TomTom GPS device includes MP3 player

TomTom this week announced two new models within its TomTom Go Global Positioning System devices, the TomTom Go 910 and TomTom Go 510 (a third model, the TomTom Go 710, was announced for Europe). The new devices will succeed the current line of devices, the company says.

The 910 model (about $900) is the company's new high-end model, and will include pre-installed maps of the U.S., Canada and Europe in one unit at no additional cost. It will include advanced text-to-speech technology that lets the device read street names and places aloud as part of the spoken instructions, TomTom says. The technology also allows for traffic alerts and SMS messages to be read aloud. The 910 also will include the built-in digital TomTom Jukebox, an MP3 player that can store up to 20GB of songs (more than 1,000, TomTom says). Music can play through the car stereo system (via Bluetooth) or the device's audio speaker (or an included audio out cable).

The 510 (about $700) includes hands-free calling via compatible Bluetooth-enabled phones, and comes with a 1GB SD card with pre-installed maps of the U.S. and Canada, TomTom says. Other features on both models include an automatic light sensor, a newly designed windshield mount and support for an external microphone.

The company also announced free software, TomTom Home, which lets users manage, download, store and transfer content from their computer onto the new devices. The company says that users can pre-plan routes, download maps and get easier access to TomTom Plus content, such as audio books, buddy lists, traffic reports, road condition updates and weather reports. Availability of the devices was not yet announced – head to the TomTom Web site for more details.

• gadgets
• GPS
• TomTom