In the next two weeks, Tesla EV owners will start getting their over-the-air updates (OTA) for Version 9 of the Tesla Software. The much awaited software upgrade comes two years after the current version, and is expected to have some significant additions. A recent tweet from Tesla CEO Elon Musk shows that v9.0 will come with something called Fade Mode.
What Might ‘Fade Mode’ Look Like?
A loose analogy would probably be dark mode on an iPhone or iPad, but it’s not the same. Dark Mode is essentially a dark color theme, but the effect on the eyes could be similar. Musk indicated that the screen would fade, leaving only essential elements visible. For one, it’s going to be easier on the eyes; more importantly, though, it’s going to be less of a distraction while driving.
Tesla has currently blocked streaming video for the same reason – that the driver could be distracted by the massive tablet-sized/monitor-sized touchscreen display showing a movie with really awesome audio that the Model 3 and other models come with.
It’s possible that the “essential info” that Musk is talking about are speed and possibly navigation elements, such as your planned route on the map with Superchargers and destination charging points marked. But we’ll have to wait a couple of weeks before we can confirm how it actually works.
Will add a fade mode with only essential info
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) 7 September 2018
The suggestion for Fade Mode came from @andrew_gold_, who just this week inquired and got a response from Musk about v9.0 coming to early access users in two weeks and then rolling out to everyone else at the end of the month.
Also Read: 4 Weeks to Tesla Firmware v9.0: What to Expect, and Timeline for AP Hardware 3
That’s a considerably quick turnaround for a feature addition to a software update that’s so close to release, which leads us to think that Fade Mode might have already been planned for Version 9. It’s almost impossible to put out a feature like this in a couple of weeks because the code has to be written, validated, and the software user-tested and then put out as a beta before the actual release.
