The TomTom ONE is designed for people who want a GPS solely for navigation purposes, and are not looking for an integrated music or video player, don't want a photo viewer, Bluetooth hands-free speakerphone, blah blah... The ONE is all about navigation. In exchange for these features, what you get is a high-performance, well designed GPS for under $400. When I first started using the ONE, I was amazed at its small size and ease of use. In fact, the TomTom ONE would be the GPS to beat, were it not for its fatal flaw of Tele Atlas mapping data. More on that later in the review.

Table of Contents

1. Technical Specs
2. Features
3. Unboxing
4. Turning on the ONE for the First Time
5. Mounting the TomTom ONE in the Car
6. Using the TomTom ONE
7. Setting System Options
8. Bluetooth
9. The Trouble With Tele Atlas
10. Battery Life
11. Carrying Case
12. The Good
13. The Bad
14. Conclusion

1. Technical Specs

• SiRFstarIII™ GPS chipset
• 32MB RAM
• CPU 266 MHz
• 3.5 inch full TFT color LCD touch screen (320 x 240 pixels, 64,000 colors)
• Internal Litium-Ion battery (2 hours operation)
• Dimension: 3.8” x 3.2” x 1”, 6.5 oz.
• Operating temperature: 14°F to 130°F
• Bluetooth 2.0

2. Features

• Choice of routes: such as quickest, shortest, avoiding toll roads, pedestrian and bicycling routes
• Itinerary planning: plan your trip by defining multiple waypoints and destinations
• Route planning based on desired arrival time
• Optional warning when exceeding recorded speed limit (available on most highways and major roads)
• Car speed linked volume: volume of voice instructions will increase/decrease depending on speed of car.
• Anti-glare screen: always an optimal view
• 3D and 2D graphics modes
• View route: review and test the calculated route before you start driving
• Spoken instructions in 36 languages and 55 different voices
• User interface: now including 22 languages
• Sign post information: exit sign info displayed in navigation mode
• Compass Mode: displays compass on screen to have even better orientation while driving.
• Built-in Bluetooth™ technology
  
• Ready for TomTom PLUS services
• TomTom HOME software
• Buddy finder
• Downloadable points of interest

3. Unboxing

Figure 1: The TomTom ONE Box

Figure 2: The TomTom ONE Box, opened

The first thing you see when opening up the TomTom ONE is the unit itself, a pre-programmed SD memory card, and a plastic credit-card sized card with the map activation code printed on it.

Figure 3: The TomTom ONE Box Contents

Removing the top tray reveals the various printed manuals, 12v adapter, and USB cable.

Figure 4: Attention to Detail

Just as I was prepared to turn the box upside-down and shake out the instruction manual packet, I noticed the plastic tab taped to the edge to make it easy to pull the manuals out. Talk about attention to detail! Not since I opened my Apple Mac Book have I seen this kind of packaging design. Looks like the TomTom ONE is TomTom's attempt at becoming the Apple Computer of GPS manufacturers.

Figure 5: The TomTom ONE Windshield Mount

We all remember the TomTom GO 910 mount debacle. The ONE mount looks solid and seems like it will do a good job holding the ONE in place on the windshield.

Figure 6: Top view of the ONE windshield mount

As you can see, the cradle is connected to the mount via a ball and joint type connection.

Figure 7: The included 12v cigarette lighter power adapter

Notice the USB type connector. You can also charge the unit by connecting it to a PC via the included USB cable.

Figure 8: The included pre-programmed SD memory card

Once inserted into the ONE, the memory card needs to be authorized. Using the product code number printed on the included TomTom credit card, you need to visit TomTom's website and get the activation code for the maps. This process was very straight forward and worked fine, although I'm always slightly annoyed when I have to take extra steps to activate something I just bought. Personally, I'd prefer it if the card came unlocked.

Figure 9: Behold! The TomTom ONE!

