11–20 of 56 posts
As of right now you can only get this through a contractor. Seems like DOA if they keep it that way.
90% of thermostats are installed that way. Its really an enterprise business.
One reason I haven't started adding 'Smart Devices' to my home is that I am not confident that traditional device manufacturers are thinking about security like they should. Case in point, the Belkin WeMo vulnerability[1]. Does the convenience of adding these devices to your home make up for the fact that every one you add is a potential attack vector? 1: http://hackaday.com/2013/01/31/turning-the-belkin-wemo-into-..…
The internet of things is miserable from a security standpoint. The bottom line is even with a security-minded approach, we will always be behind the newest attack vector, and to make matters worse no one really takes a security minded approach.
Slightly off-topic, but this is why we shouldn't hook things like the power grid up to the internet. and i personally don't want my fridge, thermostat, and lights to be hackable
One reason I haven't started adding 'Smart Devices' to my home is that I am not confident that traditional device manufacturers are thinking about security like they should. Case in point, the Belkin WeMo vulnerability[1]. Does the convenience of adding these devices to your home make up for the fact that every one you add is a potential attack vector? 1: http://hackaday.com/2013/01/31/turning-the-belkin-wemo-into-..…
For example, there were many incidents in January [1] where houses with Nest thermostats malfunctioned in the middle of a serious cold snap. One reason was that the batteries went dead in some thermostats, but normally the battery shouldn't be needed in normal operation when it's wired properly. Guess what, it wasn't wired properly by the homeowner. There should be a built-in diagnosis for that.
Another reason was that Nest sent a firmware update to thermostats in early January--in the middle of a cold winter? Where was their risk assessment on that? Maybe there's little risk of frozen pipes in Palo Alto, but it's a major risk in the eastern and midwestern USA.
[1] http://techcrunch.com/2014/01/06/nest-4-0-firmware-battery-p...
One reason I haven't started adding 'Smart Devices' to my home is that I am not confident that traditional device manufacturers are thinking about security like they should. Case in point, the Belkin WeMo vulnerability[1]. Does the convenience of adding these devices to your home make up for the fact that every one you add is a potential attack vector? 1: http://hackaday.com/2013/01/31/turning-the-belkin-wemo-into-..…
I really don't like the idea of my home reporting everything to third parties. If I want access to things on my home LAN, it should be through my own VPN and not a third party.
As usual, the pricing is opaque. Click "Get Lyric" and it directs me to a list of "certified contractors." > The Lyric Thermostat is currently available exclusively through Honeywell certified contractors. It does say it will be available for self-installation "soon." However, so far this continues the long-standing tradition with HVAC companies.
Apparently they will be $279: http://time.com/2852103/honeywell-nest-thermostats/
Earlier quoted context omitted.
90% of thermostats are installed that way. Its really an enterprise business.
Assuming that figure is accurate, it's still missing context. 90% are installed that way right now . They do seem to be betting the vendor install channel will continue to be the dominant channel in the future, and that bet will likely play a large role in the success of the product.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Apparently they will be $279: http://time.com/2852103/honeywell-nest-thermostats/
But the front page says average yearly savings of $7. Yikes.
It looks like a poor man's version of a Nest except it costs $50 more and has to be purchased through a contractor. The distinguishing feature that they are touting (the geo-fencing capability) is not something I would even want. I don't want an app on my phone sending constant updates to Honeywell on exactly where I am located. This seems like an established company trying to play catch-up to an unanticipated change…