14 DAY TRIAL // As probably most users of GPS navigation systems can confirm, text-to-speech is one of the most important features that should be present in all the devices of this type, as it allows users to focus on the road while still receiving directions. And this is exactly the reason why the people over at TomTom have decided to update their TomTom ONE XL line and launched the TomTom ONE XL￭S model, which provides text-to-speech functions besides the normal navigation features offered by the other devices from this line.
Thus, according to the company's statement, the new TomTom ONE XL￭S is the first product in the TomTom ONE XL range to offer text-to-speech technology, thus enabling street names and places to be read aloud as part of the spoken navigation instructions. Moreover, the TomTom ONE XL￭S also offers the company's TomTom Map Share technology and the very useful 'HELP ME!' feature on a 4.3 inch touchscreen display.
As some users might know, the TomTom Map Share is a proprietary map improvement technology that enables users to easily and instantly improve maps. Via TomTom HOME, TomTom's free desktop software application, Map Share users can share map improvements made by the community of Map Share users - so that they always have the most up-to-date maps available in the industry. Map Share users can also respond in real time to changes in the road network and, with just a few simple taps on their screen, can correct the maps on their device accordingly.
Furthermore, the extensive 'Help Me!' menu includes information about the nearest car repair service center, police station, or hospital and allows users to either locate or call the closest emergency service provider no matter where they are. It also allows users to quickly identify their exact location, so that they can provide this information to emergency assistance providers and receive help more quickly.
"The TomTom ONE XL￭S brings two great technologies, text-to-speech for spoken instructions and TomTom Map Share for the most up-to-date maps, to our ONE XL platform," said TomTom Inc president Jocelyn Vigreux. "The TomTom ONE XL￭S complements our portfolio and gives our customers even more products to choose from."
The new TomTom ONE XL￭S will arrive in stores across the US and Canada towards the end of October and will retail for around 400 US dollars, which might not seem like a very high price for such a product, but it's rather arguable whether consumers should actually cough up around $50 just for the text-to-speech feature (the TomTom ONE XL retails for just around 350 US dollars).
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