8/28/2023 0 Comments Spotify car thingSpotify was not the first software company to seek to extend its relationship with users into the physical world through devices.Īlphabet Inc's (GOOGL.O) Google was one of the early software companies to venture into hardware experiments with some major failures, including Google Glass - a wearable Android device resembling eyeglasses, which displayed information in the user's field of vision. After unveiling trials in May 2019, Spotify tested the device with a small group of people in April 2021, and then brought it to wider release in February this year. "So we decided to terminate this program in light of that."Ĭar Thing was a next-generation stereo designed to stream Spotify's music and podcasts from the user's phone through the car audio system. "We just can't get it to an attractive economical profile," Spotify CEO Daniel Ek told Reuters. However, the company said it was unable to sell enough devices at a sufficiently high price to justify the investment. Spotify wrote down a $31 million investment in the device, which was aimed at increasing the number of users who listen to music or podcasts while in the car. read more In doing so, Spotify became the latest software technology company to stumble in an attempt to build hardware. The world's leading audio streaming service on Wednesday announced it would discontinue the device just five months after it became available to all users in the United States. Now, they want to extend that simple and pleasurable experience to your car, a domain that, for many, lacks audio finesse.LOS ANGELES/STOCKHOLM, July 27 (Reuters) - Spotify Technology SA's (SPOT.N) Car Thing player is now a thing of the past. On their affordable streaming platform, they’ve gathered so much content that it’s hard to quit even if people despise Joe Rogan and they’ve made it feel like those without Spotify are missing out on some cultural event. They want to make your audio listening experience so simple and pleasurable that you can’t live without it. If this whole thing seems like an odd proposition - a $90 device that’s basically a more aesthetically pleasing (and arguably safer) version of mounting your smartphone to your dash and playing Spotify - just take a step back and look at Spotify’s larger mission. Crucially, it also features a big ol’ knob (which reminds us of the great Mustang Mach-E screen, showing that people really do need tactile functionality paired with their in-car screens), as well as strong voice controls (even in a loud setting like a car) and buttons along the top that can be programed as shortcuts. However, if you do own a car in this range, listen almost exclusively to Spotify and wouldn’t mind slapping on a 5-inch by 3-inch screen to your dash, the Car Thing is demonstrably a fun little device - specifically because it’s so much more than just a touchscreen. As of Tuesday, the device is now available to purchase for $89.99, but I got my hands on one that I’ve been testing out for a week. I’ve been champing at the bit to test out Car Thing for myself since Spotify first released its first foray into hardware last year - initially for free to a small percentage of the millions of people who signed up for a waitlist. In essence, it’s a beautiful remote control you attach to your dashboard that will supposedly create a better audio experience for those without the benefit of modern interfaces like Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. At least, it’s one part of a smart audio experience - you’ll need a smartphone with a mobile data connection and a Spotify Premium account to play music or podcasts as it’s not a standalone device. Yes, that’s the actual name, Car Thing, a moniker the company told me started as a placeholder but was eventually adopted as the real title for the streaming company’s first physical device.Īs the name implies, Car Thing is a smart audio player for your automobile. This week, Spotify made its Car Thing available to the public. Nota bene: If you buy through the links in this article, we may earn a small share of the profits.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |