TomTom GO Manual - 8

TomTom GO Manual

Preferences

You can change much of the look and feel of your TomTom system to your own liking by using 'Preferences' . To see all the options described in this chapter, use to scroll through the different pages.

Note: The icons shown for some preferences will change, depending on the state the preference is currently in. For example, choosing 'Turn off sound' disables the voice instructions. Once disabled, the option and icon change to 'Turn on sound' , reflecting the action to take when next selected.

Use night colors/Use day colors

Bright colors are normally used, with a lot of contrast, so that you can see the map clearly even in bright sunlight. When it is dark outside, you may want to 'Use night colors' . The navigation view will then be displayed (by default) using dark and subdued colors that will not interfere with your night vision. In addition, the preference is changed to 'Use day colors' ; select this to revert to the original color scheme.

These are the default night colors, but you can select any color scheme you like, for either day or night use, by using the preference ' Change map colors '.

Turn off 3D display/Turn on 3D display

The main 3D navigation view, showing maps, routes and Points Of Interest from the perspective of the vehicle driver, can be switched to a more conventional view. Choose 'Turn off 3D display' to revert to an overhead 'plan' map, which is constantly rotated to keep your current direction of travel pointing 'up' the screen. Choose 'Turn on 3D display' to return to the original view.

In addition to the alternative 'plan' view shown here, there's also a simple ' schematic ' view.

Turn off map display/Turn on map display

Above a specified speed, for safety reasons, the main map view can be replaced by a 'schematic' view, focused on the next driving instruction. You can choose to use this feature by choosing 'Turn off map display' . Select 'Above certain speed' to specify a cut-off speed, or 'Always' to have the schematic view shown at all speeds. Choose 'Turn on map display' to always show the map again.

Note the way the distance to the upcoming turn information is shown in the bottom-left of the screen.

Hide POI/Show POI

You'll find it useful to just show specific categories of Points Of Interest (POI) on the navigation and map views, using the preference 'Manage POI'. Once you've spent time carefully browsing through the categories and choosing the ones you need, you can hide all of them from the main navigation view in one stroke with 'Hide POI' or show your preferred set again with 'Show POI' .

Turn off sound/Turn on sound

You can turn off the voice that gives navigation instructions by choosing 'Turn off sound' . This is indicated during navigation by the icon in the lower left-hand corner of the screen. To turn the voice instructions back on again, select 'Turn on sound' .

To change the volume of the spoken instructions, use ' Volume preferences '. To select another voice (i.e. gender and/or language), use the preference 'Switch language'.

Volume preferences

You can change the volume of the voice instructions by using 'Volume preferences' , with its sliding scale to set the required volume in increments of 5%. The 'Test' function is a good way to get the volume right before starting your journey.

You may also find it helpful to use 'Link volume to car speed', so that the voice instructions get louder as road noise increases and are at their quietest when you are stationary.

Manage favorites

In time, you may want to use 'Manage favorites' to delete any favorite locations that are no longer needed. You can also rename them, if you wish. Use and to scroll up and down the list and pick the one you want to change or delete.

You can back up your favorite locations by connecting your TomTom system to your PC or Mac. See 'Connecting to your PC' for more details.

Note: If you haven't added any favorite locations yet, the 'Manage favorites' icon will be grayed out and unavailable.
Tip: The way to change a favorite's location is to delete the current instance and create a new one at the correct location. See Favorite locations.

Change Home location

You can set or change your 'Home' location at any time by using 'Change Home location' . You will then be able to select this later as a departure or destination point.

Tip: 'Home' doesn't necessarily have to be your physical home. Set it to the location that is most central in your travels, for example: your office.

Manage maps

If you have maps of another country or area installed, the preference 'Manage maps' will be enabled. Choose 'Switch map' to switch to another map that's already available. The map that you are currently using is highlighted in yellow, select the map you wish to use next.

Tip: If you want to switch to a map on a different memory card, just eject the current one and put the new card in. (This doesn't apply to the GO 700, as this has a hard disk)

Choose 'Download a map' to buy extra maps directly from TomTom using your optional GPRS phone connection. Simply follow the prompts to choose the area or city that you'd like to buy. Be aware that your network provider will charge your download at your usual GPRS rate and that TomTom are not responsible for any extra charges you may incur.

