The TomTom XL Live Europe (£220 inc. VAT) is a mid-range satellite-navigation device that's crammed with features.
With access to TomTom's Live services, the company intends this device to be used regularly, and not just when you're going somewhere new. The most impressive feature Live offers is real-time traffic updates, with each of the units featuring integrated Vodafone SIM cards and reporting traffic conditions and average road speeds back to TomTom.
With updates occurring immediately, in theory you should never have to sit in a traffic jam again. Unlike most other manufacturers, TomTom also uses average speeds at different times of the day, so you'll be informed of different journey lengths, depending on when you travel.
The device itself features a 4.3-inch touchscreen display and is just about compact enough to fit into a pocket. The cradle to attach it to your windscreen clips neatly on to the rear. It's pocket-sized and the best solution we've seen to date.
Destinations can be selected via a number of different means, including full addresses, towns, post codes and from millions of Points of Interest. The onscreen keyboard is easy to use and the menus are a model of simplicity.
We also found the directions and mapping easy to follow, with accurate guidance and simple verbal directions. When we took a wrong turning, the unit was quick to re-route. Sadly, if you live in busy cities, it's inevitable that you'll get stuck in traffic anyway, but the XL Live may help you to avoid the worst.
Unfortunately the Live package is only provided free for three months, after which you'll have to pay £8 per month or £80 annually. If you're a frequent driver, then the ability to avoid congestion will pay for itself but, for most users, the extra features probably won't be fully appreciated.
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Your comments (2) Click to add a new comment
angrymotorist
November 7th 2010
2. This is without a doubt the worst ever satellite navigation systems. Not because of the feature list, which boasts an impressive array of functions, but because of the extreme instability of the product!! It is so bad that I am writing this from a service station after the unit has failed (yet again) to consistently stay on. It is now doing nothing but rebooting itself repeatedly. I have had this product for about two weeks and it has failed to stay active for every single journey I have made, short or long. On top of that, the power supply cable is impossible to put in on with one hand. The windscreen mounting is unbelievably difficult to get the unit attached to but very easy to dismount from. So I hope you don't run out of power or any bad roads don't vibrate the unit off it's mounting (assuming it stays on to allow you to get going) whilst on the move otherwise you have to hop and prey there is a service station nearby that you can pull into!!
Steer well clear of this product!!
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robopirate5000
January 8th 2010
1. All I want to know is can it simply navigate me into mordor?
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