Let’s face it; many of us have found ourselves in a situation where we end up getting lost while driving. If you are out in the countryside, getting a bit lost is generally no big deal, but if you are in the midst of a large city with plenty of traffic, getting yourself lost can be an absolutely nightmare. If you miss your turn, you might have to drive for several miles in order to get back on track. Of course these days, getting lost while you are driving has become entirely unnecessary, thanks to modern GPS systems.
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As you no doubt already know, the market is awash with GPS devices to suit all different tastes and budgets, so how does the TomTom VIA 1625TM shape up when compared to others, and is it a model worth considering. Well, hopefully this short review will help you to decide for yourself if the TomTom VIA 1625TM is right for you.
TomTom VIA 1625TM – A Brief Description
Tomtom Go 600 Manual
As with other GPS devices, the TomTom VIA 1625TM’s primary function is to provide easy and reliable navigation. It is quite a compact device, featuring a 5-inch touch screen, which many motorists feel is an ideal size; neither too big, nor too small. It is also a relatively inexpensive GPS device when compared to many other similar GPS systems. Does a lower price tag mean you get less bang for your buck? Absolutely not! When you purchase a GPS device, you are essentially paying for easy navigation, and that is exactly what you get from the TomTom VIA 1625TM.
One aspect of the VIA 1625TM that I really like, is its Advanced Lane Guide feature. This means that you get ample time to prepare for an upcoming turn-off or upcoming exit. This can be incredibly useful if you are driving on a busy freeway and you need to get into the appropriate lane for the exit you intend using. I also like that you get free lifetime map updates, although to be honest, you get the same with many of the big name brands these day. Anyway, rather than wasting any more words, let’s take a quick look at the main pros and cons of the TomTom VIA 1625TM.
PROS
- Very Affordable – With a price tag of around $170, one cannot deny the fact that the VIA 1625TM is without question, one of the most reasonably priced GPS devices in its class.
- Free Lifetime Map Updates – While many manufacturers/providers are now offering free map updates, it is still one of the things which I believe makes the VIA 1625TM a good potential candidate for anyone who is considering getting a new GPS device for their vehicle.
- Unobtrusive Design – This unit has a nice and generous 5-inch touch screen which is considered to be the most preferred size. It also has a very slender and very compact design which allows it to look at home even in small vehicles. A dual mounting system also allows you to position that suits you the most.
- Good Dependable Features – The text-to-speech feature works very well with this unit, as does the Advanced Lane Guide feature, the turn-by-turn guidance feature, and the voice command feature.
- USB Charging – I really like the fact that this unit is charged via USB because these days you can buy very affordable USB chargers for your vehicle, many of which can have as many as four individual ports. This then allows you not only charge your GPS unit, but also a phone or two at the same time.
- SD Card Compatibility – The TomTom VIA 1625TM features an SD slot which essentially provides you with additional storage for other maps you may need.
- Traffic Alerts – Like many GPS units, you can set your VIA 1625TM so that you receive frequent traffic alerts which are sent to your unit via radio signals. Simply tune the receiver in to your nearest radio station, and you are good to go.
- Guarantee – The VIA 1625TM comes with a one-year limited manufacturer warranty.
CONS
- Not Real Time Traffic Alerts – The TomTom VIA 1625TM relies on radio signals for traffic alerts/updates, and most radio stations only give updates or alerts every 15 minutes or so.
- No Bluetooth – While this is not really a major issue, there will no doubt be people who may be put off due to the lack of Bluetooth connectivity.
- Battery Life – Some potential customers may be disappointed to learn that the battery life of this unit is around 3 hours. However, if you have a USB charger for your vehicle, then this should not be an issue for most drivers.
TomTom is a well-known brand for GPS navigators and it mainly focused on the ONE series followed by the newer START and VIA series. While these devices were quite sufficient for their prices, TomTom failed to cater to the folks that are willing to spend a bit more on premium features. It is the TomTom GO series that addresses this and last 2013, TomTom introduced a whole new family of GO devices with the TomTom GO 600 standing in the middle of the 6-inch category. 6-inch automotive GPS navigators is nothing new and you can get a fairly capable 6-inch VIA 1605 M for under $200. But the $299 GO 600 comes with enough exciting improvements that make the 1605 M a mediocre device.
