Nest may have had our attention with Nest Cam yesterday, but the company didn't even mention its big Google Fiber and YouTube news. Google may now own Nest, but that didn't earn it more than a fleeting mention of Brillo and Weave, the Internet-of-Things networking standards announced at I/O last month. Arguably more interesting, though, is how Nest Cam will stream directly to YouTube.
Nest may have new hardware to show today, but the app to control its thermostat, Nest Protect smoke alarm, and Nest Cam security camera is also getting revamped. Nest 5.0 for iPhone and Android updates the interface in addition to streamlining setup, bringing together not only Nest's own range but existing Dropcam cameras you might have installed, all in the same place.
Nest has revealed its latest product, Nest Cam, a streaming security camera. First fruit of the company's Dropcam acquisition back in June 2014, the new camera bears a distinct resemblance to models like the Dropcam Pro, with a rounded top section atop a newly-slimmed stand that also offers wall-mounting. Inside, there's 1080p video support along with both WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity.
Nest is expected to announce a new product next week, but it won't be a home monitor, at least not in the sense that the Thermostat and the Protect are. It is believed to be a camera and, based on the leaked photos grabbed by Droid Life, that is exactly what it is. Called simply the Nest Cam, it is pretty much Nest's stand in for Dropcam, which is now owns. Luckily, it seems that it didn't settle for a simple rebranding, giving the upcoming smart camera a sleeker design.
Controlling lights, appliances, and keeping an eye on home security has never been easier, but as smart home technology proliferates, picking the best place to start can be tough. I’ve been upgrading my apartment for the past few years, now, and I know that the first step needn’t be too risky, however. Since home automation can be intimidating, I’m going to focus on products that require the minimum of installation effort. I’m a big fan of non-permanent options: it makes a lot of sense if you’re renting, but it also gives you flexibility to change things up as you get used to your newly-smart home.
Google acquired Nest and then Dropcam, so it isn't much of a surprise that it might want more. If there was any doubt there, this latest patent, filed just months after the two acquisitions, would dispel all that. It might be deceptively called "Security Scoring in a Smart-sensored Home", but the message it sends is clear. Google wants to make homes smarter, and probably gather more information than you're willing to hand over through browsers and phones. And like any other house, it all starts at the door.
Hardware reaching their end of life is a natural occurrence, especially in mobile and smart devices that seem to have at the very least only 2 years to live. More often than not, owners are left with no choice but to upgrade, which usually entails cashing out on a new device. That is why Dropcam's new offer is like a breath of fresh air. It will be giving a free hardware replacement to owners of the original Dropcam and Dropcam Echo, even going as far as allowing owners to keep their old units, just as a remembrance.
Recently, Nest announced support for several new products, among them being Dropcam, the company it acquired not too long ago. Following this is an update to Dropcam's app that adds support for Nest's products, as well as some other small changes and bug fixes.
At this year's CEDIA expo, Nest has announced support for a bunch of new products, Dropcam among them. This expands the number of products the company's Nest Learning Thermostats and Nest Protect smoke detectors can work with, further increasing the connectivity found inside one's home.
While we might drool over technology and gadgets that make us into virtual cyborgs or commanders of an army of flying robots, privacy advocates are more concerned about the potential risks and violations that could happen. Enter Unplug, a hand-sized gadget that may not be able to completely keep out Glass users and drones from your home or business establishment but will at least keep them off your Internet network and hinder them from uploading and spreading their spy shots.
As go home security cameras, so goes the Dropcam. The very cool, Google-owned company put everyone on notice with their snazzy camera, meant for home security, but good for a variety of use cases. A new challenger, Simplicam, wants to unseat them from their throne atop the consumer security cam heap. Offering a bit more technical savvy than the Dropcam, Simplicam may end up the home security camera you should be considering instead of others it competes with. Is Simplicam as good as advertised, though? We put it through its paces to find out.
"Motion near upstairs," the notification says. That's upstairs in my apartment, the place I was around 2,800 miles away from; on the other side of the country from, in fact. It's Saturday morning, I'm away for the weekend, and SmartThings is being terribly helpful in notifying me that one of its motion detectors has spotted something unusual. That's when I start to panic.
