TomTom GO 740TM LIVE (Lifetime Traffic & Maps Edition) 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
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XL 704TO LIVE 4.3″ Auto GPS Navigation Unit
The TomTom GO 740·TM LIVE is ultimate widescreen navigation featuring Lifetime Traffic and Map Updates, and so much more. Real-time information saves you time, money and stress. The TomTom GO 740·TM LIVE automatically accesses live traffic feeds, updated fuel prices, Local Search powered by Google, Weather, and more–so you can stay in the know on the go. Real-time LIVE services work right out of the box via a built-in wireless data connection.* Three months of service included.
LIVE Services (3 months included)
Save time, money and stress with real-time information.
Lifetime Traffic & Map Updates
Enjoy a lifetime of easy driving with two great features from TomTom. LIFETIME Maps guarantees you receive four new editions of your TomTom map each year to ensure that you are always navigating with the industry’s most up-to-date map. And, LIFETIME Traffic sends updates to your TomTom every three minutes, so you can always steer clear of traffic delays and take the fastest route possible to your destination.
Maps of US & Canada with TomTom Map Share
Preloaded with maps of the US and Canada. TomTom has the most accurate maps and with TomTom Map Share technology you can instantly modify street names, street direction, POIs, and more on your own device and receive daily verified updates from TomTom. Spoken turn-by-turn instructions and 3D graphics
Features
- Includes three months of LIVE Services–TomTom Traffic, Fuel Prices, Local Search powered by Google, Weather, Safety Camera Alerts
- Preloaded with maps of the US and Canada with Lifetime Map Updates
- Speak instructions to your GO 740 LIVE with over 130 commands with voice recognition
- Announces turn-by-turn directions aloud, including street and place names
- Make and answer phone calls safely while driving, with your compatible Bluetooth mobile phone
- Dimensions (W x H x L): 5 x 3 x 1 inches
- Weight: 0 pounds
Generally great GPS but not quite up to my standards
I did my research, lots of it, before deciding on this device. But I owned a Dash Express and it had some features and functions not found in the 740. From what I have seen of other devices, with the exception of some with larger screens, this is nearly as good as you can get.
Can’t connect to MacBook, so can’t get lifetime maps…
Well, after a painful return process for the first unit that froze within 5 days of receipt, I can now say that neither of the new units will connect to my computer. Since this has to be done to get map updates, etc, it’s basically just another GPS that cannot be updated. The original unit was pretty good for the few days it worked, but this new unit has trouble getting a “good” signal. Customer service with TomTom was a joke. I paid the shipping to return their defective unit. Hours were spent on hold to get a customer service rep. Though there seems to be nothing wrong with the unit (and there isn’t with the commputer), the rep would not entertain the idea that the dock is bad…I think this one will be headed for a refund! My ancient Garmin was at least reliable and recognized by my computer.
not ready for prime time
Where to begin?
I received this less than 24 hours ago, and already it has been such a problem that I’m sending it back.
1) There is supposed to be a promotion code/activation code in the box that enables the lifetime maps. It was not there. The TomTom support representative to whom I spoke asked me to look again. And again. And again. I finally told her that the box was not the size of a hotel room, and that there simply was no such code. So, in order to get a code, I have to scan my receipt showing that indeed it is 740 TM and not just 740 or 740T. Then I have to upload that to their site. Finally, they want me to CALL THEM BACK to tell them that I’ve uploaded it. Yeah, I’m going to wait 40 min on hold for that. Customer service people are OK, but customer service POLICIES blow. In any case, she said that this would not affect usage, just map updates in the future.
2) Ha. In the car, the traffic doesn’t work. I get the message “Your RDS-TMC receiver will not work in combination with the current map.” A little research tells me that this usually happens when people buy a unit in the US and take it to Europe, or vice versa. Clearly, I have not done that. Strike 2.
3) The unit seems to be stuck in Demo mode. After 2 minutes, the map goes away and I am treated to a slide show advertising the virtues of the 740. It would be nice if these features actually worked. Research says I should be able to disable this by resetting the unit. Unsurprisingly, that does not work. Strike 3.
4) Today I find that, even after charging it overnight, the unit will not stay powered on when not connected to power. I get the message “Shutting down your GO 740 Live in 10 seconds.” I search the web, and there is a “Shut down when disconnected from power” option buried in the setup menus. I know that it is not checked because I went through every setting, but I look anyway. Not checked. Strike 4.
For a company that advertises “it works right out of the box,” this is egregiously poor quality control. I will probably order another when Amazon has them in stock again (1-2 months, according to the product page). When I do get it, I will call customer service and set it up with them on the phone. There are way too many “gotchas” for a product advertised as working right out of the box.
This would have been my third TomTom. I had a GO 300 that I sold to upgrade to a 730, which was stolen. I never really even considered another manufacturer, because TomTom had the features I wanted and, for me, usability was perfect. Maybe it’s time to check out Garmin and Magellan, but I’m guessing that to get even similar functionality, I’m going to have to pay a whole lot more.
Very disappointed in TomTom.
Update 6/10/10
TomTom tells me that to fix problem 3, above, I must delete a folder called “scripts” from the unit while it is attached to my PC. That’s all well and good, but it’s advertised (as I well know because of this very problem) as working right out of the box. You can use it, supposedly, without ever having to attach it to your computer.
Bad Customer Service
Less then 1 year ago I bought the 740 Live paid 350.00 and also needed to pay 200.00 every year for the service. Now they have come out with the 740 TM live where they give you liftime service and only pay 280.00 the map service is the same and free (save 50.00 per year) but, the trafic is not as good as what you get when you pay extra it costs about 120.00 per year. I did love it but, don’t like the company’s way of doing buisness they could just give us the Free map service after paying 70.00 more for the same 740 with out the TM behind it.