You’ve probably noticed a few new devices around lately that are designed to make it easier to enjoy your favorite music when you’re driving, and the latest addition is the Spotify car player. You can easily listen to your music on the go by simply tapping a few buttons, and you’ll be able to control it with your voice as well. The device connects to your phone’s 4G LTE network, so you can enjoy streaming music even when you’re not on a landline. And thanks to the Bluetooth capability, you can also enjoy hands-free control of your music.
Hands-free control
Spotify has a new smart player for the car. It’s designed to make it easier to listen to your favorite music on the road. The device has a touchscreen, voice controls, and a preset button. It can connect to a car stereo system via USB, Bluetooth, or AUX cable.
The device is only available for preorder in the US. It’s meant to replace the ‘Car View’ interface that Spotify used in the past. Rather than using a traditional dashboard-mounted touchscreen, it works through a smartphone. It’s powered by a 12-volt power source.
It can be mounted on the dashboard or on a vent. It uses four microphones to understand complex commands. It also features a touchscreen that can dim its display in the dark.
Spotify says that its voice assistant will hear you even when you open or close the window. You can play music, podcasts, or add new content to your queue.
Spotify has added a voice assistant to its mobile app in the last week. You can say things like, “Hey Spotify, play 90s rock.” It’ll play every track in your 90s rock playlist. You can also save songs to your library with voice commands.
Spotify has a lot of users who use the streaming service in their cars. The company has dedicated apps for Android Auto and CarPlay. It is also working on an updated car interface. However, it hasn’t yet confirmed whether it will roll it out to everyone.
If you’re a Premium subscriber to Spotify, you can get the Car Thing for free. If you’re not, you’ll have to pay for it. It costs around $80.
Spotify has been testing a new car interface for a month. The interface looks a bit similar to the old Car View, but it’s more simple. It includes buttons for play/pause, like, and skip shuffle. It also has a microphone button.
While it’s only available to Premium subscribers at this point, there’s a chance it’ll expand in the future. It might be released as a full-fledged product.
Connect to 4G LTE
It’s no secret that streaming services are chasing automotive customers. There are already several car media systems that include the Spotify app in their offerings. In addition, Ford plans to introduce its own integration of the service in the near future.
The app is aimed at providing recommendations for driving and music for getting to work. Cadillac also has an app that has a similar function. It’s been integrated into the ATS-V, CTS-V, and Volva. The company will also make it available on other Cadillac models.
While the app does provide the ability to stream Spotify via the car’s 4G LTE connection, the company has not officially discussed the device itself. Rather, it’s been referred to as a “car upgrade” that eliminates lock screens and fumbling with a phone.
The device is called the Car Thing and is available in a black and green color scheme. It’s a USB-powered gadget that can connect to your vehicle’s audio system via Bluetooth or a 3.5mm auxiliary cable. It comes with a docking adapter and a multi-functional mounting device that’s meant to attach to your dash, vents, or anywhere else you want.
It has voice controls. You can ask it to play songs or podcasts, change stations, and even pause or skip tracks. There’s also a car mode that automatically turns on when you connect the car’s Bluetooth to your device. When you put the device in its car mode, it will display larger icons than the standard home view of the Spotify app.
As with any app, users should use it responsibly. They should only stream music through their phones when they’re legally allowed. In fact, it might be best to avoid using the device while you’re in motion. And if you do choose to stream through the car’s 4G LTE connection, don’t forget to add the LTE data to your existing cellular plan. Otherwise, you might get frustrated if your connection cuts out.
Hopefully, the Spotify Car Thing will prove to be a worthwhile upgrade. It might be the next big thing in the car market.
Control music with just a few taps
If you’re looking for a way to control your music on the road, Spotify has released a car player. The device essentially acts as a remote control for the Spotify app, giving you hands-free access to your music collection.
It works by connecting to your phone using Bluetooth. Then, you can browse and save playlists and other content. Alternatively, you can use voice commands to play or pause songs, or even answer calls.
There’s also a touch-screen display and buttons for browsing and saving. You can also set preset buttons to control volume, switch between browsing menus, or play a song.
In the latest update to the Car Thing, users can now control non-Spotify media. In addition, Spotify is experimenting with a new “Car Mode” interface that will display the current track playing in the background while you’re driving.
The company hasn’t given a specific release date for the new Car Mode, but 9to5Google reported that the Android version was ready for testing. The new interface includes a few other new features, including the ability to identify a song playing without opening the app.
If you’re not a Spotify premium subscriber, you can’t use the Car Thing. But if you are, you’ll find that the device offers a surprisingly intuitive user experience.
For starters, the home screen of the Car Thing is a simple display of recommended content, albums, playlists, and radio stations. It also includes a scroll wheel for volume management, an artist name, and a number. You can also rotate the puck for optimal placement on your dashboard.
The Car Thing can connect to your car stereo with Bluetooth or a wired connection. You can also mount the puck on your dashboard or vent. It’s powered by a 12-volt port. You’ll need an AUX cable and a compatible adaptor.
The best part is that you can control the Car Thing with your voice. You can say “Hey, Spotify” to get it to play music, shuffle your tracks, or add new content to your queue. The device’s four microphones can pick up your voice even when you’re driving with your windows closed.
Could be a smart speaker
If you’re a subscriber to Spotify, you could soon be enjoying a smart music player in your car. That’s the idea behind the company’s new “Car Thing” device. It’s a small, touch-screen gizmo designed to be controlled using voice commands.
The speaker has four microphones at the top. It’s powered by a 12-volt port. You can pair it with any speaker in your car, and use its preset buttons to play your favourite songs. It also features a dial for more advanced commands.
Unlike other smart speakers, it’s not designed to replace your in-car infotainment system. However, you can control it with “Hey Spotify” voice commands. And, the device will automatically download the playlists you’ve selected, making them available to stream offline.
The company will be testing the device with a small group of Premium subscribers in the US. It hasn’t announced a timetable for launching it internationally. It has also posted job adverts for engineering, operations and other related staff, indicating that a full-fledged product could be on its way soon.
The Car Thing connects to your phone via Bluetooth. You can control it with a touchscreen, steering wheel or voice. The device is compatible with iOS and Android devices. It comes with a magnetic attachment and three mounts, including one for the dash. The dash mount isn’t equipped with a suction cup, though, so you’ll have to attach it to your dashboard.
You’ll need a Premium subscription to access the Spotify Car Thing, and you’ll need a smartphone to connect the device. Once it’s installed, you can set up your playlists as presets. You can also ask the device to play or pause a song or podcast. You’ll need a Wi-Fi connection, too. It’s not designed to replace your existing in-car infotainment system, but it’s certainly a useful addition.
If you’re interested, you can sign up for the Spotify event later this month. The invitation doesn’t reveal any details, but it promises a “news announcement” and invites you to participate.
