Tomtom partners with Sony to offer in-dash nav with HD traffic

[mvl]

Link here. This is the first HD traffic device to be installed in-dash.

TomTom to provide navigation technology for Sony's Xplod range of in-car audio visual navigation systems

IFA Berlin, 1 September 2010: TomTom and Sony revealed today a collaboration that will bring TomTom's expertise in the field of navigation and services technology to Sony's new Xplod AV Navigation Systems. This device comes fully connected* providing unprecedented live knowledge of the road ahead.
"We are delighted that Sony has selected TomTom as their navigation services supplier in Europe", says Giles Shrimpton, Managing Director, TomTom Automotive. "This endorses our position as the leading location and navigation solutions provider. Combining the audio and video know-how of Sony with our navigational expertise has resulted in an excellent product range. Moreover, as the technology incorporates a flexible hardware design based on standard interfaces, it allows for easy updates in the future - a huge advantage in the automotive industry."
The LIVE services include award winning HD Traffic™ built to get drivers through traffic quicker than any other traffic service. Drivers can stay ahead with up-to-date speed camera information on both fixed and mobile cameras en route, as well as live weather updates and local Google™ business address searches.
Along with these LIVE services drivers also get access to IQ Routes™ and Map Share™. Only TomTom uses actual speed data collected from millions of users to accurately calculate the travel time of any given route. It allows for rush hour, traffic lights, and even shopping crowds when calculating journey times. So no matter what time it is, IQ Routes can be relied upon to give an accurate arrival time.
Combined, these services provide drivers with the latest information on the road ahead, ensuring a stress-free, enjoyable drive.
*initially only available in France, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Portugal and the United Kingdom
- END - About TomTom N.V.
TomTom N.V. (AEX: TOM2) is the world's leading provider of location and navigation solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands it employs over 3000 employees worldwide. Over 45 million people daily use its solutions, be it in the form of dedicated portable navigation devices (PNDs), in-dash car systems or tracking and tracing solutions for fleet management. In addition, hundreds of millions of people use TomTom's digital maps on the internet or mobile phone.
In 2009, TomTom reported €1.5 billion in revenues and a €340 million net cash flow from operating activities. More information about TomTom can be found on www.TomTom.com.

 

[mvl]

Tomtom and Sony have announced that the XNV-770BT and XNV-660BT versions of these models will be sold in the USA. These are the non-LIVE equivalents of the European models.

 

[mvl]

The Tomtom and Sony user manuals are now online.

First, this appears to have many of the features I missed from the old GO 930:
- remote control
- MP3 player
- EPT

The only things missing in the USA version is Live services & traffic.

It appears to have a removable "navigation module" which docs in a cradle. This cradle seems to be set up with a long cord, so you can mount the cradle out of sight/in the glove compartment. The small pocketable module is what you undock and connect to myTomtom online, for map/software upgrades, etc.

Personally, I'm really excited about this device. Once Tomtom releases a LIVE-capable version for the USA, I may finally have found a model I can get excited about buying again.

 

[gatorguy]

It doesn't look like most other users of naviagation services share your enthusiasm for built-in nav devices. While some might have thought the demand was increasing that doesn't appear to be the case. In fact according to this chart from an industry report released just yesterday, demand for factory-installed navigation has fallen in Europe over the past year.

http://www.insidegnss.com/auto/popupimage/ABIResearch-NAVCOMP.jpg

 

[mvl]

I think in dash is the best form factor.

But I agree with canderson, it has to be the "best" to merit it's top of the line prices.

Until the recent announcement of Sony/Mazda/Carminat LIVE, no in-dash gave useful congestion avoidance.

I think once an adequate in-dash arrives, with somewhat comparable features to a high-end PND, sales will take off.

They may not get the revenue figures of the cheapo devices, but in a couple years they'll be the #1 source of navigation profits.

 

[gatorguy]

Well MVL, you may now have an even better option. The fully integrated Sync system in Ford vehicles will be using Inrix' just-announced XD traffic services. Likely to be considered NA's first offer of "high-definition" traffic, XD Traffic is designed for cellular-connected navigation, using TPEG over IP to optimize data payloads and connectivity. Inrix says 450,000 miles included immediately, a mix of arterial and secondary roads. Watch for it in every Ford Sync vehicle starting next year. I'll be curious to see if TomTom tries to make up with Inrix now and perhaps offer improved traffic by sourcing Inrix XD.

 

[mvl]

Yeah, there's a lot of improvements on transmission technology in many devices. But I don't see "HD-traffic" as a transmission improvement in my definition.

I'm really looking for cell-probe traffic, as my commute has ton's of arterial roads that are often misreported due to lack of probes. I haven't yet seen anything in XD-traffic that adds probes beyond the normal 2-way GPS and fleet devices, which means isn't any more useful data than what Tomtom LIVE delivers.

