TomTom VIA 1405TM 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Lifetime Traffic & Maps

Price : $115.47
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Product Description

Edition: Lifetime Traffic ; Maps
Amazon.com Product Description
The VIA Story
Hit the road street-smart and style-savvy. The new, super-slim TomTom VIA series holds the latest navigation technology, in a fresh, sleek design including an integrated Fold ; Go EasyPort Mount. Travel confidently with superior routing and the most accurate, dependable maps in the GPS industry. In fact, TomTom gives you one million more miles of mapped roads in the US. The VIA range offers a large array of unique features--like Lifetime Traffic and Map Updates, Bluetooth hands-free calling and natural voice recognition with one-shot destination address entry--all at affordable prices.
The TomTom VIA 1405TM
Introducing the TomTom VIA 1405TM, equipped with superior driving intelligence.
Travel with ease and style throughout the US, Canada ; Mexico. This innovative navigator boasts a super-slim design, classic finish, new, intuitive user interface and a 4.3-inch touchscreen.
Using TomTom maps, you have access to one million more miles of mapped road in the US than you would using any other GPS brand. With TomTom VIA's Free Lifetime Map Updates, you can download the latest map edition every few months. And, with TomTom Map Share On-Demand Updates, you can easily make instant changes in between map releases, and download verified updates from other TomTom users to your map.
Outsmart delays using IQ Routes. The exclusive technology directs you to your destination using the smartest, fastest route possible. TomTom knows to avoid certain roads during rush hour, streets inundated with traffic light changes and pedestrian traffic, and more, so that you always take the fastest way to get anywhere, at any time. TomTom VIA also gives you the most accurate real-time traffic information available with Free Lifetime Traffic Updates with no advertisements. As soon as an accident or other delay is found on your route, TomTom alerts you and can re-route you to an alternative, faster route.
TomTom VIA 1405TM Features
Free Lifetime Traffic ; Map Updates
Outsmart traffic and road changes. Free Lifetime Traffic Updates allow you to outsmart traffic and take the fastest route possible to your destination. And, Free Lifetime Map Updates ensure that you are always navigating with the industry's most up-to-date map.

Premium maps of the US, Canada ; Mexico
Navigate with ease throughout the US, Canada ; Mexico using TomTom's premium maps. Using TomTom maps, you'll have access to one million more miles of mapped road in the US that you would using other GPS brand.

Integrated EasyPort Mount
With TomTom VIA's unique flip-screen technology, you can easily secure your device to your vehicle's windshield or dashboard with the integrated EasyPort Mount.

Refreshed User Interface, New Design ; Contemporary Finish
Travel in style. TomTom VIA boasts a super-slim design, contemporary brushed-aluminum finish and a bright, 4.3-inch touchscreen. And, the new user interface allows for easy route planning and menu browsing.


Advanced Lane Guidance
Advanced Lane Guidance show's you exactly which road to take, when driving through complex intersections and multi-lane junctions.

7 Million Points of Interest
Easily find millions of gas stations, restaurants,hotels and more on your route. Your device comes preloaded with more than 7 million points of interest in over 60 categories.

IQ Routes
Always take the smartest, fastest route. This exclusive technology will recommend the fastest route based on the time of day and day of the week.

Spoken Turn-By-Turn Directions, Including Street Names
Keep your eyes on the road and listen while your TomTom announces turn-by-turn directions, including street and place names.

Travel With Peace of Mind With Help Me! Emergency Menu
Travel with peace of mind. Easily access local emergency providers such as police, fire stations, and hospitals.
Footnotes Feature available in the US and Canada only Based on info available as of 1/11You receive non-transferable traffic data and up to four non-transferable map data updates per year until the product's useful life expires or TomTom no longer receives map or traffic updates from its suppliers, whichever is shorter. Lifetime Maps available for US, CAN and MEX only. Lifetime Traffic available in US and CAN only. Details and terms at www.tomtom.com/legal.
All TomToms Feature:
Easy to Use
Plug ; Go Right Out of the Box
All TomToms are easy to use, and work right out of the box. TomTom's intuitive, award-winning user interface features large icons and sharp, full-color 3D graphics.
Reduce Driver Stress
30-Day Latest Map Guarantee
When you start using your TomTom, if a newer map release is available you can download one complimentary update to your map within 30 days from the time you first start using your TomTom device. Latest Map Guarantee is available via TomTom HOME.

