Tesla releases big, new software update with Disney+, Car Wash Mode, hotspot, and more.
Tesla is planning to provide the best customer service as much as possible. However, there are some technical limitations to achieve such desire. Much like the smartphone industry, the automaker regularly releases software updates with new features and UI improvements to the in-car and ownership experience.
Tesla releases big new software updates
Tesla has started to push a new software update to its fleet today, and it’s one of the bigger ones with several new features, including Disney+, Car Wash Mode, hotspot capability, and more.
For years now, Tesla has been leading the auto industry to over-the-air software update capability.
Read Tesla will accept bitcoin now.
You can check for new software updates by opening the ‘Software’ tab on your touchscreen. If a new update is available, you’ll receive a notification on your center touchscreen display, with the option to install the update immediately or schedule for later. To ensure the fastest and most reliable delivery of software updates, connect your car to Wi-Fi.
Tesla
You can adjust your software update preferences by tapping ‘Controls’ > ‘Software’ > ‘Software Update Preference.’ You can select between ‘ADVANCED’ or ‘STANDARD.’ Select ‘ADVANCED’ to receive software updates as soon as they become available for your car configuration and region. This feature is only available with software update 2019.16 or later.
Today, Tesla started pushing a new 2021.24 software update, and it includes:
Disney+
Tesla vehicles are equipped with an in-car app called Tesla Theater, which includes several streaming services, like Youtube and Netflix, that Tesla owners can enjoy when their vehicles are parked.
With this new software update, Tesla is adding Disney+ to Tesla Theater.
Tesla wrote in the release notes:
“You can now watch Disney+ in the Tesla Theater app. To launch Tesla Theater, tap the Entertainment icon in the Application Launcher and select the Theater tab while your car is in PARK.”
With now Disney+, Tesla has now integrated all of the mainstreaming services.
Car Wash Mode
In the update, Tesla is introducing a new Car Wash Mode to help with the experience at a car wash:
“Car Wash Mode closes all windows, locks the charge port and disables windshield wipers, sentry mode, walk-away door locks and parking sensor chimes. For automatic car washes with conveyor belts, the Free Roll option shifts to Neutral and prevents the parking brake from automatically applying if you leave. To access Car Wash Mode, tap Controls > Service > Car Wash Mode.”
This should help Tesla owners avoid some previous inconveniences when at the car wash.
Mirror Auto Dim
For Tesla vehicles equipped with auto-dimming mirrors, Tesla is now enabling to activate and deactivate the auto-dimming feature.
Tesla wrote in the release notes:
“You can now enable or disable automatic dimming for your mirrors. To access, tap Controls > Mirror > Mirror Auto Dim.”
This has been a highly requested feature from owners.
Dashcam improvements
Tesla has an integrated dashcam system that utilizes the onboard Autopilot cameras around its vehicles to record events.
With this new update, Tesla can now launch recordings automatically:
“Dashcam can now automatically save clips whenever your vehicle detects the occurrence of a safety event (such as an accident or airbag deployment) Recordings captured are stored and never transmitted to Tesla. To opt-in, tap Controls > Safety & Security > Dashcam > AUTO To, lead more about how to setup and use Dashcam, please refer to the Owner’s Manual.”
Before this feature, drivers had to press on the dashcam icon to save an event that just happened.
Range display
The update also includes a small update to the ways you can display your battery capacity:
“You can now switch between battery percentage and distance units by tapping the range display next to the battery icon.”
Remain connected to Wi-Fi in drive
Tesla is enabling the use of Wi-Fi hotspots when driving:
“To remain connected to Wi-Fi when shifting into gear, tap the Wi-Fi icon > Wi-Fi Settings > Remain Connected in Drive. This is especially useful for users who wish to use their hotspots for connectivity.”
This is a big deal for those who don’t want to pay for Tesla’s in-car premium connectivity features.
Languages
Finally, Tesla has also added three new language options in this new update: Hungarian, Romanian, and Russian.
The Bottom Line
It has often been referred to as its v11 software update, and it is expected to use some of the new designs seen in the new UI in the updated Model, the report said.
The update has also been associated with Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta v9 software update since it is supposed to coincide with the wider release of the beta update.
In Tesla’s current FSD Beta update, which a few thousand owners are only using in the early access program, mainly Tesla employees, the driving visualizations look more like a debugging mode than anything else.
The automaker is expected to update those visualizations with a cleaner look coming to the wider release of FSD Beta.
Now, Musk has confirmed that a new user interface is coming with the update, and it will feature a “mind of car” view.
