Tesla has a secret 'Elon Mode' that removes nagging
MKBHD/Twitter
Well-known Tesla hacker and a treasure trove of undiscovered Tesla secrets, @GreenTheOnly has once again made waves in the Tesla community. His recent Twitter revelation uncovers a hidden gem in Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta software - a unique feature named 'Elon Mode'.
@GreenTheOnly's tweets give the world a peek into this under-the-radar feature that is yet to see public release. His deep dive into the hidden depths of Tesla's software brings to light an interesting twist to how Tesla's FSD Beta monitors driver attentiveness.
'Elon Mode' - Redefining Driver Monitoring
The driver monitoring system in Tesla vehicles is known for its 'nag' feature. This alerts drivers to maintain their focus on the road and requires them to exert resistance on the steering wheel, signifying their attentiveness. 'Elon Mode' brings a paradigm shift to this system.
In 'Elon Mode', featured above, the car switches from steering wheel 'nags' to a more advanced driver monitoring method. It employs only the internal camera to keep a watchful eye on the driver, ensuring they are not distracted. This is a significant stride towards enabling hands-off driving, a promising prospect for Tesla's global user base.
Green’s Intriguing Experience with 'Elon Mode'
Taking us on a virtual ride spanning nearly 1,000km, Green shares his firsthand experience with 'Elon Mode'. During this journey, Green enjoyed the luxury of a nag-free ride, thanks to Tesla's computer vision-based driver monitoring.
Green observed that the irritating nuisances of the FSD, such as random lane changes and slower driving speed, become less noticeable if he doesn't have to watch the car continually. He even entertained the idea of reading a book or browsing a website, suggesting that the mild, non-human driving choices made during the journey go virtually unnoticed.
He commended the FSD's performance on divided highways and revealed that there's a fair chance the car can navigate between two points without needing any human input. He even ventured that if this technology were offered as Level 3 automation, where the driver doesn't need to pay attention constantly, it would be a "solid deal at $15k" (historical FSD prices).
Despite the benefits, Green also highlights the downside of 'Elon Mode'. Giving the car free rein to make unnecessary lane changes could incite road rage from other drivers. This suggests there's still room for refinement before 'Elon Mode' is ready for public release.
Green's journey in Elon Mode offers a promising glimpse into the future of autonomous driving. While it's not clear when this hidden mode will be publicly accessible, one thing is certain - the future of driving is closer than we think.
Following its recent launch in the United States and Canada, Tesla has launched their referral program in several European countries as well.
The program is available in Germany, Norway, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and possibly others. The program is almost the same as the one available today in North America, with rewards for each referral and a discount for those referred. The cap in Europe is also ten per year.
This program comes right on the heels of a 0% financing offer for the Model Y in Sweden and France. While referrals aren't currently available in Sweden, the 0% financing still is.
European Referrals
The European Referral program accounts for country and local currency, where applicable.
Country
Referral Discount
Referral Award
UK
£1,000
£500
Germany, France, Netherlands
€1,000
€500
Norway
kr11,500
kr5,750
The referral reward program is comparable to the one available in North America. After exchange rates, there is only an approximately 10% difference between the available rewards in the US and EU.
Other Countries
We expect this program to start rolling out to other European countries over the next few days or weeks, as Tesla continues to expand its referral program.
Tesla has confirmed that they submit app updates for Android and iOS apps at the same time, but we often see the iOS app updates released first possibly due to a quicker app review process at Apple.
However, we often see features implemented on the Apple version weeks or months before they’re implemented on Android. Today, the Android app is missing several key features, and the gap is starting to become a bit glaring.
Delayed App Updates
The Android app just received update 4.36.6 last night, while the Apple update was available as of September 1st.
That might not seem like a big deal, but in order to use the updated Actually Smart Summon, you’ll need app version 4.36.6, so any Andriod users that received update 2024.27.20 with the new Summon, couldn’t use it until yesterday.
We’re sure Tesla is on it, but it’s disappointing to see that key feature updates take days or a week longer to receive on Android. Apple and Google both offer the ability to set a release date for an app update, so Tesla could coordinate releasing the apps at the same time.
Ultra Wideband Support
Unfortunately, there’s no Ultra Wide Band (UWB) support on Android yet, which is an interesting omission since it’s such a great feature. Most Android phones, flagships, and cheaper phones alike, all support UWB.
Without UWB support Android phones can’t use Tesla’s newest phone key, which is only available for devices that support UWB. The new phone key improves reliability for unlocking the vehicle and setting the correct Tesla driver profile. To support the new phone key, you need a compatible phone (iPhone 11 or newer) and a newer vehicle that supports ultra wideband.
Hands-Free Trunk
Tesla’s new hands-free trunk feature, which allows you to automatically open your trunk by simply standing behind it for a couple of seconds, also isn’t available on Android devices. Tesla’s Hands-Free Trunk requires UWB support too, and Tesla originally mentioned it was coming to Android in May 2024.
For now, those are the features we know of that don’t work on Android today, and we’re hoping that Tesla brings both UWB support, as well as simultaneous app updates to the Google Play and Apple App Store by leveraging each store’s publish date feature.
TeslaFi logs your drives and charging sessions, letting you keep a log of your vehice's activity. We highly recommend checking them out if you use your car for business trips and would like to keep track of reimbursements, if you like to see how much you spend on charging or if you just love statistics. Visit their site and see everything they have to offer!
Tesla Android Project enables you to run Android apps in your Tesla. The platform is Open Source and you can deploy it on your own Raspberry Pi 4. Consider supporting the initiative by donating or purchasing the Compute Module 4 Bundle that delivers the best experience. Get $20 off by using the code: NotATeslaApp
The official Tesla app only notifies you if your car is broken into. By installing Sentry Pro on your phone, you will be notified for all Sentry Mode events. Stay connected and avoid potential surprises by receiving notifications. Stop constantly checking the cameras to ensure safety. Check only when necessary, save battery and get peace of mind. Get a 7 day free trial here!
Stay organized, connected, and stylish with Cyberbackpack — the #1 backpack, luggage & travel accessories for Tesla owners. We highly recommend checking them out if you commute or travel and would like a backpack or luggage that is sleek, secure and durable. View their products page and see everything they have to offer!
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Although we share official Tesla release notes, we are not affiliated with Tesla Motors. We are Tesla fans and supporters.
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