There’s a mountain of data inside your car waiting to be unleashed, and all you have to do is plug in a quick little connector and download a mobile application.

Automatic is a smart driving assistant that plugs into your car’s data port and lets you connect your smartphone (either iPhone or Android) with your car. By  talking to your car’s onboard computer and using your smartphone’s GPS and data plan to upgrade your car’s capabilities, Automatic will allow you to easily diagnose your engine light, never forget where you parked your car, and save hundreds of dollars on gas.

Automatic learns your driving habits and gives you suggestions through subtle audio cues to drive smarter and stop wasting gas. Thanks to a map view available on your phone, Automatic can display a trip timeline after every driving session, showing you how you’re doing with a Drive Score; the app can even track local gas prices and tell you how much you’re spending.

In case of engine problems, Automatic can decipher what the “check engine” light means and show you a description of the issue with a possible solution. And thanks to a feature called Crash Alert, Automatic can detect many types of serious crashes and automatically alert local authorities as well as your loved ones when you can’t.

Automatic is currently available in the US for iPhone and Android devices, with a 45-day return policy and free shipping in 2 business days.

MacStories readers can go to automatic.com/macstories to get $19.99 off and buy Automatic at just $80. For more information, check out Automatic’s website.

Our thanks to Automatic for sponsoring MacStories this week.

iBedside is an elegant bedside caddy for storing and charging your iPad and iPhone overnight. A magnetic shelf flips down with a flick and 3 full-size pockets hold most any gadget or book. Two discreet side holes and inner loops keep charging cables out of sight and right in place every night. iBedside starts at $30 and is available in 5 different color options.

Prop ’n Go is a comfortable stand for iPads and MacBooks with 14 easily adjustable angles. Wrapped in cozy memory foam, Prop ’n Go is perfect for keeping gadgets at just the right angle while lounging on the couch or laying in bed. It starts at $30 in 7 different colors.

Both iBedside and Prop ’n Go are in-stock and shipping for free worldwide via Amazon US, CA, and EU, and make for great holiday gifts. Made in Seattle by crafters making liveable wages.

Our thanks to Padded Spaces for sponsoring MacStories this week.

There’s a mountain of data inside your car waiting to be unleashed, and all you have to do is plug in a quick little connector and download a mobile application.

Automatic is a smart driving assistant that plugs into your car’s data port and lets you connect your smartphone (either iPhone or Android) with your car. By  talking to your car’s onboard computer and using your smartphone’s GPS and data plan to upgrade your car’s capabilities, Automatic will allow you to easily diagnose your engine light, never forget where you parked your car, and save hundreds of dollars on gas.

Automatic learns your driving habits and gives you suggestions through subtle audio cues to drive smarter and stop wasting gas. Thanks to a map view available on your phone, Automatic can display a trip timeline after every driving session, showing you how you’re doing with a Drive Score; the app can even track local gas prices and tell you how much you’re spending.

In case of engine problems, Automatic can decipher what the “check engine” light means and show you a description of the issue with a possible solution. And thanks to a feature called Crash Alert, Automatic can detect many types of serious crashes and automatically alert local authorities as well as your loved ones when you can’t.

Automatic is currently available in the US for iPhone and Android devices, with a 45-day return policy and free shipping in 2 business days.

MacStories readers can go to automatic.com/macstories to get $16 off and buy Automatic at just $63.99. For more information, check out Automatic’s website.

Our thanks to Automatic for sponsoring MacStories this week.

We all struggle with productivity. We are constantly pressured to accomplish more, and to do it quicker. There is no one definitive way to accomplish that, and we have all devised our own little method to make things work.

At Igloo, they think your way is the best way, they just want to support you, and make your way better.

Work has evolved and your tools should too. Never email yourself a file again. Bring your company into the 21st century - send your IT guy to try Igloo Software for free.

Igloo is an intranet you’ll actually like.

Our thanks to Igloo for sponsoring MacStories this week.

We all struggle with productivity. We are constantly pressured to accomplish more, and to do it quicker. There is no one definitive way to accomplish that, and we have all devised our own little method to make things work.

At Igloo, they think your way is the best way, they just want to support you, and make your way better.

Work has evolved and your tools should too. Never email yourself a file again. Bring your company into the 21st century - send your IT guy to try Igloo Software for free.

Igloo is an intranet you’ll actually like.

Our thanks to Igloo for sponsoring MacStories this week.

Dress shirts should be smarter by now. They should be designed to work with your body, not against it, and keep you comfortable throughout the entire day. From the crowded train, to the cold office, to your favorite nightspot, we should expect more from the clothes that we wear everyday.

This is the vision that drives Ministry of Supply, a performance menswear company that launched out of MIT three years ago. The company uses the latest in apparel technology to make clothes that fit better and provide technical benefits, like body temperature regulation to keep you from overheating, moisture management to keep you dry, and wrinkle resistance to keep you away from an iron. Each product begins with a problem statement and comes to life through a human-centric design process that involves studying the human body, prototyping, testing, and iterating based on ongoing feedback. Once a product launches, they start the process all over again, continuously refining and evolving the products to perform better.

