TomTom GO 930 GPS

When it comes to in-car GPS, TomTom has always been of the philosophy that its products should be about navigation first. The company doesn't spend much time fussing over extras like multimedia, but rather focuses energy on navigation tools that will help the driver. The TomTom GO 930 is a good example of this as it brings some new functions, such as advanced lane guidance, address entry via voice, and smarter route planning based on historical traffic data. Though there are some kinks that need to be worked out, they're all welcome and useful additions. Plus, the portable navigation system offers text-to-speech functionality, integrated Bluetooth, and most importantly, accurate directions. If you're in the market for a high-end, feature-packed GPS, the TomTom GO 930 is a solid choice. The TomTom GO 930 is available now for $499.95.

Design
The TomTom GO 930 stands out from previous TomTom GPS models as it ditches the standard silver casing for an all-black chassis. The look is sleek and sophisticated, and we imagine it'll look nice inside any car. The device is also compact at 3.3 inches tall by 4.7 inches wide by 1 inch thick and 7.7 ounces, so you shouldn't have any problems transporting this between vehicles. In addition, the back has a soft-touch finish that provides a more rubbery texture for a better grip.

On the front, you'll find a spacious 4.3-inch WQVGA display with a 480x272-pixel resolution and 64,000-color output. Maps looked clear and bright, and the screen was readable in various lighting conditions. You can adjust the brightness and map colors under the Preferences menu. The GO 930 also features new icons and a technology called Alfa Blending that claims to deliver smoother graphics. While the icons and graphics were clear and easy to read, we didn't really notice a huge difference from the GO 930 and previous TomTom models.

The software and interface is easy to use. That said, there are some areas, such as the Change Preferences menu, where you can go through several layers of submenus before you get to the option you want. The onscreen keyboard is spacious, and you can switch between ABC and QWERTY format. There's even an option for left-handed users, which is nice.

On the bottom, there's an audio-out port, a RDS-TMC jack (for traffic), a mini USB/power connector port, an SD card expansion slot, and a reset button. The power button is located on top, while the speaker and external antenna jack are on the back.

The TomTom GO 930 comes packaged with a car charger, a Bluetooth remote control, a desktop cradle, a vehicle mount (windshield only), and reference material. We're disappointed that TomTom doesn't include a dashboard disc for California and Minnesota drivers, since it's prohibited in these states to have anything attached to the windshield. We threw caution to the wind, however, and tried out the included mount. It's easy to install and held the unit securely in place. As we noted in the TomTom GO 720 review, we do wish there was an extra locking mechanism for the suction cup.

Features
As the flagship model, the TomTom GO 930 is jam-packed with features, including a handful of new functionalities. First, the system has 4GB of internal flash memory and comes preloaded with TeleAtlas maps of North America and Central and Western Europe and 5 million points of interest (POI). As with the latest TomTom PNDs, the GO 930 also has the Map Share feature, giving you the most up-to-date maps. This is possible since Map Share allows you to make adjustments to your maps (such as noting blocked roads, updating POI, adding new streets, and so on) and then share the information with other drivers. You can make the changes right on your system, save them, and then upload and share them with other users via the TomTom Home desktop companion. You can also download changes made by other TomTom users or you can opt to only download data verified by TomTom experts.

To plan a trip, you can enter your destination by address, city center, zip code, or intersection via the onscreen keyboard or with your voice. Yes, the GO 930 supports voice commands and unlike the Magellan Maestro 4250, you can enter an address by dictating it to the device.

Route calculations are also slightly different. As usual, you can instruct the device to calculate directions based on a number of criteria, including quickest or shortest route, with or without toll roads, or by a certain time. There are also pedestrian and bicycle planning modes. However, new to the GO 930 is TomTom IQ Routes, which provides more "intelligent" routing based on the historical average speeds of a road during the weekday and weekends. In other words, it gives you a more accurate idea of driving and arrival time, and it also gives you the opportunity to find an alternate route. The system also supports multidestination trips and automatic route recalculation. Traffic isn't included out of the box; you can get this with the TomTom GO 930T or you can purchase an RDS-TMC traffic receiver for $129.95.