Spotify has launched a new voice-controlled smart device, marking a debut in the hardware industry. Dubbed “Car Thing,” it plugs into a vehicle’s cigarette lighter and allows users to turn on their favorite playlist hands-free while they’re driving. The device is being rolled out among a small group of test users in the coming weeks. Once plugged in, the device connects to a user’s phone and car using a Bluetooth connection. Like any other voice-activated device, users say a wake word to make a command. Saying “Hey Spotify” will let users ask it to play a song, album, playlist or artist. It’ll also be linked to the user’s Spotify account so that it can pull from their list of playlists. Car Thing features a small screen on the left side of the device, which shows what song is currently playing. A set of buttons are also included next to that, where users can access preset playlists, akin to preset buttons for radio station in your car. Spotify said: “We don’t have any current plans to make this specific device available to consumers, but the learnings from our test will dictate how we develop experiences everywhere you listen.” (SD-Agencies) |