### The Ascendancy and Decline of Spotify’s Car Thing: A Cautionary Narrative of Intelligent Devices
In February 2022, Spotify unveiled an inventive device known as the **Car Thing**—an intelligent gadget aimed at improving the music experience within vehicles by offering a specialized interface for Spotify users. Nevertheless, fewer than twelve months later, Spotify declared that it would cease support for the Car Thing, effectively “bricking” the device by December 2022. This move has ignited considerable debate and stands as a cautionary narrative regarding the dangers linked to smart devices that heavily depend on software and cloud services.
#### The Potential of Car Thing
The Car Thing was promoted as a remedy for Spotify users desiring an uninterrupted, hands-free method to manage their music while driving. The device boasted a touchscreen, physical buttons, and voice control, enabling users to effortlessly browse their Spotify playlists, podcasts, and other content. It was particularly attractive to owners of older vehicles that lacked contemporary infotainment systems.
For many, the Car Thing signified an encouraging advancement in the development of in-car entertainment. It was an affordable device that provided a tailored, user-friendly interface for Spotify, one of the globe’s leading music streaming platforms. However, the gadget’s dependence on Spotify’s servers and software updates would soon reveal itself as its critical vulnerability.
#### The Rendering of Car Thing Inoperative
In December 2022, Spotify confirmed it would be halting support for the Car Thing, leaving the device inoperable. This announcement was met with widespread dissatisfaction and disillusionment from users who had purchased the device, only to discover it had transformed into an expensive non-functional item within a year.
The rendering of the Car Thing inoperative exemplifies a rising trend in the tech sector: **software tethering**. This approach entails making the operation of a device contingent upon software linked to the manufacturer’s servers. When the manufacturer opts to end support or modify the software, the device can lose its fundamental functionality or become entirely unusable.
#### The Wider Consequences of Software Tethering
The Car Thing is far from an isolated incident. In recent times, countless smart devices have become outdated or severely limited due to software updates or the cancellation of cloud services. For instance, Google has rendered its Dropcams inoperative, Amazon has discontinued its Halo health trackers, and Oral-B toothbrushes have lost functionality with Amazon Alexa.
These occurrences have led to increasing apprehension among consumers and advocates about the long-term sustainability of smart devices. The practice of software tethering raises critical issues surrounding ownership and consumer rights. When the functionality of a device hinges on a manufacturer’s servers, do consumers genuinely own the device, or are they merely leasing it until the manufacturer decides to cut support?
#### Appeals for Regulatory Intervention
In light of these concerns, a coalition of 17 consumer advocacy organizations, including Consumer Reports, the US PIRG, and iFixit, has urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to intervene. In a correspondence sent to the FTC, the coalition called for “explicit guidance” on software tethering and asserted that this practice constitutes “unfair and deceptive acts” that harm consumers.
The letter proposes several steps the FTC could take to safeguard consumers, such as:
1. **Disclosure of Minimum Support Duration**: Companies should be mandated to reveal a guaranteed minimum support duration for smart devices on their packaging. This would assist consumers in making informed purchases about whether a device merits the investment.
2. **Guaranteeing Core Functionality**: Companies should ensure that a product’s core functionality remains operational even if the internet connection fails or if software updates cease.
3. **Promoting Repurposing**: The FTC should encourage manufacturers to supply tools and methods that empower consumers to repurpose hardware for offline use should software support terminate.
4. **Safeguarding Adversarial Interoperability**: The FTC should uphold consumers’ rights to utilize third-party software or services with their devices, potentially extending the useful life of smart gadgets.
#### The Perils of Intelligent Devices
The bricking of the Car Thing and similar cases underscore the hazards associated with smart devices. As an increasing number of everyday objects become interconnected with the internet and dependent on software, consumers confront the risk that their devices might become obsolete or lose functionality due to circumstances beyond their control.
For corporations, the choice to discontinue support for a product can be influenced by various factors, including shifting business priorities, budget reductions, or a product’s inability to succeed in the market. Nonetheless, these decisions can profoundly affect consumers, who may find themselves with expensive devices that no longer perform as intended.
#### Conclusion
The tale of Spotify’s Car Thing serves as a poignant reminder of the potential hazards tied to smart devices. While these innovations offer thrilling new features and capabilities, they also carry risks that consumers ought to recognize. As the technology sector continues to advance, it is vital for companies to evaluate the
