Allen, I think you know I'm a big supporter of Remote S, however my use-case is that of an x-geeky kinda guy that still loves his tech, but is a more casual user of both the Tesla App and Remote S. Unlike others, I have no need to open windows, change climate settings, etc very often living here in more temperate SoCal, and I'm beyond the constant tinkering mode with my MS that some others seem to still enjoy. I received the new Tesla App V3 overnight, so have had a brief chance to look it over. Given that:
- I have to still keep the Tesla App running all the time in the background on my iPhone to receive Tesla notifications, calendar syncing, etc so it will continue to always be around. (BTW, my first impression with the V3 app is it's a redesign for redesign-sake, an offers just minimal new or better access than the previous version did. Perhaps 8.1 will open-up new capabilities one day.)
- I absolutely LOVE being able to get to basic info on my Apple Watch. It's probably the #1 feature I use the most with Remote S.
- I also appreciate how Remote S works well with my iPhone AND iPad as it's orientation changes. I use it on all 3 of my Apple devices.
- Remote S provides access to information that the Tesla App does not, and I want to access upon occassion. Remote S saves me from trodding out to my garage. E.g. current mileage, firmware level, more detailed charging info.
- I suspect power-users love Remote S's present jam-packed interface. For me as a more casual user, even having read this thread from it's beginning and keeping up with every new post, I don't remember where the more subtle easter egg functions and indicators are in Remote S, and therefore don't make use of Remote S capabilities as much as I likely could. It's too tough to find what the meanings are without tracking down this thread and the help provided in some of the key posts. I use a few basic things and upon occasion start using something else when I see mention of it here.
So, my suggestions:
- Don't recreate the Tesla Wheel now that we have an impression of what V3 is. Really think-through the basic info provided on the first screen presented so it has what most owners (not just more vocal enthusiasts like most of us) want to see at a glance. Minimize the skeumorphic interface to where it makes the most usability sense, not just because it looks pretty -- as well, Xxxxx sometimes seems to do in more recent times. Good use of real estate counts as you know all-too-well with your terrific Apple Watch interface design.
- Target your intended customers. Personally, if I were you, I'd prioritize the power-user first with a 2nd-generation jam-packed but usable interface similar to today, but would then secondarily target all owners -- myself included
If there were a world with your having unlimited time/resources, I'd suggest an easier-to-use default interface that is more like what Tesla provides but is able to access most Remote S functionality, with the ability to unlock a power-user mode through a setting that changes the interface into something more like we have today that is jam-packed and allows you to get to 100% of what Tesla's API provides.
- Given how feature-rich Remote S is, especially if you want to start-with or have only a single power-user interface, please build into the app a help mode that steps the user through many of the most useful functions with an overlay like some apps do with a handwritten font and arrows describing key functionality. Providing in-app help and orientation to basic functionality is a #1 to get to the next set of users beyond the geekie ones, tinkerers, and power-users.
Thanks as always for your ear and continued support. As I've said many times, I know of no other application where the developer is as engaged and responsive as you are.
IOW, you're pretty dang awesome!
