Spotify tried its hand at creating a hardware called Car Thing, which is a dashboard accessory that allows users to play music inside their car.
The hardware that began shipping only three years ago is about to bite the dust. Spotify wrote on its website that the device will no longer be operational as of December 9.
It was a $90 device that allowed users to listen to Spotify that doesn’t have modern systems with built-in streaming apps. It allowed the users to control the service with voice recognition and preset buttons along with a four-inch colored touch screen.
The Car Thing was launched in April 2021 and was made available by invitation only. Later that year, the company opened it to the public. However, in just after months from there, the production of the gadget was stopped.
Now, the emails are being sent to the Car Thing users that it will stop functioning completely on December 9th. They have not announced any trade-ins or a page dedicated to support.
A FAQ on its website reads, “We understand it may be disappointing, but this decision allows us to focus on developing new features and enhancements that will ultimately provide a better experience to all Spotify users.”
Now, the company is recommending that users do a factory reset on the product and find a responsible way of recycling the product.
It means there is no plan for the company to release a new or better version of the product in the near future.
Despite its limited appeal, it was pretty great actually. There was a niche community of the Car Thing. These users want the company to open source the product so that these devices do not end up in a landfill. Spotify has not made any comment on this.
