topic Re: Frozen stories gone? in Speakers and Displays

Frozen stories gone?

Pixel_Mike — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 05:25:23 GMT

It seems as though the Frozen stories told by Google (used to be able to say "hey Google, tell me a Frozen story") now it just says it doesn't understand. Has this been discontinued or is it an error specific to me?

Re: Frozen stories gone?

Muddi — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 06:08:31 GMT

Hey Pixel_Mike,

Welcome to the Google Nest Community Forum.

This Action has been retired and is no longer playable on Google Assistant. Although the decision was difficult to make, this allows us and our partners to focus on building new and more engaging experiences.

Thank you for your understanding, and thank you for sharing these adventures with us.

Cheers,

Muddi

Re: Frozen stories gone?

Pixel_Mike — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 09:21:49 GMT

First off thank you for your quick response! However I am very saddened by this decision. This action has been a part of the nightly routine in our home pretty much since it's inception. I really hope that the decision to reverse this change is made quickly.

This was a terrible idea.

Re: Frozen stories gone?

BenR — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 19:32:07 GMT

Hi Muddi,

I'll echo Mike by saying thank you for your response. I have listened to these stories every night with my daughter for 3 years. It has become an essential part of our nightly routine and is the reason we purchased a google mini for her room.

I know it's hard to complain about losing access to a "free" feature but I hope that the "you and your partners" understand that this decision has an outsized impact on a niche group of users. I struggle to see how taking down a few KB worth of audio data is "allowing" you to build more engaging experiences. If nothing else a little more transparency about what these "more engaging experiences" are going to be would be nice.

Also, in the future a little warning would be nice. Maybe for a few weeks add a message at the start of the cue that says "this feature will no longer be available in February". By just taking it down it left a lot of people confused (is this error specific to me?) and a little hurt.

I would also encourage you/whoever is in charge to reverse this decision if possible.

Cheers

Re: Frozen stories gone?

liquidblackuk — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 20:50:12 GMT

I'm not sure what I'm allowed to post here about other services someone has posted all the stories on a well known video platform so try searching there.

Re: Frozen stories gone?

Rmcroft — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 21:25:23 GMT

Please bring them back. My kids listen to them almost daily.

Re: Frozen stories gone?

BenR — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 21:38:34 GMT

Sure, but that is one copy-write claim from being gone. Plus, like OP said, that's not as accessible for young kids. Especially not right before bedtime when the lights are off and whatnot.

Re: Frozen stories gone?

flashyhurry — Sat, 12 Feb 2022 01:47:37 GMT

Yup, my 4-year-old is devastated by this. She listened nightly. A warning would have really been appreciated.

Re: Frozen stories gone?

GeoMattie — Sat, 12 Feb 2022 02:19:54 GMT

I'm relieved I was finally able to confirm that my 4-year-old's favorite nighttime routine isn't coming back.

A little warning would have gone a long way.

Re: Frozen stories gone?

AmyBeth — Sat, 12 Feb 2022 04:27:38 GMT

This is so sad. It’s a part of our nighttime routine and I was hoping the “I don’t understand” response was just a glitch. I’m sorry to find out it’s intentional.

Re: Frozen stories gone?

Whack-A-Bongo — Sat, 12 Feb 2022 22:09:04 GMT

So what are these “new and more engaging experiences” that have been developed as an alternative to Frozen Stories?

As others have said, our night time routine has been obliterated with no alternative offered.

If Frozen Stories has indeed been removed to allow for other features, what are they? If no answer is forthcoming, I call BS on that excuse.

Re: Frozen stories gone?

rmw14 — Sun, 13 Feb 2022 02:29:00 GMT

My nearly 5-year-old listened to the Google Home Frozen Stories frequently. We are also upset about their abrupt discontinuation.

Is there a comparable alternative?

Re: Frozen stories gone?

Livesk19 — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 02:09:04 GMT

We are in the same boat. My daughter is in tears as this has been a nightly routine for years.

Re: Frozen stories gone?

Ayeika — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 02:32:42 GMT

This is so sad that we parents didn't get a heads up my kids have been asking for it for days and I keep telling it'll be back(i thought it was a bug) Now I'm upset at how Google decided to handle this by doing it quietly and not warning us that make this part of our kids routines. So what are other options?

Re: Frozen stories gone?

Btoddstock — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 05:38:59 GMT

Disappointed to say the least! I call BS on the answer. Just say your agreement with Disney ran out. No way this prevents new and future improvement or services.

Re: Frozen stories gone?

Yknotlov3 — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 18:27:53 GMT

We were sad to hear that these stories are gone as well. My girls regularly listened to these stories while I prepared meals. I love the idea of a warning! Were there no analytics to measure how many of us were still using this feature? I would also like to know if there is a comparable substitute. Thanks!

Re: Frozen stories gone?

Feverfew — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 20:41:39 GMT

Yep my daughter gutted too. We were hoping it was a glitch. Please bring them back or replace with something similar! It’s been our bedtime treat for forever!!!

Re: Frozen stories gone?

twopenguins — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 22:03:04 GMT

My daughter and I are both really sad these are gone. They were a Sunday morning tradition. She would listen to a few of them and I would get to sleep for longer! She also liked to listen to them when she was ill. It would have been nice to have a warning that they were going. Having Google tell you a regular story is not as fun and actually some of the stories told are violent and scary (fairy tales often are, and I understand this but it doesn't help my 5-year-old, as she's scared of things like this) or the characters speak unkindly to each other. The Frozen stories were all lovely and far better quality than the Story Nory ones, for example. Is there any way you could bring the Frozen stories back?

Re: Frozen stories gone?

twopenguins — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 22:06:03 GMT

You can ask Google to tell you a story but the regular stories are not as engaging or lovely and some are scary or have rude characters I don't want my child copying.

Re: Frozen stories gone?

jasoncapone — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 01:33:31 GMT

Will just mirror all other parenteral responses, cutting this routine for kids particularly bedtime routine without heads up was brutal. Clearly a decision not made by a parent.