What is good about the all new TomTom Go 740 Live is that it will be offering a good live view of the road. The device includes an in built wireless connection that will give access to traffic data through Google. It also includes a map correcting system allowing map data for you to update it frequently.
Design:
The GO 740 has the PND form factor design that was serving TomTom in the past years. It measures 3.4 inches tall and 5 inches wide. The device is thick at the centre measuring 0.9 inch and slims down the edges. A 4.3 inch touch screen having a resolution of 480x272p is placed up front and the speaker is located at the back. The micro SD slot and connections are found at the bottom. The device has an internal storage of 2GB and can be expanded up to a specified limit.
The GO comes with car cradle and suction cup which we have seen in the EasyPort. It also has a desk cradle for connecting it to a PC using a USB for charging and updating. TomTom claims that it can offer a battery life of 3 hours but it doesn’t look like it can as it got dead in just 2 hours when tested.
Features:
The GO 740 is the first ever GPS device from TomTom to feature an in built wireless data connection and hence it includes some latest features we’ve never seen. The first to be noted in the Google powered Local search. Using the feature, the user can easily find restaurants and other locations along with detailed information including ratings. It is also possible to get real time traffic information and also latest fuel prices in that particular location and weather forecasts.
You can send messages to your buddies using the TomTom Buddies but it is necessary that they also should be using the GO. You can also share your location with your buddies using this feature. The device comes with three months of service for $500 MSRP after which you need to pay a monthly fee of $10.
Apart from these live services, TomTom GO 740 also features routing algorithm and using this it is possible to get accurate routes from other TomTom users. The device allows users to correct inaccurate map details including street names, turn restrictions etc and also share with other TomTom users. Receiving updates is fully dependent upon the user. The user can receive updates blindly or choose to receive approved updates from Tomtom or can never choose to receive at all.
Performance:
It is impressive that the device boots in just 4 seconds and locks satellite in 49 seconds. It means that you are set to go once turning on the engine. Like most other TomTom devices, routing is bit sluggish, especially when you are passing through dense streets. But we cannot come to a negative decision on that as IQ routes, map share data and traffic are all happening at the same time. If you are ready to wait a few seconds, it will help you reach your destination minutes before. What surprises is that the device calculates surprisingly quicker once it locks the route. Traffic data can be viewed as a color coated upon the map while the fuel prices can be viewed with touch of a button.
The GO will definitely face challenge from the Garmin Nuvi’s latest devices like 880, 255W etc but however the Garmin Nuvi has a slight edge having a polished interface. The GO 740 has the advantage of services that come along proving live information on what is happening on the path ahead. Menu structure in the TomTom is much attractive with bright icons. Route cancellation requires 5 presses from the map but it might increase if you are not aware of its exact location. However in Garmin it requires only 2 presses for the same result.
Overall the performance of TomTom is satisfying and it depends upon you whether you consider it to be superior to Garmin’s considering its pros and cons.
you have to wonder if it will still want you to go over a lake to reach your destination