TomTom iPhone Car Kit - OnRoad Usage & Review

[R0CKST4RR94]

you*re driving on the wrong site of the street :D

[ChuckBleedinNorris]

I love blury videos!

[0000kris0000]

It still looks VERY laggy to me, compared to my actual tom tom sat nav, which shows you going round the corner whilst you are, not after youve gone round it. And im not impressed that they advertise "you can play your music through your stereo" when you need a 3.5 jack. Thats what i already use... without the cradle!

[Laneybosh]

hahaha funny seeing you driving around shields road area, i live in pollokshields too mate...top review cheers pal:)

[theunits3]

@Philip614 it works via powersource - if you disconnect it, it wont work.

[thechipmunkschannel1]

Would the car kit work on the iPod touch 2nd gen

[123columbo123]

you mentioned that you can play your music as well. is that through a FM transmitter (cable free) or something else. If it is the 3.5 jack how does that connect to you stero

[martindanny]

@iTech911 SAME! thats what i just commented too!

[martindanny]

the road is so narrow

so much different than in canada LOL we drive on the right side and im confusing when seeing ur turns well whoever is driving

[GPUFF390]

nice car bro how much u paid for it i m getting one soon

[Tom21794]

@GPUFF390 £99.95

[Heavykani]

@Tom21794 Cheap Lexus eh?

[Tom21794]

@Heavykani LOL, well i'm an idiot.

[magicsaladplate1]

as i drive along it slowly swivels down if i have it sideways. my friend has one and it clicks around like yours did in your video, mine rotates around smoothly and doesn't lock in. help!

[geebones]

would u leave it on your windscreen on your car all the time

[cayala78]

god i remember when iphone 3g use to work fast like that. now it lags so much when i use tomtom app. iOS4 ugh.

[aldinss]

how much did it costed you for the holder

thats really neet bro

i need one for my i phone

[martindanny]

@aldinss go look up TomTom iphone car kit on ebay

[TechhMann]

does it charge the phone while it is on the dock?

[jerryx2000]

does the GPS reception of the car kit only work when connected to the car charger? Or does it have a battery? Thanks

[KcKreicar]

i bought one cuz i have the iphone 2g, thats when its worth buying. if you have a 3g or 3gs or iphone 4 its prob not worth buying the kit.

[geebones]

have you used hd traffic

[tommyboi9]

is it shit without the car kit????

i wanna get the app but cant afford the car kit

[jerryx2000]

is there a improvement in the gps reception with the kit?

[theunits3]

@jerryx2000 yes there is but TomTom's most recent APP update has further increased the GPS stability - which in essence means that u dont really need the car kit as the app works as it should have from day 1.

[jerryx2000]

@theunits3 do u ve a 3gs or 4?

[Cartoon2013]

i love yerr fuuucken car lol!!

[TheYZFReligion]

This is a Lexus IS200 you made the video with... isn't it? ;)

Great car by the way ;)

thinking about getting one =)

[theunits3]

Yep it sure is. Bang on.

[bellendbellend1]

Fucking buy one then you CUNT

[Myst3rySG88]

Hi, is it fine if i don't use the tomtom car kit. but i use the iphone cable connected to the car ? please reply thanks!

[spongj3m3]

can you play music from on your iphone through either the cradle speaker or even better the car speakers? If so can you play music at the same time as using the gps?

[xXTHESTIGXxx]

do you need to have the power cable blugged in all the time or is there a battery in it and the cable is just a charger?

[burdell2]

Have you seen other iPhone car kits that have the charger built in? what i mean is i'm looking for a iPhone car dock kit that has the dock connector in the dock (instead of just using a car holder where the you have to plug in a car charger separately.) I have see the Tom Tom one has this, but it is waaaay to expensive..

[leonlai1988]

do you need internet access to use this app or u just need the kit

[TopNotchApps]

Do you have to use the TomTom application with the TomTom Car Kit or can you use any other GPS application with the TOMTOM car kit?

[hginesta]

does that kit work with the Navigon app?

[chucky613]

The app is seperate buy...it's 99 $

[saiisthebest]

so would the usb thing charge it at the same time? D=

[hotelseventeen]

I use TT iphone without carkit and it works perfect! sattelite connection ALWAYS within 10 seconds, and navigation is perfect. I have a TomTom One gps, and this one takes 10min to connect to sattelite. So: the gps module in the iPhone is far better then the one TomTom uses!

waste of money if you ask me

[bellyfanbr]

In case you don't know. prior to 3G, there was no GPS receiver built in, so you have to use TomTom car kit to get turn by turn

[cramara214]

iphone 3G has a built in GPS... im using one..

no wifi and data plan

[jimmah55555]

There is no GPA module in the iPhone...

