So you only get one "map update"...does that include software/firmware (GPSfix) updates as well? Are map updates separate from software updates? Then there is "MapShare", are these updates lifetime unlimited? If so, I don't really care about the one-time only map update...I could just keep updating off mapshare!

bobbl wrote:Does anyone know if this device can display the current latitude and longitude?

yes. It's got an option to save current location as a favorite, when you do that it displays the lat and long to use as the location of the favorite vs. guessing the address of where you're at.

mschlitz wrote:In NEW YORK STATE its illegal (75+ ticket!!!) to attach to windshield, which is the mount it comes with but a simple clamp will dashmount it or I just beanbag it on dash!

That's why it comes with the little plastic disc for mounting to your dash.

i generally love my tom tom. wish it would announce what side of the road the destination is on (left or right) and sometimes it takes a minute to pick up a satellite. other than that it's great. accurate turn-by-turn and fun to play with voices and sound effects.

the 6 months free of LIVE was cool too. gas prices, google, etc.

lingallabaal wrote:What is the USB for? If connecting to a pc, whatever for?

The power cord attaches to the USB port. You can also use the USB from your computer to add things like map updates and new voices.

lingallabaal wrote:What is the USB for? If connecting to a pc, whatever for?

The USB is for downloading mapping updates from the tomtom website....this may or may not be free...I'm guessing much like Garmin they charge you for the udates.

haroldt wrote:So you only get one "map update"...does that include software/firmware (GPSfix) updates as well? Are map updates separate from software updates? Then there is "MapShare", are these updates lifetime unlimited? If so, I don't really care about the one-time only map update...I could just keep updating off mapshare!

pretty sure usermap stuff and software updates are forever free

gilig wrote:got it in mail yesterday..screen in Polish contacted TOMTOM for help..what they told me to do filled the drive now can't do anything with it

Delete some of the unneeded languages.

lingallabaal wrote:What is the USB for? If connecting to a pc, whatever for?

You can power it via USB as well, the SYNC USB plug in my Ford powers/charges my current GPS and saves the 12v outlets for other goodies.

lingallabaal wrote:What is the USB for? If connecting to a pc, whatever for?

It's so you can hack their Linux and make the device do cool things. Like installing an altimiter add-on.

I like my old woot! TomTom GO 5xx, and I wish that the map update cost was less than the cost of a new unit.

Some places in the world - like The Fenway in Boston - are unnavigable with my TomTom and maps - the poor thing simply reboots and/or complains. But most of the time it does very well, showing routes that even The Locals didn't consider, but were faster/more direct.

Everybody keeps saying that you need a gps even if you have a smartphone because of when you are out of service... but don't a lot of smartphones come with a stand-alone gps that uses the gps satellites for navigation? Mine does.......

italiiano wrote:I appreciate your attempt to help but I think you're missing the two biggest points.

Pro: 1. Cell phone GPS through Google Maps has traffic for free which is extremely accurate.

Con: At least in the world of Verizon, you can't do data and talk at the same time, meaning if your talking on the phone, and miss a turn, the phone can't redirect you or find an alternative while you're on the phone. Also, if you're in an area where you can't get a signal then the GPS is worthless, and let's face it, that's when you REALLY need help getting back to civilization!

Also, unless your using an iphone, why can't you run pandora in the background while using google maps? I do it all the time!

Cell Phone through Google Maps? I have an iPhone, is that the app that comes with it? Because I can't find an app for Google Maps in the app store?

I was about to buy this last night until I realized there were no free map updates. Then this morning I saw eBays Deals section offers the XXL 550M with lifetime updates for just $28 more with FREE shipping! SOLD!

I bought TWO of these TomTom's. We want to make sure that our son and daughter won't get lost finding their way home!

phacopida wrote:Is there an advantage to having a dedicated GPS device as opposed to a GPS app for a smartphone or tablet?

Yes, no data exorbitant data charges from the phone company.

Wholesaleforless wrote:Whenever I would enter a new destination address (which is harder to do than on a Garmin), it would ask for the nearest cross street. And needless to say, when I am in an unfamiliar area, I did not KNOW the cross street, lol. And without it, it wouldn't let you proceed.

My Garmin Nuvi I wooted earlier this year is working great, it asks for a house number or you can do cross streets. Not being able to do addresses on a modern gps is unforgivable.

Wholesaleforless wrote:That being said, this is a decent price.

