CaroO, a dash cam app with MPG gauge for $4.50! :D
 

As I drove to Mom's house, the "maiden voyage" of my wheel covers (http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...aps-30157.html), I wondered if there were any dash-cam apps. Some standalone devices have GPS to show your speed and other information. Some can connect to your OBD-II port. I found CaroO Pro (Blackbox & OBD), "Market leading dash cam with eco-driving support!" It also connects to a OBD-II dongle and shows car information! This screen shot does not show it, but you are supposed to be able to see MPG information.
http://cdn.makeuseof.com/wp-content/...DII-Screen.jpg

The link isn't working. What is the name of the app? Sounds very interesting.

Does the app do looped recording, meaning when the SD card is full, it erases the oldest file so it can continue recording?

EDIT: I didn't realize the name of the app was in the title.

Amazing how many devices are being replaced by the "phone" these days.

Dash cam
Fuel efficiency gauge
GPS
Sound recorder
Time
Alarm clock
Calculator
OBD2 Reader
Flashlight
Memo
Calendar
Computer
Portable game system
Webcam
Camera
Camcorder
Books
Maps
Newspaper
MP3 player
Portable video player
Etc, etc

These are just a few things totaling several thousand dollars that can be replaced with a phone now. I bought a brand new smart phone for Mom for $10 at Target, and it's capable of everything listed above. Oh yeah, you can use it to call people too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N68_cp1vEFs

I fixed it! :)

I planned on updating the original post. The URL function just showed the address and when I tried to get it to show "CaroO Pro (Blackbox & OBD)" I did it backwards, so it showed the address, but tried to send you to an invalid URL.

CaroO Pro (Blackbox & OBD)

Ten dollars for prepaid? This is the least expensive one that I found. It and some non-smart phones are temporarily discounted.

Virgin Kyocera Event Prepaid Cell Phone - Black : Target

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...s.dash.android looks like it has more functions, it rates your driving, I wonder what I would think of that. It shows you local gas stations, directing you to the cheapest, and gives you the name for the check engine light, not just the code, and gives you shop estimates.

Of course, I would probably do it myself... :)

http://www.amazon.com/BAFX-Products-Bluetooth-diagnostics-Android/dp/B005NLQAHS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412550529&sr=8-1&keywords=obd+bluetooth is the best-selling OBD-II dongle and it has the best rating. This is the least-expensive one that I saw, $6.35 with free shipping: Amazon.com: V1.5 Super Mini ELM327 Bluetooth OBD2 OBD-II CAN-BUS Diagnostic Scanner Tool: Everything Else

This looks like a good mount: http://www.amazon.com/Universal-Smartphone-Windshield-Dashboard-Driving/dp/B00JUFIRYM/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1412552216&sr=8-15&keywords=smart+phone+car+mount

redpoint -- How many minutes of talk time on that $10 phone? I went in to T-Mobile to put some minutes on my Nokia candy-bar (it's got a color screen!) and they would only sell me unlimited minutes that expire at 30 days. I wanted (and used to be able to purchase) 30 minutes that never expire.

Soon you will be able to add some new items to your list. When Trezor (an hardware wallet) ships, secure online payment will become possible. And maybe roll back the regressive mayhem that Al Gore unleashed on [the] original Internet.

Also Qualcom is shipping a new chip that enables D2D mesh networking over LTE. So things like Firechat will work with more than just the person standing next to you. Like—500 meters.

You can use Torque to do the same thing. Looks like this app might be a little more user friendly, while Torque lets you do just about anything (as long as you can figure out how).

It looks like you can use Torque as a dash cam if you plug in https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...recorder&hl=en, but there is not much information on it.

ScanTool.net LLC - OBDLink LX Bluetooth Scan Tool | OBD Adapter - ScanTool.net is the least expensive dongle they recommend, it is currently $70. They say to make sure that sellers of cheap Chinese ones have a good return policy.

