Here’s a roundup of a few additional points and information that have been released since the initial launch earlier this week.

Firstly, there are rumours that O2 are going to allow the iPhone 3G to be tethered to a laptop via Bluetooth, ie you can get access to the internet from the laptop via the iPhone. This is unconfirmed, and some people have indicated that the early iPhone 2.0 firmwares do not contain this functionality, so unless Apple pull something out of the hat at the last minute, this may not happen. Of course, many people argue that the iPhone has enough capability that you won’t want or need to use your laptop at all!

On the more positive, Unlimited WiFi will be available on the iPhone 3G at 9,500 hotspots covering both The Cloud and BT’s OpenZone network, which will be added in on 11th July, the iPhone launch date.

There’s no front facing camera, despite what a few people are claiming, so no 3G video calling.  Whether this was something that was dropped from the development to meet the timescales, or whether it was a purposeful decision (after all, how many of us make regular video calls, compared to voice calls…?) we’ll never know, but for now, there’s no capability.

There’s some questions over navigation apps, with some people claiming that companies like TomTom will not be able to release SatNav software because of a clause which prevents real-time navigation apps.  We believe that this clause relates to the use of the SDK to access the Google Maps data, which, of course, TomTom will not be using.  As such, we doubt this clause will prevent a wide raft of SatNav applications becoming available.

All in all, we suspect there will be a lot more news about the iPhone between now and a month’s time.

It’s taken the purchase of TeleAtlas by TomTom to start doing something we had all assumed they were doing before; sending them map corrections and updates. It appears that all the Map Share updates (streets missing, errors in the data, new POIs) were collected by TomTom, but never actually passed back to the map provider, TeleAtlas, for them to update the core mappign. This meant that for some changes, that change was lost when a new map was released by TeleAtlas, and would potentially have never been updated by TeleAtlas as they simply didn’t know about it.

However, since the purchase has now been fully agreed, TomTom have announced that all that historic data will now be passed across to TeleAtlas to help improve the map quality.

Although we support the provision of the data, we’re a little annoyed TomTom have kept it to themselves up to now.

After Nokia extended their map coverage into 9 new countries, NavNGo have announced they are about to release maps for Argentina, Brasil and Colombia.  In combination with their 3D mapping, they are trying very hard to compete with the established players, and if they can get their iPhone application we covered before released soon, they could become even more popular.

In contrast, within hours of Apple’s iPhone 3G launch yesterday, TomTom confirmed that they have their SatNav software working on the iPhone 3G, and plan to release it soon (although they have yet to announce an actual date).

Finally, here’s an interesting picture…

This appears to be (if it’s not fake) an iPhone running Navigon’s software, so it looks likely that all the major players are planning on iPhone solutions this year.

Navigon picture courtesy of Navigadget.

Although not 100% confirmed, there are lots of stories of both Garmin and TomTom offering free map updates (if needed) to users who register their new SatNav unit. There’s a catch though, the unit needs to be registered within the first 30 days after purchase to qualify for the free map upgrade. Obviously, some times, these units can sit on the store shelves for some months (or occasionally even longer) before you purchase them, and so a free map upgrade is a nice feature, and would give you the same mapping as a unit shipped directly from the manufacturer that same month.

Nokia Maps 2.0 has now been formally released by Nokia and is available for download from here. Although this adds little since the last beta version, all the beta versions have added lots more functionality than Nokia Maps 1.0. The main new features since 1.0 are improved car navigation and pedestrian modes, support for satellite images, much more local content, multimedia city guides, and a new user interface. Other features we should coming (as mentioned before) are near real time traffic information, and links into “Share with Ovi” for sharing POIs and routes.

One of the fixes that’s occurred between the first beta and the release is that UK 7 digit postcodes now work properly.  They’ve also added Network based positioning (similar to that used in Google Maps) for a rough location until the GPS can precisely locate you.  This works on most phones today, although the E90 will need a “software update” will should be released soon.

This all bodes well for Nokia, although they are still a little behind TomTom and Garmin with their feature range, and some people are still questioning their pricing model. It will be interesting to see how many current phones get new firmwares with this version installed by default..

