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Nest's home monitoring camera is a sleeker Dropcam
In one of the worst kept secrets in recent history, Nest revealed its new Nest Cam wireless camera. It borrows heavily from Dropcam, a recent Nest acquisition, but has a thinner profile. The new camera shoots 1080p video, is slimmer than the Dropcam and has a new magnetic base with a tripod mount. It also sports better night vision with eight built-in infrared LEDs and improved algorithms. Like its predecessor, the Nest Cam and companion service includes live video streams to mobile devices and a CDR (Cloud video Recording) service that records up to 30 days of footage via Nest Aware. The camera is available for order today for $199. It will ship next week in the US, and in early July in the UK, where it'll be priced at £159. The Nest Aware subscription will cost $10 a month (or £8 in the UK) for the first camera and half that for each additional one for 10 days of video playback history. For 30 days of playback, it's $30 (£24) for the first camera and half that again for every extra lens.
Nest's first home camera will look familiar, but its app won't
If you've been wondering what kind of home monitoring camera Nest would make after buying Dropcam... well, don't expect a revolution. Droid-Life has posted leaked details revealing that the companies' first joint product, nicknamed the Nest Cam, looks similar to earlier Dropcam models. The biggest hardware changes should be 1080p video streaming and simpler pairing through Bluetooth. This last part might have been confirmed in a recent FCC filing.
ADT partners with LG and Nest to pair home automation with security
ADT already dipped its toe in the home automation waters, but the company plans to make an even bigger splash in the months to come. It announced today that it'll leverage tech from LG and Nest to add to its connected home tool set. First, ADT and LG are working on a so-called all-in-one "Smart Security" device (pictured above) that'll offer not only video monitoring, but it will act as a hub for connecting other gadgets as well. As you might expect, this means you'll be able to control the whole lot from ADT's app; however, the device isn't schedule to launch until this fall.
Developer makes Amazon's Echo control Wink and Nest devices
After Amazon gave select developers access to an SDK for its Echo wireless speaker last month, we now have a few examples of what you can do with it. Developer Jeffrey Bachand has built apps allowing Echo to control his smart lights, which are connected to Quirky's Wink hub, as well as his Nest smart thermostat. In the video below, you can see the apps in action. Unfortunately, there's still no way for developers to publish apps to the Echo platform, but you can be sure Amazon will fix that soon once there are more apps lined up. Bachand also notes that the NDA for SDK testers has just ended, which means you can expect to see more Echo apps soon. Amazon added support for Belkin WeMo and Philips Hue devices to the Echo earlier this month, but the addition of third-party developers should dramatically increase the amount of devices it works with.
Nest thermostat isn't smart enough to figure out British Summer Time
The Nest Learning Thermostat is supposed to be super-smart, automatically learning your preferences and creating custom schedules to match. Unfortunately, British Summer Time (BST) is a concept that seems to be beyond its current level of intelligence. As The Next Web reports, a wealth of Nest users noticed over the weekend that their thermostats hadn't adjusted properly. While the internal clock had changed automatically, their personal heating schedules continued to operate on Greenwich Mean Time. It's a small and largely insignificant bug, but we suspect more than a few adopters were frustrated when they woke up to a freezing home on Sunday morning. After all, this is a device that's supposed to be perceptive -- observing BST should be easy-peasy for a company like Nest.
Google opens a new online store for all of its gadgets
It's always nice when gigantic companies make it easier for us to give them our money. Google has launched an all-encompassing online store for its devices, from Android Wear to Chromecast to the Nest Thermostat. The Google Store replaces Google Play for all hardware purchases, including accessories like Nexus keyboards, a variety of chargers and covers, and of course frames and shades for Google Glass. As a welcome gift, grab free shipping in the new hub right now, for a limited time.
Withings' sleep helper now uses Nest's thermostat to keep you cool
Withings' Aura sleep system can only do so much to help you rest by itself. Wouldn't it be nice if it could keep the climate just right, too? It can now -- the Aura just got support for Nest's learning thermostat. When they're linked up, the Nest will maintain an ideal temperature for sleep (around 64F to 68F, or 18C to 20C) once you're unconscious, and revert back to its earlier settings once you've woken up. It's a simple addition, and it won't be cheap at about $550 for the pair. Still, that cost might be justified if you frequently jolt awake because you're freezing or roasting.
