First look at Tesla's new v11 UI

December 22, 2021

By Nuno Cristovao

This year started with a firework show of cold weather improvements. However, Tesla is now completely redeeming themselves in this holiday update.

V11 coming to Model 3/Y

Emulsifide (Edited by Not a Tesla App)

This year's holiday update is easily the most exciting update of the year. It's feature packed with some of the most requested features and improvements.

It includes an updated UI, a customizable app launcher, blind spot camera, TikTok, new games and so much more. Be sure to check out the release notes for the holiday update to see everything included in this update.

One of the biggest features in the holiday update isn't explicitly mentioned in the release notes.

V11 is Finally Here

The holiday update is officially v11, at least for Model 3 and Model Y owners. It's not clear yet whether pre-refresh Model S or Model X cars will get the updated UI as well.

Thanks to Reddit user Emulsifide, we now have a great look into everything that's included in v11. Let's dive in and find out everything we know about the new UI.

New UI

The Model 3 and Model Y UI has been updated with a fresh new look. It looks very similar to the UI on the redesigned Model S.

The update also brings over some of the UI functionality from the Model S.

Rearranged icons

Emulsifide (Edited by Not a Tesla App)

Speedometer and Visualization

The speedometer and "instrument cluster" areas of the Model 3 have been redesigned.

The visualization area on the left is the same size as v10 and unfortunately, there's no way to resize it.

The information at the top left corner of the screen has been reorganized. The PRND status is now laid out horizontally instead of vertically, which allows the speedometer to be pushed all the way to the left. Its now slightly closer to the driver.

The previous UI (left) compared to the new one (right)

Emulsifide (Edited by Not a Tesla App)

The accelration/braking line now goes almost edge to edge on the left side of the screen, instead of appearing between the PRND indicator and battery status.

Car status lights such as headlights and high beams are in a similar locations as before, but the speedometer is now directly above them instead of the PRND indicator.

Other icons that appear near the top of the screen have been moved around as well.

The Autopilot icon that used to appear underneath the acceleration/braking line has been moved up next to the gear selection.

In order for the Autopilot icon to visually fit in that area, it's now much smaller, having about the same height as gear letters themselves.

The speed limit sign is now smaller and remains aligned to the right of the visualizations panel.

The cruise control/max speed icon has updated from the classic blue circle to more closely match the US speed limit sign. Instead of having the set speed with a blue circle around it, it's simplified to just the set speed with the word "MAX" underneath. The cruise control speed icon is also aligned to the right now.

All of the icons have been pushed over to the edges, creating some empty unused space in the middle, which creates some additional height for the car visualizations.

With the increased height available for visualizations, details that are further away can now be displayed. The car visualizations themselves appear to be unchanged in this release.

App Launcher / Bottom Navigation

Customizable apps

Emulsifide (Edited by Not a Tesla App)

One of the most significant changes to the UI is the new look and available options in the car's bottom navigation.

The bottom navigaton, known as the app launcher, can now be customized.

It features three distinct areas, fixed apps that can not be moved or rearranged, customized apps and what appears to be recent apps, much like the Model S.

There is a predefined list of apps that can be placed in the app launcher. Apps that can be added to the launcher include:

Dashcam
Energy
Calendar
Messages
Theater
Arcade
Toybox
Browser
Spotify
Bluetooth
Radio
Caraoke
Tune
TIDAL
Streaming
Backup Camera
Phone

To make room for customizable apps in the app launcher, many apps or features were removed.

For example, the wipers, seat heater and front and rear defrost options were removed from the launcher and can now be found in other locations.

Wipers are now accessible through the left stalk button or by going to Controls, where you're then able to choose from off, low speed, medium, fast or auto options.

Seat heaters are now automatic and the temperature setting will be based on your set cabin temperature and the actual temperature inside of the vehicle. You can still set seat heaters manually by going into the HVAC options.

Unfortunately, the launcher options that were removed are not selectable as apps you can add back to the launcher.

New Icons

Version 11 now uses the same colorful app icons as the redesigned Model S.

Although most users prefer the modern monochrome look of the previous icons, I can see how these colorful icons may make apps easier to find at a glance.

My biggest issue with the new icons is that they appear out of place. They don't appear to go together as package, but this is subjective and some owners may be fans of their new look.

Top Status Bar

Shortcut to Sentry Mode

Emulsifide (Edited by Not a Tesla App)

The icons in the status bar along the top of the screen has been reorganized. Normally, you'd find quick access to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and LTE settings in this location, however these no longer appear under normal circumstances to provide a more streamlined look.

Other shortcuts in the top status bar such as Sentry Mode, Dashcam and Driver Profiles also aren't visible at all times.

