Geekzone: technology news, blogs, forums
Guest
Welcome Guest.
You haven't logged in yet. If you don't have an account you can register now.


View this topic in a long page with up to 500 replies per page Create new topic
1 | ... | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | ... | 25
JonnyCam
643 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

  #1890890 26-Oct-2017 17:06
Send private message

540trickzter:

 

Can anyone get GH to play Radio Sport on iheartradio?

 

I say "hey google, play radio sport on iheartradio" and then it says "ok playing radio sport on iheartradio".

 

But it's just silence.

 

NewstalkZB works, but not Radiosport.

 

 

Same here, Mine broke about the same time.

 

Before that, I had a while of playing radio sport extra instead of just radio sport.

 

Is yours still broken?




JonnyCam
643 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

  #1890891 26-Oct-2017 17:09
Send private message

Dingbatt: Got a Google Home in Oz last weekend. Harvey Norman had them on promotion with a $AUD50 gift voucher, which I cashed in straight away on a Chromecast Audio (also on promotion for $AUD47).
I had high hopes for the GH when I got it home because I have a Harmony Hub and some Wemo switches. Nothing but frustration awaited me. I recognised the limitation of having to set US English, but even then couldn't get things to work. Tried IFTTT but that also has been frustrating. No doubt I will get to grips with it eventually but at the moment the GH is just a handsfree version of my phone's Google Assistant and a pretty average Bluetooth speaker.
No, that's probably a little harsh. Once I have turned the TV on manually (such a drag) the GH will take commands to get something playing on YouTube on the Chromecast.
Not as much luck with the Chromecast Audio though. I thought I would be able to use YouTube Music with it, but no such luck unless you have a Red subscription. So Google Play Music then, nope, says I don't have a subscription, but I do have an uploaded library but GH didn't seem to recognise that.
I was looking at picking up some Phillips Hue lights because of some of the videos I had seen on YT. May hold off for a bit.

 

 

 

Once an NZ SmartThings hub is available, that will be the way.

 

I had the harmony hub, Wemo Switches, Wemo Bulbs all connected through the hub, which the GH was connected to. I could ask it to turn on the Watch TV, and it would run the Harmony macro. I had it changing channels, but they had to be set as favourites in the harmony app by name first

 

Got concerned about the ST hub due to the forum post here where it's broadcasting on an illegal NZ ban (US z-wave band) so decided to not use it. (I had originally disabled the zwave part of ST)

 

 


blakamin
4431 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user


  #1890987 26-Oct-2017 20:19
Send private message

JB Hifi not selling the mini in NZ?




  #1891020 26-Oct-2017 20:58
Send private message

blakamin:

 

JB Hifi not selling the mini in NZ?

 

 

nothing showing yet


blakamin
4431 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user


  #1891025 26-Oct-2017 21:27
Send private message

Jase2985:

 

blakamin:

 

JB Hifi not selling the mini in NZ?

 

 

nothing showing yet

 

 

Do they sell the regular Home?


Dingbatt
6741 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

  #1891113 27-Oct-2017 07:55
Send private message

blakamin:

Jase2985:


blakamin:


JB Hifi not selling the mini in NZ?



nothing showing yet



Do they sell the regular Home?



No. Not released in NZ (yet). Thats why I got mine in Oz.




“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996


jpwise
588 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

  #1891136 27-Oct-2017 08:54
Send private message

JonnyCam:

 

 

 

Once an NZ SmartThings hub is available, that will be the way.

 

I had the harmony hub, Wemo Switches, Wemo Bulbs all connected through the hub, which the GH was connected to. I could ask it to turn on the Watch TV, and it would run the Harmony macro. I had it changing channels, but they had to be set as favourites in the harmony app by name first

 

Got concerned about the ST hub due to the forum post here where it's broadcasting on an illegal NZ ban (US z-wave band) so decided to not use it. (I had originally disabled the zwave part of ST)

 

 

Likewise, would love Samsung to actually release the SmartThings Hub in NZ. I emailed them about it ~6 months ago, got a pretty non response.  Spec wise, if they could get release a AU/NZ version with local Z-Wave frequency it would be my pick for home control, especially tied together with the Google Home Support.

 

In the meantime I'm having to custom build with OpenHab2 and IFTTT control from Google Home.





Working for Service Plus - www.serviceplus.co.nz

Authorised Service Agent for Apple, BenQ, Sony, and Toshiba - warranty & non-warranty repairs.


 
 
 

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

xyf

xyf
300 posts

Ultimate Geek


  #1891155 27-Oct-2017 09:36
Send private message

So zwave is as screwy as wifi for frequencies? thats annoying


jpwise
588 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

  #1891163 27-Oct-2017 09:44
Send private message

xyf:

 

So zwave is as screwy as wifi for frequencies? thats annoying

 

 

Not screwy, just different frequencies licensed for use in different countries. 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z-Wave#Radio_frequencies

 

AU, NZ and Malaysia use the same frequency. 

