3 features Tesla removed from Software v9

I thought updates were supposed to add functionality… But a few tweaks would sort these out again.

Whenever a vendor updates their user facing systems, there’s always some push back. People by and large don’t like change. Whenever Facebook updates their design and interface there’s usually a month or so of “Go back the old design!” and “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it!” before everyone forgets about it and gets used to it.

But in most of these cases, they’re just redesigns. It’s actually rare for a vendor to actually remove functionality when changing the user experience. It might get changed, its behaviour or appearance altered — but generally it’s not removed. So it’s usually safe to just ignore the criticism from software updates and carry on.

Recently Tesla rolled out Software version 9 to its fleet of vehicles. The v9 update brings the user interface for the Model S and Model X to one closer to that used by the Model 3.

Unfortunately in the process, certain things you could do before you straight up can’t do any more. It’s not that they’ve changed, altered their appearance or tweaked them — you straight up can’t do some things anymore.

See your energy usage history and rear-view camera at the same time.

The energy usage history screen is the only place where the estimated range based on the last 5/15/30 miles of driving can be seen. This isn’t on the binnacle.

Under version 8 the dual-screen setup meant you could have the rear view camera up at the same time as the energy usage. If you’re doing a trip you do often and don’t need the maps (or are happy with the maps in the instrument cluster) then this is great. Especially for those of us who like the extra view afforded by the wide angle camera.

Under v9 however, the map-centric centre console means you cannot have the energy usage and the camera open at the same time. It’s one, or the other.

You can’t do this anymore

Keep your chosen information visible at all times

Under v9, some operations will dismiss any open windows — for example using the voice command to navigate to a given destination will close your energy usage or rear view camera automatically. Under v8 showing either of these required 1 tap of the touchscreen. Under v9 both of these require two.

So if while driving you then use a voice command to navigate, and then want your rear view camera back — you’re required to make two in-flight touchscreen presses to get it back which is far from desirable if you want to keep your eyes thoroughly on the road.

Have your rear-view camera actually at the top of the display

Under v9, while you can drag the camera mostly to the top — the way it’s implemented is that you’re forced to have the media player pop up further which obscures the map. Leaving you with this tiny strip at the top for the map.

While under v9 you can have a nice setup with the media in a strip at the bottom, the camera in the middle and a map up top — as mentioned earlier this doesn’t stay in place if you issue a navigation command — and prevents you having the camera at the very top.

The sloped back of the Model S in particular affords pretty poor rear visibility. So I like many other owners prefer to keep my rear view camera open at all times to better see around me.

But that’s only useful if its at the very top of the screen, otherwise your eyes have to come too far away from the road to use it safely. At the top it’s even close enough to your line of sight to be in your peripheral vision.

It’s mostly at the top, but now I can’t see the map…

How could this be improved without massive changes?

Three removed features, and 3 minor tweaks to bring them back: