Tesla is bringing exciting new features to this year's Holiday Update, including a digital phone key for the Apple Watch, access to Sentry Mode security video from your phone, reverse cross-traffic alert safety add-in, "Santa Mode" for the Cybertruck, and more.
Tesla's update will begin rolling out next week and will bring Apple Watch support to the existing Tesla app, including native phone key access. With this new change, drivers will be able to use their Apple Watch (instead of their iPhone) to check the battery level, open the hood, and turn on the heat in their car remotely.
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Two other big new features are the ability to view Dashcam and Sentry Mode recordings from the phone and the ability to save clips to drivers' devices to quickly share footage of a potential accident (with insurance or the police).
Tesla's new Holiday Update also brings a light show that synchronizes lights, sounds, and more. Tesla has introduced two new shows this year. It's also giving Cybertrucks a new Santa mode, which transforms the 3D Cybertruck on-screen into a Tesla Bot riding a digital sleigh. The futuristic semi-truck also features arcade games on the rear-seat display and a larger onscreen rear camera feed with pinch-to-zoom support.
Another major update includes the introduction of the Model S and X's auto-shift feature to stalk-free Model 3 vehicles, which guesses when you want to switch between drive and reverse.
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Tesla's Holiday Update also brings a new and valuable safety update. There's a cross-traffic alert feature, which notifies drivers (via an audible warning and a red bar in the camera feed) if it detects cars or pedestrians coming from behind while reversing.
The update also allows users to set “arrival energy at destination,” which means they can tell Tesla how much battery they want at the end of a trip. This is useful if someone knows they won’t be able to charge the vehicle at their destination and therefore needs to have enough battery for the next trip.
Finally, there are weather and precipitation indicators on the map for the destination, a new Sirius XM app (for Model 3, Y, Cybertruck), improvements to the TuneIn app, a new party game called Boomerang Fu, and more.
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Overall, Tesla’s Holiday Update looks to be one of the most exciting updates to date. With new apps and games, improved safety features , and other surprise updates, Tesla owners have a lot to look forward to. These updates not only enhance the overall driving experience, but also demonstrate Tesla’s commitment to continually improving its vehicles and providing top-notch features for its customers.
Source: www.theverge.com
