“Hey Spotify”: the new Car Mode interface that Spotify has started testing with some users works with voice commands. The Beta version comes a few months after the announcement of the retirement of the simplified automotive interface called Car View and the official declaration of the arrival of new ways to provide “never-before-seen in-car listening experiences”.
“We are working – a Spotify spokesperson told TechCrunch – to guarantee our users the best possible listening experience: we can confirm that we are testing a new auto mode for some selected users. And that – as for all our Beta versions – we always seek customer feedback before we deploy system changes to market. ”
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The big news is that Car Mode allows users to browse and search for music through voice controls, while simplified elements for play / pause, skip shuffle and like buttons are displayed on the screen. There’s also a microphone button that you can use to search your Spotify library while in auto mode, and you can also use voice controls to access recently played music or podcasts. The layout is similar to Spotify’s regular interface, but without the many visual distractions that are usually present on the screen.
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And that’s just the beginning because the new car mode is a part of Spotify’s efforts to provide a seamless in-car listening experience. Last April, the company announced the release – for now only in the United States – of its first hardware device called Car Thing. The device is aimed at Spotify Premium subscribers and vehicle owners who do not have a built-in infotainment system that offers easy access to Spotify, such as Apple’s CarPlay or Android Auto. Spotify made Car Thing available to the public in November for $ 89.99.
Car Thing connects with your phone’s Spotify mobile application, then uses your phone’s cellular signal (or Wi-Fi, if available) to stream music or podcasts to your car’s audio system. The device works with Usb, Bluetooth and Aux. You can access the service by saying “Hey Spotify” or with the touchscreen, by turning the dial or by using one of the four preset buttons on the top of the player.
Spotify can also be integrated with Google Assistant to listen to hands-free music and podcasts while driving. The feature also works with Google Maps so you can navigate while listening to Spotify. To do this, you can link your accounts and say “Hey Google, play Spotify”.