 

[gatorguy]

INRIX is using over 3 million GPS enabled vehicle probes as well as its own community of mobile app user's on smartphones, plus departments of transportation, partnerships with regional traffic providers, and probably all those Sync-equipped Fords. On paper it should be more thorough than anything Airsage (TomTom) or Navteq (Garmin) is yet offering. Still to be seen of course.

Probably should start a new traffic discussion tho. Sorry for muddying this one

 

[mvl]

I'll splice to a new thread when I get the chance.

Verizon has 93 million customers, so Airsage dwarfs the Inrix 3 million probes.

The key issue for me is in the many small arterials (especially truck-prohibited ones) where fleet probes don't cut it.

For what it's worth, Tomtom LIVE traffic had a significant leap in quality about a week ago in Boston. Perhaps they are already sourcing Inrix XD.

 

[gatorguy]

The problem with Airsage (and even TomTom's HD Traffic in Europe) is the high percentage of false positives. In other words, a high number of reported incidents are actually cleared before the driver ever reaches that road segment. In fact BMW considers TomTom's HD traffic to be subpar. Inrix predictive algorithm used with XD Traffic may be able to better notify drivers of real and "about to be" bottlenecks. A simple snapshot of existing traffic conditions is a poor predictor of what traffic will be like 10 minutes from now when you reach the reported jam or accident. And that's pretty much what TomTom depends on: Actual near real-time incident reports. But that doesn't make them more reliable, instead making them incorrectly appear to have more extensive/detailed and thus reliable coverage. Any delay in compiling and delivering that data, even 2-3 minutes, makes the report suspect for current conditions. But as I mentioned we'll have to see how it works in real-life.

 

[mikealder]

One of the main issues I have seen in the UK with HD Traffic is when a road is closed, as there is no stationary traffic on the closed road the unit wrongly assumes its got no delay and therefore tends to ignore the issue especially at night when there isn't a hold up at either end of the closed section. The unit constantly re-routes trying to put you back on to a closed road - Mike

 

[offthegrid]

Not really. Google has several million probes plus the Airsage data which is Verizon plus Sprint now. I believe Google at this point has the best data out there in the US.

Google though does not use that data in calculating the route times or detours.

Sync services are free I believe for two years then there is a charge and the driver provides the data link through a voice channel on their phone.

TomTom does not use AirSage data unless I missed something lately.

INRIX is using over 3 million GPS enabled vehicle probes as well as its own community of mobile app user's on smartphones, plus departments of transportation, partnerships with regional traffic providers, and probably all those Sync-equipped Fords. On paper it should be more thorough than anything Airsage (TomTom) or Navteq (Garmin) is yet offering. Still to be seen of course.

Probably should start a new traffic discussion tho. Sorry for muddying this one

 

[jeremyh]

yeah I just installed the sony XNV-770bt this weekend and love the unit, I have had the kenwood DNX9960 and the pioneer avic-z110bt and the navigation is better than both of the mention units and the only complaint I have of the navigation side is why would sony and tomtom put out a product where you can`t use MYHOME software it tells me it might be a user feature available later but right now you can`t add different voices or custom poi`s and everything else that comes with using the MYHOME software anyone know when will this happen?

 

[dhn]

Welcome to TTF.

Supposedly, some of the features are to appear in My Home in Q1 of 2011 and the others by the end of 2011.

Supposedly.

 

[jeremyh]

Welcome to TTF.

Supposedly, some of the features are to appear in My Home in Q1 of 2011 and the others by the end of 2011.

Supposedly.

thanks for the info,

yeah I hope one day they add traffic to the unit too.

 

[drmikevasovski]

I've had the 770bt for 3 months now and the gps is freezing up more and more often. Have to unplug the gps brain and hit the reset button. Problem is that the brain was installed under the dash behind the glove box.
Has this happened to you?

(e-mail address removed)

 

[mvl]

I've had the 770bt for 3 months now and the gps is freezing up more and more often. Have to unplug the gps brain and hit the reset button. Problem is that the brain was installed under the dash behind the glove box.
Has this happened to you?

(e-mail address removed)

All the pnds had a software update to app 10.110 that added POI and fixed lots of device bugs.

Has this been also released for the Sony? If so, does it help any?

 

[canderson]

Brings up an interesting question ... Given the way that these are mounted, how does a user go about updating them?

 

[mvl]

There's a removable module that sits in a dock. The installer is supposed to place the dock in a convenient location (eg: glove compartment). The module has a usb slot and can plug into your computer for updates.

 

[canderson]

The module has a usb slot and can plug into your computer for updates.

So the module is (likely) the entire system firmware and data on a flash device of some sort? Like the old days when the ONE ran everything off the SD card?