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this post was submitted on 11 Nov 2024
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Programming Humor
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I can think of very few examples where the paid version is better, usually the reason the masses use the paid version is billion dollar marketing campaigns and adopted standards.
More relevant perhaps, corporations are not incentivized to make a good app they are incentivized to be just better than the free version so that enough people don’t switch that the free version becomes the default version, keeping open source code perpetually one step behind because they can always dump 10 billion dollars into improving a minor annoyance as long as it keeps their product the standard de facto product.
I like to point out Home Assistant, it's FOSS and better than anything else. Nothing else comes close not even Google home and they are a trillion dollar company.
All I have is 2 Rooms full of Philips Hue Lights and A few Cameras.
I am always so envious of people that were already able to automate their Smarthome.
Next I want to automate the outdoor lights as well as the Garagedoor. But I think I'll wait for Thread because it seems more resillient than Zigbee.
I do try to go with Matter/Thread as much as possible. I do have old, in-wall switches that are on Z-Wave.
I recommend using bulbs where you want the option of colors, and switches where you don't. To control the color bulbs from the wall, you need a scene controller, which is a bit expensive and I haven't found a good one yet. It's not as simple as a switch.
I did recently pick up a Matter/Thread Reolink doorbell for $100. It was pretty easy to install, and works well with Home Assistant. The TV controls are just a Chromecast, but of course the dedicated remote works better. Still nice for turning the TV off an on.
I also use an old phone as a wall panel, set up with Home Assistant app pinned and set to Kiosk mode. HA does often become unpinned, so it's not perfect.
I'm just starting to get into Thread. Unfortunately for me, I'm militant to a fault about my stuff being really as Open Source as possible (and I'm also pretty cheap, NGL), so my "Thread Border Router" is a dev board and some instructions, not a finished product, LOL.
(I haven't set it up yet, so wish me luck. I also need to design and 3D print a case, etc...)
I'm using a Skyconnect, which might be open? It's made by the HA guys. (In addition to a Google hub v2.)
Unfortunately, those are "temporarily unavailable." The only place I've been able to find it is a third-party seller link on Amazon scalping it for $98.
https://ameridroid.com/products/skyconnect
Nice, $35 is way better than $98.
I'm still gonna try tinkering with my $10 ESP board for now, but I'll keep that in mind if decide I'd prefer something that "just works."