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Google rolls out “If This Then That” support for its $200 OnHub router

arstechnica.com

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Re: Google rolls out “If This Then That” support for its $200 OnHub router

#131

Post by ceejayoz »

deelowe wrote: post #88
exhilaration wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well that and the Nest Smart Home hub they decided to kill off a few weeks ago: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11423411 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11435245

I keep saying this. People keep ignoring me, but it really does matter in this case. This only happened AFTER nest was no longer a Google property. To me the timing seems somewhat suspicious and I believe Nest pushed for more autonomy. They were never really integrated into Google proper. Their stuff runs on their on servers & software stack and their HQ isn't on the Google campus.

> This only happened AFTER nest was no longer a Google property.

Huh? Nest is still a Google property.

Re: Google rolls out “If This Then That” support for its $200 OnHub router

#132

Post by kyrra »

ProAm wrote: post #105
kyrra wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The opinions stated here are my own, not necessarily those of Google. If you are referring to Revolv, Nest/Revolv stopped selling the device the day Nest acquired them (Oct 2014), and they are also issuing refunds to anyone that contacts them[0]. The other major hardware cancel I know about was the Nexus Q which Google also provided a full refund for anyone that contacts them. Sure, Google could cancel it, but they s…

Who are you quoting there? I didn't say that.

I put it on comments I make that are google related. I probably should have put it as a footer instead of header to the post. I'll do that in the future to not confuse it as a quote (I didn't think about it that way when I did it)

Re: Google rolls out “If This Then That” support for its $200 OnHub router

#133

Post by delroth »

semi-extrinsic wrote: post #85
thrownaway2424 wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your N300 is not getting security updates, but my OnHub is.

Pray tell, security updates for what? My router has all WAN-side management features etc. turned off, WPS is turned off and it has a long random WPA passphrase. Unless someone breaks into my apartment, there just isn't a significant potential for security risks that I'm aware of.

Unless you also disable execution of Javascript on all the devices that connect to your network (including your phones, set-top boxes, etc.), these devices can be used to attack your router from the LAN. Just use Javascript to autosubmit a form with action="http://192.168.1.1/exploitable/endpoint/" (you can autodetect the IP, look for Javascript port scanners on Google) and you're in.

And before you say that DD-WRT is not $WEIRD_CHINESE_BRAND and obviously doesn't have such vulnerabilities on its HTTP interface that can be accessed without auth, see https://www.cvedetails.com/vulnerability-list/vendor_id-9341... for some real examples, including "getting root by sending an HTTP query that doesn't require any authentication".

In fact, for that remote root exploit, disabling Javascript execution wouldn't even help that much, because it can be triggered through e.g. on any HTML page you visit (with some guessing required for the IP address, but there are only so many IPs people commonly use for their gateway).

Re: Google rolls out “If This Then That” support for its $200 OnHub router

#134

Post by mikecb »

AdmiralAsshat wrote: post #72
cmrdporcupine wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The app also gives you insights into what's happening with your OnHub -- per device traffic sums, speed tests, alerts, etc. And we're constantly improving it. IMHO that's the real win with the OnHub; the router itself is constantly upgraded with up to date firmware with security updates and new features. And the mobile app that administrates it is constantly getting new features. Maybe I should transfer to marketing.

So, at the risk of sounding hostile, the article notes the following: Eight months later, the OnHub still doesn't support IPv6, and the USB port still can't be used for network storage. Bluetooth, Thread, and Weave support are all still dormant. IFTTT support is great, but shouldn't the priority for a $200 router be in delivering features that were promised from the get-go?

The PM has been very active on various forums talking to users about best ways to implement things like storage. IPv6 is enabled in beta channel (channel switching was accelerated after many users expressed desire for it), and is waiting on upstream stability fixes, which afaik they are submitting directly to the linux kernel. It will roll out when ready, not before. This is what I want from a piece of infrastructure.

