Home PageFacebookRSS News Feed
PocketGPS
Web
SatNav,GPS,Navigation
MacFixer, the iPhone, iPod, and iPad specialists
New TomTom VIA satnavs launch


Article by: Darren Griffin
Date: 30 Jun 2016

pocketgpsworld.com
TomTom announced two new VIA models yesterday. The VIA 52 and 62 support pairing with a smartphone to enable Bluetooth hands-free, real-time traffic and live speed camera alerts.

Once paired, the drivers smartphone can remain in his/her pocket and Lifetime Maps and Lifetime Traffic are included in the purchase price.

The VIA 52, featuring a 5-inch display is available to purchase right now with prices starting at £139.99 for the UK maps version. The 6-inch display equipped VIA 62 will go on sale next month.

Source: www.tomtom.com



email icon
Comments
Posted by Privateer on Thu Jun 30, 2016 11:33 am Reply with quote

News Team Wrote:
The VIA 52 and 62 support pairing with a smartphone to enable Bluetooth hands-free, real-time traffic and live speed camera alerts.

But it's probably fair to presume that the VIA 52 and 62 don't support third party POIs and can't do half the things that an old 730 or 950 can do.

Just what is the point of TomTom rolling out new PNDs with less ability than TomTom's own products from 5 or 10 years ago? Evil or Very Mad


Robert.
iPhone 6s Plus, iOS 14.0.1: iOS CamerAlert v2.0.7
TomTom GO Mobile iOS 2.3.1; TomTom (UK & ROI and Europe) iOS apps v1.29
Garmin Camper 770 LMT-D

 
Posted by M8TJT on Thu Jun 30, 2016 3:54 pm Reply with quote

A. Because they can
B. People are gullible enough to buy them
C. The expectation of satnavs must be diminishing.
Bear in mind that it's only the enthusiast who use satnavs to their full extent, therefore miss stuff that 'it used to do'. Had peeps left TT because they couldn't add PGPSW speedcams in their droves, they possibly would have re instated the facility. But why would they do that when you are trying to sell Mr. customer your (possibly inferior) product. Doesn't sound like a good marketing ploy to me. Sygic also withdrew the camera alerts to a lot of peeps dismay and complaining. But they also have effectively said up yours to their third party speedcam users.


 
Posted by Juniper on Fri Jul 01, 2016 7:44 am Reply with quote

So what is the difference between a 52 and a 510 I wonder? You would think that the longer model number was better, but the 510 is cheaper (well it is with Amazon prices http://amzn.to/299FXtS ). I guess that is just RRP versus the real world.


 
Posted by xtraseller on Fri Jul 01, 2016 7:55 am Reply with quote

In a workplace with around 15 sat navs in total, in typical daily use I am the only one who updates the software regularly, the maps every time, and use imported (ie. mass) custom POIs

So I guess while people can complain all they like, they have gone for the mass market - and why not? Its a business and if it is cost v return then maybe they are right

Of course, there are loads of features and possible features that we all want from our Sat Navs - some will happen, some won't - and nothing will ever suite everyone

Personally I think it will come to the current generation TomToms because they include Speed Cam updates for life across the new connected range, it is no longer a revenue stream (selling Speed Cam Data like PGPSW), so no reason (other than development time and cost) not to - but I guess because of (possible) low demand it's not on their priority list


TomTom Go Live 6100, 600
Garmin DriveLux 50, D-Smart 70, NuviCam, 3598, 2699, 2798
Mio Navman 695
Nexus 6p, Apple iPhone 6sPlus and Microsoft Lumia 950xl running TomTom, Garmin, CoPilot, Navigon, Sygic, Here Drive, Google, Waze, MS Maps

 
Posted by M8TJT on Fri Jul 01, 2016 8:59 am Reply with quote

xtraseller Wrote:
Of course, there are loads of features and possible features that we all want from our Sat Navs
You quite eloquently made the valid point that it's not 'all of us', but a fairly small minority.


 
Posted by xtraseller on Fri Jul 01, 2016 9:41 am Reply with quote

M8TJT Wrote:
xtraseller Wrote:
Of course, there are loads of features and possible features that we all want from our Sat Navs
You quite eloquently made the valid point that it's not 'all of us', but a fairly small minority.



