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(More customer reviews)I love my IPod touch, so I was very excited to get my TomTom Car Kit for it. I've used it for two weeks now, and I have mixed feelings.
Major First Point: You do have to purchase the TomTom application to use the Car Kit. Not a big deal... or so I thought. The ap costs $50 to download (US and Canada only; other countries are another $50 a shot), and that is definitely more than I would have spent if I known beforehand. I imagine over time (or at least I hope!) that this price will go down. Too late for me! I think I might have gone for a utilitarian, single-purpose GPS device which might cost a bit more had I researched first, if for anything else to avoid using the additional memory space on my IPod.
I have another IPod Touch holder in my car which plugs directly into a cigarette lighter, this one for when I want to listed to my music collection or an audiobook. There is apparently a cable available (but does not come with the kit) which can link the kit to the car stereo; I haven't been able to find any concrete information regarding it (at present, it is not listed among the kit's accessories on Amazon) and therefore I'm not sure if my '05 Santa Fe has an in-port for it to hook into. It might be a common cable. Obviously, I can't use both holders at once, so as it is, I could listen to music or a book over the kit's speaker, which offers a very clear voice for directions, but doesn't do Pearl Jam any justice. I will update my review when I find out more via our friend, Google. :^)
So far, the GPS experience has been terrific, but iffy on the destination end. The first three destinations I set into it were incorrect; one road was mislabeled, one road didn't exist, and the third destination was half a mile off from where I wanted to end. This is my first GPS, and I have a feeling that many GPS receivers have the same issues, as my experiences using [...] have intimated. I'm sure that such happenings will be fixed, and there will yet be new roads added, so nothing will ever be perfect, but it is good to know that this happens because generally the very last part of the trip is the part that we hope GPS will help us with.
The mount fits very nicely on my dashboard and is attractive. The kit comes with a plastic disc that I can mount on the dash, and the suction cup on the kit adheres to it nicely, and with a huge variety of angles. It doesn't interfere with my view of the road at all, and it is very easily removed from the disc for storage.
I am glad that I got the kit, and while I thought it was a steep price for an application that I also needed to buy, I know that I spent less to get a decent GPS system. I recommend that everyone look at some inexpensive GPS receivers before purchasing this kit, knowing that if have an IPod Touch, you might want to think about how you want to use it. I'm sure with the proper cables and such, you can manage the elements of IPod and GPS together (the music automatically decreases in volume when voice directions are being given, by the way!), but you may find it easier to have one GPS separate from the IPod. I'd give the device 3.5 stars if I could, but not four... not yet, anyway.
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TomTom Car Kit for iPod touch (compatible with 1st and 2nd Generation)iPod touch users can now get GPS navigation* thanks to the built-in GPS receiver of the TomTom car kit and enjoy a full in-car experience; from safe and secure docking all the way to playing your favorite tunes over your car stereo.
*Note: TomTom GPS application must be purchased separately. Requires compatible car audio system and audio cable.
Built-In GPS Receiver The TomTom car kit has a built-in GPS receiver, which provides your iPod touch with the capability of a GPS device. The receiver gives your device a reliable signal - even when driving in high-rise urban areas.
Secure Docking Keep your iPod touch secure while you're on the move. Our specially designed award-winning EasyPort mount attaches your iPod touch securely to your windscreen or dashboard--perfectly within reach. It lets you rotate the screen for exceptional widescreen route display. And it folds flat, so moving it from car to car is easy and simple.
Clear Voice Instructions With built-in volume controls and its superior speaker, you'll hear every voice instruction loud and clear--so you'll never miss a thing.
Charges iPod touch While Driving Always on the go? Dock your iPod touch in the mount to charge it as you drive, so it will always be fully charged and ready to go, wherever you're going next.
Rotates for Optimal Positioning View your route in either portrait or landscape mode. The TomTom car kit rotates easily, in order to give you the view you prefer.
Line Out for Music Playback* Enjoy the perfect driving soundtrack. Play all your favorite songs through your car's audio system with the optional audio cable*. It even fades music out when receiving calls and giving directions.
Compatibility Works with the iPod touch 1st generation (8GB, 16GB, 32GB); iPod touch 2nd generation (8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB); with iPhone OS 3.0 or later. Designed to work with the TomTom app for the iPhone and iPod touch.
*Note: Requires iPod touch OS 3.0 or later.
Specs
Dimensions: 5 1/8" x 2 3/4" x 2"
Weight: 4.1 oz
GPS receiver: SiRF star 3
Speaker: 300 to 15 kHz/ 2.0 Watt
Microphone: -44 +/- 3 dBv
Operating temperature: 14 to 131 degrees F
Dock connector: 30 pin Apple connector
Audio out: 3.5mm audio out
Volume control: Yes
Portrait/landscape support: Yes
Windshield and Dashboard mounting: Yes
iPod touch charging via CLA: Yes
What's in the Box Car Kit for iPod touch, USB Car Charger, Adhesive Disks, Docomentation
About TomTom Founded in Amsterdam in 1991, TomTom has established itself as a global leader in navigation by being an innovative company with a strong brand, clear customer focus, and high quality products and services.
TomTom is the world's leading navigation solutions provider with navigation products sold in 30 countries and in over 20 languages. To further our commitment to car navigation, TomTom acquired Tele Atlas maps in 2008 so we can continually provide the most up-to-date maps and intelligent routing.
We have our own mapping company! Did you know that every year roads change by up to 40% in high-growth areas? Tele Atlas manages this by using the world's most comprehensive systems to identify and incorporate these changes into our maps with unprecedented levels of speed and accuracy. All TomTom devices benefit from the Tele Atlas advantage--more coverage, more points of interest, and more freshness and accuracy.
Why TomTom? At TomTom, we believe that personal navigation should be as easy and safe as possible. We develop smart technology that gives you straightforward solutions, innovations to make life easy.
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