FIRsT LOOKs CONsUMER ELECTRONICs
TomTom GO 740 LIVE $369.95 list L l l h m
PROs Integrated data connection for live traffic updates, weather, and fuel information. IQ Routes. Advanced lane guidance. CONs Live services require a monthly subscription after three-month trial. Many voice functions also require touchscreen input. Relatively small internal POI database.
TomTom GO 740 LIVE
TomTom’s Connected GPS
C
onnected devices, which integrate a cellular radio for up-tothe-minute data delivery, haven’t had an easy time establishing themselves in the GPS market. Take, for example, the Dash Express and TeleNav Shotgun. But TomTom’s new GO 740 LIVE, the first connected device from a veteran manufacturer, remedies many of the problems of those earlier devices. Arguably the most important component of the 740 LIVE, the built-in GPRS cellular radio provides a two-way data link without the need of an external antenna. This means the device can receive real-time data updates anywhere you can get a cell signal. The radio enables a number of features not possible on standalone devices, including
TomTom Traffic, fuel pricing data, Google Local Search, and weather data. Like the 730, the 5-by-3.9-by-0.9-inch, 7.9-ounce 740 LIVE is equipped with a 4.3inch screen. With the exception of the connected features, the interface and menu system are virtually identical to those found across the TomTom line. In addition to the live services, the 740 adds enhanced voice recognition, although you still have to use the touch screen with it, which is not ideal. Other premium features include a Bluetooth phone interface, a document reader, and a photo viewer. Connected devices are likely the next generation of GPS navigation, and the TomTom GO 740 LIVE integrates the live service features well.—Craig Ellison >>CLICK HERE FOR MORE JULY 2009 PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION 27