Tech
With Tesla’s Holiday Update, You May Use An Apple Watch To Unlock Your Vehicle.
Tesla has unveiled its eagerly awaited 2024 Holiday Update, packed with exciting new features. This isn’t just a routine update; it’s a comprehensive assortment of enhancements. With improvements in safety, entertainment, and several long-anticipated additions, Tesla is offering owners many reasons to celebrate this holiday season.
A key highlight is the ability to use the Apple Watch as a vehicle key. Tesla owners equipped with an Apple Watch can leave their phones and traditional keys behind, using just their watches to unlock and start their cars. The companion app for the Apple Watch also lets drivers monitor the battery charge, modify climate settings, and even open the frunk, all conveniently from their wrist. While this is fantastic news for Apple Watch users, Android users currently miss out on this feature.
Another significant improvement is the ability to save Dashcam and Sentry Mode clips directly to your phone via the Tesla app. No more fumbling with USB drives! You can now view, edit, and share those recordings with ease. Additionally, Sentry Mode has been enhanced to send app notifications if someone tampers with a door handle, adding an extra layer of security.
Tesla has also listened to its customers and finally added Rear Cross Traffic Alert. This safety feature, which has been a standard on many other vehicles for years, warns drivers of approaching vehicles or pedestrians when reversing.
For those who enjoy road trips, Tesla’s navigation system has received some welcome upgrades. A weather overlay now shows precipitation along your route and the expected conditions at your destination. You can also search for points of interest along your route and set your desired state of charge at your destination, making trip planning even more convenient.
Thanks to the new update, the stalkless Model 3 now supports Autoshift, automatically switching between Drive and Reverse. This feature, already available on the Model S and Model X, simplifies complex parking manoeuvres and multi-point turns.
Entertainment options are also getting a boost with the addition of SiriusXM streaming for Model 3, Model Y, and Cybertruck owners. TuneIn Radio remains a free option and has also seen some improvements.
Tesla’s futuristic pickup is getting some unique features of its own. Owners can personalize their Cybertruck avatar with custom wraps and license plates using preloaded designs or uploading their own via USB. The rear camera feed is now larger and includes pinch-to-zoom capabilities. Rear passengers can enjoy new games, turning the backseat into an entertainment hub. And for the holidays, there’s even a “Santa Mode” that transforms the Cybertruck into Santa’s sleigh, complete with Optimus, reindeer, and elves—of course, all on the built-in screen.
Other additions include the ability to schedule light shows remotely, adjust passenger seats from the driver’s controls, and a new “Boomerang Fu” game. A dedicated screen now tracks maintenance tasks and provides reminders, while Model S, X, and Cybertruck have enhanced energy consumption tracking. Smaller but useful improvements include automatic volume lowering when reversing, dynamic rerouting around road closures, improved parking search functionality, and notifications of out-of-service Supercharger stalls.
