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Nest's mobile app gets a full makeover, Protect smoke detector support
Since Nest's hardware and app go together like birds of a feather, new mobile software was inevitable after it launched the Nest Protect smoke detector. However, the startup darling has also taken the opportunity to completely revamp its app, mostly to make it easier to see all the important goings-on in your house. At a glance, you'll now get the temperature you've set on your Nest Thermostat, whether it's heating or cooling, the outside temperature and weather, and a big button to switch between home and away mode -- in lieu of the former, slightly lame method of tilting your phone to landscape. You'll also see an icon for the new Nest Protect smoke alarm, which displays a green ring if everything's a-okay, and yellow or red one for a heads-up or emergency, respectively. Selecting that icon will bring up the full app, showing all the detectors by room name, a green, yellow or red status for both smoke and carbon monoxide and the status of each alarm's batteries and sensor. In addition, it'll show the last WiFi update and time of your last manual test. Finally, the new app will bring a firmware update for the Nest Thermostat itself, with new features like "Quiet Time," to prevent potentially noisy humidifier equipment from waking up kids, for instance, along with tweaks that make the system more efficient. Hang tight if you're anxious to get them, because Nest said the new app and thermostat update will happen in a few days and install automatically.
Nest Mobile gets makeover, Nest Protect smoke detector compatibility
Nest has released version 4.0 of its Nest Mobile app giving it a complete UI makeover and adding Nest Protect smoke detector support. Writing on the company's blog, Matt Rogers, Nest's founder and VP of engineering, explains why the new app is a major improvement: The app is getting a full redesign: since you control both Nest Protect and the Nest Learning Thermostat from one place, we updated the mobile app to fit -- and work better -- for both. You won't have to turn the phone sideways to set your Thermostat to Away or view settings and things will get a lot more interesting when you connect a Nest Protect. Web control from nest.com has been redesigned to match. We've also improved several heating features on the Nest Thermostat to help you save energy this winter. Besides a redesign, the major new feature of the Nest Mobile app is Nest Protect support. Nest Protect is the company's new smoke detector product and using it in conjunction with the Nest Mobile 4.0 app users will be able to set up the device and change its settings, view messages, run self checks, get push notifications for important events and directly contact emergency services if smoke or carbon monoxide is detected. Nest Mobile 4.0 is a free download.
Engadget's 2013 Holiday Gift Guide: Household
Welcome to Engadget's holiday gift guide! Head back to our hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. If you ask us, gadgets for the home make some of the greatest gifts. After all, your parents may be doing just fine with their smartphones du jour, but now's your chance to give them the intelligent thermostat they never knew they were missing. The picks in this category represent some of the freshest ways to tech up the living room -- seriously, even the vacuums are cool.
Daily Roundup: Apple iMac review, HP Chromebook 11 hands-on, Nest's Protect smoke detector and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Nest's Protect smoke detector warns you before it's about to go off; coming soon for $129
Gosh, we were really excited to tell you what Nest's latest product is (we really didn't think you were going to guess), but then someone had to go and spoil the surprise. At any rate, the news is now official: Nest is indeed coming out with a smoke / carbon monoxide detector and yes, the product is called "Protect." As you can see in the photo above, Nest is trying to do for smoke detectors what it's already done for thermostats. Which is to say, it's trying to take a mundane household object and make it sexy. Well, sexy and smart. It wouldn't be a Nest device if it didn't have WiFi built in, allowing you to control the settings and check the battery life using a mobile app (it's available for iOS, with Android versions in both Google Play and the Kindle App Store). Also, the WiFi connection allows one Protect to talk to another. In the event of an emergency, all of the Protects in the house will go off, using a female speaking voice to let you know there's a fire or CO. But wait a second, what if there's no emergency? What if you just slightly burned your artisinal grilled cheese? In low-threat situations like this, Protect will warn you that it senses smoke, and then give you a chance to wave away the alert with your hand -- yep, the same way you'd wave away smoke itself. As you'd expect, the grace period depends on the urgency of the situation: if you've just been cooking dinner, you might be able to wave away the alert before the alarm goes off, but if there really is fire, you understandably won't get the luxury of a warning. Meanwhile, on the back end, the Protect can work in tandem with a Nest thermostat, so that if the Protect detects carbon monoxide, Nest will shut your heat off (many CO leaks are related to heating).