Instead, these icons will only show up in the status bar whenever you're in Controls. When you're in any of the car's menus, you will then see all the familiar icons along the top of the screen.

Cards

The cards that you could swipe between on the visualization panel have been removed. Although some information will still appear in this area, you can no longer swipe to bring up the wipers, odometer, tire pressure or other items.

Most of these items have been relocated to be within the controls menu. For example, tire pressure now appears in Controls > Service.

Some alerts will continue to show up in the visualization area such as seat belt warnings and active call information.

Reorganized Menus

New menus

Emulsifide (Edited by Not a Tesla App)

The control menus have been changed and reorganized to make them more consistent with the new Model S UI and to bring consistent between the Model 3/Y and the Model S/X.

Instead of odometer and trip information being a swipeable card, it can now be found by going to Controls > Trips, similar to the Model S and X.

Wiper settings are now under Controls as well and tire pressure is located under Service.

Some menu items have been renamed. Driving has been renamed to Pedals & Steering, while Safety & Security has been changed to just Safety.

Quick Controls is now just known as Controls, similar to the Model S.

The new Controls menu now includes buttons for features that can't be accessed anywhere else.

For example, Controls is now where you set your wiper speed, turn on Sentry Mode and Dashcam, open your glovebox and more.

The charging app was removed from the app launcher, so charge settings can now be found by going to Controls and then the new Charging menu.

The dedicated glovebox button that appeared at the bottom of all the menus has now also be moved to the Controls menu. Although it now appears within a menu, it is still still two taps to open the glovebox.

Blind Spot Camera

Emulsifide (Edited by Not a Tesla App)

One of the features that is getting a lot of attention in this update is the new Blind Spot Camera feature.

It's an optional feature that will automatically show you the live camera view from your blind spot when you your turn signal is activated.

The car will automatically show you the left or right fender camera feed when the appropriate turn signal is used.

The camera feed will appear underneath the driving visualization, where the cards used to appear.

The camera feed will also automatically be dismissed when your turn signal is turned off.

HVAC Quick Controls

Emulsifide (Edited by Not a Tesla App)

There is a new quick controls menu that appears when you change the cabin temperature.

Previously, when you adjusted the cabin temperature, you would get a slider to adjust the temperature and a button to enable Split mode.

However, now there are some additional options in this menu. Apps that were removed from the app launcher such as HVAC settings, seat heaters and front and rear defrost now appear in this quick menu.

If you want to get to the full HVAC settings, you can tap on the gear icon.

This will take getting a little used to as the full HVAC settins are now a swipe and tap away and feel more hidden.

Overall V11

Many owners have been looking forward to v11 to match what the Model S offers today.

Although not all the features that the Model S offers are here, the visual refresh is a welcome one. Some elements of the Model S such as window docking, the music mini-player are not available in this release.

Emulsifide (Edited by Not a Tesla App)

The existing apps in the Model 3 remain unchanged. For example, the music player still looks and functions the same as it did before and it can only appear on the right side of the screen.

Tesla has added many features over the years. Three years ago when the Model 3 was introduced, Sentry Mode, Dashcam, Dashcam Viewer, Tesla Theater and so many other features didn't exist.

Adding these features to the UI started making it crowded in certain areas.

Tesla took this as an opportunity to reorganize and declutter some of the UI so that it remained clean and intuitive

Some of the new buttons may take some getting used to, but it's exciting to officially see v11 running on a Model 3.

Tesla’s Optimus Robot Learns to Walk Without Vision [VIDEO]

December 13, 2024

By Karan Singh

Optimus Falls - but catches itself!

Not a Tesla App

Tesla recently showed off a demo of Optimus, its humanoid robot, walking around in moderately challenging terrain—not on a flat surface but on dirt and slopes. These things can be difficult for a humanoid robot, especially during the training cycle.

Daily walks help clear your mind pic.twitter.com/dUsW58trS6
— Tesla Optimus (@Tesla_Optimus) December 9, 2024

A Look Behind the Curtain

Most interestingly, Milan Kovac, VP of Engineering for Optimus, clarified what it takes to get Optimus to this stage. Let’s break down what he said.

Optimus is Blind

Optimus is getting seriously good at walking now - it can keep its balance over uneven ground - even while walking blind. Tesla is currently using just the sensors, all powered by a neural net running on the embedded computer.

Essentially, Tesla is building Optimus from the ground up, relying on as much additional data as possible while it trains vision. This is similar to how they train FSD on vehicles, using LiDAR rigs to validate the vision system’s accuracy. While Optimus doesn’t have LiDAR, it relies on all those other sensors on board, many of which will likely become simplified as vision takes over as the primary sensor.

