TomTom GO 910 4-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

Product Description

TomTom GO 910 is a smart, easy-to-use, portable navigation solution. The crystal-clear widescreen display, 3D graphics, and clear, accurate turn-by-turn voice instructions help you find your way to any address in the US, Canada, or Europe. The built-in Bluetooth connection and integrated microphone let you easily make or receive calls hands-free with most Bluetooth enabled cell phones. Control your iPod playlists directly from the touch screen. The home dock lets you connect to your PC for itinerary planning and downloading additional maps, voices, and more. Ready for optional additional TomTom PLUS services (real time information on traffic, weather, etc.) (Subscription required) Screen - 4.0-inch widescreen WQVA screen, 64k colors, 480 x 272 pixels / Battery - Rechargeable internal Li-Ion Battery (lasts 5 hours per charge) Built-in MP3 player with 20GB hard drive Dimensions - 4.2 x 3.1 x 2.5 inches Weight - 12 ounces Manufacturer's limited 2 year warranty

Amazon.com Review

With an effective in-car navigation system at your side, you can say goodbye to the good old days of pulling over and asking directions. But designing an effective system, one that brings together the right mix of speed, accuracy, and simplicity has been a long, hard road for many manufacturers--leading many folks to stick with the human touch of the gas station attendant. The latest in-car GPS units deserve a serious look, though, especially by those who've sworn them off as too inaccurate, too complicated, and too expensive. The TomTom GO 910 embodies much of what's really great about the next generation of systems, and in many ways it's successful at making drivers feel as if there's a helpful guide along for the ride.

The GO 910's suction cup mount attaches quickly and easily to the windshield. View larger. You can also take the GO 910 product tour.

Detailed, pre-installed maps of the whole of Europe, the USA, and Canada offer seamless door-to-door navigation across half the globe. View larger.

The GO 910's intuitive interface and user-friendly touch-screen offer a great navigation experience. View larger.

When used with a compatible Bluetooth phone, the unit offers full hands-free functionality. View larger.

Optional TomTom Plus services offer safety camera warnings, real-time traffic and road condition information, and weather reports, as well as downloadable funny and famous voices. View larger.

Enjoy MP3s and Podcasts through the high quality speaker or via your car stereo. Load up image slideshows, too. View larger.

Design
The heart of every GPS device is its receiver technology, and the TomTom GO 910 has the best in the business -- the highly sensitive SiRF Star 3 GPS chipset, which boasts fast satellite acquisition times, and extreme accuracy, even when you're driving through dense forests or tall buildings. Also under the hood is a 400 Mhz processor supported by 64 MB of RAM, which gives the GO 910's interface a zippy feel. An internal 20 GB hard disk is pre-loaded with maps and points of interest (POIs) for the US (including Guam and Puerto Rico), Canada, and Europe. Pre-loaded maps and points of interest are a big plus, allowing you to get going right out of the box. There's no fussing with memory cards and map uploads from your computer.

Weighing in at 12 ounces and measuring 4.2 x 3.1 x 2.5 inches, the GO 910 is about the size of a softball. TomTom is known for keeping things simple, and that's the case here; there are no buttons or other doodads on the front of the device -- just a big, bright widescreen (480 x 272 pixels) display that's controlled by touch. There's also a microphone for hands-free phone calls (more on this later) just above the display. A single button for power is placed on the top of the device, while a single speaker is placed on the bottom. There's a docking port here, too, which supplies power and data connectivity.

Installation
Installing the GO 910 couldn't be easier. A rotating suction cup mount attaches to the windshield and the GO 910 clips into it securely. Positioning the mount for easy viewing is a snap, and after some initial setup procedures you'll be up and running.

The mount accommodates an array of connections, including power, an external GPS antenna, an optional RDS-TMC traffic receiver for FM radio-based traffic updates, audio out, and a microphone connector. In addition to a car power adapter, The GO 910 ships with an external microphone for Bluetooth hands-free calls, as well as a 3.5 mm audio cable for connecting the unit to your car stereo.

While the GO 910 does have an internal rechargeable battery, it should be treated as a backup in most cases. Battery life was relatively short during testing--about 3 hours. The device also ships with a home USB docking cradle, as well as an AC wall charger. Using the included TomTom Home software on your PC, you can upload songs and photos to the GO 910, manage POIs, plan routes, purchase and manage additional TomTom services, and more.

Interface
The GO 910's easy-to-read display, logical menu and navigation functions, and excellent voice prompts bring the whole hardware and software package together nicely. You'll feel like you're using a tool intended for the job, not a piece of software cobbled together to run on generic hardware.

The anti-glare widescreen display offers a clear 3D view of the road and maneuvers ahead. The screen uses a built-in sensor to adjust to changing light conditions.

