Lifestyle
The Apple in Tesla and how silly infotainment systems can be
Wouold Apple’s CarPlay be a better infotainment for the Model S?

The more I look at Apple’s CarPlay, the more I like it. It’s simple, it’s brilliant and it’s everything Apple is supposed to be, innovative, but it’s not revolutionary. Apple created great products in the past, and CarPlay does something every manufacturer seem to stumble upon. By reinventing the wheel of what an infotainment system should be, it reflects what I already know.
Infotainment done right
As automotive journalists, we get to test drive a lot of cars. That usually means getting to know them, figuring out their quirks and finally seeing how well they the demands of their targeted clientèle. However, there is one thing I dislike intensely, learning a new infotainment system for every manufacturer as well as their numerous updates.
Smart cellphones and silly infotainment systems
On the positive side, Tesla Motors has one of the very best infotainment system around. It suffers little to no gripes – save for the learning curve it takes to familiarize yourself with it. So why don’t carmakers offer us the capacity to mirror what we are already familiar with onto our smartphones? All they need is a display, leaving the dash to show the relevant car information.
In Tesla’s case, that would be very, very easy. The Model S already offers a generous display powered by a more than capable Nvidia GPU, itself relying on yet another Nvidia GPU for the rest of the system. Since the screens can be split, why not offer the option to mirror your smart phone?
Apple got it
I also never understood why Apple sat on the sidelines while Ford used Windows for its infotainment system. Apple showed late at car shows in 2009. I told them it was about time and that there was a great need for simple interface. Apple’s CarPlay system fits the bill. It’s innovative, yet simple. All it really does is allow an iOS users to make voice calls, listen to their music collection, view maps, while receiving and sending messages through touch and voice activated controls. And yes, Apple’s famous, or infamous Siri, its voice activation assistant, is available at the touch of a button on the steering wheel.
No matter how great Apple is, there are drawbacks. Not every Model S driver has an iPhone, for one thing and even those with iPhones will need the newer 5 and 5S. This leaves a good proportion of IOS users unable to use CarPlay. This strategy will push Apple’s already hefty bottom line up, but it means if you are a Blackberry, an Android, or older iPhone user, you won’t be able to access the system. Make it backward compatible. After all, you’re mirroring IOS.
The solution?
Simple. Let us see what we’re used to when we step into a car. No one wants to have to learn a new system. We already have enough computers at home, running different operating systems, and don’t need yet another system vying for our attention. Please carmakers and software developers, simplify our lives.
And now, just when you think your connected life wasn’t convoluted enough, Google is rumored to be working on their very own infotainment system, while Microsoft is revealing its Windows in the Car concept. Really, do we need more Infosystems? How about showing me what I already know? Am I the only one feeling this way?
Lifestyle
Tesla brings perhaps the coolest interior feature to cars in latest update
Tesla adds on to the “fun” aspect of its vehicles.

Tesla has brought perhaps the coolest interior feature to its cars in a new update that is rolling out to vehicles now.
The feature will require a newer vehicle that has interior ambient lighting, which is present on the new Model S, Model X, Model 3 “Highland,” and Model Y “Juniper.” The Cybertruck also has ambient lighting strips throughout.
Tesla Model Y’s ambient lighting design changes revealed in leaked video
With the Version 2025.26+ Software Update, Tesla is rolling out a new “Sync Accent Lights w/ Music” feature, which is available on the Tesla Toybox:
Turn your Tesla into a rave cave with the new Light Sync feature 🎶
Rolling out now in software update 2025.26+ pic.twitter.com/IIsQxZ9jDP
— Tesla (@Tesla) July 29, 2025
To enable the feature, you’ll access the Toybox, choose “Light Sync,” and then choose “Sync Accent Lights w/ Music.”
Although it does not improve the performance of the vehicle, it is yet another example of Tesla making one of the coolest cars out there. This is truly a cool add-on that can be used to impress your friends and family.
Elon Musk
xAI, Musk Foundation helps schools near Memphis supercomputer site
Reports of xAI and the Musk Foundation’s work were recently posted by local news media.

