Alexa works exceptionally well with my Sony Bravia running AndroidTV. OK Google, barely at all. WTF?

by FoferJ

I have a 2016 Sony Bravia with AndroidTV and Alexa voice control. I also have a few Amazon Echos, and a Google Home Mini. I named the television “TV” to keep things simple.

“Alexa, turn on TV” works fine.

“Alexa, turn off TV” also works fine.

“OK Google, turn on TV” gets me this dumb response: “I also need to know which device to use. Try saying that again, and include the device’s name.”

“Okay Google, turn on YouTube on TV” works, but then after TV turns on, it starts playing music off YouTube. There appears to be no simple command to simply turn on the TV and take me to the home screen. This is stupid.

“Okay Google, turn off the TV” gets me “I couldn’t turn off the TV, check your device manual to make sure this command is possible” and sometimes “I also need to know which device to use. Try saying that again, and include the device’s name.” This is really, really stupid.

I can tell Alexa to mute the TV, change the volume, change inputs, play/pause/FF/rewind (which works on installed apps, including Kodi, my AppleTV by way of HDMI-CEC, as well as my DVR by way of IR blaster.)

OK Google can do none of these.

It seems absurd to me that Alexa works better with this AndroidTV than Google’s own voice assistant does.

publife

Same issues here with Google Home and Sony TV

TheCrowGrandfather

You need to go into the Google Home app and set the TV to be the minis default.

raptor75mlt

You cannot call it TV because it is a keyword in Google home. You need to name it something else, like Frank or Matilda

Mrxx99

Turn On/Off TV, and open Youtube on TV do work on my TV with google assistant on phone. Haven't tried more commands. I am supprised that they work because google assistant is for most things very limited in germany

richardmcnally

The required option on the Sony TV to activate Alexa skill isn’t available on all compatible TVs.

Possibly due to region

I’m in Ireland

Can anyone upload the app to Dropbox or anywhere so I can try side load it with ES Explorer?

I used an old APK found on a much older thread here but it’s not compatible now.

I have a Sony XD70 2016, so the TV is definitely technically compatible!

http://sony-eur-eu-en-web--eur.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/143558/~/control-your-android-tv-with-amazon-alexa-enabled-devices

Badshotuk72

Same here I thought getting a Google home would work best with my Sony android TV, turns out I should have gone down the Alexa route

anonymousreader101

Can you please clarify if you are using harmony hub and asking Alexa to control via that? For sure Alexa cannot control Android TV directly.

Alexa has native integration with harmony and may be even google assistant. Don't remember if harmony still supports native integration with google assistant yet? Basic harmony integration with google assist has been there for ages