- Spotify is discontinuing support for Car Thing in December, which turns it into a brick.
- The company says to throw away the hardware device that cost adopters $90.
- It doesn’t appear as though the brand is working on a way to keep the units out of landfills.
Tech hardware comes and goes faster than ever these days, but hey, usually there’s still a way to squeeze some life out of it after its prime years have passed. However, in the case of Spotify’s Car Thing, well, don’t even bother. They’re basically bricking every single device they’ve ever sold.
The media giant has so graciously decided to pull the plug on service for these units come December 9th and oh, here’s the kicker—they’re basically telling owners to just chuck them in the bin. Yep, no credit or refunds either. Classy move, Spotify.
Read: Tesla Removes Steam Gaming Support In New Model S And Model X
The move comes almost two years after Spotify stopped producing the devices. Intended as a test for Spotify, the ‘Car Thing’ device was positioned as an upgrade for older vehicles. Priced at $90, it never really caught on, despite largely positive reviews. Modern cars with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay made it somewhat redundant. According to Spotify, it’ll divert the resources it’s spending on Car Thing in December.
“We’re discontinuing Car Thing as part of our ongoing efforts to streamline our product offerings. 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.”
Interestingly, Spotify doesn’t have a very innovative solution for keeping these devices out of the landfill, though. Instead, they’re simply advising owners to ask around.
“We recommend resetting your Car Thing to factory settings and safely disposing of your device following local electronic waste guidelines. Contact your state or local waste disposal department to determine how to dispose of or recycle Car Thing in accordance with applicable laws and regulations,” it says in the FAQ section of its website.
Overall, that’s a bit disappointing seeing as the units are likely capable of doing more than just relaying music. Google caught similar flack when it axed its Stadia gaming service but it found a solution. It enabled owners to convert their Stadia-branded controllers to Bluetooth mode for use on other platforms. Granted, that still allowed Google to stop spending cash on the device.
Can Spotify find a way to do something similar? Some current users set up the device in their homes rather than in their vehicles. Others have proven that the device can be hacked. Maybe there’s a way to keep the device useful long after December – but we’ll just have to wait and see.
