A Closer Look at Tesla's Updated Spotify App in Update 2023.26

By Not a Tesla App Staff
Tesla has updated the Spotify app in software update 2023.26
Tesla has updated the Spotify app in software update 2023.26
BabyTesla3

Tesla has a variety of streaming services available for users to listen to while driving, however, Spotify is one of the most popular.

The Spotify interface in a Tesla has been limited when compared to their desktop or mobile applications, however with Tesla update 2023.26 Tesla has added some much-needed features and completely updated the UI, making it more appealing and easier to read.

New Interface

The improved Spotify interface is cleaner and easier to navigate. The buttons at the top are now limited to Home, Browse and Your Library, reducing the need to scroll horizontally. Your playlists are now neatly tucked under the Your Library section.

Jump to Artist / Album

You can now more easily jump into an album or artist to view additional songs. Underneath the album name, you can now on the artist to reveal popular songs and a full list of albums by the selected artist.

Favoriting Songs

Each song in a list is now visually separated from each other, making it easier to see all the songs in a playlist or album. Although it's not immediately obvious, each song has a plus (+) sign next to it that lets you easily add it to your list of favorites.

It would be nice if this button added the song to your now-playing queue instead, but unfortunately, that functionality isn't included in this release.

Improved Playlists

Tesla has updated the Spotify app in software update 2023.26
Tesla has updated the Spotify app in software update 2023.26
LehtinenTico

In this Spotify refresh, Tesla has improved one of Spotify's greatest limitations - the number of songs displayed in a playlist.

Playlists were previously limited to displaying the first 100 songs, however, that limit has now been lifted with this update. At the bottom of a playlist, you can now paginate through the playlist to view additional songs.

This is a big improvement that will now let users view their complete playlists, although there is still room for improvement. You still cannot sort playlists by different attributes and are forced to view them only in the default order they're presented.

Audiobooks

Spotify has a large collection of over 350,000 audiobooks. Some of them are free, while others are paid, but up until now, they weren't accessible in Tesla's Spotify app.

With this update you can now listen to Spotify's collection of audiobooks, bringing you a little more enjoyment during longer commutes.

Easier Login

Logging in to your Spotify account isn't something you do often, but with this update, it's now easier than ever. The app now displays a QR code that lets you scan it on your mobile phone in order to log in more easily.

This Spotify refresh is a welcome addition to one of the most popular streaming services in Tesla vehicles. It's available for all models with software update 2023.26.

Update 2023.26 recently started going out to owners, but it can take several weeks before it becomes available to everyone.

A Closer Look at Tesla's Ambient Lighting Feature in the New Model 3 and Cybertruck [Video]

By Kevin Armstrong
Tesla introduced a wrap-around ambient lighting strip to its new Model 3
Tesla introduced a wrap-around ambient lighting strip to its new Model 3
crospotter13

If you look up ambient lights for Tesla, you'll see several ads for third-party light kits. Perhaps this is why Tesla added its own Ambient Lights feature to the new Model 3. So, let's get enlightened.

Tesla's ambient lights are thin light strips that are embedded in each of the vehicle's doors near the top edge. It also curves around the dashboard near the windshield, giving passengers a near 360-degree light effect.

Supported Models

Tesla new ambient light feature is available on the new Model 3 (2024+), and will be available on the Cybertruck in a similar manner. With a refresh ongoing for the Model Y, known as Juniper, it will likely also have ambient lights. That just leaves out the most luxurious flagship vehicles, the Model S and X, for now.

The Model S and Model X could be due for a minor refresh that would not only add ambient lighting, but also include a front-bumper camera that the Cybertruck has and the new Model 3 is expected to have in the near future.

Customization

Tesla introduced a wrap-around ambient lighting strip to its new Model 3
Tesla introduced a wrap-around ambient lighting strip to its new Model 3
AutoTopNL

The ambient light settings allow you to light up the interior in a color that reflects your mood or preference. Under Controls > Lights > Accent Lights, you are handed the freedom to choose virtually any color to adorn the interior of your Tesla.

You have control over whether the ambient lights are on, off, or set to an "Auto" setting, though not fully clarified, seems to promise intelligent lighting adjustments akin to our control over dome lights, offering a reduction in reflections during drives.

While the ability to control the brightness level seems missing, Tesla did include color presets, letting you curate a series of your favorite colors.

It should be noted that the changes are confined to the light strips on the doors and dash, steering clear of the footwell lights and other interior lighting.

Future Enhancements

With Tesla, we can be assured there will be enhancements to this feature in a future update. In fact, the Tesla community is already busy coming up with useful suggestions. Some owners thought Tesla should take advantage of the lighting to provide driver feedback, such as automatically changing the ambient lighting to a red hue when there's a vehicle in your blind spot. Tesla could also glow the light strip on a door if it's not closed properly, or use the lighting to provide feedback when Sentry Mode is enabled.

Other uses could be more fun, such as cycling the light through various colors when the 'Rainbow Road' easter egg is activated.

Ambient Lighting in Action

While the possibilities are endless and Tesla engineers will surely have fun coming up with creative uses for the feature, the biggest improvement we can hope for in the near future is the ability to adjust the light intensity.

Tesla Model 3 'Highland' Performance Details Discovered in European Documents

By Kevin Armstrong
Tesla's new Model 3 received a host of exterior and interior upgrades
Tesla's new Model 3 received a host of exterior and interior upgrades
Tesla

Tesla outdid itself with the refreshed Model 3, known as the Highland. Despite all the fantastic upgrades, something is missing - the Performance version or perhaps the Plaid. The letter "T" has shown up on vehicle certificates in Europe, and despite Elon Musk's sense of humor, it is unlikely this is a Mr. T reference.

Deciphering the 'T'

A new document shows the new Model 3 Performance will have a dual motor
A new document shows the new Model 3 Performance will have a dual motor
eivissacopter / X

Diligent scrutiny of the European Type Certificate, issued by the Dutch vehicle authority RDW and shared on the TFF Forum, revealed a subtle yet pivotal alteration — including the letter 'T' in the eighth digit of the Model 3 Performance's VIN.

This seemingly minor detail, indicative of the vehicle's motor/drive unit type, sparked curiosity and speculation on the forum. Could it be a tri-motor setup to usher in a new Plaid version of the Model 3? This vehicle has already got endless amounts of zip, but three motors? May The Schwartz Be With You!

This could also explain the Model 3+ badging that was spotted during the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) in China inspection of the refresh. However, the regulatory filings highlighted just two distinct variants of the car: a rear-wheel drive (RWD) with a 194 kW motor and an all-wheel drive (AWD) dual-motor setup that combines to deliver a formidable 331 kW of maximum power.

Initial conjectures leaned towards the possibility of a tri-motor setup, drawing parallels with the Plaid variants of the Model S and Model X. However, a deeper dive into the certification document clarified that the Model 3 Performance retained its Dual Motor setup, dispelling the possibility of a tri-motor upgrade.

Strategic Enhancements: A Glimpse into Potential Upgrades

Given the documented specifications, it becomes plausible that Tesla has strategically enhanced one of the dual motors, potentially aligning it with the advanced motor found in the Model S/X Plaid. This modification is poised to augment the top-end speed and acceleration of the Model 3 Performance, addressing its comparative limitations in extended races against traditional gas-powered supercars.

Meanwhile, the Model 3 refresh has become the new Bigfoot of the roads of North America, with rare sightings posted on social media. However, it appears the continent is excluded from the initial launch of the Model 3 Highland. Internal communications within Tesla suggest North American enthusiasts might have to exercise patience until 2024.

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