My Nuvi was $79, only $10 more, so I'd say no, not really worth it. So far my only complaints about the Nuvi are (1) the usb connection is on the back instead of the side, and (2) it flips out if you have an even slightly noisy power connection to it while driving.

lingallabaal wrote:What is the USB for? If connecting to a pc, whatever for?

It is to Update your firmware, software, maps, download voices, and backup your Tomtom

lingallabaal wrote:What is the USB for? If connecting to a pc, whatever for?

The mobile GPS (TT 530) has a PC/Mac software component available (TomTom Home) that is used to (among other things) register the unit, download new maps, voices and complex itineraries (try to patiently enter 15 way points and see if using a regular keyboard isn't less frustrating). The USB port on the GPS connects to your computer USB port to transfer all this information back and forth. On older generation TomTom's you could also leave your SD card plugged in the GPS and use the USB conection to transfer pictures, music, et all and you can do "housekeeping" (like erase the random previous destinations).

lingallabaal wrote:What is the USB for? If connecting to a pc, whatever for?

Its to update the firmware, software, maps, add different voices, add points of interest, and backup the device.

routtwooter wrote:Partially correct on the cell tower issue--this is the case for cell phones that use location-based data IF they don't have built-in GPS. However, many smartphones, including the latest iPhones as well as Android handsets, have an actual GPS chipset built in and can utilize GPS satellites as well as cell phone tower triangulation to determine the device's location.

But cell phones also grab all of their map info from the network - so if you have no data service, you have no map

KyserSoze wrote:Didn't we just have this a few days ago? You're better off paying a bit more for the lifetime maps.

How much more are they worth, though? Amazon has another tomtom available for $45 more. Is it worth it for traffic and lifetime updates?

(There's a newer version available, but this looks comparable to Woot's offering)

lingallabaal wrote:What is the USB for? If connecting to a pc, whatever for?

To report incorrect info and connect with the mapshare community

imrbilly wrote:im assuming this one does not have lifetime maps? which is the one that does? anyone know?

I bought this model last year for my daughter. Not sure if I got it on woot, but it did come with lifetime map updates. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure all Tom Tom's do, its always been part of their marketing strategy.

BTW, I've used it and its better than my in dash unit in my Lexus.

Well, I just wooted one. I've had a TomTom One 130 for a few years now and just LOVE it. The bigger screen should be quite nice, plus the spoken street names. For this price, I'm getting a better unit for at least $30 less than I paid for the 3.5" model I have now. I'm kicking myself for not getting the one with Traffic that was here a few days ago. But that's the nature of Woot!

I've been tempted by Garmin, but it seems to be much less configurable, and less info on the screen.

My Samsung Captivate "smart" phone is horrible for GPS, so it's not an option. It can't keep a signal lock, drains the battery like crazy, and uses up my limited data. A larger data plan would cost me 1/3 the price of this unit ~each month~ so a dedicated GPS is a no-brainer for me.

If you are buying this for use in CA, note that it is illegal to mount it in the MIDDLE of the windshield. It must be mounted on the lower left or right hand corner of the windshield.

My wife and I have owned TomToms for years and have never had a problem with them. The directions they give are accurate (GIGO); however, we learned that (they) do not like for you to turn across traffic and WILL route you through several right-hand turns to get you to a traffic signal so you can "cross safely".

lingallabaal wrote:What is the USB for? If connecting to a pc, whatever for?

You can download map updates from the computer to your GPS.

Does this provide free map updates for as long as you use the device?

elynnjean wrote:Cell Phone through Google Maps? I have an iPhone, is that the app that comes with it? Because I can't find an app for Google Maps in the app store?

Google doesn't need no stinking App store!
http://www.google.com/mobile/maps/

I have to laugh at the non-multi tasking phone users. I've been running Google Maps on my AT&T Win Mobile HTC Touch Pro2 for a long time. Window and GSM multitasks just fine.
I use the traffic information for my Boston area commute. I don't leave the driveway without it being setup. I have a dash bracket and put calls on speakerphone or bluetooh.

Another con though is the data plan. I have unlimited, but when I drove to Montreal I began to worry about roaming charges in Canada.
Also when in Turkey a year ago, I just bought a Win Mobile GPS app (NDrive) for 40e that worked great.

speedo232 wrote:I have the 3.5". My TomTom is terrific. Initial updates are free and unless you live in a place where the roads are always changing, you don't need new maps.

Well, of course, if you only stay within a few miles of your house, then new maps are probably not needed, but then neither is a GPS. If you plan on driving to a place that you are not familiar with, then getting updates is more important.

