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Google Is Turning Off the Works-with-Nest API

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Re: Google Is Turning Off the Works-with-Nest API

#261

Post by Svip »

modzu wrote: post #100
DivisionSol wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been considering pasting this: https://killedbygoogle.com/ every time the argument comes up. Maybe Google proponents will make one for other companies notorious for killing services, but at least for now, the Google Graveyard grows.

that site is a bit disingenuous -- it doesn't distinguish between projects that were merely upgraded/renamed/deprecated for good reason for example, "secure google search" was "killed" but all this means is that instead of having to type "secure.google.com" to use encryption, google made HTTPS the default... there are lots of legitimate examples so such exaggerations seem unneccessary

Odd. I can't find "secure google search" on the website. Are you confusing it with "Encrypted Search", that allowed you to search anonymously?

Re: Google Is Turning Off the Works-with-Nest API

#262

Post by diogenescynic »

gordon_freeman wrote: post #13
bhhaskin wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Another reminder to never buy a "smart" device. At the end of the day they are pretty dumb.

I have Wemo smart plugs that I have plugged in all sorts of stuff like Heater, Lamps, and TV, etc connected to my Google Home and Home Mini. And I'd advise anyone to think twice before buying smart plugs or smart devices. There are so many bugs creating so many complications that I feel they are not worth using. You'd need to reconnect them with WEMO app time and again, restart these frequently if they just stop work…

I have Wemo smart plugs connected to AppleHome and have no issues.

Re: Google Is Turning Off the Works-with-Nest API

#263

Post by cthalupa »

ars wrote: post #24

This makes it seem like you would have to use the "Works with Google Assistant" API's instead? i.e. rather than completely not available, there's a new platform? Don't know about either API to know if that's the case, but it's what the page implies?

It's a significantly smaller subset of APIs leaving you with far less control.

Re: Google Is Turning Off the Works-with-Nest API

#264

Post by josteink »

gordon_freeman wrote: post #13
bhhaskin wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Another reminder to never buy a "smart" device. At the end of the day they are pretty dumb.

I have Wemo smart plugs that I have plugged in all sorts of stuff like Heater, Lamps, and TV, etc connected to my Google Home and Home Mini. And I'd advise anyone to think twice before buying smart plugs or smart devices. There are so many bugs creating so many complications that I feel they are not worth using. You'd need to reconnect them with WEMO app time and again, restart these frequently if they just stop work…

> And I'd advise anyone to think twice before buying smart plugs or smart devices.

Not all smart devices are created alike. Research your purchases.

So far the one I’ve been most happy with is IKEA Trådfri.

It costs roughly half of the comparable Phillips hue offering, but still delivers on any aspect I care about.

Works 100% locally, uses standard Zigbee (non-WiFi) networking. No cloud required.

Supports HomeKit, Alexa, google assistant, not to mention Home Assistant.

More importantly, it supports other vendor’s Zigbee devices (like Hue) and supports working with other Zigbee controllers than IKEA’s own.

Also certified non-shit by kernel-hacker Matthew Garret[1].

Nobody can shut me out of this purchase. This is actually my hardware.

[1] https://mjg59.dreamwidth.org/47803.html

Re: Google Is Turning Off the Works-with-Nest API

#265

Post by modzu »

Svip wrote: post #261
modzu wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

that site is a bit disingenuous -- it doesn't distinguish between projects that were merely upgraded/renamed/deprecated for good reason for example, "secure google search" was "killed" but all this means is that instead of having to type "secure.google.com" to use encryption, google made HTTPS the default... there are lots of legitimate examples so such exaggerations seem unneccessary

Odd. I can't find "secure google search" on the website. Are you confusing it with "Encrypted Search", that allowed you to search anonymously?

see that's what i mean; "encrypted search" is on the list, which is referencing this:

https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/7631341?hl=en

and does not have anything more to do with "anonymous" searching

Re: Google Is Turning Off the Works-with-Nest API

#266

Post by cf498 »

bunderbunder wrote: post #157
cortesoft wrote: post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't quite get what people expect... do they think that once google creates something, they are obligated to continue it indefinitely? That seems like an unreasonable expectation.

No company is, and expecting any company to continue spending money on maintaining a service even if they've decided it isn't profitable is pollyannaish. To that end, I'm not sure I see the value in framing this specifically as a Google thing. Google is maybe the most visible because of how many products it has, and how popular many of them are. But really, this sort of thing is a problem that's inherent to any IoT d…

I expect a company to continue a service for the foreseeable future (lets say the normal duration of the warranty on the product) if it is necessary to use a product i just bought. Otherwise I expect a refund or it feels very much like fraud to me. Legislators should get involved here sooner then later.

Re: Google Is Turning Off the Works-with-Nest API

#267

Post by cthalupa »

lwhalen wrote: post #117
andrewtbham wrote: post #61

Anyone know a good replacement for a nest cam?

Ubiquiti is great. They make cloud integration easy if you want it, or self hosted as well.

I have thousands of dollars of Ubiquiti gear in my house, but I opted for Ring cameras instead.

Primarily because, even though I have plenty of storage space for an NVR, I don't want to rely on thieves not stealing the thing if they break in, thus leaving me with no footage. It would be easy enough to constantly back the data up to a different location, I suppose, but not something I wanted to bother with.

They also integrate pretty well with the Ring alarm system, and the $10/mo I pay for monitoring alarm service for burglary and smoke/co2 detectors I have also covers the storage cost for multiple cameras, etc.

I just picked up a smart lock that will supposedly get additional integration later this year, and be able to disarm the alarm system automatically when it's unlocked. (This functionality already exists for some other smart lock options)

Re: Google Is Turning Off the Works-with-Nest API

#268

Post by cthalupa »

asdfasgasdgasdg wrote: post #145

Questions I won't get answers to, but about which I'm curious anyway: 1. How many end-users are affected? 2. How many devs are affected? 3. What is the annual transaction volume that is affected? Depending on the magnitude of the answers to these questions, I can see turning this API off being either a good thing or a bad thing. If hundreds of users are affected, well. Sad, but sometimes unpopular things get turned o…

This is the API that Alexa integration works through, so I imagine it is a pretty large number.

Re: Google Is Turning Off the Works-with-Nest API

#269

Post by [deleted] »

cortesoft wrote: post #136
DivisionSol wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been considering pasting this: https://killedbygoogle.com/ every time the argument comes up. Maybe Google proponents will make one for other companies notorious for killing services, but at least for now, the Google Graveyard grows.

I don't quite get what people expect... do they think that once google creates something, they are obligated to continue it indefinitely? That seems like an unreasonable expectation.

[deleted]

Re: Google Is Turning Off the Works-with-Nest API

#270

Post by glangdale »

cortesoft wrote: post #136
DivisionSol wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been considering pasting this: https://killedbygoogle.com/ every time the argument comes up. Maybe Google proponents will make one for other companies notorious for killing services, but at least for now, the Google Graveyard grows.

I don't quite get what people expect... do they think that once google creates something, they are obligated to continue it indefinitely? That seems like an unreasonable expectation.

The fact that there is a Google Graveyard does not imply that someone thought that every service that Google creates should last indefinitely. I view it more as a useful reminder of how frequently Google does this - a good idea if you're about to make something Google does part of your workflow or habits.

There are also some products in there that were killed in a fashion that seemed capricious and difficult-to-explain in terms of popularity, usage and continued cost to Google - notably Reader and Code Search.

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