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Spotify announced the product's limited commercial launch on 13 April 2021; as part of the release, Spotify
Premium subscribers selected from a waitlist received the device for free. The company described the purpose of the Car Thing as enhancing the music streaming experience of motorists in
174:. In May 2024, Spotify announced that support for the Car Thing would end in December of that year, rendering the device inoperable after that point. The Car Thing was generally a critical and commercial failure, losing Spotify $ 31.4 million.
281:
On 27 July 2022, just fifteen months after the Car Thing's initial limited launch and five months after its public launch, Spotify announced that they would end production of the Car Thing and lowered its price to $ 49.99. Spotify cited
273:. The Car Thing's release was expanded on 14 October, being made available to Premium members on the waitlist at a price of $ 79.99. On 22 February, its price was raised to $ 89.99, and it became available to all Premium members.
293:
On 23 May 2024, Spotify announced its decision to end support for the Car Thing by the end of the year, informing users that their devices would no longer be functional after 9 December. This led to the filing of a
302:
accusing
Spotify of "prematurely render the Car Thing obsolete." Following the lawsuit, Spotify began to offer refunds to customers who purchased the Car Thing directly from Spotify's website.
290:
as reasons as to why they would cease production, a move that led to a $ 31.4 million loss for the company. Only a couple weeks later, on 20 August, the price was again lowered to $ 30.
166:. It made an initial limited launch in April 2021 and was launched to the public in February 2022. In July 2022, Spotify ended production for the device, citing low
186:. A rubber knob used to navigate menus is located to the right of the touchscreen. The Car Thing has five buttons on its upper edge for settings and presets and a
971:
182:
The Car Thing weighs 3.4 ounces and measures 4.6 inches wide, 2.5 inches tall, and 0.7 inches thick. Its touchscreen is four inches wide and has a 800x480
261:
filing made by
Spotify revealed a new prototype of the Car Thing, demonstrating a device much larger than the original and with a touchscreen added.
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with a limited release; Spotify would later reiterate that its main focus would remain music streaming, not hardware. In
January 2021, an
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331:
praised its design; however, he found
Spotify's claim that the Car Thing could function with any car misleading. Alexander Stoklosa of
27:
859:
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258:
511:
337:
described the Car Thing as overly complicated and expensive when compared to other simpler options. Conversely, Zach Gale, also of
158:
and produced from 2021 to 2022. The Car Thing was designed to be used in vehicles to stream music from
Spotify's platform with its
567:
484:"We just got our best look yet at Spotify's mysterious music streaming gadget, the Car Thing, and it has built-in LTE wireless"
362:
722:
604:
455:
220:
The device utilizes
Spotify's "Hey Spotify" voice commands. In order to stream music, the Car Thing must be connected to a
750:
483:
253:, intending for it to collect data on the habits of its users. It was originally designed to be a voice-controlled
229:
93:
539:
666:
426:
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called the device "misguided" and "doomed from the start" due to its weak components, and lamented the
310:
The Car Thing was a commercial failure and was generally poorly received by critics. Will
Greenwald of
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214:
163:
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250:
635:
824:
727:
699:
671:
609:
183:
108:
751:"Spotify's Oddball In-Car Music Device Is Getting Bricked. Turns Out There's an App For That"
952:
781:
488:
427:"Spotify's Car Thing joins a long list of misguided products always doomed for the landfill"
324:
199:
88:
190:
port. It was shipped with multiple attachments in order to affix the device to a vehicle's
926:
605:"Spotify's Sordid Car Thing History—Here's a Timeline of the Disastrous Hardware Release"
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965:
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921:
880:
875:
295:
283:
270:
171:
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568:"Spotify's Car Thing shows up in FCC filings with a new design and bigger screen"
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460:
333:
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criticized the device's "awkward interface" and its lack of navigation features.
159:
636:"Review: The Spotify Car Thing Is a Fun Little Device With One Big Blind Spot"
516:
367:
221:
916:
818:
572:
540:"Spotify's 'Car Thing' takes on CarPlay as a touchscreen smart media player"
299:
254:
225:
195:
191:
26:
228:. A Spotify Premium subscription is also required. It functions with both
456:"Spotify Car Thing Review: What Is It, How Much, and Should You Get One?"
