In a real “what the hell” moment… it appears that Tesla has been forced by the Hong Kong Transport Department to remove the Calendar app from the interactive operating systems of regional Model S or Model X owners — owing to the fact that the app “has no bearing on the drivability of the car and therefore should not be offered in Tesla vehicles in Hong Kong.”
This one has me scratching my head. Can someone make heads or tails of this? Why would the Hong Kong Transport Department care about this one way or another?
Here’s the exact text accompanying the recent update that removed the app:
“At the request of the Hong Kong Transport Department, the Calendar app has been removed with this release. The Hong Kong Transport Department has determined that the Calendar app has no bearing on the drivability of the car and therefore should not be offered in Tesla vehicles in Hong Kong. Tesla Motors regrets that this feature — which is available to customers in the rest of the world — will no longer be available to Hong Kong customers.”
The subject came to my attention thanks to a post made by “Lerxt” on the Tesla Motors Club forum. He noted:
The TD has made Hong Kong look backward and foolish again by forcing the removal of the calendar app, citing that it has nothing to do with drivability.
What next? Remove the radio or Spotify? They don’t improve the drivability either.
Another piece of sheer brilliance that will be turned around and make the TD and HK the laughing stock of the driving world.
Hah!
As far as “drivability,” the commenters “Saghost” and “hiroshiy” brought up interesting points:
I would have thought that the way the Calender app offers easy integration of addresses into the navigation would be a direct aid to driveability since it reduces the need for drivers to search for their destinations while in the car…
And:
I agree. I use that app multiple times a day. I also use it on weekends with a number of errands entered as schedules. Tap to do one errand, then tap next.
Good points…
I have no idea what those behind this are thinking? Does anyone?
Actually its good move.
Will save life’s just because some dumb ass wont be able to browse calendar while driving.
Far more people will browse the calendar on their smartphone or even chicken scratch on paper and take hands off the steering wheels and eyes off the road. There’s nothing government can do to stop dumb asses, Tesla or not.
This is a classic case of socialism (government control) vs free market capitalism (innovation and freedom to choose). In their simple minded brains, bureaucrats probably think people click-click on car’s calendar while driving, never mind that there are smart phone do that just as well, if not better. In reality, limited calendar functionality to remind people of their schedule is far safer than looking at tiny phone screen.
I have to wonder if nanny crap like this comes from China, and whether such nonsense would’ve existed when Hong Kong was pretty much left alone by Brits. To paraphrase a famous youtube video, “Leave Tesla alone!”