On Wednesday, Microsoft Corp. filed a lawsuit against TomTom NV and Tom Tom, Inc., claiming the Netherlands-based company had infringed on several patents. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington and in the International Trade Commission (ITC).
“We have taken this action after attempting for more than a year to engage in licensing discussions with TomTom,” said Horacio Gutierrez, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel of Intellectual Property and Licensing for Microsoft. The company reportedly listed eight patent violations found in TomTom’s Linux OS-based PNDs, three involving TomTom devices’ use of the FAT software file system and five relating to in-car navigation technologies.
“We reject the claim and will vigorously defend ourselves,” TomTom spokesman Taco Titulaer said in response.
TomTom’s GO 930T is a high-end GPS that includes everything you need to receive real time traffic updates, and boasts all the newest TomTom features, including voice recognition, IQ Routes, Enhanced Positioning Technology, Map Share, and Advanced Lane Guidance.
The hardware looks great, and Map Share combined with IQ routes has serious potential. But, TomTom’s interface needs an overhaul, and this isn’t the most user-friendly GPS out there. Click here to read full review of this device from GPS Magazine.
Along with AVN726E, Eclipse AVN4430 will be named the “2009 Design and Engineering Award Honorees” at the CES 2009 in Vegas. Keep in mind two years ago AVN2210p was rewarded the same title.
The AVN4430 is a secure dash-mount audio/visual/navigation system with portability, has a TomTom PND integrated with ECLIPSE superior sound & visual quality and offers exclusive benefits with co-branded technologies. It has a detachable 4.3″ TomTom GPS navigation system, and bluetooth connectivity.
RadioShack has landed yet another exclusive deal for the holidays, this time it’s the TomTom GO 630. The 4.3″ navigator sports many of the same features found on the popular TomTom GO 730 — IQ Routes™, Advanced Lane Guidance, Voice Address input, TomTom MapShare™, text-to-speech and Bluetooth for handsfree calling.
What appears to be missing is an FM transmitter and MP3 player. And the Radio Shack specs page cites just 3 million POIs. Anyway, the TomTom GO 630 lists for $399.99 and is available immediately.
[gpstracklog]