It's clear TomTom has spent a lot of time designing a product that is visually appealing. I can, without hesitation, say the TomTom ONE is the most handsome GPS I've tested to date. The unit is small enough and slim enough to easily fit in your pocket, and good looking enough to be at home in any car.

Figure 10: The back of the TomTom ONE

Here you see the single speaker, the external antenna connector, the grooved for connecting the unit to the mount, and the hex-type screws used to keep it all together. The material itself is quite nice, as it doesn't easily get marked up with fingerprints or dirt. It seems almost silly to complain about such a good looking product, but I couldn't help thinking that TomTom should have covered up the external antenna connector (even if it's just with a rubber cap or something). Most people will not use the external connector, so in this case feel the visual appeal of concealing the connector would have been worth TomTom's effort. Still, there's very little to complain about here -- this is a good looking product!

Figure 11: The bottom of the TomTom ONE

The SD memory card slot, and the USB connector. TomTom designed the ONE to have as little clutter as possible, so the unit only has two connectors: the SD slot and the USB port. The USB connector is used to connect the ONE to a PC (sorry Mac users), and also to charge the unit. When connected to a PC, the unit also charges.

Figure 12: Top of the TomTom ONE

The LED glows green when the unit is charging or turned on. One feature that would be nice is if the LED would glow orange while charging, and green when fully charged. In its current form, you just have to guess when the battery is fully charged.

Figure 13: The external antenna connector

I briefly mentioned this above -- I'm not sure why this connector is given such prominence on the ONE, given that most units will not have an external antenna connected. Personally, I think the connector should be concealed in some way (or even eliminated given how well the SiRF Star III chipset performs even without an external antenna).

Figure 14: TomTom: The Apple Computer of GPS

Remember how I called TomTom the Apple Computer of GPS makers? Check out the product design that went into these included pamphlets. The TT ONE even includes a windshield sticker so you can proudly display your love of TomTom (and announce to thieves that your car probably has the expensive device inside!).

Figure 15: The TomTom ONE Quick Start Guide and Installation Poster

Figure 16: Tele Atlas or NAVTEQ? How about both?

Well well well, what have we here? The back of the installation poster has a Tele Atlas logo on it, and the back of the Quick Start Guide has both Tele Atlas and NAVTEQ logos on it. Turns out that the TomTom ONE North America edition uses Tele Atlas mapping data, and the Western European version uses NAVTEQ mapping data. From a business standpoint, it does make a lot of sense for TomTom to have relationships with both map vendors. But it looks like they got it bass akwards: NAVTEQ maps are better in the United States; Tele Atlas maps are better in Europe.

People will tell you that both providers are excellent and both have their unique drawbacks. Not so in my experience: NAVTEQ maps ARE better in the U.S. Time and time again I find major roadways that are inaccurate or missing altogether from the Tele Atlas map database. I've also noticed that devices with Tele Atlas maps tend to route me differently than devices with NAVTEQ maps, and I don't mean this is a good way. Anecdotal reports are that Tele Atlas is much stronger in Europe. But here in the United States, you are better off getting a device with NAVTEQ maps on it. Period. If TomTom would release the ONE with NAVTEQ maps on it, it would be an almost flawless product at an unbeatable price. Hey TomTom -- how about letting consumers pick their mapping provider and choose either Tele Atlas or NAVTEQ?

Figure 17: Non Existent Web URL

Ugg... Every time I think TomTom has gone and hit a perfect home run, they do something silly to undermine my confidence in them. On the TT GO 910 it was the windshield mount and poor support. Take a look at this promotional sheet included with the TomTom ONE: yes, it's designed stylishly and looks good. But the text says I am entitled to a year of free map upgrades by visiting http://www.tomtom.com/usmapupdate2006. Try to visit that url and you'll quickly discover that the page does not exist. Things like this don't inspire confidence.

Keep in mind that this is NOT a pre-release version I'm testing. I went down to Best Buy and picked this unit up, so this is the same packaging that everyone else got.