Google Wifi

Last updated
Google Wifi
Google Wifi logo.png
Google WiFi router.png
Developer Google
Manufacturer Google
Type Router
Release dateDecember 5, 2016;2 years ago (2016-12-05) (United States)
System-on-chip used Qualcomm IPQ4019, [1] quad-core ARM CPU, each up to 710 MHz [2]
CPU Qualcomm
Input Smartphone
DimensionsDiameter: 4.17 in (106.12 mm)
Height: 2.70 in (68.75 mm) [2]
Mass12 oz (340 g)
Website store.google.com/product/google_wifi

Google Wifi is a mesh-capable wireless router developed by Google. It was announced on October 4, 2016, and released in the United States on December 5, 2016. Further international rollout followed with the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Philippines.

Mesh networking type of computer network

A mesh network is a local network topology in which the infrastructure nodes connect directly, dynamically and non-hierarchically to as many other nodes as possible and cooperate with one another to efficiently route data from/to clients. This lack of dependency on one node allows for every node to participate in the relay of information. Mesh networks dynamically self-organize and self-configure, which can reduce installation overhead. The ability to self-configure enables dynamic distribution of workloads, particularly in the event a few nodes should fail. This in turn contributes to fault-tolerance and reduced maintenance costs.

Router (computing) Device that forwards data packets between computer networks, creating an overlay internetwork

A router is a networking device that forwards data packets between computer networks. Routers perform the traffic directing functions on the Internet. Data sent through the internet, such as a web page or email, is in the form of data packets. A packet is typically forwarded from one router to another router through the networks that constitute an internetwork until it reaches its destination node.

Google American multinational Internet and technology corporation

Google LLC is an American multinational technology company that specializes in Internet-related services and products, which include online advertising technologies, search engine, cloud computing, software, and hardware. It is considered one of the Big Four technology companies, alongside Amazon, Apple, and Facebook.

Contents

Google Wifi aims to provide enhanced Wi-Fi coverage through the setup of multiple Wifi devices in a home. Wifi automatically switches between access points depending on signal strength. Wifi can be purchased as a single unit or in a multi-pack. Wifi features 802.11ac connectivity with 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels, 2x2 antennas, and support for beamforming. It has two gigabit Ethernet ports, and contains a quad-core processor with 512 MB RAM and 4 GB flash memory. Wi-Fi access can be controlled through a companion mobile app.

Wi-Fi wireless local area networks technology based on IEEEs 802.11 standards

Wi-Fi is a family of radio technologies commonly used for wireless local area networking (WLAN) of devices. It is based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards. Wi‑Fi is a trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance, which restricts the use of the term Wi-Fi Certified to products that successfully complete interoperability certification testing. The Wi-Fi Alliance includes 3Com, Aironet, Harris Semiconductor, Lucent, Nokia and Symbol Technologies. As of 2009, Wi-Fi integrated circuit chips ship approximately 580 million units annually. Devices that can use Wi-Fi technologies include desktops and laptops, smartphones and tablets, smart TVs, printers, digital audio players, digital cameras, cars and drones.

IEEE 802.11ac is a wireless networking standard in the 802.11 set of protocols, providing high-throughput wireless local area networks (WLANs) on the 5 GHz band. The standard was developed in the IEEE Standards Association from 2008 through 2013 and published in December 2013. The standard has been retroactively labelled as Wi-Fi 5 by Wi-Fi Alliance.

Beamforming signal processing technique used in sensor arrays for directional signal transmission or reception

Beamforming or spatial filtering is a signal processing technique used in sensor arrays for directional signal transmission or reception. This is achieved by combining elements in an antenna array in such a way that signals at particular angles experience constructive interference while others experience destructive interference. Beamforming can be used at both the transmitting and receiving ends in order to achieve spatial selectivity. The improvement compared with omnidirectional reception/transmission is known as the directivity of the array.

Google Wifi received mostly positive reviews. It was significantly praised for its design, setup process and performance, but received criticism for lacking a website interface and for lack of proper customization features for advanced users.

