Google Fiber

[sleonard]

In all honesty this looks to be incredibly awesome but I do have both questions and reservations. I also think this to be a very serious threat to both Microsoft and Apple in the home. Microsoft reigns in business and will continue to do so. Apple sucks for business so if Android starts taking over the living room, consumer tablet, and smartphone markets Apple is toast. I did note however, that the iPhone is supported for the smartphone app while Windows Phone X was not. That is a reservation for me since I have a Lumia 710 and want to stay on Windows phone for both personal and work reasons.

I also am drooling over the Surface tablets. Again for both personal and work reasons I want to get at least two. I really don't care to have to also have a bunch of Android tablets for each TV. Much rather they make the smartphone and tablet apps available on Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 as well.

In addition, last summer I purchased and setup the skeleton of a home automation system using Homeseer on my Windows server controlling a 2 device Z-Wave network (front door deadbolt and a thermostat) I also purchased the Sage module as well as an app for my Lumia.

I am now putting a halt on any further development of home automation because of rumours of an "Android@Home" home automation project. I would bet that, if it does become a real product, it will work seamlessly with this GoogleFiberTV system. And that is an extremely tempting proposition.

I guess what it comes down to is I am a serious fan of Microsoft Windows and have been for a long time. If all this works seamlessly with my existing and continuing investment in Windows based devices I will jump for joy but I expect Google to be somewhat reluctant to support competing devices. This leaves me somewhat on the fence about this news because, if I am comepletely honest, the SaGoogle Fiber TV package has me seriously impressed and will likely have an easy customer of me if/when it is available in the Phoenix Metro area. Once I have Google Fiber + TV with android tablet remote controls the need for the Window 8 tablets is greatly reduced. With an Droid phone app my desire for Windows Phone is greatly reduced. If you then add the rumored home automation system running on Android and the advantage of other Droid devices such as phones and tablets then skyrockets.

Enough for now

S

[mtnwing]

Originally Posted by sleonard

In addition, last summer I purchased and setup the skeleton of a home automation system using Homeseer on my Windows server controlling a 2 device Z-Wave network (front door deadbolt and a thermostat) I also purchased the Sage module as well as an app for my Lumia.

I am now putting a halt on any further development of home automation because of rumours of an "Android@Home" home automation project.
Enough for now

S

Comcast has already launched a serious home automation initiative and Motorola bought 4Home a year ago; These are clear indications that the whole industry is moving towards consolidation and integration in this automation area.

Won't be long before you can change your home temperature, turn off your lights, check the ph on the pool, check the ORP on your fish tank, turn down the temperature on the fridge, kick off the robot vac in your living room, check your weight for the month, fire up your bbq grill, unlock your car doors and flush your toilets all from a web browser in a single service operator interface (yes this can all be done via separate web apps already) and only for $175 per month plus bandwidth overages, taxes and misc extra fees.

.... and then gweet it to the world (or what ever the google word is to post all of your intimate details are to to google+)

Then toilet paper shows up at your house at 8 am the next morning via Amazon Prime magically when you run out after digitally flushing along with some coupons ...

[valnar]

Originally Posted by mtnwing

Won't be long before you can change your home temperature, turn off your lights, check the ph on the pool, check the ORP on your fish tank, turn down the temperature on the fridge, kick off the robot vac in your living room, check your weight for the month, fire up your bbq grill, unlock your car doors and flush your toilets all from a web browser in a single service operator interface (yes this can all be done via separate web apps already) and only for $175 per month plus bandwidth overages, taxes and misc extra fees.

I know you are saying this is jest, but I wouldn't be surprised if Apple, Google and Microsoft vie for this market share. As an IT professional, they are probably targeting me first as the trendsetter. But it's that very knowledge which will keep me from jumping onboard. I know how things can be hacked, and the last thing I want is for my toilet to be hacked!

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by mtnwing

Won't be long before you can ... flush your toilets all from a web browser ...

OK, you got me. Now I'm trying to figure out why I would need to flush my toilets from a remote location, other than the play-a-trick-on-someone factor...



- Andy

[flavius]

Ever watched Monk or Ally McBeal? The world is apparently filled with pre-flushers.

[hemicuda]

Originally Posted by Opus4

OK, you got me. Now I'm trying to figure out why I would need to flush my toilets from a remote location, other than the play-a-trick-on-someone factor...



- Andy

Mine flushes itself regularly already. Does that count?
(leaky valve to be changed)

[nycjoe]

(TMI warning)
I agree, flushing your toilet through a browser interface makes no sense at all and is just plain silly.
What you want is a dedicated app to do that. Because turning around is so old school.

