The TomTom GO 520 Review began by opening the small glossy box. The TomTom GO 520 comes with everything that you need to get started, this includes the TomTom GO, the new simple windscreen mount, a 12/24 volts car charger and a docking station for connecting the device to a computer.

The TomTom GO 520 has undergone a major redesign with the addition of a large 4.3” wide touch screen and the loss of its ‘round belly’ being the most noticeable. The new compact device weighs in at only 220 grams with 118 x 83 x 24 millimetres dimensions. This redesign removes the advantages that the lower range TomTom ONE had over the GO range; the advantage being you can now too place a TomTom GO into your pocket.

The TomTom GO 520 comes with 1GB of internal flash memory, but the SD card slot remains to offer you the option of additional storage for more maps or MP3s.

Software and Maps

The TomTom GO 520 comes with the latest version of Navcore 7, installed alongside the UK and Ireland maps on the 1 GB flash memory. TomTom Mapshare is the biggest and most publicised feature of the new software. Mapshare allows the GPS user to make their own adjustments to the maps and then to upload them to TomTom HOME to share with other GO users.

Voices and sound

The new design of the TomTom GO 520 has brought many advantages; regrettably the sound quality is not one of them. With the loss of the X10 ‘round belly’ sound has taken a slight dip. But TomTom have sweetened the blow by including the option to record your own navigational instructions. Although recording each of the 57 speech fragments takes some time it definitely helps add to the character of your new TomTom.

Speech Recognition

The TomTom GO 520 and the rest of the new GO range now offers the ability to enter your destination address into the device by simply speaking it out loud. The software will then take you through the same questions as traditionally asked on screen like ‘what house number’. You then simply say ‘ok’ to begin the route calculation. This great feature works a treat and we look forward to when they add a version for the postcode search.

Components

TomTom have Opted to use the SiRF Star III GPS receiver, instead of the Hammerhead chipset as seen on the recent TomTom ONE XL. This safe choice is not a surprise considering the SiRF Star III chipsets proven record for delivering high performance in relation to quick and stable signal connections. Teamed with a 400 Mhz processor and 64 MB of RAM the TomTom GO 520 calculates complicated routes quickly and with ease.

Mount

It seems the only lesson TomTom have learned from the X10 GO mount problems is to cut things right back to a simple solution. The new GO mount shares several similarities as seen on the TomTom ONE, primarily the removal of any electronics or input connections. This means that on long journeys that surpass the batter life you need to plug the power directly into the device. Saying that the TomTom ONE and ONE XL mount works well and offers no major problems.

Docking

Unlike the TomTom GO 510, TomTom have choosen to ship a docking station with the TomTom GO 520. This allows for the sat-nav to be connected to a computer for charging and for connecting to TomTom HOME for software and map updates.

FM Transmitter

TomTom trialled the release of a FM transmitter within a windscreen mount earlier this year and have chosen to include one into the actual GO unit itself. Simply set your GO and car stereo to the same free FM frequency and your off: instant instructions and the sound of your GO stored MP3s through the car stereo.

TomTom GO 520 Conclusion

To conclude the TomTom GO 520 is a great buy with plenty of TomTom deals flying around. The new dimensions finally offer a GO that will fin in your pocket, while still offering many high end features like the 4.3” screen and the great speech recognition software. Teaming the TomTom GO 520 with fast route calculation, a great GPS receiver and new TomTom Mapshare creates a sat-nav that you can more than live with for the next few years.

Unfortunately the GO does have a few negatives primarily revolving around the drop in sound quality and the poor implementation of the FM transmitter.

The TomTom GO 520 review has once again displayed why TomTom are market leaders by delivering a top notch navigation solution for the UK in the TomTom GO 520, Good job TomTom.