Google buys Nest Labs, maker of smart thermostat, for $3.2 billion [u]

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  • Reply 21 of 337
    The nest is popular, but to me, ecobee is the best. But that sometimes is not what it's about when dealing in the business world.
    Maybe nest is better than 2 years ago and perhaps it's caught up with ecobee, but I wouldn't put my money on it - Apple could by ecobee for much less and popularize it - they would also need to update the pathetic app.
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  • Reply 22 of 337
    apple ][apple ][ Posts: 9,233member

    I don't blame the guy for selling to Google.

     

    For 3.2 Billion, how can you?

     

    Nest's products seem cool, but I don't think that Apple should have paid anything close to that amount, so let Google have them.

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  • Reply 23 of 337
    malaxmalax Posts: 1,598member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by anantksundaram View Post

     

    Tesla's a ridiculously overvalued company (not counting the premium that will have to be paid on top of that). Apple should stay as far away from it as possible.

     

    Google can have it.

     

    Square, on the other hand...


    Or Amazon can buy Tesla.  Seems like a match made in heaven.

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  • Reply 23 of 337
    gqbgqb Posts: 1,934member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by anantksundaram View Post

     

    They already tried it and failed. Miserably. Retired in 2011: http://www.google.com/powermeter/about/


    Doubt it. Put it into stealth mode, maybe.

    Google does NOT stop gathering  your data to sell.

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  • Reply 25 of 337

    And now I’ll never buy one (much less the three I’d planned). Ever.

     

    Originally Posted by Apple ][ View Post

    I don’t blame the guy for selling to Google. For 3.2 Billion, how can you?


     

    Because morals can’t be bought.

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  • Reply 26 of 337
    ortort Posts: 39member
    Looks like it's a little chilly in your house. Would you like to buy some sweaters?
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  • Reply 27 of 337
    philboogiephilboogie Posts: 7,675member
    Um... what is Google's strategy here?

    Don't understand it myself either. But what is more troubling; why didn't some Google Worshipper explain it to us? Could it be that they want to know at what time we go to sleep so they know what the best time it is to sell advertisement slots on TV, through that sticky thingy?
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  • Reply 28 of 337
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SolipsismX View Post





    3am your Nest smoke detector goes off only to have to inform you a minute later that this was just a drill and there are some great deals on oxygen masks and tanks you can keep in your nightstand.



    But in all seriousness if you were planning on getting a Nest thermostat before I see no reason not to now. I doubt there will be any ads showing up in these devices.

    I don't follow. Are you saying Apple should have bought Nest?

     

    Yes, what is Google's strategy? Are they positioning Google to become a new branch of government?

     

    They want to own automation systems (cars, homes, personal robots)... but how does that possibly serve their bottom line? I believe they are following the advice of Ray Kurzweil as they evaluate which technologies and companies they should acquire, but these are all nascent industries and there is no proof that any of them are big money makers, nor is there any guarantee any of them will be anything but a massive money sink for the foreseeable future.

     

    If Google can continue to fund money losers (as a type of very long term R&D) it will be bad for their immediate and near term, but possibly be of benefit in the long run. Considering none of these companies represent their core competency, I think they are just spending wildly and foolishly.

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  • Reply 29 of 337
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by hmurchison View Post

     
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by BobSchlob View Post

     

    Another overhead serve aces right past Apple. Thanks Tim.


    "Innovation is in our DNA"   

     

     

    Could have fooled me Tim. 


    If Apple had acquired Nest a loud minority would have screamed and stomped their feet 'Why the hell did Apple buy this?'

     

    Since Google bought it, and they always make the best IP & product purchases, a different loud minority while lie on the floor holding their breath and threatening to die right after hollering 'Apple is doomed, I say Apple is doomed'.

     

    Is this site an incubator for analysts?

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  • Reply 30 of 337
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,769member
    apple ][ wrote: »
    I don't blame the guy for selling to Google.

    For 3.2 Billion, how can you?

    Nest's products seem cool, but I don't think that Apple should have paid anything close to that amount, so let Google have them.

    I don't think $3.2B was for a couple of products. This might even be part of their Android@Home project. With that said it may be some time before there's any reliable evidence whether they overpaid or scooped up a bargain.
    http://readwrite.com/2013/09/26/nest-future-of-the-connected-home-new-web-api#awesm=~osRyQJUR0XTpuU
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  • Reply 31 of 337
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Damn_Its_Hot View Post

     

    If Apple had acquired Nest a loud minority would have screamed and stomped their feet 'Why the hell did Apple buy this?'

