Four years after its untimely demise, Spotify Car Thing is back, for free, and with absolutely no help from the streaming giant itself
Spotify Car Thing was discontinued in 2022 and killed off in 2024, but fans have brought it back (in sort).
Four years after Spotify discontinued its Car Thing auto dongle, fans have resurrected the device using free software called Mira. Initially, the company discontinued the Car Thing because it bricked devices owned by customers, leaving users feeling betrayed. However, the device's end did not signal the end for some enthusiasts.
A fan engineer developed Mira, a software that can be downloaded onto an old Car Thing, restoring its functionality in a vehicle. Users can download Mira from GitHub and connect it to their phone or computer to use it. Despite a few Bluetooth connection issues, Mira offers a range of features, including voice commands, album artwork, lyrics, gesture controls, and even podcast transcripts.
Users must have a Spotify subscription to use the device, but the software itself is free. The emergence of Mira is a testament to the creativity and determination of fans, demonstrating that sometimes, even when a company abandons its products, dedicated individuals can find ways to bring them back to life.
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