Tag: sony

Our 2023 Gift Guide Is Here To Make Holiday Shopping a Breeze

December is fast approaching, and along with listening to your favorite Spotify Holiday Singles,  it’s time to start shopping for gifts. With Spotify, listeners can stream music, podcasts, and audiobooks wherever they are, thanks to our integrations across 2,000+ devices. You could say we know a thing or two about products that make the listening experience even better. 

That’s why we turned to a few of our in-house experts—all members of the team that brings our integrations to life—for their top recommendations of the season. Whether your loved ones are looking for earbuds that can stream their favorite playlists with a single tap, a smartwatch that easily gives users access to their favorite audio from sunup to sundown, or a smart display that puts Spotify at the center of their connected homes, there’s something for everyone. 

Check out these gift ideas from several of our product-minded employees to help you get started:

Gale McFarlane

Global Partner Marketing Manager

The gift I’d give: Sony LinkBuds S x Olivia Rodrigo

Why it makes the perfect gift: The Sony LinkBuds S x Olivia Rodrigo headphones are my ultimate holiday gift pick because of one key feature: Spotify Tap. Once I pop these in, I can effortlessly dive into my favorite tunes with a single touch, which is super convenient when I’m running errands or on the train. Plus, the violet color adds a distinct pop to my outfits, so they’re more than just a pair of wireless earbuds—they’re a vibrant statement accessory.

Price Point: $179.99

Abby Stewart

Business Development Director

The gift I’d give: Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)

Why it makes the perfect gift: If I didn’t already have one, the gift that would top my list is Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen). It’s a must-have in the kitchen, and the way you can easily connect Spotify to your device is seamless. The HD touchscreen makes it easy to find the perfect playlist or podcast to start my day. The audio quality is top-notch and loud enough to be heard over the blender while making my morning smoothie. And because it’s Alexa-enabled, I can control my Spotify session hands-free with a simple voice command, a crucial feature when I’m rushing to get out the door.

Price Point: $149.99 

Priscilla Chan

Associate Director Business Development

The gift I’d give: Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro

Why it makes the perfect gift: Spotify is deeply embedded into a whole range of Samsung audio products, which enables music lovers like me to seamlessly connect to Spotify so that the music never stops. The Galaxy Buds2 Pro is enabled with Spotify Tap, and Spotify also comes preinstalled globally on all Galaxy devices, which makes the setup process even more seamless!  

Price Point: $229.99

Christopher Swanson

Product Manager

The gift I’d give: Google Pixel Watch 2

Why it makes the perfect gift: The Google Pixel Watch 2 blends tech and aesthetics in an innovative way, which makes it a joy to wear every day. Being featherlight and having a compact form factor make it a perfect gift for someone who hasn’t owned a smartwatch before. And thanks to Spotify’s integration with Wear OS, the Pixel Watch 2 works great as a universal remote for all your Spotify devices, or as a standalone player. Those looking for some true you time can leave their phone at home during their next walk and load up an audiobook on this tiny wonder.

Price Point: $349.99 (Bluetooth) / $399.99 (Cellular)

Marcus Ward

Global Partner Marketing Lead

The gift I’d give: Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer Smart Glasses

Why it makes the perfect gift: Among the various Spotify integrations, the marriage of Spotify Tap with Ray-Ban | Meta smart glasses are a gem. These smart glasses have become an irreplaceable companion in my day-to-day life, to capture and remain present in those moments hanging out with friends, navigating cities during work trips, or relaxing on the beach during family vacations. 

Price Point: Starting at $299.99

Nile Ravenell

Business Development Associate

The gift I’d give: Sony PlayStation 5

Why it makes the perfect gift: My two favorite after-work (and weekend) pastimes are listening to music and gaming, so it makes sense that one of my favorite Spotify integrations is the one on the PlayStation 5 console. As someone who gets endless entertainment from my PS5, from watching some of my favorite TV series to listening to Spotify’s Gaming hub, where I’ve discovered new tracks from some of my favorite games, it is the perfect gift for any gamer.

Alison White

Business Development Director

The gift I’d give: Google Nest Hub Smart Display

Why it makes the perfect gift: I love the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) smart display. It is perfect for kitchen counters so you can stream your favorite songs and playlists with a voice command, and even get recipes, check the weather, and more. 

Price Point: $99.99 

Looking for more great gift ideas? Discover all the best devices that integrate with Spotify over at our Connect Hub.

Spotify Everywhere Shows the Way We Soundtrack Everyday Life

If it feels as though there are thousands of ways you can listen to Spotify, you’re right. In fact, we’re available on more than 2,000 devices that fit Spotify seamlessly into your life when they’re coupled with our exciting and innovative features and integrations.

