TomTom GO 730T 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic Receiver
by TomTom
(Click here)
Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: TomTomBrand: TomTom
Edition: Electronics
Model: GO 730T
Publisher: TomTom
Studio: TomTom
Music Label: TomTom
Product features:
- Touch-screen: 4.3 inch full TFT color LCD (480 x 272 pixels, supports 64K colors)
- Spoken directions & street names
- Maps: Pre-loaded maps of USA & Canada from TeleAtlas
- Traffic receiver & 1 yr. sub
- Bluetooth: for Hands-Free calling, PLUS services and audio output
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of TomTom GO 730T 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic Receiver
Customer Review: Great GPS, works with Mac
Summary: 4 Stars
TomTom 730T (Traffic)
Short Recommendation
The TomTom GO 730T works very well. While not perfect, I can highly recommend it.
Mac users
As of March 11, 2009, the TomTom HOME software DOES now work correctly on the Mac. It's taken a while, but it seems fully functional now. This is why I initially gave it 4 stars, but now I would give it five stars.
Shipping and price
Arrived late for Christmas, because it was not shipped right away. Amazon's price was the best I found on the web. I got the GO 730T because it was only a few dollars more than the GO 730 at the time. The price at Amazon changes frequently, so it pays to shop around, but also to track Amazon's price.
Instructions
The TomTom Go 730T comes with brief printed instructions, the full instruction manuals (in many languages) are on the included CD.
Connecting to a computer
Instructions say to charge the battery for two hours before using. There is a charging light, but as far as I can tell, no indication of when a full charge has been reached (the light always shows green).
Before connecting to the computer, turn the GO on, select your language and enter your location. Otherwise you will find yourself in another language.
Tip: Don't unplug the TomTom from the cradle before putting it away on the computer, just like with any other connected device.
Software
TomTom HOME on the included CD was version 2.2.2.28, several versions old. Download TomTom HOME from the web, you will get an updated version. As of this writing, on the Mac it's version 2.5.2.58. On Windows, 2.5.2.60. Web site detects which OS you have, Mac or Windows.
Tip: After installing TomTom HOME, restart it for smoother operation.
Received the message, "Congratulations! You can download a new map." It took almost six (6!) hours on my 768k connection (the new map is 2 GB).
Other updates will also download and install.
Spoken directions
There is the ability to download more voices for free. I chose "Simon", which seemed very clear, slight British accent, but my wife likes "Susan" better.
The pronunciation of street names using the UK English voice is sometimes a bit strange, and there doesn't seem to be much space between the street name and the following "Rd" "Way" etc. which makes the names sometimes hard to understand. The USA English of "Susan" was more clear than the UK English of "Simon" for street names.
Points of Interest
There are an amazing number of Points of Interest which can be downloaded, from ice cream shops, to particular stores, to zoos, shops, and so on, most for free.
Problems with the software and Customer support
TomTom HOME is now finally able to operate the GO 730 from the computer as it should using the "Operate My GO" menu on the Mac. If you get an error message saying, "This function is not yet supported for your navigation device or operating system," make sure you have downloaded the most recent software, including the update to the GO 730. Then in HOME, click on "Operate My Go." You will get a message saying that you need to download a needed file. After this, it will function correctly.
Their support team is polite, but it seems you get different answers to questions depending who you talk with. As of March 11, 2009 "Operate My Go" now works as it should.
Audio out
The documentation says you can play the audio of road directions through your car radio using a built-in FM transmitter, but that option is not available. EDIT: The most recent update in May 2009 on the GO corrected this. Now the spoken directions CAN be played through your FM radio, as long as music is also playing (it can be a silent song). MP3's stored on the device are paused during the spoken directions and resume automatically. The FM transmitter is somewhat weak, so unless your car radio's antenna is very close, you might not receive any signal (some car antenna's are mounted on the rear of the car roof).
The GO's speaker seems loud enough, and automatically adjusts to noise. I find a setting of 70% is loud enough.
It's possible to download different voices, and even record your own, which is fun for a little while. I did add my own voice saying, "Slow down!" which triggers when going over a set speed.
Map correction
There is a feature to correct the map, make changes to the names of streets and even add streets which are not on the map, and share these changes with the TomTom community. I was able to correct a misnamed street and correct a no left turn, but the addition of missing streets which were not on the map have not shown up, and even though corrected.
Sensitivity to satellite signals
The GO seems to have no difficulties at all finding signals from satellites where I have used it, and even finds them when inside my home. It starts up quickly, seems to have great sensitivity, and finds satellites even when the GO is on the passenger seat or set in the middle console. (And it worked in a commercial airplane, telling me our speed was 598 mph.)