[Robby1106]

yes, it still works with Navigon!!

[daniabbas1]

does the gps enhancement in the kit work with the Navigon?

[skinnerock]

Glaysgae! wicked!

[GP1890]

maybe the next iphone would have a built in GPS lets hope

[Djluv5]

there's already a built in gps in the iphone....

[1qNasty]

just the 3gs. but i don't think tomtom enabled that feature of the app and iphone to work together. just a way of getting more money i think

[cjuckett]

I work with TomTom on this App, and both the 3g and 3gs have a built in GPS chip that does work with the App. With these phones, you are not required to get the car kit. Rather it enhances your GPS reception and adds additional features. For those with a 2g iPhone or an iPod touch, you will need a car kit for the app to function.

[Djluv5]

Both iphone 3g and 3gs have a gps chip, and it is enabled for the tomtom app. The car kit just increases the gps reception.

[bennysj]

yes, buy why my iphone 3gs is keep on searching and "waiting for a GPS signal" still stuck?

please help me..

mine is ver 1.2 tom-tom

[Djluv5]

try downloading the motion-x free software and check the signal on there. If u still doesn't get anything try contacting apple. but there is a gps chip in the iphone 3g and 3gs. Also location services on the iphone should be set to on.

[veryfyme]

That annoying american accent would get on my nerves, download the John Cleese accent :D

[Geek178]

all it is is a speaker and a cradle £100 id rather shoot my self that pay for that

[QueensNewYork7]

it also makes the GPS twice as strong and trust me I've used the app and it needs it.

[Geek178]

o ok but that doesnt justify the £110 price tag

[QueensNewYork7]

lastly, the speaker on the iphone is very faint, especially when you're driving at high speeds so a good speaker is necessary if you actually want to hear the instructions. Maybe the price isn't justified, but the item is necessary to get the best performance from the app. That being said it will be in high demand and I'm sure you're familiar with the term "supply & demand".

[HyperbirdF6]

niceee car

Lexus IS200

it was my previous car, i loved it

[theunits3]

Yep ;)

[locouk]

You'll have to let us know what fine and how many penalty points you get on your licence for handling your phone while driving. Even though you using it as a sat-nav, it's still capable of making and receiving calls, therefore illegal to touch whilst driving. The laws an ass, you can use sat nav driving but not a phone!! WTF is that all about?

[afbrat063]

Uh I'm pretty sure he

's only a passenger. But I could be mistaken.

[locouk]

Maybe that point should be made in the More Info, but it should be noted that operating a device whilst driving can be/is dangerous.

[JBinCalifornia]

Heh, yeah, I think I figured it out halfway through, why I was getting motion sickness from the video at first, and then finally realized = driver is on the right, passenger on the left in the UK . . . been a while since our last visit. Nice review; thanks!

[drweevil]

It uses bluetooth to connect to the TomTom??? WTF??? Why not use the huge frickin' Apple iPhone/iPod connector??? Does that mean then, that it won't connect simultaneously to hands-free Bluetooth headsets?

[QueensNewYork7]

why would you need a blue tooth headset when you can talk thru the car kit with that big ass speaker. Plue bluetooth headsets do nothing but make you look like a tool.

[stuprestonexperience]

Failtown, get a purpose built sat nav, maybe a garmin, they are really good.

[comptuts1]

what is the recalculating speed?

[sufy1000]

copilot still better and cheaper

[QueensNewYork7]

You can hit the home button after you accept the call and can go back to watching your directions on the tomtom while still talking on the phone.

[oOADROo]

its a bit slow. I see your driving a Lexus :D

[supermansamuel]

Does this work for iPod Touches? Cuz im getting one for crimbo and I think this is sweet! :D

[GeorgeC2009]

What is crimbo?

[beastie666]

slang term for christmas

[reply4reply]

thank god u didnt film the unboxing bit, i just dont see the point of the box content where its avaible online when you buy and since when manufacturers dont put vital items in the box

[kevinoti]

good video, but i think its just easier to get a proper tom tom, what happens when a call comes through?

[robert3892]

I recommend for safety reasons that you try and obtain a really good clip on camera like the ones you buy for your PC and then take a laptop along with a good video program and let it record so your hands are free to drive. Logitech makes some good ones in that regard.

[theunits3]

because one is in a moving vehicle, its impossible to have the camera not move. yes, for professionals it may be easy with bigger cameras etc... but trust me, turning corners, going round the rounabout and then bumpy roads - it aint gonna work mate.

