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Automatic Unveils New App Gallery and Car Adapter With Real-Time Data Support

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Apr 12, 2001
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Automatic today announced the release of a second-generation Automatic Adapter, which adds dual Bluetooth data streams, built-in GPS, Made for iPhone (MFi) certfication, and an improved connector to its existing feature set.

Like the original Automatic Adapter, the new version plugs into a car's OBD-II port to provide information like distance traveled, gas used, time spent in the car, and more. It's able to provide notifications to advise drivers on when to ease off on the gas and brake pedals to optimize speeds and save gas, and it can deliver information on what's wrong with a car via check engine alerts.

Data collected is aggregated into a weekly driving score, and via Bluetooth, the accompanying app can let you know where your car is parked. A free crash alert service sends assistance whenever a severe collision is detected.

automaticadapter.jpg
Along with a new Adapter, Automatic also announced an SDK and an App Gallery, which houses third party apps that are able to take advantage of the data that Automatic supplies. There are more than a dozen apps that already offer Automatic integration, like IFTTT, Nest, Yo, and Pebble.

One of the major features that Automatic's new app integration brings is the ability to see a car's raw performance data in real time (with the new Adapter). Automatic now delivers data to DashCommand, Harry's LapTimer, and OBD Fusion, three apps that can read information from a car's OBD-II port sent from the Automatic.

With Automatic's SDK, additional apps may include data from the Automatic Adapter in the future. The SDK offers access to information like mileage, routes, driving events, real-time speed, RPM, and more.

The Automatic Adapter can be purchased from the Automatic website for $99.95.

Article Link: Automatic Unveils New App Gallery and Car Adapter With Real-Time Data Support
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2015/05/19/automatic-new-car-adapter/
Useless Adapter

I bought the original unit, it never did work right. It interfered with the OnStar diagnostics as well as Chevrolet diagnostics. Bluetooth was always iffy. So now that I lost $100, Automatic wants me to invest another $100 to try again, leaving me with a $200 device, that may or may not work correctly? I'm done experimenting for them.
 
OR......
Why not go over to new egg and get the $16 wifi model (Google "ELM327 wifi OBD2") that works with iOS then just buy Dash Command for $10.
Spending $100 on something you can get for $15 is insulting to the intelligence of the members of this forum.
Don't be that guy.
 
Develop a version that allows me to unlock the doors with my apple watch and I'll order it.
 
I've had the first gen for six months now. Never had a problem with it. It also tells you where your car is parked and how long it's been there on via the Apple Watch.
 
Let's say your car is worth $200.

For $100, if Automatic lets you find where you parked your car instead of having to buy a new car, it pays for itself TWO TIMES OVER in a single usage.
 
nagromme said:
Let's say your car is worth $200.

For $100, if Automatic lets you find where you parked your car instead of having to buy a new car, it pays for itself TWO TIMES OVER in a single usage.
Click to expand...

Assuming anyone really lost a car like that.
 
The passive data part is interesting but secure control options would be way more useful. Things like door unlock, autostart, alarm, etc.

GPS things already work well from iOS, which includes finding the car.
 
clukas said:
Indeed, nice to see. However with a $50 shipping charge, and import VAT paid in the UK it makes it an expensive toy. They also offer very little international support, they practically only replace a faulty device and thats it. So thats an expensive $149 device with no support and no guarantee it works.
Click to expand...

Yeah it's nuts. But I do like to see slowly the things around me become smarter. Controlling your lights from your watch never seems to get old. And adding the car to the mix seems like the natural next step. I'll happily pay the price to be essentially a beta tester of that.

It's never necessary, but the small things they do add up.
 
J450NN4ME said:
OR......
Why not go over to new egg and get the $16 wifi model (Google "ELM327 wifi OBD2") that works with iOS then just buy Dash Command for $10.
Spending $100 on something you can get for $15 is insulting to the intelligence of the members of this forum.
Don't be that guy.
Click to expand...

I don't believe that the ELM327 works with iOS bluetooth without jailbreaking and installing a full Bluetooth stack.
 
You are correct. The ELM 327 works over wifi. Nonetheless, it works.
There is no need to jailbreak the device, just plug and play. The beauty of that setup in the Bluetooth remains free to operate the infotainment center with streaming music and hands free phone use.
 
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clukas said:
Indeed, nice to see. However with a $50 shipping charge, and import VAT paid in the UK it makes it an expensive toy. They also offer very little international support, they practically only replace a faulty device and thats it. So thats an expensive $149 device with no support and no guarantee it works.
Click to expand...

I totally agree. I've been waiting for this since I saw the original model in an Apple store in the US long ago, but paying 50$ for shipping, and then hoping for it to work?? I think that's incredibly arrogant, to "allow" the beta testers to try it out and if it doesn't work they just don't care, instead of using them to give feedback and then improve the product. I guess I'll have to wait.
 
Mine works pretty well. It connects reliably and logs what it is ment to. However the issue I have is that the BT occasionally interferes with the BT in my car, leading to lower voice quality during phone calls.
This may be more of an issue with the interplay of the chipsets used in my car, phone and automatic. So I don't know which device to blame.
Also keep in mind that this is ODB II. Many new cars (especially hybrids and electronic) are now using ODB III.
 
As others have mentioned, automatic are simply adding a fluffy user interface to a product that can be purchased for about $10 from eBay which is a complete farce.

I was originally interested in this product until I educated myself on the topic and found out about the ELM327 Bluetooth and Wifi adapter.

The wifi version is much more reliable and equally cheap. As already mentioned, google for "obd2 elm327".

Additionally, if you're daft enough to lose your car to need the "find my car feature", you have bigger issues to deal with first! Added to that, there are plenty of free "find my car" apps out there.

If this sold for $30, I could see the value, but $100 is a massive rip-off.
 
For all those considering a US$ 20 adapter a good deal - they are actually knockoffs based on inventions and investments genuine manufacturers have spent.

You will get no support, the same MAC address like thousands of others, and you plug a tool into your car's bus you really can't trust. It is not my party.

Any genuine OBD adapter is around US$ 100. WiFi adapters are a bit faster and work around Apple's Mfi restrictions on Bluetooth. But they are not as convenient as BT in every day use. You need to take care your phone connects to the WiFi you actually want and you need to take care it stays connected all the time (and it will not). So there are pros and cons.

Just my 5 cents. I hope this is not getting another black and white discussion.

- Harry
 
HarryLaps said:
For all those considering a US$ 20 adapter a good deal - they are actually knockoffs based on inventions and investments genuine manufacturers have spent.
Click to expand...

Not only that, but Automatic has a call center with real people on-hand 24/7 to assist in the event of a crash.

The Automatic adapter detects a crash with a built-in accelerometer and plays a message to let you know it’s about to call for help.

You can cancel the alert if needed. Otherwise, the app will upload the crash details to our emergency call center.

A Crash Alert agent calls your phone to confirm that you need assistance. If you confirm or don’t answer, the agent will request help from emergency services*. They can stay on the line with you until help arrives.

The agent can also call your loved ones to let them know help is on the way. They’ll leave a message if no one answers.
Click to expand...

And that's included in the $99 without a subscription. For comparison, OnStar starts at $199 a year (or $20/mo) for the "Protection Package" that only additionally includes roadside assistance. If you have a crash once in five years, you've paid $1000 to OnStar, and mere pennies to Automatic.
 
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