You can now play classic arcade games like Atari in your car
The future is here, people. And it's fun.
The automotive industry's morphing into the technology sector continues - Tesla has released a software update for its car's systems that can be easily downloaded into vehicles. All you need is an Internet connection.
The update applies to the Model S, Model X and Model 3, as well as the Tesla mobile app. On the app, it includes the ability to update vehicle software from your phone (i.e. you can make sure your car as all the latest cool new features even when you're not in it).
The most eye-catching new feature is the fun and games side of things. Tesla drivers can play classic arcade games like Atari; apparently, the car "becomes a game console with controls on the touchscreen and steering wheel". We can pretty much guarantee that Clarkson and co. will have plenty to say about that on the next season of The Grand Tour.
It's not quite that simple, though. You can only play the games when the car is in 'Park' (which is fair enough, given some people's outrageous driving tendencies) and the games are not immediately available. They take the form of "hidden Easter Eggs", so you'll have to find them before you can actually play them.
Elsewhere in the update, Tesla owners will be able to pre-set destinations in the car's sat nav via the app, plus access the car's Media settings from it. You know, so if you can't find it in the car park, you can make it blare out Gangnam Style at full volume to help you along.
Drivers can also now store up to 1.8 gigabytes of dashcam footage on a flash drive that can be easily inserted into the car's computer system. They can easily save 10-minute video clips and the controls for starting, pausing and stopping the recording has been simplified.
More simplification greets the Climate Controls system, where facilities are easier to access than before. In the Model 3, for instance, you can adjust the temperature inside your car simply by swiping from one side of the screen to the other, which - assuming it works - is a darn sight easier than fiddling about with awkward knobs and buttons while you sweat out all the moisture in your body.
As if all that wasn't enough, the update will also allow drivers to navigate their car via its Autopilot system very soon, which sounds dangerously close to autonomous driving. Other new features include a full 360-degree view on the cameras, enhanced obstacle awareness and responses and more efficient navigation routing.
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Comments (8)
Now THIS is true innovation
Giving the people what they WANT.
Well, I'd rather just spend 10 grand and have a telly with a PS4 custom built into my car.
That's dedication
I'm fine with my grandma's Prius.
They sometimes vaguely resemble arcades I suppose?