Tom Tom GO 930
The Tom Tom GO 930 has many of the same features of Tom Tom's previous models but, thanks to a redesign, has more of an iPhone feel about it, the remote control's design has also been changed to match. The power switch has been moved to the top, making it easier for drivers to turn the device off and on and the speaker and external antennae jack have been moved to the rear. Some new additions include the newly developed Active Lane Guidance system, which gives exacting detail for drivers who are driving on complex, multi-lane highways, Interstates and the like who need to know how many lanes they might need to cross over to get to their exit, which way their particular lane goes and so on. A simple series of icons show the lanes and points out which lanes drivers need to be in to make turns.
This feature has actually worked very well on major highways and streets, but unfortunately not on more rural, country roads which can be quite frustrating if you're making trips in the country. Also new is a program known as Static Intersection Images which is designed to show where highways and intersections intersect, assisting drivers in simplifying complicated driving directions. TomTom has made it easier for users to type in addresses as you can switch from a touch screen QWERTY-style keyboard, an ABC-style keyboard and an option for left handed users.
In use, the imaging process involved in the program works intermittently at best. The imaging process generally seems to work somewhere in the half mile to quarter mile range which simply isn't acceptable if you're driving at highway speeds. The IQ Routes programming has been greatly updated, so that it gives much more accurate estimations on arrival times. Users of the 910 and 920 frequently complained about how estimated driving times were usually off by at least 20%, IQ Routes now will also allow you to plan out routes several days in advance, figuring out traditional traffic flow history and giving you a fairly accurate estimate time based on traffic flow. Also, there's the updated RDSTMC traffic receiver which works via cellular phone transmissions for much more accurate traffic readings.
The flimsy dash mount of previous models has been replaced with a much sturdier dash mount. As with many GPS devices, the amount of glare which comes from the touchscreen can make it difficult to read. For the most part the Tom Tom GO 930 is an excellent device for those looking for a more accurate driving experience.
