TomTom XXL 550TRiding on the popularity of the and positive user experience of their large screen PNDs, TomTom has extended their range of 5" widescreen XXL series GPS navigators. The TomTom XXL 550T sports the new EasyMenu UI along with preloaded US/Canada/Mexico maps, MapShare access and IQ Routes. Latest Update: The TomTom
XXL 550T is Now On Sale at Amazon.com DesignThe design is similar to the previous XXL 540 series. The extra-wide 5 inch touchscreen ensures that you have a clearer view of the road ahead and surrounding areas. The rounded aesthetics looks pleasant and build quality is excellent. Although large the TomTom has kept the weight down to just 9 ounces with mount attached. InterfaceThe EasyMenu feature is simple and intuitive. With the large screen you can easily access all the features by just tapping the two-button menu. Easy-to-follow commands and clear icons lead you through a quick start-up process. Maps display wonderfully and can be zoomed out to get a better idea of the surrounding area. NavigationNavigating with the XXL 550T is very user friendly, thanks to the "Navigate to" option. It is also possible to preset it to navigate to any of the 7 million points of interests. Destinations can also be bookmarked for quicker access. Satellite reception is good and it picked up satellites much faster than older TomTom models. Signs are less likely to be missed now, thanks to the large 5" display. Text-to-Speech feature is also available for this model where it announces turn-by-turn directions, including street and place names. During extended road tests, we were surprised that it pronounced difficult street names clearly without any problems. The "T" models comes with "Lifetime Traffic Updates". You will receive real time traffic data until the product's useful life expires or TomTom no longer receives traffic updates from its suppliers, whichever is shorter. This means that you can now get real-time insight into current traffic conditions to help you avoid delays. The TomTom XXL 550T responds accordingly by coming up with the best possible route with those parameters in mind. Other familiar features like the "Advanced Lane Guidance" feature (available only in the US and Canada) are still around and continue to serve their purpose by helping you to navigate difficult junctions by traveling on the correct lane. It works well with the IQ Routes in saving the driver's time in reaching their destinations. This works by getting historical data from other TomTom users so that even faster routes can be suggested. The TomTom XXL 550T is filled with preloaded content, covering all of North America including detailed US, Canada, and Mexico maps as well. Through the TomTom Map Share feature, custom maps created by other TomTom users can be downloaded so that the data stays fresh. The same feature can be used to share maps with others as well. You can opt to have Lifetime Map updates for $30 more with the XXL 550TM. Extras
Also included is the free TomTom HOME application. It is a desktop software that you can install on your computer which makes it easy to manage content on your TomTom device. This really helps to keep your TomTom GPS future-proof by staying up to date with the latest map updates, personalize your TomTom with free content, download free daily map corrections with Map Share™ and even manages data backups of your device. ConclusionThe TomTom XXL 550T stands out as a well thought out, well engineered product that does not bust your wallet. Selling now at street prices below $200 it definitely should be on your shortlist if you are looking for a new GPS. Summary of Product Features
List Price : $229.95 | ||
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