GPS News and Reviews

TomTom is currently running a few specials on some of their GPS navigation systems and carrying cases including TomTom ONE 130. Nothing too exciting to report but we thought we’d let you know.

TomTom's new "Map Update Service", due out later this month, will deliver updated maps to subscribers on a quarterly basis. Subscriptions will cost about $55 per year per country of mapping data for the entry-level TomTom ONE and ONE...

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As summer winds down, we saw some news of new units pick up for holiday sales planning, while we also saw some nice discounting of older models as they were being squeezed or replaced on the shelf by new models.

GPS Reviews

• Garmin Nuvi 755T Full Review

Garmin GPS News

• Garmin Nuvi 755T Full Review
• Garmin Edge 705 - Team Garmin Edition
• Garmin - Ads on GPS Provides Free Traffic Feeds
• Garmin Oregon 200, 300, 400i, 400c, 400t - Now Shipping

TomTom GPS News

• TomTom Map Subscription Service - Residual Income from PND's
• TomTom ONE XL - $149 Hot Deal - Free Shipping
• TeleAtlas to Incorporate TomTom's Speed Profile Data

Dash News

• Dash Express - Voice Command - TellMe and Dial Directions Partnerships

Mio GPS News

• The (Fun) History of the Mio GPS

Navigon GPS

• Navigon Traffic Deal - 50% off
• Navigon 2000S Announced
• Navigon 2200T - Lifetime Traffic in Entry Level GPS

GPS News

• How to Hijack a GPS Tracked Truck - GPS Spoofing
• LAT LON Sign Customized for Your Town

GPS Rebates and Sales

• Pink Nuvi 250 - Hot Deal for $145
• TomTom ONE XL - $149 Hot Deal - Free Shipping
• GPS Steals and Deals - 9/21
• Garmin StreetPilot C580 with MSN Direct - $149 - Hot Deal
• GPS Steals and Deals - 9/14
• Garmin Nuvi 650 - Widescreen Hot Deal - $219
• GPS Steals and Deals - 9/7
• Garmin Nuvi 260W Clearance at Target - No Bargain

Mapping News

• TeleAtlas to Incorporate TomTom's Speed Profile Data
• TeleAtlas Maps India

About GPSLodge

• GPSLodge On Kindle

Making a bold move forward, TomTom is essentially launching a map subscription service with quarterly updates, it was announced today by TomTom and can be read about at GPSBusiness News. Like the Navigon FreshMaps service that offers quarterly updates with NAVTEQ data, TomTom is now starting to offer quarterly updates with its TeleAtlas data. (Humm, if TomTom is doing this, and Navigon is using NAVTEQ quarterly updates, then the barrier for Garmin may just be internal, and you've got to wonder that if this is a lucrative idea, they will bust it down and bring it to market too.)

Blades and Razors
If you follow the blades and razor approach that Gillette uses, you start thinking about the hardware as the entry point and the maps as the money maker. When you start to consider that these units are now starting to ship with ultra thin profit margins the idea of selling a map subscription may effectively double the profit per unit given enough time. Big opportunity to get residual income from your installed base too. That 3 year old TomTom ONE is dead to TomTom unless they can sell it maps, and maybe a map subscription at that.

Garmin is starting to use small ads on their devices that are delivered through the TMC data feed from NAVTEQ traffic. When I used the new Garmin Nuvi 755T, I thought the ads were a decent trade-off for the free traffic service that comes with the unit as a result.

I tell you, with the markets fast approaching saturation (in Europe at least), the GPS makers are going to have to strive for something to keep the business models afloat, and grabbing an income stream after the sale could be big when you have millions units out there.

Thanks Jim for sending this in.

Want a new (not refurbished) Widescreen GPS for $149? The well-known TomTom ONE XL is on sale for a pretty hot $149. The unit is being superseded by the TomTom ONEXL 330 these days, but it is still a reliable navigator. While it is a widescreen, it does not have Text to Speech.

At Amazon - TomTom ONE XL for $149

Lower prices this week in a lot of outlets. Staples has the Navigon 2100 for $99 after mail in rebate (See my Review of the 2100), while Circuit City is brining the Nuvi 260 to the show for $200; something that Amazon can only beat by $2 this week.

Best Deals this week have to be the Nuvi 260 with text to speech, and the Nuvi 260W for about $30 more.

