Spotify has started testing a new Car Mode on a very small, select number of customers it hopes to launch soon. According to Spotify, the new in-car interface, again just called Car Mode is more focused on voice controls than the older version. This older version of Car mode was retired in 2021 due to limited use and lacklustre functionality.
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This is Spotify’s attempt to make using their service safer while in the car, although data isn’t definitive on whether it actually makes driving safer. It seems there are just as many cases where users are more distracted by the voice commands for various reasons, making it more dangerous instead of safer. Spotify’s new version will have less visual distractions, however, aiming to curb this counter intuitive affect.
According to screenshots of the Android version of Spotify Car Mode, users can use voice controls to search for artists, browse albums, play or pause, fast forward and “like” a song. The new in-car mode appears to be far less busy than the older version, with simplified “Player View” and a “Library” tab that allows you to quickly access music or podcasts you’ve recently listened to.
#Spotify Car Mode : après avoir retiré son mode voiture à la fin de l'année dernière, Spotify travaille sur une nouvelle interface pour écouter ses listes de lecture au volant. En test sur Android pour certains utilisateurs. https://t.co/PlzRXcDT26 via @Frandroid pic.twitter.com/ryoEuWcqDX
— Dominic (@DominicDesbiens) March 25, 2022
The player view of Spotify’s Car Mode is extremely simple, with only play/pause, skip, shuffle, and like buttons, along with an easy access microphone button for voice controls. The voice controls, also accessible from the middle tab, are your way to search Spotify’s library of music and podcasts while in Car Mode. And the Library tab offers quick access to the music you’ve listened to most recently.
It looks like Spotify has gone far beyond simply replacing Car View, they’ve managed to create a full experience that matches the way you expect the full Spotify app to work. As things are still in the testing phase though, there’s still time for the app to try other ideas or make changes. Car Mode is just one part of Spotify’s continued efforts to be helpful for drivers, between its recently launched “Car Thing” and integration with Google Assistant driving mode.
