TomTom XL 340 S
Manufacturer: TomTom Part number: 1EM0.052.02
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The TomTom XL 340 S introduces a few advanced features to TomTom's midrange lineup, while staying well below the premium price bracket.
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CNET editors' review
TomTom XL 340 S price range: $129.95 - $249.99
- Reviewed by: Antuan Goodwin
- Reviewed on: 05/13/2009
The good: The TomTom XL 340 S has advanced features such as lane guidance, downloadable fuel prices, and user updated maps from TomTom Map Share. Its large 4.3-inch WXGA touch screen is easy to read and to enter addresses on. Text-to-speech enhances the device's safety.
The bad: The larger size, combined with additional thickness added by an EasyPort mount, somewhat limits its portability. Routing from a moving vehicle is considerably slower than from a stationary one.
The bottom line: The TomTom XL 340 S introduces a few advanced features to TomTom's midrange lineup, while staying well below the premium price bracket.
The TomTom XL 340 S builds on TomTom's successful XL series of wide-screen portable navigation devices. The XL 340 S' features, such as advanced lane guidance, daily fuel prices, IQ Routes, and TomTom Map Share, work together to constantly update its map data and route-mapping algorithm. Therefore, in theory, the device should get better with time.
Also, as an "S" designated model, the 340 S features text-to-speech that reads aloud street and point-of-interest names for quicker recognition.
Design
A 4.3-inch WQVGA wide-format touch screen occupies the front of the XL 340 S, while a large, loud 2-inch speaker dominates its back. The only physical control to be found is the power button on the unit's top edge. The Mini-USB port on its bottom edge serves as the connection for the included 12-volt car charger for data connections.
Unlike its primary competitor, the Garmin Nuvi, the XL 340 S does not have an SD or microSD card slot, so you're stuck with the device's 2GB of onboard storage (most of which is occupied by map and voice data).
TomTom's clever EasyPort mount integrates the XL's cradle into the back of the unit. To attach the unit to your windshield, simply flip out the suction cup, place the device on the windshield, and twist the locking ring a quarter-turn. The twist-lock suction cup doesn't feel as secure as the Garmin's lever-actuated suction cup, and the XL's increased size made us feel even more nervous about the mounting than the TomTom One did. With a bit of practice, the TomTom's EasyPort mount becomes quite easy to place and remove from the windshield and offers a bit more flexibility of mounting angles than the Garmin.
The integrated cradle adds considerable bulk to the XL's already large size, more than doubling its thickness. People who want to pocket their GPS when they leave the car will be turned off by the additional mass, but those who carry a bag or purse probably won't notice. An additional bonus to the EasyPort mount is that there is no cradle left behind for would-be thieves to mistake for something of value, thus increasing vehicle security.
Also included with the XL 340 S are a 12-volt car charger, a USB connection cable, and an adhesive disk for attaching the XL to your vehicle's dashboard if windshield mounting is not permissible.
Features
The TomTom XL 340 features Advanced Lane Guidance, a new feature to the XL line that shows detailed illustrations of complex freeway interchanges, complete with lane information. Arrows overlaid on the illustration notify drivers of what lanes will keep them on the chosen route.
Text-to-speech functionality lets the XL 340 S announce street and point-of-interest names aloud. Users who don't need spoken names can step down to the XL 340 (sans "S") and save a few bucks. The unit comes bundled with 14 English, French, and Spanish voices. More voices can be downloaded from the Web, including celebrity voices. (Our personal favorites are Mr. T and John Cleese!)
Using the free TomTom Map Share service lets users make corrections to street names, directions, road speeds, POIs, and so on and upload those changes to be approved and shared with other TomTom Map Share users. If you don't trust the hive mind, you can choose to opt out of this service or only receive official TomTom updates.
IQ Routes is a feature that uses anonymous historical speed and time data gleaned from actual driving and other TomTom Map Share/IQ Routes users to calculate the fastest route from point A to B. So for example, if the unit discerns that a certain road is typically congested, it will attempt to avoid it while routing. If it learns that another road is typically congested on weeknights between 5 and 7 p.m., it will attempt to avoid that road on weeknights, but not on weekends. If it can't find a faster way, the device can at least give an accurate time to destination based on real data.
Gaining access to map updates and other downloadable content is accomplished through the TomTom Home software that is embedded in the XL's onboard memory. Simply connect the XL to your computer via USB and the software prompts you for a quick installation, no CDs required. Once installed, the TomTom Home software lets users download updates, back up data, plan routes, and even play with a virtual representation of their XL 340 S.