Standard Screens - 3.5-inch

• Garmin Nuvi 200 at Amazon - $159 - No Text to Speech, Continental US Maps, solid interface and routing. See My Full Review - Nuvi 200 for more info. For a more up to date unit, consider the extra $18 and look at the Nuvi 205. Faster Acquisition times and an updated interface.
• Garmin Nuvi 350 - Still $199 this week; very hot prices point for this unit. North American Maps, Text to Speech, and 5+ Million Points of Interest. Want Bluetooth? Get the Nuvi 360 that adds Bluetooth Handsfree, for a few bucks more at - $214


• TomTom ONE 3rd ed. - $134 and Free Shipping at Amazon; Entry Level TomTom with Maps of North America, no Text to Speech.


• Garmin Nuvi 260 at Amazon - $198 Text to Speech, Maps of North America, solid interface. Same quality routing as Nuvi 200, just adds more maps and text to speech.


• Garmin Nuvi 270 - $178 - a Cheap price for North American AND Euro maps. Has text to speech.
  

Widescreen Models

• Nuvi 760 - $349 - Down $25 this past week. - Thin design with Text to Speech and Maps of North America. Route Optimization - plug in multiple stops and let the unit optimize the route for fastest planning, adds Bluetooth handsfree and built-in TMC traffic. See My Full Review of the Nuvi 760.
• Nuvi 750 - $309 Thin design with Text to Speech and Maps of North America. Route Optimization - plug in multiple stops and let the unit optimize the route for fastest planning. Doesn't have the Bluetooth, or the Traffic capability that the 760 has.
• Garmin Nuvi 780 - $446 Has MSN Direct 2, with traffic and gas prices sent to your GPS. See My Full Review of the Nuvi 780 for more information.
• Garmin Nuvi 260W - $236 at Amazon; Text to Speech and a dead easy interface.
• Nuvi 650 at Amazon $219. Text to Speech, North American Maps, See My Full Review - Nuvi 660, which is the same model with the addition of the TMC Traffic, which is the main feature not included on the Nuvi 650.
• Nuvi 200W at Amazon $169 (Down $40 last week) - No Text to Speech, Continental US Maps. See My Full Review - Nuvi 200W.
• Nuvi 660 at Amazon $274; down $25 this week. - Text to Speech, North American Maps, TMC Traffic Capability included. See My Full Review - Nuvi 660
• TomTom ONE XL 330 - $202- the new Basic Widescreen for the TomTom line, Maps of North America, new Easy Port fold flat mount, and no text to speech - Move up to the TomTom ONE XL 330S for Text to Speech at $249;

• Garmin Nuvi 880 - $669 - Has voice recognition and MSN Direct traffic, gas prices and weather data feeds. Let's you say your destination and it routes you there. Very cool; love the capabilities.

Prices dropped almost across the board on GPS units this week. "New Low Prices" showed up on Amazon, and let's hope they stick. Garmin dropped prices almost across the line with new low prices on a lot of models that are especially popular, like the Nuvi 700 series and the Nuvi 200W.

Standard Screens - 3.5-inch

• Garmin Nuvi 200 at Amazon - $159 - (Also $129 at Office Max - in store while supplies last) No Text to Speech, Continental US Maps, solid interface and routing. See My Full Review - Nuvi 200 for more info.


• Garmin Nuvi 350 - Still $199 this week; very hot prices point for this unit. North American Maps, Text to Speech, and 5+ Million Points of Interest. Want Bluetooth? Get the Nuvi 360 that adds Bluetooth Handsfree, for a few bucks more at - $214


• TomTom ONE 3rd ed. - $134 and Free Shipping at Amazon; Entry Level TomTom with Maps of North America, no Text to Speech.


• Garmin Nuvi 260 at Amazon - $202 Text to Speech, Maps of North America, solid interface. Same quality routing as Nuvi 200, just adds more maps and text to speech.


• The Mio Moov 200 is $129 at Circuit City this week. A second tier brand that offers reasonable performance for the price.
  

