Reviewed by Mr. Justin (weatheryoko):
Wow! I’m really sorry about the delay. I was hoping to have the activation part of the review up last week. However, sometimes life just gets the best of you, no matter what your plans are. What can you do? Anyway, on to the activation portion….
The activation process is nearly identical to the previous release (TT5). My last blog finished up with installing the maps, software, voices and satellite images onto your storage card. I had you disconnect your device from your computer and then remove and re-insert your storage card.
Once you re-insert your storage card, installation begins immediately. (Background for Windows Mobile Devices: TomTom HOME copies the .cab files (i.e. the install files) and creates a “2577” directory on your storage card. From what I’ve learned, a “2577” directory is a special directory used by the OS to install programs. Basically, if the OS “sees” a directory on your storage card labeled “2577”, it will look in that directory and install any .cab files it finds in it.)
Step 1: Program automatically begins installation when you re-insert your Storage Card.
You will soon be prompted to specify some of your preferences (i.e. time format, preferred language, etc). If you make a mistake on any of your preference choices (or change your mind later), don’t worry! You can change them under the “Preferences” menu (discussed in a later blog).
Step 2: Select your preferred language.
Step 3: Confirm your choice.
Step 4: Begin specifying your preferences.
Step 5: Are you right or left handed?
Step 6: Select the units you wish TT6 to display.
Step 7: Select your time format.
Finally, you’ll be asked to select a “voice” that will be used for voice guidance. Use the arrows to scroll through your choices. Select the voice that you installed earlier (i.e. I selected “Richard”).
Step 8: Select a voice. Tap the “Test” button to listen to a sample of the voice. If the voice hasn’t been installed, you won’t hear anything.
After selecting your preferred voice, you will be prompted to select a map (i.e. the one that you’ve previously loaded) and activate it. Each map that you’ve loaded onto your storage card will get its own directory (i.e. based on the screen capture below, I would see two folders on my storage card. One directory would be labeled "USA_and_Canada" and the other directory would be labeled "US_-_Western_Region"). As long as you don’t delete/remove the map directory from your storage card, each map only has to be activated once.
HINT: TomTom allows the user to delete the map data, but retain your settings, favorites and activation key. This can be found by selecting “Manage Maps” under the Preferences Menu. I’ll cover this more in a future blog.
Step 9: Select a map you wish to use/activate.
Once you've select a map, you’ll be prompted to activate it. There are two methods:
1) Manual (requires an internet connection (i.e. your PC)).
2) Automatic (requires a GPRS Connection thru your Mobile phone)
I’ve chosen to activate my copy via the MANUAL method.
After choosing “manual”, you will see the following screen. Each PDA has a unique device code. Write down your 10 letter/number device code and click on “Activate”.
Step 10: Write down your device code and select “Activate”.
On your PC, enter the URL address listed (i.e. http://www.ttcode.com/). Select the country of the maps you’re trying to activate.
Step 11: Step 1 of the online activation at http://www.ttcode.com/. Select the country of the maps you’re trying to activate.
After selecting the “Product Activation” link by the Canadian/US flag, you will first be prompted to enter your 15 letter Product Code (NOT your Device Code! That’s the next screen). Type in the product code found on the inside of your DVD jacket and click “Next”.
Step 12: Enter your Product Code (NOT your Device Code).
On the next screen, you’ll be prompted to enter your 10 digit/letter Device Code. NOTE: I had previously activated my device before writing this review so the following screen shot may look slightly different from yours.
Step 13: Enter your 10 digit/letter Device Code and click “Next”.
The final screen will show you your activation code. I would write this number down and keep it in a handy place (in case you ever need to re-activate a map and you don’t have an internet connection handy). The next step will be to enter this Activation Code onto your TomTom device/PDA.
Step 14: Write down your Activation Code.
Going back to your TomTom device, you’ll see the following screen. Enter your Activation Code and click “Done”.
Step 15: Enter your Activation Code.
When properly activated, you’ll get the following screen. Click “Continue”.
Step 16: Successful Product Activation.
The last portion of the install allows you to enter your “Home” Address and select what type of GPS receiver you’ll be using. Users enter address information in the following order:
City (or ZIP Code) -> Street -> House Number
HINT: Note that users can enter a “Cross Street” in lieu of a “House Number”!
Step 17: Set-Up your Home Address.
Step 18: Enter your “Home” city (or ZIP Code).
Step 19: Enter your Street Name.
Step 20: Enter your House Number (or Cross Street) and click “Done”.
Use the scroll keys to select your GPS receiver. I use an i-Blue High Sensitivity Bluetooth GPS Receiver (PS-3200) so I selected “Other Bluetooth Receiver”. You’ll get a warning screen asking you to create a connection with your Bluetooth GPS Receiver. Finally, select the communication port that your PDA uses to communicate with your Bluetooth GPS receiver.If you're unsure which communications port your device uses to communicate with your Bluetooth GPS receiver, you may need to experiment by selecting different communication ports in order to figure out which one is the correct one.
HINT: If you’re using a Bluetooth GPS receiver, you’ll need to first “pair” the device using your Device’s Bluetooth Manager. Once paired, you’ll then need to create a Bluetooth Serial Port Connection (again, using your Device’s Bluetooth Manager). Only when you’ve successfully created a Bluetooth Serial Port Connection to your Bluetooth GPS receiver will TomTom be able to communicate with your Bluetooth GPS receiver.
Step 21: Use the Scroll Arrows to select your GPS Receiver.
Step 22: Since I’m using a Bluetooth GPS receiver (but it’s not a TomTom Bluetooth receiver), I chose “Other Bluetooth GPS Receiver”.
Step 23: Set up a Bluetooth Serial Connection with your Device’s Bluetooth Manager.
Once you’ve configured your GPS antenna, you’ll be asked if you want to take some “Tours”.
TOURS
The “Tours” are really one of nicest features of TomTom products. Instead of using the abysmal “Help” function on WM devices, TomTom has created these “Tours” to help describe some of the basic functionality of TT6. There are a total of 7 tours:
1) Initial
2) Itinerary Planning
3) How to Use the Map Browser
4) How to Use the Menus
5) Routing Options
6) TomTom Buddies
7) Traffic
I’ve uploaded them so you can see how some of the functionality of TomTom Navigator 6.
Initial Tour
Itinerary Planning Tour
How to use the Map Browser
How to Use the Menus
Routing Options
TomTom Buddies
Traffic
Alright! We’ve installed TomTom Navigator 6, Activated our Maps and have taken a tour of some of the functionality of TTN6.
My next blog will be significantly shorter than the previous two and will have more of a “traditional review” feel. I’ll begin talking about things I really like and things I really don’t like. I’ve already found some bugs (or at least what I consider bugs), and will post some solutions that I’ve found.
Next Blog: Initial Feedback, Strengths and Weaknesses and Bug Fixes!