What Do Google, Sony, and Volvo Have in Common?

It is not often I get to share something either vaguely funny, or slightly infuriating, depending on your point of view, but Volvo’s Google OS experience didn’t go quite as we’d hoped.

Electric CX40 Recharge

The story begins with taking possession of a shiny new Electric CX40 Recharge.

Normally that would be the beginning of a week’s driving, and a normal old review.

I felt buoyant, because I had struggled with the Subaru infotainment system over a fortnight (WRX and BRZ), and I hoped the Electric CX40 Recharge would be a walk in the park. I was wrong. But, it wasn’t the car, but the Google sign-in which caused angst of epic proportions.

You see, you need both a google and Volvo account to get the most out of the operating system. The problem comes, as it always does, with passwords. Long passwords are wonderfully secure, but when typing on anything but a conventional keyboard, can drive a man to drink. Speaking of which, it is now 4pm on Sunday, so cocktail hour. I’m going an hour early in protest.

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ABOVE: 2022 Electric CX40 Recharge.

Google Sign in

I, like many people, have several Google accounts. Many of them are redundant accounts used for various purposes over the years.

I sat in my driveway, ready to enter the password, finger poised over the virtual screen on the XC40’s centre console. The tension built to a thrilling non-crescendo. Then it all went tits-up.

First, the front seat of a car it isn’t the easiest place to type something complex, especially if it has special symbols. After many goes, I gave up. Despite looking up the saved password in a “locker”, I continued to enter the incorrect combination. I was ready to pull my hair out after the 10^th go. Thankfully the account doesn’t appear to lock you out after 3 failed attempts.

I decided to change the password, beginning a string of events that took 48hours to fix.

Google account interconnection is astounding, and resetting the password can bring unwanted side effects..

By pure coincidence, my Sony TV has a Google OS on the same account. The Sony had been freezing in some apps, and in true Help Desk tradition, I was advised to reset the TV to factory. Logging in requires a mix of phone app and TV keyboard manipulation. To make matters worse, on-screen TV keyboards are even worse than those in a car.

Changing the password had logged the TV out, but as I was resetting it, I wasn’t worried. When it came time to log in, again, my sausage fingers failed me. Once again, I changed the password, which then logged the car out. It also disconnected my Google Nest Hub, and all of the Google home automation.

Once signed in, the TV had become an orphaned device in the Google Home app, refusing to be controlled. The only way around it was to add it to my Sony account, then link the Sony and Google accounts.

After a day of drinking incontinently, I managed to hook everything back up, except the car.

Google and the Electric CX40 Recharge

After previously giving the Google OS such a glowing tribute, I thought signing back in would take a jiff, but again 10 attempts failed to sign in.

I did what all men do, I went to the pub.

Somehow that cleared the mind and the next sign in was successful. Not only that, I got in to the Volvo Account first go.

Charging the Electric CX40 Recharge

I decided later in the day to complete the shopping needed for “week 3” in the FlyBuys Points Quest. I’d explain what that means, but I’d lapse into a soporific stupor while trying. Suffice to say that a drive to the local shops got my shopping done, and a FREE charge from 78% to 98%.

Moral of the Story

If you can’t follow instructions, go to the website and get video help.

There were proper instructions for the Nest Hub, Google TV and Electric CX40 Recharge. I’d have saved ever so much time had I done that in the first instance.

It would be nicer if the processes were simple enough not to require it, but that’s the price we pay for modern convenience.

I can now control the Sony TV, and home lighting, and car ficntions, from the Volvo XC40 Electric Google Assistant. The last time I did this, my partner at home watching TV, no idea what was going on. I tested commands such as “goodnight”, turn on all lights” and “turn TV Off”, from the car, 25km away.

Watch for the Electric CX40 Recharge Review to follow.

Tags: 2022 Electric CX40 Recharge, gay volvo, google auto OS, google home nest, ev reviews,

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