UniFi

Migrated from Windows 11 laptop hosting the Network App, to using Cloud Key Gen2 Plus. Installed the Cloud key accessory rackmount. Took just a couple minutes to update the cloud key, apps, firmware. Installed UniFi Network App on my iPhone. Then made sure I had the latest versions of firmwares and softwares installed on laptop, access point, switch, everything. Saved a backup of settings only, using my laptop UniFi Network App. Then Migrate Wizard on the Network App on laptop. But at end, Skip forget devices. Logged into cloud key at its ip address. Made sure it restored the settings correctly using the backup. Waited until restore was completely finished running. Once all devices adopted and completed, went back into Windows Network App and then you can "forget" the devices. Perfect addition to my AmpliFi Alien Router, Ubiquity Pro Access Point, and Ubiquity PoE 24 Pro managed switch. It sees ALL devices, ip addresses, traffic, and all from my phone. LOVE IT!

Generally this app has a large degree of functionally regarding setup and control of your UniFi hardware. However, the appeal has exceeded the actual usefulness for me. Things that should be easy like searching for new access points or switches worked zero percent of the time. I had to go back to the desktop PC and web interface to made the new hardware adding process work. Likewise, something simple like adding your DNS servers (say openDNS) is not easy or intuitive. Much of the functionality is hidden under layers and layers of options, which is a undesirable thing when you have a mobile device as your user interface. I also feel like the screenshots for the app tend to appear very useful, for example monitoring specific traffic to social media sites, but in truth there is very limited access to this type of information through the app. In all fairness, I am not a network professional, which appears to be the demographic ubiquiti is catering to, but there is an expectation when you put some thing out on the Apple store, that it will be easy for your typical consumer to use. Networking is black magic and someways, so this is a very difficult task for the developer. My advice would be to consider less technical users when you develop your smart phone applications becauseI think these are the folks that will use these applications, unlike the IT professionals who prefer the desktop web based interface.

I am really happy to see an update and it all seems to work really well! It’s still miss several features, but I know they’re coming! The problem I actually have are the colors. They are very bright and hard on the eyes, and I’m young. Maybe it’s the OLED screen on the X, but I think they are too bold in general. They just need to be a little softer. I do like the definition between the colors though. I love the new icons/tabs at the bottom of the screen. They look really slick. I know this is also very nitpicky, but I really, really, dislike the new app icon; of a UniFi AP. UniFi is so much more that Access Points at this point, it’s an entire ecosystem and network. I really don’t think having an Access Point as the icon is appropriate and I just don’t want to click on it. It makes me cringe. Maybe it’s because it looks too much like a weird button? I’m fine if you want to update the icon (it needed it), but I really wish it would be reflective of the whole product line. The old icon was great. Maybe just some fresh colors and make it flatter. Less is more now a days, which I feel is how the app is headed, which I like, aside from that icon. Please, please, change it. Maybe a picture of a network jack? I don’t know, but not an access point that is so nondescript, that it looks like somebody’s poor implementation of a button.