It’s been talked about for over three years and now it’s finally here, Spotify’s Car Thing. It looks like a replacement for your car radio, but looks can be deceiving. The device visualizes your playlists, so that you can control them more easily on the go.
Listening to Spotify in your car has been possible for some time now in all sorts of ways. On infotainment systems it works through Android Auto or Carplay (iOS), while screenless radios often also have a way to connect your smartphone. Be it wireless, be it with a cable.
The Car Thing from Spotify should also be connected to your existing car radio. Then you can use Bluetooth, USB or an aux audio cable. So you are not replacing your current radio. The Spotify gadget does not have any speakers itself, but you can connect it to the speaker system that is already present in your car.
Install Car Thing
Attach the device as you would, for example, clamp a smartphone holder. Then connect the box to the cigarette lighter and finally connect your phone. Now your playlists will appear on the Car Thing screen.
Music can be controlled, among other things, with the physical, round rotary knob, so that you do not have to fiddle with the touchscreen while driving. The gadget also listens to voice commands.
Buy Car Thing
Spotify’s Car Thing requires a Spotify Premium subscription, so it won’t work if you have a free Spotify subscription. In addition, the streaming aid is currently only offered in the United States, for a price of approximately 80 dollars. Whether and when we can expect the device in the Benelux is not yet known.
