David Bridges
Farewell to Spotify’s Car Thing: A Creative Legacy Continues
Spotify’s Car Thing has officially reached the end of its operational life, marking the conclusion of an era for music enthusiasts seeking a bridge to their favorite playlists and podcasts in older vehicles lacking modern head units. Launched as a solution for those who love their classic cars but still want to enjoy streaming audio, the Car Thing’s last day was a bittersweet moment for many users. However, this doesn’t mean the device is entirely out of the game; tech-savvy tinkerers are determined to keep the spirit of Spotify’s Car Thing alive through innovative modifications and workarounds.
Community Efforts to Bypass the Car Thing’s Expiration Screen
Users in the dedicated Car Thing subreddit and various online forums have discovered clever methods to navigate past the frustrating launch screen that now locks many devices, which were once operational and cost between $80 to $120. Since the official expiration, numerous Car Thing devices have been left inoperable, leading to a splash screen that delivers a prolonged farewell. Thankfully, there are multiple strategies to bypass this splash screen or to prevent it from appearing altogether, depending on the user’s willingness to invest time and effort into reviving their device.
Exploring Workarounds: Bypassing the Discontinuation Screen
According to findings from Android Authority, some users have successfully navigated past the discontinuation screen by simply canceling any ongoing updates to their devices. I recently unearthed the Car Thing I reviewed three years ago, and to my surprise, I can still access its interface as if it were fully functional. The Spotify voice service has even lent a hand a few times in my experience. Other users have reported success in bypassing the splash screen by pressing the settings button, back button, and the first preset button simultaneously during boot-up. These methods illustrate the community’s resourcefulness and determination to maintain functionality.
Understanding Your Options: Customer Service and Refunds
Currently, the primary recommendation from the community is to keep the Car Thing offline to avoid triggering the expiration screen. Meanwhile, Spotify suggests that users reach out to customer service to explore their “refund options” before January 14, 2025. My curiosity about what services may be offered is piqued, especially since Gizmodo purchased the device for review purposes back in 2021. I’ve come across scattered reports on Reddit indicating that Spotify may offer premium subscriptions instead of outright refunds. I have reached out to Spotify for more detailed clarification regarding their policy.
Innovative Uses for a Non-Functional Car Thing
If you find yourself with a non-functional Spotify Car Thing, consider diving into the tinkering community for creative solutions. I discovered Desk Thing, which allows you to display the Car Thing on your desk for easy access to your media, and Glance Thing, which adds app shortcuts and enhanced Spotify controls. Additionally, Nocturne offers an alternative interface for the Car Thing, providing users with various options to customize their experience. All these hacks do require a degree of technical know-how, including jailbreaking and command line skills. While I had hoped to experiment with these methodologies before writing this article, the necessary focus eluded me during work hours. Another interesting workaround that has surfaced involves a third-party dongle mentioned in a subreddit focused on Car Thing hacks, which adds button and knob functionalities for users who already have Android Auto or Apple CarPlay available.
Daniel Mercer
Brandon Fletcher