Route Planning and directions
To try out my first route, I purposely followed a different route and ignored the TomTom's directions. The TomTom very quickly recalculated the route. And when I was "hopelessly gone astray" it politely suggested that I turn around as soon as possible.
It helpfully tells to "stay in the left lane" and gives directions nicely ahead of time for turns (I have experienced other GPS united which directed turns after the street had been passed!)
It can plan a route based on a future date and time, but this feature seems to work only in congested areas. It works fine for planning routes immediately, and also planning an itinerary with many stops.
The GO announces "You have reached your destination" a bit too early, you might be half a block away, and need to look around for the exact location. This seems to be a fault of the maps, and where they locate addresses.
The GO is able to tell if you are on the highway or on a frontage road next to the highway, it's road positioning seems very accurate, within maybe 10-12 feet.
Lane Images
One of the reasons I bought the 730 is that it shows images of the lane you need to be in on more complicated interchanges in major cities.
Mount
The device attaches to the mount very easily, which holds it firmly.
Brightness
I have read other reports which indicate the GO's brightness isn't bright enough, but I find the brightness is fine set at 80% for day, and 10% for night. The exception is if direct sunlight hits it, then it tends to wash out.
Traffic updates
The 730T (Traffic) comes with an antenna for traffic updates. When plugged in, it shows that it is able to receive road reports. While driving in Houston, TX, it reported a traffic problem 11 miles ahead with a delay of 7 minutes, which changed to a 3 minute delay as we got closer. The GO announced it did not find an alternate route. The 11 mile distance to the accident was right on, but traffic was completely stopped in all south bound lanes. The delay was much longer than 3 minutes, so we took the next exit, and let the GO figure out the changed route.
So far, I am very pleased with the TomTom 730T, and can highly recommend it.
More TomTom GO 730T 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic Receiver reviews:
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Description of TomTom GO 730T 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic Receiver
TomTom?s award-winning software means ground-breaking new technology for the ultimate driving experience. Switch on and go right out of the box. Just enter the address on the touchscreen or use voice address entry and start driving anywhere in the US or Canada. TomTom guides you door-to-door with turn-by-turn spoken instructions, including street names. TomTom has the most accurate maps and with TomTom Map Share technology you can instantly modify street names, street direction, and POIs on your own device. New IQ Routes? gives you the fastest route every time by using actual average speeds of travel to calculate your trip rather than posted speed limits. And now, Advanced Lane Guidance brings even more clarity to complex multi-lane exits so you can be even more confident on the road. The GO 730 makes driving even safer with handsfree calling. And with the ?Help Me? menu, there are added safety features so you can easily access local emergency providers.TomTom's 2008 730T brings their newest community-based navigation advancements together with their plug and play ease of use, rock-solid navigation, and sleek designs we've come to expect from them, along with a a TMC traffic receiver with a 1-year free subscription (that's the "T" part in "730T")
For a couple of year's now, TomTom's been building a foundation for some powerful community-driven navigation features, and this is the year they really start to harness that power. They began by introducing with Map Share, which lets you instantly modify street names, street direction, and custom locations called points of interest (POIs) on your own device, then upload them to TomTom's HOME network and download changes made by all of the other users. When you do this, TomTom gets to find out what routes your device has been taking. The data is anonymous, but it's given TomTom an enormous pile of route and speed data, which they've used to tie community data to routing with their new IQ RoutesÂ? feature, which calculates routes using the actual recorded average speeds of travel to calculate your trip rather than posted speed limits, giving you an extremely accurate prediction of how long any given route will actually take at any given time. There are a host of other interesting features, and you can read about them here.
As last year, the difference between the 730 and the 930 models is the "Enhanced Positioning Technology". The 930 contains some onboard accelerometers and gravity sensors that help it figure out where it's going even if you lose satellite signal for a few minutes, which can be incredibly useful in cities with a lot of tunnels or "urban canyons" of tall buildings, so if you live in an area where that is an issue, you may want to consider bumping up to the 930. Otherwise, this is a superb navigator that will give you everything you need and expect, and then surprise you a bit.
