Campbell told the audience that there are “a lot of things going on with the application of technology to really intimate things.” He referenced to Google Glass to being one such thing. He believes that everyday objects like glasses, or watches are beginning to get a technological revamp, and that this is a start of a new era in technology where objects are becoming very intimate, just like the cell phone.

Campbell references to the company Nest, started by former Apple executive Tony Fadell, which transformed thermostats with the power of technology. Nest created a smart thermostat that learns your daily routines, your favorite temperatures, and adjusts itself accordingly. It changes the temperature while you’re sleeping, when you wake up, and when you leave your house, so that you can conserve as much electricity as possible. It learns what type of heating/cooling system you have, alerts you when you need to change your filter, and is controllable via mobile device.

Technology is advancing faster, and many everyday objects we use, like refrigerators and ovens, are starting to get a technological revamp. Campbell later discussed the recent firing of Ron Johnson, J.C. Penney’s CEO and former Apple executive, after the company saw a 25% drop in sales. He ended the event by telling product managers that they should work closely with engineers and guide them, instead of just commanding them to implement features that products “should” have.

[via Business Week]

The app learns from your daily behaviors and tracks your physical position – as well as those of everyone else in the household – to automatically control the heating system. It can also check weather forecasts so that it can accommodate particularly cold or warm days, in addition to learning how the insulation of your home affects overall HVAC system performance.

Like Nest, Tado is pushing the idea of DIY installation, though its wiring system should be compatible with a broader range of HVAC equipment – including gas, oil, pellet, wood chip heating system or heat pump – and both analog and digital BUS interfaces. All of the communications with the smartphone apps – available for iOS and Android – are secured, and there’s integrated ”6LoWPAN” (IPv6 over Low power Wireless Personal Area Networks) internet-of-things connectivity for future support for further home automation. A dongle for your router gets the Tado hub online.

On average, the Tado team claims, the system can save users 27-percent on their energy costs by more efficiently controlling when heating is turned on and off. Those savings can be tracked using the various graphs of performance Tado can produce, and in fact any web-enabled device can be used to log into the system remotely and see how it’s working.

Tado is on sale in Germany from today, with the first 1,000 buyers getting the hardware free; there’s a service charge of €99 ($126) per year, after which it switches to a rolling monthly contract.

The new Nest is now 20% thinner than the original and has a solid stainless steel outer ring. They also removed the sensor grille on the front of the original Nest and replaced it with a smooth surface so that the display is uniform all the way around. The new look definitely puts the old design to shame.

However, Nest also made some changes to the inside of the device. First, they made installation easier by putting the mounting screw holes at the top and bottom, and also upgraded the wire connectors to make connecting the heating and cooling components easier than ever. And just like with the original Nest, you’ll find a built-level level on the inside as well.

The second-generation Nest is also now compatible with 95% of low-voltage heating and cooling systems, including 2nd-stage cooling, 3rd-stage heating, dual fuel, emergency heat, and whole-home humidifiers and dehumidifiers. They added a unique connector on the inside that’s now compatible with four different types of wires: W3, E, HUM or DEHUM.

Both the original Nest and the new Nest are getting a big software update as well. Version 3.0 consists of a lot of new features and makes the device even smarter than before. The device will now be able to automatically detect what kind of heating and cooling system you have, as well as provide you with reminders to change your filter. The thermostat is also compatible with Android tablets including the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire. Just download the required app and you’ll be set to go.

The second-generation Nest Learning Thermostat will begin shipping on October 15th and its available for pre-order now at a cost of $249.

The smart thermostat will be available for $249.99 on Apple’s online store, and naturally be compatible with the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and even Macs. The Nest app will allow you to remotely control the temperature of your home via WiFi, and even when you’re not keeping tabs on it, the thermostat will intelligently adjust the temperature so that it’s just right.

It makes sense that Apple would start selling the thermostat: the creator of the Nest, Tony Fadell, helped to design the iPod plus iSight cameras, and helped run the iPod division of Apple for several years. The two companies share similar design philosophies, as well as emphasis on simplicity and ease of use. If you want to pick up a Nest thermostat, you’ll have to fork out $249.99 and install it yourself (or perhaps with a little bit of help), but we’re told it’s worth it.

[via Engadget]

The Verge takes a closer look at Nest’s response to Honeywell, as well as the patent issues at play. Tony Fadell, CEO of Nest, is the former head of Apple’s iPod and iPhone programs, and has dealt with infringement claims before. In response to Honeywell’s lawsuit, they’ve brought on Apple patent counsel Richard Lutton Jr as vice president and general counsel. Lutton believes that Honeywell “jump in and try to scare new entrants back out of the market.”

Fadell says that Honeywell is simply trying to “strangle” Nest, and isn’t even after money, instead wanting to “maintain the status quo.” Nest cites the lack of innovation in the thermostat industry, as well as consumers failing to warm to Honeywell’s programmable models. Nest believes that Honeywell entered “damage control mode” after reviewers found the Nest to be a viable alternative.

Nest goes into great detail surrounding Honeywell’s patent claims, examining each one individually and refuting the assertions that they’re infringing on anything. For example, some of Honeywell’s patents require mechanical components, which the Nest thermostat simply doesn’t have. Nest doesn’t have any patents that it can attack Honeywell with, but it does have secure financial backing, which includes Google Ventures. The situation could lead to an legal quagmire, although Tony Fadell says the option of entering discussions with Honeywell to better understand their issue isn’t off the table.

The major new feature the company has added to the thermostat is “Airwave”, which sets a target for heating or cooling, then shuts off the HVAC system just before it hits that target, the principle being that the room(s) will still continue to heat/cool until the system is off completely. Nest has also added the ability to view the past ten days worth of energy history, on both mobile applications, and their website.

Hardware for the thermostat has also been tweaked. The latest versions of Nest that shipped out last week have a redesigned backplate, which gives a simplified design and moves wires out of the way of the center of the unit. The company has also included specific screws and a new wall anchor in the box. Customers said the previous wall anchor wasn’t sufficient, so Nest designed their own and have included that instead.

The company has remained silent on how many units they’ve sold so far, although it’s at least 10,000: a recent survey included that many people in order to gauge satisfaction with the product. Nest also didn’t comment on the lawsuit with Honeywell.

[via GigaOM]