From 4d9591cd959f0e2759bf03893953cb8d7de34f09 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Paulus Schoutsen Date: Tue, 5 Apr 2016 00:27:50 -0700 Subject: [PATCH] Actually add blog post :+1: --- ...your-hub-should-be-local-and-open.markdown | 28 +++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 28 insertions(+) create mode 100644 source/_posts/2016-04-04-your-hub-should-be-local-and-open.markdown diff --git a/source/_posts/2016-04-04-your-hub-should-be-local-and-open.markdown b/source/_posts/2016-04-04-your-hub-should-be-local-and-open.markdown new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..653665fbeb9 --- /dev/null +++ b/source/_posts/2016-04-04-your-hub-should-be-local-and-open.markdown @@ -0,0 +1,28 @@ +--- +layout: post +title: "Your hub should be local and open" +description: "Running a hub that depends on the cloud is a risk that can cost you your home automation." +date: 2016-04-04 21:11:00 -0700 +date_formatted: "April 5, 2016" +author: Paulus Schoutsen +author_twitter: balloob +comments: true +categories: Internet-of-Things +--- + +Today the news spread that Google will be [shutting down the Revolv hubs][medium-revolv]. And shutting down here doesn't mean they stop selling or supporting them - no, they are sending an update to each hub to turn your perfectly fine home automation hub into a useless piece of plastic. The fact that this seemed like a good idea by Google astonishes me. If anything, they should have gone the same route as [ninjasphere]: open it all up and let people decide on the fate of their _own_ hub. + +I've said it [before][perfect-cloud] but I'll repeat it again: + +
+The cloud should be treated as an extension to your smart home instead of running it. +
+ +Your hub should not be affected when your internet breaks down or the company that sold you your hub goes out of business. It should work locally so that it can continue to work even long after the vendor goes out of business or decides to kill it. Preferably, your hub should also be open so that the community can take over development after the vendor stops caring. + +Unless you can afford losing a product here and there, be cautious when buying IoT products that depend on the cloud from companies that are not well established. The chances are high that they go bankrupt or get acquired and closed. This however is easier said than done as [Gartner] predicts that by 2017, 50 percent of IoT solutions will originate in startups that are less than three years old. + +[medium-revolv]: https://medium.com/@arlogilbert/the-time-that-tony-fadell-sold-me-a-container-of-hummus-cb0941c762c1#.rmppks86a +[ninjasphere]: https://discuss.ninjablocks.com/t/ninja-blocks-whats-been-happening-whats-happening-next/3608 +[perfect-cloud]: /blog/2016/01/19/perfect-home-automation/#your-system-should-run-at-home-not-in-the-cloud +[Gartner]: http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/2869521