Although Spotify does not want to become a hardware company, as it started about two years ago, the truth is that today they have just launched a different version of their Car Thing device concerning the version we knew a few years ago.
The new version is a version designed specifically for somewhat older vehicles, offering a four-inch color touchscreen accompanied by a dial and a button on its right side, being compatible with the “Hey Spotify” voice commands that the company specialized in audio streaming premiered last week in its app, although users will be able to customize up to four on-screen shortcuts.
Spotify’s new version designed for older vehicles
Just look at the photos available on its official website to see that it looks more like a GPS device. This device is currently available to select Premium account users in the United States, who will be able to get it for free, paying only the cost of shipping, although the idea is that it will cost about $80 once it is available for sale to the general public.
Those who want it can sign up on a list to get an invitation to get this device for their vehicles, remembering that for now, it is for Premium users in the United States.
This version also includes some types of brackets for attachment to vehicles, as well as different power solutions. However, the idea is that the new device is linked to the cell phone itself and this is connected by any possible method with the vehicle’s audio system, or what is the same, it is not intended to be connected directly to the vehicle’s audio system.
Car Thing will allow users to listen to their favorite music tracks, playlists, and podcasts for the duration of the trip. To avoid distractions, its four microphones will be able to listen to requests, even in noisy conditions with the windows open.
This device will have to contend with other existing solutions, such as Android Auto, Google Assistant’s driving mode, as well as Spotify’s in-car capabilities built into the Spotify app itself, so it is unknown whether it will be successful, being a product to be used exclusively with its service.
