Slate app - free or subscription?

[ElectricShitbox]

Has this happened to you?

I don't let cars make decisions for me.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

I love this because you get to decide IF you want the update, instead of just waking up to a bricked tesla.

Has this happened to you?

I don't let cars make decisions for me.

So, it hasn’t happened to you?

Just trying to understand your experience with software updates causing EVs to become unusable. If you have any experience with this happening to you please explain.

 

[ElectricShitbox]

So, it hasn’t happened to you? 🤔

I don't own a tesla because I don't want to deal with their bullshit, which is why I'm interested in a Slate.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

I don't own a tesla because I don't want to deal with their bullshit, which is why I'm interested in a Slate.

But if you haven’t had a software update cause your EV to become unusable, why
1. Worry about it and
2. Post about it?
Except to dissuade others?

Let’s set aside your personal experience with this topic. Do you know of any other examples of software updates causing an EV to become unusable?

Edit: looking for your personal experience, not an online/AI search.

 

[ElectricShitbox]

But if you haven’t had a software update cause your EV to become unusable, why
1. Worry about it and
2. Post about it?
Except to dissuade others?

Let’s set aside your personal experience with this topic. Do you know of any other examples of software updates causing an EV to become unusable?

Edit: looking for your personal experience, not an online/AI search.

Cars having issues during updates, massive bugs, deliberately removed functionality, etc. are all known problems that keep happening across the industry. Why are you pretending this isn't a known thing?

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Cars having issues during updates, massive bugs, deliberately removed functionality, etc. are all known problems that keep happening across the industry. Why are you pretending this isn't a known thing?

I’m interested in hearing your personal experiences, not echo chamber hyperbole.

I own and drive a 2022 Tesla Model 3 since new and haven’t experienced any massive bugs or failures due to a software update.

 

[ElectricShitbox]

I’m interested in hearing your personal experiences, not echo chamber hyperbole.

I own and drive a 2022 Tesla Model 3 since new and haven’t experienced any massive bugs or failures due to a software update.

I'm happy for you and your HP printer.
I want more control over updates, which is why I'm interested in a Slate. Why are you here?

 

[Tom Sawyer]

I'm happy for you and your HP printer.

Really?

I want more control over updates, which is why I'm interested in a Slate. Why are you here?

Because I too am interested in purchasing a Slate Truck and want to learn more about it. In so doing It’s important to separate fact from the arm-waving speculation that can be so prevalent in online forums.

Again, if you have any personal experience with software updates causing your EV to become unusable, I’d like to learn more about it.

For some perspective, the Slate truck (if it ever reaches production) will have vastly more features than my CJ-7. So I can understand appreciating a simpler form of transportation. In that sense you and I are not so far apart.

 

[AZFox]

The truck is designed as a tool, not a tech gadget.

There are a lot of other vehicles with wireless connectivity, subscription features, and automagickal updates to choose from if that's what you want.

 

[beatle]

Again, if you have any personal experience with software updates causing your EV to become unusable, I’d like to learn more about it.

I drove Teslas from 2019 to 2024, and I currently have a Rivian. Some updates have been pretty crummy, though nothing quite as dramatic as a "bricked" car.

1. A few months after I bought my first Tesla, ludicrous mode was taken from me which permanently altered my opinion on software defined vehicles. I only got it back from some fortunate records keeping. Even though I work in IT and am familiar with unintentional bugs being introduced, I learned updates are not always in the customer's best interest like all the Tesla fanboys had been saying how the car "only gets better."
2. DCFC curve was altered in my 2015 to make it much slower than it was before.
3. Ride height was permanently altered to raise the car. "Low" was not as low as it was before. This is more of an aesthetic thing, but still, I didn't opt for this.
4. Tesla made Autopilot in my 2019 Model S objectively worse when they disabled radar and increased the minimum following distance. Following behavior was also changed to make autopilot incredibly nauseating in stop and go traffic. This was conveniently right after I sold my 2015 with the original Mobileye system that worked great.
5. They also increased the nag frequency about steering wheel torque so much that I couldn't scratch my nose or shift my hand position without it telling me to put my hands on the wheel.
6. Rivian was close to completely bricking their vehicles in 2023 when they pushed an update with an invalid certificate which bricked the infotainment screen. You could still drive, but you had no maps HVAC control, or even rear camera.

To be fair, software updates have allowed vehicles to improve notably in ways never seen before. This would be an even longer list. But the point is that updates are not always good or bad, and sometimes it's better to deal with the devil you know.

 

[GaRailroader]

I'm happy for you and your HP printer.
I want more control over updates, which is why I'm interested in a Slate. Why are you here?

