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Automatic Lite is a more affordable smart car adapter for trip logging and vehicle diagnostics

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Automatic is out today with a new version of its Bluetooth smart car adapter at its lowest price yet. Automatic Lite retails for $79.95 and features subscription-free Check Engine Light diagnosis, automatic trip tagging, and gas price tracking for capturing business expenses. Automatic Lite connects to your car’s OBD (on-board diagnostics) port and connects to the Automatic app on your smartphone over Bluetooth.


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9to5Toys Last Call: 15″ MacBook Pro $1,600, 50-mile HDTV Antenna $17, Automatic iOS Driving Asst. $70, more

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Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:

Last Call Updates:

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Bring a little horsepower to your old Mac w/ a fast SanDisk Ultra II 960GB Solid-State Drive for $200, more

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Upgrade to Apple’s 15-inch MacBook Pro 2.2GHz/16GB/256GB for $1,600 shipped (Reg. $1,999)

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Amazon’s best-selling high-power, super-thin 50-mile amplified HDTV Antenna is somehow just $17 shipped

Indoor HDTV 25-mile Antenna w/17-ft cable: $8 Prime shipped (24″ Vizio HDTV for $90)

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Hook Dad up with Automatic’s smartphone-connected car diagnostic system: $70 shipped (Reg. $100)

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Best Buy is taking up to $200 off Apple Watch Stainless Steel: 38mm from $349, 42mm starts at $399

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Start your week with a $100 discount on iPad mini 4 & Air 2, priced from $300 shipped

Apple’s 12.9″ 128GB iPad Pro Wi-Fi + Cellular is all the way down to $800 (Reg. $1,079)

Save $200 on Apple’s 27-inch iMac w/ 5K Retina Display 3.2GHz/8GB/1TB: $1,599 (Reg. $1,799), more

itunes-gift-card-21Get a $100 iTunes Gift Card with email delivery from PayPal for just $85 (15% off)

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Rovio’s Bad Piggies for iPhone/iPad goes free for the first time in years (Reg. $1)

App Store Free App of the Week: Sago Mini Road Trip goes free for the first time in over a year ($3 value)

9to5toys-fathers-day-gift-guide

Here are our favorite Father’s Day gifts for the outdoorsman, chef and car aficionado in your life

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

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Use Siri voice commands to control any of your electronics w/ the iDevices smart switch: $35 Prime shipped (Orig. $50)

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

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Two UE BOOM 2 Bluetooth speakers: $300 shipped ($150/ea, save $100)

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Cover your iPhone 6/s Plus with OtterBox’s Alpha screen protector for $11.50 (Orig. $40)

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Review: Pelican’s impressive Elite Luggage is built like a tank, but is it worth the price tag?

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

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The Super 73 Electric Bike has an old-school design and hits speeds up to 30mph

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How to: cancel your Apple Music subscription before free trials expire tomorrow

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With the first of the 3-month free trials for Apple Music set to expire tomorrow, many users will have their credit cards charged automatically for the $9.99/month service going forward (or $14.99/month for the family plan). If you’ve decided that you don’t want to continue with Apple Music experience and want to avoid being charged for your first month, we’ve put together quick and easy instructions on how to cancel your subscription to keep it from auto-renewing (which is on by default when you sign-up). Otherwise, Apple will charge the credit card linked to the Apple ID that you used to sign-up for Apple Music. 
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Automatic upgrades $100 Bluetooth car dongle, launches ‘app store for cars’

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Automatic, a Bluetooth dongle that plugs into your car’s on-board diagnostic port to stream data to your iPhone, has been updated to a new version capable of streaming to two apps at the same time. The company has also launched an ‘app store for cars’ in the form of a webpage with download links to 22 apps that are compatible with the device.

We reviewed the original model back in 2013, when Zac Hall described it as smart, fun and interesting. At the time, it could only stream data to Automatic’s own companion app, but the latest version supports two simultaneous Bluetooth data streams, allowing both Automatic and a second app to receive data simultaneously.

Compatible apps include nine business-oriented apps, allowing things like automated mileage expense claims; convenience apps, like Nest, to pre-heat or cool your home while driving home; safety, like a driving coach to help new drivers; and performance, to provide real-time data to assist in car tuning.

The second-gen Automatic adapter also includes “built-in GPS, Made for iPhone (MFi) certification, and an improved connector to fit better in more cars” at the same $100 price.

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Jawbone introduces marketplace for partner apps and hardware

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Fitness gadget maker Jawbone announced today that it has launched a new “partner marketplace” for third-party apps and hardware that work together in an attempt to embrace the “Internet of Things.”

The new store features “smart home” products like the Nest Learning Thermostat and other automation tools, such as Automatic’s driving assistant. Software, like the Sleepio app, are also available.


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Holiday gift guide: using iPhone and iPad in the car

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holiday gift guide iPhone and iPad in the car

The iPhone has easily become the best jukebox in the car with your iTunes library, iTunes Radio, streaming services like Beats Music and Spotify, and great apps for keeping up with podcasts. With hands-free features powered by Siri, you can even stay in touch with phone calls and text messages all without ever taking your eyes off the road. If you’re a passenger, the iPad is a great screen for gaming, reading, watching movies, and more.

This holiday season is especially exciting with new features built-in to iOS like CarPlay and Hey Siri, which allows you to activate Siri while your iPhone or iPad is charging completely hands-free, and below are some of the best products to gift the iPhone or iPad-owning driver this year.
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Smart driving assistant Automatic partnering with Ford Motors through its in-car Sync platform

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All-New 2015 Ford Edge Showcases Technology, Design and CraftsmaAutomatic Labs and Ford Motors are announcing today a new partnership to bring the Automatic Link accessory to more people and add more functionality to the platform. Ford Motors and Automatic Labs will work together to develop features to both the Automatic platform and Ford Sync, the automaker’s in-car infotainment system.