 

It's getting a little off topic, but the SmartThings Hub looks like it would be an excellent centerpiece for an easy to set up and low maintenance solution. The Google Home Support making it even easier to work with from a family/usability perspective.

 

They just haven't released a version with NZ frequencies. :(





Working for Service Plus - www.serviceplus.co.nz

Authorised Service Agent for Apple, BenQ, Sony, and Toshiba - warranty & non-warranty repairs.


540trickzter
160 posts

Master Geek


  #1891182 27-Oct-2017 10:27
Send private message

JonnyCam:

 

540trickzter:

 

Can anyone get GH to play Radio Sport on iheartradio?

 

I say "hey google, play radio sport on iheartradio" and then it says "ok playing radio sport on iheartradio".

 

But it's just silence.

 

NewstalkZB works, but not Radiosport.

 

 

Same here, Mine broke about the same time.

 

Before that, I had a while of playing radio sport extra instead of just radio sport.

 

Is yours still broken?

 

 

 

 

It's not  broken. Just that RadioSport doesn't seem to play. Hopefully when GH gets officially released in NZ then these bugs will get resolved.


flynkiwi
152 posts

Master Geek


  #1891246 27-Oct-2017 11:10
Send private message

If you want to have some fun then Google Home has a new Halloween easter egg.

 

 

 

"Ok Google, lets get spooky"

 

 

 

If you have a Chromecast then turn your TV on before you say it as it play a video as well.

 

 

 

Another thing I discovered if you have a chromecast power it from a powerpoint and not the TV's jackpoint. You can then turn the TV on and off from Google home. I just say " Hey google, turn on the TV" and it uses the HDMI connection to turn it on/off.


xyf

xyf
300 posts

Ultimate Geek


  #1891251 27-Oct-2017 11:23
Send private message

Yeah i have been using that from google assistant with my mi box, only problem is when the mi box is asleep (when it i say turn the tv off) its somehow fully asleep and i still have to use the power button on the remote to turn the mi box back on


blakamin
4431 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user


  #1891499 27-Oct-2017 19:10
Send private message

Last I heard was SmartThings wasn't getting an Oz/NZ release.... 

 

 

 

Time will tell I suppose.


blakamin
4431 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user


  #1891502 27-Oct-2017 19:12
Send private message

Dingbatt:
blakamin:

 

Jase2985:

 

 

 

blakamin:

 

 

 

JB Hifi not selling the mini in NZ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

nothing showing yet

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do they sell the regular Home?

 



No. Not released in NZ (yet). Thats why I got mine in Oz.

 

 

 

That's stupid.

 

(sitting here listening to The Sound night vault on 1 GH and 1 mini)


Pumpedd
1759 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user


  #1892410 30-Oct-2017 09:23
Send private message

Google don't even release the Pixel Phone in NZ do they?


1 | ... | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | ... | 25
View this topic in a long page with up to 500 replies per page Create new topic





News and reviews »

Māori Artists Launch Design Collection with Cricut ahead of Matariki Day
Posted 15-Jun-2025 11:19


LG Launches Upgraded webOS Hub With Advanced AI
Posted 15-Jun-2025 11:13


One NZ Satellite IoT goes live for customers
Posted 15-Jun-2025 11:10


Bolt Launches in New Zealand
Posted 11-Jun-2025 00:00


Suunto Run Review
Posted 10-Jun-2025 10:44


Freeview Satellite TV Brings HD Viewing to More New Zealanders
Posted 5-Jun-2025 11:50


HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14-inch Review
Posted 3-Jun-2025 14:40


Flip Phones Are Back as HMD Reimagines an Iconic Style
Posted 30-May-2025 17:06


Hundreds of School Students Receive Laptops Through Spark Partnership With Quadrent's Green Lease
Posted 30-May-2025 16:57


AI Report Reveals Trust Is Key to Unlocking Its Potential in Aotearoa
Posted 30-May-2025 16:55


Galaxy Tab S10 FE Series Brings Intelligent Experiences to the Forefront with Premium, Versatile Design
Posted 30-May-2025 16:14


New OPPO Watch X2 Launches in New Zealand
Posted 29-May-2025 16:08


Synology Premiers a New Lineup of Advanced Data Management Solutions
Posted 29-May-2025 16:04


Dyson Launches Its Slimmest Vaccum Cleaner PencilVac
Posted 29-May-2025 15:50


OPPO Reno13 Pro 5G Review
Posted 29-May-2025 15:33









Geekzone Live »

Try automatic live updates from Geekzone directly in your browser, without refreshing the page, with Geekzone Live now.



Are you subscribed to our RSS feed? You can download the latest headlines and summaries from our stories directly to your computer or smartphone by using a feed reader.