IQ Routes is not the same as real-time traffic data, as it only calculates using historical data, so if there is a unique incident, the XL won't be privy to that information. To add that functionality, an RDS-TMS receiver can be purchased. Additionally, downloadable fuel prices and traffic camera information can be had via subscription.
Performance
We found that the TomTom XL 340 S was quick to boot and satellite acquisition was quick, averaging just less than a minute for cold starts with a clear sky.
The onscreen keypad can be configured in A-Z, QWERTY, or AZERTY layouts. That last one is new to us. Key size is generous, making it easy to quickly input characters. Destination entry is superspeedy thanks to the XL 340 S' intuitive autocomplete feature.
Points of interest can be searched by name or browsed by broad category (restaurant, gas station, lodging), but cannot be grouped by subcategory (for example, Mexican or Japanese restaurants). While destinations chosen from a stationary vehicle were routed in a matter of seconds, we found that (as in the One 140 S) routing from a moving vehicle takes considerably more time, especially if you aren't already heading in the right direction. So, do the safe thing and come to a stop before punching in that address.
In sum
The TomTom XL 340 S sits at the top of the XL line and just below the premium GO line of TomTom portable navigation devices. The XL 340 S pulls down some of the most useful features of the GO lineup, such as Advanced Lane Guidance, text-to-speech functionality, and daily updates of local fuel prices--while staying well below the $300 price point. People looking for more advanced features (hands-free calling, traffic data, voice command, and so on) should look further up the TomTom totem pole.
Those who aren't fans of TomTom's interface should look to the Garmin Nuvi 1350, which has a similar set of features for about the same price, or the Sony NV-U84, which adds more multimedia features and a slightly larger screen.
User reviews
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Good low priced GPS with some nice options
by russburdick on September 2, 2009
Pros: I like the higher end options that this low priced GPS has, such as:
- IQ Routes, which allows you navigate like a local.
- Lane assistance
- Easy to find & add additional destinations along your route (which can save a lot of time)Cons: - IQ Routes does take a few seconds to calculate the fastest route. If, while it is calculating, you go through just 1 intersection, IQ Routes will then recalculate the route again. This can go on for several miles.
Summary: Overall, this is a nice GPS for under $200 that I recommend unless you can afford the higher end models.
I read about the problems with the device only having ...Summary: Overall, this is a nice GPS for under $200 that I recommend unless you can afford the higher end models.
I read about the problems with the device only having about 1.9GB of memory, and the map upgrade crashing the system. I read on TomTom's support page that you need to delete about 35MB before attempting the map upgrade. Using TomTom Home 2, if you delete the Spanish & French voices, you will gain about 175MB of space. I had no problem upgrading the map after deleting the unused voices.
I really like IQ Routes. My previous GPS devices would always suggest the same routes, giving a deceiving arrival time because they had no idea about traffic lights and rush hour delays. The 340S routes me the quickest way using back roads just like the locals know. And the arrival time is much more realistic. It's great!
IQ Routes can be slow to calculate. But I'm in the Washington DC area. When I'm trying to get across 35 miles of Maryland, DC, Virginia traffic, IQ Routes finds upwards of 200,000 roads (taking about 12 seconds to calculate--not too bad unless you pass a intersection and it starts over again--this can last awhile). Usually traffic stops long enough for IQ Routes to catch up. If you don't know the area, you do need to pull over for a few seconds. But, when you are within 20 miles of your destination, IQ Routes is very fast.
I also like the "Travel Via" option. I often times need to stop at a store, bank, gas, food, etc along the way. With the "Travel Via" option & "POI Along Route", you can find what you need directly along your route.
It has a nice map & navigation display, and has a reasonably fast boot-up, and very fast satellite capture. The display is a little dim in bright sunlight.
Lastly, I can't find a direct Speed Camera database to load into the POI. That would be nice.6 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Faulty product released with know major "glitches"
by John-Biglin on May 28, 2009
Pros: Customer service number was answered with relatively little hold time.
Cons: Faulty product released with know major "glitches". Uniformed phone personal. Tom Tom home program irreversively renders the unit useless. No online fix for known software issues. No warning of known issues in the box, documentation, or online.
Summary: I watched a presentation of this unit done by a representitve of TomTom. I was very impressed with the units capability's that were demonstrated. Once I got the unit. ...
