Bad news, you guys. If you were thinking of dropping $120 on TomTom’s iPhone car kit and then another $100 on TomTom’s navigation app for use with your first-generation iPhone or second-generation iPod touch, it now looks like you’d to run into some compatibility issues.
AppleInsider is reporting “that although the Car Kit dock is compatible with all iPhone models, the TomTom application will only work with the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G – even with the dock connected to a first-generation iPhone or iPod touch.”
You’ll recall that the hardware dock features its own built-in GPS chip and speaker to amplify GPS signal strength and the volume of turn-by-turn directions, so it appears that if you were to dock an iPod touch or older iPhone that you wouldn’t be able to take advantage of those enhancements. Basically, you’d have a $120 car charger.
AppleInsider further reports that “When asked whether the application could be updated to allow it to work with the iPod touch and first-generation iPhone, a company spokesman simply said that TomTom has not made any ‘public announcements.’”
It doesn’t seem like it would be rocket science to add the extra compatibility, and TomTom would theoretically benefit from the expanded hardware base of potential customers but, suffice to say, it’s best to hold off for now.
TomTom Car Kit, navigation software will not work with iPod touch [AppleInsider]
Or… you could use it with an app other than TomTom’s. Do Navigon, CoPilot, Sygic, or any of the others run on the iPod touch?
Garmin Grins…
That’s fine. I have a touch, and had kinda hoped this would work until I saw the prices. It’s cheaper to get an entire Droid phone with free google maps. I expect Tom Tom (if they’re smart) will radically slash the price of the app, and/or make it free with the cradle purchase.
How could you use it with an ipod touch without any wireless signal? Is all the navigation data stored on the phone itself and not online like gmaps?
All the maps are stored in the phone when the app is installed. When navigating, its uses GPS, which does not incur any data unless the satelite signal is weak and there is wireless signal or data network available.
Now “it’s the real world”: throw away the old one, and buy the new one.
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got it and put it right back in its box since it does not fit iphones with cases… useless.
Hey guys,
Working with TomTom on this app, and it does now support the iPod Touch. There is a separate car kit available specifically for the touch which is required. Additionally, the touch car kit is $20 less. Its available now on the TomTom site