First vehicle hardware announced by Spotify

Spotify announced its first hardware product, Car Thing, in the United States on April 13 (local time). It will be available for purchase on an invitation basis for premium plan users in the US and will be provided free of charge for a limited time.

Kasing is not a device that can listen to Spotify music alone, but is a device that combines a display and a controller specialized for vehicle use. To use, a smartphone and a Bluetooth connection are required, and communication is also carried out through a smartphone. The sound can be played through a smartphone, Bluetooth, or car audio connected via AUX.

Even if you don’t deliberately use Carsing, the Hey Spotify voice control that was recently added to the Spotify app and the existing vehicle mode may be sufficient. However, vehicle mode cannot be used unless it is connected to the car audio via Bluetooth, and the smartphone needs to be fixed to the dashboard. In this regard, Kasing may be convenient.

The 4-inch screen consists of a touch panel and can be operated with a large dial located on the right. There are four preset buttons on the top of the body, so you can control your favorite songs and podcast channels with one touch. It is equipped with a microphone, so you can control audio on Hey Spotify without having to take out your smartphone.

Spotify, in its Kasing announcement, said it would provide a true audio experience no matter where the user is, no matter how they listen, and said it had no intention of conflicting with existing vehicle systems. In fact, if Android Auto and CarPlay are available, the need for Kasing will not be great. Nevertheless, if this is difficult to use, it can be a promising alternative to listening to music in a vehicle. Related information can be found here.