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Google announced its own branded wireless router (made by TP-LINK), which information technology says "is a new way to Wi-Fi." Merely what does this mean? And doesn't $199.99 seem expensive for a Wi-Fi router? Perchance not. Although OnHub won't be available for purchase until August 31, let's see what a closer await at its specifications reveals well-nigh it today.

The OnHub has xiii antennas — six two.4GHz antennas, half dozen 5GHz antennas, and a congestion-sensing antenna — bundled in a circle. The OnHub monitors the Wi-Fi environment and automatically adjusts its settings to provide an optimal experience. Since it doesn't have the usual front end panel of  indicators, y'all will need an Android telephone or Apple iPhone with Google's OnHub app to manage the router. Notwithstanding, these apps let yous practice things like assign bandwidth priority to a specific device. This would let me, for instance, make certain that the computer I'm using to record a podcast over Skype gets the bandwidth it needs, even if someone in my family is watching Netflix.

In addition to Wi-Fi, the OnHub as well has Bluetooth 4.0 and 801.xv.four (ZigBee/Thread). Y'all are probably are famliar with Bluetooth as a fashion to communicate with wireless devices like headphones, keyboards, and mice. But Bluetooth 4.0 too supports Bluetooth Low Energy, which lets it communicate with sensors and activity trackers like the Fitbit without expending much power. 801.fifteen.4 is an IEEE depression data rate and low power Wireless Personal Surface area Network (WPAN) standard that allows a variety of devices to communicate with each other — in other words, the Internet of Things (IoT). Neither of these radios are agile in OnHub at launch according to Google. But the company advises us to "…stay tuned. We accept exciting things in the works."

And while the OnHub lacks the usual front end panel of high-stop consumer routers, it does have vi tri-color LED arrays, which Google says is a dimmable light ring that provides feedback.

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Also of note: The OnHub has one USB three.0 port and a 3-watt speaker. Yes, that grill on the top is an sound speaker. And the OnHub does have a passing resemblance to Amazon's well-received Repeat voice activated Internet connected speaker, although OnHub doesn't include a microphone in its specifications. Withal, it is easy to imagine getting Google Now-type audio responses to questions posed to a smartphone or another connected device in the home.

So, is Google's OnHub worth $199.99? At this point, yous would be buying a potentially useful connected device hub for your home or small part. But, we won't know what that potential is until Google turns on the Bluetooth 4.0 and 801.15.4 radios and reveals what the USB port and speaker do. Still, I'm somewhat tempted to buy one but to go a front-row seat to Google'due south introduction of its IoT lineup.