[robert3892]

We do road tests and it is easy and straightforward to mount a camera or clip on a camera to the windscreen visor. Of course we have two people in the car. One to control the laptop when recording and the other to drive.

[mnnh1]

Great review theunits and thanks for making the effort. One thing though:there appears to be considerable lag between where u are on the gps and where u are in fact, especially compared to standalone gps systems. Do you know if thats beacuse of a shittyy intergrated gps chip, slow cpu or just badly coded software. Also are map updates availible and are they free??

[theunits3]

tomtom have released a new update to their firmware just a day ago. quite a big upgrade and the main features are that it improves the GPS sensitivity. check out my latest video on it - might give you some further help. thanks ;)

[JBinCalifornia]

How about using the camera built into the 3GS . . . and a system of mirrors around your car (a disco ball might work; then you could really spice up your YouTube content) . . . I just crack myself up sometimes -- he heh

[biglan25]

Great vid!!

[rpcor2]

Very good, detailed and informative video! Thanks very much! You answered ALL the questions I wondered myself; now it's just a question of how 'flush' I feel and whether to get one. Too early to see a drop in price - so I don't think that will be coming soon! A friend of a friend bought one and he said that driving around London, (City that is! High buildings etc), was AWESOME! Like you, he noticed immediately the super quick satellite acquisition and gps fix! Worth it just for that alone!

[theunits3]

Hi there - thanks for your kind comments. You may want to see my other two videos in relation to this car kit. One of them has just been uploaded today. They might further help clarify things.

[djs621]

Great review!... But can you navigate and take a call at the same time?.. Also I have noticed that when you charge your iphone via the bottom connector plus the 3.5 mm headphone you get a really annoying hiss or interference.. Is this the case with the car kit?

[poolking7862000]

one more thing, can you play your music and tomtom at the same time i ask this because when i have the music playing and if i open an app it turns off automatically, so how is this possible to have both on at the same time, and how do you go about doing this, am pritty sure when you use tomtom the music turns off doesn't play at all, i would b grateful if u could answear this thank you, btw i love scottish accent, love to go out with a scottish girl after hearing carly from big brother lool

[SoulMakk]

That lag is a joke on the 3gs. I've got a 4 yr old Htc Trinity which runs the latest Navigator and maps without a hint of lagging.

[theunits3]

lol - TomTom have released a new update this morning for their app... apparently its 'improved the gps'. Lets see how it does.

[poolking7862000]

Great vid, thank you. Btw I am Sure you would agree that if tomtom have said that you can play your music using the cradle and as you mentioned that you can't because you dont have the connecter for that, surley they should of supplied it, that's bullshit if you ask me, you pay 100 pound and they can't even supply the jack what a rip off **********

[hairyballs2]

my navigon app is more acurate the then this video, its dead on, i i have used it alot and many places.

[albaonthego]

Thanks for the review, a bit like watching Taggart, recognise there, and there! Despite other comments I can confirm that the cradle does work with motionX, Navigon and Sygic apps. Bluetooth is only required for hands free communication, satnav apps work perfectly without bluetooth switched on. I have my car kit mounted on an Arkon bean bag so no sucker marks on the windscreen. If your viewers want a stand alone system buy one but I can't see me going back to my 520!

[n00bme]

Good review, hopefully the 1.1 release will sort out that lag that still appears to be evident with the car kit.

[bobbytoad]

Great to see product in detail.

BTW

1)your test with other software is not valid as the tomtom app to allow the cradle to be used with co pilot etc is yet to be released

2)cradle connects gps to phone via blue tooth. Removing from cradle will make no diference to reception until you are out of bluetoth range.

3) to connect to car stereo needs a 3.5mm cable PLUS stereo with 3.5

aux in.

The lag on the Tomtom app is rediculous/unusable even with the cradle

[Mrshane2010]

cool vid man but dose the tomtom charger support 24v like the stand alone tomtoms as i drive a 7.5t van thanks if it dose ill buy1 bit exspensive but what the hell

[oneadam007]

Yo top vid

[TijuanaBoxing]

By the way, good review!

[TijuanaBoxing]

What happens if I have the iphone connected to my car's bluetooth hands free?

You mention at the beginning the iphone needs to connect via bluetooth to the tomtom car kit, will this kill my car connection and I wont be able to use the hands free? or will it switch over from the tomtom kit to the car's bluetooth when a call comes in?

[mvakleko]

What accuracy do you get with the kit. Standard iPhone in 17m I beleive.

Thanks

[Machnemises]

5 stars for Price Fail and clear lag with the software even with the car kit.

