Apple removes Nest Learning Thermostat from online, retail stores in potential HomeKit push
A pair of reports this week made note of Apple's apparent decision to remove Google's Nest Learning Thermostat from its online and brick-and-mortar stores, leaving only smart home devices compatible with HomeKit available for purchase.
The change was first spotted on Apple's online storefront by Fortune, which reported on Wednesday that all Nest products were no longer for sale. A quick check confirms that while text autofill options for "Nest Learning Thermostat" and "Nest Protect" show up in the Online Apple Store's quick search bar, those same products are nowhere to be found on Apple's website.
An update to that story quoted a Nest spokesperson as saying, "Apple is a valued partner to Nest and our new products will be available through Apple and other retail channels in the coming weeks." The publication added Apple's plans seem to include stocking of Nest Protect and Nest Cam (formerly known as Dropcam), but not the Learning Thermostat.
A separate report from Mashable on Thursday serves as confirmation of the product's removal. An Apple spokesperson told the publication that it removed Nest's connected thermostat from both its online store and brick-and-mortar locations earlier this month. This is the second time Apple has stopped sales of Nest's device, but the recent change appears to be permanent.
The Apple Store was one Nest's first promoters and began stocking the device as an exclusive partner in 2012. Since then, Apple made headway into the smart home space with HomeKit, an iOS-based framework for controlling "Internet of Things" devices. Earlier this month, Apple Stores initiated sales of ecobee3, the world's first HomeKit-enabled thermostat.
Nest Labs was cofounded by former Apple executives Tony Fadell and Matt Rogers. Fadell, who some consider the "godfather of the iPod," would go on to recruit a number of employees from Apple's talent pool. Nest was ultimately sold to Google in 2013 for $3.2 billion.
While Nest products are not compatible with HomeKit they do work with iOS, and the firm counts a substantial number of iPhone owners among its customer base. More recently, Google announced a competing IoT platform called Brillo, which was developed with help from the Nest team.
The change was first spotted on Apple's online storefront by Fortune, which reported on Wednesday that all Nest products were no longer for sale. A quick check confirms that while text autofill options for "Nest Learning Thermostat" and "Nest Protect" show up in the Online Apple Store's quick search bar, those same products are nowhere to be found on Apple's website.
An update to that story quoted a Nest spokesperson as saying, "Apple is a valued partner to Nest and our new products will be available through Apple and other retail channels in the coming weeks." The publication added Apple's plans seem to include stocking of Nest Protect and Nest Cam (formerly known as Dropcam), but not the Learning Thermostat.
A separate report from Mashable on Thursday serves as confirmation of the product's removal. An Apple spokesperson told the publication that it removed Nest's connected thermostat from both its online store and brick-and-mortar locations earlier this month. This is the second time Apple has stopped sales of Nest's device, but the recent change appears to be permanent.
The Apple Store was one Nest's first promoters and began stocking the device as an exclusive partner in 2012. Since then, Apple made headway into the smart home space with HomeKit, an iOS-based framework for controlling "Internet of Things" devices. Earlier this month, Apple Stores initiated sales of ecobee3, the world's first HomeKit-enabled thermostat.
Nest Labs was cofounded by former Apple executives Tony Fadell and Matt Rogers. Fadell, who some consider the "godfather of the iPod," would go on to recruit a number of employees from Apple's talent pool. Nest was ultimately sold to Google in 2013 for $3.2 billion.
While Nest products are not compatible with HomeKit they do work with iOS, and the firm counts a substantial number of iPhone owners among its customer base. More recently, Google announced a competing IoT platform called Brillo, which was developed with help from the Nest team.
Comments
Just as well. I'm on my third Nest thermostat warranty replacement due to inaccurate humidity sensors, an unresponsive unit, and an assortment of other annoyances. Most of the problems have been firmware related and increased after Google absorbed Nest. I really wanted to love this device, but it's turned into one of my more regrettable purchases. It may have the design and appearance of an Apple-class product, but the performance (at least in my experience) and reliability has been anything but. My brother has one that often goes dead and has to be removed from the wall and recharged.