[BobPhoenix]

Originally Posted by nycjoe

(TMI warning)
I agree, flushing your toilet through a browser interface makes no sense at all and is just plain silly.
What you want is a dedicated app to do that. Because turning around is so old school.

Or get a sensor that flushes immediately after you vacate the seat like work had to do to get the OCD's I work with to actually flush the toilet!!!!

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by BobPhoenix

Or get a sensor that flushes immediately after you vacate the seat

That's fine, except for the time one of my cats fell in & would have appreciated the automatic swirly bath even less than the already horrifying dunking.

- Andy

[Skirge01]

Originally Posted by BobPhoenix

Or get a sensor that flushes immediately after you vacate the seat like work had to do to get the OCD's I work with to actually flush the toilet!!!!

They make those.

[stuckless]

Hmmm... I appear to have clicked on the wrong thread... Thought this thread was about Google Fibre

[bcjenkins]

Well, fiber does create the need for a toilet.

[flavius]

I think there are still quite a few SageTV users out there that haven't heard:

https://plus.google.com/u/0/10641831...ts/7NLbtpJUdvC

Find Jeff's post where he confirms it - and his hint about a 'non-fiber' version.

[drewg]

Originally Posted by stuckless

Hmmm... I appear to have clicked on the wrong thread... Thought this thread was about Google Fibre

Maybe they meant the *other* kind of fibre:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re0VRK6ouwI

Drew

[BobPhoenix]

Originally Posted by drewg

Maybe they meant the *other* kind of fibre:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re0VRK6ouwI

Drew

Too funny

[sleonard]

OK, back to Google fiber.

When is Google going to begin wiring other cities?
What other cities?
When are we going to hear about the non-fiber version of SaGoogle?

How about the list of formats this will play? Unencrypted DVD? Unencrypted BD?
What about accessing local storage other than the 2 GB in the Storage Box? I have a bunch of stored video I want to watch through this and it won't fit in the 2 GB and even if it did it wouldn't leave much room for recording.

S

[Brent]

Originally Posted by sleonard

OK, back to Google fiber.

When is Google going to begin wiring other cities?
What other cities?

I imagine that is in the 2-3 year plan if you can call it a plan. Just as likely, google will "work together" with other providers to roll out comparable fiber service in other cities/countries. Some places - particularly intl have something close so Google could co-brand and offer the Google Fiber product that way. Just a guess though.
As of now, no other cities are on the list thus far.

When are we going to hear about the non-fiber version of SaGoogle?

So far there hasn't been any public talk of such a thing. But I would think the Fiber TV thing could easily be morphed into a GoogleTV/Fiber product with CableCard. Google's way wouldn't allow any such official talk of this sort of thing until the day they are ready to take pre-orders. I wonder how long before GoogleTV's stuff moves under the umbrella of Google Fiber TV. Again I'm just speculating.

How about the list of formats this will play? Unencrypted DVD? Unencrypted BD?

Rumor has it it will play most unencrypted formats that our HD300 will play minus ripped DVD & BD format. But video files such as mpg & mkv for instance should be playable. I haven't been able to confirm this though.

What about accessing local storage other than the 2 GB in the Storage Box? I have a bunch of stored video I want to watch through this and it won't fit in the 2 GB and even if it did it wouldn't leave much room for recording.
S

Again rumor here is that it will be capable of accessing additional storage outside of the google fiber storage box.

I ask a LOT of questions on Google Fiber & have spent some time in the Google Fiber "Place" where they are demo'ing the goods. I've gathered some decent information that way.
Here's my first article on the subject

By the way, I plan to gloat a little after TechCrunch and Rakesh from Snapstream both disputed my "why Google did purchase SageTV" case. It's pretty obvious they wanted SageTV for it's people AND it's product.

[routerunner]

From the pictures there are two T-type connectors, one in the main box and one in the TV box. It looks like that the TV box is designed for standalone operations (watching TV without proper DVR, maybe with some minimal pause live TV function in a massive 4Gb RAM) or in combination with the recording box, that would make the total of 8 simultaneous tuners the article is talking about. AFAIK there is only one company which has the technology to record 4 simultaneous and mixed stream (DVB-T/ATSC/DVB-S/DVB-C) out from a single connector, the European BlackGold and I'm wondering whether this solution contains some of this technology which will be more in tune with Google global market view.

If is the case I hope Europe will have more chances

[Rob]

Originally Posted by Brent

Rumor has it it will play most unencrypted formats that our HD300 will play minus ripped DVD & BD format.

That would be disappointing.

[Brent]

Originally Posted by Rob

That would be disappointing.

But not surprising if you think about it. SageTV didn't have to worry about negotiating access to TV networks or Neflix - Google does.