Nest Learning Thermostat to get its own API
Nest has announced that it will be releasing an API for its Nest Learning Thermostat. The new API was first announced at the CEDIA Expo in Denver, Colo., and later confirmed in a blog posting on Nest's site: What if Auto-Away could turn off your lights? What if your dryer knew not to run when energy prices were high? What if your robot vacuum knew when you were gone and cleaned up before you got home? Starting today, we're looking for partners to bring this vision to life. The Nest Developer Program will offer a real-time web API for the Nest Learning Thermostat in early 2014. The API is not only launching so other apps can integrate with the Nest thermostat, but also so the device can talk to other smart home systems, such as those that control lighting. Developers who want to get in on the API can register their interest here.
Nest unveils web app developer program, teams up with Control4
Despite its internet connection, Nest's Learning Thermostat has been a closed device so far -- you've had to rely on Nest for new features and software. The company is opening up its platform with the announcement of a developer program. Programmers will soon get to build web apps that link the thermostat to other devices and services, such as home automation equipment. Nest won't start the program until early 2014, but it's already partnering with Control4; eventually, all of Control4's apps and remotes will commandeer Nest hardware. If you're interested in growing the ecosystem, you'll find more details at the source link.
Nest reportedly working on smart smoke detector dubbed Protect
Now that Nest has rolled out its second-gen smart thermostat, it looks like it's gearing up to reveal its next project: an intelligent smoke detector dubbed Protect. Jessica Lessin, formerly of the Wall Street Journal, first broke word of the device and now AllThingsD is chiming in to confirm its existence. Specifics are slim, but it's said Protect will connect to the outfit's existing A/C hardware (presumably over Bluetooth), lending it long battery life since it won't need a WiFi chip. Lessin notes that a subscription-based monitoring service and the ability to sense carbon monoxide have been considered, but ATD's sources say the contraption won't be tied to a monthly fee. An official unveiling is expected to occur soon, and retail availability could come by year's end. Now that intelligent smoke detectors appear poised to head into homes soon, we can only hope they're as charming as Gilbert Gottfried. [Image credit: Katy Warner, Flickr]
Engadget Giveaway: win one of three Nest thermostats, courtesy of Amazon!
A lot of us don't have much in the way of home automation, but we'd venture to guess that most of us would absolutely love having a smarter residence. Amazon knows this, and it wants to celebrate its Home Automation store by hooking you up with a Nest thermostat. The smart thermostat -- which learns your preferred temperatures, turns itself down when you're not at home and can be controlled via WiFi -- is valued at $250 and is just one of a plethora of products that Amazon is featuring to help you control your house easier, near or far. We've got three to hand out to lucky readers, so take a chance by entering in the Rafflecopter widget below! Winners - Congratulations to our three winners: Jon S., Wellesley, MA; Miguel C., Clifton, VA; Rick B., West Palm Beach, FL
Glass Nest lets users control their homes from their heads
Those who already own Google Glass are more likely than most to embrace new technologies like Nest's thermostat, so it only makes sense that an especially eager adopter would find a way to combine the two. That would be James Rundquist and his new Glass Nest app: Glass owners now just have to announce that they're coming home (or heading out) to make their Nest units change the climate. More exacting homeowners can fine-tune the temperature, too. While the utility is both unofficial and quite limited at this stage, Rundquist has posted source code that lets anyone expand on the project. If you're in the rare position of owning both gadgets, we'd suggest giving Glass Nest and its code at least a cursory look.
