TomTom XL 340S • Live

 TomTom has a very loyal customer base and it is not only because they have been developing GPS devices since mid-2004, but also because they offer a wide range of GPS devices to all kinds of people. Those that are willing to spend extra for the best and feature-rich GPS devices around can settle with the powerful TomTom GO devices, while the budget users can handle the less powerful ONE devices, but still presents all the basics of GPS navigation in a friendly and easy way. GO devices may seem pricey and ONE devices look stripped compared to the GO models, but the XL series serve as the mid-range lineup and fills in that large gap rather well especially with the TomTom XL 340S Live being recently added to the family. 

TomTom XL 340S Live

TomTom XL 340S Live

Design 

The TomTom XL 340S Live looks a lot like the XL-335 model with a nice black frame with a defining white outline and a rounded corner on top as the stylish element. It isn't the thinnest GPS unit around, but it is still small and can fit inside a pocket. The screen size is adequate for viewing the nice graphics that the TomTom displays. 

Interface 

The interface of the TomTom XL 340S Live looks a lot like many of the other TomTom XL devices. Although existing TomTom users should have no problems in navigating through the different icon pages, the 340S was still built to encourage people that never used a GPS device before for driving to get more deeply involved in it. Firing up the device for the very first time is effortless out of the box. After the short activation process takes place for legitimate registration, the menus are immediately presented for choosing. 

Navigation Features 

The TomTom XL 340S Live is accurate enough for it to rival with the cheaper GO models. The list of features may seem too basic for a GPS that is priced at $300, but the real value is on the "Live" tag. The "Live" tag isn't really anything new, but the XL 340 reached a very important milestone and that is being the very first mid-range device in the family to offer the local online features that are exclusive to any of the "Live" devices. 

There is a built-in receiver that ensures that the content is being received and shown. For three months, access to traffic reports is possible to make route planning simpler and there are other "Live" specific services to choose from including real-time whether updates to allow further planning of safe journeys, checking of the latest fuel prices to save more, quicker GPS fixing for better orientation, and simple Google searches when additional details are needed for any destination. 

In addition to the "Live" features, the TomTom XL 340S Live is basically a fully loaded 340S unit with the highly convenient Advanced Lane Guidance feature which can come in handy when travelling through routes that involve highways. Turns can be missed even when the driver is on the right path if the driver is in the wrong lane. This feature corrects that by offering a graphical interface that ensures that the driver stays in the right lane in preparation for an exit or sudden turn at an intersection. 

Going through planned routes feels a lot more smoother with the 340S Live because of the special 24/7 IQ routes technology. This feature obtains data from other TomTom XL users so that a very fast and popular route can be made based on the performance of the other drivers. The social aspect of the device is further enhanced as people can make their maps available for download by others thanks to the Map Share technology. These maps can be viewed in 3-D mode and the default maps contain over 7 million points of interest across US and Canada with the option to add even more.

Like many of the modern GPS devices today, the Text-to-Speech function is implemented so the device can guide drivers even if they are not focused on the GPS screen. Street names can be said out loud with different voices available including support for other languages and custom English voices coming from celebrities. 

To make installation even easier, TomTom XL 340S Live includes a Fold and Go EasyPort mount accessory that easily attaches to the windshield. What makes it different is that it can be folded to easily fit in a bag or pocket. It also comes with an application called TomTom HOME to update the device in several ways including the maps. Combined with the special "Live" features, the 340S is worth the $300 price tag.

 

List Price : $299.95

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