How do we feel about the iPhone/Android app, Automatic?

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

...The Bluetooth Elm237 device that talks to Torque is $10 on Ebay. It's very hard to beat $10...

I tried Torque with the ELM (now sold). It kind of worked for normal drivers but if like us EM'ers you do odd stuff like shut off the engine then the ELM goes to sleep and Torque just decides you've stopped and never reconnects. Also if you get a call it dies. A lot of apps do this too - even the in built camera APP.

Also the ELMs are (allegedly according to the guy who wrote Torque) untested when they leave the factory so you might get a dud, but its cheaper to buy another than return it... I was lucky, but I sold mine at a breakeven price.

The key issue though is that any Phone or tablet based app tends to use Bluetooth which is total sh*te as a technology and should be consigned to the bin of fail especially as we now have WIFI.

The UG and SG2 both use a direct cable connection.

[uRabbit]

Originally Posted by bestclimb

Really? even though scan gauge costs twice as much, and the only things that ultra gauge can't do that the scan gauge can are record a few maximum sensor readings, and custom user programed gauges.

Looking at the PDF some of the yellow and green highlighted features that the ultra gauge lacks and scan gauge has are highlighted in red in the ultragauge column (it has those features so, not sure what the color codes imply).

Looking again, you're right. That's a pretty misleading spreadsheet. Found it on a separate forum.

The UG is looking pretty appealing. However, so is the Automatic app.

[vskid3]

Unless you already set up your phone in your car every time you drive, that'll get old really quick. It might be able to do some neat things, but the convenience of the SG and UG is pretty nice.

[uRabbit]

Originally Posted by vskid3

Unless you already set up your phone in your car every time you drive, that'll get old really quick. It might be able to do some neat things, but the convenience of the SG and UG is pretty nice.

I listen to audiobooks on my phone on my way in to work anyways.

What convenience of the standalone models do you think they have over the app?

[vskid3]

With phone based instrumentation, I get in the car, mount/plug in phone, turn key to on without starting, open app, make sure its connected, start car, then drive. Turning the key to on and making sure its connected are optional, depending on how reliable your setup is.
With UG/SG, I get in the car, start car, and go.

If you're already setting up your phone when you get in the car, then it doesn't add much time over that. I personally prefer the "jump in and go".

[campisi]

Originally Posted by uRabbit

This is why.

The features just are not there, dollar-for-dollar.

I stopped looking throught that PDF as soon as I came to the 3rd line that purports to show that the UG does not report Battery Voltage. FAIL.

Next.