Are we being left in the trash?

[PolyPill]

Are there plans to continue coming out with new firmware and bring thoes of us owning older models the new features?

I have a 910 and it seams like internally its identical to the 720 (chip set, speed, memory, etc) yet I don't have voice recognition. Is this actually another chip for VR or is it just tomtom trying to get more of my money from an upgrade?

 

[Buddharay]

it doesn't sound to me like that's something that can just be opened up to those with older models (especially in the case of voice recognition). things like mapshare, yes, you can open those up to older models. but when it comes to voice recognition, advanced lane guidance, iq routes, things like that.. i think those are the benefits for upgrading to the new models.

 

[PolyPill]

Why? All that stuff is software based, I don't know about the cheaper models but the 910's hardware is definitely capable of doing all the 720 can do. It seams more like tomtom just leaving old models out to dry because they would rather us keep paying for new models AND new maps. I think its unreasonable to expect us to shell out money for a new unit ever year or two.

 

[dhn]

Why? All that stuff is software based, I don't know about the cheaper models but the 910's hardware is definitely capable of doing all the 720 can do. It seams more like tomtom just leaving old models out to dry because they would rather us keep paying for new models AND new maps. I think its unreasonable to expect us to shell out money for a new unit ever year or two.

Do 910's have bluetooth connectivity?

 

[PolyPill]

Do 910's have bluetooth connectivity?

Yes, from what I can tell comparing specs and playing with a 720 there should be no reason these advanced features aren't possible.

I wouldn't doubt it if the tomtom developers have made the current features already work on the older ones but marketing told them to either delay the release or not release it at all.

 

[GAW]

Do 910's have bluetooth connectivity?

They definitely do - both hands-free and data. Voice recognition would be great .

I would expect TomTom and most other companies to restrict feature availability from older models due to marketing strategy. If they had made the screens brighter on the new models, I might have bitten on one already, but right now my 910 is marginally brighter then the 720 )most noticeably on a motorcycle mounting) so I am staying put for now.

 

[GarCor]

Are there plans to continue coming out with new firmware and bring thoes of us owning older models the new features?

I have a 910 and it seams like internally its identical to the 720 (chip set, speed, memory, etc) yet I don't have voice recognition. Is this actually another chip for VR or is it just tomtom trying to get more of my money from an upgrade?

I don't think it was TomTom's intention to put VR on the 720 it was just something that happened in one of the more recent versions of the firmware that came out for the 920 but some how when that verson of firmware was released for the 720 they didn't remove the VR from it.

I could be wrong on this but it seems to me a read this someware.

This being said it might be possable to add VR to the 910 if everything else as you say is the same ????

 

[dhn]

This being said it might be possable to add VR to the 910 if everything else as you say is the same ????

It is my understanding that the 910's come with USA&Canada maps which do NOT have the required csspeech.dat files necessary for VR; the x20 and x30 models DO come with the North America map which DO have the necessary files.

 

[GAW]

It is my understanding that the 910's come with USA&Canada maps which do NOT have the required csspeech.dat files necessary for VR; the x20 and x30 models DO come with the North America map which DO have the necessary files.

The 910's came with North American maps (along with Western and Central European maps), as they easily fit on the 20 GB drive. Have upgraded my 910 to new N. American maps also. I now have N. American map version 720 in it. I can see cssspeech files for all states and Canada on it - is there an additional .dat file needed ?

The 510's were limited initially to the US/Canada only because TomTom chose to only include a 1 Gb chip, but they also work OK with full N. American map with a 2 Gb chip.

 

[dhn]

Well, what the heck, give it a shot......

Create a text file using Notepad called support_asr.dat with ONLY the number 1 in it, no extra spaces, no carriage returns. Make sure you have Windows show extensions for known file types because you do NOT want the file to REALLY be called support_asr.dat.txt

Once it's created, move it to the asr folder on the unit (if there is one)

My gut feeling is that other files are missing but give it a shot and let us know.

 

[GAW]

Well, what the heck, give it a shot......

Create a text file using Notepad called support_asr.dat with ONLY the number 1 in it, no extra spaces, no carriage returns. Make sure you have Windows show extensions for known file types because you do NOT want the file to REALLY be called support_asr.dat.txt

Once it's created, move it to the asr folder on the unit (if there is one)

My gut feeling is that other files are missing but give it a shot and let us know.

Apparently, more files are needed. I did not have an ASR folder, so I copied one from a 7.48 application along with the above file in it (the latest application for the 910 is only 7.162 - that is the problem I guess - which is where this thread started...). I do not see the ASR icons on the "Navigate To" screen at all.