Preloaded Maps and Points of Interest
Easily find millions of gas stations, restaurants, hotels, and more on your route with millions of points of interest in over 60 categories.
Save Time ; Money
TomTom Home Content Manager
Personalize your device in the TomTom HOME Content Manger, where you can subscribe to advanced TomTom services, download new points of interest, voices, and even share your own content with the rest of the TomTom community.
Enhance Safety
Help Me! Emergency Menu
Travel with peace of mind. Easily access local emergency providers such as police, fire stations, and hospitals.

Announces Street and Place Names
Keep your eyes on the road while your TomTom GPS announces turn-by-turn directions, including street and place names.
What's In the Box
VIA 1405TM, USB Cable, Traffic CLA, Adhesive Disk, User Guide, LTM Voucher
Hit the road street-smart and style savvy. The new, super-slim TomTom VIA series holds the latest navigation technology, in a fresh, sleek design including an integrated Fold and Go EasyPort Mount. Travel confidently with superior routing and the most accurate, dependable maps in the GPS industry. In fact, TomTom gives you one million more miles of mapped roads in the US. The VIA range offers a large array of unique features like Lifetime Traffic and Map Updates, Bluetooth hands-free calling and natural voice recognition with one-shot destination address entry all at affordable prices.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 1.3 x 4.7 x 3.4 inches ; 6.4 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B004MYFTEC
• Item model number: 1EN4.019.03
  

Technical Details

• Get over 1 million more miles of mapped roads in the US
• Outsmart delays with Free Lifetime Traffic Updates, without advertising
• Stay up-to-date on road changes with Free Lifetime Map Updates
• Navigate with ease using premium maps of the US, Canada ; Mexico
• Travel in style with the new, slim design and integrated Fold and Go EasyPort Mount

 

TomTom VIA 1405TM 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Lifetime Traffic & Maps

 

Customer Reviews

I don't have much to add to the overall evaluations of the other reviewers but I do have some opinions comparing this to the more expensive versions on the market.
A couple of years ago, I bought a top-of-the-line Garmin Nuvi for over $500, the model is discontinued but the equivalent one is about $400 today. I got this TomTom for a second car.
The Garmin is definitely a better piece of hardware. The entire device is more solid, the screen is larger and crisper, it finds satellites more quickly and shows location more precisely. It has better accessories for attaching to the dash and charging. But the TomTom is certainly good enough to get you where you're going. At 1/3 the price, it's a much better value for most people.
TomTom has overall better software, although some of that difference may be the two years in between purchases, perhaps Garmin has improved. I had none of the problems some early reviewers described in setting it up. Garmin was considerably more complicated, although it did have a lot more options. Someone interested in specialized features might prefer it, but I have never even thought about using any of them. I want a device that will direct me with minimal fuss, and it's nice that it can find nearby businesses.
Not only is the TomTom simpler, but it detects its orientation, which is handy in a car. It always present the screen right side up to you. I find its menus more natural. It does some little things right. For example if your last trip was from A to B, and you're still at B, a good guess to your next destination is back to A. TomTom makes this the first choice. Garmin puts it at the bottom of your favorites list. TomTom works best with a zip code, and is location-sensitive when making guesses. You type in a few letters and TomTom guesses the nearby place that starts with the letters, Garmin is apt to guess some tiny place far away. Garmin requires place names, which is sometimes hard to come up with. And if you do enter a place without a complete address, TomTom directs you to a better spot within the place.
Garmin thinks of the world in streets, TomTom in positions. Garmin says "take the entrance ramp on your right and follow route 80 eastbound," TomTom says, "turn right and get on the freeway." There are advantages and disadvantages to each. Garmin is annoying when it constantly tells you things like "bear left to remain on route 17," when you are driving on a dual route (like routes 6 and 17) and the other route separates. As a driver, this just means, "don't take the exit." TomTom doesn't do that, but it's equally annoying telling you to turn right or turn left when you're driving on a curvy road. "Don't drive off the side of the road," is all it means.
Another example is Garmin is silent sometimes on how to follow a road when it takes a jog. You're driving on route 3, and it comes to an intersection with route 35. You have to go a few hundred yards to the right on route 35 to pick up route 3 again. But sitting at the intersection, it's not obvious whether to go right or left. Garmin won't help, in its brain there is an unbroken route 3. TomTom tells you to turn right, then left. But when I was driving north on South Plum Street, which turns into North Plum Street, TomTom told me to turn right, then left, even though there was no jog, nothing changed except the street name. TomTom is much better at knowing about smaller streets and dirt roads, and warning you about them. Garmin ignores them. TomTom directs me down a private road to my lake house, Garmin takes me the legal way on public roads.
In terms of personality and accent, TomTom reminds me of a kindergarten teacher from Oregon. It seems pleased and faintly surprised when you do things right, and warmly understanding when you disobey. Garmin is more like a hyper-efficient non-commmissioned officer from a German area of Pennsylvania. It is crisply precise in directions and when you screw up its total lack of reproof is a reproof. Garmin tells you to make a U-turn at the next "legal" place, TomTom at the next "safe" place.