TOMTOM LOOOOOL

[theunits3]

lol

[cthisi]

Does the 3.5 mm plug conect to my stereo or iPhone (does it have a built in fm transmiter).

[borncold1989]

Americans convert currency? No we don't do that, that's what we have you guys for :) jk. But no great review, was really looking forward to this but you kinda convinced me to go with a stand alone. Though it looks like it does it's job the price is just rediculus. Thanks again for the review.

[remiecremers]

I watched your previous reviews, and they where very nice. Thank you for that! But this one is a little crappy because you are holding the camera yourself. Maybe you can make a second, on the road, video with someone else holding the camera. So we don't get dizzy watching you video. The comments and all the subjects you talk about are very good! Thanks for that too!

[theunits3]

Thanks for the kind words. Rest assured - I wasn't driving and recording. It wasn't the way in which I was holding the camera either. It was due to bumpy roads and general car movement issues which came into play with this particular video. Cheers for the comment though, every comment (whether good or bad) is always a bonus for me. I shall try and see how (if at all) its possible to improve the car related videos.

[theunits3]

p.s. ive got another video uploading the now - this one is a 'stationary' video and hopefully you won't get dizzy.

[masontech]

Hi, can you use the speaker to play audio files from the iPod when TomTom is not in use or at the same time as using TomTom?

I am thinking more for Podcasts rather than music as my car has no AUX in.

Thanks.

[idparkinson]

I see you did not use the screen mount correctly. Once you press the mount to the screen you should twist the locking ring which applies a stronger suction.

[mnidhk]

Last question :Someone already asked if it works with USB Autoradio.You can't test it because you don't have that kind of radio. But do you maybe have a USB->USB mini cable to test it through your computer? What i mean is, if you connect the cradle with such cable on the computer, is the iphone charging?Hope you can test this. Thanks in advance!

[mnidhk]

theunits3,

thanks for your review.

One question : Offcourse you can't stable the camera in the car but that's why i can't see if the cradle is stable? So does the cradle shake a little bit with the iphone in it on the window or is it very stable?

Because some carkits with necks are shaking alot.

[theunits3]

trust me - its stable. doesn't shake or anything. if it did, you would of seen me moan about it. VERY stable.

[mnidhk]

Thanks for your answer!

[Mesagne1987]

the co-polit seems to work better...exacting...is that so?

[09sapperjohn]

Great review, thanks.

Didn't look like the mount improved the lag situation at all to me. Lets hope an update will fix the lag.

[johnpecha]

Still FAR too much lag.

Thought TomTom said that this £100 extra would cure this problem.

I can almost guarantee that TomTom will cure this in the next update. Looks like they've purposely maid the software lag so that they can claim the mount fixes it.

[tonnyjoost]

Yeah TomTom def. have a big time problem in the software.....

[johnpecha]

Told you this would happen 5 days ago

[gsharpshooter80]

can you use this with the ipod touch and see if it works ??

[VIPERV3NOM]

Does the car kit work with the iPod Touch?

[theunits3]

not sure - dont have one. i dont see why though - although, tomtom wont work with the touches. it will just charge if anything.

[NinjaChiba]

Good review. Thanks!

[3GBlog]

Ugh man I'm so jealous of your accent :/

[brucearthurduncan]

I'm Scottish and it really annoys me when you say dollars. They can convert it themselves!! We have to convert things most of the time so they should have to do it for once.

Love you vids though ;)

[360NextLevel]

nice video :)

[kschubert91]

if you plug it into a usb port on a car stereo, will it still work and play music through the stereo or do you have to use the audio jack port?

Can you change the application voices?

[theunits3]

Not sure on this as i've not got a USB stereo input device. Yes, u can change it to various female/male options...

[fyre57lp]

Good review. Can't wait to get this.

[Badgerman4321]

How much movement is there in it when pressing home ie does it collapse towards the window with normal pressure?

Also how far out from window doe sit protrude? If its not much do you have to learn fwd to use it?

Cheers

[XxCamoManxX]

I'm not gay in anyway but i think your voice is soothing lmao

[StreetyKing]

I heard it works with cases :-/

Will it work without bluetooth?

[iphonehikerdude]

It just seems a rip off to me. For my Blackberry I bought a Brodit mount for £30 and a basic USB charger for £8, the GPS in that works fine - apart from taking for ever to get a first fix (well 2 minutes)...

[edsh0t]

I don't like the fact that you have to connect to it via bluetooth, I already have bluetooth in my car and I just want to use the kit as a holder that also charges the phone.

[romeo2009]

Awesome