If you have any thoughts on possible other files - let me know.

Also, if the unit is identical internally to the 7.20 (9.20?), what would a forced upgrade to 7.48 do to it (I would have of course a complete windows explorer backup in case it bricks it)?

 

[PolyPill]

Also, if the unit is identical internally to the 7.20 (9.20?), what would a forced upgrade to 7.48 do to it (I would have of course a complete windows explorer backup in case it bricks it)?

I was thinking of trying the same thing, just at work now so I can't play yet.

 

[dhn]

Well.......it seems there ARE differences between 910's and 720's after all. I know 910's are capable of text to speech. Do you have computer voices available? Just a thought.

 

[PolyPill]

Well.......it seems there ARE differences between 910's and 720's after all. I know 910's are capable of text to speech. Do you have computer voices available? Just a thought.

Yes we do and yes there are difference, but these difference are more like the differences between a 720 and 730. Which by looking at tomtom's own product comparison the only things the 730 supposedly does that the 720 can't is: VR, Advanced Lane Guide and IQ Routes. Which it sounds like tomtom released a firmware to give these things to the 720 on accident proving that there's no new fancy hardware its just software their marketing department doesn't want to give to people that already bought their sales pitch. I think the same goes for the 910 just no one accidentally released anything but its possible to do.

I personally feel cheated by their actions towards older devices and it will weigh heavily on my next gps purchase and recommendation to friends. Like being told you have to buy a new computer when windows service pack x comes out, not because your computer isn't capable of running it but because they want you to spend more money.

 

[GAW]

Yes, computer voices are available.

I tried (just for laughs) to install the 7.48 application on the 910. It would not do it, but it allowed me to install 8.01. After doing so, while it shows 8.10 as the application on the unit, it does not seem to have any of the new features of the 9XX series. It occasionally says that I have an invalid installation, but other then that, it works both on Home and by itself normally - but no ASR icons. Also, when viewing items on the device, under applications, it says the 8.01 file is only 12.8 mb, while it was 44 on the computer.

It looks like they may be a few files on the unit that tells it is still a 910. I don't want to mess with it too much and chance bricking it.

Note - I did not have the current 8.01 on my computer - I had the earlier one that caused issues and was withdrawn by TT. Don't know if this would have made a difference.

 

[dhn]

It wouldn't. It's the exact same firmware, re-released (go figure)

If I were you, I'd cut my losses figuring I'd pushed the envelope as much as I could.

Time for a Explorer restore??

 

[GAW]

It wouldn't. It's the exact same firmware, re-released (go figure)

If I were you, I'd cut my losses figuring I'd pushed the envelope as much as I could.

Time for a Explorer restore??

It had started acting up on re-booting the device. Its voice was real sloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow. Agree it is time to quit.

Did not restore - had Home remove the application and then had it add back the 7.163 application from the computer. Would only need to do complete restore if it still has problems. So far, it looks like back to normal.

Would have liked to have had those voices however...

 

[opelap]

Yes we do and yes there are difference, but these difference are more like the differences between a 720 and 730. Which by looking at tomtom's own product comparison the only things the 730 supposedly does that the 720 can't is: VR, Advanced Lane Guide and IQ Routes. Which it sounds like tomtom released a firmware to give these things to the 720 on accident proving that there's no new fancy hardware its just software their marketing department doesn't want to give to people that already bought their sales pitch. I think the same goes for the 910 just no one accidentally released anything but its possible to do.

I personally feel cheated by their actions towards older devices and it will weigh heavily on my next gps purchase and recommendation to friends. Like being told you have to buy a new computer when windows service pack x comes out, not because your computer isn't capable of running it but because they want you to spend more money.

Your really suprised and ticked off about this?? I was amazed they brought mapshare to the 910. How many companies continually bring new features to their products?

Windows service packs are to fix problems, not add new features. Microsoft didn't put media center into the service packs so why should TomTom be required to add all the new features into a "service pack" for the 910. Now they could release it as an upgrade
and charge for it as a compromise.

I would love to have all of the features come to the 910, but don't expect it.

 

[PolyPill]

I'd just like to announce to all the unbelievers that my 910 is currently running the tomtom 720 software, view recognition and all those 720 features work great!

 

[GAW]

I'd just like to announce to all the unbelievers that my 910 is currently running the tomtom 720 software, view recognition and all those 720 features work great!

Would like to know which version you installed, and the process you used. I had tried it above, and while it "worked", there were some problems (including not seeing the new features) and I converted back. I would like to give it another shot.