The navigation screen is made up of three quadrants: The main map display, which shows a three dimensional view of the road and maneuvers ahead; a distance and turn indicator section, which lets you know how far you have to go until your next turn; and a trip computer with odometer, time, and GPS signal information. The bottom of the display also lets you know the name of the street you're on.

Pressing on a quadrant brings up one of three additional interfaces. The most important is the main menu, activated by pressing the map quadrant. This brings up a group of big, friendly icons that let you enter a new destination, find alternative routes, plan routes, enter the image gallery and music player, activate mobile phone functions, and check traffic conditions, among other features. Pressing the trip computer quadrant lets you delve deeper into your current route, allowing you to view a simulation of the complete route, text-based directions, and detailed map views of the roads ahead. Lastly, pressing the turn indicator brings up a volume control for voice prompts.

Small plus and minus symbols in the upper corners of the screen allow you to zoom in or out of the 3D map view. While the symbols could be a bit larger and more clear, the design is a tradeoff, as their size means they don't get in the way of map information. If you have traffic information engaged, whether via wireless data connectivity, or via an RDS-TMC traffic receiver, a small traffic icon appears on the right side of the screen, alerting you of traffic tie-ups ahead. A quick press of the traffic info button in the main menu allows you to find routes with fewer snags.

Voice prompting is clear, concise, and accurate, always delivering directions for the next maneuver at the right time. This is a testament to the accuracy of the GPS hardware; the device knows precisely where you are, giving it the uncanny ability to tell you what you need to know when you need to know it. You can even choose a voice that suits you best, male or female, with UK, US, or Australian accents. It's a nice touch.

On the Road
Once your home address is entered into the unit and the GPS receiver locks onto a few satellites, you're ready to roll. Initial satellite acquisition was quick and painless, taking no more than a minute. Entering a destination is fairly straightforward. You can enter an address using an on-screen text entry method, choose a stored or recent destination, pick a point on a map, enter latitude and longitude, or choose a POI that's stored in memory.

The first trip with the device included a visit to a friend's house, then a trip to the post office. I entered the friend's address and off I went. Following the voice prompts yielded an efficient route--the route I would choose on my own--and it incorporated several lesser-known streets and shortcuts. All in all, a great first run. The trip to the post office was less impressive. I searched for the nearest post office using the GO 910's handy POI search tool and was confident all was well until the device asked me to take a turn I knew was wrong. Eventually, the device delivered me to an abandoned warehouse that, while in the same neighborhood as the post office, was clearly not the right destination. The likely cause is that the GO 910's POI database has some outdated or inaccurate information. I did test some other POIs and these were accurate, however.

The only other gripe I had about the device was that there is no clear way to end a navigation session. If the unit is still on and you leave a destination, it will continuously try to direct you back to the location, even as you get further and further away from it! The solution to this is to enter a new destination every time you leave an old one, but that's not how people operate all the time. Of course, you can also simply turn the unit off. But it will go right back to guiding you to your old destination as soon as you fire it up again.

Extras
The GO 910 is designed to tightly integrate with many mobile phones that support the Bluetooth wireless communication standard. Once paired with your phone, you can use the GO 910 as a hands-free unit, with full dialing, speakerphone, and contacts management functionality. When paired with a Nokia E61, the GO 910 was able to fully control all call functions. Because of an incompatibility with the E61, though, it was unable to import the phone's contact list, making it necessary to set up an independent contacts list on the GO 910.

If you have wireless data service through your cellular carrier, the GO 910 takes full advantage of it with TomTom Plus services. These services, free until the end of 2006, add real-time traffic, weather, and safety camera information. You can also download additional POIs, maps, and voices via the service. Another feature, TomTom Buddies, allows you to see and communicate with your connected friends as they travel. The GO 910 configured a data connection with the E61 effortlessly, and the device was reporting traffic information and weather in seconds. If you have wireless data service and a Bluetooth-capable phone, TomTom Plus is worth a look, even when it becomes subscription-based in 2007.

The GO 910 also features an iPod control interface, which allows you to connect your iPod or iPod Nano (third generation or higher) via an optional cable and control it via the TomTom, while routing audio into your car stereo. As mentioned, there's also a dedicated MP3 player and image gallery application, features that are just icing on the cake for a device that manages to make GPS navigation accessible, easy, and fun.

Pros

Tight integration of hardware and software
Easy-to-use interface with clear, accurate voice prompts
Excellent Bluetooth support for wireless data and hands-free calling functions

Cons

Possible inaccuracies in POI database

What's in the Box
TomTom GO 910 GPS navigator, remote control, carrying case, home dock, car charger, windshield dock, external microphone, audio cable, product code card, documentation pack (with quick-start guide, accessory leaflet, and CD), user's manual.

