Automatic now available for Pre-Order – no subscription fee
Posted By RichC on March 14, 2013
Automatic’s online video and marketing phrase, “save hundreds on gas every year,” seems a little bit hokey, but the idea of a device which connects your smartphone to your vehicle’s OBD port by bluetooth is pretty smart. For a pre-order price of $69.95, the tech gadget should be able to give you plenty of diagnostic information supplied by the computers in modern cars – currently non-diesel cars.
Besides monitoring your engine and vehicle’s vitals as reported by the car’s computer, the Crash Alert is an interesting feature too … think Onstar without the monthly plan (or many of the mature features).
Crash AlertBETA
The Automatic Link includes a built-in accelerometer that can detect many types of crashes. Automatic uses your phone’s data connection to immediately report the crash to 911* with your name, location, and vehicle description.
Once help responds, Automatic can send a text message to your loved ones to let them know what happened, where you are, and that help is on the way.
A favorite feature is the airport, ballgame or mall parking locator …
Least favorites …include the “tracking” and “monitoring” features, which also sends data back to Automatic. Hmm … they say privacy is valued, but call me suspicious of all the data collecting websites and services.
- Automatic shows how you’re doing on every trip.
- Automatic scores your driving every week to help you improve. A high score could save you hundreds on gas every year.
- The Automatic app displays detailed info about your week, like how much you drive and where.
- Automatic learns about your driving style and gives you subtle audio cues when you do things that waste gas …
Did you know …
In 1969, Volkswagen introduced the first on-board computer system (OBD) with scanning capability in their fuel-injected Type 3 models (advertising video).
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