Nest acquires MyEnergy, inherits better analysis tools for its customers
Nest, maker of the award-winning Learning Thermostat, announced today that it's acquired MyEnergy, an online service that lets you consolidate energy bills and share them with friends and family. Until recently, Nest's intelligence was limited to the confines of your home. This changed last month when the company launched Energy Services, which lets the thermostat communicate with participating utilities, making it aware of peak pricing and energy crunches. By acquiring MyEnergy, Nest will be able to help its customers manage energy more efficiently through better energy analysis tools. It also gives Nest another way to share information with utilities by tapping into MyEnergy's user base, which covers 1500 territories in 50 states, including areas without smart meters. Full PR after the break.
Nest updates iOS app and adds notifications
The popular Nest Thermostat has updated its internal software to version 3.5, and pushed out a new iOS app to control it. Most people should have had their thermostats updated automatically at some point yesterday. The software is being billed as summer enhancements to the thermostat aimed at better handling of high temperatures. %Gallery-187194% The new software allows the thermostat to make sure that sun shining on the hardware does not create false indoor temperature readings. The thermostat also has enhanced fan controls. The auto-away function has also been retooled, so it can better predict when you are coming home and have the house precisely at the temperature you want. The new iOS app supports these new hardware features by allowing you to control them remotely, and now feature notifications on when a filter change is due for your HVAC system. The app also displays seasonal savings and energy history. Apple and other retailers are selling the Nest Thermostat, which was designed by former iPod designer Tony Fadell. The app requires iOS 5 and is optimized for the iPhone 5. It's universal so it displays at full resolution on the iPad.
Nest 3.5 update adjusts for humidity and sunlight, fine-tunes fan control
Nest Labs isn't counting solely on the allure of discounts from power companies to reel us in this spring. It's pushing out a 3.5 update to all versions of the Nest Learning Thermostat that should be make it smarter about saving money -- even if it means spending a little up front. Along with the utility tie-ins from last week, the upgrade adds a Cool to Dry mode that invokes air conditioning when it's too humid, raising the energy bill slightly to avoid a costlier mold outbreak. The thermostat also won't be easily duped by the sun: a new Sunblock setting prevents unnecessary cooling whenever direct sunlight affects the temperature reading. Homeowners who just want more precision, meanwhile, may be happy with both refined fan scheduling (shown above) as well as mobile app updates that introduce alert messages and a more thermostat-like interface. Those with Nest units connected to WiFi should see version 3.5, and hopefully its intended savings, by 9PM Eastern tonight.
Second-gen Nest teardown reveals high degree of repairability, fun with curved glass
Chances are if you've bought a $250 thermostat you aren't going to immediately rip it apart to see what makes it tick. Thankfully, there are folks like iFixit that do these sorts of things for us, and they've now finally done the honors with Nest's second-generation unit. As with the original model, there's an ARM Cortex A8 CPU powering things inside, and iFixit is especially impressed with the ease of access to the replaceable battery and other components; only some adhesive holding the front assembly together proved a tad difficult, which it says could complicate matters if you need to replace the screen or front glass. If you do take it off, though, iFixit notes that the curved glass can also double as a handy magnifying glass. Hit the source link below for the full step-by-step account.
Nest Energy Services link home cooling to utilities' cloud data
As clever as the Nest Learning Thermostat can be, its intelligence only extends as far as the front door: it hasn't really been aware of how neighbors or the seasons affect our power bills. Nest Labs is improving that connection to the outside world through Nest Energy Services, a new program that links its device to the collective, cloud-based knowledge of utility companies. When owners are with an Energy Services-aware provider, the thermostat will know when to brace for an energy "rush hour" and automatically limit its cooling during peak (read: expensive) periods. It also gives a heads-up for seasonal discounts that fine-tune the temperature schedule over the course of a few weeks. Unlike previous utility-guided approaches, Nest users can always retake control if they genuinely can't stand the heat. Only Austin Energy, Green Mountain Energy, Reliant and Southern California Edison have lined up for the synced climate control so far, although Nest is sweetening the deal by expanding utility-based discounts for the thermostat itself. Customers of National Grid can get an immediate $100 rebate through Nest, while those who sign up with Reliant can still receive their thermostats for free with certain plans. The deals are calculated tradeoffs for companies likely to recoup their investment down the road, but they could represent big wins for homeowners still jittery about paying up front to save money later.
