Spotify goes back and tests a new “Car Mode”
Spotify made one of the most obvious decisions in its history at the end of last year when it abruptly and without notice began to remove its Car View interface, which automatically adopted its program for Android and iOS when it identified that the user was driving. In case you didn't know, Car View provided an interface with only the essential features to allow you to use the app while driving, avoiding distractions and increasing the size of the controls.
Car View was, without a doubt, one of Spotify's greatest triumphs, with the company even managing to provide direct access to Waze, allowing Spotify music to be controlled from the map. Because of the added safety at the wheel given by this mode, the Spotify app has become the safest way to control music playback while driving, and this is why many have driven tens of thousands of kilometers while listening to music from this service.
Just a few days ago, we learned of another such action by Spotify, which abruptly decided to discontinue support for Pioneer and JVC-Kenwood vehicle devices, despite the fact that they had previously had official endorsement from a portion of the streaming service. As a result of this action, many drivers with this equipment discovered that they could no longer listen to music as they had previously.
What is the cause of all these changes? You don't have to be particularly clever, because Spotify Car Thing, a gadget manufactured and promoted by the firm, conveniently arrives to fill the gap left by the removal of Car View, and support for Pioneer and JVC-Kenwood devices arrived at the same time. A $99 device that requires a premium subscription and is presently only accessible in the United States.
The criticism, of course, did not wait, and many customers with premium accounts have seriously considered leaving the site. And criticism and the risk of losing customers may have worked a miracle in Spotify's offices, because according to 9to5Google, Spotify has begun testing a new Car Mode in the service's app for Android, a test that would have reached only a small portion of its users for the time being.
According to the screenshots, this new mode for the automobile returns to the model with the basic controls and without unnecessary items that can distract the driver, but it also includes the ability to manage the app through voice commands, which, among other things, allow you to search. One of the most impressive features of Spotify Car Thing is its voice assistant, which allows you to manage music without using your hands.
This is unquestionably a good move by Spotify, but it appears to be more of a reaction to criticism than anything else.
