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E-Book Review: “Owning Model S” – The Definitive Guide to Buying and Owning the Tesla Model S
Nick Howe’s “Owning Model S” book has been receiving rave reviews from Model S owners and enthusiasts worldwide. But despite the temptation to purchase it, I held off on buying the paperback because I’ve been waiting for the e-book version. Well it’s finally here and I’m ecstatic to be reviewing it.
The e-Book
I consider myself pretty well read on the Model S from browsing through forums and blogs, but what surprised me most about ‘Owning Model S’ was that there was an abundance of hidden tips and useful information on the Model S that I never knew about. Not only is the book rich with content and contains excellent narratives, diagrams and pictures, but it’s also really well structured.
Forums are great for an interactive social discussion and you have the patience to comb through the noise, but they can drive you crazy if you’re just trying to find a specific piece of information! The book reads really well from front to back and also serves as a great reference guide. The sections are laid out in a very organized manner which allows you to quickly find the information you’re looking for.
As $16.95 the book may run a bit pricier than other traditional e-books, but given the considerable amount of time that went into the research and production of the book, I think it’s worth every penny.
e-Book Benefits
I usually install my e-book on multiple devices ranging from my desktop computer, a laptop computer, my iPhone 5 (and later 6) and my iPad mini. My e-books can be read on many popular devices. Having this type of access allows me to read it wherever I am and regardless of my device.
e-Books also come with a quick search capability that your traditional paperback doesn’t have. With the e-book you’re able to search by keyword and jump directly to the information you need. Much like a physical book you can also highlight sections of the book and mark key pages. The images in ‘Owning Model S’ are in high quality so you’re able to pinch zoom without it being distorted.
I made the move to all e-books years ago for many of the reasons above and I think the e-book format is the only way to go.
e-Book Challenge
No “Copy” in this e-book
Authors like Nick Howe have to be concerned about people copying his work and distributing it freely. That means Nick needed to protect his work through a Digital Rights Management (DRM) system. I’ve never published an e-book before but one thing I do know is that it’s possible to get published on the Amazon Kindle store. Considering Amazon provides readers for all platforms including one of the most popular e-book readers in the world, it’s hard to understand why ‘Owning Model S’ did not go down this path, thus limiting itself to distribution and convenience for its readers.
For “Owning Model S” they went with an Adobe DRM format that requires a special e-book reader you’re not likely to have used before. The process for getting the reader involves registering an account with Adobe (many people won’t have accounts with Adobe before this), downloading the reader (not by Adobe if on a mobile device) and finally opening the encrypted book which you should have received via email after purchasing online from EVAnnex. You’ll have to repeat this set up using the special reader on every device that you intend on using.
It’s confusing and it’s a pain. But to their credit, they do provide helpful instructions on how to move through the process. Amazon Kindle is unfortunately not supported, and don’t even think about reading this from your Model S 17″ touchscreen.
Other features missing from the reader is the ability to synchronize your read position across devices and the ability to select and copy text. Another really odd feature or lack thereof is the ability to click on URLs. And since you can’t copy text, there’s no way for you to copy the URL and paste it into a browser.
Ultimately, ‘Owning Model S’ is one of the most comprehensive guides for the Model S and a must have by all owners. I would love to see Nick put the book on the Amazon store one day and open distribution up to more devices and potential readers.
The Model S is an amazing feat of technology, but you don’t have to be a geek to drive it. That said, you shouldn’t have to be a tech savvy geek to be able to read about it either.
Elon Musk
California snubs Tesla in its newly passed EV incentive that favors Rivian and Lucid
California passed a $135 million EV incentive that rewards Rivian and Lucid while sidelining Tesla
California just drew a line in the EV incentive sand to put Tesla on the wrong side of it. The state recently passed a $135 million program offering first-time electric vehicle buyers a direct incentive with no application required, but the rules were written in a way that leaves Tesla at a structural disadvantage compared to Rivian and Lucid.
The program caps eligible vehicles at $50,000 for new EVs and $25,000 for used ones. That pricing threshold rules out a significant portion of Tesla’s lineup, though some lower-priced Model 3 and Model Y configurations would still qualify. California-based automakers are exempt from the price cap entirely, regardless of what their vehicles cost. Rivian, headquartered in Irvine, and Lucid, based in the San Francisco Bay Area, both benefit from that exemption. Rivian’s R2 starts at roughly $45,000 but has versions above the cap. Lucid’s Air and Gravity start at $70,990 and $79,990 respectively, well above any threshold a non-California company would face.
California hits Tesla Cybercab and Robotaxi driverless cars with new law
Tesla built its reputation and a significant portion of its early market share in California, where EV adoption has consistently led the nation. The company operates its original factory in Fremont, California, and the state was home to Tesla’s headquarters for most of its existence. That changed in 2021 when Tesla moved its corporate headquarters to Austin, Texas. Since then, the relationship between the company and California Governor Gavin Newsom has been openly adversarial, with Musk and Newsom trading public criticism on multiple occasions.