Speaking of OBD2 dongles, I got this one from Amazon for $13. Seems to work just fine.

Amazon.com: iSaddle Super Mini ELM327 V1.5 OBD2 OBD-II Bluetooth CAN-BUS Auto Diagnostic Tool for Windows & Android Torque (Blue Color): Automotive

The $10 phone I bought Mom is a Boost Kyocera Hydro. It's only supposed to be able to activate on Boost, but I'm paying $10/mo for 400min, 400 txt, 300MB data on Ringplus (Sprint network).

My wife has a Moto X on Republic Wireless (Sprint network) and we pay $30/mo for unlimited talk, text, data.

If you hardly use your phone, Ringplus has plans as low as $2/mo that include 50min of talk time and 10 texts.

I have an iPhone 4 which I mostly hate, and work is paying about $70/mo on AT&T.

Google makes Ringplus sound awesome:

Next time I find that Nokia I'll check the MEID / ESN to see if it's useable.

Edit: Deal-breaker

My cell phone mount and OBD-II dongle arrived and I downloaded Dash - Drive Smart, so I will set up those tomorrow. I also received Amazon.com: Allstar ALL22400 Black 0.07" Thick 24" Wide 10' Plastic Roll: Automotive, so I will be redoing my air dam, as well as my wheel covers.

I also need to find a job!

P.T. test on Sunday...

My cell phone mount seems adequate. It took a while to get the dongle to connect. Unfortunately, it keeps disconnecting--falling out! Dash recommends a $69 dongle, but of course the one that I bought for twenty-four dollars claimed to be far better than the competition. They show the circuit boards and point out components that the cheaper dongles lack, but it is too big and heavy! I need to figure out how to keep it in place!

Dash is not a cam app. It gave me a score of 99 the few times that I used it, but also claimed that I accelerated too hard, "31 MPH in 1.6 seconds." Sure, okay, my Civic has a 3-second 0-60! You betcha!

I used Torque for a little while, but I just saw average MPG, not instantaneous, and I can only read one display on my 4.3" screen. I installed the dash cam plug-in and it always wants to show the boost gauge. I tell it to go away, but I need to close the app and restart it to make it happen. I also downloaded CaroO and another, but have not tried them yet. I need to order a large high-speed memory card, right now it is recording at "high resolution." I do not know what that is supposed to be, it is not 720 or 1080.

Also, the gauges do not work in the Torque plug-in, while Dash and base Torque work fine. I do not see any options to make it work.

I bought a roll of brown paper to make a template for my new air dam and grill block, but I have not had time to work on it yet.

I start work as a baker in two weeks. It is half an hour away, but hopefully there is not much traffic at 0430 or 1400.

I bought a prepaid LG phone on sale a year or two ago and enjoyed using it as Wi-Fi device until I managed to get it wet. I looked for a replacement and only found people saying that each new LG prepaid was actually worse than the previous. I ended up purchasing this: https://www.walmart.com/ip/45804401?...&wl13=&veh=sem

It was fifty in-store, forty through their website, and thirty-five on Amazon.

Now it is $32.88 at WalMart.com and $50 on Amazon.

I cannot find any tablets that look decent for less than a hundred dollars. Do any of you know of one?

Thanks!

LG G Pad somewhat regularly can be had for $50. It's a 7" tablet and I use it for Torque Pro in the Prius.

Example expired deal:
$49.99 - LG G Pad 7" with Unlimited Talk, Text, and Data @Freedompop - Slickdeals.net

As far as phone services go, I've got my parents running $30 Volt phones on RingPlus in the $4/mo unlimited talk and text plan with some data.

My wife has a $200 Nexus 6 on the $20 unlimited talk/text Google Fi plan. It uses both T-mobile and Sprint networks, and data is $1/100MB. Cheap and reliable service for those that don't use much data. Expensive for those who don't have home internet and use their phones for everything.

Thanks! Is the $50 deal always certified pre-owned?