The TomTom ONE has won every award - from the ‘Gadget you can’t live without’ to ‘Best Sat Nav system’, but now on its 4th incarnation is it still the slim, entry-level GPS system it used to be? It is still super-light, and still shies away from many of the gimmicks of the larger models, such as MP3 players. However, it now boasts some of the latest technology, including MapShare and the ‘Help Me!’ menu. So can it still be the basic GPS that even the greatest technophone can use?
In the box
The box contains just the TomTom ONE v.4, the mount, Car charger, USB cable and Documentation. The Easy Port mount which folds neatly into the back of your device so you can take the whole thing away with you. It’s as easy as that. You just plug the ONE in and go, and that’s really what we ask for in an entry-level device.
The look…
Classic silver on black should fit well in any car interior. The trademark spartan exterior of the TomTom ONE is dominated by the 3.5″ touch screen, and there isn’t much else on the casing, just a single button (power), the speaker, and connector for the mount.
The most notable thing is, as I’ve already mentioned, the new style of windscreen mount. It slots onto the rear of the device, and fold back on itself, adding little to the overall weight and size.
Usability…
While the screen is significantly smaller than those of the TomTom GO and XL ranges, the ONE is no less easy to use. The onscreen buttons are designed with this taken into account, making it simple to select the correct letter or menu choice. The TomTom interface has long been recognised as the easiest to use in GPS devices, and it is as intuitive as the press say. The touch screen is responsive, and little extras, like speed-linked volume, and automatic day/night display settings make it so simple.
Features…
Features include; pre-installed maps of UK and (if you buy the European version) Western Europe, TomTom’s latest MapShare technology to keep them up to date, safety camera alerts, and the option of an RDS TMC traffic receiver to keep you one step ahead of the roads.
One other great new feature is the ‘Help me’ button. It will not only tell you where the nearest police station, hospital, or mechanics is, but let you phone them directly through your GO 720 (if you connect your phone of course). There are also onboard first aid guides from the Red Cross, and repair and maintenance guides from the AA for lesser emergencies like a flat tyre. The ‘Where am I?” option is simple but oh so clever. It simply tells you the name of the street you are on, and the nearest cross roads so you can tell the tow-truck where to find you. Genius!
Other features include; audible alerts to warn you when you travel over the speed limit, multiple route planning options, light sensor for auto brightness control, and the USB dock allowing you to connect to TomTom’s website and databases for the latest updates.
In Conclusion
The bad…
As with the ONE’s before it, there’s no expansion slot for a memory card with the TomTom ONE v.4 so make sure you get the version with all the maps you need.
The good…
There are no frivolous features on the TomTom ONE, just everything you need for daily GPS guidance. It’s faster, smarter and more feature-rich than its predecessors, but is still true to its routes as the ultimate, entry level GPS system.
