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OnHub

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Re: OnHub

#81

Just interesting to note that the form factor is quite similar to Amazon Echo (slim cylindrical tube), although the function is completely different (router vs "personal assistant device").

It has a speaker built in. So they'll have that with Google Cast Audio, Google Now, etc. I am pretty sure they have a taken a leaf or two out of Amazons book.

True, although the audio engineering on the Echo appears to have been quite purposeful. Not sure what kind of performance they'll get out of the speaker on this Google device. But the functionality may well be there, I agree.

Re: OnHub

#82
From the comments in this thread its pretty clear that most consumers probably don't understand QOS/prioritization. While most routers allow manual configuration if Google's router can automate this task this is a huge benefit. Imagine if you're using your network for wifi calls and others are just browsing the net. Your calls should clearly take priority over other traffic. The same goes for gaming etc. The hardware specs are incredible for a home router at this price point.

I'm really looking forward to the intelligence aspect and how much it can actually improve the overall network performance. The nice integrated app to share passwords and see who's on the network is just a nice to have feature.

edit: appears to be sold out on google store, and amazon is only selling the blue model

Re: OnHub

#83
post #31

Here in CH virtually everyone receives a modem/router combo for free from their provider (ie. they borrow it to you). They are also usually preconfigured - so you just need to plug them in. Is it the same in the US? I guess at a 199$ price point this will be a tough sell.

Here in Germany those offers are similar. And nearly everybody somewhat tech-savvy doesn't get or use them, because most of the time they are pretty crappy. 150€+ routers are a limited market though, I've mostly seen top fritzbox models that come with DECT phone support etc.

Re: OnHub

#84

Very interesting. From looking at the specs, it looks like they're packaging a server and marketing it as a router. The configuration app is a very nice touch, routers have always a pain to configure. I'd love to stick this in my apartment (even though I can only receive a maximum of 10mb/s). As a side note, I'm surprised this isn't marketed alongside the Nest branch. It really has the look and feel of Nest products…

"As a side note, I'm surprised this isn't marketed alongside the Nest branch. It really has the look and feel of Nest products with the LEDs and the speaker aesthetic. Also surprised this isn't an "Alphabet" product." It pretty much is... it's their way of sneaking the 'home automation' core/aggregation box into people's homes masked as a wireless router (for now). I'm sure the capability you mention will come headin…

> home automation' core/aggregation box

Deeper than that, even. It seems like this is intended as a local-network cloudlet[1] substrate.

Launch an app on your phone that needs a companion frontend server instance to talk to? One gets launched "in the cloud"—specifically, in a virtual cloud owned by the app author. But where is that instance, physically? Usually a provider like AWS... but with a cloudlet peering arrangement, that instance could instead end up running on your router. (Not as crazy as it sounds if your app has an N:M frontend-backend server topology.)

[1] https://github.com/cmusatyalab/elijah-cloudlet

Re: OnHub

#85
post #42
post #13

Hopefully this device actually has the CPU power to run QOS at more than 50mbps... the same can't be said of any other consumer router in the $200 price range.

Can you explain that? What's QOS, how much CPU does it take to run well, and why don't other expensive routers have the power for fast internet?

QOS is quality of service. It lets you prioritize certain traffic over others. So if I'm running BitTorrent but trying to watch Netflix, I can set up a QOS rule to prioritize Netflix over the BitTorrent. Netflix might only need 4Mbps but a torrent can take 100% of my connection. So I would set a QOS rule to make sure that Netflix gets what it needs then the torrent can have the rest.

Inspecting every packet as it runs through the network takes a lot of processing power. Many router manufacturers put just enough hardware in the box to handle fast connections, but not enough to handle complicated QOS rules on top of that.

Re: OnHub

#86

Just interesting to note that the form factor is quite similar to Amazon Echo (slim cylindrical tube), although the function is completely different (router vs "personal assistant device").

It has a speaker built in. So they'll have that with Google Cast Audio, Google Now, etc. I am pretty sure they have a taken a leaf or two out of Amazons book.

3W so.. probably not

Re: OnHub

#87
Why would anyone want this over the latest Asus AC1900 router? Asus' web interface is easy to use and their QoS is surprisingly good out of the box.

Also, Asus isn't going to spy on everything you do.

Re: OnHub

#88

Just interesting to note that the form factor is quite similar to Amazon Echo (slim cylindrical tube), although the function is completely different (router vs "personal assistant device").

A slim cylindrical tube is also a box for a whisky bottle. It's just a cylindrical tube...

Re: OnHub

#90

Interesting - but I'm not sure what this gives me over something in a similar price range, for example: http://www.amazon.com/RT-AC68U-Wireless-AC1900-Dual-Band-Gig... Presumably either you know something about routers and want to enable QoS, install your own firmware, or use some other advanced feature - and you spend money on a decent router. Or you don't, and use whatever your ISP provides (which if it's bad, you…

The AC68U is the perfect AP for the discerning user who enjoys going into the basement every two weeks to reboot things.
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