MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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Would anyone with a Google Home Hub or Mini be kind enough to ask it to "play Virgin Radio"?
Mine have started refusing to do it, and while I agree that Chris Evans can be divisive I don't think it's for my smart speakers to be making this decision.
Thought I'd check here though before whining to Virgin Radio since I'm aware that Google often breaks individual groups of items on a regular basis.
Thanks!
Just tried it on my phone and it's "not available or can't be played right now"
It had changed to "Play Virgin Radio UK" but now (well from about 3 days ago) even that doesn't work. The only solution I've found so far is to cast from the TuneIn app on my phone.
Mine has been doing it for a few weeks now. I did some googling this morning and it appears to be a problem at tuneins end. Both Virgin Radio and Google are aware of it.
Another work around is to ask it to play virgin radio chilled/anthems. Apparently these stations still work and also play the Chris Evans breakfast show.
Thank you. Have been casting it through TuneIn but glad to know it's not just me.
Wonder who Virgin Radio has upset at Google?
You can also access Virgin Radio UK, Virgin Radio Anthems, Virgin Radio Chilled and Virgin Radio Groove via TuneIn and Radioplayer on Google Home or the Amazon Echo too. Just say 'OK Google, play Virgin Radio UK' or whichever station you would like. If it can't find it, say 'OK Google, play Virgin Radio UK/Chilled/Anthems/Groove on Radioplayer' or TuneIn.
Just tried "Play Virgin radio UK on TuneIn" and it worked, on my phone, I'm not at hoime so can't test it on the hub.
On my Google Hub:
"Play Virgin radio UK on TuneIn" doesnt work
"Play Virgin radio on TuneIn" doesnt work
"Play Virgin radio Chilled on TuneIn" DOES work.
"Play Virgin radio Anthems on TuneIn" DOES work.
""Play Virgin radio Groove on TuneIn" doesnt work.
"radio player" doesnt work for any command.
Just tested: “Play Virgin radio on TuneIn”
Google: "OK, Here's Virgin Radio Romania on TuneIn"
Europop it is.
RM.
ive recently invested a lot in these things. (total of 6 speakers a hub and other bits) and agree its not so smart.
although unfortunately i cant try it till i get home.
"Ok Google"
"Play virgin radio"
Worked fine just now for me on home mini, though I have had a few fails over the last couple of weeks, but trying again a minute later seems to work.
most of my issues come from the hub and not the speakers. I also notice the google home is more "dumb" than the minis or max speakers
Download the virgin radio app on the device you used to set up the google home.
Should work then.
Why this need to ask a ‘smart’ speaker to do something that can very easily be done by, lets just say, turning on a radio? It’s what I do, and it works very successfully.
Why this need to ask a ‘smart’ speaker to do something that can very easily be done by, lets just say, turning on a radio? It’s what I do, and it works very successfully.
No DAB coverage here and Virgin Radio not broadcast on FM.
Do you still have your old CRT TV? I mean, there're no analogue signals any more but by your own argument that's no excuse.
Why this need to ask a ‘smart’ speaker to do something that can very easily be done by, lets just say, turning on a radio? It’s what I do, and it works very successfully.
I'm with you on that. Wytf would anyone want that.
No DAB coverage here and Virgin Radio not broadcast on FM.
Do you still have your old CRT TV? I mean, there’re no analogue signals any more but by your own argument that’s no excuse.
Presumably you have some sort of internet connection... Just stream it?
Rise of the Robots.
Presumably you have some sort of internet connection… Just stream it?
You mean by using some sort of internet connected device like a smart speaker?
Why this need to ask a ‘smart’ speaker to do something that can very easily be done by, lets just say, turning on a radio? It’s what I do, and it works very successfully.
This is assuming that one owned an actual radio to walk over to and turn on - I think a large number of people do not.
This is assuming that one owned an actual radio to walk over to and turn on – I think a large number of people do not.
Quite the contrary, I’d have thunk that most households in the U.K. would have a radio, if not several, whereas ’smart’ speakers must be far fewer in number.
Some friends have them, and I can’t say I’m impressed, they always have to repeat the requests, ‘cos it never seems to understand clear English.
If I’m going to use any form of ‘smart’ speaker, it’ll be one that uses an app for control, not me shouting at the bloody thing.
You can talk to or use apps to play radio with a google home.
I must be in the minority as I dont have a radio. Or a cd player. Or a DVD player (not counting ps4)
Have a smart tv, Have 7 google home devices. Good stuff.
tried it on mine at the weekend.
Couldn't play virgin radio.
Dont know if this is a good or a bad thing.
Some friends have them, and I can’t say I’m impressed, they always have to repeat the requests, ‘cos it never seems to understand clear English.
That's not been my experience and I have the thickest of Weegie / Lanarkshire accents, an accent that is notoriously difficult for speech recognition software to understand.
I have both the Amazon and Google versions and they've never once misunderstood me yet.
Try asked it for Radio nan Gàidheal. I get something different every time. Google doesn't understand Gaelic.
But other than that, usually seems to work quite well.