Widescreen Models

• Nuvi 760 - $349 - Down $25 this past week. - ($399 at Best Buy this week) Thin design with Text to Speech and Maps of North America. Route Optimization - plug in multiple stops and let the unit optimize the route for fastest planning, adds Bluetooth handsfree and built-in TMC traffic. See My Full Review of the Nuvi 760.
• Nuvi 750 - $309 Thin design with Text to Speech and Maps of North America. Route Optimization - plug in multiple stops and let the unit optimize the route for fastest planning. Doesn't have the Bluetooth, or the Traffic capability that the 760 has. (Also available at Circuit City for $399 this week!)
• Garmin Nuvi 780 - $446 Has MSN Direct 2, with traffic and gas prices sent to your GPS. See My Full Review of the Nuvi 780 for more information.
• Garmin Nuvi 260W - $242 at Amazon; Text to Speech and a dead easy interface.
• Nuvi 650 at Amazon $239. Text to Speech, North American Maps, See My Full Review - Nuvi 660, which is the same model with the addition of the TMC Traffic, which is the main feature not included on the Nuvi 650.
• Nuvi 200W at Amazon $169 (Down $40 this week) - No Text to Speech, Continental US Maps. See My Full Review - Nuvi 200W.
• Nuvi 660 at Amazon $299; still best seller at Amazon - Down $30 in recent weeks - Text to Speech, North American Maps, TMC Traffic Capability included. See My Full Review - Nuvi 660
• TomTom ONE XL 330 - $199 (Down $30 this week) - Is the new Basic Widescreen for the TomTom line, Maps of North America, new Easy Port fold flat mount, and no text to speech - Move up to the TomTom ONE XL 330S for Text to Speech at $246
• TomTom GO 730 - $339 (Down $60 this week)-New IQ Routes, Text to Speech, and more. Maps of North America.

Surging in popularity the Forerunners continue to be popular. The Forerunner 405 is still very hot, and Garmin announced recently that this reinvigorated Fitness line grew sales by 50% over year ago.

• Garmin Forerunner 405 is available now at $349. - the watch-like GPS enabled fitness device has a smaller design with all kinds of functionality, including wireless sharing.
  
• Forerunner 305 - $205 at Amazon - Heart Rate Monitor with wrist-mounted GPS Receiver, tracks distance and keeps your speed and pace. Syncs to computer for training records.
  
• Forerunner 205 - $138 at Amazon - Wrist-mounted GPS Receiver, no Heart Rate Monitor. Tracks distance and keeps your speed and pace. Syncs to computer for training records.

I expect a few deals to start popping up due to a couple of factors: 1) Left over inventory from the summer driving season, 2) Get rid of inventory ahead of new launches, and 3) Get rid of inventory ahead of the holiday shopping season that is going to start just 2 months from how.

We have a few examples below in the TomTom ONE XL @ $159, which is being replaced by the TomTom ONE 330 XL. The Garmin 300 series and 600 series are now officially discontinued and they will be moving out of the picture.

Standard Screens - 3.5-inch

• Garmin Nuvi 200 at Amazon - $159 - Best Seller today at Amazon. No Text to Speech, Continental US Maps, solid interface and routing. See My Full Review - Nuvi 200 for more info.


• Garmin Nuvi 350 - Still $199 this week; very hot prices point for this unit. North American Maps, Text to Speech, and 5+ Million Points of Interest. Want Bluetooth? Get the Nuvi 360 that adds Bluetooth Handsfree, for a few bucks more at - $224


• TomTom ONE 3rd ed. - $137 and Free Shipping at Amazon; Entry Level TomTom with Maps of North America, no Text to Speech.


• Garmin Nuvi 260 at Amazon - $208 ($269 at Best Buy) Text to Speech, Maps of North America, solid interface. Same quality routing as Nuvi 200, just adds more maps and text to speech.


• The Mio Digiwalker C230 is $99 at Staples this week. A second tier brand that offers reasonable performance for the price. Has text-to-speech and US maps pre-loaded. See my Full Review of the Mio C230 for more information.
  

Widescreen Models

• Nuvi 760 - $378 - Thin design with Text to Speech and Maps of North America. Route Optimization - plug in multiple stops and let the unit optimize the route for fastest planning, adds Bluetooth handsfree and built-in TMC traffic. See My Full Review of the Nuvi 760.
• Nuvi 750 - $318 Thin design with Text to Speech and Maps of North America. Route Optimization - plug in multiple stops and let the unit optimize the route for fastest planning. Doesn't have the Bluetooth, or the Traffic capability that the 760 has. (Also available at Circuit City for $399 this week!)
• Garmin Nuvi 780 - $454 Has MSN Direct 2, with traffic and gas prices sent to your GPS. See My Full Review of the Nuvi 780 for more information.
• Garmin Nuvi 260W - $255 at Amazon; Text to Speech and a dead easy interface.
• Nuvi 650 at Amazon $249. Text to Speech, North American Maps, See My Full Review - Nuvi 660, which is the same model with the addition of the TMC Traffic, which is the main feature not included on the Nuvi 650.
• Nuvi 200W at Amazon $205 - No Text to Speech, Continental US Maps. See My Full Review - Nuvi 200W.
• Nuvi 660 at Amazon $299; still best seller at Amazon - Down $30 in recent weeks - Text to Speech, North American Maps, TMC Traffic Capability included. See My Full Review - Nuvi 660
• TomTom ONE XL 330 - $229 - Is the new Basic Widescreen for the TomTom line, Maps of North America, new Easy Port fold flat mount, and no text to speech - Move up to the TomTom ONE XL 330S for Text to Speech at $251
• TomTom GO 730 - $399 -New IQ Routes, Text to Speech, and more. Maps of North America.
• TomTom 920 - $330 - great value for the money. The recent upgrade allows TomTom to offer the older GO 920 for low money. Text to speech, maps of North America, and more - See my Full Review of the TomTom GO 920