That process led to the Apollo and Gemini Casual dress shirts. The Apollo is their most tech-forward dress shirt, optimized for temperature management and mobility. It’s made with moisture-wicking polyester fibers that are infused with NASA-engineered phase-change material for temperature regulation. A light knit construction with four-way stretch enhances the Apollo’s breathability and mobility. The Gemini Casual is a tailored button-down designed to be worn untucked. It’s made with a more traditional cotton/spandex blend for a full range of motion that is also infused with phase-change material. The laser-cut chest pocket, button holes, and shirt panels round out the shirt’s clean, sleek aesthetic.

You can shop Ministry of Supply online – and risk-free, with free shipping on all US orders and any international orders over $250, free returns, and a 100-day return policy. Alternatively, you can visit one of their retail locations in Boston, San Francisco, and New York City.

Our thanks to Ministry of Supply for sponsoring MacStories this week.

We all struggle with productivity. We are constantly pressured to accomplish more, and to do it quicker. There is no one definitive way to accomplish that, and we have all devised our own little method to make things work. At Igloo, they think your way is the best way, they just want to support you, and make your way better.

With Igloo, you don’t have to be stuck at your desk to do your work. And just like your favourite Apple devices, Igloo helps you do your best work. You can manage your task list from your laptop during a meeting, quickly update your team on the progress of the most recent project from your phone, and access the latest version of a file from home – all within a secure environment. Everything is now mobile – work should be too.

Never email yourself a file again. Bring your company into the 21st century - send your IT guy to try Igloo Software for free. Igloo is an intranet you’ll actually like.

Our thanks to Igloo for sponsoring MacStories this week.

There is literally a world of opportunity waiting for anyone with the skills to build for iOS. But like any journey to success, there is a path you have to take, and the question is, what’s the quickest (or shall we say “Swiftest?”) way from Point A to Point B? To answer that, let’s consider the beginning and end of the journey.

At Point A, you’re computer competent. You know your uploads from your downloads, and you set up your new phone yourself when it arrived. At Point B, you’re an iOS App Developer. You’re impacting lives on a global scale with the apps you build. Now, how long is the distance between these points?

That depends on a number of variables. The most critical is the question of whether you have programming experience. Traditionally this can be a real barrier, and that’s understandable. When you’re standing on the wrong side of the water from where the programmers are, it can seem really, really difficult to get across. To continue the water metaphor, you need stepping stones.

It’s that need that drove Udacity to create the Beginning iOS App Development Nanodegree program (BIOS NDP). A lack of programming experience shouldn’t be a barrier, and if you know iOS is where you want to be, then the opportunity to learn Swift (Apple’s custom programming language designed specifically for building iOS and OS X apps) is the first stepping stone you need.

Any stage of the journey has the potential to be difficult, but there is something unique to the early days; to succeed you need a really special degree of mentoring, support, and instruction. The suite of resources built into all Nanodegree programs becomes particularly important for those taking their first steps into programming. All Nanodegree programs feature:

• An innovative online model that is accessible, affordable and inclusive.
• A focus that is outcome-based and project-oriented
• Intensive coursework, expert instructors, and cutting-edge curriculum
• A compact and flexible model that allows for structured self-pacing
• One-on-one coaching and facilitated peer interaction
• Best-in-class project review that is both rigorous and timely
• Empowering and informative career support

Combine all this with an explicit focus on transforming pre-programming students into adept coders with solid programming foundations, direct experience working in Xcode, and a growing facility with Swift, and suddenly there exists a very clear path forward to that next big stepping stone, the iOS Developer Nanodegree program (INDP). Think of the this as the advanced, career-track portion of the learning journey.

When you emerge from the INDP with a Nanodegree credential, you are genuinely ready to begin a career as an iOS Developer.

Our thanks to Udacity for sponsoring MacStories this week.

The Mac mini continues to prove itself as a very reliable and capable server. Macminicolo has been hosting Mac minis for nearly eleven years and they’d love for you to give it a try. The El Capitan Promo offers a colocation package with all you’ll need for just $10/month. While supplies last, they also have rental options as well.

Putting your Mac mini in a data center brings all sorts of benefits. The high-end facility will give your machine security, speed and safety. Since you’re the only one with access to the machine, you can set it up with any services you’d like to use. Here are 50 ideas to get you started.

On top of all that, Macminicolo has good personal support. They’re a part of the Mac community. Send an email, get a personal response right back. You can also get them on Twitter (@Macminicolo) or iMessage ([email protected]).

My thanks to Macminicolo for sponsoring MacStories this week. (Side note: MacStories runs on a Mac mini from Macminicolo, and we love it.)