This summary of the video was created by an AI. It might contain some inaccuracies.
00:00:00 – 00:23:20
The video revolves around Frog Fodu unboxing the discontinued Spotify Car Thing and exploring its features and limitations. Despite some functional bugs, they praise the product's tactile dials and positive user experience. Frog Fodu discusses Spotify potentially bricking devices in December, raising concerns about device obsolescence. They propose workarounds, like using an older Spotify app version, to maintain the device's functionality. The speaker also discusses E-Waste and encourages finding solutions to prevent device disposal. Overall, the video highlights the challenges faced by users of the Spotify Car Thing and the potential need for technical solutions to extend its lifespan beyond Spotify's planned obsolescence.
00:00:00
In this segment of the video, Frog Fodu introduces and unboxes a Spotify Car Thing, a now discontinued tech product by Spotify. Despite the anger over the product being discontinued and future bricking, Frog Fodu examines the contents of the box, which include the thin screen with buttons, mounts, a double adapter, a USB cable, and a cleaning cloth. Frog Fodu notes the need to use the product within the limited 6-month remaining window before it is rendered unusable.
00:03:00
In this segment of the video, the YouTuber showcases a small and thin Spotify car adapter that plugs in via USB C. They connect it to their phone, navigating through the Bluetooth settings to pair it successfully. The YouTuber appreciates the physical dial on the adapter and shares their preferred playlist and artists on Spotify. They demonstrate how to control music playback using the adapter and mention its functionality in the car.
00:06:00
In this part of the video, the presenter navigates through Spotify on the car infotainment system. They encounter a bug where the skip button is unresponsive and struggle with volume control issues. Despite some lag and bugs, they praise the tactile feel of the dials. The presenter discovers how to pin favorite songs and explores the Daily Drive feature for news and music. Overall, they express positive sentiments about the product, but highlight some functional issues experienced during use.
00:09:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses Spotify potentially bricking devices in December. They express confusion over Spotify’s decision to do this instead of discontinuing the devices. The video then transitions to showcasing a Mazda 6, which the speaker drives, as a suitable car for integrating Spotify features. The speaker demonstrates how they use a CD slot mount to set up the car display unit, highlighting its convenience and stability compared to other mounting options. They show how the car’s USB port is used to connect the phone for music control through an aux cable. The video also mentions limitations in control options due to the car not supporting certain connector types. The speaker shares their preference for controlling music by swiping on the phone screen while driving as it is more intuitive than using physical buttons in the car.
00:12:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the functionality of controlling music in the Mazda 6 using hand swipes. They mention a left-hand drive bias due to the knob placement obstructing the screen. The integration of the radio in the dashboard makes it difficult to swap out for aftermarket radios with advanced features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The speaker highlights the convenience of using the Mazda 6 for controlling music through Bluetooth but expresses disappointment as Spotify plans to make this device inoperable. They introduce the concept of “hard brick” and “soft brick” in relation to device functionality breakdowns.
00:15:00
In this segment of the video, it is discussed that the issue of Spotify potentially rendering certain devices useless by removing support for the “Spotify car thing” could be seen as a soft brick scenario, caused by a software update. The analysis suggests that Spotify may opt for this solution to quickly address the situation without investing additional effort. The speaker believes that maintaining the functionality of the device post-update is more of a software challenge rather than a hardware one. They propose using an older version of the Spotify app with the necessary support to continue using the car thing beyond the update that would render it inoperable. The possibility of server-side actions from Spotify impacting the device’s functionality is also briefly addressed.
00:18:00
In this part of the video, the speaker explores a workaround for playing downloaded songs offline without internet connection. They mention encountering a “low power error” but manage to continue playing music despite the prompt to turn on cellular data. The speaker experiments with the idea of creating an app on Android to mimic Spotify and interface with the car system. They suggest that this approach might be a more viable solution than physically hacking the car system. The speaker admits they are not a software engineer but proposes this possible solution as a simple and elegant idea. They acknowledge the limitation of the offline experience but note that basic playback functions like playing and skipping tracks still work. Finally, the speaker mulls over the possibility of focusing on creating a fake Spotify app to connect with the car system as a potential solution.
00:21:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the likelihood of electronic devices, like car parts, ending up in E-Waste despite simple solutions being available to fix them. The speaker criticizes Spotify for encouraging the disposal of old devices. They suggest that solutions may exist to keep these devices working offline and express concern about potential obsolescence of the Spotify app. The speaker calls for action from those with technical expertise to find ways to maintain functionality post-December. They mention the possibility of creating a hack or fix for this issue. The segment ends with the speaker expressing disappointment and offering viewers the chance to support their channel or send items to their PO Box.