There were rumours about MP3 players and Ek himself talked about musical lightbulbs.Р”В«ut it seems that Spotify realised it was stretching itself too thin, and needed to focus on podcasts and music, and its forecast of reaching 400 million global users by 2021РІР‚в„ўs end.

In job ads for hardware product managers located in its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden, it described the hardware as РІР‚Сљa category-defining product akin to Pebble Watch, Amazon Echo, and Snap SpectaclesРІР‚Сњ and working within the voice space.

Users have the option of a touchscreen or a physical dial that scrolls menus and makes a selection.Р”В¬ar Thing was initially offered to select Premium subscribers in April before being РІР‚СљlaunchedРІР‚Сњ in mid-October on a limited basis.Р”Р„t this point itРІР‚в„ўs only available to US subscribers until the chip supply is resolved.Р”Р‡ive years ago, Spotify was signalling plans to move into making its own hardware devices. РІР‚СљWe just canРІР‚в„ўt make enough to get them out there to consumersРІР‚Сњ.Р”В¬ar Thing, which costs $110 in Australia, is especially convenient for users to navigate Spotify in cars with no, or older, infotainment systems.Р”Вrivers with a smartphone with a wi-fi or mobile data connection can turn on tracks, podcasts, albums or playlists inside SpotifyРІР‚в„ўs library with a РІР‚СљHey SpotifyРІР‚Сњ command. РІР‚СљThe #1 constraint for us at this particular momentРІР‚В¦ is chip shortages,РІР‚Сњ admitted Spotify CEO Daniel Ek. It didnРІР‚в„ўt expect 2 million to rush to sign on. Last month Spotify invited its premium privileged to go on its waiting list. The in-car entertainment device is the streaming/audio companyРІР‚в„ўs first legit hardware, and itРІР‚в„ўs already struggling to cope. Those Australian Spotify Premium subscribers waiting to use Spotify Car Thing have to hit pause a bit longer.

Car thing spotify