Today, Optimus is walking blind, but it’s able to react almost instantly to changes in the terrain underneath it, even if it falls or slips.

What’s Next?

Next up, Tesla AI will be adding vision to Optimus - helping complete the neural net. Remember, Optimus runs on the same overall AI stack as FSD - in fact, Optimus uses an FSD computer and an offshoot of the FSD stack for vision-based tasks.

Milan mentions they’re planning on adding vision to help the robot plan ahead and improve its walking gait. While the zombie shuffle is iconic and a little bit amusing, getting humanoid robots to walk like humans is actually difficult.

There’s plenty more, too - including better responsiveness to velocity and direction commands and learning to fall and stand back up. Falling while protecting yourself to minimize damage is something natural to humans - but not exactly natural to something like a robot. Training it to do so is essential in keeping the robot, the environment around it, and the people it is interacting with safe.

We’re excited to see what’s coming with Optimus next because it is already getting started in some fashion in Tesla’s factories.

Is Tesla Close to Licensing FSD? GM Quits Cruise, BMW Praises Tesla

December 13, 2024

By Karan Singh

Not a Tesla App

In a relatively surprising move, GM announced that it is realigning its autonomy strategy and prioritizing advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) over fully autonomous vehicles.

GM is effectively closing Cruise (autonomous) and focusing on its Super Cruise (ADAS) feature. The engineering teams at Cruise will join the GM teams working on Super Cruise, effectively shuttering the fully autonomous vehicle business.

End of Cruise

GM cites that “an increasingly competitive robotaxi market” and “considerable time and resources” are required for scaling the business to a profitable level. Essentially - they’re unable to keep up with competitors at current funding and research levels, putting them further and further behind.

Cruise has been offering driverless rides in several cities, using HD mapping of cities alongside vehicles equipped with a dazzling array of over 40 sensors. That means that each cruise vehicle is essentially a massive investment and does not turn a profit while collecting data to work towards Autonomy.

Cruise has definitely been on the back burner for a while, and a quick glance at their website - since it's still up for now - shows the last time they officially released any sort of major news packet was back in 2019.

Competition is Killer

Their current direct competitor - Waymo, is funded by Google, which maintains a direct interest in ensuring they have a play in the AI and autonomy space.

Interestingly, this news comes just a month after Tesla’s We, Robot event, where they showed off the Cybercab and the Robotaxi network, as well as plans to begin deployment of the network and Unsupervised FSD sometime in 2025. Tesla is already in talks with some cities in California and Texas to launch Robotaxi in 2025.

GM Admits Tesla Has the Right Strategy

As part of the business call following the announcement, GM admitted that Tesla’s end-to-end and Vision-based approach towards autonomy is the right strategy. While they say Cruise started down that path, they’re putting aside their goals towards fully autonomous vehicles for now and focusing on introducing that tech in Super Cruise instead.

NEWS: GM just admitted that @Tesla’s end-to-end approach to autonomy is the right strategy.

“That’s where the industry is pivoting. Cruise had already started making headway down that path. We are moving to a foundation model and end-to-end approach going forward.” pic.twitter.com/ACs5SFKUc3
— Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt) December 10, 2024

With GM now focusing on Super Cruise, they’ll put aside autonomy and instead focus solely on ADAS features to relieve driver stress and improve safety. While those are positive goals that will benefit all road users, full autonomy is really the key to removing the massive impact that vehicle accidents have on society today.

In addition, Super Cruise is extremely limited, cannot brake for traffic controls, and doesn’t work in adverse conditions - even rain. It can only function when lane markings are clear, there are no construction zones, and there is a functional web connection.

The final key to the picture is that the vehicle has to be on an HD-mapped and compatible highway - essentially locking Super Cruise to wherever GM has time to spend mapping, rather than being functional anywhere in a general sense, like FSD or Autopilot.

Others Impressed - Licensing FSD

Interestingly, some other manufacturers have also weighed into the demise of Cruise. BMW, in a now-deleted post, said that a demo of Tesla’s FSD is “very impressive.” There’s a distinct chance that BMW and other manufacturers are looking to see what Tesla does next.

BMW chimes in on a now-deleted post. The Internet is forever, BMW!

Not a Tesla App

It seems that FSD has caught their eyes after We, Robot - and that the demonstrations of FSD V13.2 online seem to be the pivot point. At the 2024 Shareholder Meeting earlier in the year, Elon shared the fact that several manufacturers had reached out, looking to understand what was required to license FSD from Tesla.

There is a good chance 2025 will be the year we’ll see announcements of the adoption of FSD by legacy manufacturers - similar to how we saw the surprise announcements of the adoption of the NACS charging standard.