• Spotify is planning to discontinue its "Car Thing" device, a voice-controlled music player designed for use in vehicles. The company has announced that it will be "bricking" the devices, rendering them unusable, and will not be offering refunds to customers who purchased the $90 device.

• The decision to discontinue the Car Thing has sparked outrage among some users, who are calling for Spotify to open-source the device's software and firmware, allowing them to continue using the devices. Open-sourcing the software would enable users to maintain and potentially modify the devices, even after Spotify stops supporting them.

• The article also notes that the discontinuation of the Car Thing is part of a broader shift in Spotify's strategy, as the company focuses more on its core streaming service and mobile app experience. The decision to brick the devices has been criticized as a waste of resources and a missed opportunity to support the device's user base.