![]() ![]() If you have CarPlay built into your car, the Spotify CarPlay app is a much better experience. Otherwise, it’s easier to find that specific album or podcast from the iPhone app before you start driving.Įven if you don’t use Car Thing to change the content that’s playing, the screen is still a great way to see what’s playing while you’re driving. Find your favorite playlists and add them to the presets and let that be the way you change tracks directly from Car Thing. ![]() The best way to use the product is the preset buttons on the top, though. It worked well, and I found it easier to use it over the dial. You can say “Hey Spotify” to ask for specific songs, albums, playlists, etc. I struggled to use the included dial and button to find content in my library that I wanted to play. I was expecting it to operate somewhat like the Spotify app for CarPlay, but it wasn’t as easy in my experience. I find this aspect of Car Thing to be the best way to use it. So, for example, if you want your Discover Weekly mix as preset 1, start playing the playlist, and press & hold button 1 until it sets. Setting them is no different than how you’d put your favorite radio station in your built-in car radio. It includes four buttons on top of the hardware that act as presets to your favorite podcast, albums, playlists, radio stations, etc. Using Car ThingĪs a CarPlay user, I wasn’t sure what to expect when using Car Thing, but I went into it expecting it to be the best way to use Spotify in the car. If you’ve ever connected a Bluetooth speaker to your iPhone, you’ll have no issues with the setup. It’s a straightforward process that only takes a few minutes. Next, you’ll walk through the setup process of connecting your Spotify app to it via Bluetooth. Once it’s installed, you’ll open the Spotify app, go to Settings > Car. Instead, it displayed a message about using the included DC plug. My car has a built-in USB-A plug, but Car Things refused to operate when plugged into it. ![]() Included in the box is a USB C to USB-A braided cord that plugs into the included DC plug. Once it’s mounted in your car, you’ll need to plug the car adaptor into your car DC plug. The other included options are the air vent mount and dash mount. I still remember when having a CD player in a car was something you had to pay extra to have, and we’ve come full circle where it’s just a way to mount newer technology in your vehicle. It can be mounted in multiple ways, but I found the easiest to the CD tray adaptor. ![]() It reminds me of the external XM Radio unit I had in the early 2000s. The actual hardware is much smaller than I expected, but that’s not a negative. I’ve been spending more time using Spotify lately, so I purchased it to compare it to CarPlay. Is there room for another entrant? Spotify thinks so, and it’s released its Car Thing (yes, that’s the actual name) that can be added onto any car that supports Bluetooth or AUX inputs. Given how quickly the company decided to pack up shop, I can’t really recommend purchasing one if you’re expecting years of support, but if you want to know what Spotify hardware looks like, it’s there for the taking.Apple and Google’s car strategy revolves around CarPlay and Android Auto. Last dance - Spotify reportedly has other hardware tests in the works that could see the light of day, and the Car Thing remains available for purchase at the discounted price of $49.99. What if the Car Thing could stream music without the help of a phone, perhaps with built-in speakers so you can take it out of your car if you want? Or what if Spotify bought a company like Mighty, and tried to offer an iPod Shuffle-type device of its own? There are lots of options, it’s really just a matter of spending the money and trying it. Spotify, as one of the biggest streaming services in the world, is in a unique position to fill that niche, and maybe even make it popular again. The iPod is dead, but I don’t think the desire for dedicated music devices ever fully went away. What if Spotify just sold a cheap music player like the Mighty Vibe? Mighty ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |