Automatic today sent out an update email to customers eagerly awaiting one of its Link connected car systems, announcing that the public release date of the product has been pushed back yet again.

automatic-reader

As we work to fulfill your pre-order, here’s an update. In short, we’re making a lot of progress towards the public launch of Automatic, but we’re pushing back that date by just a few weeks. Read on!

In the email, Automatic says that despite shipping a number of test units to customers who volunteered for a private beta, production delays have prevented them from shipping additional devices to beta customers who have yet to receive a Link.

Unfortunately, we recently experienced a production delay, which has temporarily affected our ability to ship Links to Beta customers. We’re working around the clock (literally!) to fix the issue and our hope is to ship to all remaining Beta customers by the end of the month.

Beta customers were originally supposed to receive both the Link and the accompanying app in mid-June, but the company now expects the remaining Links to ship out by late August.

The Automatic Smart Driving Assistant can currently be preordered from the Automatic website for $69.95. Automatic claims that the Link and iPhone app will begin shipping out to standard customers in September and in the meantime, MacRumors has posted a hands-on look at the device and its accompanying app.

(Thanks, John!)

Top Rated Comments

Gemütlichkeit Avatar
132 months ago
This device also doubles as a Nintendo 64 memory pack.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iansilv Avatar
132 months ago
I don't understand why this thing is so hyped- aren't there a dozen or so Wifi-enabled or bluetooth enabled odb-II dongles that work with any app, not just the one Automatic makes?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Cisco_Kid Avatar
132 months ago
I don't understand why this thing is so hyped- aren't there a dozen or so Wifi-enabled or bluetooth enabled odb-II dongles that work with any app, not just the one Automatic makes?

I agree with you, and most new vehicles have all of the features of this device built in to the dash computer.

Pretty hard to find a new vehicle without a screen in the dash these days, this product has peaked before it has even shipped.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
herr_neumann Avatar
132 months ago
Literally doesn't mean what it used to: http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/15/living/literally-definition/index.html?hpt=hp_inthenews
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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