Tesla Display Alternative: Everything the Tesla OS Should Be [VIDEO]

Not a Tesla App

A third-party company called Teslogic, which previously built dashboard kits for Tesla vehicles has launched a Kickstarter for something completely unexpected: a full-bore infotainment replacement for your vehicle.

Screenmate completely transforms your Tesla display from its limited entertainment options into a full-fledged productivity and entertainment hub. But it’s not only for entertainment; Screenmate has built an entire OS that’s capable of controlling most aspects of your Tesla.

Since the unit plugs into your vehicle, it can control various aspects of your vehicle, including charging, operating the glove box, folding mirrors, and even new options Tesla doesn’t include, like preheating your battery or controlling your seats directly from the display.

This is an extremely attractive option that has a fast, intuitive user interface. It even includes CarPlay and Android Auto support.

This could be a good option if you want better access to third-party apps, different navigation options, or even more gaming from within your Model 3 or Model Y.

Features

The top dock/dashboard for Screenmate.

Not a Tesla App

Screenmate is essentially an add-on computer for your Tesla. It takes over the main display, but it can also pass through information from the original infotainment computer, like the FSD visualization.

They’ve also got an updated little top dock that shows all the key car information all the time, including speed, Autopilot / FSD status, speed limit, battery, and the power meter.

App Integration

Screenmate offers a whole host of new apps - pretty much anything available on an Android tablet will be available here. Think better integrations for Netflix, YouTube, Spotify, TIDAL, and others. That’s on top of productivity apps like Zoom, Teams, and even stuff like Microsoft Office or Google Docs.

Navigation Enhancements

Tesla’s navigation system is pretty smart - but a few things are missing that people really would like. Some of these include better information for traffic cameras, speed traps, and other things - usually items available through crowd-sourcing apps like Waze. Screenmate will let you use Waze or another navigation app, and even allow you to display it full screen without having the Autopilot visualizations getting in the way.

Not a Tesla App

While their Kickstarter doesn’t go into too much detail, there could be some shortcomings, such as whether FSD could leverage the routing that you pick on the screen. FSD uses Tesla’s internal routing and also makes its own decisions on the fly, which are likely not displayed here.

Gaming on the Go

Ever since Tesla killed Steam gaming on the Model S and Model X, gaming has been on a steady decline in Tesla vehicles. Screenmate allows you to play most games available through the Android app store or pass through video from a gaming console. Since the Screenmate has a video input, you can display content from almost any device onto the vehicle’s display, including a Nintendo Switch, your phone, or another device.

Streamlined Controls

Not a Tesla App

Screenmate adds an interesting new feature—a control panel for your Tesla. It adds a customizable dock of quick-access options for things you’d normally have to dig into a menu for. You can pull it up with a simple swipe from the left.

This is a feature we’d love to see Tesla add in the future. And the best part? It offers a bunch of features you normally can’t access, like preheating your battery for third-party charging.

Social Media

One thing missing from Tesla’s infotainment is messaging apps—Discord, Slack, Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp—the whole host, really—to display their notifications on the screen. Tesla’s infotainment can only show text messages from your phone.

In addition, there’s little to no integration for social media in general. While you can access X or Facebook through a browser, it’s not a great experience.

Since Screenmate can run Android apps, you have access to all of these apps, and they even include notification support.

Not a Tesla App

Carplay and Android Auto

For those who can’t live without Apple Carplay and Android Auto, Screenmate offers access to both via a simple wireless or wired connection.

Front Wireless Camera

Teslogic sells a separate wireless front camera which can be integrated directly into the Tesla display if you’ve got Screenmate. It even pops up like the Cybertruck’s front camera.

This is a great feature for people who park in tight spaces. On the other hand, Tesla is likely going to add front bumper cameras to the Model Y Juniper, and also the Model S and Model X.

Pricing & Release Date

Screenmate is on Kickstarter. While Teslogic is a real company that ships products, Kickstarters are at the backer’s risk. That means they technically could not ship a product, and you won’t receive a refund. However, it seems that Teslogic already has all its prototyping done and is ready to move into production.

So, with that warning aside, the Screenmate starts at $599 USD ($830 CAD) with the early bird package, which is available right now. The intended retail price after launch is approximately $890 USD.

Teslogic says the estimated delivery date is around May 2025, so that’s not too far away for those willing to back a Kickstarter campaign. Installation appears to be pretty simple: It's plugged into the MCU serial buses under and behind the glove box.

You can check out the Kickstarter here.

If you purchase something through a link in this article, we may receive a small commission that goes toward supporting the site.

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First Look at Tesla’s New 'Blind Spot While Parked' Feature [VIDEO]

Automobile Propre

Tesla software update 2024.44.3 has started rolling out to customers in larger waves recently and it brings several new features - including Actually Smart Summon to Europe and the Middle East, as well as improvements to Autopark. But that’s not all, it also adds a new Blind Spot Monitoring feature to the new Model 3, and potentially the Cybertruck, but that’s still to be determined.

We previously covered the Blind Spot Warning While Parked as part of our preview notes for update 2024.44, but now that it's going out to customers, it's time to see it in action.

