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Automatic Link OBD-II system for iPhone

Kaido

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Looks pretty cool:

http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/12/automatic-link-iphone-driving-assistant-video/

Pre-order for $70:

http://www.automatic.com/

Details:

* Works on most cars made 1996 or later (using OBD-II)
* Uses Bluetooth
* iPhone 4S & 5 compatible
* No monthly fee; uses approximately 5MB of data per month
* Features: Driving Feedback, Drive Score, Trip Timeline
* Tracks how much you drive, where you drive, actual MPG, gas spending history, and more

Pretty neat! The price seems reasonable too for everything it does.
 
How does this work? I looked up ODB II sensors a few weeks back so I could check the gas levels on my car, and I read that stock iOS doesn't work with Bluetooth-based adapters because of how Apple locks down the Bluetooth implementation (keyboard, audio only). I actually use my ASUS Transformer TF300 (using Torque) with a cheap $20 Bluetooth ODB II adapter from Amazon, and it works great.

From what I could see, iOS devices require WiFi-based adapters and the software is ridiculously expensive ($30-50 vs. $5 for Torque).
 
Torque might be due for an upgrade to go more mainstream to add some of these features?
I just got my cheap adapter and Torque too, its pretty cool, but other than pulling codes once my car starts getting old and broken, the rest is kind of gimmicky.
I suppose if you're a serious tuner it'd be handy to know pressures and temps and stuff.
 
This is really neat and the price point is pretty fair. I am using an ODBII sensor in my car, but had to jailbreak it to get access to bluetooth so that I could connect it via that method. Apple does not allow easy access to bluetooth data.
 
So...you pay money for one of those nanny devices the insurance companies are now handing out? Without the rate benefit?

Also, OBD2 standards do not include GPS.

That OBD II port that has been installed on just about every US-bound automobile since 1996? It's potential has just been tapped. For years, ambiguous dashboard lights have clued motorists in on internal issues, but driving to a body shop just to borrow a data port reader is so last decade. Enter the Automatic Link -- a simplistic nub that plugs into said port and utilizes Bluetooth 4.0 to connect to your iPhone 4S or 5 (prior iPhones use older versions of the BT stack). Once linked, it'll monitor your driving habits and routes, sending gentle reminders to not brake so suddenly or accelerate so quickly in a bid to save fuel. Moreover, it'll dial 911 and alert your relatives should you get in an accident, and perhaps most intriguingly, it'll send full diagnostic reports to your iPhone whenever a warning indicator lights up.
Click to expand...

This article is really, really stupid. And the device sounds useless until they actually get to the 'reads codes and freezeframe data' part; although they accidentally phrased it as 'diagnostic report'...
 
RedRooster said:
Torque might be due for an upgrade to go more mainstream to add some of these features?
I just got my cheap adapter and Torque too, its pretty cool, but other than pulling codes once my car starts getting old and broken, the rest is kind of gimmicky.
I suppose if you're a serious tuner it'd be handy to know pressures and temps and stuff.
Click to expand...

i really like torgue. though a update would be nice.


that program looks great. $70 though?
 
Last edited:
waggy said:
i really like torgue. though a update would be nice.


that program looks great. $70 though?
Click to expand...

$70 for a fully functional OBD2 BT scan tool isn't that bad. The cheap Chinese ones used to be more than that (now I think they're 30-40 bucks, maybe? But that's a gamble).

I'm wondering what hardware they're using (product in OP). I bet it's just another Chinese ELM327 knockoff.
 
I was thinking about how this device could work without a jailbreak, and there may be a way... a very hokey way. I mentioned earlier that Apple's Bluetooth in iOS is fairly locked down and only works with a few things (i.e. keyboards, headsets, etc.). So, my thought is... why not just have the ODB II adapter connect up as a keyboard? This would allow it to stream data and remain within Apple's tight Bluetooth grip. There are certainly downsides to this implementation as things could get a bit wonky if you try to write a text! 😱 However, it would theoretically work as long as the program was designed to interpret sets of keystrokes as messages.

Just a thought. :hmm:
 
someone could write a torque plugin to do everything this does. always pays to give others access to your api.
 
phucheneh said:
$70 for a fully functional OBD2 BT scan tool isn't that bad. The cheap Chinese ones used to be more than that (now I think they're 30-40 bucks, maybe? But that's a gamble).

I'm wondering what hardware they're using (product in OP). I bet it's just another Chinese ELM327 knockoff.
Click to expand...

I've owned 3 cheap Chinese bluetooth ones (ViperGTS now has one of them) and they've all worked. They're about 20 bucks.
 
jlee said:
I've owned 3 cheap Chinese bluetooth ones (ViperGTS now has one of them) and they've all worked. They're about 20 bucks.
Click to expand...

I've had bad luck with them. The two 20 buck ones I got from amazon and eBay resulted in dropped data every few seconds in torque and other obd2 apps. Eventually got a plx kiwi and it works fine.
 