Nest adds Protect smoke alarm data to monthly user report
Nest sends detailed Energy Reports to its loyal users every month, digitally patting them on the back for saving power (and money!). Now that the company sells other products besides thermostats, it's also expanding its "Home Report" (yes, the name was changed, as well) to include more data from Nest Protect and some fire safety tips. The updated format not only tells customers every detail about their energy usage for the past 10 days, it also gives them a recap of the past month, perhaps for the sake of Nest's most meticulous customers. Also, users who have both the company's thermostat and smoke alarm will see a section that shows their Protect's battery, connectivity and sensor status. We have a sample fire and carbon monoxide tip posted after the break, but if you want to see what a full Home Report looks like, the Google-owned company has posted one on its website.
Google Glass' new boss wants to redesign the headset 'from scratch'
If you suspected that Google Glass' change of leadership would also lead to a big change in the wearable technology itself, you made a pretty good guess. As part of a tell-all about Glass' troubles, the New York Times is claiming that project lead (and Nest CEO) Tony Fadell plans to redesign the head-mounted computer "from scratch." And unlike the original, you aren't likely to see any public beta testing -- in keeping with earlier pronouncements, one tipster says that Fadell won't release this next-gen device "until it's perfect." Just when that might happen is still up in the air, but the Nest exec's historical focus on shipping over experimentation hints that you won't have to wait years to try Glass 2 for yourself. [Image credit: AP Photo]
Nest is losing both its tech VP and the CEO of Dropcam
Google's plan for a connected home including Nest and Dropcam lost a few family members today. Nest's Vice President of Technology Yoky Matsuoka and Dropcam cofounder Greg Duffy have left for other ventures, according to The Verge's sources. Matsuoka's joining Twitter while Duffy's next move isn't known at this point. Nest and Twitter, for their part, offered us an official "no comment" when we asked for confirmation of the departures. Matsuoka's Twitter profile looks relatively new, with her sole two follows being Alex Roettler and Dock Costolo -- Twitter's VP of engineering and its CEO, respectively. Update (2/2): Yoky Matsuoka has also confirmed her departure -- appropriately in a tweet -- and that she will be the VP of Technology and Analytics at Twitter.
Dropcam will give you a free replacement camera if yours is too old
Normally, companies don't do much for you when they stop supporting a device. They'll give you a too-bad-so-sad notice and ask you to buy their latest gear. Not Dropcam, however. The Nest-owned company is ditching support for both its original home security camera and the Echo on April 15th, but it's also launching a replacement program that will get you a free Dropcam HD if you own one of the older models. You'll have to switch to a new subscription plan if you want the cam to be useful for cloud video recording, but there otherwise aren't any strings attached -- Dropcam will maintain legacy service for free until the cutoff date, and refund the difference if you've paid for a yearly plan. This isn't really an altruistic gesture (the company makes at least $99 per year from your subscription), but it'll at least take some of the pain out of switching to newer technology.
Google Glass experiments are done, Nest CEO now in charge
Despite slips in consumer release windows and a sort of manufactured distaste for the people who wear it, rumors of Google Glass' death have been greatly exaggerated. If anything, Google's moonshot wearable just got another lease on life: Fortune reports that the Google Glass team is being spun out into a division of its very own, and that the long-running Glass Explorer program will eventually get the axe as a result. And the person in charge of the future of Glass? None other than Nest co-founder Tony Fadell, to whom current Glass team leader Ivy Ross will soon report.
Automatic's car tracker works with Nest to give you a cozy arrival
Your car and house may soon be having conversations about your whereabouts, thanks to a new feature from Automatic's car tracker. The $100 dongle (US only) -- which attaches to your car's ODB-II port to track your driving and save fuel -- now works with Nest's thermostat to optimize home heating and power usage. The system allows you to create basic "rules" that can switch Nest into home or away mode, depending on your whereabouts. It also supports deeper functionality, that could, say, crank the heat when you pass a certain landmark on a specific day. The systems will supposedly work together to learn your habits with the goal of eventually giving you "just-in-time" heating control to minimize energy usage. Or, you know, plot your overthrow.
Nest products can now talk to LG appliances and Philips lightbulbs
One of the smartest things that Nest did last year was launch the Works with Nest initiative, enabling companies to connect their gear to its smart thermostat. Initially, it was just home automation firms that got in on the act, but now that companies like Pebble and Jawbone have joined the ranks, other consumer electronics firms are jumping on the bandwagon. That's why Nest is able to announce a raft of partnerships with companies like LG, Philips and Withings.
