The idea of having a car loaded with intelligent high-tech gadgets has never quite appealed to me until owning the car I have now, my 2002 VW Passat Estate Sport. Saying that I’ve been hoping to get a SatNav for some time, but I’ve never really thought beyond that – SatNav is just a cool modern alternative to a map.
However, after looking at the various models of SatNav available, I opted for the TomTom Go 720 which is (very almost) the top-of-the-range SatNav currently available from TomTom, and probably one of the most advanced SatNav’s out there at the moment too. The SatNav is my main birthday present from my parents so I’ve still got a few weeks to go until I can play with it myself and in the meantime I’ve been looking a lot into the various accessories and connectivity it offers.
Connecting my bluetooth-enabled mobile phone sounds really great since the TomTom Go 720 can handle hands-free calling with any(?) bluetooth phones. Apparently once paired to a phone, just tapping the touch-sensitive screen when a call comes in will answer the call, so no need to take your eyes off the road.
What’s more, the 720 offers the ability to connect an iPod MP3 player to it as well, and even better, the TomTom 720 also includes an FM transmitter so that playing the tunes from the connected iPod through the cars radio and speakers is dead-easy.
This sounds all great, but this becomes quite a complex set-up, so lets re-cap
Apparently the TomTom Go 720 can handle all of this effortlessly – it can pause the songs playing on the iPod when a call comes in, the user can control the iPod from the easy to use large touch-screen of the TomTom as well as controlling it direct on the iPod itself. All this sounds awesome – really awesome – but I wonder what its like in practice?
Watch this space in the near future. I will hopefully be buying myself my first (proper) MP3 player very shortly (can you believe that?), and its going to be an iPod.
PS: Excuse the dodgy diagram!
Can anyone help I’m having problems downloading the Tom Tom mobile safety camera locations on to my Tom Tom 520 from my Sony Ericson W880i blue tooth phone It downloads 65% of the site then stops and sends a message downloading failed do you want to try again have tried to down load several more times but every time it stops downloading at 65% of the download any suggestions please?
Great site and great feedback.
Does anyone have any issues playing music stored on the device?
I plug mine into my car stereo via the line out cable and the sound is quite loud and distorted, even when the car stereo volume is on the lowest level.
When I try and turn the volume down from the TomTom device it doesn’t let me and says I should change the volume on the car stereo.
Does anyone else have this problem and any suggestions?
Hi All
I am having a problem with ipod control on my Tomtom go 720. It will not connect with the IPOD. I have the corect cables and have done everything advised through the Tomtom site. Has anyone had this problem and can they help. Failing this I will take one of tips from the blogg. Use a 2gb SD card and play through the Radio on FM Transmission
Hi all,
actually I have used the setup you are proposing for some time and I am very happy with it. The TomTom 720 (I hope you got the 730 by now) has a FM transmitter on which you can choose the frequency you want it to transmit on easily. Just make sure you set a frequency which isn’t in use by a radio station in your area. Pre-program that frequency as one of your favourites on your car radio and you’re all set.
I also use the TT720 as a bluetooth handsfree unit and it works, it also shows me all incoming SMS messages.
I did not connect an MP3 player to the TT720, just because it has its own build in player – I only added a SD-Memory card with my music on it – done.
Hi,
Great blog going here. I just git a TT 720. when I load mp3′s on the sd card they don’t show up in the jukebox is there a setting that needs to be changed. Thanks.
Hi, to allow the TT to play Mp3′s off an SD card, you have to create a directory called MP3 and put your songs in there.
John
Take a look at the AVC head unit that Toyota sell with an integrated/removable TomTom One.. This is a rebadge of a apiece of kit from the US (I think) that can fit in any Double Din Slot and save a great deal of trouble..
Hi, to allow the TT to play Mp3’s off an SD card, you have to create a directory called MP3 and put your songs in there.
John
Hi John, Is this the same for most GPS Sat Nav systems. I downloaded some music from a CD to my Mini Disc for the Sat Nav but did not get any music playing. Any help would be wonderfull. Thanks.
I Got a Parrot Bluetooth Kit from bluetoothcarkitdirect.co.uk . i Have the built in Sat nav so didnt need that, and the kit provides iPod connection and bluetooth streaming as well as handsfree. I love it i’d definitely recommend one ooh..
Its the MKI9200 btw
Just to let you know that our site has loads of free goodies for satnav users Everything totally free: poi files, splash images, Speed camera info, car symbols, etc. ….Enjoy
Regards
dave