Don't trust Google at all. It's just a matter of time before we find out that Google's been snooping on your network usage in order to target you with more "meaningful" ads.
They've patched the Stagefright bug on my old Nexus 4 quite quickly. The problem starts when companies that don't take security seriously get in the way.
Even if it was true would not you rather prefer meaningful ads to the meaningless ones? With ads being such a huge part of Google business I am pretty sure they are making everything possible to keep your private data safe because if something nefarious were to happen to your data their entire business would have collapsed.
This is the same old stale reply to basically everything google does. Are there any enlightened responses from seemingly IT minded people who aren't channeling a grumpy 55 year old clinging to their XP Start Menus and the word meaningful in scare quotes?
As it should be, considering what we know about the NSA and Google's own behavior like exploiting bugs in a browser to persist cookies even against the users wishes.
I like the idea, but I'd need some kind of guarantee that they're not mining all my traffic and device connections.
Also, make a cheap version ($50) with lower performance that I can recommend to all the "not computer people" I know. I'm less concerned with anyone mining their data, since they pretty much aren't either.
So... it does all of the things any modern router already does, but in a pretty cylinder for a considerable price premium? And you have to manage it with an "app"?
It's not just a wireless router it's also looks to be a smart hub or at least a future update will add that since it has a thread/zigbee radio it also has one gigabit lan port so you can run a cable to switch hidden elsewhere. This should be a Nest Product....
i'm with you on this why would I buy this over say a Netgear AC1900 R7000 Nighthawk Smart WiFi Router which I can pickup for $175 and surely is better than this thing.
I got myself a 3x3 D-Link DIR-880L AC 1900 on special for $129.99 and as others have stated, you can get just as good - if not better - products from Netgear or TP-Link as well for less than this cylindrical behemoth.
No mention of Z-Wave or ZigBee protocols either, so you'd probably have to pickup another dedicated home automation hub anyway. Seems overpriced and stupid.
It's running an OS based on Chrome OS. There are some bootloader differences that will have to be worked out, but aside from that the hardware is standard Qualcomm-Atheros stuff that OpenWRT and DDWRT have supported for years.
Not going to buy a WiFi router from an Advertising company, Google should sell these for $0 as they will earn money from all the data mining and profiling.
I like the idea of a simple router, but the price is way to high for people who want a simple router. People who don't understand how to go through a five minute set-up process through a web-browser aren't going to spend $200 on a router. They're going to buy the $50 router that gets them on the internet just as well.
The home automation support is interesting, but hardly a mainstream feature.
I had the exact same thoughts, how would I explain to my mom this router is worth $200! That's crazy. For a power user like myself, I won't care what it's running, I'll just wipe it and put DDWRT or anything else for that matter.
To the Techies who have responded with "people who don't know about computers will buy a $50 router" You are making a very obvious mistake. GOOGLE is an ADVERTISING GIANT. So take 200 million people a day who know very little about pc's and show them something simple. Bam. Sold.
I think a better choice would be one of the similar wifi-speed Asus routers, like the RT-AC68U. The Asus routers offer tons of options out the box, and are fully supported by DD-WRT.
So if I buy a $200 AC router from Apple/Netgear/ASUS and have a defective unit I can swap it same day at the store I bought it from. Home internet outage is a rather serious problem these days considering working at home, streaming for all entertainment, etc.
What am I supposed to do if that happens with this one?
Would it have killed them to add a few more LAN ports and make it a real router?
Anyway, what I am actually curious is the OS and programs it will run and what can OpenWRT et al "borrow" from it. Maybe finally an NTFS driver with adequate performance for a change? Can't wait for it to get rooted.
4GB storage? TPM chipset for home router? doesn't sound like the same term of wifi router. and I am curious 3x3 antena how to works with the reflector, 360 degree + directional signal? make me eager to see a real one ASAP.
TP-LINK wireless routers have the best value IMO. They get even better with DD-WRT. This one is kinda expensive though but if you need speed, you gotta dig in your pocket a little deeper. I have 2 TP-LINK TL-WR1043ND ($45 each currenrly on Newegg) with DD-WRT, 1 for the main and 1 for wireless client bridge. They've been running flawlessly for over a year now. I had 1 TP-LINK before that with stock firmware and it ran with no hic ups for 4 straight years. This sorta reminds me of the old days with Linksys, Netgear, D-Link routers and a boat load of problems along with them.
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SpaceRanger - Tuesday, August 18, 2015 - link
Don't trust Google at all. It's just a matter of time before we find out that Google's been snooping on your network usage in order to target you with more "meaningful" ads.r3loaded - Tuesday, August 18, 2015 - link
On the flip side, they'll be much quicker at releasing firmware patches for security vulnerabilities compared to your typical router manufacturer.SpartanJet - Tuesday, August 18, 2015 - link
Yes just like its quick to release patches for ALL versions of Android when a vulnerability is found....oh wait....tipoo - Tuesday, August 18, 2015 - link
Except this is a single piece of hardware with no carriers in the way.Shadow7037932 - Tuesday, August 18, 2015 - link
It was fixed it in AOSP very quickly. The problem is OEMs and carriers are slow as shit to push it out to the masses.r3loaded - Tuesday, August 18, 2015 - link
They've patched the Stagefright bug on my old Nexus 4 quite quickly. The problem starts when companies that don't take security seriously get in the way.lilo777 - Tuesday, August 18, 2015 - link
Even if it was true would not you rather prefer meaningful ads to the meaningless ones? With ads being such a huge part of Google business I am pretty sure they are making everything possible to keep your private data safe because if something nefarious were to happen to your data their entire business would have collapsed.nils_ - Monday, September 7, 2015 - link
That almost never happens.quidpro - Tuesday, August 18, 2015 - link
This is the same old stale reply to basically everything google does. Are there any enlightened responses from seemingly IT minded people who aren't channeling a grumpy 55 year old clinging to their XP Start Menus and the word meaningful in scare quotes?kaidenshi - Wednesday, August 19, 2015 - link
Careful, your bias is showing. Don't want to be too obvious there.steven75 - Wednesday, August 19, 2015 - link
As it should be, considering what we know about the NSA and Google's own behavior like exploiting bugs in a browser to persist cookies even against the users wishes.icrf - Tuesday, August 18, 2015 - link
I like the idea, but I'd need some kind of guarantee that they're not mining all my traffic and device connections.Also, make a cheap version ($50) with lower performance that I can recommend to all the "not computer people" I know. I'm less concerned with anyone mining their data, since they pretty much aren't either.
