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Google Announces Nest WiFi

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Re: Google Announces Nest WiFi

#71

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.

Which part do you doubt: the assistant or the wifi? I never use the assistant stuff but the wifi is great.

Gsuite accounts never work right with every product google launches, often get features late or never. Many google products have _never_ become available for gsuite accounts.

Re: Google Announces Nest WiFi

#72
post #16
post #3

So does this mean my Google Wifi router isn’t getting any new updates, or...?

Isn't it getting incredibly slow updates anyway? I mean, examining the release notes[1] suggests that there's not been an update since June, and there was a 1 year gap between the last two updates. So: Google behaving according to form, really. [1]: https://support.google.com/wifi/answer/9378012?hl=en&ref_top...

I'm not seeing the 1-year gap? I'm pretty sure where it says "January 2018" is a typo, was actually 2019.

Re: Google Announces Nest WiFi

#74
post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 w…

Three wrongs do not make a right.

Re: Google Announces Nest WiFi

#75
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 feel like 'evil' is a pretty strong adjective to use here when talking about the wording in a press release.

Re: Google Announces Nest WiFi

#76
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 r…

AmpliFi does not have dedicated backhaul.

Re: Google Announces Nest WiFi

#77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I know that during the design of the original Pixel laptop, things like physically powering down and disabling the camera, rather than doing it in firmware was important to the team at Google. I wonder if they have maintained that vigilance.

Re: Google Announces Nest WiFi

#78
post #51

I got a single Google WiFi router (home is small enough to not need the mesh) last year to pretty terrible results. I mainly got it for more frequent firmware updates, and easy administration via their phone app (easier to use then my Netgear Nighthawk; i.e. can show my wife how to use it). Everything worked great with it for the first few months, but then I started getting severe speed drops - specifically I was see…

I have a Nighthawk and think the mobile app is pretty simple/useful. I'm curious, what was it the Google offering had that the Netgear didn't offer / do well?

for me when I got google wifi, it was:

- Mesh

- "Simple" objects (They blend in to my house)

- "Security"

Re: Google Announces Nest WiFi

#79
post #21

I like my routers dumb and without a speaker and microphone.

Yea, I don't like all-in-one Router/Switch/WAP/Gateway devices anymore either. All of those functions are separate devices at my house. Now the only one of those things that's a PITA to replace is the Router.

Re: Google Announces Nest WiFi

#80

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.

I use Google Home with a 'normal' Google account and have my GSuite calendar events synchronize via Zapier.
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