See also Connecting to your PC, which includes instructions for the loading of new maps from CD.

Manage POI

The preference 'Manage POI' is the control panel for Points Of Interest and their categories. It's easy to create new categories of your own (e.g. 'Offices', 'Garden centers', 'Customer X') and populate them with relevant Points Of Interest that can be navigated to or added to an itinerary in seconds.

You can add new Points Of Interest to categories that you've created yourself. First, use 'Add POI Category' and then choose 'Add POI' . You'll then be asked to pick a category (and prompted to add one if you haven't made any yet), then pick a location in the usual way.

In both the main navigation view and on all map views, you can choose which Points Of Interest categories are shown by selecting 'Enable/Disable POI' . Just tick the ones you want to show.

Locations in your chosen categories are plotted on the map (and navigation view), each represented by its own icon.

Tip: You can choose whether or not to show Points Of Interest at all, using 'Hide POI/Show POI' for the navigation view or 'Map options' for the map browser. In this way, you can keep your chosen Points Of Interest categories permanently ticked.

It's easy to manage your custom Points Of Interest, using 'Delete POI' and 'Delete POI category' , as needed.

Additionally, you can request audio and visual warning that a POI from a specific category is coming up. For example, you might be on the lookout for a gas station, hotel or ATM. To set up a warning (you can have as many as you like), use 'Warn when near POI' . You'll then be asked to choose a category (any that are already set up for warning will be shown at the top of the list) and choose a 'Warn when closer than' distance, as shown below.

250 meters is a good default value, but may need to be larger or smaller depending on whether you want warning of something huge (e.g. an airport or tourist attraction) or something small (e.g. an ATM).

You'll probably want different audio warnings for each Point Of Interest category. Use and to browse the different warning sounds available, choosing 'Select' for the most suitable. Finally, tick 'Warn only if POI is on route', if needed.

You'd typically only tick this for items that have to be on the roadside and in your direction of travel. For example, gas stations which are on your route, rather than accessed from the opposite direction.

Status bar preferences

Use 'Status bar preferences' to customize the information shown at the bottom of the navigation view. For example, you might prefer to know the arrival time rather than the remaining time. In general, the less items you tick, the larger and clearer the layout of the status bar will be.

Set clock (TomTom GO users only)

You will have set TomTom GO's clock when you first started the unit up, but you can adjust it at any time by tapping on 'Set Clock' . After choosing your preferred time format, use and above and below each digit to adjust the hours and minutes shown. If you selected the relevant format, tap on the 'AM' or 'PM' symbol to switch between morning and afternoon/evening hours.

Tip: If TomTom GO is outdoors, with a good view of the sky, you can tap on the 'Sync' button to set the clock's time automatically from the GPS satellites. You might have to adjust the hours for your correct time zone.

Rotate screen

If the way you're positioning your TomTom system requires it, you can rotate the display with the preference 'Rotate screen' . Each time you use this, the display will be rotated further, until it's back to its original orientation.

Change map colors

Select 'Change map colors' to choose between the alternative color schemes that are available for the maps used in your TomTom system (several of which are most suitable for use at night). Use and to scroll through the different 'day color schemes', using 'Select' when you're happy with the scheme shown. Repeat the process for the different 'night color schemes'.

To switch between day and night colors in normal use, see 'Use night colors' .

Change brightness (TomTom GO users only)

Choose 'Change brightness' to adjust the brightness of TomTom GO's backlit screen. To save you adjusting the brightness several times each day, there are two preference sliders, one each for the daytime and nighttime color schemes. For example, you'll probably have the day color brightness set quite high and the night version set quite low.

To adjust the settings, tap anywhere on the slider scales or drag a slider with your finger.

Planning preferences

Select 'Planning preferences' to choose how routes should be calculated. If your mode of transport is often different, you may want to select 'Ask me when I plan', otherwise select one of the other options. 'Walking routes', 'Bicycle routes' and 'Limited speed routes' have been detailed already, in 'Advanced planning'.

