Well in theory, it can be programmed to do the same, but SOMEONE has to do that. ...snip....
Since the user interface is documented in a Youtube clip (below).. I can state that it presents Yes/No, On/Off and numeric choices for the user to tap, then it twiddles bits without exposing the coding directly to the user.
I found one reference to how the interface works...
You can get your gauge needles and scales to be lit even when headlights are off with Carista. All you need to do is plug in your OBD adapter, open the Carista app on Android or iOS, click “CUSTOMIZE”, then go to “Instruments / Display / Dings” and set both of the following settings to YES:
Gauge needles lit even when headlights are off
Gauge scales lit even when headlights are off
I am guessing that if the actual bit/byte settings are documented anywhere in/for VCDS they can turn those into easy toggles for the user and apply the correct bits behind the scenes.
I have written a few iPhone apps and can state that the user interface toggles and value selections are dead easy to implement and the meat of their code is behind the scenes twiddling away.
With your permission I would find a missing settings that you can do in VCDS and ask them to add it to their product. Maybe they have their hands on every known VCDS setting already. Maybe they can access oil pressure!! They access temperature and issue warnings as it rises.
For about $60 (I had an Amazon free gift card for $15) I will try it out, whereas VCDS is a CAD$400 solution for me.
They added an option to decide if the attached car is affected by Dieselgate and are even handing out "Not Affected" stickers, cute!
https://www.facebook.com/caristaapp Check July 20 for a video of Carista running on Android but without the "pro" change ability.
A Youtube clip at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhZ_GiHraEM shows the interface in action. There are other unrelated companies using the Carista name, personal care and budget planning....