This has been a concern in the automotive industry. But the tide is turning. Both Volvo and GM have announced that they are moving to straight Android for automotive and letting Google and Apple handle the UI for them. Cost of course is the reason.
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Tesla Software Update Hints at Support for Apple Music
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Thank you for confirming. I'm trying to read (and understand) this page - https://www.tesla.com/support/connectivity
I guess their $9.99 connectivity opens up "live traffic visualization" so you get live traffic & auto redirects around traffic jams for free but $10 gets you the lines on the map so you can see the traffic for yourself. That part confused me and made me think they were withholding traffic for $120 a year.
Invoking Siri from the steering wheel is something I use dozens of times a day. I have it in my Motorcycle helmet "hey Siri" works on my connected bluetooth in my two helmets, the new Hondas (motorcycles) coming gout even have CarPlay as do all of my cars that are 2015 and newer model year so it's something I've come to really rely on. Lack of CarPlay isn't a deal breaker but I'd like to have Siri be built in but I'm guessing those are exclusive.
Thanks for the reply.
$10 a month just for the lame internet features and to keep the nav working? Really? I would never have bought my S if they tried that.
I think Tesla needs an App Store, but CarPlay is not the answer.
It seems half baked and not overly useful in my opinion. It could be the implementation of the couple of ice cars that I’ve been unfortunate enough to have rented in the last 6 months though.
On a side note, Siri is without a doubt is the worst voice assistant I’ve ever used. I’m not sure how people rely on this at all. Rarely works for me the few times I am forced to interact with Siri. Luckily it’s few and far between.
It sounds like you have an issue with lack of features rather than the UI itself. If it is the UI that you have a problem with, what is your issue exactly? I find it very intuitive and as responsive as an iPad.
I agree that Tesla needs to implement new features, but like I stated earlier they're overdue for an App Store which would solve all of your lack of feature issues. They need to let 3rd party developers release their own apps. The Spotify app was also just recently updated and I find it works very well, no reason to stream from my phone if I'm using the built-in app.
I would support that honestly. I like the Sirius XM app in CarPlay over the built in Sirius Tuner my cars have. It's nice to play back various DVR interviews that were recorded on various stations.
So my experience may be different than others - either because I have a model s, or because i’ve had it since before they started charging fees. I have no idea what that $120 a year gets you, but I don’t pay it, and i have maps with traffic indications on it (red, green or yellow lines, etc).
The page has so many exceptions to the rule it's a bit confusing. I planned on buying a truck in Summer of 2022 from Tesla and who knows what the rules and prices will be at that point. I'm expecting to have to pay $120 a year (aka 2 tanks of gas on a full size ICE truck)
Oh, this update would - seriously - be everything I want and then some.
Apple Music and SiriusXM streaming? I could drop Spotify altogether and have everything I want in one tidy place.
You mention your experience with laggy UI. It's likely because you have an older model S. Newer versions have new hardware with no lag, but of course no longer have unlimited premium connectivity service.
So sure, some people are paying $10/month, but the tradeoff being a faster UI due to a new car/hardware.
I think you were grandfathered in similar to unlimited supercharger miles. I believe the new cars (3 and Y) get 1 year of premium connectivity included with the purchase.
Instead of focusing on CarPlay I wish Tesla would refresh the Model S and X. I’m not sure why anyone would purchase a new S or X in 2021. The interiors are so dated and not worthy of a $70K ”luxury” automobile. Personally I think both cars are in need of a refresh, but I am guessing Tesla sells less than 5% of them these days. Still more important than adding CarPlay.
They don't have time to add useful features such as Carplay and additional streaming providers. They are too busy adding stupid games and fart apps to their cars. 
Tesla's voice assistant isn't better, "call <person> home" and I still get the card to click home or work for example, Siri would call the right number without the need for more interaction with the touchscreen.
