According to re/code, Apple was never interested in Nest. Maybe they didn't want Fadell back? Let's not forget Steve hired Mark Papermaster to run iPhone hardware engineering. He didn't give the job to Fadell. There must have been a reason.
Pfft… Yeah, right. Junk from the creator of the iPod.
Infact it's such junk that Apple thought it deserved to be sold in Apple retail stores.
Apple think Nest as a junk if they want to buy it for 3 Billion. Regarding selling in Apple store---> Watch how they kick out " src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" />
Apple is better off buying Chipotle (CMG). At least poor spamdroids will buy Apple burritos and Apple can make profits more than they can make from Nest. How about buying UNP (Union Pacific Corp)? Lot of Great options out there to buy than to buy this Junk Nest where money is to be drained not made! " src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" />
I have 2 nest 1st. gen thermostats in my house. They did a much better job than the generic ones the builders had installed 10 years ago in terms of keeping my house comfortable and even saved me a little energy.
Fast forward 10 years to today, and Nest isn't the only game in town for saving money on your heating/cooling. Shop around, you may find (like I did) other products that work better in your situation than Nest's. Some are more expensive, but better/more appropriate.
Another overhead serve aces right past Apple. Thanks Tim.
If this kind of product is not within Apple's business plan, then it's good that Apple (Tim Cook) didn't get distracted by buying it just to keep someone else from getting it. It takes discipline to pass on opportunities that are not right for the business plan, especially so when you got a lot of money burning a hole in your pocket.
Google, on the other hand, has a business plan that amounts to throwing shit against the wall and seeing what sticks. Google jumps into one thing or another and back out, there's no rhyme or reason to the directions they go, or the money they spend... and yet only the search engine is making them money. Nest is today's plaything, after a while Google will be distracted by something else.
You can buy a programmable device (about the size of a quarter) with an ARM CPU, DRAM, A few sensors (like a thermometer, motion detector, etc.), audible and visual alarms, encryption, Bluetooth 4.0 radio, logging, 2 year battery, case, packaging, shipping, documentation, SDK, etc. -- for $25 (or less) for quantity 1. They're called beacons.
I don't know much about Nest -- but I don't believe there is too much hardware cost in an "intelligent thermostat" or an "intelligent smoke detector" -- especially if the "intelligence" doesn't need to reside in the device itself.
From what I've heard, Nest makes devices that are at Apple's level of quality, reliability, ease-of-use, UX...
An interesting thought occurs... The $99 AppleTV has an A5 APU, RAM, WiFi, USB, Ethernet, Bluetooth 4.0...
You could sprinkle $25 beacons (with thermometers/sensors) throughout your home (and one as the thermostat) -- the AppleTV would contain the intelligence -- then you could monitor the temperature/smoke/radon/security in multiple rooms and take appropriate action as necessary. All this could be easily setup through iTunes/AppleTV/iPhone Remote -- and securely controlled/monitored with any iDevice
If Nest was important to Apple, they would have snapped them up. They didn't so either they had no IP worth buying or there isn't the market for it yet. Home automation is in its infancy, much like 4K TV. There is no point getting into a market that small, that early. It'll just give you less of a head start and companies such as Samsung will easily be able to copy what is done.
I have no doubt that Apple will get into home automation in 2015/2016 but only when the time is right. Instead of a wall mounted thermostat, you'll have Siri control and full control from your iPhone and iPad. I can also imagine them using sensors in the idevices to back up the control of the house.
Geofencing and GPS estimation could turn on heating and hot water so the house is good when you get back, also it could save you money by not heating anything if no one is home unexpectedly.
1 company making 1 item with a promise of others is no match for Apple. They know what is going to be big and they know when it's going to be big (because they'll start it). They'll have IP and copyrights sitting in place for years before they release anything. The bonus being it'll be easy to control, will run iOS and will just work.
From what I've heard, Nest makes devices that are at Apple's level of quality, reliability, ease-of-use, UX...
For all but setting the desired temperature, the Nest UI truly sucks. Compare it to the Galaxy Gear. In fact, the Gear UI may have been inspired by the Nest UI.
Installing the Nest is easier than other thermostats, but installing a thermostat isn't difficult in the first place.
One note about Nest installation. It is claimed to be compatible with 4-wire systems, but this compatibility comes at the price of sometimes having to run the fan alone in order to charge the Nest battery. And this decreases energy efficiency.
Hmm...somehow I get the feeling Nest was worried about competition in the space so why not get scooped up by Google, especially when they're overpaying,
Cnet has an interesting theory about why Apple didn't buy Nest: a)Nest is more about design than groundbreaking technology b)Apple doesn't typically buy companies with end products (hardware) and c)Apple is very secretive and a big purchase like this would tip their hand.