The new TomTom GO x30 devices we first mentioned here are now available for sale in the UK. The retail prices are as follows:

• 930 Traffic £399.99 inc VAT
• 730 Traffic £329.99 inc VAT
• 730 £299.99 inc VAT
• 530 Traffic £279.99 inc VAT
• 530 £249.99 inc VAT

The Traffic models include the current RDS-TMC receiver, which is much better than the early TMC receivers TomTom first tried, but it’s still reliant upon the radio signal being broadcast, which is weak, and does not cover the whole country. To improve on this, we’ll need to wait for the launch of the TomTom HD Traffic service later this year. These devices should be compatible with the HD Traffic service, but this hasn’t been confirmed by TomTom.

Pricing courtesy of Pocket GPS World, although we expect the street prices to drop quite quickly.

Here’s the new HTC Touch Diamond. HTC have redesigned their TouchFlo interface, and hope that many users won’t even realise it’s Windows Mobile 6 underneath their interface. The specs are:

• Windows Mobile 6.1
• Triband GSM/GPRS/EDGE at 900/1800/1900 MHz
• Qualcomm 528 MHz CPU
• Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
• WiFi b/g
• eGPS
• FM Radio
• 128 MB RAM
• 256 MB ROM
• 4 GB flash
• 2.8″ VGA display(640×480)
• Front and rear cameras (rear 3.2 Megapixel)

O2 have confirmed they will be releasing the XDA Diamond. It’s also likely that the Touch Diamond will ship with TomTom Navigator 7, and a single downloadable City Map, with the ability to purchase further maps.

If you like the idea of a nice new interface, but already have a Windows Mobile device, or don’t want to buy a Touch Diamond, then head over to Pointui, who have produced their own interface for Windows Mobile, which may be a suitable candidate. Thanks to Mark at AutomatedHome for alerting us to this option.

TomTom have announced a range of new units over the last few weeks. Firstly, they have updated the TomTom RIDER motorcycle unit (now called RIDER 2), with MapShare, trip statistics, itinerary planning and Help Me! functionality. This functionality will also be available to existing RIDER units via a software update, and the new maps should be available in a month or two as well.

They have also announced two new ONE models, the TomTom ONE and ONE XL. These feature a new ultra slim form factor, large speaker and a unique mount solution. Known as EasyPort™, the new mount design allows it to be left attached to the device and folded against itself making it small enough to fit easily into a pocket or bag.

Some content and picture courtesy of PocketGPSWorld.

TomTom have updated their software for the 520, 720 and 920 models, with the new version being v7.480. Along with a few bug fixes, it adds support for the new HD Traffic receiver addon. There are reports of some problems with voice recognition no longer working, but these problems seem to stem from an accidental beta release in the US only, and should not affect users who download the update after yesterday. Some items (custom voice, custom cursor) will need resetting, and it’s best to take a backup of the unit before applying the update.

Story courtesy of Pocket GPS World.

There are a lot of rumours flying around that TomTom is planning a response to the Garmin nuviphone by producing their own equivalent. The device will possibly combine an HTC hardware device with TomTom pre loaded (removing some of the problems TomTom has had over the years with compatibility problems with their software working on some Windows Mobile devices). Hopefully more information will be revealed over the upcoming months, and we won’t discover this is a early April Fool’s.

Story courtesy of Pocket GPS World.

A few weeks back the European Commission announced it was not 100% happy with the merger between TomTom and TeleAtlas, and now has raised similar anti-trust concerns over the merger between Nokia and Navteq. Both companies are responded to questions from the EC, but at this stage it’s not clear whether either deal with succeed.

As well as the TomTom ONE HD, TomTom have produced a replacement power supply for the TomTom GO x20 and x30 ranges which includes a SIM and GPRS service to connect and download reliable and accurate traffic data, including data collected from Vodafone mobile phones up and down the country. This will cost €100 to buy and €60 for 6 months service, and TomTom plan to increase the range of devices supported later in the year. TomTom claim the HD traffic service provides 5 times as many traffic updates as their standard service and covers up to 10 times more roads. This should help when there is an accident, and traditionally you would have been simply diverted onto other equally busy roads.

Interestingly, the HD traffic receiver actually contains a Li-Ion battery, so does not appear to need an external power supply to function, although when connected, it will power both the traffic receiver and the main SatNav unit.

Although available separately, it will be provided as standard on the TomTom GO 730 HD Traffic and the TomTom GO 930 HD.

