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Get radio broadcasts on Alexa, Siri and Google Home
Since the 1950s, when television became a mainstream presence in American homes, people have been saying, “radio is dead.” That couldn’t be further from the truth.
We listen to radio in the car, in the shower, at the beach, while we’re cleaning house. Think about it: Radio is one of the most portable free media resources we have. Not only that, but it’s the best place to get local content, like news, weather, traffic and information about events. And, of course, The Kim Komando Show.
With more than 400 radio stations carrying The Kim Komando Show every week, we kinda know what we’re talking about.
Did you know if you have a smart home assistant, you can stream radio through your Apple HomePod, Amazon Echo, or Google Voice?
Best apps for listening to radio on your home assistant
What’s great about listening to radio on your devices is if you move away from your hometown, you can still hear familiar voices from your favorite radio stations and stay connected with what’s happening there. You’ll find several apps in the Apple and Google Play stores that work well with your smart devices as well as your Alexa, Siri and Google Home devices.
iHeart Radio
The iHeartRadio app for music, radio and podcasts is free, and it works with iPhone, Android, Fire and Windows devices. Yes, it plays nicely with Alexa, Siri and Google Home.
It also works with a number of smart-connected-car technologies, such as Chevy’s MyLink and Mercedes-Benz’ mbrace Connect. Look for the app in iTunes or Google Play, and follow the step-by-step instructions for activating it on your device.
TuneIn
This app is free and has premium ad-free options. It’s great if you want to hear local sports, and you will also find music, news and podcasts on TuneIn.
It offers access to more than 120,000 radio stations around the world. And, yes, it works with Amazon, Sonos, Siri and Google Home. Same deal here as with iHeartRadio: Find it wherever you get apps, and follow the instructions for downloading and setting up the app.
Alexa skills
Your Alexa device has skills for listening to radio. You can tell it to activate your iHeartRadio or TuneIn app, but a lot of radio stations stream their content as well.
For example, you can tell Alexa, “Alexa, stream KTAR live,” and she’ll play the Phoenix-based radio station for you right from Komando’s home town. Alexa has lots of untapped skills for helping you enjoy your favorite radio and television programming.
Siri apps
Siri’s abilities, as we know, are a little lagging behind Alexa’s. We reported earlier this year that Siri’s engineering team is looking to improve her abilities, so until then, your best bet is to download a free radio app, control it through your iPhone or iPad and connect through AirPlay to your Apple Homepod.
Listen to The Kim Komando Show online, anytime
Kim has a special offer for readers of this week’s digital life hack tip: Get 25% off your annual Kim’s Club membership. What does that have to do with free radio? Well, members of Kim’s Club get perks that no one else gets:
- Watch her show live online, as it’s recorded.
- Enjoy behind-the-scenes stories and banter between Kim and the Komando staff.
- Listen to all three hours of the radio show anytime, anywhere.
Go to club.komando.com and use code kim2019 for 25% off the annual membership of $29.99.
One more thing: Komando on Demand podcasts
Kim’s weekly Komando on Demand podcast features highlights from the radio show. Listen to Komando on Demand anywhere you get podcasts: iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Pandora, and Google Play.
Tags: Amazon, Apple, Apple iPhone, Google
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