Key Features and Benefits
- NEW--IQ Routes always the smartest route based on actual average road speeds (Learn more)
- NEW--Advanced Lane Guidance makes difficult junctions easy to navigate (Learn more)
- Traffic-Ready with an included RDS-TMC with receiver and a 1-year subscription to the TMC traffic information service (Learn more)
- Easy to Use right out of the box (Learn more)
- Latest Map Guarantee means if a new map is released within 30 days of purchase, you can download it for free from TomTom HOME (Learn more)
- Voice Address Input lets you speak your destination, and TomTom will do the rest (Learn more)
- TomTom Map Share lets you instantly modify street names, street direction and POIs on your own device and benefit from others' corrections (Learn more)
- "Help Me!" Emergency Menu gives one-touch access to local emergency providers such as police, fire stations and hospitals
- Bluetooth lets you use your TomTom as a hands-free phone kit with your compatible Bluetooth phone.(Learn more)
- FM Transmitter lets you get navigation instructions or play MP3s through your TomTom over your car stereo
- Preloaded Complete Maps of the US, Canada and Europe with TeleAtlas data
- Branded Location Icons help you easily find your favorite gas station, restaurant, hotel and more
- Daily Fuel Prices (Optional Service) to find the lowest priced gas on your route
- 930T -- "Enhanced Positioning Technology": Onboard sensors that help it figure out where it's going even if you lose satellite signal for a few minutes, which can be incredibly useful in cities with a lot of tunnels or "urban canyons" of tall buildings.
Learn More
Easy To Use
 Clear and easy widescreen interface  Enhanced POI information | Buy a TomTom device and it works straight out of the box: Just plug it in and a few taps of the touchscreen later, you're on your way. TomTom's easy-to-use interface has been extensively tested by by independent assessors in the field and at TomTomÂ?s unique User Experience Labs. Worldwide Maps Remote control Help When You Need It |  Icon-driven menu system  Emergency menu gives you fast direct access to emergency numbers and direction to the nearest assistance |
New -- TomTom IQ RoutesÂ?
 Did You Know? IQ Routes technology gives you a faster route in over 50% of all your journeys. |  TomTom provides the fastest and most efficient routing possible. IQ Routes uses historical road-speed data from millions of TomTom users to calculate your optimal route for that specific time and day. Giving you local knowledge on a global scale..We all know traffic is different during a Monday morning rush hour from a lazy Sunday afternoon. And we all want the best shortcuts to bring us to our destination in the fastest way possible. But heavy traffic, speed bumps, traffic lights, rotaries and even pedestrians or shopping crowds can slow you down. That handy shortcut youÂ?re looking for changes depending on the time and day so the shortest route isnÂ?t necessarily going to be the fastest all the time! LetÂ?s take an example:
As you can see, in this case your route is now about 15 miles longer, but will save you 12 minutes (and a ton of stress!). Now thatÂ?s a shortcut! Twelve minutes may not sound much, but itÂ?s over 20% off your journey time. Just consider for a moment how much time that will save you over a whole yearÂ? Exactly! And itÂ?s not just urban driving. Whether its roundabouts, crossroads, schoolchildren or just good old-fashioned congestion. Anywhere the traffic flow can vary, IQ Routes can make a real difference. How it works
This data enhances the quality of TomTom navigation across the board, but is particularly helpful in improving the quality of detailed routing we give you for the specific time of day and day of the week of your chosen trip. Drive like local So even if you drive through unfamiliar areas, you still can drive like a local by knowing the short cuts that are based on the collective driving experience of millions of TomTom users. |
New -- Advanced Lane Guidance
 |  Extra clarity when you navigate difficult junctions. See clearly the lane you must follow at junctions, so you donÂ?t miss your turn. At complex intersections, you also get a clear 3D image showing your route through the junction. Leaving you relaxed and safe.When you approach complex motorway intersections, you also get a still 3D image on your screen that clearly indicates the lane(s) you need to take. Advanced lane guidance keeps you relaxed and safe through even the most complex intersections and in even the heaviest traffic. LetÂ?s take an example:
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TomTom MapShare -- Maps Served Fresh Daily
   |  With TomTom Map Share you can update your map directly on your device as and when you spot road changes, and download daily updates from millions of Map Share users worldwide via your computer.Enabling Map Share gives you:
You might decide to only receive improvements that have been verified by TomTom or changes that have been submitted by tructed sources, by many , or by some people. | ||
Hands-Free Calling
 | In more and more places, it is becoming illegal to use cell phones while driving without a hands-free kit. Your TomTom's Bluetooth capability, microphone and speaker lets you match it to any bluetooth-capable phone to make hands-free mobile phone calls. Plus, you can automatically answer your phone calls, for improved safety and comfort. |
Map Guarantee
 | Due to Amazon's high volume of sales and frequency of inventory turnover, just about every portable GPS navigator sold by Amazon.com will come with the most recent map version. TomTom however, goes one better. Because TomTom regularly releases new maps, there's always a small chance that a newer map has been released since the production of your TomTom. With TomTomÂ?s latest map guarantee, if the map preloaded on your device is not the latest version, you can download it FREE at TomTom HOME. This no longer requires the map check code. Checking in TomTom HOME is easy:
You can check as many times as you like within 30 days from the date you first use your TomTom device. |
Voice Address Input
| Simply speak the city, street name and address number you would like to travel to, and the device will automatically calculate the route. |
New -- Send Addresses Directly from Google Maps or Mapquest
Search for the location you want. Pick "Send to GPS".  | Itching to try out a new restaurant, or setting off on a road trip to locate the best donuts on the west coast? Now, it's easy to search for locations on Google Maps or Mapquest, then transfer the addresses directly to your TomTom.
