instructions
Setting up the Toniebox: This is how the device plays audio books and music
A child-friendly radio play box has replaced the classic radio play cassette
© Anastasiia Boriagina / Getty Images
Whether Benjamin Blümchen or The Three Question Marks, Bibi Blockberg or Pettson and Findus: radio plays have always been a popular means of entertaining children. However, these are no longer played via the cassette recorder, but via a Toniebox. You can find out how to set up the device here.
It looks like a cube with ears and has been enjoying increasing popularity since 2016: The Toniebox was developed to play both radio plays and music. To do this, however, you do not need cassettes or CDs, all you need is an Internet connection. If the device is connected to the network, it only needs to be put into operation. For this you need special characters, the so-called Tonies – they activate the desired song or radio play by simply placing them on the box. Sounds easy, it is. How to set up the device is summarized in the following instructions.
Step 1: Charge the Toniebox
If you have a Toniebox hold it in your hands for the first time, you may be surprised at the lack of an on / off switch. But don’t worry, the device is very easy to use – but first it has to be charged: Take the charging station supplied, connect it to the power supply and then place the cube on it. As soon as the LED light glows green, the Toniebox is fully charged (after about three hours) and can be used. When the battery is empty again, the LED display lights up orange. However, it is better if you only recharge the device when it reports to you by itself and asks for a power source. This means that the battery lasts longer. And another tip: while the Toniebox is charging, it can be set up and activated.
Step 2: Set up the Toniebox
Before you can actively use the Toniebox, the device must be activated. To do this, you must first register (free of charge) on the manufacturer’s website and create a personal account. Proceed as follows:
- Open the website in a browser
- Fill out all mandatory fields
- Click on the button “Register now”
You will then receive an email with a confirmation link to activate your Toniecloud account. For this you need a Tonie identification number, which is on the underside of your box. Once your account has been successfully activated, you can set up and configure the Toniebox on the website (for example, the maximum volume and the accelerometer). You can also use the audio library and feed the creative Tonies with new content.
Step 3: Connect the Toniebox to WiFi
Now it’s a matter of connecting the Toniebox to the Internet – because setting up the audio player doesn’t work without WiFi. The best thing to do is to place the cube near your router so that it can find the signal more quickly. Once the box is connected to the WLAN, it does not matter later where you place it for playback. Now log into your account again (if you should have logged out) and proceed as follows:
- Press both ears on the Toniebox for five seconds until the LED light starts to flash blue – and you hear a beep.
- After about 20 seconds the LED display will stop flashing and you will hear a second beep.
- Take your mobile device that you used to register online and wait for your WiFi connection to appear.
- Connect your device to the Toniebox network and wait for the menu to prompt you to couple the Tonie network to the WLAN.
- Enter your WLAN password and then click on the “Connect Toniebox” button.
- When the cube is activated, it greets you with the words: “Oh yes, now I’m ready for the Tonies! Have fun!”
4th step: Activate the Tonie figures
After you have activated your account and successfully set up the Toniebox, the listening fun can begin. In order for the cube to play the desired audio signal, you need a Tonie figure. Here you can choose between many different models: Whether audio book classics like “Benjamin Blümchen” or “The Three Question Marks”, popular children’s books like “The Little Prince” or “Robber Hoztenplotz”, Disney favorites like “The Jungle Book” or “Bambi” “- the choice is huge. To get a radio play to work, all you (or your child) needs to do is place the Tonie figure on the box. And the story goes on. When it is over, the device switches itself off after ten minutes. Unless you put a new figure on it.
And another important note: Once the figure has been loaded onto the Toniebox via the WLAN connection, the stories can be listened to on the go (for example in the car) even without an internet connection.
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