I didn't realize how much I rely on texting until I couldn't access my messages while in a Tesla. Yes, I could make calls after I connected my iPhone to the car infotainment system in a (borrowed) Model 3 and use the Tesla voice control. But texting wasn't an option unless I took out my phone, which wasn't going to happen while driving.
Tesla's big draw is that you don't need your phone mounted to the dash. The central touchscreen and operating system provides everything you need in one place: navigation, traffic, voice control, phone calls, music, podcasts, and much more. But no texting.
I wasn't the only one frustrated. For years, voice texting and message reading abilities have been highlighted as 'missing' Tesla features. Along with Waze features, Apple Music integration, and other console skills, YouTube videos, Reddit pages, and Tesla forums are filled with tricks and tips to push the boundaries of Tesla's operating system.
Until last week, adding Spotify was a top request for the streaming music section of the all-electric vehicle. With the latest Tesla software update, known as V10, Spotify is finally directly built into the music player.
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For YouTuber 'Tesla Raj,' that means his workaround video for streaming Spotify is no longer needed. In a phone call this week, the 37-year-old Model 3 owner in the Bay Area said he wasn't offended that the video is now useless. As a Tesla fan, he said he understands that Tesla is constantly going through a long list of priorities on how to improve the vehicles. Eventually this one made it to the top of the queue.
For other capabilities, he explained how some screen features are hidden or buried, like adding favorite locations to your navigation screen. 'Sometimes what you're looking for is there, but might not be one-click access,' he said in a call from his Navy blue Model 3 that he bought last year. Take this quick way to skip the update timer, no software or plugins needed:
For other features, like multiple stop planning or Waze features like red light camera warnings, you need a legit workaround, at least until it's available. Tesla CEO Elon Musk added Sentry Mode after much pleading from drivers back in February. Tesla over-the-air updates make the cars suddenly have a new set of skills, similarly to updating your iPhone to the latest iOS version.
But until Tesla or Musk himself prioritizes what the community wants, users like Raj and many others are figuring out how to take advantage of the Tesla interfaces, mainly through the car screen web browser. Now, video players from the V10 update (there's Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, and Tesla video tutorials) are available as well.
Raj, who declined to give his full name, mentioned fellow YouTuber 'MotherFrunker' as 'someone who's figured out a way to bring that information to you.' He said his third-party hacks for the car, (like calculator, weather, and notes apps for the central screen) are 'making our cars more powerful.'
I came across MotherFrunker from his Tesla video for how to add a texting app to the Model 3.
In an online conversation with MotherFrunker, a 28-year-old technology teacher named Franklin in Toronto, the Tesla hack guru explained that he based his hack on the web app he created for Tesla. It lets him see what tools and features are most popular. His web app has about 1 million page views.
The top five tools people use in the Tesla through the MotherFrunker web browser page are maps (which includes a Waze workaround), calculator, games beyond the ones Tesla offers in its arcade, sticky notes, and weather. Franklin, who wouldn't share his full name, separately built out the Tesla Tasker to automate features typically controlled through the Tesla mobile app.
SEE ALSO: Tesla update lets drivers stream Spotify, Netflix, and YouTube
A big caveat is that certain 'hacks' or workarounds to add more functions to the Tesla console only work with Android, like with Franklin's text message tool. 'Android users once again have a huge advantage when it comes to being able to do really cool and fancy things with their Tesla,' Franklin said. For Apple users, the Tesla experience is less customizable. But hey, iPhone users got Siri to work with the Model 3 last year, so there's hope yet.
Even as Tesla keeps adding skills and features to the operating system, there's a never-ending list of requests that drivers want. Just look at Musk's Twitter page:
You’re welcome! Feature requests always appreciated.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 26, 2019
Without Tesla making official updates and changes, YouTubers and other Tesla community members and fans stay plenty busy showing drivers how to make the car function just like they want.
'I have and will continue to push the limits based on what we are given access to,' Franklin vowed.
Spotify is committed to bringing audio content such as music and stories to more people in more ways–including the next generation of listeners. That’s why we decided to launch a fun standalone app designed with safety in mind specifically for kids and families.*
We sat down with Alex Norström, Spotify’s Chief Premium Business Officer, to learn a little more about the app.