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TomTom HOME
 | HOME is TomTom's free software program that gives you access to a huge array of services as well as the global community of TomTom users. It is the only tool you need to manage, update and personalize your TomTom to enjoy a premium navigation experience: buy and install maps, make back-ups, download free software updates, shop and much more.
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QuickGPSfix
Starting up can seem like a slow business, particularly if youÂ?re in a hurry, because the GPS receiver needs to know exactly where each GPS satellite is to calculate your location. But satellites only broadcast their positions once every 30 seconds. So if any of their signals are interrupted, for example by passing high buildings, the whole position-fixing process has to repeat itself again and again until the perfect fix is achieved. QuickGPSfix takes a smarter approach.
QuickGPSfix can speed up the time it takes to fix your GPS position by downloading the latest satellite data via an Internet connection. Just connect your TomTom device to your computer and TomTom HOME automatically downloads Â?QuickGPSfixÂ? Â? a special GPS data file that helps your TomTom fix your position quicker, even when the GPS signal is weak or partially blocked.
This unique free service helps you fix your position and get navigating faster than ever.
On the road or no access to TomTom HOME?
Get the same Â?QuickGPSfixÂ? data by simply connecting to any TomTom PLUS service, using a wireless data connection. As soon as a connection is established, the Â?QuickGPSfixÂ? data is automatically updated.
Note: QuickGPSfix data has limited validity. So to keep on getting a faster position-fix, re-connect your device at least once a week.
To minimise the amount of data sent over your wireless data connection, this automatic update is only carried out if the data on your device is over 5 days old. The associated data usage of this service is less than 10 Kb per connection. Please contact your mobile service provider to determine the exact costs. To disable this automatic update, just select Â?Disable Auto QuickGPSfixÂ? on your TomTom device.
Fun Extras to Personalize Your TomTom
 | New smart & fun extras to personalize usersÂ? devices
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TomTom Traffic
 | TomTom offers two distinctive ways of providing traffic information, the TomTom PLUS Traffic service and the TomTom RDS-TMC Traffic Receiver accessory. With both options, traffic information is fully integrated into the TomTom navigation experience. Both services are subscription based. The RDS-TMC receiver accessory comes with a 1-year free subscription to the TMC traffic service . Key features for both Traffic information options
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| TomTom Traffic Specifics With TomTom Traffic, you can avoid problems and check the road conditions and weather ahead at the same time. TomTom Traffic is delivered via GPRS signal and requires a compatible mobile phone with Bluetooth and a wireless data connection, such as GPRS, UMTS or CDMA, enable you to use PLUS Traffic information on any TomTom device. The advantages of TomTom Traffic are that it delivers information on road and weather conditions, and GPRS signals may be available for areas in which there is no FM radio signal to transmit TMC traffic information (although if there's no radio, it's questionable how much traffic there's going to be). Important notes about TomTom Traffic:
TMC Traffic Specifics The RDS-TMC receiver accessory comes with a 1-year free subscription to the TMC traffic service With some TomTom models, an RDS-TMC Traffic Receiver is included in the box. This is indicated by the addition of "T" or "Traffic" to the model name. An example is "GO 930T". | |
Supported Languages
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About TomTom
TomTom NV is the worldÂ?s largest navigation solution provider, developing products with an emphasis on innovation, quality, ease of use and value. TomTom's products include all-in-one navigation devices which enable customers to navigate right out of the box; including the award-winning TomTom GO family, the TomTom ONE range and the TomTom RIDER (for motorcycles). TomTom also provides navigation software products which integrate with third party devices; the TomTom NAVIGATOR software for PDAÂ?s and smartphones. TomTom WORK combines industry leading communication and smart navigation technology with leading edge tracking and tracing expertise. TomTomÂ?s products are sold through a network of leading retailers in 25 countries and online. TomTom was founded in 1991 in Amsterdam and has offices in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific.Digital Cameras & Photo Categories