Summary: I watched a presentation of this unit done by a representitve of TomTom. I was very impressed with the units capability's that were demonstrated. Once I got the unit. I downloaded the tomtom home program., and it all went downhill from there. Once you hook up the unit it searches for new maps with it's 30 day map guarantee. The program found that a new map was available for download for free. I spent hours trying to download the new map only to start receiving error messages. At this point the unit no longer worked at all. I called Tomtom customer service. and they sent me some links that would help me flash the unit and reinstall software. More time was wasted, more errors messages, and then software said that the new map was too big to fit on the unit. I called Tomtom back again and gave them the rundown of what had occurred and they looked up my problem #. They then said " Oh you have the 340 S; there is a glitch in those units." She then explained that the automatic update that occurs when you first hook it up, is what cripples the unit. I asked if I could flash the unit and download the original software image and reinstall. she said no. When asked why Tomtom would release a product with such a major issue? She Said "I don't know I just work in the call center." Needless to say I am just returning this unit as defective and not going through the RMA process.
I have been a beta tester for various hardware and software company's and I have never seen a product, even in a beta test; released with such a major software issue.
Bottom line. If you must have this unit, or received it as a gift; DO NOT under any circumstances update the unit or you will have a $250.00 paperweight.6 out of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
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issue with maps being too large
by Orkilatrish on September 8, 2009
Pros: Found a great price on craigslist
Cons: Bit wary of the negative reviews posted here... will give it a go anyway
Summary: I found a ridiculously good deal on this Tomtom on craigslist, but before buying it, I rang Tomtom tech support (which was very quick to do and the young lady ...
Summary: I found a ridiculously good deal on this Tomtom on craigslist, but before buying it, I rang Tomtom tech support (which was very quick to do and the young lady was actually in the states not oursourced somewhere) to see if the previous issue with the large maps had been resolved. Turns out, according to Tomtom tech anyway, that it isn't the overly large maps that causes the trouble, but when people download additional computer voices, this is what causes the GPS's brain to get too full. I am off to go purchase the thing this evening and will keep you posted.
4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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bought new map, size too big for unitl
by MSRussell2 on June 19, 2009
Pros: nice screen size..text to speech..tom-tom home .
Cons: Same problem as all else.. bought new map..too big. Accidentally deleted old map off computer.
Summary: Called customer service, who referred me to Tech Support, he said it was an issue with the model.
Sent it back today, Fex-Ex, postage paid, they will send me another ...Summary: Called customer service, who referred me to Tech Support, he said it was an issue with the model.
Sent it back today, Fex-Ex, postage paid, they will send me another unit.,,he said he will talk me though installing new map. That ought to be good, if it can't fit to begin with..lol. But VERY helpful to even try..I'll see what happens.4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Works perfectly
Pros: Super fast speed for redirecting, all the new bells and whistles makes this 1000 times better than my ONE 3rd edition
Cons: A little bulky
Summary: Thanks to everyone complaining about the map being too big, when I hooked it up I didn't install the update, instead i made a backup of my unit, then ...
Summary: Thanks to everyone complaining about the map being too big, when I hooked it up I didn't install the update, instead i made a backup of my unit, then removed the old map from my unit first, then ran the Latest Map Guarantee, now works perfectly, without any hiccups!!
4 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Excellent GPS ... but be careful during updates.
Pros: Excellent GPS. Easy to use and accurate. Nice HELP ME features built-in.
Cons: Install TomTom Home. Connect device. Do backup of device as is out of the box. Delete any unnecessary voices (frees up space). Do updates. Do another backup .. don't overwrite the first backup. Happy GPSing.
Summary: Be careful if you install Tomtom Home and attempt to do updates. First, installed Tomtom Home without connection the 340S to your PC. Then connect your GPS. Before downloading anything ...
Summary: Be careful if you install Tomtom Home and attempt to do updates. First, installed Tomtom Home without connection the 340S to your PC. Then connect your GPS. Before downloading anything including any free map updates make a backup of everything on your GPS via this TomTom Home feature. Next view everything on the device via Home. Most of us in the US won't need anything other than the English voices. Delete the other voices from the device only. This will free up some space on the device. Remember that you've already backed everything up so you can get them back if you need them. Now you can go get your free updated map, POI updates, Quickfix updates, additional POIs, etc. Make an additional backup of the unit with all your completed updates. If this all sounds too complicated for you find your local tech geek or just use the unit out of the box WITHOUT connecting it to your PC.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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IQ Routes.... not really very smart
by lmorrish on November 2, 2009
Pros: Well priced, easy to use, aside from IQ Routes it's an improvement.
Cons: IQ Routes should help when you don't know the roads....... they don't in our experience.
Summary: I do like the TomTom products in general, however whilst driving back into New York on a Sunday night the new technology in this latest GPS; the clever IQ Routes ...