1. Why create a Spotify Kids app now? What can users look forward to?
We know that families love listening together—whether it’s while driving in the car or cooking dinner together in the kitchen. But we also know that family members love to listen on their own too. That’s why we’re so excited to welcome the next generation of listeners—kids—into the Family Plan experience.
Kids consuming audio content, such as music and stories, isn’t a new phenomenon—in fact, they love it. But most audio experiences were built with adults in mind—meaning they’re not simple, easy, or fun for young kids to use.
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Spotify Kids was born out of the desire to create a playground of sound just for kids—to build a place where younger kids can explore their favorite music and stories in a fun environment. The content is ad-free and hand-picked by a team of editors, and the experience is bursting with color. Our visuals help guide young minds through the app with simple navigation and scaled-back text. Before setting out to explore, each kid can also select a custom avatar and color theme to personalize their experience.
Spotify Kids is a composite of playlists, which makes it easy for kids to find music and stories from their favorite movies and TV shows or hit plays on a playlist to sing along to during their favorite activity—or their least favorite chore.
We’re thrilled to beta launch in Ireland and look forward to introducing Spotify Kids in all markets that have Premium Family in the coming months. As we evolve the app experience, we’ll roll out enhanced parental settings and controls for even more customization in an effort to give parents peace of mind.
2. How is the Spotify Kids app different from the original app? Any unique content?
Spotify Kids is a standalone app available exclusively for Premium Family subscribers and intended for kids ages 3+. The content within Kids is hand-picked by a team of editors, who have nearly 100 years of combined experience curating content for kids. They come from some of the most well-respected brands in this space, including Nickelodeon, Disney, Discovery Kids, and Universal Pictures, as well as Public Service in Sweden and BookBeat, which is a family- and kids-oriented audio streaming service.
Beyond the content, the entire Spotify Kids user experience looks and feels different from the Spotify app. And that’s intentional. It’s built for kids, with their specific cognitive skills in mind, and exudes a fun, familiar, playful, and bright atmosphere. This look and feel also varies by age group—for example, the artwork for younger kids is softer and character-based, while content for older kids is more realistic and detailed.
3. Why launch in beta? What are you hoping to learn?
Having a standalone app specifically for younger kids is a new space for Spotify, and we understand the sensitivities around content for children. We are being very deliberate in our launch approach. We’ve started with a beta launch in Ireland, knowing that this initial roll-out phase will yield many learnings from parents, caregivers and other experts as they begin to interact with the app.
As we evolve the Spotify Kids experience over time, we plan to enhance parental control features to allow for even more customization. We’ll also bring our audio expertise to the table with listening experiences that go beyond music—like more stories and audiobooks and eventually podcasts.
4. As you were building the app, did you tap any external resources? Say, consult with any parent organizations or conduct focus groups?
While launching this kids app is an exciting moment for Spotify, creating it was not a task we took lightly. We knew the importance of understanding parents’ needs and making sure they would have peace of mind about the content their kids are consuming.
Spotify has spent more than two years learning about this space, and we’ll continue to learn as people begin to interact with the app. We have gathered expert insight from a number of organizations, including the National Children’s Museum in Washington, D.C., and conducted our own studies with parents around the world and tapped into our Employee Resource Groups here at Spotify.
Spotify Kids is available starting today in Ireland. Ready to get started? Spotify Premium Family master account holders can simply download Kids from the App Store or Google Play, then sign in to their regular Spotify account. (If you’re new to Spotify, you’ll need to sign up for Premium Family before signing in to Spotify Kids.)
For those outside of Ireland, Kids will be rolling out to all markets that currently have Premium Family. Be sure to check back here for more or check out spotify.com/ie/kids.
*Update March 17, 2020: Spotify Kids has also rolled out in Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico.
Update February 11, 2020: Spotify Kids has also rolled out in the UK and Australia.
Update November 27, 2019: Spotify Kids has also rolled out in Denmark, Sweden, and New Zealand.
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Update May 12, 2020: Spotify Kids has also rolled out in Germany and Japan.