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI and the Musk Foundation have been supporting Memphis-Shelby County Schools with HVAC repairs and facility upgrades, while also funding youth programs for students in the area.
Reports of xAI and the Musk Foundation’s work were recently posted by local news media.
xAI’s school visits lead to facility repairs
Representatives from xAI visited John P. Freeman Optional School, Fairley High School, and Westwood High School, all of which are located near its Colossus supercomputer site, to assess HVAC systems, plumbing, gym facilities, and athletic fields. The visits resulted in a list of priority repairs, some of which were completed in April and May.
In addition to the repairs, xAI also shared a number of initiatives that are planned for students in the area, as stated in a Commercial Appeal report.
“xAI is working on providing STEM workshops for local students, donating equipment to technical training programs, and supporting job fairs to boost employment opportunities. These initiatives reflect xAl’s commitment to fostering education and economic growth in Memphis,” xAI noted in a statement.
Musk Foundation donation
Apart from xAI, the Musk Foundation also donated $350,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis, enabling the reopening of two club sites located at Booker T. Washington High School and Westwood High School. Both locations had closed earlier this year due to lapses in funding. As per xAI, the Musk Foundation’s donation allows clubs to reopen for almost 1,000 students.
The donation will fund staffing, supplies, and transportation, among others. “Kids are the future of humanity,” Elon Musk said in a statement, adding that students need “every chance to shoot for the stars.”
“We’re honored to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis in reopening these sites, giving kids in underserved communities the tools to build brighter futures,” Musk said.
The gift was praised by local officials, including Boys & Girls Clubs board chair Michael Garriga, who stated that the “commitment will ensure the youth of our community have the opportunities they need to develop their skills and talents to become successful students and future citizens.”
Lifestyle
EV fans urge Tesla to acquire Unplugged Performance for edge in fleet and security industry
Unplugged Performance has built a name for itself by producing performance upgrades for Tesla vehicles.

A growing number of Tesla enthusiasts and longtime community voices are calling on the electric vehicle maker to acquire Unplugged Performance, a California-based aftermarket company best known for tuning Tesla vehicles and developing specialized government fleet solutions under its UP.FIT division.
The idea was once considered a niche proposal among EV fans, but it is now gaining serious attention not just as a performance play but as a strategic move to deepen Tesla’s roots in the fleet and security industry.
A strategic fit
Unplugged Performance has built a name for itself by producing performance upgrades for Tesla vehicles, from track-optimized components to visual and aerodynamic upgrades. But in recent years, its UP.FIT division has pivoted toward a more functional future by outfitting Tesla vehicles like Model Ys for police, military, and government use.
That work has sparked growing calls for closer collaboration with Tesla, especially as the EV maker increasingly leans into autonomy, AI, and fleet services as core components of its next chapter.
“I posted this four years ago, but I think it’s more true now than ever,” wrote Whole Mars Catalog, a well-known Tesla investor and FSD Beta tester, on X. “Tesla should buy Unplugged. But not just as a Performance division. What they are doing with UP.FIT unlocks large government and commercial fleet purchases that can improve utilization.”
Tesla fans such as shareholder Sawyer Merritt echoed the sentiment, calling Unplugged a “great fit within Tesla.” adding, “They are literally located directly next to Tesla’s design studio in Hawthorne.”
Enabling the next wave
Supporters of the idea noted that integrating Unplugged into Tesla’s corporate structure could help accelerate the adoption of autonomous technologies in government sectors. With UP.FIT patrol cars already in use across some U.S. police departments, Tesla fans envisioned a future where self-driving Teslas could potentially revolutionize law enforcement, search-and-rescue, and public service logistics.
“Just imagine how autonomous patrol cars could transform policing and bring us into a safer future,” the veteran FSD tester wrote.
The benefits could also extend to Tesla’s existing consumer base. “They also have some incredible products in the works that I think will appeal to many ordinary Tesla drivers — not just those looking for performance or mods. Stuff that’s so good it should have come straight from the design studio next door,” Whole Mars Catalog noted.
Unplugged Performance, founded in 2013, shares not just a product vision with Tesla, but also geography. Its Hawthorne headquarters sits directly adjacent to Tesla’s design studio, and the two companies have maintained a close working relationship over the years. The aftermarket firm has long positioned itself as a “mission-aligned” partner to Tesla.
In response to the recent calls for acquisition, Unplugged Performance acknowledged the support from the community. “Our very existence is to support the Tesla mission with @UpfitTesla and @UnpluggedTesla,” Unplugged CEO Ben Schaffer posted on X. “We love working with Tesla and are grateful for the community’s support since 2013!”
-
Elon Musk6 days ago
Elon Musk teases crazy new Tesla FSD model: here’s when it’s coming
-
Elon Musk3 days ago
Elon Musk confirms Tesla AI6 chip is Project Dojo’s successor
-
News3 days ago
Tesla Model Y L reportedly entered mass production in Giga Shanghai
-
Elon Musk4 days ago
Tesla CEO Elon Musk details massive FSD update set for September release
-
News2 weeks ago
Elon Musk highlights Tesla Model Y’s most underrated feature
-
News2 weeks ago
Tesla takes first step in sunsetting Model S and X with drastic move
-
Cybertruck3 days ago
Tesla’s new upgrade makes the Cybertruck extra-terrestrial
-
Lifestyle2 weeks ago
Tesla brings perhaps the coolest interior feature to cars in latest update