Richard's Tech Reviews

downloading an iOS update over cellular data

Apple finally, in iOS 16 (16.1 at least) allows downloading updates over cellular data.  Previously you were forced to connect to wifi (or to an Internet-connected computer) in order to update.

It's straightforward, if you're not on wifi it will just ask if you want to do the update using cellular data.

(This is only advisable if you have a considerable data plan, and a fast data plan.)

If you're wondering why one might do this, it might be because you're a never-wifi person who wants to keep the iOS device off of your secure wifi network, or just because you're traveling, or because your cellular data is way better than the current wifi connection.

NOTE: Apple always (re)enables Wifi and Bluetooth after an iOS update.  Always.  So even if you're trying to stay off of wifi, you'll have to go in and manually disable Wifi and/or Bluetooth again after every update.

Setting a sleep timer for radio on Sonos with Google Assistant

If you want to use Google Assistant to set a sleep timer in Canada on a Sonos (as of Nov 10, 2022) while playing radio (e.g. a TuneIn station)...

"Hey Google, set a sleep timer for twenty minutes"

It won't work.  It will say:

Sleep timers can only be set when media is playing.

Even though media is in fact actually playing.

This is a known issue that has been outstanding now for three years.

https://en.community.sonos.com/google-assistant-and-sonos-229109/sleep-timer-doesn-t-work-with-google-assistant-6825551

Playing BBC Radio 4 on Sonos with Google Assistant in Canada

If you want to use Google Assistant to play BBC Radio 4 in Canada on a Sonos (as of Nov 10, 2022)...

"Hey Google, play BBC Radio 4"

It won't work.  It will play BBC Radio 4 Extra (a completely different channel) from TuneIn.

You might say, well, maybe it's a problem with TuneIn, I'll get Google Assistant to play it from Sonos Radio.

It won't work.  Google Assistant can't play anything from Sonos Radio.

You might say, well fine, I'll use Sonos Voice Control for this edge case.

You must disable Google Assistant for Sonos Voice Control to work (inexplicably, since clearly the system should be able to route requests for "Hey Google" and "Hey Sonos" to different targets).  So unless you want to disable Google Assistant, it won't work.

This may seem like an edge case, but it's an outstanding request that hasn't been resolved for a year.  See for example this extensive thread:

https://en.community.sonos.com/google%2Dassistant%2Dand%2Dsonos%2D229109/radio%2D4%2Dvoice%2Dcommand%2Dstopped%2Dworking%2D6859212?postid=16541128#post16541128

NOTE: This has nothing to do with BBC Sounds, that's a UK-specific issue.

BBC Radio 4 is absolutely on TuneIn in Canada.  It is also on Sonos Radio, for whatever use that is.