I'm glad I held off. Everybody thinks that an electronic gizmo can be "smart" because it uses a handful of supposedly germane data sources. A little experimentation always shows this to be flawed.
Google's play here isn't the ads but the immense amount of data that
Nest's cloud was gathering.
Look for Google to make some more acquisitions within the home automation/green tech
space and leverage the huge opportunity they have here.
late in the game (working in a classified network during the day), but this.
Once you register your 'nest' with Nest using a google account, and look at the sort of data Nest will be playing with
- utilities
- environmentals (is it cold where you live? hot?)
- safety/security
- activity patterns
- home automation
This sort of information is gold for google to link to you (and your children's) profile, and crowdsourcing as well (the geo data... you're looking at a nielsen's level sampling).
All the work I've been doing in trying to protect the electrical smart data grid can potentially be inferred by Google/Nest... I know when a zip code temp is going up... I know when power outages are in play, the average occupancy of a home, security alarm data for a neighborhood, traffic patterns (given the home usage patterns of zip 12345-33xx to 38xx, we are seeing information that indicates everyone is caught in traffic/at the HS football game/stayed home to watch the royal wedding)
passive crowdsourcing without 'giving up' your private information (until you correlate it with other information, such as your Android phone, your GoogleTV, YouTube use, Google Fiber)
Not that Apple couldn't do the same thing... but it's analytics is less likely to be used as a 'product' sold outside of Apple.
Google's play here isn't the ads but the immense amount of data that
Nest's cloud was gathering.
Look for Google to make some more acquisitions within the home automation/green tech
space and leverage the huge opportunity they have here.
late in the game (working in a classified network during the day), but this.
Once you register your 'nest' with Nest using a google account, and look at the sort of data Nest will be playing with
- utilities
- environmentals (is it cold where you live? hot?)
- safety/security
- activity patterns
- home automation
This sort of information is gold for google to link to you (and your children's) profile, and crowdsourcing as well (the geo data... you're looking at a nielsen's level sampling).
All the work I've been doing in trying to protect the electrical smart data grid can potentially be inferred by Google/Nest... I know when a zip code temp is going up... I know when power outages are in play, the average occupancy of a home, security alarm data for a neighborhood, traffic patterns (given the home usage patterns of zip 12345-33xx to 38xx, we are seeing information that indicates everyone is caught in traffic/at the HS football game/stayed home to watch the royal wedding)
passive crowdsourcing without 'giving up' your private information (until you correlate it with other information, such as your Android phone, your GoogleTV, YouTube use, Google Fiber)
Not that Apple couldn't do the same thing... but it's analytics is less likely to be used as a 'product' sold outside of Apple.
That' scary!
Time for Google to be regulated? The sooner the better!
If Nest was important to Apple, they would have snapped them up. They didn't so either they had no IP worth buying or there isn't the market for it yet.
Home automation is in its infancy, much like 4K TV. There is no point getting into a market that small, that early.
It'll just give you less of a head start and companies such as Samsung will easily be able to copy what is done.
It's not in its infancy... more like it hasn't had it's great convergence yet. And Nest while a compelling simple interface, doesn't scale well to 'real' automation problems, which unlike heating and cooling, are less about 'learning' and more about integrating several systems and their rules into a cohesive set of expected outcomes, and also a whole much of real mechanical issues (integrating with blinds, windows, pumps, etc)
My guess is that Apple doesn't want to be a home automation vendor, but wants iOS to be a platform for a Home automation vendor to build on top of... or iOS is the presentation vehicle of a Home Automation information source to the person in a unique way (beyond that of a glorified web server).
Combining iBeacon technology and iOS and a Home Automation system that plugs into real things and solves real problems
Quote:
I have no doubt that Apple will get into home automation in 2015/2016 but only when the time is right.
Instead of a wall mounted thermostat, you'll have Siri control and full control from your iPhone and iPad.
I can also imagine them using sensors in the idevices to back up the control of the house.
Geofencing and GPS estimation could turn on heating and hot water so the house is good when you get back, also it could save you money by not heating anything if no one is home unexpectedly.
1 company making 1 item with a promise of others is no match for Apple. They know what is going to be big and they know when it's going to be big (because they'll start it). They'll have IP and copyrights sitting in place for years before they release anything. The bonus being it'll be easy to control, will run iOS and will just work.
I think 'personality' will be important. Siri is a good interface for 'dim the living room lights, airplay a little Sade' on the living room speakers, turn the room temp up to 78' and hopefully I'll get the mrs into a bit more romantic mood....
but I think geo fencing or predictive movements: "The Other Geoff's" Phone just started moving toward 'home'... He likes his beer at 38F... turn down the fridge" Automator is better.