The only downside (in the short term) is that it appears it is not compatible with third party mounts, such as the CarComm mount we featured here, although we expect Brodit and CarComm to update their solutions fairly soon after the devices are widely available.

Hopefully this service will be available soon in the UK (it should be before the end of the year).

TomTom has used CeBIT (as usual) to announce it’s new units for the year. These are the 530, 730 and 930 units. In a similar way to last year’s x20 units, the 530 will have UK & Ireland mapping, the 730 has Western and Eastern European mapping, and the 930 will have US, Canada and Western and Eastern European mapping. The units are of a similar style to the existing x20 units, although these new units come in “very sophisticated soft touch black with “real metal” detailing”. Again, as usual, these units come with new software.

More information in the rest of the article.

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If you have a TomTom SatNav device, and you use the PGPSW (Pocket GPS World) Speed Camera Database, then head over to their website, where you will find a new set of custom speed camera icons. These aren’t compatible with every TomTom device, so you’ll need to check whether they will work with your unit first, but if they will, they provide a much richer icon set than the default.

If, of course, you don’t use their Speed Camera Database, these icons won’t be much use, so whilst you are there, sign up - it’s only £19 per year, and for that you get access to the forums, discounts on new GPS hardware, and access to the speed camera database. Plus, if you report just one previously unreported static speed camera position or a change to speed/location of an existing static camera already in the database or (finally) a new mobile site then you may (subject to verification by PGPSW) get a lifetime subscription (remember only the first reporter will get the lifetime sub).

Picture courtesy of Pocket GPS World.

Although announced some time ago, the Toyota Yaris SR is the first car we’re aware of that is shipping with the TomTom dock solution. The TomTom Duo allows you to remove the actual SatNav element (like most TomTom units) to allow you to still plan routes when away from the car (plus update the maps / speed cameras), but by having a permanently remaining interface, a lot of extra technology is included. This includes acting as an ipod interface, a radio, a CD player, a mp3 / wma player (via USB memory stick); in fact, most of these functions still work even with the SatNav unit removed. In terms of specification, the Duo is a similar spec to the TomTom ONE.

This is standard fitment on the Toyota Yaris SR.

TomTom have been busy this week! They have also announced TomTom Add-To. This will allow companies to publish a button on their website which will automatically download the exact address to a USB connected TomTom SatNav device. More usefully, you can provide a whole group of addresses (eg for nationwide store chains), or a route of how to access the address. Although many companies have published .OV2 files in the past, this new functionality will allow companies to provide a better experience.

Garmin have had a similar capability for some while now, although there are only a handful of websites using the Garmin Communicator technology, so let’s hope that companies now adopt both methods.

Whether you are a PC or Mac user, TomTom has been busy updating it’s desktop software. TomTom Home 2.2 is now released, and offers some new functionality, notably more user community sharing options, with the ability to upload and share POIs, Voices, Routes, Colour Schemes, Sounds (arrival sound, alert sounds, ringtones). In terms of Mac support, the new version offers new functions, and a much more stable interface.

In other news, TomTom has now signed up Vodafone to provide the data for their HD service in Germany. Although only live in The Netherlands, TomTom had already signed up Vodafone to provide the data there and in the UK. TomTom are hoping to have HD traffic for 50% of their European customers by the end of 2008.

A lot of people have been trying to connect their TomTom SatNav devices to their new 3 SkypePhones to get traffic updates, and having problems. Crundy, who developed the SkypeIN / SkypeOUT workaround, has released details instructions on how to achieve this, which you can access in the rest of the article.

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The latest TomTom devices (x20 range - 520, 720, 920) support custom cursors (custom vehicle icons) out of the box, but an earlier device upgraded with the same v7 software does not. Help is at hand…

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The TomTom Link 300, or TomTom Work has just passed through the FCC. This device adds extra functions to a TomTom SatNav device by allowing you to read and select orders from your Head Office, exchange text messages with your Head Office, and register your working time and your breaks. The office can send delivery / pickup requests to the device, and the driver can send back status updates. In essence a range of functions useful to delivery drivers and anyone driving a vehicle for business purposes.

No pricing available as yet, and although it’s unlikely to be a piece of technology most of us will ever need, it’s a nice example of integration improving functionality. It will be interesting to see how simple or how advanced the Head Office systems needs to be to support this device.