Cooler Weather time to get out and exercise! The Forerunner 405 is still very hot, and Garmin announced recently that this reinvigorated Fitness line grew sales by 50% over year ago.

• Garmin Forerunner 405 is available now at $349. - the watch-like GPS enabled fitness device has a smaller design with all kinds of functionality, including wireless sharing.
  
• Forerunner 305 - $214 at Amazon - Heart Rate Monitor with wrist-mounted GPS Receiver, tracks distance and keeps your speed and pace. Syncs to computer for training records.
  
• Forerunner 205 - $145 at Amazon - Wrist-mounted GPS Receiver, no Heart Rate Monitor. Tracks distance and keeps your speed and pace. Syncs to computer for training records.

The TomTom One Reviews are some of the most impressive I have read, and I believe that any person that is thinking about adding the luxury and utility that the tomtom gps models can add so effectively and easily into your daily life and travel, will be looking for a good discount on a move to buy tomtom one. Check the link below to visit amazon.com, where you can read from a multitude of customer review comments and also look across multiple retailers for the tomtom one best price online. If you do decide to order this unit after finding a good cheap sale, we would highly appreciate if you would email us here or use the comment feature after you recieve it to let us know how you feel and if your feelings match that of the near perfect scores seen in most of the tom tom one reviews found on other sites!

The TomTom ONE GPS system is an extremely useful device that every car needs to have. This affordable device is extremely compact and light. Its resolution and colors are something that will impress you right out of the box. For your money you will get a good and reliable GPS system that will make your ride much more enjoyable and fun. Enjoy the ride!

• Dimensions are 3.8 inches width, 3.2 inches height, 1 inches deep. Weight: 6.5 oz.
• Rechargeable battery. Up to two hours of operation
• Display: 3.5 inches TFT LCD widescreen. It features resolution of 320×240 pixels in 64,000 colors.
• Configuration: CPU 266 MHz, 32MB RAM Memory
• Maps: US (including Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico) and Canada
• 2D and 3D maps with night and day colors are available for most appropriate viewing
• Route selection: quickest time, shortest distance, avoid toll roads, or by required arrival time, etc.
• Device speaks 36 languages in more than 55 different voices.
• Points of Interest: Gas stations, restaurants, tourist attractions and more POI are included.
• In the Box: Windshield Holder, USB Car Charger and USB cable, Installation CD, Documentation

TomTom One XL reviews are even more positive then that of the highly acclaimed tom tom one gps unit, which if you have read some review comments from, you know is already sporting some of the most satisfactory ratings in the whole market. Adding additional features found on the highest end models, as well as increasing the viewing screen size, it is not only more functional and useful, but the best price on tom tom one xl is comparitively cheap to its young brother. Check below for the links to read some of the tomtom onexl review feedback from customers and users, or begin your search for the best prices and cheapest deals if you think you are ready to add the cool and useful features this unit brings with authority!

The TomTom One XL is light and compact GPS system. Fascinating colorful display with 4.3 inch screen and resolution perfect for map viewing makes this device one of the best devices on the GPS market. Maps that are preloaded can be chosen in 2D or 3D mode and in both night and day colors for the best viewing. This affordable device will make you feel you want to drive forever.

• Dimensions are 4.7 inches width, 3.4 inches height, 1.2 inches deep. Weight: 7.4 oz.
• Rechargeable battery. Up to four hours of operation
• Display: 4.3 inches diagonal TFT LCD display. It features resolution of 480×272 pixels in 64,000 colors.
• Configuration: CPU 266 MHz, 32MB RAM Memory
• 3D and 2D maps of USA with both day and night colors (including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico) and Canada
• Road constructions and traffic tie ups ahead are included
• Route selection: quickest time, shortest distance, avoid toll roads, or by required arrival time, etc.
• 36 languages in more than 55 different voices are featured
• Points of Interest: Plenty of POI are included such as gas stations, restaurants, tourist attractions and more.
• In the Box: Windshield Mount and Adhesive Mounting Disk, USB Car Charger and USB cable, Installation CD, Documentation