Or... as I walk by a smoke detector and it 'beacons' to my phone that the battery is at 15% and should be replaced in 6 weeks (instead of the just starting to beep).
Or have the home door locks lock behind me when I leave the property, without pressing a button or talking to siri... and unlock when we get back.
I think Apple wants much more than a 'nicer web interface' into home automation, or a 'someone's in the room... let's turn the heat up' dumb sensing... and really wants your iOS device to project identity (hence the wearable need) and drive a truly innovative experience.
Comments
No matter, my point was to be snarky, not technically accurate
Soon there will be no where to hide from our Google overlords.
Pfft… Yeah, right. Junk from the creator of the iPod.
Infact it's such junk that Apple thought it deserved to be sold in Apple retail stores.
Apple think Nest as a junk if they want to buy it for 3 Billion. Regarding selling in Apple store---> Watch how they kick out
Apple is better off buying Chipotle (CMG). At least poor spamdroids will buy Apple burritos and Apple can make profits more than they can make from Nest. How about buying UNP (Union Pacific Corp)? Lot of Great options out there to buy than to buy this Junk Nest where money is to be drained not made!
" src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" />
I have 2 nest 1st. gen thermostats in my house. They did a much better job than the generic ones the builders had installed 10 years ago in terms of keeping my house comfortable and even saved me a little energy.
Fast forward 10 years to today, and Nest isn't the only game in town for saving money on your heating/cooling. Shop around, you may find (like I did) other products that work better in your situation than Nest's. Some are more expensive, but better/more appropriate.
If this kind of product is not within Apple's business plan, then it's good that Apple (Tim Cook) didn't get distracted by buying it just to keep someone else from getting it. It takes discipline to pass on opportunities that are not right for the business plan, especially so when you got a lot of money burning a hole in your pocket.
Google, on the other hand, has a business plan that amounts to throwing shit against the wall and seeing what sticks. Google jumps into one thing or another and back out, there's no rhyme or reason to the directions they go, or the money they spend... and yet only the search engine is making them money. Nest is today's plaything, after a while Google will be distracted by something else.
You can buy a programmable device (about the size of a quarter) with an ARM CPU, DRAM, A few sensors (like a thermometer, motion detector, etc.), audible and visual alarms, encryption, Bluetooth 4.0 radio, logging, 2 year battery, case, packaging, shipping, documentation, SDK, etc. -- for $25 (or less) for quantity 1. They're called beacons.
I don't know much about Nest -- but I don't believe there is too much hardware cost in an "intelligent thermostat" or an "intelligent smoke detector" -- especially if the "intelligence" doesn't need to reside in the device itself.
From what I've heard, Nest makes devices that are at Apple's level of quality, reliability, ease-of-use, UX...
An interesting thought occurs... The $99 AppleTV has an A5 APU, RAM, WiFi, USB, Ethernet, Bluetooth 4.0...
You could sprinkle $25 beacons (with thermometers/sensors) throughout your home (and one as the thermostat) -- the AppleTV would contain the intelligence -- then you could monitor the temperature/smoke/radon/security in multiple rooms and take appropriate action as necessary. All this could be easily setup through iTunes/AppleTV/iPhone Remote -- and securely controlled/monitored with any iDevice
Soon there will be nowhere to hide from our Google overlords.
You can make a difference.
Home automation is in its infancy, much like 4K TV. There is no point getting into a market that small, that early.
It'll just give you less of a head start and companies such as Samsung will easily be able to copy what is done.
I have no doubt that Apple will get into home automation in 2015/2016 but only when the time is right.
Instead of a wall mounted thermostat, you'll have Siri control and full control from your iPhone and iPad.
I can also imagine them using sensors in the idevices to back up the control of the house.
Geofencing and GPS estimation could turn on heating and hot water so the house is good when you get back, also it could save you money by not heating anything if no one is home unexpectedly.
1 company making 1 item with a promise of others is no match for Apple. They know what is going to be big and they know when it's going to be big (because they'll start it). They'll have IP and copyrights sitting in place for years before they release anything. The bonus being it'll be easy to control, will run iOS and will just work.
Rubinstein is now in charge of robots. Yeah, Google is a dog chasing its tale...
From what I've heard, Nest makes devices that are at Apple's level of quality, reliability, ease-of-use, UX...
For all but setting the desired temperature, the Nest UI truly sucks. Compare it to the Galaxy Gear. In fact, the Gear UI may have been inspired by the Nest UI.
