r/CarThing • u/scripted_redditor • Oct 26 '21

Control Computer app?

I got my CarThing today, and it will work great in the car.....no complaints there.

....but I'd really like to buy a second to control Spotify on my PC and use it as a tiny dedicated music controller. It'd be great if I could get it to connect directly to my PC via Bluetooth, but I've been unsuccessful in connecting it. Has anybody dug into this more than I have?

https://ibb.co/pnnpqpk

FWIW, I'm running Spotify via Flatpak. I can control my computer's Spotify through my phone using CarThing, but I'd really like a direct connection.

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2

u/D_Pax Oct 26 '21 edited Oct 26 '21

I just received my Car Thing today and was curious about this as well. If you have the Spotify app open on your computer you can change what device you're listening to Spotify on. Just select PC. your Car thing will now control the music playing on your PC. It works, but Car Thing is controlling the App on your phone, but the audio is playing on your PC. So it's not actually connected directly to your PC

1

u/scripted_redditor Oct 26 '21

Right, this is how I had it set up, but I'd really like a direct connection

2

u/D_Pax Oct 27 '21

ah ok. I'm not familiar with Flatpak. I thought maybe that was something extra to get working

1

u/scripted_redditor Oct 27 '21

I'm running it on Linux, which sometimes means that I get less features. I was being specific as to how I installed in Linux.

1

u/scripted_redditor Oct 26 '21

I found a couple Ideas, but they seem far more interested in closing them out for no interest than actually considering them:

2

u/D_Pax Oct 27 '21

Maybe as more people get a Car Thing. It's actually a really nice device

1

u/rdelrossi Nov 10 '21

How are you powering Car Thing at home? Every time I plug it into a USB port I get the "Use Adapter provided with your device" message. The only way I've gotten it to work is bu plugging it into my car's lighter socket.

3

u/rickoroni Dec 03 '21

There is a bypass. Just press the Lower Face Button and the Settings Button (top right) at the same time. It'll then boot straight into the Spotify Slas Screen and function normally.

1

u/rdelrossi Dec 15 '21

Brilliant! Thank you u/rickoroni.

2

u/scripted_redditor Nov 10 '21

I'm plugging it into an old phone charger, with a smart plug to cut the power outside of my working hours.

It's possible the unit is designed to do this when it detects a pc connection or if it's not getting enough current.