California’s EV incentive landscape has shifted repeatedly in recent years, and Tesla has previously lost eligibility for state-level programs as its vehicles exceeded income-adjusted price thresholds. The federal $7,500 EV tax credit, which Tesla models have qualified for and lost depending on policy cycles, is no longer available after it expired without renewal, making state-level programs more meaningful to buyers than they have been in years.
The practical impact for buyers is more nuanced than the headline suggests. California residents purchasing a Tesla under $50,000 for the first time can still access the incentive. But the exemption written for California-based manufacturers is a structural advantage that rewards where a company plants its headquarters flag rather than where it builds its products, and Tesla moved that flag to Texas.
Elon Musk
SpaceX’s newest logo confirms everything about what it’s become
SpaceX officially absorbed xAI under the SpaceXAI brand, completing the largest private merger in history.
SpaceX made its corporate transformation official in May 2026 when Elon Musk posted on X that xAI would cease to exist as a standalone company. “xAI will be dissolved as a separate company, so it will just be SpaceXAI, the AI products from SpaceX,” he wrote.
A new SpaceXAI logo was announced today, visually embedding the xAI letters inside the SpaceX identity, which can be seen as a deliberate design choice that signals the merger is not a partnership but a full absorption and XAi a core function of the same company. The same way Starlink is not a separate brand but a SpaceX product. The announcement closed the loop on a process that began February 2, 2026, when SpaceX acquired xAI in the largest private merger in history, valued at $1.25 trillion. SpaceX at $1 trillion and xAI at $250 billion.
We are now @SpaceXAI. pic.twitter.com/ema66xDWC9
— SpaceXAI (@SpaceXAI) July 6, 2026
The reason SpaceX bought xAI was stated plainly by Musk at the time of the deal: to build orbital data centers. SpaceX had simultaneously filed with the FCC to launch up to one million satellites designed to function as AI compute nodes in low Earth orbit, escaping what Musk described as the energy constraints limiting AI development on Earth.
xAI provided the AI software stack, with Grok, the X platform, and the Colossus supercomputer infrastructure in Memphis with over 220,000 NVIDIA GPUs, while SpaceX provided the rockets, Starlink, and the capital base to fund it. The two companies needed each other. xAI was burning $2.5 billion in losses on $250 million in revenue. SpaceX was generating an estimated $8 billion in profit on $15 billion in revenue and needed an AI narrative to command the valuation it was targeting for its IPO.
What SpaceX has done, regardless of how the orbital AI vision ultimately plays out, is walk into a public market as something no company has been before: a rocket manufacturer, satellite internet provider, AI software company, social media platform, and supercomputer operator under one ticker. Whether that combination is worth $2 trillion depends entirely on which of those businesses you believe in most.
Tesla brought its innovative Cybercab robotaxi to the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Annual Convention in Austin, Texas, on July 3 at the JW Marriott Austin.
The hands-on demonstration highlighted the vehicle’s thoughtful design for blind and visually impaired users, underscoring Tesla’s commitment to inclusive autonomous mobility. Attendees, many using white canes or accompanied by service dogs, experienced the steering-wheel-free Cybercab firsthand.
Cybercab at the National Federation of the Blind’s Annual Convention in Austin for a hands-on experience of its accessibility features for blind or visually impaired customers⁰⁰For example:⁰– Braille lettering on physical controls
– Space for service animals & assistive… pic.twitter.com/8wrJcDHkw7— Tesla Robotaxi (@robotaxi) July 6, 2026
The showcase emphasized practical features tailored to the needs of the blind community. Braille lettering appears on physical controls, including door releases and emergency buttons, allowing users to navigate interfaces independently through touch. Generous interior space accommodates service animals and assistive devices such as canes, guide dogs, or mobility aids without compromising comfort.
Wheelchair-height seating facilitates easier transfers for users with additional mobility challenges. Photos from the event captured blind attendees approaching the vehicle confidently, service dogs relaxing inside, and hands exploring Braille-equipped handles.
Tesla Robotaxi’s official account detailed these elements, noting the Cybercab’s focus on accessibility, especially noting the Braille lettering and additional space for service animals.
How Tesla Will Transform Mobility for the Blind
Autonomous vehicles like the Cybercab promise revolutionary independence for the roughly 2.2 million visually impaired Americans. Traditional barriers—reliance on sighted drivers, costly paratransit, or limited public transit—often restrict spontaneous travel. Tesla Full Self-Driving aims to eliminate the need for a human operator, enabling on-demand, door-to-door rides via simple app hailing with voice guidance.
Users gain freedom to work, socialize, shop, or attend events anytime without scheduling hassles or safety concerns. This reduces isolation, boosts employment opportunities, and enhances quality of life, turning mobility from a dependency into true personal autonomy.
The NFB demonstration not only gathered valuable feedback but also generated excitement about a future where technology levels the playing field. By prioritizing inclusive design, Tesla advances a vision of transportation that serves everyone, potentially reshaping daily life for blind individuals and setting a standard for the autonomous industry.
As Cybercab deployment scales, these accessibility innovations could mark a significant step toward equitable mobility.
California snubs Tesla in its newly passed EV incentive that favors Rivian and Lucid
SpaceX’s newest logo confirms everything about what it’s become
