Not impressed with past few Google products

[pete6032]

I've bought/considered a few Google products in the last year or so and they have mostly been "meh" or disappointing. I first bought a Google Nest smoke detector. It works great but even though it is a Google product, I cannot control the smoke detector using the Google Home app. I had to download and install the Nest app to control it. The Nest app does NOT control my Nest thermostat. Google Home controls my Nest thermostat. Not a big deal in the long run but you'd think a Google home product would use the Google Home app. I was also in the market for a mesh Wi-Fi system. Was interested in Google Nest Wi-Fi but the last iteration of that was released in 2019 so now the specs are very outdated compared to what you get with similarly priced systems, so I went with the Amazon Eero. Also bought a Chromecast with Google TV recently and that's been OK. Voice search works well and setup was very easy but some of the apps do not work well and crash the device. Chromecast with Google TV was released in 2020 so its' getting long in the tooth in terms of performance, and only comes with 8 GB of storage. I mostly bought it to replace my old Chromecast, which was lagging with casting.

I know Google products have never been as well done as competitors, and often feel more experimental than purposeful, but these recent purchases make me wonder whether Google is getting to big to do things well. Rather than doing some things excellently, they are just putting a lot of mediocre stuff out there now with limited effort to be competitive (limited product support, slow refresh cycles, non-competitive pricing). Anyone else feel this way?

 

[Red Squirrel]

All of those products are designed with one purpose in mind and it's to spy on you. They are the closest thing to a traditional trojan horse. "ohh shiny! Let it inside the house".

I'd scrap all of that and replace with Arduino and Raspberry Pi based stuff that is controlled via a web interface that's local to your network. It will also last longer since you're not at the mercy of planned obsolescence. Anything that requires an app will stop working as soon as you get a new phone and they stop updating the app or it gets pulled off the play/apple store for any reason. Or if they take down their servers. At that point it's basically a paperweight. I hate this trend of making everything app and internet/account based, because of that.

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

Do not help the Goog in their mission to assimilate into the collective.

 

[Captante]

Aside from the well-known privacy risks, the biggest problem with Google services is that they cannot be relied upon to even exist long-term.

 

[Torn Mind]

Google sells things based on its matrix algorithm service being so good. That's a marketing halo effect.

It's Nest camera is a good offering because of 24/7 recording.

But a hint of the "culture" there can be seen in their original Pixel phones. They're not really into quality that much. I would say Microsoft made better phones that ticked all the boxes.

 

[MrSquished]

Google Hardware is totally hit or miss. They simply don't invest in it as much as they should like they do with their main revenue sources. When it's good it's great. When it's mediocre it's not a great experience. Some Pixel phones have been great, some not so much. I do like the Nest doorbell more than the Ring I had, though the installation was designed poorly, but once you get it in it's ok. I got the $99 nest thermostat for free with a rebate from my utility company. It's not perfect but it's quite good. Both are controlled via the Home app and are in the pull down menu on my Pixel so it's quite nice.

Have zero interest in getting anything else Google besides seeing the reviews of the Pixel 7. No google assistant speaker, no cameras, nothing of that sort. Nothing that can record me doing anything. They can know my temperature settings and all they can see is who rings my doorbell if they do actually take that. Nothing that is of me doing stuff in my private residence or property.

 

[deadlyapp]

I have a single Google home Puck but it's intelligence is far far less than Alexa and regularly loses Bluetooth connection to an external speaker. I got it for free, only reason why I have it.

 

[repoman0]

my Pixel

no cameras, nothing of that sort. Nothing that can record me doing anything.

Does not compute

 

[MrSquished]

Does not compute

Every phone has a camera and a mic. It's not a Google thing, have you noticed? I'm talking about specific devices that are meant to always listen to you and video record you. Whether Alexa or the Siri speaker or the Google puck, none are for me

 

[repoman0]

Every phone has a camera and a mic. It's not a Google thing, have you noticed? I'm talking about specific devices that are meant to always listen to you and video record you. Whether Alexa or the Siri speaker or the Google puck, none are for me

Meh, this is the single major reason I use apple products. At least it’s a hardware and software company rather than an advertising company, and their business model at least on the surface is privacy.

My work is very “secure” and they won’t even use Android for work phones, iOS only

I’m with you though, no “smart” products are allowed in my house or in my network besides phones.

 

[snoopy7548]

Why do you need to remotely control a smoke detector?

 

[pete6032]

Why do you need to remotely control a smoke detector?

1) It will notify you if its going off if you are not home. 2) If it senses smoke it will notify you before the alarm sounds. You can then dismiss the notification if everything is OK and the alarm will not sound. This is very helpful near the kitchen where cooking creates steam or smoke but there is no risk of fire. I have very high ceilings so need a ladder to disable a beeping detector. Also helpful if you have kids who are asleep while you are cooking.

 

[Captante]

1) It will notify you if its going off if you are not home. 2) If it senses smoke it will notify you before the alarm sounds. You can then dismiss the notification if everything is OK and the alarm will not sound. This is very helpful near the kitchen where cooking creates steam or smoke but there is no risk of fire. I have very high ceilings so need a ladder to disable a beeping detector. Also helpful if you have kids who are asleep while you are cooking.

I had a fire/burglar alarm system that would notify my cell-phone if it went off over 20 years ago without installing mics/camera's all over my house.

 

[MrSquished]

I had a fire/burglar alarm system that would notify my cell-phone if it went off over 20 years ago without installing mics/camera's all over my house.

I'm not sure it has any of those. My nest thermostat has no camera and mic, it just controls the temperature. I'm guessing that's how the smoke detector works.

