On Tuesday, Google revealed its answer to the Smart Home market in the form of a Smart Home hub. Battle of the Smart Home Hubs:What's Out There and What's Next? Battle of the Smart Home Hubs:What's Out There and What's Next? Read More
Interestingly, OnHub has a dual purpose. It is a standard wireless router capable of meeting the latest 802.11 standards, but also supports modern home wireless protocols such as Bluetooth 4.0 and some of the most popular smart home networking protocols.
Whether this new router measures up to today's wireless routers offered by leaders like Linksys and Belkin remains to be seen, but it's one of the first all-in-one routers that let you connect just about any of the wireless devices you need. people use at home today.
Touted as a "new way of Wi-Fi," OnHub looks more like a networking device reminiscent of an Amazon Echo than a simple router.
It comes with a 1.4GHz dual-core CPU, 4GB of e-MMC flash memory, and 1GB of on-board DDR3L memory. It includes a single USB 3.0 port, a single LAN port, and a single WAN port, so it should clearly not be used as a wired router, its function is purely wireless.
Unlike most routers on the market today, which are more about function than looks, the OnHub was clearly designed to be aesthetically pleasing - the kind of unit a person can fit right into the corner of a desk or on a shelf, rather than under it. the basement.
To this end, there were features built into this device that make it more in line with something like the Amazon Echo. How the Amazon Echo can make your home a smart home. How the Amazon Echo can make your home a smart home. early days, but a new Amazon product called the "Echo" may help bring it into the mainstream. More information or similar wireless devices intended to serve more as a central control unit in the home rather than simply a wireless device to provide Internet connectivity.
The OnHub includes the following hardware:
Google explains on the OnHub website that the visual design of the router was meant to encourage people to place the router “Outdoors, whichever gives you the best signal.”
There isn't much stopping an owner from simply buying any other dual band router on the market and sticking it out in the open for a better signal. However, beyond its aesthetics, it is really the added smart home connectivity that is the main selling point of this new device.
Google offers a free Google On mobile app, which will guide you through connecting new smart home devices to your wireless network, as long as the device can communicate using one of the protocols that OnHub supports.
These include some of the most common smart home wireless protocols today, such as:
Because Google puts its weight behind these specific protocols, it could drive wider adoption of those protocols, or it could leave OnHub behind if some other protocol is still more widely adopted.
On the other hand, like Google's Chromebook OS, OnHub's system will automatically update itself with the latest features and security updates from Google, which means that if you own an OnHub, there could be additional features added later, for what is one of the most secure devices for the future Test your smart home for Apple HomeKit Compatibility Future check your smart home for Apple HomeKit Compatibility Read More
While the smart home industry What is a smart home? What is a smart home? We recently launched a Smart Home category on MakeUseOf, but what is a smart home? Enthusiasts in the network geek communities have applauded reading about other products, and widespread adoption of these technologies may not occur unless those technologies are more easily integrated into the wireless networks that people have already set up in their homes. ..
OnHub is the obvious common sense starting point for smart home products to go mainstream.
Pros: Lots of consumers looking at interesting smart home products while shopping, things like Philips Hue LED lights or smart plugs and switches. Which smart plug is right for you? Which smart plug is the best for you? Even if you're not into the whole smart home automation trend, you should still get some smart plugs. They are one of the easiest smart home products to use. Read More
However, if those same consumers can buy a single hub, like OnHub, and then monitor whether smart home products use those supported protocols, buy smart home products If these 4 things happen, every home will be a smart home if these 4 things happen, every home will be a smart home In just a few years, smart homes have entered mainstream consciousness. For the first time in a long time, smart homes have real mass-market promise. But there is still a long way to go. Read More Just one hub purchase could support a multitude of smart home products.
Cons: The flip side of this is that by concentrating on a single hub for all your smart home needs, you're also limited to only using smart home products that are compatible.
You can pre-order the OnHub at various retailers like Amazon or Walmart for about $200, with units shipping on August 31.
Do you see the advantage of owning a multi-protocol wireless router like OnHub? Or is trying to get homeowners to use smart home wireless protocols an exercise in futility? Are you planning to buy one? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
