Spotify Releases Physical Car Player With Smart Controls To Keep Eyes On Roads
Image via Spotify
Spotify has unveiled a new in-vehicle device: the ‘Car Thing’, a new smart player that fills your car with music, news, entertainment, and more. The device enables you to play your favorite audio more quickly, so you can listen to hit tunes or the latest podcast episode even before you’ve pulled out of the driveway.
The smart player comes with support for voice commands, as well as a knob, touchscreen, and preset buttons for controls. For its initial launch, Spotify is giving out Car Thing at no cost to a select group of Premium subscribers in the US, though the anticipated retail price is US$79.99.
Spotify said it developed Car Thing because it saw that many users didn’t have a seamless and personalized in-car listening experience. With this new device, it’ll be bringing its entire catalog of music and podcasts to a wider range of users who drive.
Just with a “Hey Spotify” voice command, you’ll be able to play specific music or podcasts with its voice control search function. With four microphones attached to the device, Car Thing will be able to hear you even with your windows down.
The four-inch intuitive touch screen makes it easy to view what is currently playing, to skip, or browse for your favorite tracks in your library. You can even set four preset buttons to get to your favorite playlists or podcasts more quickly.
One important thing to note, however, is that Car Thing doesn’t come with a built-in speaker, meaning you’ll have to use either Bluetooth, AUX, or USB to connect it to your car’s audio system, according to 9to5Mac.
To use Car Thing, you’ll also need a Spotify Premium subscription plan and a smartphone with Wi-Fi or mobile data connection. Join the waiting list here.
Image via Spotify
Image via Spotify
Image via Spotify
[via 9to5Mac, cover image via Spotify]
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