Look out Dot, here comes Google Home Mini

@mfladd It is. I’m not loving that fabric cover on the top surface though. In my house it would swiftly become embedded with pet hair and dust.

@ruouttaurmind Oooooh, it’s fabric? That’s a no.

@ruouttaurmind

Wanna buy one for me then?

@mflassy The Pixel 2, the Home Mini… or the river rock?

No, wait… I’ll choose…

@ruouttaurmind

That’s ok, I’ll choose for you.

I’ll take the Home Mini.

@mfladd

Oooooh, it’s fabric? That’s a no.

I’d say I’m 99% sure based on this image

@ruouttaurmind @mfladd

I watched the presentation from Google today, and they said the Home Mini uses fabric. So I’m 100% certain there’s fabric.

@katylava Do squirrels poop? I see a lot of squirrels but I don’t think I’ve every seen one poop.

@medz

http://www.wildlife-removal.com/squirrelpoop.html

@mflassy no video evidence…could be rat poop

/youtube a squirrel pooping

@katylava Although there is a titilating amount of randomness to your queries, this is the most puzzling:

[while driving] how fast can I drive with a donut? (50mph)

First, I’m curious what compeled you to believe Google would have any kind of meaningful response?

Also… I want Google to justify the 50mph answer. I can tell you from personal experience… it’s quite possible to drive WAY faster than 50mph with a donut!

Finally…

when does my flight leave for phoenix?

Although I am unable to help solve the mystery of your itinerary, I can tell you the weather here has been absolutely delightful! Though, depending on where you’re coming from, you may still find it a bit warm. But I’m positively loving it!

@ruouttaurmind

First, I’m curious what compeled you to believe Google would have any kind of meaningful response?

If it doesn’t have the answer, it usually reads off the first paragraph of the first search result. Works out pretty well. In this case though, I was surprised when it said “50 miles per hour”, and then started reading the webpage to me. I don’t know how it figured that out.

Although I am unable to help solve the mystery of your itinerary, I can tell you the weather here has been absolutely delightful!

Flying in to Phoenix but staying in Sedona. Hopefully the weather is as nice there, because my mom says we’ll be hiking.

@katylava Always 15* cooler in Sedona. So, ya, I’m sure it’ll be very, very awesome.

@ruouttaurmind I can’t sleep so of course it just occurred to me you’re thinking donut the pastry, not donut the spare tire. I’m glad Google knew what I was talking about.

@katylava Yes, that’s exactly what I was thinking. To satisfy my curiosity I consulted Google and felt foolish at my gaff, so I thought I’d quietly skulk into the shadows on this thread. LOL!

/giphy the shadow

@ruouttaurmind I assumed the editable donut as well and wondered where he lived that they had to define the speed at which one was allowed to consume pastries. I had guessed NY.

@medz Recently I’ve been playing with IFTTT, Stringify, Zapier and a couple other task automation solutions. I’ve been pleased to discover many of the services will play peacefully with each other. So devices supported in Stringify, that aren’t part of the IFTTT community can still play together.

The IoT borders are already blurred, I’m betting it’s a very, very short time before the lines disappear entirely.

@ruouttaurmind I don’t know what you just said but it sounds very high tech.

@sammydog01

There are online services which can interact with “smart” devices like home security cameras, wifi light switches, electronic door locks, etc. These online services allow the user to do “scripting” of actions which occur as the result of something happening in one of the smart devices.

For example, I can create a script that activates when my SkyBell video doorbell detects motion. Or have it do a different action if someone presses the SkyBell doorbell button.

One thing I’ve scripted: When my SkyBell detects motion, the internet based automation solution executes a IF/THEN flowchart. IF: the hours are after dusk and before dawn, THEN: activate interior and exterior lighting.

When the SkyBell button is pressed, I’ve scripted an entirely different response.

It actually sounds quite intimidating, but not really that complicated once you start working with it.

@ruouttaurmind So what you’re saying is I could write a script that would execute when the temperature on my smart thermostat reaches a certain point (ex 75 degrees) and then the script would tell my Echo devices to play “Hot in Herre” by Nelly while the smart outlets toggle on and off to make the attached lights function in a strobe light fashion. I’d also want the script to arm the security system so that nobody would open the doors or windows during the cooling period. This would continue until the temperature in the house reached the desired temp. (ex: 72 degrees)

@medz Uh… yes? Theoretically, I suppose, if you had all the proper IoT equipment, I guess I don’t see why that wouldn’t be possible.

The IoT is still young. I’d say “immature”. It’s evolving, smart devices are getting smarter, standards are emerging and learning to play nice with other standards. I suspect eventually there will be a single standardized protocol to revolutionize the industry. Much like the impact of TCP/IP on ARPANet in the '80’s. A singular standardized protocol triggered exponential growth, and enabled dissimilar systems to play well together.

/giphy one ring to rule them all