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Earlier today, Automatic launched Automatic App Gallery, the company’s very own app store. What makes it any different from what you have on your iPhone you may ask? Simple. It’s not an app store for phones, or tablets, but for cars. The ones that you drive. On the road.
Users can choose from over 20 apps that are compatible with Automatic hardware, a smart driving monitor launched a couple of years ago to be exact.
The monitor on its own can be used to track trips, figure out fuel consumption, locate a good parking spot and even find out what that nagging Check Engine light really means. It can be hooked up to any car equipped with an OBD-II (On-board Diagnostics) port, and stating today will be able to be highly personalized thanks to the new app variety provided by the likes of IFTTT, Expensify, Jawbone and Nest.
While Automatic App Gallery will be perfectly compatible with Android and iOS devices (the Apple watch included), the company will no doubt hope that users will consider buying their second-generation adapter (second smart driving monitor), that they’re also launching today.
It looks just like the old one, but supports two Bluetooth streams simultaneously, instead of just one like the previous model. It has been confirmed that some of the available apps will require both Bluetooth streams. If you do decide to purchase the new adapter, you will find it in stores for about $99.95.
Thejo Kote, Automatic’s co-founder and CEO, gave a statement saying that “We founded Automatic because we feel that cars weren’t and still aren’t living up to their full potential”. He calls them “computer on wheel” and passionately believes that they could do so much more than simply move you from point A to point B.
Kote credited the company’s clients for the development of the project. He said after launching their first smart driving monitor, people started asking about features such ad the ability to expense trips, apps specifically designed for teens, access to more specific details for gearheads, and many others.
Automatic realized that they can’t possibly satisfy everyone’s needs with a single device, so they though of the app store as a way of allowing each user to install and use what satisfies their particular needs.
Automatic App Gallery will include 9 apps for business, the most important being Expensify, Hustlebox, and Concur. All pull trip data from Automatic in order to automatically generate mileage reports for easier trip deductions and expense reporting.
Jawbone and RescueTime app inform users on how much time they spend behind the wheel, while Unmooch enables users to easily and fairly split the cost of carpooling with their friends and colleagues.
OBD Fusion app gives really detailed information such as engine temperature, speed, RPM and air injection rates. It also allows users to create custom dashboards with digital speedometers and MPG tracking.
It is important to note that not all app can be accessed inside the software itself. Some of them are web-based apps hosted by iTunes, but they all show up in the same interface.
Image Source: applicantes.com