Nest's Matt Rogers backstage at Expand (video)
Hot off his interview on the Expand main stage, Matt Rogers, Founder and VP of Engineering at Nest, saddled up to the rather more temperate seat in our backstage interview room with Joseph Volpe. Among other things, Matt opened up about design in the 21st century household and Nest's ultimate plan to take over the whole home. Check out the video after break for the full interview. Follow all of Engadget's Expand coverage live from San Francisco right here!
Live from Expand: A Conversation with Nest Co-Founder Matt Rogers (video)
Nest answered that age old question: how to make the thermostat exciting? The startup has managed to bring the sleek and cutting edge technologies of mobile devices to the world of home temperature control, helping us to rethink the way we think about home automation in the process. March 16, 2013 2:00 PM EDT For a full list of Expand sessions, be sure to check out our event hub.
Engadget Expand speakers, Round Six: Nest, Sprint, MC10 and sci-fi up in lights
We've already got quite a lineup unveiled so far, but the fun doesn't stop now, my friends -- if anything, we'll be ratcheting up the excitement as we get closer and closer to Expand in San Francisco this March 16 and 17th. We'll have full profiles of all 10 of our Insert Coin Semi-Finalists rolling over the next few days, and your audience vote will determine which top five will also get to demo on our stage -- and voting will kick off today at 12:30pm PST / 3:30pm EST! Stay tuned! But if you still need more reasons to attend Expand, how about 10 of 'em? Followed by four more inspiring speakers you'll get to see -- all for the low, low price of 50 bucks: Matt Rogers: Founder & VP of Engineering, Nest Dave Icke: CEO, MC10 Ryan Sullivan: Director of Product Delivery, Sprint John Scalzi: President, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Read on for the Engadget editors you most want to meet...
Tony Fadell discusses inspiring designers
Tony Fadell, the CEO of Nest and former designer on Apple's iPod team, has revealed his list of secrets that inspire designers to make amazing products. Speaking at the Bloomberg Design conference this week, Fadell said it was important for companies to try to create a culture where everyone is striving to tell the same story. Fadell was asked about the differences between Apple and Philips. He said at financially driven companies like Philips, a majority of the products a designer works on will never be shipped -- and the designer knows that. It's customary for new project managers to come in, not understand a product, and scrap it entirely. Fadell says this type of corporate culture doesn't spur designers to do their best work since nine times out of 10 a product would be killed no matter how far along it was. Apple, on the other hand, virtually always ships nine out of 10 products that get to a certain point, according to Fadell. And because those workers were trying to tell the same story with a product -- no matter if they were in design, or programming, or marketing -- a product isn't totally derailed if a new manager comes in. "When you're in a culture that has a point of view, and drives to launch everything it does, you know you're on the hook and you better bring your best game every time," Fadell said. [via GigaOM]
CES 2013: Nest updates to version 2, fights for more compatibility
We're big fans of the Nest custom controlled thermostat here at TUAW -- it's a great product that got better last year with an update to version 2. Along with a thinner, updated design and brand-new firmware, the version 2 update also jumped up to be compatible with 95 percent of home HVAC systems, up from around 70 percent for the previous model. Nest was at the CES Digital Experience last night, and talked with us briefly about the new model and how it's coming along. The version 2 model just became available to the public late last year, and "we're selling lots," the Nest rep said, while declining to provide any more concrete sales numbers. The holiday was apparently a big sales boost for them, and Nest is obviously hoping to see more sales going forward. There are no new versions of the thermostat planned, so 2013 will see Nest just focusing on the current product, with possibly a few firmware updates and bugfixes coming down the line as the year goes on. Nest is continuing to improve and grow over the next year, and we'll look forward to seeing just what the company is working on next.
