Free Tomtom Sat Nav Voices
It can be tempting just to rely on smartphone apps for navigation, but there are still lots of reasons to look for a traditional satellite navigation tool to help you get around while driving. Many cars still do not come with sat nav technology built-in, and although it is easy just to turn to Google Maps there are some key practical and safety advantages when using sat navs. Why buy a sat nav? Sat navs are sometimes dismissed as old technology, but they do offer substantial advantages over just using your smartphone for directions.
Sat navs keep your hands free while driving and removed from any temptation to fiddle with your smartphone even when it is mounted, and prevents apps from interrupting or distracting from route guidance. And the best sat navs will also have added speed camera data and live traffic updates to keep you up to speed on your journey. Almost 50 per cent of people use a sat nav of some kind and new regulation is set to encourage people to learn how to.
If you do decide not to buy a sat nav there are apps such as Waze which can offer an alternative. These have real time traffic updates and notifications such as where to get the best price for petrol, but work best when your phone is online and using data. What should you look for in a sat nav? When buying a sat nav there are two main product lines which dominate the market: models from Garmin and TomTom. Both produce excellent sat navs, but there are some differences in the quality and services on offer depending on price point. When buying, you should check which routes are available and up to date on the sat nav, as some may come with more limited coverage.
If you plan to drive in Europe you may want the extra roads built-in. You may also want features such as voice control for hands-free use, ideal if you don’t want to have to stop to enter a new route, or added speedometers to check you are driving at the recommended speed. Other useful additions such as live traffic updates and speed camera information will be sold with some sat navs, but not all. How much should you pay for a sat nav? The very cheapest dedicated sat navs will only set you back around £50, but for a decent model from a major provider you would be expected to pay between £80 and £100. More expensive sat navs, which can cost £200 or more, will offer larger screens and more dedicated features such as handsfree use or traffic camera data.
What else to consider:. Live traffic updates are built into some sat navs and come as part of the package you buy.
How this site works. We think it's important you understand the strengths and limitations of the site. We're a journalistic website and aim to provide the best MoneySaving guides, tips, tools and techniques, but can't guarantee to be perfect, so do note you use the information at your own risk and we can't accept liability if things go wrong. TomTom's navigation voices page is home to many voices you can purchase, download, and install on your navigation device. On TomTom's website are free voices for your GPS but also categories where you can purchase voices.
However, often the live updates will require an internet connection, which can accessed through your mobile phone's data or through your radio. Speed camera updates are a feature of lots of sat navs, however in some you may need to upgrade.
The sat nav will download known speed cameras when it updates and alert you when you are approaching one. SIM cards with unlimited data are present in a few sat navs. These add to the price, but mean you don't have to rely on mobile data when driving. Voice control can allow you to set routes with your voice. Some sat navs can also connect to Siri or Google Now via your smartphone and use their capabilities to perform more advanced tasks. Hands-free calls and texts are available on a lot of sat navs that are linked to your phone via Bluetooth, either by tapping the screen for a call or accepting it through voice control.
Maps: UK, Ireland and Western Europe Features: Speed camera alerts For a basic level TomTom sat nav the Start 25 will give you all the features you need to get on the road. It features lane guidance to keep you in the right part of the road and comes with a year of free speed camera updates. The design has a simple suction mount small enough to squeeze with the TomTom into a pocket and a battery life of up to two hours. It does, however, lack live traffic updates and voice recognition of more expensive models. Screen size: 5 inches Maps: UK, Ireland and Europe Features: Speed camera alerts, Siri compatible, voice control, hands-free calls TomTom's latest range of Via sat navs come with plenty of features if you want a mid-range model with a little bit extra. This model comes with hands-free calling and smartphone messages and is also compatible with Siri and Google Now.
