The new GO with voice control ... and known weaknesses

TomTom has taken the many feedback to heart and significantly reworked in the past year since the publication of the Go 500. It was necessary. Through software updates obvious shortcomings of the first delivery (Reviews s. The "TomTom GO 500 Europe Traffic navigation system") have been fixed, making the unit after initial frustration experiences a reliable companion. Now, the manufacturer also offers a much desired "Speak & Go" versions with voice control. For the same price as at the launch of the 2013er device. For new customers well, for buyers of the previous year to reflect an additional reason for a change to the competition.

I was curious and had the opportunity to test at the weekend. Unless: The voice control is a contemporary feature definitely and complements the functionality. But there remain the familiar criticisms, which is why it is not enough to subjectively 4 stars.

Device and mount (+)
The device features a 13 cm (5 inch) capacitive (plastic) touch screen that reacts well largely. The Mocha Bean on the whipped cream would be a glass touch screen that is unusual but at this price point. The active holder is secured by means of screw cap on the wheel and holds bombproof. The Navi-recording is magnetic. The satellite Fix succeed even without connection to the Smartphone blazing fast.

TomTom Lifetime Traffic - Smartphone Connected (+)
The excellent Lifetime TomTom Traffic (real-time traffic information) is an outstanding feature for me. This manufacturer-specific service offers, not least through anonymous data from mobile phones precise and accurate real-time information, making it much more current than (premium) TMC. Based on my previous experience with competitive offerings (Premium TMC Navigon, Garmin Live), there is currently no service of comparable quality. On the tour along the Rhine, there was also nothing to complain about.
"Smartphone Connected" means that you receive the traffic information via Bluetooth from your smartphone. With an iPhone 5s the connection via hotspot managed easily and it was compared with Google Maps only a small volume of data. It is also possible without phone connection and then navigate with standard TMC information. The required antenna is included in the car charger cable.

Operation (o)
In order not to repeat my review for GO 500 ... getting used to. Just for old customers. Whether functionality and graphical route guidance a new customer knock your socks off, I can not judge. The menu has been greatly reduced, therefore not clear.

The destination is entered in an entry line. Below these proposals from all installed cards are displayed. In addition, there is a little tucked away a POI radius search. The optional direct destination input by gesture on the touch screen I do not use, because it is too long and cumbersome.

The search for a route to the Loreley / Lorelei (with no known address data) was not as easy as expected, because the POI were in particular for non-local ambiguous. After this obstacle was removed, the route guidance was used well known and on road sections also understandable. During the trip to the bottom of the screen and the default (red) displays the actual speed, and right above the "damming strip" travel time and distance. Intermediate stops can be by activating on the map pretty easy plan. If you can find the planned break point and then hit.
Although Lane guidance provides sufficient information for the driver, but my animated counterpart of the current Garmin series like better.

The actual buildings do not always like seeing 3D display is particularly the inner city as well as in the competition at the expense of overview. Often this also branching roads are covered. I had therefore disabled.

Voice guidance (o)
The voice quality of Helpers is extremely good, but omitted the verbal route guidance (TomTom typical) Article and is overall not as clear as those of competitors ". Turn right - Meerstraße After you have reached your destination." or "Stay left, stay left", when I was on the far right lane on the road. That's better.

Voice commands (+)
TomTom advertises more than 1,000 voice commands that I as a user need to know, however, only once, and thus provides easy Garmin competitors in the shade. A list of possible voice commands to get under way, discussions.tomtom.com. Already Being able to work with voice commands alone and thus to keep hands on the wheel while driving, is a big plus for me. Also re-planning the trip go largely without problems. The radio I had then but muted after initial trials. Despite compliance with the forthcoming Notes especially the destination entry requires quite practice and provides for one or the other result ever for Astonished faces. Garmin may also, but not better.

Conclusion
A wise and necessary evolution of the 2013er Go's. With the current price of approx. 190 EUR Tom Tom makes the appropriate Garmin-midrange model with voice control (2597) competition. The Go 500 "Speak & Go" offers the better (because active) support, a comprehensive voice control as well as the hitherto unreached TomTom Traffic. However, the competitor has the nose subjectively at destination entry and voice guidance and POIs forward. The voice control alone makes the 2013er Sorgenkind no good remake yet.

An upgrade for owners of not upgradeable 2013er Go 500 only because of the voice control would be to place within not quite twelve months again slightly below two hundred euros on the counter. That's not necessarily customer friendly. Unless another "upgrade offer" the manufacturer fulfills what it does not look, it's not interesting for me and also annoying. All new buyers but receive a first of teething largely liberated, reliable helpers with contemporary scope.