Royal Enfield's Himalayan 450 has marked a significant technological advancement for the brand, with the Tripper Dash being a key feature. However, initial issues with maps and music features not working were noted. A Firmware Over-The-Air (FOTA) update on February 21st aimed to address these concerns.
Tripper Dash: Pre-Update Scenario
Before the update, the Tripper Dash, a circular TFT display developed by Royal Enfield for the Himalayan 450, faced connectivity and functionality issues. Despite successful Bluetooth pairing with both Android and iPhones, maps and music control features were non-functional, which was highlighted in the first impressions review.
The FOTA Update Experience
The FOTA update comprised five software patches and took about 10 minutes to install. Post-update, there was a noticeable improvement in the functionality of the Tripper Dash. Both maps and music control features started working, albeit not without glitches.
Performance Post-Update
While the update has made the features operational, they are not consistently reliable. The Google Maps integration offers four zoom settings for trajectory view, and the music controls allow for volume adjustment and track navigation through a 5-way clickable D-pad. However, these features sometimes fail to work as expected.
Challenges and Wishlist
One of the persistent issues is that the phone's screen remains on when navigation is active, leading to rapid battery drainage. The requirement for multiple phone features to be active simultaneously for the Tripper Dash to function adds to the battery consumption. Additionally, charging the phone on a mobile stand under direct sunlight can cause overheating, further impacting the performance of the Maps and music features.
A built-in GPS, compass, accelerometer, and storage for offline route data in the Tripper Dash could potentially resolve these issues. Alternatively, allowing the phone screen to turn off when connected could also be a viable solution.
The February 21st FOTA update for the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 Tripper Dash has brought about much-needed improvements, making the maps and music features operational. However, there is still room for refinement to ensure consistent performance and a more user-friendly experience. Royal Enfield's commitment to enhancing the technological aspects of its offerings is commendable, and we hope to see further advancements in the near future.