Wow, another one - this time with live gauges: "Dash"

http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/31/...s-your-car-data-live-with-gauges-and-dashcam/

Also Delphi/Verizon's Vehicle Diagnostics:

http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/08/delphi-verizons-vehicle-diagnostics-hands-on-video/

Theirs is available now for $250 with 2 years of service included, $5 a month after that:

http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/31/verizon-vehicle-diagnostics-by-delphi-now-monitoring-your-car/

The interesting thing about the Delphi one is that it can replicate key fob functions via Bluetooth on your phone. In my experience, Bluetooth kinda stinks and takes a minute to get paired up - great for calls (and audio streaming on the newer units), but I'm curious if implementation on BT 4.0 is better/faster or something:

http://www.connectedcar.delphi.com/welcome/
 
I bought an ELM327 for $20 and the $4 version of Torque. $70?...Apple can suck it.
 
DaTT said:
I bought an ELM327 for $20 and the $4 version of Torque. $70?...Apple can suck it.
Click to expand...

Man, I wish they made Torque for iPhone!

OT - how is the GPS in Androids? Does it vary a lot? I'm almost thinking it might be worth it to buy a cheapie Android tablet from DX and use the Garmin app & Torque in the car, no data required.
 
Kaido said:
Man, I wish they made Torque for iPhone!

OT - how is the GPS in Androids? Does it vary a lot? I'm almost thinking it might be worth it to buy a cheapie Android tablet from DX and use the Garmin app & Torque in the car, no data required.
Click to expand...

You have to jailbreak your iPhone in order to get the ELM327 to work. Apple doesn't support almost anything when it comes to bluetooth devices. (And it has to be approved by Apple, serious)
 
So, basically, it does the same things that my $5 Torque app and $25 bluetooth adapter does for only $40 more. Plus, instead of all my data staying on my own phone where I can control its use, they process my driving data through their servers?

Forgive me for failing to see why this is special.

ZV
 
Someone link me to their bluetooth ELM327, por favor. Something that they've seen work on Android with more than one car.

That's not an angry challenge or anything, BTW; I honestly want to try one and am just looking for the best chances of it actually working on most cars. ELM can be sketchy on regular ol' USB and it seems to prefer Windows XP (IIRC the software I tried generally worked in Win7 but was far less reliable). I'm wonder how well these cheap bluetooth adapters and iOS/android apps actually work. I'm sure they generally read ECM codes okay, but has anybody tried data monitoring or anything more in-depth?
 
phucheneh said:
Someone link me to their bluetooth ELM327, por favor. Something that they've seen work on Android with more than one car.

That's not an angry challenge or anything, BTW; I honestly want to try one and am just looking for the best chances of it actually working on most cars. ELM can be sketchy on regular ol' USB and it seems to prefer Windows XP (IIRC the software I tried generally worked in Win7 but was far less reliable). I'm wonder how well these cheap bluetooth adapters and iOS/android apps actually work. I'm sure they generally read ECM codes okay, but has anybody tried data monitoring or anything more in-depth?
Click to expand...

http://www.amazon.com/BAFX-Products-...eywords=elm327

Works in my CTS-V and ViperGTS's Forester XT. I'm not sure I've tried it in my Tacoma yet.
 
Zenmervolt said:
So, basically, it does the same things that my $5 Torque app and $25 bluetooth adapter does for only $40 more. Plus, instead of all my data staying on my own phone where I can control its use, they process my driving data through their servers?

Forgive me for failing to see why this is special.

ZV
Click to expand...

It's for apple. That automatically makes it special 😛

jlee said:
http://www.amazon.com/BAFX-Products-...eywords=elm327

Works in my CTS-V and ViperGTS's Forester XT. I'm not sure I've tried it in my Tacoma yet.
Click to expand...

That's what I have. Works on my Trailblazer, Camaro, and my brother's Escape.
 
phucheneh said:
Someone link me to their bluetooth ELM327, por favor. Something that they've seen work on Android with more than one car.

That's not an angry challenge or anything, BTW; I honestly want to try one and am just looking for the best chances of it actually working on most cars. ELM can be sketchy on regular ol' USB and it seems to prefer Windows XP (IIRC the software I tried generally worked in Win7 but was far less reliable). I'm wonder how well these cheap bluetooth adapters and iOS/android apps actually work. I'm sure they generally read ECM codes okay, but has anybody tried data monitoring or anything more in-depth?
Click to expand...

I have used my ELM327 on my car (2005 Mustang GT), and 2008 Ford Escape, 2002 Ford Explorer, 2003ish Ford Taurus, 2007 Dodge Caliber...probably more

I use this one and it stays in my center console.

elm327-bluetooth-294.jpg
 
Kaido said:
Man, I wish they made Torque for iPhone!

OT - how is the GPS in Androids? Does it vary a lot? I'm almost thinking it might be worth it to buy a cheapie Android tablet from DX and use the Garmin app & Torque in the car, no data required.
Click to expand...

GPS in android phones is fine for the most part now. There were some issues early on especially with the original galaxy S phones. my nexus 4 gets a lock within 5 seconds, often even indoors.

the android OS however, only updates GPS position once every second. It's fine for general use, but for autox I use a qstar external bluetooth GPS which is more accurate and updates 10x a second. http://www.amazon.com/BT-Q818XT-Qsta.../dp/B003YCZINA

you could pick up a refurb nexus 7 for basically peanuts. I use mine fulltime for media/navigation in my car.
 
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