TomTom XL340

Someone asked me: “Is GPS technology easy to use?” Instead of using words, I decided to take him for a drive even though he was a complete stranger! After an hour’s drive, he mentioned a POI and asked me to stop there. I navigated using my Tom Tom XL340 and reached there. It was a coffee shop and he offered a cup of coffee to me. I asked why? He said, “Because you have shown me something that I can use to be back at home right on time and avoid clashes with my family for being late!”

Was that a joke? Perhaps not! The  TomTom XL340 can real make a difference when it comes to navigating through the roads and surely it brings a marked difference in your lifestyle! And honestly, I never found anything else that can go against this claim of GPS technology! And honestly speaking, TomTom XL340 uses the complex and advanced technology in simplified state so that the road navigation becomes easy and simple. Advanced lane guidance, IQ Routes, fuel prices on day to day basis and many more features ensure that you desire for more.

A closer look into the design:

The touch screen of WQVGA wide-format is the immediate attraction and a loud and large speaker rules the rear. Speaker for navigation? Yes! The text-to-speech feature of the TomTom XL340 ensures quick recognition of the POIs and streets because the device is designed to read out their names. While the power button adorns the top of the device, an USB port at the bottom allows data connection from the car charger of 12 volts, which is included in the box pack. With on board storage capacity of 2GB, the device allows easy access to some pre-installed maps and a database of millions of POIs. I consider it as a drawback, because I am unable to increase the data storage capacity which would have been possible in case there was a Micro SD expansion slot. The EasyPort mount makes sure that the device is mounted on the windshield of the car. The mount easily integrates with the cradle of TomTom XL340. I find it quite easy to mount the unit on the windshield. All I need to do is to open the suction cup, place it on the windshield and then simply turn the ring provided for locking! It is as simple as 1,2,3 and go… Want to try it? If you read carefully, I mentioned about the cradle of TomTom XL340. The cradle is integrated and therefore makes the GPS unit a bit bulky by adding weight to the already big device. It therefore becomes difficult for those who want to carry it with themselves when they leave the car. But placing the same in a bag will make things simple and life easy! Carry a bag!

A talk on the features:

I can really continue for hours when it comes to the feature of my TomTom XL340 but I will not as I don’t want to sound talkative. The Advanced lane guidance is something that I like most because it give a complete and most comprehensive details about the lanes and also provides detailed illustrations of the very complex interchanges on the freeways. The text-to-speech function is supported with 14 different voices in three different languages…choose the one that soothes your ears. Another good thing is the Tom Tom Map share service. If you want to make changes to the street names, POIs and anything else, you can always do that and upload the same and get it approved and then let others share it with you. That is real fun! Isn’t it? I think I am an expert and Tom Tom must hire me! Jokes apart, you can real consider your chances to get approved if you think that you know a place in and out! The TomTom XL340 is really an intelligent fellow and it will calculate the fastest route from point A to point B based on historical data of your driving speed and time! This feature is termed as IQ Routes and remember that it will never be the same as the data of real time traffic. Why? The calculations are based on the historical data of your driving nature!

Performance:

Nope! It is not light! However, the boot as well as the satellite acquisition were fast and were completed within less than a minute! Also, the onscreen keyboard layout can be changed to suit your style. I personally love QWERTY but you can have A-Z or AZERTY layouts as well. You are free to choose! TomTom XL340 is a considerate fellow and understands that my fingertips are fat as pumpkins and therefore provided generously big keys for input!

Conclusion:

OK! It is enough of brain eating session and I guess that you people aren’t bored enough to take my head and bang it against the wall or ZIP my lips and tie my fingers! But still, I will like to say that you can go for it and experience the change. You will not be paying for something which is actually good for nothing!