First Automatic said its driving assistant dongle and related iOS app would be ready in May, and then it said the app needed until August
to fully bake. Well, it's now October, and at long last, it appears the
San Francisco-based startup is finally ready to launch its connected
car platform to the general public. As a reminder, Automatic utilizes a
piece of hardware called the Link that attaches to your car's OBD-II
port -- most cars built after 1996 have one -- along with an iPhone app
that communicates with it via Bluetooth LE and translates that onboard
diagnostic information into usable data. For example, the app will
monitor your driving habits and let you know when you're riding the gas
pedal too hard or hitting the brakes too aggressively. If your car's
Check Engine light shows up, it'll give you its best guess as to what
caused it and even lets you clear it if you've managed to solve the
problem. There are other uses too, like dialing 911 if you've been in an
accident or finding a parked car. Have a peek at our hands-on
for more info, and if you feel like picking one up yourself,
Automatic's Link hardware is on sale for $99.95 on Apple's online store
and retail locations starting today.
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