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

Nobody thinks (or seems to) about the fact that none of this smart hooey works at all without a web connection. If whatever is burning happens to be your modem, the smart smokey gizmo won't be able to send you squat.

 

[Captante]

I'm not sure it has any of those. My nest thermostat has no camera and mic, it just controls the temperature. I'm guessing that's how the smoke detector works.

Sorry but I'm still astounded that after all the years of crying over lack of privacy and absolute indignation at the very idea that "big brother" was listening in on us and/or monitoring our actions, it's now SOP to intentionally install AND pay for exactly that.

I have no problem configuring tech manually and thus don't require an always-on and internet-connected spying device in my home to do it for me. Bad enough that my smart-phone is constantly trolling for personal data. (at least I can turn it off and stick it in a drawer!)

 

[JM Aggie08]

Did they push an update to the Home devices that made them more stupid? I swear, in the last month I've had to repeat myself more times when talking to my hub or nest mini.

 

[MrSquished]

Sorry but I'm still astounded that after all the years of crying over lack of privacy and absolute indignation at the very idea that "big brother" was listening in on us and/or monitoring our actions, it's now SOP to intentionally install AND pay for exactly that.

I have no problem configuring tech manually and thus don't require an always-on and internet-connected spying device in my home to do it for me. Bad enough that my smart-phone is constantly trolling for personal data. (at least I can turn it off and stick it in a drawer!)

Like I said unless Google is sneaking in cameras and mics onto smoke detectors and the entry level thermostats, the only thing those devices know are the temperature in our homes, and when we set the temps, if they even track it, or when the smoke detector goes off. The convenience is worth it as they aren't truly monitoring me like a security camera or smart home device.

The Google Nest thermostat is great, like other smart thermostats. When I leave the house it goes into Eco mode automatically, and starts back up when I get home. I like this. I save energy because it's tough to remember every time you go out to turn off the A/C or heat, especially when I'm in and out all day walking the dog and freelancing. My super responsible sister and brother in law forgot the A/C on when we went to NC for the week during one of the hottest weeks in NJ, which is what happens when you have two rambunctious kids. My A/C was off without me even touching it. I'll save those bucks.

 

[dullard]

I have very high ceilings so need a ladder to disable a beeping detector. Also helpful if you have kids who are asleep while you are cooking.

1) Get at photoelectric smoke detector. They are usually marketed as "kitchen" smoke detectors. They are far less sensitive to steam, heat, or burnt food so they have far fewer false alarms in kitchen areas. But, photoelectric smoke detectors are great at detecting low smoldering fires like if you put something too close to a burner on your stove. Then put the standard ionization smoke detector elsewhere to catch the other types of fires.

2) Battery powered smoke detectors exist and can be mounted far lower. Heck, some come with a 10 year battery life to match the life of the detector, so you don't ever have to change the battery.

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

I picked up a few 'smart' outlets because they were on sale and I liked the idea of remote control. I have a bunch of the old school X-10 stuff that still works, but it's buggy and susceptible to electrical noise and interference, so I wanted to try something new.

The stuff works OK as long as you have something installed on your mobile contraption. You can't use a standard universal remote, or a PC to schedule anything though.

And if/when the web is down, which tends to happen DSL, fiber and cable, probably even WISP and cellular, you got nuthin. Not only can't you control them to change anything, they won't turn stuff on or off as scheduled.

Not a big deal for a couple of lamps, but for alerts like 'your fridge isn't working', or 'your sump pump failed and your basement is flooding' or your heart monitor can't call for help, it just might matter.

 

[Captante]

Like I said unless Google is sneaking in cameras and mics onto smoke detectors and the entry level thermostats, the only thing those devices know are the temperature in our homes, and when we set the temps, if they even track it, or when the smoke detector goes off. The convenience is worth it as they aren't truly monitoring me like a security camera or smart home device.

The Google Nest thermostat is great, like other smart thermostats. When I leave the house it goes into Eco mode automatically, and starts back up when I get home. I like this. I save energy because it's tough to remember every time you go out to turn off the A/C or heat, especially when I'm in and out all day walking the dog and freelancing. My super responsible sister and brother in law forgot the A/C on when we went to NC for the week during one of the hottest weeks in NJ, which is what happens when you have two rambunctious kids. My A/C was off without me even touching it. I'll save those bucks.

Yep.... it's "great" that you've provided an internet-connected "smart" device precise information about when you arrive and leave your home without giving it a moments thought.

Just terrific!


Also I had a programable Honeywell thermostat that did most of that stuff in the 1990's without needing anything but a AA battery and 10 minutes setting it up.

 

[Torn Mind]

Also I had a programable Honeywell thermostat that did that stuff in the 1990's without needing anything but a AA battery and 10 minutes setting it up.

Do they still make it now? While it is useful and informative history...history is not practical if the item is merely just textual memories.

 

[Captante]

The display is slightly improved and it uses "touch" instead of buttons otherwise it's the same thing.

They have been widely available for at least 25-30 years.... my father had one that was 100% analog when I was a teenager.

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

Yes, I can still find a variety of programmable t-stats.

One thing missing from all, and even from the 'smart' stuff as far as I've seen is a run time log, or even verification the furnace or A/C is running at all. Switching on and off is simple, but if a 'smart' device can't verify the blower motor and/or burner (or cooling unit ) is responding to the run or stop commands, it isn't very 'smart'.

Do the 'smart' refrigerators or freezers keep a log of run cycles, times and internal temperatures?

 

[Torn Mind]

I thought you meant thermostats that could communicate with smoke alarms and send notifications to your phone.

These basic puppies, I'm more than aware of them.