I purchased the Via1405TM from Staples on 6/14/11. As you can tell from the title please wait till the end of the year before purchasing this model. I have a TomTom one that I used for last several years and it has been a solid device. It functioned as promised right out the box. So I felt good about purchasing another TomTom. Still I read reviews of both TomTom and Garmin I felt the Via might serve my purpose even though the reviews indicated problems with new MY TomTom service and incomplete firmware/software. I can now verify that both problems are true.
Now the three factors that drove me to look for a new GPS, are my son has started driving and several of our trips coincided, I wanted spoken directions and street names and the final reason was a sale with coupon and rewards gave me $80 off the price.
So upon getting it home I want straight to the TomTom site to update device. This went smoothly right up to the device being plugged into the USB. The MY TomTom service replaces the TomTom home service but it is not fully functioning and is thrown haphazardly together so as it is not easy to use at all. The site does not yet recognize the different 1400 models, they are not a selectable option on drop down list and it does not recognize their firmware/software. It does however recognize them as generic 1400 but that will not get you your lifetime map updates. As a matter of fact it tells you that the software version on the device is wrong. My other big problem is the Via lacks password protection but it does show you a symbol of a man stealing to remind you to be cautious of it being stolen. Lastly side by side on my computer table my old TomTom found the satellites within 40 seconds of it being turned on the Via still had no signal after 5 mintues and 45 seconds I had to take outside and sit for 1 minute and 48 seconds longer to find the satellites. So you will not be able to just check trip times inside the house.
So on 6/15/11 I called tech support to see about map updates and how to set the password. Here are the highlights; you have to send proof of purchase via fax or scanner to TomTom to have them add map service to your account. They may add the password feature sometime this year because it is a huge request. They were presold before they were ready so they just released them unfinished and features will be added as they come. The website is unfinished and will be updated with time. They recommend buying the One or XXL because the bugs are worked out.
Oh yea it found my home and work place so it is a GPS. So there you are.
UPDATE: Well on 6/16/11 I decided to put the Via to the test side by side with my One. I drove 20 mins to a baseball game and 30 mins back to my house. Here is what I found.
Sound Loudness: Winner -The TomTom One.
The One is much louder and I can easily hear it with the radio going, family talking and the windows down. The Via is difficult to hear under those conditions both were at 100% volume.
Directions: Winner- Tie
They were both dead on within seconds of each other and agreed on directions.
Easy of Use: Winner-Tie
The same basic layout no real learning curve if you have owned a TomTom.
Finding Satellite: Winner TomTom One.
The One found the satellites hands down faster. The lag with the Via is noticeable and this is while in the car.
Traffic feature: Winner Via by default.
The feature works in my city as well as surrounding cities but they are small places and we don't really experience traffic jams.
Spoken Routes: Winner Via by default.
I did enjoy this feature and it was a major reason for my purchase. The only thing that I found curious was on the way home it stopped talking unless I tapped the screen. The directions showed on the screen but no voice guidance.
Route assist: Winner by default.
It did work on my trip coming up just as shown directing me to the right lanes. I was impressed and my daughter was amazed and amused.
My impression so far is this is not a full price product. It is not at all worth almost $200.00 dollars. If you can get it with for about a $100.00 like I did it's just about worth that. I probably will keep it. One more big trip this weekend will be the deciding factor.
Final Update: 6/27/11 Will not log on to computer anymore for updates says contact customer support. I am returning to store for a refund.