History

Android Police reported in September 2016 that Google was preparing to introduce a mesh-capable wireless router with enhanced range, along with its October 4 date of announcement and US$129 price point. [3] [4] [5] Google Wifi was officially announced on October 4, 2016, with expected availability in the United States in December. [6] [7] [8] The device became available in the United States on December 5, 2016, [9] in the United Kingdom on April 6, 2017, [10] [11] [12] in Canada on April 28, 2017, [13] [14] in France and Germany on June 26, 2017, [15] [16] in Australia on July 20, 2017, [17] in Hong Kong and Singapore on 30 August, 2017, [18] [19] [20] and in Philippines on June 26th, 2018. [21]

United States dollar Currency of the United States of America

The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States and its territories per the United States Constitution since 1792. In practice, the dollar is divided into 100 smaller cent (¢) units, but is occasionally divided into 1000 mills (₥) for accounting. The circulating paper money consists of Federal Reserve Notes that are denominated in United States dollars.

Users blocked from accessing the device

In April 2019 some users started reporting that Google Wifi's settings are not accessible. Google responded in the forums that users that have their App Store set to a country that is not in a specific list cannot download their application anymore and change settings of their installed devices. This sparked a wave of consumer criticism of Google effectively blocking users out of their purchased devices. [22]

Features

Google Wifi can be purchased two ways: as a single unit or a multi-pack. [6] One Wifi device is a little white cylinder. [7] When combining multiple devices, it will automatically switch between access points. [7] The router itself supports 802.11ac connectivity with 2.4GHz and 5GHz channels, 2x2 antennas, with support for beamforming. [7] Wifi has two gigabit Ethernet ports, and contains a quad-core processor with 512 MB RAM and 4 GB flash memory. [7] A companion mobile app provides the ability to selectively control Wi-Fi access. [7]

Ethernet computer networking technology

Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies commonly used in local area networks (LAN), metropolitan area networks (MAN) and wide area networks (WAN). It was commercially introduced in 1980 and first standardized in 1983 as IEEE 802.3, and has since retained a good deal of backward compatibility and been refined to support higher bit rates and longer link distances. Over time, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies such as Token Ring, FDDI and ARCNET.

Flash memory Electronic non-volatile computer storage device

Flash memory is an electronic (solid-state) non-volatile computer memory storage medium that can be electrically erased and reprogrammed. The two main types of flash memory are named after the NAND and NOR logic gates. The individual flash memory cells, consisting of floating-gate MOSFETs, exhibit internal characteristics similar to those of the corresponding gates.

A mobile application, also referred to as a mobile app or simply an app, is a computer program or software application designed to run on a mobile device such as a phone, tablet, or watch. Apps were originally intended for productivity assistance such as email, calendar, and contact databases, but the public demand for apps caused rapid expansion into other areas such as mobile games, factory automation, GPS and location-based services, order-tracking, and ticket purchases, so that there are now millions of apps available. Apps are generally downloaded from application distribution platforms which are operated by the owner of the mobile operating system, such as the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store. Some apps are free, and others have a price, with the profit being split between the application's creator and the distribution platform. Mobile applications often stand in contrast to desktop applications which are designed to run on desktop computers, and web applications which run in mobile web browsers rather than directly on the mobile device.

Reception

James Trew of Engadget praised the ease of setup for the device, writing that "Setting up a router isn't usually that hard, but it often involves an ugly web admin panel that -- ironically for a device that helps you enjoy the internet -- looks like it was designed in 2003. You'll set Google WiFi up with an app" and described the process as "all very simple and painless". Trew also liked the design, calling it "nice" and compared it to other routers by writing that "A quick internet search for "wireless router" returns a slew of angular black boxes with ugly antennas that might look okay in an office or basement, but nowhere else" and stated that "Google WiFi's white cylindrical design, however, is fairly unremarkable, and that's precisely the point". For performance, Trew was surprised to find that Google Wifi gave him a considerably higher speed than his previous router, describing it as "almost tripling the transfer rate of my old router every time". He also praised the app's ability to easily add more units around a house, the ability to manually prioritize what devices should get the highest Internet speed and the mesh network's capabilities of automatically switching between access points. However, he criticized the lack of a website interface and noted that the device might not be suitable for advanced users but rather "for people who don't enjoy navigating the typical router admin console (or don't even know that their router has one)". [23]

Engadget is a multilingual technology blog network with daily coverage of gadgets and consumer electronics. Engadget currently operates a total of ten blogs—four written in English and six international versions with independent editorial staff. Engadget has in the past ranked among the top five in the "Technorati top 100" and was noted in Time for being one of the best blogs of 2010. It has been operated by AOL since October 2005.

