Tesla is planning to add video streaming feature to center screen in ‘version 10’ update, says Elon Musk

Tesla owners have been talking about the ability to stream videos inside the cars ever since the automaker came out with its massive center screen back in 2012.

Now CEO Elon Musk says that it is coming with an upcoming ‘version 10’ software update, but likely only for when the vehicle is stationary. 

While the Model S and Model X are equipped with a 17-in screen and the Model 3 has a 15-in display, the video playback capacity is locked to only work for the rear camera feed and cannot play any other video content.

That remains true whether the vehicle is being driven or even if it is parked.

We reported on some hackers managing to get over the security measures. For example, a hacker managed to play Terminator on her Model S, but it required a fairly complex hack and rooted her vehicle.

Now Musk says that it will become a feature with the software update ‘version 10’:

Version 10

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 19, 2018

There’s no timeline for a software update version 10, but I wouldn’t hold my breath if you are waiting for the future.

Version 9 is supposedly coming over the next month – almost 2 years after version 8.

It doesn’t mean that Tesla will take as much time between full version update, but it isn’t likely to be released anytime soon.

The ability to stream video while the vehicle is parked, especially while charging, has been a requested feature for a long time by Tesla owners, but it could also become a feature for Tesla vehicles while in motion with the advent of fully autonomous driving, which Musk said could be coming as soon as next year.

Electrek’s Take

As we previously noted, Tesla has designed the Model 3’s interior to be geared toward autonomous driving and media consumption is expected to become even more important inside vehicles with the advent of fully autonomous driving.

The Model 3’s center screen would be a good example. The landscape format instead of the Model S/X’s vertical screen design is more appropriate for videos.

Some have even noted that the Model 3’s screen resolution is 1920×1200 with the bottom bar being 120px – leaving the top portion of the screen at 1920×1080, which is perfect for full HD videos.

Even though Musk answered the question in regards to streaming video while charging, I think we are going to see Tesla focus more on taking advantage of that screen for media content after they figure out autonomous driving.

Now it sounds like version 10 of Tesla’s software is when it will start to happen.

What do you think? Let us know in the comment section below.