For those who cannot do without their GPS devices helping them make decisions as they drive – TomTom has a new offering dubbed the Start 2 car navigation unit. This gizmo guides drivers with its spoken street names, simplified menu and advanced lane guidance features among others. The latest traffic information can be transmitted to it with an RDS-TMC Traffic Receiver accessory and RDS-TMC subscription.
Start 2 calls for no special installation due to its plug-and-go functionality. It displays an easily comprehensible menu on the 3.5†touch-sensitive display with just two options, namely, ‘Plan Route’, and ‘Browse Map’. Incorporated IQ Routes technology implements real historic car speed measurements from the roads, analysis of the time and day of travel to suggest an optimum route to the user.
Traffic information like a description of a newly occurred situation, the location, the direction of traffic affected and the estimated delay is transmitted to the user’s device with its RDS-TMC Traffic compatibility. An alternative route to the pre-destined location is also mapped out for the driver’s convenience. Realistic visual instructions reproduce road signs, thus making them easier to follow and the in-built speaker renders voice instructions at an adjustable volume.
There’s a Help Me! menu which delivers direct access to emergency numbers and directions to the closest emergency providers. With Map Share technology, owners can introduce changes to their own map and even avail of corrections made by TomTom users every day at no additional cost. It also comes with the latest map guarantee which means that a new map for the device released within 30 days of first use can be downloaded once for free through the company’s official website.
A semi-integrated EasyPort mount folds cozily onto the back of this 128g light unit that can be accessorized with changeable covers and matching protective bags called StartSkins. The covers are out in shades of flaming red, electric green, ice blue, deep purple, flaming orange and sunburst yellow for £14.99 (approx. Rs.1,020), apiece. The carry case costs £19.99 (approx. Rs.1,362). The expected price is £119 (approx. Rs.8,113) for Start 2 with a regional map and £139 (approx. Rs.9,478) for the device with a European map.