Re: Google rolls out “If This Then That” support for its $200 OnHub router

#135

Post by mikecb »

Animats wrote: post #53

The remote update "feature" means this has a built-in backdoor into your local network. So you don't want to install this in a law office, anywhere that has to be HIPAA compliant, or any environment requiring security.

Yes, use juniper instead.

Re: Google rolls out “If This Then That” support for its $200 OnHub router

#136

Post by pgeorgi »

shiftpgdn wrote: post #52
awesomerobot wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The "can be shutoff at any moment" problem is a huge problem for just about all hardware startups these days. Such huge reliances on cloud services. It's ridiculous.

Yes but most hardware startups have a single product and will put their entire companies effort towards keeping things going. If Google gets bored with a project you can kiss it goodbye.

At least Google will likely still be around in 12 months.

Guess what hardware startups might do once they end up on http://ourincrediblejourney.tumblr.com/?

Re: Google rolls out “If This Then That” support for its $200 OnHub router

#137

Post by alphapapa »

narrowrail wrote: post #58
seanp2k2 wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Honestly Google's rep for discontinuing support for stuff is why I'm not interested in such a connected device. Will it continue getting updates after Google drops it in 0-5 years? Who knows. Will the open-source community be able to put OpenWRT on it or something to give it life after it can no longer receive firmware updates? Not sure. I do know that my current Ubiquiti and Apple network infrastructure devices will…

As an aside: I'm in the OpenWRT camp right now, and minimizing my exposure to large companies, but I find this constant drum beat about "Google shutting products down" to be tiring. It also derails from the topic at hand. I think it's great what they're doing with OnHub, and hope we can have iOS/Android apps for managing OpenWRT installs too. I wouldn't personally recommend buying one unless you can at least install…

Yes, it is tiring when Google does this. I'm so tired of it that I'm not willing to invest my time, data, or processes into new Google services or products.

If you are also tired of this drumbeat, please ask Google to stop beating the marching-products-to-their-doom drum.

Re: Google rolls out “If This Then That” support for its $200 OnHub router

#138

Post by deelowe »

ceejayoz wrote: post #131
deelowe wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I keep saying this. People keep ignoring me, but it really does matter in this case. This only happened AFTER nest was no longer a Google property. To me the timing seems somewhat suspicious and I believe Nest pushed for more autonomy. They were never really integrated into Google proper. Their stuff runs on their on servers & software stack and their HQ isn't on the Google campus.

> This only happened AFTER nest was no longer a Google property. Huh? Nest is still a Google property.

Nest is an Alphabet property: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nest_Labs

Re: Google rolls out “If This Then That” support for its $200 OnHub router

#139

Post by alphapapa »

potatolicious wrote: post #130
untog wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What reassurance does Apple give that Google do not?

I have an OnHub, but even then I'm a little wary of Google's track record when it comes to "sunsetting" products. There is no explicit foolproof assurance from either Apple or Google, but in Apple's case they haven't been known for introducing products and then dropping all support for it when it fails to live up to sales/strategic expectations. In fact Apple's modern track record is pretty impressive - the latest iO…

Wow, what kind of bias would lead this comment to be downvoted into grayness?

Re: Google rolls out “If This Then That” support for its $200 OnHub router

#140

Post by matwood »

untog wrote: post #14
rdegges wrote: post #3

OnHub is one of the best routers I've ever owned. I've been buying custom router hardware for years -- I even went as far as building my own OpenBSD / PFsense router way back when, but nothing I've ever built (or bought!) has given me the same reliability / stability / speed as the OnHub. I'm seriously impressed with it. Also: the OnHub management app for mobile is AMAZING. It is so cool. Awesome product. Really grea…

Curious: what do you do with the management app? I have an Apple Airport thing and had a similar experience - years of buying cheap routers then suddenly I had one that "just works". To the point that I haven't had to open/use the administration panel in an absolute age.

Same. I have an older Airport and it just works. I also have an express to extend the network and it also just works. I don't know the last time I had to use the management tool except to apply updates.
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