In-Car USB Audio/Control with Windows Phone

[danwheeler]

I just upgraded to a Windows 8 phone (from 7) and was pleased to find an update to the Spotify app.  It is working much better now.

Just for kicks, I tried the Bluetooth streaming on my Ford Sync and I'm happy to see the play controls are working now (track forward, back, play, pause, etc)

I had been using an old iPhone as a music player in my Ford Escape because it can play music across USB which is much higher quality than the bluetooth streaming protocol.

My question is - is there any way I can plug my Windows 8 phone into any device (Ford Sync or an aftermarket deck) via USB that will allow me to listen to and control spotify through USB instead of Bluetooth?

thanks,

Dan

[josephgerth]

Sorry for bumping an old (I assume) post, but I have the exact same question. I'm rather frustrated that I cannot play Spotify music through my Ford's USB port. My iPad's Spotify app worked perfectly through it, but I cannot get my Windows Phone to work.

Just for the record, I have Windows Phone 8 on a Lumia 521.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Roxpace]

Isn't this more related to how the car stereo works and not the app in the phone?

If the car stereo mapped the USB as network device I suspect it would work perfectly, but otherwise USB is only used in a car stereo as a storage and Spotify songs can not be played as single songs on a storage but needs the app to play them.

[josephgerth]

If that's so, then why does my iPad play music from Spotify through my car's audio system? (This works with both downloaded "Offline" songs and songs that are streamed through the internet).

I did find a workaround, but it's very inefficient. I connect the phone through USB, turn on Bluetooth, and then, when given an option to select media on my car, I have to scroll down to Bluetooth streaming. The option for bluetooth streaming is only under the USB menu. This works, but requires Bluetooth to be on. Additionally I cannot see any song information (such as artist and track title). It's also disappointing since it works through Bluetooth, why wouldn't it work through the normal USB?

[Joe]

erm.....can you play music through your car audio via USB using a different player? If not then I don't see what spotify can do to make your phone compatible with the frod sync system. The full compatibility list is on the Ford site.

[josephgerth]

@jwylot

-_- Yes... please see my first post where I wrote:  "My iPad's Spotify app worked perfectly through it, but I cannot get my Windows Phone to work."

As in, I plug my iPad into the USB of the car, and the car then plays music from the iPad and the Spotify app that it is running.

[Joe]

I'll rephrase that - can you play music from your windows phone through the ford sync usb connection using another music programme?

[danwheeler]

I'm not implying it is a Spotify problem, I'm just asking a question in a place where there is a chance that a knowledgeable Spotify and Windows phone user has found a way.

[Joe]

Seems I lost the plot along the way. Sorry 🙂