TomTom’s released a new version of software, v8.35, for their TomTom GO x20 and GO x30 range of handheld sat nav devices.
So what, you may ask? Well this version re-instates a feature dropped in a previous version.
Newer TomTom Go devices come with an FM transmitter that broadcast the “after 200 yards, turn left” instructions, as well as music and audiobooks in MP3 format. recently, TomTom was forced to disable the voice instructions over FM, due to EU legislation that devices with transmitters couldn’t broadcast silence for more than a minute. TomTom’s voice instructions aren’t overly frequent on long stretches of road, so to comply with the law, the feature was dropped.
Now it’s back – voice instructions can be heard on FM again – but only if you’re playing an MP3. If you’re playing music from the MP3 folder, the music’s paused when TomTom needs to direct you, and resumes straight after.
Canny TomTom fans have been quick to publish the workaround… record a blank 30 seconds of audio, save it as an MP3 file, stick it in your MP3 folder, and play it on a loop from TomTom’s Jukebox. Problem solved.