I've never had my 2018 Model 3, which I've owned since new, automatically load a s/w update without my consent. It just sends you an alert that one is available and then it is up to me to decide if/when I want to install. I have always scheduled them to install reasonably timely though if I'm on a trip I typically wait until I have returned home.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

The truck is designed as a tool, not a tech gadget.

There are a lot of other vehicles with wireless connectivity, subscription features, and automagickal updates to choose from if that's what you want.

Hello AZFox.

I'm not 100% sure what you are getting at by suggesting there are other vehicles out there with 'automagickal updates' if that's what I want. I'm not saying I want it (updates), and I'm not saying I don't want it. I'm here to learn more about the Slate truck for what it is, not what I want it to be.

I haven't read through all the forum's past posts. What I have read strikes me as some facts and announcements, a whole lot of speculation and sometimes (often?) demands - the last of which seem like childish entitlement.

Please don't take any of this personally. It isn't meant as an attack against you or anyone else. I want to learn more about Slate Auto with the hope they actually make production and are successful in marketing this. In so doing I want to separate fact from fiction. It takes effort - it's difficult to do these days, and getting worse.

One question for you - do you own a Tesla or any other EV? I don't see one listed in your Vehicles.

I drove Teslas from 2019 to 2024, and I currently have a Rivian. Some updates have been pretty crummy, though nothing quite as dramatic as a "bricked" car.

1. A few months after I bought my first Tesla, ludicrous mode was taken from me which permanently altered my opinion on software defined vehicles. I only got it back from some fortunate records keeping. Even though I work in IT and am familiar with unintentional bugs being introduced, I learned updates are not always in the customer's best interest like all the Tesla fanboys had been saying how the car "only gets better."
2. DCFC curve was altered in my 2015 to make it much slower than it was before.
3. Ride height was permanently altered to raise the car. "Low" was not as low as it was before. This is more of an aesthetic thing, but still, I didn't opt for this.
4. Tesla made Autopilot in my 2019 Model S objectively worse when they disabled radar and increased the minimum following distance. Following behavior was also changed to make autopilot incredibly nauseating in stop and go traffic. This was conveniently right after I sold my 2015 with the original Mobileye system that worked great.
5. They also increased the nag frequency about steering wheel torque so much that I couldn't scratch my nose or shift my hand position without it telling me to put my hands on the wheel.
6. Rivian was close to completely bricking their vehicles in 2023 when they pushed an update with an invalid certificate which bricked the infotainment screen. You could still drive, but you had no maps HVAC control, or even rear camera.

To be fair, software updates have allowed vehicles to improve notably in ways never seen before. This would be an even longer list. But the point is that updates are not always good or bad, and sometimes it's better to deal with the devil you know.

Thanks for your perspective beatle, it's much appreciated.

It would be interesting to list all the positive vs. negative attributes for updates, but that would be a lot of work. Again, I own and drive a Tesla with numerous software updates and mine hasn't been 'bricked' - yet. But that's just me.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Back on topic.

Does anyone here have to pay a subscription fee for their mobile/phone app?

I pay a subscription for my Model 3 but it's for the vehicle connectivity, not the app.

 

[beatle]

After 3 years, new Mazdas require a subscription to access the car via an app. That's just for remote start (only on automatics) and a few small features.

Toyota/Lexus/Subaru/Kia/Hyundai/Jeep are all similar in their feature/subscription model.

 

[cadblu]

I am by no means an authority but I have been driving Tesla products for about five years. Based on my experiences, OTA updates from Tesla have been virtually seamless, error free, and made significant improvements in safety, security, and ownership satisfaction. FSD has vastly improved, and while I don’t use it daily it works remarkably well. I typically receive software updates 2-3 times per month, some minor updates, but many with remarkable improvements. The most significant updates I readily recall are: ‘Tesla vision’ using vehicle cameras for proximity detection and mapping parking lot spaces, blind spot cameras appearing in the drivers center cluster (model S) when the turn signals are engaged; and the ability to remotely view all 7 security cameras live and saved video clips on my iPhone while parked, live weather radar maps; satellite view and 3D image maps, adaptive matrix headlights following the steering wheel angle, and many others. Never made a single visit to the service center. All I can say is that Tesla has future proofed its vehicles with continuous OTA updates. The tech in a 5 year old Tesla is the same as you would find in a 2026 model year. The app is completely free, but premium connectivity is $99 per year. And well worth it in my opinion.

Now, back to the Slate. Just as I can appreciate a vehicle loaded with “automagical updates” I appreciate its simplicity on the opposite end of the spectrum. And I often wonder how many folks here who are “tech adverse” regarding their vehicles also have the latest iPhones and live in “smart homes” controlled by Alexa and other automation devices? 🤔