Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
TomTom has a massive business in dedicated GPS navigation hardware, and it could be expected that it would bring this to bear on its iPhone application. Unfortunately, even with a major set of improvements in its 1.2 release, the product doesn’t stand out of the pack.
Animation of maps is fine, but not extraordinary. The iPod controls, new in 1.2, aren’t obvious (you tap the bottom display of route information, and then tap a musical note), and are incomplete. You can pause, advance or go back a track, but not choose new selections.
It has become a family joke the fact that the TomTom software likes to twirl the display continuously in some cases when it cannot get a GPS fix. This is unacceptable unless TomTom engineers believe that many of its customers routinely vary their route by doing donuts on major highways and arterials.
The package has nothing particular to recommend it except the quality of its computer-generated voice, and its ability with the separately-purchased car kit to work with first-generation iPhones and any iPod touch.
[This app was reviewed as part of our GPS app roundup review.]