The OnHub is being shipped to US customers over the coming weeks, we’ll keep you updated about UK availability. Besides support for Wifi, it also supports Zigbee/Thread, Bluetooth, Weave and 802.15.4, all protocols to communicate with e.g. smart light bulbs, smoke detectors and thermostats.
Advertisement
Making products for the smart home is one such venture.
The device is part of a larger effort by Google to create more friendly devices for consumer homes.
The first thing Google did was make the OnHub something you won’t mind putting on a shelf, and that’s not just for aesthetic reasons. Apple hasn’t been a strong player in the networking game for some time and that needs to change or face becoming irrelevant in the Wi-Fi market. Surprisingly, there’s also a speaker. That “congestion-sensing” radio works to ensure that you’re always getting the best possible range and speed from your fancy new router. This is a router that doesn’t need to sit under a pile of books or stay stuffed in your closet in shame – it doesn’t look half bad.
Google wants to be your home network’s one-stop-shop with its just announced OnHub. The router twists open to allow access to ports and cables. The company believes people who spend more time online are more likely to interact with a Google service and click on one of the ads that generate most of Google’s profits. It has a unique circular array of 13 antennae: 6 5GHz, 6 2.4GHz, and an extra that’s dedicated to the task of keeping your connection operating at peak levels. When turned off, Google will no longer store information about devices, network status, data usage, network settings, and data required for automatic channel setting.
Next, interacting with the OnHub is done through an app. No more ancient-looking setup menus; instead you have a control center designed to fit into Android’s new Material Design motif, available on iOS and Android.
The companion Google On app makes setup simple and offers help if there are Wi-Fi issues.
OnHub looks a bit like Amazon’s Echo home assistance unit, though it performs a very different function.
While this initial router will be manufactured by TP-Link, Google says the company is also working with ASUS on future iterations.
Advertisement
OnHub is up for preorder today for $200, and, according to Amazon, will start shipping August 31.