New Anti-Door-Opening Feature!@TeslaNewswire @NotATeslaApp @Tesla #tesla #model3 pic.twitter.com/B4YkclRDx2

— Max Bracco (@max_bracco) November 21, 2024

Blind Spot Monitoring While Parked

If the vehicle’s door open button is pressed, and a vehicle or object is near or incoming, the vehicle’s Blind Spot Warning Light (2024 Model 3 and Cybertruck) will illuminate, an audible tone will ring and the door won’t open. A message will also be displayed on the center displaying, letting driver’s know why the door didn’t open.

Pressing the button a second time will allow you to override the warning and open the door normally, providing a way to get out in case you just parked close to a nearby vehicle or obstacle.

The object detection for this new feature includes cars, pedestrians, cyclists, and other objects - like things including traffic cones, bollards, strollers, and other large obstacles that FSD and vision-based Autopark detect during normal operation. Of note - this only works for the front two doors. Thanks to X user Max, who did some testing for us, It does not work for the rear passenger doors.

Optional Feature

The feature is optional - it’ll be enabled by default for safety, but if you need to enable or disable it, you can do so under Controls > Safety. For now, the feature is only available on the 2024 Model 3, but we expect it to roll out to the Cybertruck at least. However, there’s no reason why it can’t be added to other vehicles as well, minus the small red dot. We expect Tesla to eventually add this feature to all Tesla vehicles, but it’s currently not a part of update 2024.44.

Enhauto’s S3XY Buttons & Commander

If that’s not enough safety and vision for you, Enhauto, the makers of the popular S3XY Buttons and Commander recently put out a new software update for the 2024 Model 3, which makes some fantastic use of the ambient lighting.

With Enhauto’s solution, users are able to tie their ambient lights to Autopilot use, turn signals or even if a vehicle is their blind spot. Check out the video below for this awesome implementation, where the ambient lights turn red when another vehicle approaches.

Maybe Tesla will integrate something like this into a future update? We’ve been hoping for more customizability with their ambient lighting - it's an easy safety win and a demonstration of Tesla’s do-more-with-less attitude.

I look forward to @enhauto updates more than Tesla...

Ambient light effects....

I set default color to white.
Blinks green on turn signals
Turns blue on FSD activation
Yellow if someone in blind spot
Blinks red if turn signal on and blind spot activity detected.

All… pic.twitter.com/kFLh1slnEQ

— ProjectRCC (@Project_RCC) November 15, 2024

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Tesla Improves Trip Planner - Arrival State of Charge Coming

DBurkland/X

Tesla recently added the ability to report Supercharger issues - such as insufficient lighting, accessibility, cleanliness, and other things that can’t be automatically monitored. In response to the post on the official X Supercharger Community, Max de Zegher, Director of Charging, North America, confirmed that one of the most wish-listed features - Arrival State of Charge, is coming soon.

The feature is now possible thanks to what Wes Morrill, Cybertruck’s lead engineering, points out is a huge rewrite of Tesla’s Trip Planner, which not only makes it much more accurate but will now allow users to choose their arrival charge percentage.

More Accurate Trip Planner

When you navigate to a destination, your Tesla will automatically calculate when, where, and how much you need to charge. While the process seems straightforward, Tesla deserves a lot of credit for creating a simple user experience because a lot goes into accurately determining this information.

Tesla has to calculate many moving pieces in order to accurately predict when and where you should stop. First, it needs to consider your driving efficiency and wind direction, terrain elevation, traffic, vehicle speed, and ambient temperature. It also needs to predict the best Superchargers to stop at, taking into account congestion and charger speed.

This morning, in response to Dan Burkland, Wes shared that Tesla had significantly rewritten the backend portion of Trip Planner. These improvements, made by several engineers, were designed to improve Trip Planner’s accuracy and open the door to future features.

It sounds like these changes are mostly server-side, so thanks to their OTA connection, more accurate predictions should be available to all vehicles—no vehicle update is required.

Arrival State of Charge

Along with Tesla’s improvements to Trip Planner, Wes also stated that these improvements allow for a popular feature request — the ability to select your desired charge level at arrival.

Up until now, Tesla’s Trip Planner tried to get you to your destination as quickly as possible, which usually meant arriving with a low state of charge.

While this was fine if you have a charger at your destination, it’s not great if you don’t, or it could be even worse if there are no chargers nearby.

Max de Zegher said on X that he has heard the requests for a selectable arrival state of charge. Wes later clarified this by saying that these improvements to Tesla’s Trip Planner now allow for additional features to be added, such as “desired arrival charge.”

Actually trip planner got a huge rewrite on the back end. I had a great conversation with one of the engineers working on this over a morning run a few weeks back, it's pretty neat. The rewrite also unlocks additional features, like desired arrival charge.

— Wes (@wmorrill3) November 22, 2024

When Does it Arrive?

Given that Max de Zegher’s comments came last night and Wes Morrill commented this morning, this feature request likely won’t arrive with the upcoming Holiday Update. Tesla actually hinted at such a feature being added in their last app update, so it does seem like they’ve already planned for it.

Although ‘Arrival State of Charge’ was on our wishlist for the Holiday Update, it looks like it may arrive soon after the holidays.

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