Spotify's Car Thing Gets New Life with Open Source Firmware Nocturne
Spotify's Car Thing music player has received a new lease on life through an open-source firmware called Nocturne, despite Spotify's plans to discontinue support on December 9.
Spotify Car Thing music player device
The Nocturne firmware, developed by Brandon Saldan, transforms the $100 Car Thing into a versatile music controller. While the device's modest hardware specs (512MB RAM, 4GB storage, Amlogic S905D2 SoC) require an additional Raspberry Pi for operation, the firmware offers several key features:
- Full playback controls
- Playlist management
- Artist and album exploration
- Real-time interface updates
- Cross-platform compatibility (Windows, macOS, Linux)
Requirements for using Nocturne:
- Spotify Premium account
- Raspberry Pi
- Basic technical knowledge for firmware flashing
This open-source solution prevents the Car Thing from becoming e-waste and allows users to repurpose it as either a car or desktop music controller. Detailed installation instructions are available for all major operating systems, making the modification accessible to users willing to experiment with the hardware.
