No, you said it was an overprice pile of shite. Utter shite is something completely different (isn't it?)

but is it better than Hive

Don't watch TV but a horrid pop up ad just played on a website advertising Hive apparently now in 2017 you can't get off your arse and turn the light off or the heating up/down...luckily the chap in question who is cuddling his new born whilst cradling his smart phone, possibly unable to decide which one to put down first; luckily has Hive. So fortunately for his child he does not have a dilemma as he is able to do just that via his 'smart' phone whilst still on his derriere. WTF has it all come to?!

To be fair, that’s a bit like characterising someone calling from a mobile phone on their sofa as too lazy to get off their butt to use an old, hard-wired, phone. The point of the ad is that you no longer need to operate the heating from a quaint switch on the wall. About time too.

Hey Richard, if you still stayed in Scotland we could nickname you...Mr Gadget McGadget...

Ha, Jim, that’s fair - though, I’m my defence, I’m in the industry.

Wireless control is the way things will go. Likewise wireless charging and wireless power. TRIZ predicts this too.

I venture to disagree, for any significant load: energy density and bandwidth mitigates against it. I'm in the industry too.

However, I will agree that the must-have-the-newest brigade will lead the way with pointless widgets, which keeps us both in a job.

Are you familiar with TRIZ? Impressively accurate.

Inductive charging is already old skool. Wireless control is becoming increasingly all-pervasive - even on bicycles. Even fibre optic is a form of wireless. Lots and lots of other examples that I can’t even talk about.

Far from pointless as much of this technology finds its way into medical devices and other properly life-improving technology. Gadgets is just where it’s played with and the glitches ironed out and the standards agreed upon.

I don't object to Hive from an anti-technology perspective. Indeed, if it worked reliably, I'd be quite in favour. It is the endless issues I have with it (more than likely due to my circumstances) that put me off. If it isn't reliable, then it is worse than an analogue system.

At least there is a point to it then, helping the infirm and ill in society rather than the industry/market led drivel to give people technology/gadgets they don't need in return for money they usually don't actually have to impress people they don't like.

That's my issue with the Nest. The fact that settings get lost and you find heating switching on at 3am. Then there are smart features that are anything but. It was the potential to track energy usage together with smart meter readings that I was interested in.

In retrospect all I want is a reliable fully programmable thermostat that has a boost function and can be voice controlled for that. Changing programs and other settings on a smart phone interface is far easier that cycling through the typical wall mounted stat menus.

I don't now why you don't watch tv any more, but did you know they even have "remote controls" that mean these lazy beggers don't even have to get off their arses to change channels!
Madness!!

Because I don't wish to pay a tax to be force fed Govt lies and propaganda But yeh the remote has to be a good tech especially as there is no longer a wire from it stretching to the VCR.