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Nest, the company, died at Google I/O 2019

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Re: Nest, the company, died at Google I/O 2019

#351

Post by altec3 »

tonyb wrote: post #269
pjc50 wrote: post #190

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People aren't dismissing it because they don't have it, they're dismissing it because the UX is terrible, it's too high maintenance, and the future of any individual solution uncertain. In some ways it's like pre-iPhone mobile apps. They absolutely did exist, but were mostly too much hassle until they could be seamlessly downloaded from the App Store, sandboxed, and held to quality standards. We're still in the Symbi…

As a counterpoint, yet completely anecdotal, point of view, I've had none of the issues you describe. Once I install a Z-wave light switch and add it to my hub (a very simple process) there is virtually no maintenance. I rarely use the phone app to control things but I reliably get push notifications for things I want to know about (forgot to lock the front door, garage door being opened unexpected, door unlocked by…

I have a decent amount of smart home devices, and I too have had none of the issues described.

It seems most people in this thread talking about the issues with Smart Home stuff have never actually used any Smart Home stuff.

Re: Nest, the company, died at Google I/O 2019

#352

Post by xg15 »

la_barba wrote: post #346
TeMPOraL wrote: post #336

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> There are several IoT products with manual fallback options on the market. Name three. Also, "manual fallback" is a cop-out. When I want manual operations, I don't go looking for home automation. The "smart" features should be available without Internet. There's nothing technically difficult about this, but it isn't being done because of abusive business practices.

If you don't want an internet enabled device, then you are looking in the wrong place. The I in IoT stands for internet.

This is the crazy thing. IoT is actually advertising with a requirement, not a feature. Since when has "needs internet access to function" become a selling point?

Re: Nest, the company, died at Google I/O 2019

#353

Post by borvo »

mieseratte wrote: post #310
borvo wrote: post #306

The Nest thermostat is really great, a huge leap over crappy manual thermostats and the expensive "high tech" ones that others in the traditional industry have tried to create (bryant, looking at you). BUT when I purchased this, this is exactly what I was afraid of. I think this is a huge problem for the software industry in general: most companies don't last. As a customer you can't place your trust in them as they'…

> The Nest thermostat is really great, a huge leap over crappy manual thermostats In what regard? I've yet to run into a problem with my "crappy" thermostats.

I didn't mean to provoke anyway by saying "crappy" ;-)

What I notice is that the nest does a really great job managing the temperature in my house and keeping it comfortable. It just works and it became a default expectation. We had to go back to the old thermostat after an issue with our furnace, after which I started getting a ton of complaints from everybody about too cold/too hot. It's a great example of a technology that works really well.

Re: Nest, the company, died at Google I/O 2019

#354

Post by UncleMeat »

Gorbzel wrote: post #293
lallysingh wrote: post #203

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is pure FUD. I'm disappointed that it's got so many responses on HN instead of being down-voted in exchange for a better anti-IoT argument at the top instead. But hey, sure, let's go through this: - I don't care about some dude you saw on TV. A single anecdote means nothing. Even less when it's someone not representative of the population. - A strawman convenience is another terrible argument. Sometimes it matte…

Nope, your comment is just rationalization disguised as exasperated criticism. When a given product/technology just fundamentally doesn’t work, or even worse is a security nightmare, you don’t get to write it off as a risk that didn’t cost much. Especially since that last part isn’t true in most cases.

I'm frankly stunned that somebody could, with a straight face, turn to somebody else and say "No. You are wrong. That thing you like isn't actually worth it."

Re: Nest, the company, died at Google I/O 2019

#355

Post by UncleMeat »

matwood wrote: post #123
dustinmoris wrote: post #97

Smart people don't buy smart home devices. My relatively poor grandparents and my slightly less poor parents had a hard working life, but none of them had to sleep in a dark cold room because the switch to turn the lights on or the heating stopped working. Ever. This problem has been solved by other people many many years ago. Last month I watched a documentary where a billionaire was showing of his multi million man…

I mostly agree. Why do I need WIFI on my lights, coffee maker, or dishwasher? A thermostat is my personal exception though. Being able to program it on my phone is a huge UI improvement over prior thermostats. Also, being able to change it without getting out of bed in the middle of the night is a bonus.

