Tom Tom Go Live 1000
Many thought that the sat nav would become a thing of the past due to the increasing amount of navigation systems on smart phones; however, the new Tom Tom Go Live has features that will give the best sat nav app on your mobile a run for its money.
If you’ve owned a Tom Tom before, you will be instantly familiar with its software making is easy to navigate. The speed of navigation makes it easy to construct a route, and the voice recognition system makes route planning even faster paced. You can even create your own menu, so that you have all of your favourite functions in an easily accessible place.
Probably the most talked about feature of the Go Live 1000, is the HD Traffic service. The Go Live will be able to tell you where traffic is becoming congested, and where to avoid when planning your route. The Go Live feature is made possible by technology which tracks the whereabouts of mobile phones and their movement, being able to see if traffic is slowing down or if the volume of traffic in a specific area is increasing.
It has been said that the Go Live 1000 has one of the most accurate HD Traffic services out there. Unfortunately, the HD Traffic service comes at a cost. You will receive the first year free but there will be a charge of £47.50 per year afterwards. This service is highly recommended if you commute to work or generally drive a lot.
iPod Car Kit
Driving and music go hand in hand. There is nothing like turning up the volume and singing along to your favourite tracks when doing the boring commute to and from work. As soon as the iPod sauntered onto the scene, changing the music market forever, the need for a portal for MP3 players became necessary.
You can buy kits which include a stand for your iPod and a FM transmitter which sends the information from your iPod to your stereo. You simply plug the device into your car’s cigarette lighter socket. Your iPod will also be charged when it’s in use, meaning that you can get the best out of your iPod without ever having a dead battery. The Griffin Road Trip is one of the leading models in this field, which retails at about £25.
Parrot CK3100 Advanced Bluetooth Car Kit
This bit of kit is essential if you drive a lot and use your mobile a lot. The laws on using a mobile phone while driving have been reinforced over the past few years, so if you need to talk while you’re driving make sure you invest in the Parrot CK3100 Bluetooth car kit.
With this piece of kit you’ll be able to make and receive calls without touching your mobile phone. With your Bluetooth activated on your phone, you’ll be able to see caller ID, your signal strength and received calls on the unit that will be placed where your car radio should be.
The voice activation system allows you to make calls hands-free, making this safer that trying to dial on your mobile handset. This is a must-have gadget for commuters or people who drive frequently. You can buy the Parrot car kit for around £90.
Electric Windscreen Scraper
This is a really cool gadget that will take the edge off those icy mornings. When your windows have iced over it can be a real pain to stand there scraping your windows while you get colder and colder. Invest in the electric scraper, which has an in-built heater which melts ice and frost. The scraper even comes with a light for dark early mornings and can be charged in your cigarette lighter socket.
Car Finder iPhone App
It’s the age-old problem; you park your car in a packed car park and on your return you’ve forgotten where you’ve parked it. It sounds trivial, but it’s surprising how many people lose their car. They say there is an app for everything, and we’ve found one to help combat this problem. You launch the Car Finder app as soon as you step out of your car and it locks your positioning using GPS. You can even enter your car park space number and what floor you’re on.
When you come to find your car you simply hold your iPhone over the sea of cars and it will tell you where you’ve parked down to the exact distance. It will even read out directions for you. With this app you’ll never lose your car again.
Images sourced from Amazon.co.uk