docbones - Tuesday, August 18, 2015 - link
No MU-MIMO support?Mushkins - Tuesday, August 18, 2015 - link
So... it does all of the things any modern router already does, but in a pretty cylinder for a considerable price premium? And you have to manage it with an "app"?No thanks.
SunLord - Tuesday, August 18, 2015 - link
It's not just a wireless router it's also looks to be a smart hub or at least a future update will add that since it has a thread/zigbee radio it also has one gigabit lan port so you can run a cable to switch hidden elsewhere. This should be a Nest Product....Makaveli - Tuesday, August 18, 2015 - link
i'm with you on this why would I buy this over say a Netgear AC1900 R7000 Nighthawk Smart WiFi Router which I can pickup for $175 and surely is better than this thing.This Guy - Friday, August 21, 2015 - link
Because of the Bluetooth Smart, Google Brillo/Weave, and IEEE 802.15.4 radio.SpartyOn - Tuesday, August 18, 2015 - link
I got myself a 3x3 D-Link DIR-880L AC 1900 on special for $129.99 and as others have stated, you can get just as good - if not better - products from Netgear or TP-Link as well for less than this cylindrical behemoth.No mention of Z-Wave or ZigBee protocols either, so you'd probably have to pickup another dedicated home automation hub anyway. Seems overpriced and stupid.
SpartyOn - Tuesday, August 18, 2015 - link
Nevermind, I guess Zigbee *is* IEEE 802.15.4 protocol. So at least it has that going for it.Brazos - Tuesday, August 18, 2015 - link
I've already ordered my 3 pack Erro router.https://www.eero.com/
Scabies - Tuesday, August 18, 2015 - link
Oh, hey, Google FiShadow7037932 - Tuesday, August 18, 2015 - link
Will it support DD-WRT? If not, no way would I buy that.Billy Tallis - Tuesday, August 18, 2015 - link
It's running an OS based on Chrome OS. There are some bootloader differences that will have to be worked out, but aside from that the hardware is standard Qualcomm-Atheros stuff that OpenWRT and DDWRT have supported for years.BMNify - Tuesday, August 18, 2015 - link
Not going to buy a WiFi router from an Advertising company, Google should sell these for $0 as they will earn money from all the data mining and profiling.cfenton - Tuesday, August 18, 2015 - link
I like the idea of a simple router, but the price is way to high for people who want a simple router. People who don't understand how to go through a five minute set-up process through a web-browser aren't going to spend $200 on a router. They're going to buy the $50 router that gets them on the internet just as well.The home automation support is interesting, but hardly a mainstream feature.
webdoctors - Wednesday, August 19, 2015 - link
I had the exact same thoughts, how would I explain to my mom this router is worth $200! That's crazy. For a power user like myself, I won't care what it's running, I'll just wipe it and put DDWRT or anything else for that matter.wolf5963 - Wednesday, August 19, 2015 - link
To the Techies who have responded with "people who don't know about computers will buy a $50 router" You are making a very obvious mistake. GOOGLE is an ADVERTISING GIANT. So take 200 million people a day who know very little about pc's and show them something simple. Bam. Sold.PrinceGaz - Wednesday, August 19, 2015 - link
I think a better choice would be one of the similar wifi-speed Asus routers, like the RT-AC68U. The Asus routers offer tons of options out the box, and are fully supported by DD-WRT.steven75 - Wednesday, August 19, 2015 - link
So if I buy a $200 AC router from Apple/Netgear/ASUS and have a defective unit I can swap it same day at the store I bought it from. Home internet outage is a rather serious problem these days considering working at home, streaming for all entertainment, etc.What am I supposed to do if that happens with this one?
Visual - Thursday, August 20, 2015 - link
Would it have killed them to add a few more LAN ports and make it a real router?Anyway, what I am actually curious is the OS and programs it will run and what can OpenWRT et al "borrow" from it. Maybe finally an NTFS driver with adequate performance for a change? Can't wait for it to get rooted.
leetecit - Thursday, August 20, 2015 - link
4GB storage? TPM chipset for home router? doesn't sound like the same term of wifi router. and I am curious 3x3 antena how to works with the reflector, 360 degree + directional signal? make me eager to see a real one ASAP.sonny73n - Friday, August 21, 2015 - link
TP-LINK wireless routers have the best value IMO. They get even better with DD-WRT. This one is kinda expensive though but if you need speed, you gotta dig in your pocket a little deeper. I have 2 TP-LINK TL-WR1043ND ($45 each currenrly on Newegg) with DD-WRT, 1 for the main and 1 for wireless client bridge. They've been running flawlessly for over a year now. I had 1 TP-LINK before that with stock firmware and it ran with no hic ups for 4 straight years. This sorta reminds me of the old days with Linksys, Netgear, D-Link routers and a boat load of problems along with them.