Spotify's Car Thing is now a proper consumer device

[Shawn Knight]

Recap: Spotify in 2019 announced it was testing a voice-controlled smart player for vehicles. Dubbed Car Thing, the gadget was developed to learn more about the listening habits of people during commutes. Spotify initially set out to trial Car Thing with a small group of Premium members, but eventually made it available to a wider audience on an invite-only basis. Now, it’s launching as a full-on consumer product.

Car Thing makes it easier for listeners to play music and podcasts in their vehicles, especially if said vehicle is an older model lacking an advanced stereo head unit. The device itself features a four-inch touchscreen display alongside a control dial, a back button, a settings button and four preset buttons. There’s also an array of four noise-cancelling microphones to process voice commands.

Car Thing connects to the Spotify app on your smartphone, and uses its Wi-Fi or mobile data plan. So long as you can play music from your phone on your car stereo currently, Car Thing should work for you. The device requires a Spotify Premium account, so ad-supported users need not apply. Future versions of the device will incorporate requests from early testers, like an auto-dimming screen and support for an “add to queue” voice command.

Interested parties can grab Spotify’s Car Thing for $89.99 (that’s $10 more than the previously quoted MSRP) over on Spotify’s website.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/93505-spotify-car-thing-now-proper-consumer-device.html

 

[TheBigT42]

So why can't someone just use the App on their phone with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay?

Did they develop the app so bad to make users need a device just for Spotify?

 

[Mjsun]

So why can't someone just use the App on their phone with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay?

Did they develop the app so bad to make users need a device just for Spotify?

This is not really intended to replace modern infotainment units with AA or ACP. It connects via the phone to the car with Bluetooth or an Aux cable. Means it can be used on anything with a tape deck, except the no-man’s-land card with CD only. Probably less distracting than just using the phone directly.

 

[TheBigT42]

This is not really intended to replace modern infotainment units with AA or ACP. It connects via the phone to the car with Bluetooth or an Aux cable. Means it can be used on anything with a tape deck, except the no-man’s-land card with CD only. Probably less distracting than just using the phone directly.

You can plug any phone with a headphone jack (They still exist) to an AUX.
You can get an Aux - Bluetooth adapter to connect to a phone via Bluetooth.
A stand alone device is going to be just as distracting as a phone running an App.

 

[Irata]

So why can't someone just use the App on their phone with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay?

Did they develop the app so bad to make users need a device just for Spotify?

From the article:

especially if said vehicle is an older model lacking an advanced stereo head unit.

 

[Vomit]

Missed opportunity, I have a ford, 2009, no USB, no aux, if it did I would play MP3's and
not buy this device, got my interest but it hasn't got a FM transmitter which have made it a worth while purchase.

 

[Shadowboxer]

Id rather buy a generic head unit with bluetooth than this thing and lock myself into Spotify. I mean what if I want to change my audio provider? And if the fascists get their way and take Rogan down I will definitely be changing my music provider!

 

[TheBigT42]

From the article:

You Don't need an advanced system you use your smart phone with it

You can plug any phone with a headphone jack (They still exist) to an AUX.
You can get an Aux - Bluetooth adapter to connect to a phone via Bluetooth.
A stand alone device is going to be just as distracting as a phone running an App.

 

[Irata]

You Don't need an advanced system you use your smart phone with it

You can plug any phone with a headphone jack (They still exist) to an AUX.
You can get an Aux - Bluetooth adapter to connect to a phone via Bluetooth.
A stand alone device is going to be just as distracting as a phone running an App.

The difference is that there are countries that forbid you to even touch your phone while driving. Oddly interacting with other touch devices is perfectly legal.