Tom Tom for the iPhone Quick Review.

Tom Tom announced/released their Navigation software for the iPhone yesterday, with a low low cost of $99.

This is a pretty hard pill to swallow, considering most apps cost less than $5. But, for turn by turn directions, and something from a marquee player in the navigation market, I thought I’d give it a try.

I sure wish Apple had a return policy, I’d allow them to ‘revoke’ the application from my phone.

I wish there was something nice to say about the app, but for the quality of the app, and the cost, “the ability to enter an address easily”, is not something to brag about.

1. GPS Signal: The app can’t get a GPS signal, no matter where I am. What’s odd, is that free Google Maps application that comes with the phone, finds the signal in a few seconds.
2. Battery Drain: I entered a destination on the phone, when the battery indicator said 99%, by the time it found my destination, and the time I got to the destination (7.8 miles (20 minutes with traffic)), the battery was down to 80%. It seems you have no choice but to buy their “car kit”.
3. Not very intuitive: The software isn’t the most intuitive. Since google maps has been on the phone since day one, I expected the navigation of the maps to be similar, but it seems they’ve gone their own way. I can’t seem to figure out how to scroll the map, everytime I touch the screen it goes into a menu of sorts.

Overall, I think if the quality/speed of acquiring signal was better, I’d have less to complain about, but the lack of signal makes one focus on all the other things the app can’t do well.

I would not recommend this app, there’s really no need for a in depth review, as it hasn’t gone past the “Poor GPS Signal” message ever for me.