Tesla's Holiday Update software includes a noisy and controversial new feature – CNET

Simply in time for Christmas morning, Tesla’s 2020 Vacation Replace, Firmware 2020.48.25 has arrived, and along with some anticipated enjoyable new options, Elon Musk and Co. have rolled out a brace of person expertise modifications, extra video games and a few useful upgraded visualizations. One explicit new function, nevertheless, is more likely to be a bit controversial — and never only for Tesla homeowners.

Even if you happen to do not really drive a Tesla, chances are you’ll quickly be on the receiving finish of options enabled by the replace’s new “Boombox” mode, which permits Tesla drivers to customise their Mannequin S, Mannequin X, Mannequin 3 or Mannequin Y‘s horn. That is proper, now you can make your Tesla’s horn honk sound like a goat, applause, La Cucaracha or a fart, amongst a variety of different sound results. You’ll be able to even add as much as 5 customized sounds of your individual utilizing a USB key. The user-selected sound performs after the standard horn honk. Musk himself touted the sound-effect improve on his Twitter account Friday afternoon:

Boombox additionally permits your Tesla to make totally different EV in-motion driving sounds, whether or not you are behind the wheel or your car is being parked or pulled round in Summon mode. In different phrases, it in all probability will not be lengthy till you are strolling on the road and listen to an approaching Star Wars TIE fighter or Clydesdale, solely to show round and understand it is somebody rolling by in a Mannequin Y. Whereas we will see this function being momentarily amusing for Tesla homeowners and bystanders, it is also simple to anticipate Boombox shortly turning into annoying or distracting to pedestrians, cyclists and different motorists.

To be able to take full benefit of Boombox mode, your Tesla will should be a more moderen mannequin outfitted with an exterior speaker. It is also vital to notice that the Boombox function comes with a on-screen caveat to “please test native legal guidelines earlier than use in public areas.” If you wish to take a look at the replace and listen to all the brand new sound results for your self, the Tesla Homeowners On-line YouTube channel has a strong walk-through of the replace you can watch under:

Boombox is situated within the infotainment system’s Toybox menu, which additionally homes the system’s many video games. A trio of recent video games, together with The Battle of Polytopia, Cat Quest and Solitaire, the latter of which some Tesla homeowners are reporting is usable whereas the automobile is in movement (presumably for the passenger’s profit) on Reddit.

In additional sober however substantive developments, the Vacation Replace contains up to date driving visualizations that assist Tesla’s optionally available Full-Self Driving know-how. (Compulsory Roadshow security word: Regardless of the deceptive identify, Tesla doesn’t but provide autonomous driving know-how.) The brand new visualizations ought to give the driving force a clearer have a look at what is going on on round their car when the tech is lively, and different options have been moved round on the display screen for simpler entry, together with the one-touch entry to the backup digital camera and wipers.

Enhancements have additionally been made to the system’s Scheduled Departure function, which might now precondition a car’s cabin and battery even when unplugged, in addition to a rationalized menu displaying Supercharger info.

Tesla’s Firmware 2020.45.25 Vacation Replace is rolling out to homeowners of the corporate’s total household of electrical vehicles and SUVs nationwide through over-the-air replace proper now. 

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