An automatically turning on coffee maker synced to my alarm is awesome.

Re: Nest, the company, died at Google I/O 2019

#356

Post by asdff »

protomyth wrote: post #318
rconti wrote: post #278

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With a camera, there's a ~0% chance of anyone getting caught.

Depends where you are. I would agree in most cities, but in a lot of rural areas, Fred is going to get thrown in jail.

You think fred isn't going to just loot the next town over?

Re: Nest, the company, died at Google I/O 2019

#357

Post by asdff »

bradlys wrote: post #217
smbullet wrote: post #199

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not all of us live in safe neighborhoods like yourself.

It's not even a matter of "safe". I live in a neighborhood that is seen as very safe. Yet, we had a burglary two houses down not too long ago. And they happen frequently enough to myself. I've had plenty stolen. Without a camera, there's ~0% chance of anyone being caught. I ended up buying a camera for peace of mind and for checking in on my place to see who's entering my residence area. Sometimes it's genuinely help…

The idea that the police will take your webcam still and nail a suspect is pure yarn. Have you filed a police report when you were robbed? All the police will do is take your statement, maybe send a forensics crew to dust for prints in a day or two, and the buck stops there unless they happen upon your stuff in an unrelated incident. No manhunt is being started because your laptop was stolen.

The best piece of mind isn't a webcam and paranoia of people you don't recognize in your neighborhood, its a list of your valuables and appropriate renters/homeowners insurance to replace whatever might have been stolen.

Re: Nest, the company, died at Google I/O 2019

#358

Post by asdff »

giggles_giggles wrote: post #227
bradlys wrote: post #217

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not even a matter of "safe". I live in a neighborhood that is seen as very safe. Yet, we had a burglary two houses down not too long ago. And they happen frequently enough to myself. I've had plenty stolen. Without a camera, there's ~0% chance of anyone being caught. I ended up buying a camera for peace of mind and for checking in on my place to see who's entering my residence area. Sometimes it's genuinely help…

I'm just nervous about off-the-shelf "smart" cameras also sharing the feed with someone upstream who is not me

There used to be a subreddit full of unsecured webcam links. Sometimes you'd see babycams even, completely open to whoever crawled for the link.

Re: Nest, the company, died at Google I/O 2019

#359

Post by asdff »

JadeNB wrote: post #344
KoSS4U wrote: post #288

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess you also don't have a credit report after what happened to Equifax in 2017... In the meantime, for me my Vera works just great. Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Liberty.

> I guess you also don't have a credit report after what happened to Equifax in 2017... Not having IoT devices is an option. Not having a credit report isn't. (I don't just mean it in the sense that it's not practical; I mean it in the sense that, as far as I know, you can't stop this data from being compiled.)

Not having a credit report is an option. Just don't live in the U.S.

Re: Nest, the company, died at Google I/O 2019

#360

Post by asdff »

dfrage wrote: post #328
stephenr wrote: post #274

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Our dimmer switches (which are all slowly blowing out - maybe too much current? I don't know, I didn't install them) include this, but I've never seen it on other switches. Weirdly some wall outlets have a little clear plastic section that looks like it should have a light behind it... but nothing. Asked a local 'builder' (I won't say electrician, because that doesn't exist here) and he had no idea what it's for eith…

Interesting; neon bulbs have the advantage of working on (US) line voltage without anything else needed, sticking an LED in there requires more stuff. Both could have been squashed in the US market due to Federal energy regulations. Or that clear section could be for the GFI version of the outlet, the few years old one in my bathroom has a tiny clear window for a green light when it's not tripped.

Glow in the dark star stuck to the faceplate works about as well
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