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Google Announces Nest WiFi

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Re: Google Announces Nest WiFi

#61

Post by TrueDuality »

beaner wrote: post #39

Anyone know why they changed it so that you now need a router + repeater, rather than every point being a router and repeater like Google Wifi was? That was much simpler - all units interchangeable. Cost reduction maybe?

Most likely it was cost reduction to meet competitors. The router needs to do more work handing packets than just store and forward (which is basically all the mesh nodes have to do with packets).

The D-Link Covr series and the Amplifi are probably the best direct competitors for this. Neither require a cloud subscription to work either. Both have "tri-band" which basically just means they actually have a dedicated radio to use as a backhaul (which this doesn't).

The Covr is ~$200 for 2 units and Amplifi is about ~$340 for three units so this is more expensive already than either of what I think of as its direct competitors. The only "feature" that this has the others don't is Google Assistant and in my book the lack of it is a win.

I've personally used the Covr mesh nodes and they're pretty solid and easy to use.

Re: Google Announces Nest WiFi

#62

Post by cbolton »

jasonvorhe wrote: post #53
cbolton wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What are you suggesting exactly? Presumably the buyers are happy to have a product with the described features, which include "Google Assistant", which answers to your voice.

That they are evil because they said speaker instead of device with a microphone.

Speaker is the standard term. Amazon describes the Echo Dot as a "Smart speaker with Alexa". And this is how Apple describes the HomePod:

"HomePod is a breakthrough speaker that adapts to its location and delivers high-fidelity audio wherever it’s playing. Together with Apple Music and Siri, it creates an entirely new way for you to discover and interact with music at home. And it can help you and your whole family with everyday tasks — and control your smart home — all with just your voice."

[1] https://www.amazon.com/Echo-Dot/dp/B07FZ8S74R

[2] https://www.apple.com/homepod/

Re: Google Announces Nest WiFi

#63

Post by NikolaeVarius »

mav3rick wrote: post #15
ve55 wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I thought it was funny they said "has a speaker with the Google Assistant" rather than "has a microphone listening to you for Google Assistant"

You can disable the microphone via a Hardware button.

A hardware button that presumably uses software to toggle the mic versus literally unplugging a cable to the mic.

Re: Google Announces Nest WiFi

#64

Post by toomuchtodo »

ljcn wrote: post #43
fjabre wrote: post #36

I detest the fact that Google bought Nest. Now I have the pleasure of logging into a convoluted Google UX instead of the familiar Nest UX. And here we have another intrusion of Google into our home. It's clear Google has no respect for anyone's privacy and is now a part of the problem.

Why did you migrate? I was given the option to but haven't (yet, nor been forced to).

I sold all of my Nest thermostats and moved to Ecobee.

Re: Google Announces Nest WiFi

#65

Post by tyingq »

jasonvorhe wrote: post #53
cbolton wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What are you suggesting exactly? Presumably the buyers are happy to have a product with the described features, which include "Google Assistant", which answers to your voice.

That they are evil because they said speaker instead of device with a microphone.

I wasn't commenting on "speaker" per se. Just observing what happens, a bit at a time, when an advertising company swallows a product company.

Also, just generally shared it in case skimmer types missed that.

Re: Google Announces Nest WiFi

#66

Post by rainyMammoth »

bpodgursky wrote: post #48
rainyMammoth wrote: post #14

Don't buy a Wifi router from Google. We all know that they are incentivized to collect data from you

"Don't buy consumer electronics from Google to help them build non-advertising revenue streams, we want to make sure that only DoubleClick is ever profitable."

So we should help a company that is known for gathering as much information on us getting into a different business line all the while giving them the benefit of the doubt that they will not spy on us with those devices ?

Those might be good devices but the downside is simply too dangerous to be ignored so .... Hell no.

Re: Google Announces Nest WiFi

#68

Post by disgruntledphd2 »

martin-adams wrote: post #41

I don't really have a lot of trust with Google to deliver a great consumer product in this area. I switched from Alexa to Google Home and just because I'm a GSuite customer, I have lost the ability to access my calendar or set reminders. It's like they just wanted to tick a few boxes to show a cool concept, then forgot to make a well rounded product out of it.

Honestly, I often get the impression that no Google PM's actually use their products. They look nice, but never work effectively.

Re: Google Announces Nest WiFi

#70

Post by jayd16 »

martin-adams wrote: post #41

I don't really have a lot of trust with Google to deliver a great consumer product in this area. I switched from Alexa to Google Home and just because I'm a GSuite customer, I have lost the ability to access my calendar or set reminders. It's like they just wanted to tick a few boxes to show a cool concept, then forgot to make a well rounded product out of it.

Using GSuite accounts for their consumer product is always really consistent. Consistently bad...
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