Summary: I do like the TomTom products in general, however whilst driving back into New York on a Sunday night the new technology in this latest GPS; the clever IQ Routes told us to take the Lincoln Tunnel and then took us through midtown past Madison Square Garden...... at the time we didn't know New York at all and so proceed to endure the extra 1.5 hours that we did not need to now that we know the FDR takes us past all that traffic very easily. Since then we have had to always plug in our destination and then specifically select an alternative route to go via a location to ensure it doesn't try to drive right through the middle of one of the world's most congested cities. Given this technology is designed to avoid traffic congestion through the analysis of traffic data at different times of day, it REALLY does not achieve what the marketing campaign claims.
Other than this the unit works very well. Would I recommend buying one..... Yes.... but certainly not for the IQ Routes.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Perfect for the average road tripping user.
by jayman526 on May 25, 2009
Pros: This model is a good gps for the average user. It has all the functions one needs to get moving confidently in the right direction. It has a large screen size which makes it easy to see and has many good extras that make it even better.
Cons: It is a little bulky due to the mounting device on the back which makes it hard to put in a pocket, but otherwise no real problems.
Summary: I would recommend this model to anyone in the market for a GPS. It has all the necessities of any other GPS, plus extras and a nice large display all ...
Summary: I would recommend this model to anyone in the market for a GPS. It has all the necessities of any other GPS, plus extras and a nice large display all for under $300.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Lacking Accuracy
by dhess62 on May 28, 2009
Pros: Nice Screen and easy to use menu system
Cons: not to accurate on some of the nav points when entered by GPS coordinates instead of a street address
Summary: It's OK, I probably should have shopped around a little longer before buying, would not purchase this model again. Lack of memory slot and no outputs for other uses.
Summary: It's OK, I probably should have shopped around a little longer before buying, would not purchase this model again. Lack of memory slot and no outputs for other uses.
2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Simple GPS with tons of features
by ally695 on November 18, 2009
Pros: Pros: easily enter in an address, better visuals and user interface than other garmin devices I was looking at
Cons: Cons: the battery life is a bit short, but I always have this plugged into the cradle in my car so really unless i want to carry it with me is this a problem.
Summary: Ready to use the day you get it. I started using it in the parking lot at best buy and it worked perfectly.
Pros: easily enter in an address, better ...Summary: Ready to use the day you get it. I started using it in the parking lot at best buy and it worked perfectly.
Pros: easily enter in an address, better visuals and user interface than other garmin devices I was looking at
Cons: the battery life is a bit short, but I always have this plugged into the cradle in my car so really unless i want to carry it with me is this a problem.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: TomTom
- Part number: 1EM0.052.02
- Description: With TomTom XL, the attractive EasyPort mount can be left on the device and folded flat after use. The complete unit, including the mount, is then small enough to fit into a shirt pocket or bag when you leave the vehicle. In addition, the TomTom XL is equipped with a completely revised audio system so that navigation instructions are even more loud and clear at all times ? even above outside traffic noise or a car full of excited children.
General
- Width 4.7 in
- Depth 0.9 in
- Height 3.2 in
- Weight 7 oz
GPS System
- Recommended Use Automotive
- Connectivity USB
- Voice Navigation instructions, Street name announcement
- Antenna Built-in
- Features Plug & go, Emergency Help, Built-in speaker, Automatic routing, Downloadable POIs, Preinstalled POIs, TomTom QuickGPSfix, Speed limit warning, IQ Routes technology, Text-to-Speech (TTS), Advanced Lane Guidance, 2D / 3D map perspective, TomTom Map Share technology, TMC (Traffic Message Channel) ready
- Maps Included Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico
- Software Included TomTom HOME
Navigation
- Trip computer Quickest route, Fast/short route, Street address search
Built-in Display
- Type TFT - Widescreen
- Resolution 480 x 272
- Diagonal Size 4.3 in
- Display Illumination Yes
- Color Support Color
- Display Menu Language Czech, Dutch, Danish, French, German, Polish, Slovak, Catalan, English, Finnish, Flemish, Italian, Latvian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Estonian, Hungarian, Norwegian, Lithuanian, Portuguese
- Features Anti-glare, Touch screen
Connections
- Connector Type USB, TMC
Battery
- Battery Enclosure Type Internal
- Battery included qty 1
- Battery technology Lithium ion
- Mfr estimated battery life 3 hour(s)
Miscellaneous
- Included GPS accessories USB cable, EasyPort mount, Car power adapter
Manufacturer info
- TomTom
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse TomTom products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.tomtom.com/
- Address:
150 Baker Ave. Ext., Concord, CA 01742 - Phone: 978.287.9555
- Email: usainfo@tomtom.com
- Fax: 978.287.9522
