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

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

#141

Post by deprave »

alphapapa wrote: post #139
potatolicious wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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?

A positive bias towards anything coming from Google. Just look at the number of Google employees on this thread...

The "let's see what sticks" approach might work well for software, especially the Google kind: ad-supported "free" cloud-based software services. Complaints trigger the knee-jerk reaction of "you never paid." It doesn't work for hardware, and I don't know why Google would risk its reputation for what must barely move the needle on their income statements.

Apple's approach of providing SDKs that work with their existing devices, thereby testing the waters and seeing what products get built, what consumers like, etc. before entering it themselves seems like a much more sensible move.

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

#142

Post by alphapapa »

dannyr wrote: post #66
georgehotelling wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My understanding is that OnHub routers are managed through a mobile app via Google's cloud. If Google end-of-lifed that service, owners would have no way to manage their routers.

The mobile app connects to the router directly not thru Google' cloud service. The only thing that probably relies on Google's service is their "Send Feedback" feature.

What if they remove the app from the Play Store? Then I have to download the apk from random web sites and trust that they aren't trojaned?

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

#143

Post by sethrin »

what_ever wrote: post #126
sethrin wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To clarify, when the power goes out, you are still able to get online? Otherwise it would seem like it would be somewhat pointless to have the networking equipment plugged into the UPS. I have worked online during a power outage using a cellular internet adapter, but obviously no UPS or router was involved there.

Power outages can be very local. So yes, you can use internet using UPS backup.

Have you actually experienced this? I can easily imagine that a given apartment/home could be out and the building/distribution point still be up, but anything less local than that would certainly take my connection offline. And I'd very much hope that my domicile wouldn't have such spotty power as to make me need to worry about having my router on a UPS. In places I've lived with spotty power (Central America) the whole town or island would typically go out. Are you describing a hypothetical situation or is this actually a thing?

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

#144

Post by eli »

deelowe wrote: post #138
ceejayoz wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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

That seems like an odd distinction. Isn't everything Google owns also owned by Alphabet? Is the consumer supposed to perceive a difference?

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

#145

Post by nitrogen »

Karunamon wrote: post #123
nitrogen wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nobody's worried about targeted state attacks, they're worried about dragnet state attacks.

...which don't seem to rely on vulnerabilities introduced via update mechanisms.

I don't think we can say that for sure. For one example, there was the Skype update that removed most peer-to-peer features and added interception abilities.

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

#146

Post by jethro_tell »

some-guy wrote: post #100
jethro_tell wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you have a router that does this or do you normally just turn of the 2.4Ghz band?

The OnHub router has one SSID, but two BSSIDs that account for each frequency band. Unfortunately, some devices (such as iPhones) cannot choose one over the other, so I have been turning off 2.4Ghz in this case.

You can't connect to the bssid with an iPhone?

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

#147

Post by [deleted] »

some-guy wrote: post #100
jethro_tell wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you have a router that does this or do you normally just turn of the 2.4Ghz band?

The OnHub router has one SSID, but two BSSIDs that account for each frequency band. Unfortunately, some devices (such as iPhones) cannot choose one over the other, so I have been turning off 2.4Ghz in this case.

[deleted]

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

#148

Post by jethro_tell »

randyrand wrote: post #109
jethro_tell wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would you put this in a business? I suppose the same argument holds for space stations prisons but we haven't brought that up. The lack of remote updates for any router probably also means that it has a back door. There's a pretty extensive list of home router vulns out there already. Being HIPAA compliant is not generally an indication of a well secured network.

You might run a home business

A home business that his HIPAA compliant?

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

#149

Post by ceejayoz »

deelowe wrote: post #138
ceejayoz wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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

That makes "This only happened AFTER nest was no longer a Google property" a totally meaningless semantic distinction, then, and leaves me confused as to the point you're trying to make with it. You don't suddenly have "a new boss" when they get married and change their name.

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

#150

Post by NickNameNick »

sethrin wrote: post #143
what_ever wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Power outages can be very local. So yes, you can use internet using UPS backup.

Have you actually experienced this? I can easily imagine that a given apartment/home could be out and the building/distribution point still be up, but anything less local than that would certainly take my connection offline. And I'd very much hope that my domicile wouldn't have such spotty power as to make me need to worry about having my router on a UPS. In places I've lived with spotty power (Central America) the w…

Historically where I live, power outages wouldn't affect the copper telephone network. At least not for reasonable durations cuts.

I don't have an analog phone anymore, so I don't know how true that still is, post recent network upgrades.

I have coworkers who used VOIP phones, and who kept their routers and wireless base stations on UPS. I'm not sure if that setup was ever tested in anger.

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