MacRumors Giveaway: Win an 'Automatic Link' Connected Car Adapter

[MacRumors]

For our next giveaway, we've partnered with Automatic, maker of the Automatic Link car adapter and companion apps to monitor your car's performance and usage. The Automatic Link adapter and apps debuted in 2013 and the adapter currently retails for $99 while the companion iPhone app is free. [Direct Link]

The Automatic Link plugs into a car's OBD-II diagnostic port and works with most gasoline car models sold in the US since 1996 (car compatibility can be checked here). Data is transmitted to a paired iPhone (or Android smartphone) via Bluetooth and requires an iPhone 5 or newer. The Automatic system can decode engine fault codes and track gas mileage and offer feedback to improve it. A Crash Alert feature can also reach out to emergency services or designated contacts through a paired smartphone in the case of an accident. The Automatic system can also keep track of where you parked your car.

To enter to win the Automatic Link adapter, use the Rafflecopter widget below and enter your email address. Your email address will not be given to any third party and will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner. You can also earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, following MacRumors on Twitter, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page. Due to the intricacies of international laws regarding giveaways, you must be age 18 or older and located in the United States to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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This contest will run from today (March 20) at 12:00 pm Pacific time through 12:00 pm Pacific time on March 27. The winner will be chosen randomly on March 27 and will be contacted by email. The winner has 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address. The Automatic Link adapter will be shipped to the winner for free.

Automatic is also offering a coupon code to MacRumors readers that will take 20% off all orders through their site. Enter the code MACRUMORS at checkout.

Article Link: MacRumors Giveaway: Win an 'Automatic Link' Connected Car Adapter

 

[fzfpff]

You must be age 18 or older and located in the United States to enter.

Not this again.

 

[r6girl]

Not this again.

Before people get up in arms about this, it's for legal reasons best described in this response in the thread for the first giveaway we did. We know that we have many members and readers outside of the US but there's simply no reasonable way for us to comply with the laws of all countries.

 

[travis64]

Looks cool

 

[DVNIEL]

Why did I think y'all were giving away a car?

 

[verniesgarden]

I got one when they first came out, love it, they've added a lot of great features and don't seem to be stopping. There are some fun IFTTT recipes that work with it as well.

 

[cerote]

I tried to check if my cars are listed but the only thing the compatibility let my do was the year. Can't do make or model.

Tried in Safari and Firefox.

 

[gopowers]

I tried to check if my cars are listed but the only thing the compatibility let my do was the year. Can't do make or model.

Tried in Safari and Firefox.

I am having the same problem. Same browsers, too. Ugh.
(yes, I finally registered a username and made a post after lurking for so many years)

 

[elmateo487]

So if the devs are reading this. Is the mileage calculated using the cars computer? Or is it calculated by fuel consumption in relation to distance traveled by gps. If it is the later I will buy one in a heartbeat.

I have an old junky lifted jeep with ginormous tires. And no trip computer will calculate mpg right. I had an Eco route (same idea but for garmin gpsd devices) and it told me all the time that I should be getting 22mpg. LOL

If it has a mode to use gps distance. That would be so great. It would allow older cars that have been modified. Or any car that has been modified, To get accurate mpg information

 

[dejo]

I have an old junky lifted jeep with ginormous tires. And no trip computer will calculate mpg right.

Have you changed your speedometer gear to account for the larger tires?

 

[jweinraub]

I found some discount codes plus additional discount during christmas to buy it for $60 and after a few weeks, promptly returned it. It is pure garbage and really regret getting it.

 

[elmateo487]

I tried to check if my cars are listed but the only thing the compatibility let my do was the year. Can't do make or model.

Tried in Safari and Firefox.

Between this. And that dumb giveaway signup that MR uses. I feel like it's 2004 on my phone.

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I found some discount codes plus additional discount during christmas to buy it for $60 and after a few weeks, promptly returned it. It is pure garbage and really regret getting it.

Explain why?

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Have you changed your speedometer gear to account for the larger tires?

Yes. But that doesn't account for so many other factors. I am less than 1% off from actual speed. Yet nothing can calculate true mpg.

 

[adammusic]

I can Actually use this.