     

    Since Google bought it, and they always make the best IP & product purchases, a different loud minority while lie on the floor holding their breath and threatening to die right after hollering 'Apple is doomed, I say Apple is doomed'.

     

    Is this site an incubator for analysts?


     

    Nest is only able to make money because their product is subsidized by the utilities. Relative to less capable products, they are beyond premium priced.

     

    In contrast, Apple maintains their premium prices with quality and marketing.

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  • Reply 32 of 337
    I think home automation is the next big thing, not wearable devices. Right now it's just an amalgamation of so many competing products, lights, alarms, motion detectors, cameras, thermostats, smoke alarms, etc. A company should take all these items and come out with one whole house solution (hardware/software) that all works together under one umbrella. And looks and feels clean, modern and easy to use.
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  • Reply 33 of 337
    hmurchisonhmurchison Posts: 12,464member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by anantksundaram View Post

     

    Tesla's a ridiculously overvalued company (not counting the premium that will have to be paid on top of that). Apple should stay as far away from it as possible.

     

    Google can have it.

     

    Square, on the other hand...


    Fck Square 

     

    Dwolla is the purchase you want if you're talking financial transactions. 

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  • Reply 34 of 337
    bill42bill42 Posts: 131member
    I love my very apple-like Nest and this news troubles me... The Nest is a very un-Android-like device. I hope they don't ruin it.
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  • Reply 35 of 337
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by anantksundaram View Post

     

    Um... what is Google's strategy here?


    On one hand, they could be buying some Apple DNA.

     

    On the other hand, they like to accumulate companies and technology that are about data accumulation. 

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  • Reply 36 of 337
    macxpressmacxpress Posts: 6,006member

    Not really sure why Nest would let Google purchase them to "continue their innovation". What has Google done lately that hasn't failed miserably??? I'm not really concerned with ads in Nest products, but rather this could end up being a product that starts to fail down the road. Sure, it may take a year or two, but once the real Google influence comes to Nest you'll see their products go down the toilet. Google has lost all and any innovation it once had. 

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  • Reply 37 of 337
    hmurchisonhmurchison Posts: 12,464member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Damn_Its_Hot View Post

     

    If Apple had acquired Nest a loud minority would have screamed and stomped their feet 'Why the hell did Apple buy this?'

     

    Since Google bought it, and they always make the best IP & product purchases, a different loud minority while lie on the floor holding their breath and threatening to die right after hollering 'Apple is doomed, I say Apple is doomed'.

     

    Is this site an incubator for analysts?


    I totally think Nest is more appropriate for Google rather than Apple because Google thrives off of info and that's what Nest will give them via their huge datasets. 

     

    What I want Apple to do here is let us know what side of the Home Automation are they going to come down on. 

     

    Zwave, Zigbee or 6LowPAN or some proprietary format of their own creation?   As much disdain as I have for the grandiose "Internet of Things" hyperbole being spouted off daily I do think this year is the year to lay down the tracks and start building a more connected world. 

     

    Google's made one step here ....it'll be interesting to see what other synergistic companies they acquire going forward.

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  • Reply 38 of 337
    apple ][apple ][ Posts: 9,233member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post

     

    Because morals can’t be bought.


     

    I agree, but for 3.2 Billion, I'd sell to the devil, which I guess is what happened in this case.

     

    Do no evil.

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  • Reply 39 of 337
    apple ][apple ][ Posts: 9,233member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by bill42 View Post



    I love my very apple-like Nest and this news troubles me... The Nest is a very un-Android-like device. I hope they don't ruin it.

     

    They probably will ruin it. Everybody knows how Google makes their money.

     

    Now, Google will know even more about your life, your habits, your contacts and even your room temperature probably.

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  • Reply 40 of 337
    blastdoorblastdoor Posts: 3,845member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Apple ][ View Post

     

    I don't blame the guy for selling to Google.

     

    For 3.2 Billion, how can you?

     

    Nest's products seem cool, but I don't think that Apple should have paid anything close to that amount, so let Google have them.


    I agree -- there is no way that Nest was worth this much to Apple. 

     

    But maybe it is worth this much to Google. Google's strategy is to sell our info and eyeballs to advertisers. Nest products have prominent placement in people's homes, providing another way to insert ads in front of our eyeballs. Also, Nest products gather a lot of data about people, not least of which whether they are home or not. 

     

    Heck, between the ad placement and information value, I wouldn't be surprised if Google starts giving Nest products away for free. I'd rather pay $200 for a thermostat than let Eric Schmidt know how often I walk to the bathroom at night, but my impression is that there are a lot of people who are happy to share all personal data with companies like Google and Facebook. So this is probably win-win. 

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