Dong Ngo of CNET also praised the setup process, describing it as "self-explanatory, and dare I say, fun". Ngo also praised speed, calling it "fast" and that the coverage and reliability provided by the mesh system was "great". Similarly to Trew, Ngo criticized the lack of proper customization features, calling it "frustrating" and elaborating that "You can't do as much with the Wifi as you can with a regular router. To name a few, there's no MAC filtering, content filtering, or even support for Dynamic DNS (DDNS)". Ngo also noted that the Wifi system is connected to a user's Google account "at all times", meaning that, while security updates can be provided on a regular basis, the "constant connection to Google is required. That's a dealbreaker for some". [24]

Dan Seifert of The Verge reiterated praise for design, writing "each unit is a compact, unobtrusive cylinder that can be tucked away on a shelf or counter and doesn’t look like a piece of computer equipment in the middle of your living room", and also for the setup, describing it as "painless and took about 10 minutes total to complete". Seifert wrote that "In each room, Google Wifi was able to provide a strong wireless signal and enough internet bandwidth for the most demanding streaming needs" and complimented the system for being able to provide his bedroom with decent speeds, despite it being "the furthest room" and the "hardest test" in his home. He noted that, while the app shows which access point a device is connected to, it "doesn’t allow you to force devices to hop from one to another". Overall, Seifert stated that "If all you care about is raw performance, [Netgear] Orbi is a better router, but for overall experience, including cost and maintenance, Google Wifi is an easier system to use". [25]

See also

Related Research Articles

Android (operating system) Free and open-source operating system for mobile devices, developed by Google

Android is a mobile operating system based on a modified version of the Linux kernel and other open source software, designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Android is developed by a consortium of developers known as the Open Handset Alliance, with the main contributor and commercial marketer being Google.

Barnes & Noble Nook Android-based tablet and e-reader

The Barnes & Noble Nook is a brand of e-readers developed by American book retailer Barnes & Noble, based on the Android platform. The original device was announced in the U.S. in October 2009, and was released the next month. The original Nook had a six-inch E-paper display and a separate, smaller color touchscreen that serves as the primary input device and was capable of Wi-Fi and AT&T 3G wireless connectivity. The original nook was followed in November 2010 by a color LCD device called the Nook Color, in June 2011 by the Nook Simple Touch, and in November 2011 and February 2012 by the Nook Tablet. On April 30, 2012, Barnes & Noble entered into a partnership with Microsoft that spun off the Nook and college businesses into a subsidiary. On August 28, 2012, Barnes and Noble announced partnerships with retailers in the UK, which began offering the Nook digital products in October 2012. In December 2014, B&N purchased Microsoft's Nook shares, ending the partnership.

Google Play Digital distribution service by Google

Google Play, formerly Android Market, is a digital distribution service operated and developed by Google. It serves as the official app store for the Android operating system, allowing users to browse and download applications developed with the Android software development kit (SDK) and published through Google. Google Play also serves as a digital media store, offering music, books, movies, and television programs. It previously offered Google hardware devices for purchase until the introduction of a separate online hardware retailer, Google Store, on March 11, 2015, and it also offered news publications and magazines before the revamp of Google News on May 15, 2018.

WIMM One

The WIMM One is a developer device for the WIMM platform produced by WIMM Labs. It is a wearable computing device running a modified version of the Android operating system. It comes preloaded with several apps. Additional applications can be downloaded from the micro app store or side-loaded over USB.

Facebook Messenger is a messaging app and platform. Originally developed as Facebook Chat in 2008, the company revamped its messaging service in 2010, and subsequently released standalone iOS and Android apps in August 2011 and standalone Facebook Portal hardware for Messenger-based calling in Q4 2018. Over the years, Facebook has released new apps on a variety of different operating systems, launched a dedicated website interface (Messenger.com), and separated the messaging functionality from the main Facebook app, allowing users to use the web interface or download one of the standalone apps.

Nexus Q

Nexus Q is a digital media player developed by Google. Unveiled at the Google I/O developers' conference on June 27, 2012, the device was expected to be released to the public in the United States shortly thereafter for US$300. The Nexus Q was designed to leverage Google's online media offerings, such as Google Play Music, Google Play Movies & TV, and YouTube, to provide a "shared" experience. Users could stream content from the supported services to a connected television, or speakers connected to an integrated amplifier, using their Android device and the services' respective apps as a remote control for queueing content and controlling playback.