Free Tomtom Sat Nav Voices Downloads
It features lifetime traffic updates, which need to be accessed via your smartphone on TomTom's app. It does, however, only come with three months of speed camera notifications and only has around one hour of disconnected battery life. Screen size: 6 inches Maps: UK, Ireland and Europe Features: Speed camera alerts, built-in traffic updates, voice control, hands-free calls For full traffic updates without the need for a smartphone connection, Garmin's DriveSmart connects via USB and uses DAB radio to search for live route guidance.
It is one of the better value sat navs with a slightly larger six inch screen, making for easy viewing, while it also has Garmin's 'Driver Alerts' feature to warn you of upcoming hazards such as sharp bends as well as lane guidance for complex junctions. The downside of this model is Garmin's traffic update system is not quite as comprehensive or accurate as a system using a SIM card or connected to your phone. However, it does save data compared to a smartphone connection, and is cheaper than a model with a built-in SIM. With Bluetooth connectivity, you can lock in to your phone for access to calls and messages.
Screen size:4.3 inches Maps: UK, Ireland and Western Europe Features: Speed camera alerts, waterproof, hands-free calls Motorcyclists will want their own sat navs for longer journeys with a mount for their bike. With a slightly smaller screen the Zumo is a good fit for bikers and is hardy, weather resistant and waterproofed for protection against the elements. It also comes with all the top of the range features including compatibility for hands free calling from your smartphone, Bluetooth compatibility for a headset and music control. For safety, it has bike specific alerts warning of sharp turns, speed changes and road crossings.
A football-loving civil servant has spoken of his surprise after being revealed as the most popular Scottish voice on sat-navs. Jim Anderson, 33, got so fed up listening to English and American accents barking directions at him that he replaced them with his own voice.
Tomtom Sat Navs Best Buys
Using a program provided with his TomTom he was able to record a range of instructions needed to direct motorists. He even peppered it with jokey references to Scots favourites such as Irn-Bru. Dubbed ‘Scottish Jim’, his sat-nav narration has since been downloaded more than 12,000 times by drivers who prefer to take orders from a Scot. He recorded it three-and-a-half years ago but hadn’t realised until last week that other people could download it. Jim said: “I’ve lived in England for several years now, but my family come from Scotland so I was driving back north on a regular basis. Every time I drove home I had to put up with the default English or American accents on my sat-nav. It got really boring.
“I downloaded a Yoda voice and a John Cleese voice but I got bored with them too. Eventually I decided just to use my own voice.” Jim’s device was made by TomTom and the company said his narration is the most popular non-celebrity Scots voice available to its 40 million users across Europe. Jim said he recorded himself giving about 40 directions needed for all eventualities. He also tried to lighten the mood during journeys. He said: “I tried to put in a few wee jokes here and there. When you get to the end of your journey my voice comes on saying: ‘Now where’s the nearest newsagent, I’ve run out of Irn-Bru’.” However, he didn’t realise everyone with a TomTom sat-nav could download his instructions and was shocked when he found out how many people are listening to him in their cars. He said: “I couldn’t believe it when I found out how many people are using it.
Voices For Tomtom Free
I recorded it in 2010 and didn’t know it was available to other people. “Some of my colleagues think it’s hilarious and are all going to download it now. They’ve already told me I drive them round the bend. They’ll have a never-ending supply of banter I might regret it in a few months.” Jim grew up in Glasgow before moving to Dundee to study IT at university. During his time at uni, he became a Dundee United fan.
He now lives in Bristol, but is a proud Scot and tries to make it home whenever he can to see his beloved Arabs. He said: “I still follow Dundee United but it’s difficult to get to many games these days. I’ve just changed my car which is a shame because my old one was a nice Scottish blue and even had an ‘sc’ licence plate.” A survey by TomTom in 2010 found Scots have the sexiest accents while Geordie is rated the most friendly and Yorkshire the most reassuring. A spokesman for TomTom said: “Jim’s voice has proved the most popular Scottish voice from our free downloads. His accent is obviously a hit with motorists looking for a slice of Scotland.”To download Jim’s Scottish sat-nav visit Install the application and connect your sat-nav. Select add voices then search for ScottishJimYou need a tom tom connected to access it.