By integrating with Ford’s Sync platform, for example, Automatic users will be able to connect the in-car Sync button to the popular If This Then That automatic service. This turns the push-to-talk button into a one push button for a variety of programmable automation tasks in the car. The two companies say more enhancements will roll out soon through the partnership.
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Automatic smart driving assistant brings its dashboard to the web

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Automatic Dashboard Web

The smart driving assistant Automatic is getting even more capable this morning with the roll out of a new dashboard interface made specifically for the web. You will probably recognize the interface (seen above) if you have used the Automatic app, which connects to a Bluetooth accessory in your car to give you data on driving efficiency and more.

The dashboard presents trip history mapped out alongside information including distance, miles-per-gallon, fuel cost, and duration just like the iPhone app. In addition to being able to access data captured by Automatic on the web for the first time, the new dashboard also features filtering and exporting capabilities.
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Automatic 2.0 for iPhone brings new design & fuel gauge support to the smart driving assistant

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Automatic, the smart driving assistant that connects your car to your iPhone, is updating its accompanying iOS app today with a new design and new features. The new design, Automatic says, is meant to be “lighter, faster and more modern”. The gray header, for example, has been replaced with a white field displaying the current and past driving stats collected by the app.

In addition to the refreshed look and feel, Automatic 2.0 for iPhone brings new features to Automatic Link users. With the update, Automatic will offer fuel level information and warnings on supported cars. While this feature only works on supported cars, in many cases it goes beyond dashboard fuel gauges as Automatic can present an estimate of miles possible to be driven before running out of fuel based on previous driving behaviors.
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1Password iOS app gets automatic backups accessible in iTunes, item printing, more

1password-app-icon-01Popular password manager app 1Password received a nice update today for iPhone and iPad that introduces a few notable new features and the return of one previously removed. Version 4.5.2 of the app now includes automatic backups of data that users can access via iTunes. It also sees the return of item printing, bug fixes and more.

The app also makes some overall performance improvements. Developer AgileBits notes “Sync is now much sync-ier” and “That pesky flickering while viewing an item’s details is no more.”

Version 4.5.2 of the 1Password app for iPhone and iPad is available on the App Store now.

What’s New in 4.5.2

◆ 1Password now keeps automatic backups of your data that are accessible via iTunes
◆ Item printing is back, baby!
◆ Sync is now much sync-ier
◆ That pesky flickering while viewing an item’s details is no more
◆ The report of bug deaths is *not* an exaggeration

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9to5Toys Last Call: Automatic: iPhone driving assistant $80, two iPad Air cases $11, SOUL BT headphones $40, more

Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: TwitterRSS Feed,FacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call updates:

automatic-smart-driving-assistant-iphoneAutomatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant for iOS/Android $80 shipped (Reg. $100)

 

roocase-ipad-air-22-pack of rooCASE Apple iPad Air cases for $11 with free shipping (Reg. $36)

 

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Headphones:

d-link-dcs-942l-enhanced-wireless-n-daynight-home-network-camera-sale-staples-04Staples Coupon $30 off select $60+ purchases: Save on wireless network cams and more

Other deals from today:

More deals still alive:

New products/useful info:

Microsoft/Google/Android:

  • XCOM: Enemy Unknown now available on Android for $10
  • Google Play Premium App Sale: The Room Two, The Dark Knight Rises, Need for Speed, many more
  • Save 25% on three wireless accessories at AT&T, includes new Samsung wearables
  • Microsoft’s new 365 subscription gets you Office on one Mac or PC & tablet for $69/year

Automatic: The smart driving assistant for the iPhone era [Review]

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For the past few months, I’ve been testing the Automatic Link which aims to make you a safer, more efficient driver. But is it enough to really change your driving habits?

With the holiday season quickly approaching and the hardware now widely available and in stock on Amazon (and Prime eligible at that), what better time to discuss my hands-on experience with the smart driving assistant…


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Automatic Link brings your car’s on-board diagnostics to the iPhone, available for pre-order now

Automatic Link is a new hardware dongle for your car that is launching today and will allow you to monitor on-board diagnostics directly on your iPhone. On top of monitoring on-board diagnostics, such as braking, speeding, and rapid acceleration by connecting the Automatic Link to your car’s data port, the app will also include a feature that automatically reports crashes, the ability to locate your vehicle, check engine health, and provide “subtle audio cues when you do things that waste gas.”

The Automatic Link talks to your car’s onboard computer and uses your smartphone’s GPS and data plan to upgrade your car’s capabilities. It works with just about any car sold in the United States since 1996…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.

The Automatic Link is now available for pre-order from the company’s website for $70, with shipments and the companion app expected to land sometime in May. You can also check the make and model of your vehicle on the pre-order page to find out if your car is compatible.

  • Your Drive Score: Automatic gives you personalized feedback on your driving with your weekly drive score on a scale from 0-100. The drive score is based on metrics shown to increase fuel efficiency and safety, like braking and accelerating smoothly. A high score could save you hundreds on gas every year.
  • Your Trips in a Timeline: The Automatic app displays detailed information about where you go and how much gas it cost to get there. It shows you the actual MPGs you achieve for all your trips, even for older cars that don’t display fuel efficiency on the dashboard.
  • Parking Reminders: Automatic always knows where you parked your car, helping you find it again easily.
  • Crash Alert: If you’re ever in a crash, Automatic alerts emergency services with your location. It can even contact your loved ones to let them know what happened and that help is on the way.
  • Keep Your Engine Healthy: Automatic connects with your car’s computer whenever you drive and can tell you why that “check engine” light came on. It can decode the problem and in many cases offer a solution. The app even lets you clear the light yourself and save a trip to the mechanic.