890:
804:
544:
266:
203:
155:
37:
249:
Spotify first announced the Car Thing in May 2019, its first piece of
723:"Spotify Rethinks Car Thing Refund Policy After Class Action Lawsuit"
287:
167:
363:"Spotify launches its in-car entertainment system 'Car Thing' in US"
400:
312:
187:
512:"Spotify is test driving a car hardware thing called 'Car Thing'"
341:, considered the Car Thing a feasible option for certain users.
138:
777:
233:
97:
667:"Spotify Discontinues 'Car Thing' — But Continues Selling It"
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that would result after it ceased to function. Alex Lauer of
695:"Spotify Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over Bricked Car Thing"
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224:
as well as to a vehicle via USB cable, aux cable, or
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319:Following its discontinuation, Brady Snyder of
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749:Stoklosa, Alexander (24 May 2024).
972:Android (operating system) devices
14:
538:Potuck, Michael (13 April 2021).
209:, and has 4GB of storage from an
948:
947:
833:
634:Lauer, Alex (24 February 2022).
566:Peters, Jay (14 January 2021).
482:Sapra, Bani (23 January 2020).
394:Greenwald, Will (24 May 2022).
298:within the same week, with the
665:King, Ashley (4 August 2022).
425:Snyder, Brady (19 June 2024).
361:Perez, Sarah (13 April 2021).
1:
510:Heater, Brian (17 May 2019).
139:https://carthing.spotify.com/
721:King, Ashley (31 May 2024).
693:King, Ashley (30 May 2024).
603:King, Ashley (2 June 2024).
454:Gale, Zach (28 April 2022).
982:Products introduced in 2022
977:Products introduced in 2021
998:
396:"Spotify Car Thing Review"
945:
876:Betty Labs (Spotify Live)
831:
24:
245:Development and release
47:Music streaming device
16:Music streaming device
855:Most-streamed artists
75:; 2 years ago
57:; 3 years ago
296:class action lawsuit
154:device developed by
284:supply chain issues
172:supply chain issues
21:
728:Digital Music News
700:Digital Music News
672:Digital Music News
610:Digital Music News
202:vents. It uses an
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910:Apps and services
860:Streaming records
288:consumer interest
265:vehicles lacking
168:consumer interest
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213:and 512MB of
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62:13 April 2021
55:13 April 2021
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23:
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932:Spotify Kids
922:Spotify Live
881:Gimlet Media
869:Acquisitions
760:. Retrieved
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732:. Retrieved
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286:and lack of
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271:Android Auto
263:
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80:27 July 2022
73:27 July 2022
70:Discontinued
52:Release date
756:Motor Trend
645:24 February
640:Inside Hook
461:Motor Trend
339:Motor Trend
334:Motor Trend
329:Inside Hook
178:Description
160:touchscreen
966:Categories
896:The Ringer
517:TechCrunch
368:TechCrunch
345:References
300:plaintiffs
222:smartphone
184:resolution
115:Dimensions
109:resolution
937:Car Thing
917:Soundtrap
886:Megaphone
850:Criticism
821:(founder)
819:Daniel Ek
762:30 August
734:30 August
706:30 August
678:30 August
616:30 August
579:27 August
573:The Verge
551:30 August
523:27 August
495:27 August
467:30 August
436:30 August
407:27 August
374:27 August
306:Reception
255:prototype
226:Bluetooth
207:processor
196:CD player
192:dashboard
148:Car Thing
120:4.6 in W
118:2.5 in H
34:Developer
20:Car Thing
953:Category
843:Business
251:hardware
122:0.7 in D
107:800x480
891:Parcast
805:Spotify
545:9to5Mac
325:e-waste
267:CarPlay
240:History
230:Android
204:Amlogic
156:Spotify
135:Website
104:Display
94:Android
78: (
60: (
38:Spotify
825:unions
812:People
130:3.4 oz
401:PCMag
313:PCMag
198:, or
188:USB-C
150:is a
764:2024
736:2024
708:2024
680:2024
647:2022
618:2024
581:2024
553:2024
525:2024
497:2024
469:2024
438:2024
409:2024
376:2024
269:and
232:and
211:eMMC
170:and
162:and
146:The
127:Mass
96:and
44:Type
259:FCC
234:iOS
215:RAM
98:iOS
968::
753:.
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655:^
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