In my opinion, CarPlay is the answer (I actually miss it a lot with the Tesla), it lets me have my navigation app of choice, podcast app of choice, music app of choice, audiobook app of choice, all my contacts and messages (including 3rd party messaging apps) accessible, and whichever car I use, I just need to connect my phone with CarPlay and it's all there. I don't need to deal with using only the apps Tesla wants me to use, have to pay extra to Tesla for something I already have access to on my phone, etc.
I have a Tesla and while it's a great car, when it comes time to replace it, if Tesla doesn't have CarPlay then I will go to another brand that does. I'm not saying everyone needs to love CarPlay, but Tesla should offer choice to those that want to use it.
What MCU are you using? It sounds like you're using the older MCU 1 which wouldn't be fair for you to critizie since it's been replaced with MCU 2. MCU 2 is NOT slow and laggy but that was a common complaint about the original MCU 1 computer. I do agree with you on the inability to install other apps though, that needs to change and hopefully will soon.
Good post. While I disagree about CarPlay and ever wanting it in a Tesla I appreciate intelligent posts and responses.
For me the answer is a Tesla App Store not CarPlay. CarPlay has been a chore to use in every car I’ve tried it in. I don’t want anything to do with Siri either.
I have no issue with Bluetooth for podcasts but like I said I think the best answer is a Tesla App Store not another mediocre 3rd party implementation (ie:CarPlay or Android Auto)
Yeah, MCU 1 (on my second one). Soon to be replaced again, I suspect, since bugs have started again.
Sad part is the software used to be very fast. I would be happy if they restored the original interface/OS.
If they implemented Carplay, no one would force you to use it. No harm done.
The problem is that the number of Tesla cars is tiny compared to the number of iPhones, and most people spend an hour or less per day in their car on average (while they carry their phones around all day). There is no money in it for developers, so most wouldn't bother and you would never see a selection of apps close what's on the Apple app store.
Another problem is continuity. E.g. I like listening to audiobooks, but not only in the car. So unless there is some way to sync playback positions between my phone and the car, an audiobook app in the car is pretty much useless to me, while Carplay would allow me to operate my phone app without having to fumble around with the phone.
This is a bit misleading. Spotify is relatively new to Tesla, having only been added in September of 2019. Prior to that, Slacker was the provider of streaming music in Teslas, and is still default. So, it would be more accurate to say: "Slacker has been the main way to listen to music in Teslas for "some time" (since 2012), with the recent addition of Spotify in late 2019."
Unless you are in the UK/EU, where they have had Spotify this whole time and not Slacker.
Why not? Porsche charges me $2k every couple of years to update my GPS maps, since they can't update over-the-air. The Model S includes free navigation maps updated constantly. The premium monthly fee adds:
Live Traffic Visualization
Satellite-View Maps
Video Streaming
Caraoke
Music Streaming
Internet Browser
Not a bad deal. BTW, Video Streaming is not "lame" - I love watching Netflix on the 17" screen while I supercharge - it makes it easy to kill 20 minutes while charging up!
I don’t have video streaming on my Tesla. And unlike porsche, who had to buy the maps (I had a boxster with maps on cd, too), Tesla is just using google’s maps. When I pay $85,000 for a car, I am not going to be nickeled and dimed into having to pay a monthly fee to use the nav system. That’s ridiculous.
The internet browser is garbage, by the way. I don’t use the music streaming because I use Apple Music, not Spotify.
I don’t know what caraoke is, but my Tesla doesn’t have that, either.
In any event, i already pay apple for maps, gps, streaming videos and music, etc. Why won’t Tesla just support car play, and then I can use dozens of apps integrated into the center console? Is it because they are too busy coming up with literal fart functionality?
You don't have to pay the premium connectivity fee to use the Tesla nav system. Routing etc. works perfectly fine without. The only nav-related feature that requires it is the traffic visualization on the map.
I pay the fee primarily for Spotify and podcasts (via TuneIn, and recently also added to the Spotify app). I probably wouldn't if the car had Carplay (which may be one reason why they are not implementing it).
Agreed.