App recommendation- TuneIn

I was devastated one evening when Google no-longer obeyed my command of “Ok Google, Play NFL radio”. Instead it would reply, saying that it was playing some random radio station (a series of numbers and nonsensical words), and then nothing! Absolutely nothing! I thought Google would eventually snap out of it – nup, like a disobedient child, Google kept repeating the same unwanted action! Noo! Bad Google! I tried turning the device on and off (that’s Tech-support 101), but still nothing! Noo! I tried rebooting Google home via the app after reading the Google Home help forums – to no success (At the risk of wiping-out all of my other Home settings). And I even went into the back-end of the app and found my voice recordings of me asking for ‘NFL radio on TuneIn’ and linked the voice command to the URL of the NFL channel on TuneIn (I really thought it would work this time), but still the error remained!!!! I was utterly defeated then. *Sad look*.

So I ultimately resorted in just downloading the TuneIn app to my phone, as much as I hate adding more apps to my otherwise minimalist home screen! And once the app downloaded, and I was able to search and find “NFL on TuneIn”, all was good, the equilibrium and routine to my life was restored! Or was it?

And inadvertently I’ve now enabled NFL radio where ever I go! Previously I was restricted to listening to NFL games in the lounge room, as that was where the Google Home is located. But now I can listen to the NFL channel (via Bluetooth speaker) in the bedroom, in the study, when having a shower, when on the go!….As it goes where you go (if your phone goes where you go).

And in addition to listening to the NFL, you can be recommended radio stations which are nearby (that’s not all that ground breaking, as it’s the same as your car/stereo’s radio), but it does introduce you to stations which you were previously unaware of – as when was the last time you surfed your AM & FM radio dials?

It also groups stations by Music, Sport or News, so you can find a station which interests you at that time. And most importantly, it gives you access to stations from around the world! This is great if you live in a ‘small market’ town or country.

And if you want a different platform to access podcasts, you have the option to listen to your favourite pods via the TuneIn app as well.

There are some downsides to the TuneIn app- as almost every second time you open the app you’re hit with a pop-up screen asking you to either rate the app on the Apple app store, or it’s pestering you if you want to upgrade to the paid version of TuneIn. Grrr!

And the app seems to use more battery power from your phone, compared to other streaming apps like Spotify or Audible. So much so, that after say half an hour of listening, my phone is always warm to the touch when I previously haven’t had this problem with those aforementioned apps.

And if you’re listening on the go, obviously the app is consuming your data reserves. So that is another downside of listening to the radio off your phone.

And in the end, listening to the radio off your phone isn’t revolutionary, as one of the earliest functions your old Nokia phone was able to perform (aside from phone calls and SMS) was the AM/FM radio function- so we’re talking about 2002 tech here. But what it does give you is access to international content, and an alternative when your Smart assistant refuses to do what it’s been commanded to do. *Headshake*.

The winners from this discovery is you, the listener! The biggest loser is Google Home; since discovering the TuneIn app, my usage of the Home is down 75%. And another unintended loser, has been my routines! I’ve been listening to less music, less podcasts and less audiobooks, as consuming NFL radio has now eaten into my previously regimented listening habits. D’oh! 

If you too want to discover what you can uncover on TuneIn, click HERE!