Toll charge preferences

'Toll charge preferences' give you a chance to specify what should happen in the event of your TomTom system considering a toll road in its calculations. Select 'Always avoid toll roads' to automatically exclude these from future routes, select 'Never avoid toll roads' to allow a best route to be calculated regardless of any toll charges. Otherwise, simply leave this preference at its default of 'Ask me when it happens'.

Compass preferences

If you'd like a compass shown on the navigation view, use 'Compass preferences' to choose a compass type.

'Direction-up' acts like a real compass (as if mounted on your dashboard), with the arrow always pointing north. 'North-up' keeps the compass dial static, with the arrow indicating your current direction of travel. 'Distance to destination' simply indicates the relative direction and distance of your destination.

Change voice

You can change the voice used for route instructions at any time by using the preference 'Change voice' . Use and to scroll through the different voices and languages, choosing 'Test' to hear a sample in each one. Use 'Select' when you're happy with the voice that's indicated.

Note: Most languages feature more than one possible voice. To change the volume of the voice instructions, see ' Volume preferences '.

Switch language

You can change the language used to display all on-screen text, instructions and menu options with 'Switch language' . Just choose the one you want.

Set units

You can change your preferred units of measurement at any time with the preference 'Set units' . Three questions are then displayed, one a time, for distances, times and longitude/latitude. Simply choose the formats you prefer for each unit and select 'Done' for each one.

Operate left-handed (not TomTom MOBILE)

If you are left-handed, you will probably want to use 'Operate left-handed' to place scroll controls, the map zoom control and 'Done' and 'Cancel' buttons on the left side of the screen where possible. You will then be able to tap on them more conveniently without your left hand obscuring the screen. To revert to the original button placement, choose the preference 'Operate right-handed'

Operating your TomTom system left-handed!

Keyboard preferences

Choose 'Keyboard preferences' to choose the size (large or small) of the on-screen keyboard for the entry of text and numbers (the smaller version leaves more room for items in scrolling lists), and to choose between alphabetic (ABCD), typewriter (QWERTY) and French (AZERTY) layouts.

Name preferences

You can adjust the way road names are displayed on the maps with 'Name preferences' . There are four check boxes shown:

• Show house numbers prefixed
  Tick this to display addresses with house numbers in front of their street names, e.g. '112 Oxford street' rather than 'Oxford street 112'.
• De-emphasize E-roads
  Tick this to use local road numbering in preference to European road numbering, e.g. 'A10/E35' is preferred to 'E35/A10'.
• Show street names on map
  Tick this to show the names of roads and side streets on the map while you are driving, provided the current map scale is appropriate and there is room.
• Show next highway
  Tick this to show the name of the next highway to look for; it is displayed near the top right hand corner of the screen.

Hide/Show tips

Hopefully you'll find the occasional tip a help (each one is only shown once, in a relevant place), but if you really don't like them then they can be turned off altogether with 'Hide tips' or opt to start showing them again with 'Show tips'

Disable/Enable Bluetooth (not TomTom MOBILE)

If you plan to take your TomTom system into a hospital, plane or any other situation where radio communications are prohibited, you should use the preference 'Disable Bluetooth' . When required again, simply use 'Enable Bluetooth' .

Tip: Disabling the Bluetooth transmitter in your device also helps prolong battery life if not currently plugged into a charging source.

Show version

Use 'Show version' to find out exact version information for your TomTom system. Select 'Copyright' to read the appropriate copyright listing.

Docking preferences (TomTom GO users only)

If you have the Professional Docking Kit installed, choose 'Docking preferences' to choose whether to link TomTom GO's night view to your vehicle's headlights and to choose whether you want your car radio muted while route instructions are being given.

Disable/Enable ASN (TomTom GO 700 and 500 users only)

TomTom GO keeps up with you, even without proper GPS reception for a short while, e.g. in tunnels. This is accomplished by a sensor system that measures your movement, called ASN (Assisted Satellite Navigation). If you are curious about how it works, try it out by using 'Disable ASN' to turn it off, while having no GPS reception, and compare the results to those with ASN turned on, as it is by default. Use 'Enable ASN' to turn ASN on again.