Laughing

Yes Lots of things I would like done differently (and not just on Sat Navs!)

If only we could 3D Print the unit, mount and software

But I understand the market rules and companies make commercial decisions, be they right or wrong


TomTom Go Live 6100, 600
Garmin DriveLux 50, D-Smart 70, NuviCam, 3598, 2699, 2798
Mio Navman 695
Nexus 6p, Apple iPhone 6sPlus and Microsoft Lumia 950xl running TomTom, Garmin, CoPilot, Navigon, Sygic, Here Drive, Google, Waze, MS Maps

 
Posted by M8TJT on Fri Jul 01, 2016 10:33 am Reply with quote

They are probably right commercially.


 
Posted by colin_thames on Tue Jul 12, 2016 1:26 pm Reply with quote

One of the big appeals if these models is the lifetime traffic, rather than having to pay nearly 50 quid per year for a subscription on the models with their own sim card. The downside is that you have to connect through your mobile phone with bluetooth. This is fine if you're also using the TomTom for handsfree, but you prefer to use your car's built in handsfree or a third party handsfree, like Parrot, you can't connect to both at the same time.

I thought of two solutions, neither of which is ideal:
1. 'install' a cheap mobile phone in the car with a bluetooth connection permanently on just for the TomTom. Not easy to do neatly.
2. Buy a bluetooth dongle that would connect to 3g/4g, but I can't find one sold in the UK. There seem to be a few models sold in china but only if you'd want to buy 50 at a time!

Does anyone know of a solution to this problem?


 
Posted by xtraseller on Tue Jul 12, 2016 1:46 pm Reply with quote

colin_thames Wrote:
but you prefer to use your car's built in handsfree or a third party handsfree, like Parrot, you can't connect to both at the same time. Does anyone know of a solution to this problem?


For most you can these days

I connect to my Garmin via SmartLink, my TomTom for it's traffic via Bluetooth, my car stereo for calls and sometimes music and my smartwatch, just because - all at the same time, and all without problems

This set-up works fine on Android, iOS and Windows Phone - as long as their are decent spec and recent models (I switch between all three regularly - only incompatibility is Garmin and Windows Phone because no Garmin SmartLink App available)


TomTom Go Live 6100, 600
Garmin DriveLux 50, D-Smart 70, NuviCam, 3598, 2699, 2798
Mio Navman 695
Nexus 6p, Apple iPhone 6sPlus and Microsoft Lumia 950xl running TomTom, Garmin, CoPilot, Navigon, Sygic, Here Drive, Google, Waze, MS Maps

 
Posted by colin_thames on Tue Jul 12, 2016 2:31 pm Reply with quote

xtraseller Wrote:


For most you can these days

I connect to my Garmin via SmartLink, my TomTom for it's traffic via Bluetooth, my car stereo for calls and sometimes music and my smartwatch, just because - all at the same time, and all without problems

This set-up works fine on Android, iOS and Windows Phone - as long as their are decent spec and recent models (I switch between all three regularly - only incompatibility is Garmin and Windows Phone because no Garmin SmartLink App available)


Wow, I didn't know that - thanks. So I can connect my iPhone to more than one bluetooth connection at a time? Now I have to figure out how I do that! I had assumed that when you connect to one new source, it turned off the last one...


 
Posted by xtraseller on Tue Jul 12, 2016 2:47 pm Reply with quote

Used to be the case, but on most new systems it just works - paid to what ever you want as usual, and when for example you switch on the ignition and your car stereo, TomTom and whatever switches on, they will (should) re-connect

My only caveat is that if you are talking on your phone for example (over bluetooth, of course), in a relatively weak signal area for a long period of time your phone may choose your voice chat over data signal. In 4g and strong 3g areas it seems fine

Good excuse to keep calls when driving to a minimum!


TomTom Go Live 6100, 600
Garmin DriveLux 50, D-Smart 70, NuviCam, 3598, 2699, 2798
Mio Navman 695
Nexus 6p, Apple iPhone 6sPlus and Microsoft Lumia 950xl running TomTom, Garmin, CoPilot, Navigon, Sygic, Here Drive, Google, Waze, MS Maps

 
Click here to view more comments...
Reply to topic

CamerAlert Apps



iOS QR Code






Android QR Code







© Terms & Privacy

GPS Shopping