Android Jelly Bean Android Jelly Bean, or a version of the Android system.

Android "Jelly Bean" is the tenth version of Android and the codename given to three major point releases of the Android mobile operating system developed by Google, spanning versions between 4.1 and 4.3.1. Some operating systems that run Android 4.3/4.4 are Asus Nexus 7 (2013).

Chromecast digital media player

Chromecast is a line of digital media players developed by Google. The devices, designed as small dongles, enable users with a mobile device or personal computer to play Internet-streamed audio-visual content on a high-definition television or home audio system through mobile and web apps that support the Google Cast technology. Alternatively, content can be mirrored from the Google Chrome web browser running on a personal computer, as well as from the screen of some Android devices.

iPad Mini (1st generation) series of tablet computers produced by Apple

The first-generation iPad Mini is a mini tablet computer designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. It was announced on October 23, 2012, as the fourth major product in the iPad line and the first of the iPad Mini line, which features a reduced screen size of 7.9 inches (20 cm), in contrast to the standard 9.7 inches (25 cm). It features similar internal specifications to the iPad 2, including its display resolution.

Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet touchscreen Android tablet

The Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet is a touchscreen Android tablet manufactured and designed by Sony Mobile. Unlike its predecessor, the Xperia Z4 tablet features a 2560 x 1600 resolution 10.1-inch screen and is water and dustproof with a rating of IP65 and IP68. The tablet is lighter and thinner than its predecessor, weighing at 0.85 pound (389 g) for the WiFi model and 0.86 pound (393 g) for the LTE model and is 0.24 inches (6.1 mm) thick. The Z4 Tablet features the Snapdragon 810 processor and WQXGA resolution screen. It was announced on 2 March 2015 in a press conference held by Sony alongside the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua during the 2015 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

Google Fi, formerly Project Fi, is an MVNO telecommunications service by Google that provides telephone calls, SMS, and mobile broadband using cellular networks and Wi-Fi. Google Fi uses networks operated by Sprint, T-Mobile, and U.S. Cellular. Google Fi is a service for US residents only, at the time of writing in late 2019.

Android Marshmallow sixth major version of the Android operating system

Android "Marshmallow" is the sixth major version of the Android operating system and the 13th version of Android. First released as a beta build on May 28, 2015, it was officially released on October 5, 2015, with Nexus devices being the first to receive the update.

Google OnHub residential wireless router product from Google, Inc

Google OnHub is a residential wireless router product from Google, Inc. The two variants are manufactured by TP-Link and ASUS. Google's official tagline for the product is "We’re streaming and sharing in new ways our old routers were never built to handle. Meet OnHub, a router from Google that is built for all the ways you use Wi-Fi." In 2016, Google released the Google Wifi router with mesh networking, and combined its functionality and network administration with the OnHub so that OnHub and Google Wifi may both be used interchangeably in mesh networks.

Google Home Voice-enabled smart speaker developed by Google

Google Home is a brand of smart speakers developed by Google. The devices enable users to speak voice commands to interact with services through Google Assistant, the company's virtual assistant. Both in-house and third-party services are integrated, allowing users to listen to music, control playback of videos or photos, or receive news updates entirely by voice. Google Home devices also have integrated support for home automation, letting users control smart home appliances with their voice. The first Google Home device was released in the United States in November 2016, with subsequent product releases globally from 2017–2019.

Google Assistant AI powered digital assistant developed by Google

Google Assistant is an artificial intelligence-powered virtual assistant developed by Google that is primarily available on mobile and smart home devices. Unlike the company's previous virtual assistant, Google Now, the Google Assistant can engage in two-way conversations.

Play:1 smart speaker model

The Play:1 is a smart speaker developed by Sonos, announced and released on October 14, 2013, as the fourth and least expensive product in the Play line of speakers. It is one of the compatible speakers that can also link in SonosNet, a mesh network that can interlink speakers to play media for one, some or all speakers regardless of location.