Installing the Nest is easier than other thermostats, but installing a thermostat isn't difficult in the first place.
One note about Nest installation. It is claimed to be compatible with 4-wire systems, but this compatibility comes at the price of sometimes having to run the fan alone in order to charge the Nest battery. And this decreases energy efficiency.
Cnet has an interesting theory about why Apple didn't buy Nest: a)Nest is more about design than groundbreaking technology b)Apple doesn't typically buy companies with end products (hardware) and c)Apple is very secretive and a big purchase like this would tip their hand.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57617164-37/why-apple-didnt-buy-nest/
And for $3.2 . . . BILLION??
Really?
Something just feels way off about the way companies (for sale, ready for acquisition?) are valued.
The same could be said about people.
Yeah...
This doesn't pass the smell test!
If Fadell has some revolutionary idea on the drawing board, then maybe...
Google's play here isn't the ads but the immense amount of data that
Nest's cloud was gathering.
Look for Google to make some more acquisitions within the home automation/green tech
space and leverage the huge opportunity they have here.
late in the game (working in a classified network during the day), but this.
Once you register your 'nest' with Nest using a google account, and look at the sort of data Nest will be playing with
- utilities
- environmentals (is it cold where you live? hot?)
- safety/security
- activity patterns
- home automation
This sort of information is gold for google to link to you (and your children's) profile, and crowdsourcing as well (the geo data... you're looking at a nielsen's level sampling).
All the work I've been doing in trying to protect the electrical smart data grid can potentially be inferred by Google/Nest... I know when a zip code temp is going up... I know when power outages are in play, the average occupancy of a home, security alarm data for a neighborhood, traffic patterns (given the home usage patterns of zip 12345-33xx to 38xx, we are seeing information that indicates everyone is caught in traffic/at the HS football game/stayed home to watch the royal wedding)
passive crowdsourcing without 'giving up' your private information (until you correlate it with other information, such as your Android phone, your GoogleTV, YouTube use, Google Fiber)
Not that Apple couldn't do the same thing... but it's analytics is less likely to be used as a 'product' sold outside of Apple.
That' scary!
Time for Google to be regulated? The sooner the better!
I fear that's a given.
If Nest was important to Apple, they would have snapped them up. They didn't so either they had no IP worth buying or there isn't the market for it yet.
Home automation is in its infancy, much like 4K TV. There is no point getting into a market that small, that early.
It'll just give you less of a head start and companies such as Samsung will easily be able to copy what is done.
It's not in its infancy... more like it hasn't had it's great convergence yet. And Nest while a compelling simple interface, doesn't scale well to 'real' automation problems, which unlike heating and cooling, are less about 'learning' and more about integrating several systems and their rules into a cohesive set of expected outcomes, and also a whole much of real mechanical issues (integrating with blinds, windows, pumps, etc)
My guess is that Apple doesn't want to be a home automation vendor, but wants iOS to be a platform for a Home automation vendor to build on top of... or iOS is the presentation vehicle of a Home Automation information source to the person in a unique way (beyond that of a glorified web server).
Combining iBeacon technology and iOS and a Home Automation system that plugs into real things and solves real problems
I have no doubt that Apple will get into home automation in 2015/2016 but only when the time is right.
Instead of a wall mounted thermostat, you'll have Siri control and full control from your iPhone and iPad.
I can also imagine them using sensors in the idevices to back up the control of the house.
Geofencing and GPS estimation could turn on heating and hot water so the house is good when you get back, also it could save you money by not heating anything if no one is home unexpectedly.
1 company making 1 item with a promise of others is no match for Apple. They know what is going to be big and they know when it's going to be big (because they'll start it). They'll have IP and copyrights sitting in place for years before they release anything. The bonus being it'll be easy to control, will run iOS and will just work.
I think 'personality' will be important. Siri is a good interface for 'dim the living room lights, airplay a little Sade' on the living room speakers, turn the room temp up to 78' and hopefully I'll get the mrs into a bit more romantic mood....
but I think geo fencing or predictive movements: "The Other Geoff's" Phone just started moving toward 'home'... He likes his beer at 38F... turn down the fridge" Automator is better.
Or... as I walk by a smoke detector and it 'beacons' to my phone that the battery is at 15% and should be replaced in 6 weeks (instead of the just starting to beep).
Or have the home door locks lock behind me when I leave the property, without pressing a button or talking to siri... and unlock when we get back.
I think Apple wants much more than a 'nicer web interface' into home automation, or a 'someone's in the room... let's turn the heat up' dumb sensing... and really wants your iOS device to project identity (hence the wearable need) and drive a truly innovative experience.