Introducing the Spotify car thing, an innovative new way to control your music. It features a 6.5- or 7.0-inch touchscreen display, four preset buttons, and voice control.
6.5- or 7.0-inch touchscreen display
Earlier this year, Spotify launched the Car Thing, a hardware device designed to provide a simpler and more convenient way to play and control your music in the car. While the Car Thing has not yet officially hit the US market, it is available to a select group of Premium subscribers in the U.S.
The Car Thing is a small, Bluetooth-equipped box that can be mounted to the dashboard or the vents. It includes a quick-start guide and a USB cord. It’s about 2.4 inches high, 6mm thick and weighs 90g. It can be connected to a car’s audio system via a USB connection, AUX cable or Bluetooth. It also comes with a number of mounts, ranging from a vent clip to a dash mount.
The Car Thing aims to do for car music what Apple’s CarPlay did for in-car infotainment systems. However, the company hasn’t announced when or if Car Thing will get similar features for Android users.
The Car Thing can also be linked to your phone through Bluetooth. It has a number of preset buttons to assist you in playing and rewinding songs. It can also handle incoming calls and dismiss them on your behalf. The car is not ready for outgoing calls, but it will soon have that feature as well.
The Car Thing has a 4-inch touchscreen display that can be set to show a number of different features. It has a back button, a pause/play button, an adjust volume button, and a small dial to add tracks to your queue. The device can be controlled with voice commands.
The Car Thing also has a “Hey, Spotify” button that lets you talk to your favorite artist or podcast without taking your hands off the wheel. It’s not exactly the most impressive feature, but the device will give you a nifty experience. The company also has a Night Mode coming down the pipe. It’s unclear how big of a deal this is, though.
The Car Thing is not the most expensive, but it’s priced at $90, which is about average for a device of its kind. It’s designed for older cars with non-touchscreen in-car infotainment systems, but it could be a slick alternative to Apple CarPlay if you don’t have one of these.
Four preset buttons
Earlier this year, Spotify announced that it would be releasing a voice-controlled in-car audio device called Car Thing. The device is meant to replace the standard radio in your vehicle, making it easier to find and select the music you’re interested in listening to.
The Car Thing’s touchscreen interface shows what’s currently playing, as well as what’s in the queue. It also displays your library, artists, albums, playlists, podcasts, and more. You can search for songs by name, as well as use voice commands to change the song you’re playing.
The player also includes a dial to adjust volume and a back button to play the next song in your playlist. You can save favorite collections and playlists to presets. If you’re using voice control, you can set up presets based on the songs you listen to most.
The Car Thing includes four microphones for voice control. You can use the voice assistant to play your music and playlists, as well as podcasts. You can also ask the device to save songs to your library, or to play a saved slot.
You can connect your phone to the device through a USB cable or a Bluetooth connection. You can even mount the unit on the dashboard or front panel of your vehicle.
The Car Thing’s user interface is simple. You can customize the settings of your device by tapping a menu icon to the right of the Preset button. You can also mute the unit if you want.
The Car Thing comes with a magnetic mount that attaches to the dashboard, CD player, or air vent. It also comes with a USB-C cable and car charger. The unit is 3.4 inches in diameter and 4.6 inches tall.
The Car Thing is available for a limited release in the U.S. This is the first device to be released by Spotify. It’s available to Premium subscribers, and you can sign up to receive an invite.
While there aren’t any plans for a wider availability, Spotify has stated that it hopes to open up the device to more people in the future. The device is compatible with Spotify’s iOS and Android apps. You’ll need to have a Premium subscription and a Wi-Fi or mobile data connection to use it.
Voice control
Earlier this month, Spotify launched their in-car entertainment system, Car Thing, with voice controls. It’s a $90 device that’s designed to let drivers play their favorite tracks without having to unlock their phone. However, it’s not quite as comprehensive as Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. It’s a limited subset of these devices, but it’s a good solution for those who don’t want to spend a lot of time fiddling with their phones.
Car Thing connects to the Spotify app on your smartphone and stream music through your car’s stereo. It also features a number of useful voice control functions. For example, you can turn the mic on and off with a simple command. You can also “like” songs to save them to your playlist. You can browse your playlists, shuffle them, and even trigger specific songs.
Spotify’s Car Thing interface includes a small, colorful touchscreen, a big knob for volume control, and a few buttons. The interface has a voice tab to show your recent vocal queries. It also has a side-scrolling list of recommended content.
The Car Thing interface is clean and uncluttered. It doesn’t have a ton of extras, but it does offer the one feature most drivers need.
The device supports Bluetooth, USB, and Aux inputs. It also includes a touchscreen for voice control. You can also use the Car Thing in combination with a secondary Bluetooth device.
Although it doesn’t have a “do not disturb” mode, you can always set it up with Tasker. It’s a pretty handy feature, and you can even ask it to dismiss incoming calls. It works with Android Auto and Google Maps, too.
The Car Thing does not have all the features that other smart car systems do, but it’s a great option for those who want to enjoy their favorite Spotify playlists while driving. It’s especially helpful for older cars that don’t have updated entertainment systems.
The car system’s new features include the ability to set up personalized playlists, play music from other platforms, and answer calls. It’s only available for iPhone users at this point, but it’s likely to arrive on Android phones in the near future.
Plans for international distribution
Despite being the world’s largest music streaming service, Spotify is still exploring opportunities beyond its core business. In May, Spotify confirmed plans to introduce an in-car audio device. This device connects to your car’s stereo via Bluetooth and allows you to stream music and talk from your phone to the system.
This device has an interface that is largely similar to the mobile app. Users can select presets and customize settings. They can also use voice controls and swipe the screen to change options. The device has four buttons that allow for quick navigation.
The Car Thing is aimed at Spotify Premium subscribers, who will receive it for free in addition to shipping. The company doesn’t know whether it will begin selling the device in the future.
The Car Thing was designed for the automotive market, but many cars aren’t equipped with modern in-car infotainment systems. In 2021, Spotify will stop manufacturing the Car Thing. In the meantime, you can still buy one for $80. You can customize the presets, adjust the noise suppression, and control the system using a knob.
According to Spotify, the company’s goal is to make music a more seamless experience for its customers. It helps advertisers reach listeners across multiple platforms and devices. Its user numbers continue to grow rapidly. However, this growth hasn’t translated to the bottom line yet. Investors are skeptical about the company’s business model. The company has made progress in recent communication with shareholders, and it has made improvements in margins.
Its management remains confident about the live events it holds in markets like Asia. While these events aren’t a direct match to its music business, they could offer a cultural component. It’s possible that they’ll eventually become a close competitor to its music business.
Spotify’s investment in Findaway is another example of the company’s efforts to expand into other areas of the music business. The audiobook distribution platform has a catalog of 400,000 titles from publishers around the world. The partnership also pairs authors with narrators and allows users to create their own audiobooks. The company is partnered with Google, Apple, Rakuten Kobo, and audible.