iPhone vs. Tom Tom One

[Audiocave]

Yesterday I was driving with my TomTom mounted and decided to watch both it and the iPhone while their respective GPS signals tracked. A few observations...

1. The iPhone's GPS locks much faster for sure.
2. TomTom is easily more accurate.

While the iPhone's A-GPS locks very fast and tracks (at least in Google Maps) where you *were*, the TomTom shows where you *are*. What that means is when I pass a landmark or turn a corner the iPhone GPS was about 2-3 seconds behind while the TomTom show exactly where I was at all times.

At first I thought this might be a hindrance to turn-by-turn GPS on the iPhone but when I thought about it... it doesn't matter. Even TomTom tells you way ahead of time when a turn is coming up so even with the iPhone being a couple of seconds late tracking it should still be good, *except* when you run into those tricky navs like I did in D.C. with TomTom where there are two very close things to navigate... like tricky freeway exit ramps with a quick left and a quick right within a matter of feet.

Looking forward to someone doing it. I'm not convinced it will be usable under all circumstances though.

P.S. That Garmin gps phone video shows what the iPhone *should* be already doing. Very cool.

http://gizmodo.com/353158/garmin-nuvifone-scenario-video-shows-fabulousness-of-phone-creative-fatigue-of-nuvi-marketing-team

[lman]

Interesting stuff. I'd expect that your tom tom would be more accurate. Atleast i'd hope it be since its stricly a GPS. For the most part, my first generation iphone gives accurate direction listings.

[tigertex]

Funny, I tried something similar with my ONE XLS. My results were almost the opposite.

My iphone seems finicky about getting a GPS lock. Sometimes it does it quickly, sometimes it just doesn't. But when it does, it seems accurate to me.

My Tomtom always gets good satellite connection. I'm good about keeping it up to date so maybe that helps. And it is very accurate.

In my opinion the google turn by turn stuff is definitely no substitute for a real navigation system. You truly do need to know where a turn is before you get there. Also, the iphone requires you to keep track of where you are and coordinate that with the route instructions yourself. That can be pretty awkward even if your passenger is doing it for you. I can't imagine trying to do it while driving. I would think with proper software this could be addressed but it will required the GPS link to be a bit more reliable.

[cpolaris502]

i really need to get rid of my tom tom and get a garmin. i hate it.

[samy]

Funny, I tried something similar with my ONE XLS. My results were almost the opposite.

My iphone seems finicky about getting a GPS lock. Sometimes it does it quickly, sometimes it just doesn't. But when it does, it seems accurate to me.

My Tomtom always gets good satellite connection. I'm good about keeping it up to date so maybe that helps. And it is very accurate.

In my opinion the google turn by turn stuff is definitely no substitute for a real navigation system. You truly do need to know where a turn is before you get there. Also, the iphone requires you to keep track of where you are and coordinate that with the route instructions yourself. That can be pretty awkward even if your passenger is doing it for you. I can't imagine trying to do it while driving. I would think with proper software this could be addressed but it will required the GPS link to be a bit more reliable.

I also have the One XLS and I have also tried it a couple of times, my iphone also seems finicky about the location at times. It still doesn't beat a good GPS system but can be helpful when I am in a pinch and don't have the Tom Tom around.

[Youngbinks]

I'm still holding out for a TomTom or Garmin app we can use to get turn-by-turn directions.

[samy]

Me too!!!:laugh2:

[yakob89]

are they developing a garmin app or tom tom app?

[Youngbinks]

There have been reports and articles from TomTom stating that a GPS application was in the works for the iPhone but no word yet as to the release date. Hopefully soon.

[Nutchos]

I would really love a tom tom or garmin app. As it stands, the iphone gps is too much of a hazzard while driving (not to mention extremely annoying).