Tomtom XL 330S GPS Receiver
Price Range: $300 to $350
*Â XL 330-S device
* EasyPort windshield mount
* Car Charger
* USB cable for charging and computer connection
* Dashboard mounting disk
* Documentation
Technical Specifications
* 4.3″ WQVGA touchscreen
* High sensitivity GPS receiver
* USB connection for charging, updates and downloads
* Battery (up to 3 hours operation)
* Weight: 6.6 oz
* Dimensions: 4.7 x 3.2 x 0.9 in
Today TomTom announces all new TomTom One and XL navigators. The software doesn’t appear to be any different, but the exteriors have been streamlined even further, and the company introduced a new EasyPort mount that can stow-away in the back of the device itself, so you don’t have to worry about leaving your mount in the car. TomTom also revamped the audio system, so that commands are “even more loud and clear at all times”—apparently previous versions sounded too garbled or weak, but not anymore.
When they come out in May, the baseline 3.5″ TomTom One 130 will still list for $200, while a step-up with text to speech (in other words, reading of street names and highway numbers) is $250. The 4.3″ widescreen TomTom XL has dropped in price, though: the 330 costs $250, and the 330S with text-to-speech is at $300. If you really just want to save money, the old TomTom One 3rd Edition currently lists for $170, while supplies last of course.
TomTom was in the news lately for having taken a beating in the first quarter of the year, profit down from $70.3 million to $12 million in year over year comparison. Keeping prices low certainly won’t boost profits, though it might help to increase its flagging overall revenues.
The real issue for us gadget fiends is that these minor updates, with no major change to the TomTom user interface in many years, makes the company look unable to conceive of radical new ideas as the GPS market gets crazier, and starts to include BlackBerrys and, dare I add, iPhones. I like TomTom well enough for getting from point A to point B, but I am not seeing any kind of long-term survival strategy here.
TomTom’s award-winning software means easy navigation from A to B. Switch on and go right out of the box with the TomTom ONE XL 330-S. Just enter the address on the touchscreen and start driving anywhere in the US or Canada.
Tags: amp, blackberrys, boost profits, canada, car charger, ces, computer connection, dashboard, gadget, gps, GPS Maps, gps market, gps receiver, high sensitivity, highway numbers, interface, previous versions, qvga, s market, street names, text to speech, tomtom one, tomtom one 3rd edition, tomtom one xl, touchscreen, user interface, windshield, xlRelated posts
Posted on May 17th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: GPS Maps
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