With the latest group of portable navigation devices (PNDs) from TomTom, we were surprised to find they did not score as well as past units. We are posted the ratings last week, along with ratings on the latest Garmin and Magellan navigators. We have since learned that TomTom has issued an update to the XL 350, XXL 550, and XL 335 series devices that promise to address some concerns.
Owners are able to connect their navigators to an Internet-connected computer and use TomTom Home to install the updated operating system. TomTom advises that devices will be on retail shelves by mid-October with the update.
TomTom portable navigation devices feature a simplified menu structure that is intended to aid usability, but the update eliminates some frequently used routing options and other controls typically found on higher-scoring TomTom devices, such as multi-destination routing and directions list. Further, most of these devices have no option to adjust brightness or make changes to other common settings. The real concern is that the display washes out in bright sunlight.
TomTom says that with the update, the operating system now includes:
Owners are able to connect their navigators to an Internet-connected computer and use TomTom Home to install the updated operating system. TomTom advises that devices will be on retail shelves by mid-October with the update.
TomTom portable navigation devices feature a simplified menu structure that is intended to aid usability, but the update eliminates some frequently used routing options and other controls typically found on higher-scoring TomTom devices, such as multi-destination routing and directions list. Further, most of these devices have no option to adjust brightness or make changes to other common settings. The real concern is that the display washes out in bright sunlight.
TomTom says that with the update, the operating system now includes:
- Route summary screen
- Change route feature
- Brightness settings option
- Display preferences option
- Updated volume control menu
