Hey, Spotify: music streaming giant tests new voice activation feature that lets users control the app hands-free
- Spotify is testing a ‘Hey Spotify’ feature that enables voice commands
- A test suggests the feature can only be used when the app is open
- It could pave the way for greater voice-activation in the future
Spotify wants users to be able to control its app hands-free.
According to reverse-engineering expert, Jane Manchun Wong, who frequently spots nascent features being trialed on platforms like Facebook or Twitter, the music streaming giant is currently working on a voice-activation feature that lets users control the app by uttering the phrase ‘Hey Spotify.’
On Twitter, Wong posted images of the feature, showing a button that can be toggled in the app next to a description that says ‘Hey Spotify’.
One major detail about the app laid out in Wong’s findings are that the feature will only be usable if the app is open in the foreground, meaning users will have to actively be using Spotfiy in order for the voice-activation to work.
Text accompanying the feature reads, ‘If enabled, Spotify will listen for Hey Spotify when the app is open on your screen.’
That caveat notably undercuts the usefulness of the feature, seeing as how most of a ‘Hey, Spotify’ feature’s appeal would be in actually summoning the app while it’s not in use.
Previously, Spotify required users to tap a microphone button in the app interface to activate voice commands – an obstacle that likely deterred many users from ever using them in the first place.
The new voice activation, despite being fairly restricted, does open the possibility that Spotfiy could expand or adapt the feature in the future.
Throughout the past year, Spotfiy has gained greater functionality due to integration with Apple’s Siri. Namely iOS users can now change songs, pause, and play on Spotify using Siri voice commands.
Spotify has also plowed ahead with other new features, including a test of one that displays real-time lyrics across the app as you listen to a song.
Spotify has been testing several new features throughout the past several months, including a stories feature that aims to bring in influencers and a karaoke feature that displays real-time lyrics (stock)
The feature, which is currently only being tested on Android devices, was noticed by a user with beta 8.5.46.848 and is only currently available to some.
A swipable bar appears underneath the app’s normal play/pause interface and can be slid upward to expand lyrics into full-screen.
Android Police reported that the lyrics aren’t currently available on all songs and are provided through the streaming giant’s prior partner, Musicxmatch.
