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Google Announces a Router: OnHub
An anonymous reader writes: Google has announced they're working with TP-LINK to build a new router they call OnHub. They say it's designed for the way we tend to use Wi-Fi in 2015, optimizing for streaming and sharing in a way that older routers don't. The router has a cylindrical design and comes with a simple, user-friendly mobile app. They say, "OnHub searches the airwaves and selects the best channel for the fastest connection. A unique antenna design and smart software keep working in the background, automatically adjusting OnHub to avoid interference and keep your network at peak performance. You can even prioritize a device, so that your most important activity — like streaming your favorite show — gets the fastest speed." The device will cost $200, it supports Bluetooth Smart Ready, Weave, and 802.15.4, and it will automatically apply firmware updates.
Well, they know your entire browsing history, regardless of cookies or adblock or anything else.
Put a proxy in & they can even MITM your https connections.
Now their data of you is worth a lot more to the advertisers. CPMs go way up. Google gets more $$.
Alphabet gets to show why they're good at running companies.
There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
Like with most things, there are pros and cons for this sort of thing. If you leave the automatic updates "OFF" by default, majority or users will not bother with updates on routers and when a vulnerability is discovered, crackers have a field day. By leaving them "ON" by default, but allowing concerned users to turn them off, perhaps you get to a reasonable medium.
It's an interesting concept, but I don't think I want to turn my router over to a company like Google or Facebook that makes their money Hoovering up every last bit of data they can get about me.
Help save the critically endangered Blue Iguana
Right, like I trust Google to be my router/firewall ... no way in hell I'd let Google be the gatekeeper for the internet in my house.
Because you can bet your ass they're going to get a lot more visibility into everything you do, and use it for their own purpose.
And I'm sure it will be remotely accessibly when law enforcement demands it and introduce several new security holes as it tries to be so easy to use it fails utterly. Mark my words, this will cause a lot of new problems.
I don't trust Google to do that at all. I use their services from a browser, but letting them be directly in charge of my network? No bloody way in hell.
Their "do no evil" pledge means less with every passing year.
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
I know this is the dumbest complaint about this device, but why circular? Why do these people design devices as if they'll be the only thing on our desks, shelves, whatever? There should be a new standard "desktop rack" that these devices can fit in.
Stupid sexy Flanders.
If you look at Chromecast, the vast majority of silent upgrades went smoothly.
If you look at Windows, the vast majority of automatic updates went smoothly. But "vast majority" for a very large user base still leaves a significant amount of users with problems. As has been discussed here many times.
Go buy a Cisco router and the WIFI HWIC modules for it. Granted, you'll spend 10x what that consumer-grade POS costs and you'll have to spend a considerable amount of time learning how to properly configure and secure it, but it will be reliable. And 802.11g.
I think the more relevant point the parent was trying to make here is the rest of that "consumer-grade POS" network hardware does not need to be rebooted on a regular basis, nor does it require a CCNA to set it up properly.
And with the usage profile of the average 4-person household, one should not have to spend 10x the cost to procure hardware rated for 24/7 use and load rated for hundreds of users in order to gain a modicum of reliability.
I get that technically-oriented people like those on Slashdot are opposed to automatic updates, but this product isn't targeting you. Most people are going to get their wifi router either from their ISP (where the ISP will manage updates) or something they bought at BestBuy and never touched again after they got it working. Most people will never go out of their way to update anything unless it's either done for them automatically or they're prompted to do so.
Wifi routers are absolutely a place where, for most people, security updates should happen automatically, because for most people, the alternative is for wifi routers to spend their entire lifetime running the same version they shipped with, whatever security updates that may entail.
What could possibly go wrong with updates automatically installing themselves?
Least ways on a device "owned" by the benevolent Google that is also the choke point where all / most of your home or business' network traffic passes through? Doesn't sound nefarious to me whatsoever.
Now pricing it at $200 considering the value of the data they'll be able to mine from it, that's just pure greed. Shamey shame Google.
Neither Chromecast nor a specific router needs to deal with infinite combinations of hardware (and drivers) of varying quality.
Sure. Need to run now. Must fix my car's automated injection system after spending all day creating special tools on the lathe. Stupid lazy people out there!
If you look at Chromecast, the vast majority of silent upgrades went smoothly.
This is small consolation to those who have their PC or router hammered by an update that doesn't work.
If they had some mechanism for a fail-safe recovery then I'd be much more inclined to agree with the "turn upgrades on by default" scenario, but it doesn't appear they have anything like that in place.
Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
> The instructions for performing maintainence of my heat pump assume foundational HVAC knowledge, too. ...
> But for some reason, computer/network gear, despite being many times more complex pieces of machinery, carry this expectation that a retard like your mom who can't even understand/remember/figure out clicking File and then Open should be able to fully understand them.
The expectation is that mom can adjust the thermostat, without needing to know the differences between various types of refrigerants. Similarly, the goal is that she should be able to look at pictures of the grandkids without configuring ipv6.
Because consumer routers are directly connected to the internet, with no firewall between the router and the net, regular updates are required these days. Mom should be able to use YouTube, and do so safely she needs regular updates on the router.
Nerds like you and I can turn off those updates, install open-wrt, or whatever we want. Just like you CAN install a hotrod intake manifold, but doing so shouldn't be required in order to drive.
What would be different from auto updating vs. everyone manually updating? You would most likely get the exact same outcome. Vast majority will go smooth but some would fail.