Design
Not much effort needs to be made to designing a GPS device but TomTom wanted to make sure their new GO series stood out and the TomTom GO 600 definitely impresses. The 6-inch display makes this a large GPS device and the 800 x 480 screen resolution is a great choice for the size to make the graphics and text a lot sharper. On top of that, TomTom takes a rounded rectangular form factor approach which makes the GO 600 feel new and fresh. The latest 6-inch “phablets” still look better with some boasting very impressive Full HD displays but the TomTom GO 600 still manages to be one of the better-looking GPS devices out there and it isn’t even a flagship model.
Included in the package is the usual adhesive disk for mounting purposes and a special “easy click” mount that is designed to make it really easy to dock the GPS device due to its magnetic nature. A USB cable and car charger is included as well along with a simple installation guide poster.
Interface
The GO 600 and the other GO devices launched in 2013 all feature a radically changed user interface. The main part of the interface is now the 2D map so you can immediately see your current location. There are a few buttons on the side including the zoom controls and a menu button on the bottom left corner of the map. This button will bring up the main menu which looks a lot simpler and more modern with a single row of scrollable icons. There are also fewer icons to work with as some of the functions in older versions were combined into one section. For instance, locating a point of interest can conveniently be done using the new Search feature. Because the device has a capacitive display, you can conduct simple multi-touch gestures like pinch-to-zoom.
The 3-D interface continues TomTom’s new minimalistic approach too and it helps make the TomTom GO 600 look far more original than the competition. It is certainly a great approach for those that prefer simplicity over lots of statistics as the top only features the next turn information while current speed and speed limit is found on the bottom. Rather than having a status bar, the GO 600 incorporates a translucent vertical bar showing the other important data like the time, estimated time of arrival and a small graphical representation on the any expected traffic that can get in the way. As for the 3-D graphics, the color scheme is a bit focused on a limited color scheme but it makes the highlighted path standout while still keeping the overall map view pleasant to look at because of the nice building graphics. Some key landmarks have accurate renderings too to make them more noticeable.
The TomTom GO 600 will really feel like a new mobile operating system that you won’t find in any other hardware platform. The increased resolution also gives this new interface a great first impression.
Navigation Features
The navigation features of the GO 600 are not as innovative as the fresh new interface but there is plenty to like that make this device superior over the typical entry-level or midrange device. The model number does not make it obvious but the TomTom GO 600 features both lifetime maps and lifetime TomTom Traffic. TomTom promises to issue at least four complete map updates every year so the GPS device never feels obsolete as long as it works. TomTom’s approach to lifetime traffic updates is a bit different for the GO series. The good news is that all new GO devices are capable of retrieving live traffic updates. In the case of the GO 600, you have to use the device’s built-in Bluetooth functionality to pair with an Android or iOS smartphone or tablet with mobile data features. You are essentially using your mobile device’s Internet connection to retrieve the data. The downside is that you may have to pay extra when travelling abroad because of the roaming fees. In order to be free from mobile device dependence, you have to spend a little bit more on the TomTom GO 6000 model which stays connected to TomTom’s services at all times.
TomTom also provides new owners of the TomTom GO 600 with 3 months of free access to TomTom Speed Cameras. This feature aims to eliminate the hassles of getting a speeding fine just because you forgot about the speed warning. Once a speed camera is in range, you will get an alert that is impossible to miss. Other TomTom users can contribute to the database by reporting new locations of speed cameras in addition to the usual Map Share feature.
Other welcome features include Advanced Lane Guidance to make key junctions easier to navigate and a “Speak & Go” feature which lets you issue commands to the GO 600 using your voice.
Tomtom Go 600 Gps
Bottom Line
Tomtom Go 600 Sd Card
TomTom did exactly what it needed to do to stay competitive in the automotive GPS scene. $299 might be a little bit steep for people that are used to spending $200 on a GPS navigator but the TomTom GO 600 pretty much set the standard for intuitive and attractive GPS devices from the attractive design to the simplified interface and gorgeous screen.