor roads and side roads.
Automated Traffic Flow Data sources: Android phones.
Journalistic data source: Waze

Waze:
Road Coverage: Jam or closure information for potentially any road.
Automated Traffic Flow Data sources: Waze app users
Journalistic data sources. Waze user reports. Strategic Road Network data feed (includes HA, Traffic Scotland, Traffic Wales).


Here / CoPilot:
Road Coverage: Jam and closure information limited to TMC tables (usually only motorways and A roads)
Automated traffic flow data sources?
Journalistic data sources: Unsure but can confirm it includes HA, Traffic Wales, Traffic Scotland and some local authorities

Navigon / Garmin / M8:
Road Covrage: Jam and closure information limited to TMC tables
Automated traffic flow data source: Inrix
Journalistic data sources: Inrix

Inrix (traffic info app only not navigation - best closure information Some in-car navigation systems use their info.).
Road Covrage: Jam and closure information similar to Google.
Automated traffic flow data sorce: Road sensors, Android Phiones
Journalistic data sources: HA, Traffic Wales, Traffic Scotland, Most UK Local Authories

Summary:
Tomtom traffic is best for most circumstances. It is used (and implemented well) in Tomtom apps and devices and Route 66. It's badly implemented in Sygic.

Tomtom's weaknesses are:
- POI database not as extensive or accurate as Google.
- Closures and roadwoks information outside the strategic road network is inconsistent (Inrix and Here generally better for this).
- Mapping information updated quarterly (Google is much more frequent)
- It's not completely free (step forward Google / Waze again).

Strategic Road Network Map can be seen here: http://www.trafficengland.com/map.aspx?ct=true

TMC table map is used for Here Traffic (used in Bing maps). See here: http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?q=bing+maps&mkt=en&FORM=HDRSC4 and turn on traffic layer

Google Traffic can be seen here: https://maps.google.co.uk/ (turn on the traffic layer.

Tomtom traffic can be seen here: http://livetraffic.tomtom.com/ (note - this map only shows jams which are slower than average for the time of day - although a jam can potentially appear anywhere on the map if enough probes are there).
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Subscription costs are worldwide.

The Italian beta also had a monthly or 3 monthly subscription option. Not sure if that's still there.
 
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Just to clarify is that 15 quid for a year of worldwide mapping on TomTom?

So for 15 quid I can get Western Europe and USA and Canada for 1 year?

Sounds ideal, is it device specific or Google account specific?
 
I think it's Google account specific and worldwide. The previous app was tied to google acount.

IIRC I think a few users of the old app had issues with their subscription if they tried to use live traffic / speed cameras on different devices at the same time or moved devices an awful lot of times.

Edit: In the old app, traffic and speed camera subscriptions were handled via a Tomtom account using in-app purchaces. I'm not sure whether that's also the case here.
 
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Adam said:
Will this come to iOS?
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Eventually I expect so. Previews have been shown. No ETA as yet and Tomtom were always very cagey about when the Android version was going to be released. It's been 'soon' since about Christmas 2013!

Edit:

A few impressions fin the other thread:

Uriel said:
After a bit of experimentation last night, I don't this is going to usurp Route 66 Navigate as my satnav app of choice.

The traffic info is the same but TomTom is less willing to route around minor traffic delays. It also has a nearer traffic horizon. I planned test routes from Sheffield to Cornwall. Route 66 planned a detour round a 5 minute delay on an A Road onto a B Road in Sheffield. It was showing the initial route avoiding Traffic on the A30 in Cornwall. TomTom Go routed through the Sheffield incident and had a traffic radius or horizon that meant it didn't show any incidents on the map further away than Birmingham.

I've found I can run both apps at the same time with the audio from each in the background. I may do this for a while to gauge other differences in the two apps' behavior.
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Uriel said:
May have spoken too soon. This morning I ran with both apps running to compare. They both detected a 2-3 minute delay during the journey.

Tomtom quetely re-routed (I'd set it to automatic fastest route) missing the delay, although no announcement was made as it was doing so. This was around 1 minute before the turnoff.

When Route 66 re-routes it does so with a little more fanfare. There is an announcement that "An alternative route is available that will save you X minutes" and in automatic mode it gives a countdown on screen. During the countdown the user has the opportunity to take the offered route. If you don't intervene it will select the alternative. I gather that it scans for alternative routes every few minutes and looks for a clear 1 minute (min) saving. On this occasion no alternative route was offered.

So today, it seems Tomtom Go saved me a couple of minutes sitting in traffic that I'd otherwise have had to endure. And it did this in a real journey rather than a theoretical test route that I'd set up. Not a bad start.
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hmm now looks like sygic navigator with the 3d view. dunno if its as good though, last time I tried tomtom android it ate more battery life than sygic did.
 
The last time I used sygic its routing was awful. It may have got better but it stemmed from road type dictating the assumed speed. For example, it was essentially assuming that an urban 'A' Road would be just as fast as a rural one. This meant routes that made a bee line for the nearest 'A' Road, which might have been horribly congested.

There was much else to like about Sygic but for my primary use, avoiding traffic while commuting, it was shockingly bad.
 
If you read reviews of the TomTom Go 40, 50, 60, 400, 500, 600, 5000 or 6000, they run essentially the same software.

This app is basically the same as them minus the Mapshare and voice control features.
 
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