Spotify's Dash-Mounted 'Car Thing' Now Available for $89.99

[MacRumors]

Spotify's first hardware device, the "Car Thing," is now available to purchase in the United States for $89.99.

Announced in April last year, the Car Thing is an in-car dash-mounted music and podcast player designed to provide a more seamless and personalized listening experience, especially in the large number of cars that do not support modern in-car infotainment systems or Apple CarPlay.

The Car Thing is aimed at Spotify Premium subscribers with these needs and features a touchscreen, a knob for navigation, voice control features, and four user-configurable buttons for fast access to areas such as favorite music, podcasts, or playlists.

The user interface takes cues from the Spotify mobile app so that it is familiar to users, and there is the choice of touch controls, "Hey Spotify" voice commands, or physical navigation via the knob. The Car Thing works over Bluetooth, or via an AUX or USB cable, and it comes with three different dash and vent mounts to ensure that it fits to the dashboard securely, as well as a car charger and a USB-C cable.

The Car Thing is compatible with iOS and Android devices, and connects to a user's smartphone for data and linking to the Spotify app. The Car Thing was initially only available to selected users who requested an invite during the device's testing period, but now the device is now publicly available in the United States for $89.99 including shipping.

Article Link: Spotify's Dash-Mounted 'Car Thing' Now Available for $89.99

 

[Unregistered 4U]

It would be interesting to see a version of this that’s wirelessly enabled. Are there any cars that come with bluetooth internet access sharing or are they all WiFi?

 

[ScreenSavers]

That’s actually quite nice. Wish it worked with Apple Music as well.

 

[Spanky Deluxe]

I'm sure they'll sell literally dozens of these.

 

[BenTrovato]

I couldn't wait to get rid of this thing when I used to have Sirius for the car. This connects to the phone for data anyway, why not just use the phone instead?

 

[contacos]

Ironically the only cars I can think of that this would be useful for do not have bluetooth, aux or usb either, every other car has it already built in anyway and what would you do with navigation? (I suppose this device does not include Google Maps?) there is only so many devices the fan can handle

 

[lazyrighteye]

I'm sure they'll sell literally dozens of these.

Hey! That’s my line. ?

 

[jz0309]

really? in 2022? why????

 

[vercordio]

Functionality doesn't make any sense as others have said, but I love that they took some bigger swings on the industrial design: felt logo tag reminiscent of Roku remotes, and that big knob overlapping the screen. Hardware has become so generic; it's nice to see some whimsy every now and then.

 

[brofkand]

If the machine somehow supported displaying maps as well, I'd own one.

 

[robertmorris2]

My iPhone works just fine.....no thank you

 

[Doctor Q]

At first I thought it was a dumb choice for a product name, but now I realize that I'm going to remember it, for just that reason!

 

[RedTheReader]

I saw a post where someone used this on their desk beneath their monitor a while back. Knowing how cluttered a digital workspace can get and how people often prefer to add physical hardware to simplify this (think of multiple monitors), it actually made a lot of sense. I’ll edit in the post if I can find it.

EDIT: https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/r2vyf1

 

[Spock]

I wouldn't mind a similar device that could do wireless CarPlay that I could move to another vehicle when needed. I think Car and Driver makes one but its pretty pricey.

 

[jimimac71]

Now there is a perfectly good reason to bring back the iPod!

 

[GabooN]

Why not just mount your smart phone since it is required anyway? Pre-carplay integration that's what I did for maps and music.

 

[XXPP]

welcome back in 2010.

 

[Konigi]

Really love the name! Good marketing strategy. (Because that's what most people will call it anyway.)

 

[andrewxgx]

why would i need another device in my life? ffs.

 

[BrownyQ]

Honestly wouldn't mind something similar to this but to enable CarPlay functionality. My vehicle is just shy of the model year where CarPlay became a standard option, and the after market devices are just ludicrously expensive for what is, essentially, a vanity.

 

[minimo3]

How is this better than your iPhone stuck on the dash with a $10 Mount? (Apart from the scroll wheel?)

 

[nvmls]

How is this better than your iPhone stuck on the dash with a $10 Mount? (Apart from the scroll wheel?)

lol, it's not.

 

[SigEp265]

I want something like this but wireless car play

 

[alchemistmuffin]

How long before Apple sues Spotify for ripping off CarPlay?

My feeling is not before long, and as a revenge for being a part of “Illegal” Fair App Store Cartel.

 

[majus]

Great. Something else to distract drivers.