 

[aacealo]

I purchased one of these awhile back. I use it to diagnose check engine lights. Otherwise I find the feature set somewhat annoying.

Frankly I think it's because the developers' goals for this device are not mine. While I'd appreciate features to tell me my remaining fuel range, navigation to help me select the most economical gas stations along a route, or even simply a reliable connection with my iPhone 6... the emphasis seems to be mostly on their "Drive Score" concept. Basically, I want reliability and information from a tool the developers seem to view more as a safety device.

At first I thought it was a neat idea. They give you an audible chirp whenever you accelerate hard, brake hard, or are speeding. The speeding chirp I don't mind, the hard acceleration chirp had its moments, but in all honesty, I think their chirp for a hard brake is downright dangerous. In order to boost your drive score you don't want to hear any chirps. So if I you're an engaged user, thinking about your score, and the guy in front of you slams on the brakes, your score gets a negative hit even though you did the right thing and braked hard enough to keep from rear-ending the person. Same is true if someone cuts you off, pulls out unexpectedly, or otherwise drives erratically or irresponsibily. In fairness, you can turn those three features off, but beyond an emergency crash phone call, I see little use for this device other than checking and clearing check engine codes. And yes, I've tried to use this with IF (formerly IFTTT) and I have a Nest and have tried using it with that (the constant text messages were annoying so I disconnected my Automatic from the Nest - the Nest on the other hand is AMAZING, I've had it two years and I LOVE it).

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

This is one of those things I said I'd think about if it were cheaper. And free is cheaper. So I've entered.

I can see myself paying ~$20 for it just to have more information when the diagnostic lights come on. Other than that none of the features seem particularly appealing to me.

 

[AlecZ]

I'll install something like this in the first car I buy. I'll stick an old iPhone in some permanent spot on the dash to use it and for music. And an AirPort Express connected to the auxiliary input for music and audio nav. Oooh I can't wait!

 

[robkurzd]

I'd love to use this with my truck!

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Not this again.

Not this again.

 

[Johntotah94]

Or you can buy an ELM327 and Dash Command App

 

[Astro321]

Or you can buy an ELM327 and Dash Command App

Or u can use this, or u can use that, or that over there. Isn't having OPTIONS a lovely thing?

Your snark has been met with more snark.

 

[larrylaffer]

but in all honesty, I think their chirp for a hard brake is downright dangerous. In order to boost your drive score you don't want to hear any chirps. So if I you're an engaged user, thinking about your score, and the guy in front of you slams on the brakes, your score gets a negative hit even though you did the right thing and braked hard enough to keep from rear-ending the person. Same is true if someone cuts you off, pulls out unexpectedly, or otherwise drives erratically or irresponsibily.

That's a really interesting point. I wonder if at some point the DoT will regular this kind of stuff.

 

[Johntotah94]

Or u can use this, or u can use that, or that over there. Isn't having OPTIONS a lovely thing?

Your snark has been met with more snark.

Yes. We love options! This by far looks way better and cleaner.
But if anyone wanted this but was on a budget. I got an ELM327 for $14.99 and Dash Command App for $9.99

 

[Sandstorm]

I'm interested in something like this, but I wonder why diesel cars are not supported...

 

[magicMac]

Would be good if this could also unlock the car (initiated with touchID)

 

[rworne]

This is one of those things I said I'd think about if it were cheaper. And free is cheaper. So I've entered.

I can see myself paying ~$20 for it just to have more information when the diagnostic lights come on. Other than that none of the features seem particularly appealing to me.

I was in the pre-order group for this (beta program) and at the end they sent us our Automatic for free.

While it's great at that price (free), I find it quite useful. It logs all the trips, lets us know if we are driving "roughly" - I think the deceleration warning is overly sensitive - and lets us know how we are driving. It's quite unobtrusive aside from the quiet chirps.

As an aside, it works quite well as a backup for "Find My Friends" so I can see where the SO went with the car recently so we can meet up someplace (the app only updates when the car's ignition is turned on or off).

Lately it's used to help our Nest thermostat know when we are home or out and about. The jury's still out on this one - the Nest does a pretty good job of that itself.

In the end, if I'd paid $60 for it, I would not feel ripped off either. I'm considering getting another for our other car.