Nest app updates with Thermostat control from Apple Watch, expanded camera options
Google's Nest division updated its iOS app with several important features, most notably the ability to control its flagship Thermostat via the Apple Watch.
Image Credit: TechCrunch
The Watch extension lets Thermostat owners adjust temperature without picking up their iPhone or another iOS device. Nest hasn't said whether its cameras or smoke protectors will eventually be controllable this way.
In the meantime, however, the Nest iOS app has received several other upgrades, all focused on camera support. Chief is the addition of "Spaces," which allows HomeKit-style grouping of devices by room -- Nest products don't currenly support HomeKit. The feature lets people see all of their Nest cameras at once, although simultaneous live views require that an iPhone or iPad be on Wi-Fi.
The update also adds 1080p support for the Dropcam Pro, and automatic video quality, which can scale back if necessary to maintain a continuous stream.
Finally users can choose to share password-protected live feeds with friends and family. People granted access to a camera can watch on the Web via video.nest.com.
The Nest iOS app is a free download, and runs on any device with iOS 8 or later. On top of any hardware costs, though, video archival features require a Nest Aware subscription starting at $10 per month.
Image Credit: TechCrunch
The Watch extension lets Thermostat owners adjust temperature without picking up their iPhone or another iOS device. Nest hasn't said whether its cameras or smoke protectors will eventually be controllable this way.
In the meantime, however, the Nest iOS app has received several other upgrades, all focused on camera support. Chief is the addition of "Spaces," which allows HomeKit-style grouping of devices by room -- Nest products don't currenly support HomeKit. The feature lets people see all of their Nest cameras at once, although simultaneous live views require that an iPhone or iPad be on Wi-Fi.
The update also adds 1080p support for the Dropcam Pro, and automatic video quality, which can scale back if necessary to maintain a continuous stream.
Finally users can choose to share password-protected live feeds with friends and family. People granted access to a camera can watch on the Web via video.nest.com.
The Nest iOS app is a free download, and runs on any device with iOS 8 or later. On top of any hardware costs, though, video archival features require a Nest Aware subscription starting at $10 per month.
Comments
yeah, and I meant it! :-p
Using 3rd party home automation solutions on iPhone and Apple Watch has led me to one conclusion with future purchases: If it doesn't support homekit, then I'm not going to buy it.
Apps are best suited when there is more to do than changing a solitary number or flicking a single virtual switch. Homekit with Siri has always made a lot of sense here and homekit's "scenes" furthers how effortless home automation should be - none of this mishmash of 3rd party apps for every kind of device you want to control.
3rd party apps, with their clumsy non-standard UIs and unusual bulk/functionality, are utter trash in comparison to the fluidity offered by native frameworks.
This evaluation is even before walking down the road of Nest which is owned by an advertising/surveillance company - seriously who could be comfortable using an always-on Nest indoor camera which sends a constant stream of your home for "advanced algorithms in the cloud" processing?
I also purchased them before Google bought the company. And, this is not the Nest reflecting a preset schedule or moving to Auto-Away.
I have the 1st gen nest. I have auto-schedule turned off. Not sure what it is, but, this is my first, only, and last nest product.
So my only real concern is that a smart thermostat will hold whatever temperature I want and that I can occasionally check and set it remotely. Anything about a light switch (which I haven't found satisfactory yet) I want on HomeKit.
The Nest is a cool looking device, but the complaints about it and customer service have been far too numerous for my sense of adventure. I'm hoping the ecobee3 will work out. It's not as cool looking as the Nest, but if it's reliable, I'll take it. And the e3 has a Watch app.
Then Goggle bought the company.
Now, Google knows when I'm home, when I'm not, all kinds of data about my home.
I have zero trust in Google. I'll be replacing the Nest thermostats once they show any form of trouble.
Kinda makes you wonder what Google does with the info about whether you are home or not. I'm glad I never got a Drop Cam.
They don't even have an iOS widget after 2+ years.
Very unhappy with the device and customer support (I once was on hold for 75 minutes when calling for a bug in their firmware that took 6 months to fix)