For older vehicles, it makes total sense. Testing out the Car Thing was largely an exercise in discovering what its true purpose was.
Car thing android#
As I covered earlier, the two work together just fine, but you would have to feel like Spotify on Android Auto - and by extension, Google Assistant - aren't doing something right for you. The other is Android Auto, whose presence almost renders Car Thing as an unnecessary want more than an essential need. The other mounting options aren't as sturdy as I would like, which I found a disappointment for a device that feels pretty feathery, otherwise. Not every vent is made the same way, so your results may vary.
Moreover, too much heat or AC might also not be good for it. Car Thing includes a disclaimer noting how placing it in front of an air vent could pose problems for the microphone. Get past those prerequisites, and you encounter other challenges. Only tablets will work apart from phones. And if you have any ideas of somehow integrating this with your computer or whatever other devices you use to play Spotify, forget it. On the Family tier, only the primary account holder can use it, limiting the scope of its utility.
Car thing free#
Press it to make a selection and the back button to return to the previous screen.Ī major factor here is Car Thing only works with Spotify Premium accounts, so if you're listening on the free tier, this device does nothing for you. The dial is great for moving quickly through a playlist or just moving through the interface - not unlike the rotary dial some cars use to navigate an infotainment system. I also liked the dial and back button for their simple navigation. Some commands are basic, like "pause music," "skip this song," and "play (whatever) playlist." It's pretty responsive, and I liked it for its utility as a hands-free way to try discovering something new, though results are mixed at best. Car Thing has its own voice assistant, where saying, "Hey Spotify," hands-free can make the device play what you want. The fifth button is a shortcut to the settings, and the key there is the microphone.
Any of those buttons you press will start playing that playlist, album, or radio station, and if you set playback to shuffle, it will just start with a random track. Play something and hold down the button you want to assign to it, and that's it. Four buttons up top align as presets you can choose for playlists or albums. While Car Thing is largely just an extension of the app on your phone, it does a couple of things that can prove useful. (Image credit: Ted Kritsonis / Android Central)
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