--Joshua Gunn

Customer Reviews:

Tom Tom no good in Eastern Europe.......2008-01-01

I bought this thing only to find out it has no coverage in eastern europe. I live in Macedonia and travel around this region I thought the Tom Tom would be the thing to have, NOT!. I tried to download what maps they had and that didn't work. I called them and was told they couldn't verify my credit cards (and I tried three of them all drawn on US banks)because their server won't accept transactions from eastern europe. I'll be selling this thing to the first sucker that comes along and will never buy from this company again. When you are in an area that has maps it works pretty thats why I gave it 3 stars, but customer support is awful.

Exactly what I needed.......2008-01-01

This GPS is awesome. The only problem I have is that, at least in England, I can't get it to tell me what the speed limit is. It will beep if I am speeding, but it won't show what the limit is. Also, sometimes it tells me to go places and guides to the end of a road. Probably happens with all GPS', and I notice with regular updates, some of those problems go away.

Well designed and good support.......2007-12-16

When I first got the unit, both the application and maps were outdated. I was able to use TomTomHome to update the application to the latest version, but the maps update is nowhere to be found on the web site. I called TomTom Support 866-486-6866. Within reasonable wait time, I was able to talk to a support tech. After verifying the receipt, he added the US map update to my TomTom account without charge. TomTom guarantees the latest map after purchase. The updated map is more accurate than the Magellan 4000 that I purchased just three months ago.

I am also enjoying the free real time traffic update right now. But for silly reasons, the free service expires every three months and I need to request reactivations. The traffic data is much better than any free traffic data that you can get from Google or other sources. You do need to have a cell phone with wireless data service and bluetooth to communicate with the server.

I like the fact that there are tons of storage on the 20GB internal drive. I can add more voices, color schemes, and custom POIs. There are many free POIs on the Internet. TomTom's built-in POIs are pretty complete to begin with.

You have the option to turn on Text-to-speech for voice turn-by-turn prompt. Some people may feel that it may be a little too wordy. I prefer the use of special tones rather than an English sentence at the turning points.

The unit is not slim or easily pocketable. But the battery seems to last a long time even with screen on. There are battery saving options that will automatically turn off the screen between turns and turn off the unit entirely when your turn off the car.

Overall, I found it very satisfactory as the map and POIs are complete and the unit is easy to operate. These are the most important things for a GPS.

Great Job!.......2007-11-20

I had problem with DHL, because they send the part back to the seller, because they didn't reached me at home. But the notification that DHL was here to deliever a package was only at the last time when they tried on my door.
But ELECTRONICGIANT was so nice to send it again to me. After 2 weeks on the journey I got the GPS and it is really great.
Thanks Steve.

Good Design, Poor Execution.......2007-11-14

This is the only navigation device I have owned so I cannot compare it to other devices. Generally, this is a good and useful tool with a lot of powerful features. I would rate it at 5 stars if it always worked as well as it usually does. However there are two points that bring it down significantly in my opinion.
The first is the build quality. As others have mentioned the screen freezes (black, but with the power light on) sometimes, when attempting to power the unit on or off. Resetting solves the problem but the reset button is placed in a very hard to reach spot. If you don't happen to keep paperclips handy in your car you may find it very hard to reset as you can't use the point of a pen or anything else straight and pointy to press the button.
Also, the quality of the unit is only mediocre - the rubber non-slip "feet" were peeling off my device after only two months, the windshield mount isn't strong enough to support the weight of the unit so it droops (more on this below) and the connections on the mount are fragile. I bought an FM transmitter mount with the intention of using it to listen to music from my iPod through my car stereo, and the connection for the iPod cable broke the second time I used it.
The second negative point is the customer service. Submitting questions by email through their website yields slow responses, and often ones that are less than helpful. At the time I bought my 910, the maps that came with it were outdated by one version. I asked, justifiably I thought, if they would provide me with the map that was current as of the purchase date. They answered in the negative, basically saying that they won't be responsible for making sure that what is being sold is up to date, but their answers were so oblique that it took me several exchanges with them to understand what they were trying to say. Another customer service issue was with the "drooping" windshield mount. I found information on their site about this problem, and they provided a link to a free replacement. The link was outdated (the program was expired, they said) and I had to contact customer service again for this. They did make good on their promise to replace the mount, and it didn't take that long, however the new mount was no better than the old one. My solution finally was to mount it low on the windshield so the GPS rests on the dash.
Also, I find much of the information in the support section of their website to be overly complicated or incomplete or some combination of the two.
Lastly, their software for managing the 910 through your computer is designed, not exactly poorly - but not very well. I just paid for a new map version through the TomTom website. However, I am unable so far to download the map. It is not showing up in the "My TomTom" application, which as far as I can tell is the only place I can download it from. I have had to contact customer service again about this issue, and face the prospect of waiting up to 48 hours before I can begin to solve this latest problem.

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