RWoodward wrote:I'm a gadget person and I must admit I've been tempted to buy a GPS for a while, but the simple fact of the matter is I have no problem getting where I need to go by consulting Yahoo maps, printing the turn-by-turn directions, and carrying an atlas in my car for those rare occasions I get turned around or need to change my route.

Trust me, I was the same way. Once you own a tomtom though, you will wonder how you ever got along without it. 1.) Saves you all the time of looking up and printing the directions.

2.)If you are going on a long trip, you dont have to constantly look to see how many miles you've gone before you make your next turn, because of the verbal warnings

3.) If you make a wrong turn from your printed directions, it can be difficult to get back on track. This is automatic.

4.) Reading printed directions while driving can be scary.

5.) Printed directions maps are horrible if you even decide to print the map in the first place.

msingerman wrote:This may be a foolish question, but I see people commenting that you have to pay for new maps. Can someone please explain this in more detail? Will the existing maps expire and have to be repurchased? Do maps in areas you already have (US, Canada) get updates if, say, a new highway is built, or do you have to pay for it? Or is it just if you want maps of a different region? Thanks for the clarification.

You don't pay for maps. The way it works is, you wait two years, then buy a new GPS unit, because a new unit is cheaper than paying for the maps.

Not only does Tom Tom charge you for new maps, they release new maps something like once a quarter, and if you want to update to the current version, you have to pay for EVERY UPDATE since whatever map version you currently have. So if you have not updated your map in two years, it's not, pay $20 to get the latest map, it's pay $160 to get every map between the map you have and the current map.

DO NOT BUY a GPS without lifetime maps.

I think this is a better deal, free lifetime updates. ;) I just bought this one instead.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=567428&CatId=3422

I Just use the Wife 1.0 Navigation system. It just sits in the seat next to me and is always telling me where to go. Only downside is that it does not have the Homer Simpson voice option.

raehl311 wrote:You don't pay for maps. The way it works is, you wait two years, then buy a new GPS unit, because a new unit is cheaper than paying for the maps.

Not only does Tom Tom charge you for new maps, they release new maps something like once a quarter, and if you want to update to the current version, you have to pay for EVERY UPDATE since whatever map version you currently have. So if you have not updated your map in two years, it's not, pay $20 to get the latest map, it's pay $160 to get every map between the map you have and the current map.

DO NOT BUY a GPS without lifetime maps.

So I am still confused... Can't you just keep updating the maps for free off the "MapShare" community? Why pay for ANY updates?

lingallabaal wrote:What is the USB for? If connecting to a pc, whatever for?

...Often there will be important firmware updates that you must download from their site - as well as downloading various options to the gps....

I know I'm late to the debate but I've been thinking about this all day.

I have an Android phone w/ very good GPS. I also have a TomTom with a 5" screen that I love. I was going to update the map on the TomTom since the one I have did not come with lifetime updates and it was last updated in January 2010. The updates cost $41.95 from TomTom (I just checked) so for $28.00 more, this will be a bargain for me.

The one that was on Woot a couple of weeks ago came with Lifetime traffic. Traffic is traffic. YOu get out of one jam only to find your escape route is now jammed.

I can give my old unit to someone that doesn't have one at all and they will still be thrilled.

sullivan65 wrote:I Just use the Wife 1.0 Navigation system. It just sits in the seat next to me and is always telling me where to go. Only downside is that it does not have the Homer Simpson voice option.

Aw, come on guys... THIS is a Quality Post!!!

sr6376 wrote:The only thing I can add to this is that I have the iPhone4 from Verizon. I purchased the $.99 MotionX "GPS Drive" program. I used it for a road trip to NYC and it was absolutely fantastic. The main reason that I went with that program over the ones that you pay $50-$70 for is that I only need a GPS two or three times a year. I can't see paying that much money when I don't have to.

The MotionX App charged me $.99 for the first months service. Once it ran out, the next time I need to use it I will pay $1.99 for the next month. It will run out again and the next time another $1.99, etc. They also have a version for unlimited use which I can't recall off hand how much/little that was, etc.

I have MotionX on my iPhone as well, and renewed for their $20 annual subscription. That's at least $30 less than TomTom, Navigon or Garmin's iPhone app renewals. But even so, I prefer a 5" GPS screen's real estate to the iPhone's 3-½" one (and those of you with polarized sunglasses may have noticed that iPhone glass screens turn a weird tint of green when used sideways!). If you're only going to use a phone for nav, MotionX is the one to buy.

lingallabaal wrote:What is the USB for? If connecting to a pc, whatever for?

To update the software. It doesn't download new maps automatically so you have to get them off the computer.