Use Google Now to control your Nest thermostat
After signs of the proverbial switch flipping surfaced this weekend, Google Now's Nest integration is live. You'll need to authorize both the Google app and its voice control separately, but once you do, a simple "change the temperature to 74 degrees" is all you'll need to make the adjustment. What's more, a new card will show up letting you know when the Nest is hard at work to make your abode comfy during that evening commute. In fact, it'll make the adjustment automatically based on your phone's location. The new feature plays nice Google's software on both Android and iOS, so smart thermostat owners can opt with either one. If you run into issues, Nest has a handy guide that should help.
Google Now is almost ready to control your Nest thermostat
Remember how Nest promised that you'd one day use Google Now to control your thermostat? That day is very nearly here. Droid-Life has discovered that the search tool is responding to temperature requests, and will show you a Google Now card when the thermostat is cooling or heating your home. However, you can't actually use this feature yet -- you need to authorize your Google account to make this work, and the necessary website isn't completely ready. Even so, it's clear that you'll soon be commanding your climate using little more than your voice.
Updated: Nest pulls iOS app update after many crash reports
Tuesday we told you that a Nest update was on the way, but today ... not so fast. The company has yanked the app that controls Nest Thermostats and Smoke Detectors after several reports of crashes, mainly on iPhone 6 and 6 Plus devices. Nest acknowledged the issue on its Twitter feed. saying "We're currently investigating an issue causing the Nest iOS app version 4.4.0 to quit unexpectedly. We'll provide a status update shortly." Google purchased Nest for US$3.2 billion in February to enhance its smart home offerings. There is no timetable for an update. If you downloaded the app before it was pulled, don't install it until the fix becomes available. If you already have it, and it's working on your i-Device, don't sweat it at this point as your hardware may not be among those that had problems with the app. Note: Nest has issued an updated version of the app.
iOS users: Nest Thermostat update on the way
The popular Nest Thermostat will see a significant software upgrade within the week. The system, popular with iOS users who can control it from their iPhones or iPads, will see improvements to its auto-schedule software, a new Quick View option, and enhanced system test features. Nest says the Auto-Schedule software can "...help you save up to 6% more on your heating and cooling bills by learning new schedules quickly and adapting to changes better. So when your schedule shifts – like when summer's over and the kids are back at school – Nest can now catch on faster that the temperature adjustments you're making are part of a new pattern rather than just one-off changes." Quick View is a major GUI change. Pushing the thermostat ring will now display weather, indoor temperatures and humidity. You will also get a summary of energy used the previous day, and the next change to the schedule. Finally, a System Test will walk you through your attached hardware and check functionality. The update will be pushed from the Nest servers automatically. There will also be updates to the iOS Nest applications to support the changes. Nest says other new features are on the way. The company is getting pushed by competitors like Honeywell. I'd love to see the Nest use my iPhone to figure out if I am near home or not, so it can set the auto-away function using geo-fencing, rather than using the motion sensing feature of the Nest to see if I am home.
Nest's smart thermostat now shows much more info at a glance
For all of the things Nest's smart thermostat has learned to do, its interface hasn't made a lot of progress; you frequently have to dig to see more than just the basics. You'll have a much easier time of it after today, though. Nest is now rolling out a version 4.3 update that includes Quick View, a reworked interface that gives you more info at a glance. Push in the ring and you can quickly check both the outdoor temperature and humidity before you leave home -- handy if you're unsure about bringing your jacket. Spinning the ring, meanwhile, shows you a summary of everything associated with a given category. You can see the next scheduled temperature change, fan settings and other nice-to-know facts without wading into the menus.
Nest owns Revolv's home automation tech now, too
Google's adding another member to its household family that includes Nest and Dropcam, and this time its home automation outfit Revolv. The firm's website lists it as "a Nest company" now, and goes on to to assure existing customers that they're still taken care of and that their year-long warranties will be honored. The thing is, it isn't accepting any new users for its services that tie everything from Sonos wireless speakers, WeMo light switches and Hue lightbulbs from Philips together, as VentureBeat points out. For the privacy minded, Revolv is keen to note that its user data will stay separate from that of Nest's thermostats and smoke detectors, and Google as a whole. What's it all mean? That Mountain View has a new toy in an old box that its hoping will compete with challengers like Apple's HomeKit and Samsung + SmartThings. Whenever those fully launch, of course.
