Spotify introduced Car Thing, a device for the car dashboard: what is it for

Spotify is entering the world of hardware with Car Thinga smart music player designed to be placed on the dashboard of the car and being able to listen to music while driving, something that can already be done without this device in 99% of the vehicles on the market.

The company released it to a limited number of subscribers in October and announced Tuesday that anyone can buy the device for $90, but you need a Spotify Premium subscription to use it. The device is designed to provide a way to listen to Spotify in the car without the need to look at the phone or deal with built-in car interfaces, which can be dangerous to use while driving.

A 12-volt power adapter plugs into the Car Thing and the car’s auxiliary power outlet, and then the device communicates with the phone via Bluetooth. Finally, you connect the device to your car stereo via aux, Bluetooth, or USB. The player is also compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

“Whether you use your voice, touch, or physical controls, Car Thing is intuitive and responsive in every in-car situation. Previously, Car Thing was only available to select eligible users in the US who had joined the waiting list. Now, we’re excited to make the device generally available in the US. and take it to more users“, explained the company.

voice control

It is Spotify’s entry into the hardware market. Spotify Photo

Voice control is the device’s standout feature: Car Thing can be controlled by saying “Hey Spotify,” followed by a command, such as “shuffle songs I like.” Some actions are not yet supported by the system, such as adding songs or podcasts to your queue, but Spotify is working on adding more commands.

Still, Car Thing can bring hands-free media control to cars that lack the feature. Of course, smartphones can also enable voice control, but people who aren’t interested in having their phone constantly listening might want to consider using the feature via a dedicated device in their car.

Car Thing has midfield and nearfield microphones with adaptive interference cancellation to help block out sounds from cars driving and honking. The device has a 4-inch touch screen, a push-turn knob for scrolling and a little “back” button to the south of that.

The command is activated by saying "hello spotify"† Photo REuters The command is activated by saying “Hello Spotify”. Photo Reuters

Four physical buttons on the top of the device make it look like traditional radio controls, with presets for your choice of playlist, podcast, news show, artist, or album. A fifth button opens the menu of settings or mute the audio. The device has a unibody design with “matte-textured rubber accents” for “easy navigation,” says Spotify.

Spotify says it’s planning updates for the device based on feedback from its initial limited release. These include a night mode that dims the screen during night drives.

Spotify’s Car Thing represents the music streaming service’s first foray into hardware.

By Editor

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