According to Mashable, the Homekit that Apple promote is Ecobee 3. Homekit is not really attractive yet at this price point. I mean Ecobee 3 at $250 to monitor a room temperature is really ridiculous. My body can feel the comfortable ambient in the room without the need of a thermostat.
At least now Ecobee 3 is the only one include a remote sensor with the smart thermostat for this price, not Nest or whatever.
These products should drop to $100 to sell.
Good, took long enough. Google owned spyware products do not below in Apple Stores.
I got my Nest before it was bought by Google and it's worked pretty flawlessly. That being said, I'm certainly not a Google or Android fan.
I also have a Dropcam that I bought, yes, before the company was purchased by Google. It, too, works pretty well.
I'm hoping HomeKit vendors come up with stuff as good or better. I'm thinking about building a new house and would love to see some cool products I can integrate that are more secure that what I've currently got.
[QUOTE]“Fadell is not remembered fondly in the Apple executive boardroom. When certain Apple higher-ups speak of him now, they sneer at the designer of “that little thermostat.”[/QUOTE]
And let's not forget when Nest sold to Google Phil Schiller unfollowed Fadell on Twitter. I'm surprised they lasted in Apple stores as long as they did.
My first gen Nest has been great, haven't had any issues with it. I've been slowly automating my house with Phillips Hues, Kiddie Smoke Alarms and the Wink hub. Wink didn't have the best of reviews, but it has worked flawlessly for me and has given me lots of fun things to try. I don't want to invest too heavily in Wink because I'm not sure what Apple will do, so hopefully they don't drag their feet too long getting this going.
I'm sure that I could do something amazing if I took the time to learn how to script and program, but this isn't why I'm a fan of apple.
What's the best HomeKit replacement for Nest? Anything on the horizon worth waiting for?
According to Mashable, the Homekit that Apple promote is Ecobee 3. Homekit is not really attractive yet at this price point. I mean Ecobee 3 at $250 to monitor a room temperature is really ridiculous. My body can feel the comfortable ambient in the room without the need of a thermostat.
At least now Ecobee 3 is the only one include a remote sensor with the smart thermostat for this price, not Nest or whatever.
These products should drop to $100 to sell.
Agreed. I just bought three decent programmable thermostats... about $75 each. I would have been willing to pay up to around $100 each... or a tad more... but $250+ each is just not realistic for me.
Don' really care about the 'spats' now that Google owns Nest or the fanboys who suddenly think they are evil and ripping them off the walls because Apple didn't close the deal first.
I have two, both have worked very well with no problems and I quite like them and will continue to do so. Don't see the fuss.
Hope the "Godfather" feels the financial pain. Godfather my arse (some CNBC producer looking for something catchy in his lower third) , inspired by Braun and it was Schiller who conceived the click wheel if I'm not mistaken.
You are mistaken. Synaptics invented the click-wheel for the iPod, the mini, to be exact. Apple did not conceive the idea.
Good, took long enough. Google owned spyware products do not below in Apple Stores.
Next time, read the article. Apple will continue to sell the Google/Nest products. Oh, you think Apple doesn't have privacy issues? Guess again. Anything in the cloud has privacy issues, along with their wordy terms of service agreements...but every one accepts them.
So you're equating the potential for info being stolen with Google's Morlockian business model of selling our Eloian habits to their actual customers?
Don' really care about the 'spats' now that Google owns Nest or the fanboys who suddenly think they are evil and ripping them off the walls because Apple didn't close the deal first.
I have two, both have worked very well with no problems and I quite like them and will continue to do so. Don't see the fuss.
We like ours a lot, too.
Question is, will Nest become HomeKit compatible?!
I recently installed the Lutron Caseta hub that is HomeKit compatible. I can say it works wonderfully and am extremely pleased with the system. It is also Nest Compatible as well as Alarm.com, logitech Harmony, URC and many others. (I also can change my lights through my Logitech remote.) I login to the Nest account through the Lutron App. I can view the current temp and raise and lower the temperature only through the Lutron App. If I want to change the schedule or look into the Nest history I must use the Nest App. I highly recommend people look into the Lutron HomeKit system to see if it would fit your needs/desires.