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TomTom’s new mapping platform and ecosystem

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Re: TomTom’s new mapping platform and ecosystem

#71

Post by kaushikc »

hotcoffeebear wrote: post #55
gambiting wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a modern car with a built-in satnav as well as Android Auto support, and yet I still use my TomTom 5000 - it's just better. Definitely better than crappy Google Maps, definitely better than volvo's built-in maps, and it's without any kind of comparison how much better it is than Apple Maps. You get in the car, it auto-selects the destination based on the patterns it learnt(so if you get in at 7am on a workday,…

Tom Tom used to charge for map updates, which became a no-go for many. The same thing thing with built-in ones. Toyota asked 60 euro for the map updates and unfortunately no android/ios auto.. i am going between google maps / apple maps. I find routes better in google maps but i love apple maps voice indications better. I still have also a free lifetime update tomtom but it very slow to add destination etc.

They quoted me $350 Australian/year for yearly map updates last year. I was hoping they would've humbled a bit in 10 years.

Re: TomTom’s new mapping platform and ecosystem

#73

Post by manuelabeledo »

gambiting wrote: post #47
kleiba wrote: post #3

For the youngens here on HN: TomTom was once one of the leading manufacturers of GPS navigation systems for cars - purchased as an accessory that was stuck to the wind screen. This was in a time before every car had a screen built in, and before everyone had a smart phone with Google Maps in their pocket. I guess that product is a prime example for becoming irrelevant by society progressing. I actually still use an o…

I have a modern car with a built-in satnav as well as Android Auto support, and yet I still use my TomTom 5000 - it's just better. Definitely better than crappy Google Maps, definitely better than volvo's built-in maps, and it's without any kind of comparison how much better it is than Apple Maps. You get in the car, it auto-selects the destination based on the patterns it learnt(so if you get in at 7am on a workday,…

I may be mistaken, but I think all those features, plus traffic data, are built in both Google and Apple Maps as well.

Also, phones generally have larger and brighter screens, and more accurate GPS. I don’t see the advantage of TomTom here.

Re: TomTom’s new mapping platform and ecosystem

#75

Post by avar »

A meta-comment: The entire tone of this press release is so weird, e.g.:

"There’s also significant talk about how the company will use OSM data. It’s clear TomTom is treading cautiously and respectfully here.".

That's something you might expect to read in an article written by an independent journalist, not a corporate press release written by in-house staff.

Re: TomTom’s new mapping platform and ecosystem

#76

Post by nicbou »

Andrew_nenakhov wrote: post #6

OpenStreetMap is the second most-important resource on the Internet, after the Wikipedia.

I contribute to OSM, especially when I travel in less populated areas. A reliable map of petrol stations is invaluable in remote areas.

People are sometimes curious about it, and comparing it to Wikipedia is the best way to explain the importance of it.

Good maps are incredibly important. Separating that from financial incentives is necessary.

Re: TomTom’s new mapping platform and ecosystem

#78

Post by [deleted] »

wokwokwok wrote: post #29

I’m not sure what I just read, but it felt like it was AI generated. … full of words, and absolutely no information. Even the linked page ( https://www.tomtom.com/tomtom-maps-platform/ ) really doesn’t make it even remotely clear what they’re announcing, or why we should care. > The world lacks a truly open and collaborative mapping ecosystem, one that doesn’t follow a one-size-fits-all model but is flexible so that…

[deleted]

Re: TomTom’s new mapping platform and ecosystem

#79

Post by pletnes »

hotcoffeebear wrote: post #55
gambiting wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a modern car with a built-in satnav as well as Android Auto support, and yet I still use my TomTom 5000 - it's just better. Definitely better than crappy Google Maps, definitely better than volvo's built-in maps, and it's without any kind of comparison how much better it is than Apple Maps. You get in the car, it auto-selects the destination based on the patterns it learnt(so if you get in at 7am on a workday,…

Tom Tom used to charge for map updates, which became a no-go for many. The same thing thing with built-in ones. Toyota asked 60 euro for the map updates and unfortunately no android/ios auto.. i am going between google maps / apple maps. I find routes better in google maps but i love apple maps voice indications better. I still have also a free lifetime update tomtom but it very slow to add destination etc.

I seem to recall that a map refresh would be similarly priced to just buying a new one. The device was probably sold as a loss leader. Back then the devices were super nice, I recall thinking, but the business model doesn’t make any sense now, to me. They did have products specific for huge trucks, such as route planning, maybe it makes sense for those use cases still?
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