Spotify
- Spotify is bricking Car Thing, its first hardware launch.
- The company isn't offering trade-ins on the $80 devices and told users to trash them.
- Some jilted customers want the devices to stay operational or a refund.
Spotify is scrapping its first foray into hardware — and early adopters are feeling left in the lurch.
That's because on December 9, the streaming platform's Car Thing is being discontinued and getting bricked.
Car Thing is a small touchscreen device targeting owners of older cars without infotainment systems. It connects to smartphones and car speakers, enabling drivers to control Spotify with voice recognition and buttons. It launched in 2021 for $80.