MacDirectory Magazine

Essentials for Graphic Designers

MacDirectory magazine is the premiere creative lifestyle magazine for Apple enthusiasts featuring interviews, in-depth tech reviews, Apple news, insights, latest Apple patents, apps, market analysis, entertainment and more.

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seeing the estimated gas mileage I achieved on any given trip, and understanding the cost of the gas I used. As the name suggests, this is all done automatically every time you turn your car on and off. Each week, the Automatic compiles a summary report of your driving, and can be very enlightening to understand how long you've spent in your car, or how many miles you've put on it. Day-by- day graphs make it obvious when you traveled the longest, or spent the most time in the car. It's a good reminder of how much time we spend on the road and how much we rely on our cars. Multiple devices can be hooked up to your account, allowing you to monitor all the family vehicles. It's great for making sure the new drivers in your family are developing safe driving habits, or for keeping older drivers safe and connected. Just make sure you tell them that there is a tracking device in the car first! The Automatic is already affordable on its own, but it also offers additional services that make the price even more appealing. The first is the engine light diagnostics module that uses the same information that mechanics use when they "check the code" from your car to diagnose an issue. Before I installed the Automatic, my check engine light was on, and my mechanic explained that I had an issue with my catalytic converter. I used this as a test, so when I first plugged in the Automatic, it let me know right away that the check engine light was on, providing the exact error code, and confirming that it was, indeed, a problem with the catalytic converter. Even one-upping the mechanic, the Automatic app explained what the catalytic converter did, some of the symptoms of the problem (such as potentially lower power output), and even how common of a problem this issue was with owners of the same car. This saved me the price of a second opinion and provided a very sound piece of mind. Secondly, Automatic also uses the information from your car to provide emergency services. For $5 a month, the company provides roadside assistance, real time location sharing, crash detection, and several other services that would other wise cost even more with other popular roadside assistance companies. Automobiles are such complicated mechanisms that rely on computers to stay running, it only makes sense that we track and monitor our cars like any other expensive gadget. The Automatic makes this easily possible, and is so easy to setup that your family members can do so on their own. It's a small price to pay for confidence in your car and a greater understanding of your driving habits. For more information, visit: www.automatic.com

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