Great All in One package GPS Unit
I purchased this GPS right before my trip around the south western United States that encompasses Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Colarado, New Mexico, Arizona (where I got a freakin speeding ticket by the cameras for doing 77!), and at long last LA back to northern California. I planned my trip with the TomTom by setting the destinations as the state capitols.
Before the trip, I set up all the settings such as color and car icon (which I swopped to Micky mouse) and the welcome and goodbye screens. The personalization is unlimited with the Tomtom Home application you install on your computer, there you may update the firmware and maps (lifetime maps), likewise you may choose from thousands of screens and car icons, a very huge plus. I changed the voice to a Indian accent, which cost a dollar or two but was hilarious.
Performance wise, I'd say is very on par with TomTom's reputation. Recalculations do not take more than 7-9 seconds, also satellite signal lock, while not instant, was much rapidly and without delay than any of my other friends GPS units. My only gripe is, whenever you exit the freeway or do not exit the freeway when you are supposed to, the unit can't sense it until the exit or stretch of freeway goes beyond the circle of triangulation. This problem I have seen on each single GPS unit I have seen or owned, even on the Lexus I applied to drive that senses wheel turn. It's not a very big deal, but be conscious that this is a very pervasive problem among GPS units.
The menu is very simple, with big icons that relate to it is function. Typing is very easy, like texting on a smart phone that does not have physical keys, altho if you have huge fingers, you might mistype sometimes, not a deal breaker by any means, just type steady. Know that the 5 inch screen is comparatively big. The 1505 also comes with Voice acknowledgement so you may just speak your destination.
The solution is 480 by 272 pixel resolution. Its dimensions are 4.7 inches long by 3.1 inches wide 1 inch deep, and it weighs 6.5 ounces, not very huge and may fit any pocket, cubby or glovebox.
You get two extra gigabytes of memory than the for less models: 4 GB. But, it doesn't have a SD card slot which in truth in truth sucks, but I guess 4GB will suffice.
Battery life, averaged, is regarding 2 hours, i found if you switch off voice guidance and lower the brightness, you get a little more. Thats not bad, as most trips i take are less than 2 hours, i genuinely do not like having to plug in the cigarette adapter.
The 1505 comes with an integrated mounting feature like most TomToms, which is a in truth nice feature. Basically, your mount is connected to the back of your device, and you merely pull it out when you want to set up your TomTom on your dashboard.
You likewise receive a assortment of other applications, including Map Share, IQ Routes and Advanced Lane Guidance. Map Share allows you to update your TomTom map as many times as you like for free. This ensures that you always have the latest road selective information for free.
The IQ Routes application ensures you never get stuck in traffic. This feature genuinely downloads the latest traffic data to provide you with the shortest route to your destination. It doesn't just go by the posted speed limit of a road; it in truth pulls up how fast cars are in truth moving which is a real lifesaver, specially when I was going through LA. LA traffic specially along 101 is illfamed and I was very very thankful that the 1505 in truth sensed the traffic speed and gave me a short cut to in front of where the traffic was. Like the Maps, the traffic feature is lifetime too, and it doesn't have ads like I have seen on numerous Garmin GPS units.
The Advanced Lane Guidance feature is for anybody who's ever missed a turn because they were in the defective lane. This feature will visually show you how a good deal of lanes lead to which exit so you may be sure if your lane will work.
If you want a big screen and a pack of features, then the TomTom VIA 1505 is for you. The 1505 with the lifetime maps and traffic is gorgeous much general fare, all you need in a GPS unit with lifetime road and map info, TomTom menu simplicity, and a huge screen; all for just 200. However the deal breaker for a great deal of might be that the 1505 doesn't have hands free, but that was fine for me, I have a bluetooth device on my stereo.
in the box:
- TomTom 1505TM
- Suction mount (to mount to window or dashboard pad)
- Dashboard pad (blastic circle that provides a stable surface for the suction mount)
- USB cable
- Cigarette adapter
- Set Up Guide
- 1 code, valid for Lifetime Map/Traffic updates
When i purchased this 1505 model, i purchased the 1535 VIA as well for a friend who's birthday is coming up. It is basically the same precise thing as the 1505 but it has bluetooth handsfree for only like 20 bucks more. I didn't need that feature because my car already has bluetooth. We swapped our units for like a week, and honestly, i could not tell it was hers except for the fact that she didn't download the Indian accent voice package on hers.
What I Wish I'd Known Before I Bought This: It's Still In Beta
I just got my Tomtom VIA 1505TM yesterday, and having just got off the phone with the (easy to reach & very friendly & helpful) client service here is what I wish I'd known before I bough this: it's still in Beta and isn't supported by a lot of Tomtom's infrastructure yet. For example, as of today (April 5th 2011) you aren't going to find it on most of the drop down menus on Tomtom's web site or as an option on the phone menu when you call client service. More seriously, it can't connect to Tomtom Home which is the software that allows you to do the fun things Tomtom offer like downloading voices or other doodads to your device. I was genuinely looking forward to customizing my GPS with respective voices and I'm sad I can't do that. I am assured that over the course of this year Tomtom will send updates to the VIA GPSes that will finally grant them to join the party but for now there is very little support for this product. I think it's kind of weird to release a beta that has less functionality than the models it supersedes without distinctly warning potential purchasers so I'm writing this review today. I also can't buy a carry case sized just to fit my VIA - which is a dissimilar shape to former models because it attaches to my car using a dissimilar system. I'm told it is a better scheme but since this is my basi GPS I wouldn't know.
Hopefully by the end of the year (as I said, I'm writing this on April 5th 2011) this review will be obsolete but right now, if you buy this GPS today, you will not be getting a completely supported device. I'm not happy at having been lured into Beta testing Tomtom's new product line, this is my original GPS and I salaried $200 for it, I wanted a outstanding experience right out of the box. As it is I'm just sentiment a bit sad regarding the whole thing, and even the charming client service hasn't made that go away.
The thing is, this is a in truth nice piece of engineering. It is super easy to set up and use. It works in a fundamentally dissimilar way to former Tomtoms, and you may use it while it is plugged into your computer. A friend of mine has an earlier Tomtom and I recognise she gets frustrated at not being competent to access her Tomtom while it is attached to her computer so that is a definitive plus. I'm not complaining regarding the device itself, it is very cool. I'm told that this model is the future of Tomtom, and that in time it will do everything the other models do and more, but the fact is that it doesn't do that now, today, April 5th 2011.
So. Early adopters and consecrated beta testers rejoice! This is unquestionably the Tomtom for you. Buy one and receive pleasure from yourselves. But those of you who, like me, just want to get where you are going with a bit of fun along the way, and the least amount of hassle, might want to pick something else.