As a way to showcase the many places you can listen to Spotify, we’re hosting Spotify Everywhere this week in New York City. This immersive audio experience lets guests try out interactive demos, take part in sharable photo opportunities, and discover new features that will make listening to songs and podcasts even more enjoyable.

Curious what’s on display? Here’s a glimpse at all the current (and future) ways that Spotify integrates with your life.

Lounging about in the living room 

Upon arriving at Spotify Everywhere, our guests first visit our living room experience. It’s here they learn about how Spotify Connect turns Spotify into the ultimate remote control for a wide range of speakers from companies like Sony, Google, Sonos, Bose, Amazon, Roku, Ikea, Devialet, Marshall, Naim, Bang & Olufsen, and more.

We also have the Microsoft Xbox gaming station, which highlights Spotify’s custom integration with Microsoft’s console to let people listen to their favorite songs while playing the hottest new games.

But ultimately, low-key moments in the living room are also a great time to discover new music, and so we’ve been inviting guests to sit down in our listening nook and take a moment to learn about the upcoming redesign of our Home feed, which will make it even easier to discover personalized recommendations for music and podcasts in the app.

Now you’re cooking 

For the foodies out there, there’s no better place to hang out than the kitchen. That’s why we’ve made sure to show how our integration with the Samsung Bespoke Family Hub™ refrigerator means all their favorite songs, podcasts, and playlists are at their fingertips while grabbing a snack. Those curious enough to peek inside will also discover a few easter eggs we left behind that offer some choice playlist recommendations.

And since no kitchen experience is complete without a little cooking, it’s here where we invite guests to grab a snack and check out our recipe book, which offers step-by-step tutorials on how to use some of Spotify’s more handy features, like how to look up lyrics to a song or make collaborative playlists with friends

The kitchen also features the Blender Bar, which provides a series of scannable QR codes that let guests experience the joy of Spotify’s Blend playlists. Combining the best of Spotify’s personalization capabilities and collaborative playlist functionality into a single shared playlist, the Blend feature allows you to combine your tastes with up to 10 friends, or with some of your favorite artists, such as Lizzo.

Where the magic happens

Next up on the Spotify Everywhere tour is a stop in the bedroom, which is where guests experience one of our most unique and innovative integrations: Philips Hue + Spotify. Any song played on Spotify is magically synced with Philips Hue’s array of smart bulbs and lamps, and the result is a symphony of light that pulses, flashes, and changes colors in time with the music.

It’s here that guests can also learn how to use the Google Clock App and our Sleep Timer feature. So whether you want to wake up to the Morning Coffee playlist or doze off with the Sleep playlist, Spotify will help make sure you’re ready to take on the day.

Time to accessorize

Those visiting Spotify Everywhere also have a chance to plunder our closet, which is full of Spotify-branded swag such as shirts, bucket hats, and socks. And they can check out some of the latest and greatest wearables, like smartwatches from Fossil and Garmin as well as wireless earbuds from Sony that take advantage of our Spotify Tap integration. With a single press of a button, anyone using Spotify Tap–enabled earbuds can jump back into the most recent playlist or album they were listening to, and even pause the audio or skip tracks.

Ready for a road trip?

While a house might serve as the setting for Spotify Everywhere, there are so many other places where you can access your favorite songs and podcasts. And so guests can step outside to the driveway to see all the ways to listen to Spotify in the car.

With our personalized Your Daily Drive playlist, the dreaded morning commute will feel like a breeze. If you’re hitting the highways and adventuring somewhere new, our in-app integrations with Google Maps and Waze will help ensure that you never get lost. And if you have a stereo equipped with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, all you have to do is connect your phone via USB to activate the in-dash experience optimized for cars.

Step into the metaverse

Sure, you can listen to Spotify from the comfort of your home or while out in the world. But did you know you can also experience Spotify in the metaverse? Earlier this year, we launched Spotify Island on Roblox, where fans and artists from all over the world can hang out and explore a wonderland of sounds, quests, and exclusive merch. And to offer a taste of the metaverse IRL, we have a 360-degree photo booth to capture our Spotify Everywhere guests in a unique way.

Fun in the sun

To cap off the Spotify Everywhere experience, our guests can grab a drink and relax in our backyard while listening to a selection of chill tracks from our DJs, Brittany Sky and Vashtie.

And it’s a well-deserved rest because, as you can see, we have a lot to share at Spotify Everywhere. Whether you’re at home, on the go, or linked up with one of our many other partners such as Delta, Tinder, or Rivian, there is no shortage of ways to access all your favorite songs and podcasts on Spotify. And hopefully, you’ve also discovered a few new ways to get the most out of your Spotify experience. 

To learn more about Spotify Everywhere, check out our dedicated hub by clicking here.