Luma Home Wi-Fi solutions company based in Atlanta, Georgia

Luma is a Wi-Fi solutions company based in Atlanta, Georgia. The company sells Wi-Fi routers using mesh networking to project a consistent Wi-Fi signal throughout private homes as well as a corresponding mobile app for added layers of security and parental controls.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Android smartphone

The Samsung Galaxy S8, Samsung Galaxy S8+ and Samsung Galaxy S8 Active are Android-based smartphones produced by Samsung Electronics as the eighth generation of the Samsung Galaxy S series. The S8 and S8+ were unveiled on 29 March 2017 and directly succeeded the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, with a North American release on 21 April 2017 and international rollout throughout April and May. The S8 Active was announced on 8 August 2017 and is exclusive to certain U.S. cellular carriers.

Android Oreo Eighth major version of the Android mobile operating system

Android "Oreo" is the eighth major release and the 15th version of the Android mobile operating system. It was first released as an alpha quality developer preview in March 2017 and released to the public on August 21, 2017.

Google Lens Image recognition tool developed by Google

Google Lens is an image recognition technology developed by Google, designed to bring up relevant information related to objects it identifies using visual analysis based on a neural network. First announced during Google I/O 2017, it was first provided as a standalone app, later being integrated into Android's standard camera app.

References

  1. ↑ Higgins, Tim (December 13, 2016). "Google Wifi Reviewed". SmallNetBuilder. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Tech specs". Google Wifi Help. Google . Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  3. ↑ Ruddock, David (September 23, 2016). "Exclusive: Google will introduce Google Wifi, a $129 home Wi-Fi router, on October 4th". Android Police. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  4. ↑ Welch, Chris (September 23, 2016). "Google will reportedly launch a new Wi-Fi router similar to Eero on October 4th". The Verge . Vox Media . Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  5. ↑ Ingraham, Nathan (September 23, 2016). "Google might introduce another WiFi router on October 4th". Engadget . AOL . Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  6. 1 2 Seifert, Dan (October 4, 2016). "Google's new Wifi routers are here to take on Eero". The Verge . Vox Media . Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bright, Peter (October 4, 2016). "Google Wifi: Google's second attempt at a home router [Updated]". Ars Technica . Condé Nast . Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  8. ↑ Etherington, Darrell (October 4, 2016). "Google Wifi offers modular, customizable home networking". TechCrunch . AOL . Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  9. ↑ Amadeo, Ron (November 16, 2016). "You can now preorder Google Wifi, will ship December 5". Ars Technica . Condé Nast . Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  10. ↑ Brian, Matt (March 28, 2017). "Google Home and WiFi launch in the UK on April 6th". Engadget . AOL . Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  11. ↑ Bright, Peter (March 28, 2017). "Google Wifi: Google's mesh router goes on sale in the UK on April 6". Ars Technica . Condé Nast . Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  12. ↑ El Khoury, Rita (March 28, 2017). "Google Home and Wifi will launch in the UK on April 6 for £129 each". Android Police. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  13. ↑ Etherington, Darrell (April 28, 2017). "Google Wifi now available in Canada". TechCrunch . AOL . Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  14. ↑ Gartenberg, Chaim (April 28, 2017). "Google Wifi is now available in Canada". The Verge . Vox Media . Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  15. ↑ Hager, Ryne (June 26, 2017). "[Update: Now available in France and Germany] Google Wifi may be coming to France on Monday". Android Police. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  16. ↑ Meyer, David (June 26, 2017). "Google Wifi: Now its home routers are firing up in Germany, France". ZDNet . CBS Interactive . Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  17. ↑ Gao, Richard (July 17, 2017). "Google Home and Wifi will launch in Australia on July 20th". Android Police. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Google, HKT launch advanced home Wi-fi system in Hong Kong". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  19. ↑ "Google Wifi brings cheaper mesh networking to Asia". CNET. 2017-08-29. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  20. ↑ Ho, Victoria. "Google Wifi has come to Asia, 6 months after its debut in the U.S." Mashable. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  21. ↑ https://businessmirror.com.ph/google-wifi-arrives-in-the-philippines/
  22. ↑ https://support.google.com/wifi/thread/3787129
  23. ↑ Trew, James (December 6, 2016). "Google WiFi review: A hassle-free router comes at a price". Engadget . AOL . Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  24. ↑ Ngo, Dong (December 6, 2016). "Google Wifi review". CNET . CBS Interactive . Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  25. ↑ Seifert, Dan (December 6, 2016). "Google Wifi review: Wi-Fi that works". The Verge . Vox Media . Retrieved April 22, 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.