Google Nest facts for kids
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Nest products on display in retail
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Formerly
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Nest Labs |
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Home automation |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Founders | Tony Fadell Matt Rogers |
| Headquarters |
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U.S.
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Areas served
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Key people
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| Products | Smart speakers, smart displays, streaming devices, thermostats, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, cameras, home security systems, video doorbells, smart locks |
| Owner | Alphabet Inc. |
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Number of employees
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1,100 (2015) |
| Parent | Google LLC |
Google Nest makes smart devices for your home. These include smart speakers, smart displays, and thermostats. They also make smoke detectors, routers, and security systems. You can find smart doorbells, cameras, and smart locks too.
The Nest name first belonged to a company called Nest Labs. It was started in 2010 by engineers Tony Fadell and Matt Rogers. Their first product was the Nest Learning Thermostat, launched in 2011. This thermostat could learn your habits and save energy. Many other Nest products also have smart features like Wi-Fi. In 2013, they released the Nest Protect, a smoke and carbon monoxide detector. After buying another company called Dropcam in 2014, Nest started making security cameras.
Google bought Nest Labs in 2014. Nest then became part of Google's smart home division. By 2018, all Google Home products began to be sold under the Google Nest brand.
Contents
The Story of Google Nest
How Nest Labs Started
Nest Labs was created in 2010 by Tony Fadell and Matt Rogers. They were both engineers who used to work at Apple. Tony Fadell got the idea for Nest when he was building a house. He found that the thermostats available were not very good. He wanted to create something much better. Early investors helped Nest Labs get started.
Google Buys Nest Labs
On January 13, 2014, Google announced it would buy Nest Labs. The deal was worth $3.2 billion. Google completed the purchase the very next day. Nest Labs was meant to work on its own, separate from Google's other businesses.
In June 2014, Nest bought a camera company called Dropcam. This cost $555 million. Dropcam's cameras then worked with other Nest products. For example, if a Nest Protect alarm went off, the Dropcam could start recording. The Nest Thermostat could also use Dropcam to see if someone was home.
By September 2014, Nest Thermostat and Nest Protect were sold in many European countries. In June 2015, Nest launched the new Nest Cam. This camera replaced the Dropcam. They also released a second version of the Nest Protect.
Nest as Part of Alphabet Inc.
In August 2015, Google changed its structure. It created a new parent company called Alphabet Inc.. Nest became a separate company under Alphabet.
In January 2016, some Nest thermostats stopped working. This was due to a software update. Nest fixed the problem with another update.
In 2018, Nest became part of Google's hardware division. This meant it worked closely with products like Google Home and Chromecast. Matt Rogers, one of the co-founders, left the company soon after.
On July 18, 2018, Nest's CEO, Marwan Fawaz, stepped down. Nest then merged with Google's home devices team. This team was led by Rishi Chandra.
In May 2019, Google announced that all its home products would be called Google Nest. The Google Home Hub was renamed Google Nest Hub. A new, bigger version called the Nest Hub Max was also released. Other products like Chromecast and Google Wifi also became part of the Google Nest brand.
Nest also changed how its products worked with other devices. It stopped its "Works with Nest" program. Users were asked to switch to Google accounts and Google Assistant. This change was made for better security and privacy.
Working with ADT
In August 2020, Google announced it would invest $450 million in ADT Inc.. ADT is a security company. The goal was to combine Nest devices with ADT's security services. Nest products would become a main part of ADT's smart home offerings.
Using Nest with Amazon Alexa
As of mid-2022, newer Google Nest cameras can work with Amazon Alexa devices. This includes Amazon Echo Show, Fire TV, and Fire Tablet. You can use these devices to view footage from your Nest security cameras.
Smart Products from Google Nest
Nest Learning Thermostat
The Nest Learning Thermostat is a smart thermostat. It connects to Wi-Fi and can learn your habits. It helps you save energy by controlling your home's heating and cooling. For the first few weeks, you set the temperature. Nest then learns your schedule and preferred temperatures. It can even switch to energy-saving mode when no one is home. This is thanks to its built-in sensors and phone location tracking.
| Model | Release Date |
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| Nest Learning Thermostat 1st Generation | October 25, 2011 |
| Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation | October 2, 2012 |
| Nest Learning Thermostat 3rd Generation | September 1, 2015 |
| Nest Learning Thermostat 4th Generation | August 20, 2024 |
| Nest Thermostat E | August 31, 2017 |
| Nest Thermostat | October 12, 2020 |
You can control the Nest Thermostat by spinning and clicking its outer ring. This brings up menus for settings and schedules. Since it's connected to the internet, Nest can send updates to the thermostat. These updates fix problems and add new features.
The Nest Thermostat is sold in many countries, including the United States, Canada, and parts of Europe. It works with many heating and cooling systems.
In September 2017, Nest released the Thermostat E. This was a cheaper version of the original. It had a plastic design and a "frosted" screen. The screen only turned on when you used the device.
In October 2020, Google released the "Nest Thermostat" for North America. It had a new look with a mirror-like face. Instead of a spinning ring, it used a touch-sensitive strip for control. This model did not have the learning features of earlier versions.
In August 2024, Google launched the fourth-generation Nest Learning Thermostat. It has a new borderless design. It can sense outdoor temperature and supports Matter. It also uses a Soli sensor for better presence detection.
Nest Protect
In October 2013, Nest launched the Nest Protect. This device is a smoke and carbon monoxide detector. It comes in black or white and can be battery-powered or wired. The Nest Protect has a colorful light ring. This ring changes color to show different things. For example, yellow means an early warning, and red means an alarm is sounding. The ring also has a motion detector. It lights up white when someone walks by to help you see.
The Nest Protect warns you before an alarm sounds. It can also talk to the Nest Thermostat. This helps the thermostat know if someone is home. It can also shut off the furnace if there's a fire or carbon monoxide. It is sold in the United States, Canada, and parts of Europe.
In April 2014, sales of Nest Protect were stopped for a short time. This was because the alarm could be accidentally turned off. About 440,000 units were recalled in May 2014. A software update fixed the problem.
In June 2015, Nest released a new version of the Nest Protect. This "second generation" had a better sensor. It could detect both slow-burning and fast-burning fires. The carbon monoxide sensor also lasted longer. The new Nest Protect lasts 10 years, while the old one lasted seven. You can silence the new Nest Protect using a smart device if you are not in the US or Canada. It can also test itself using a built-in microphone.
Nest Cam Indoor
In June 2014, Nest bought Dropcam, a company that made security cameras. In June 2015, Nest launched the Nest Cam. This was an improved version of the Dropcam camera. It records video in 1080p quality. It has a magnetic stand, night vision, and two-way talk. It also sends alerts for sound and motion. You can pay extra for Nest Aware cloud services. This camera was later renamed Nest Cam Indoor. In 2021, Google released a second-generation Nest Cam Indoor. It can be powered by battery or wire.
Nest Cam Outdoor
The Nest Cam Outdoor was released in July 2016. It is a version of the Nest Cam made for outdoor use. It is designed to handle outdoor weather conditions. In 2021, Google released a second-generation, battery-powered Nest Cam Outdoor.
Nest Cam IQ
The Nest Cam IQ was launched in June 2017. It is a more advanced version of the Nest Cam Indoor. It has a 4K camera sensor for very clear video. With the Nest Aware service, it can even recognize different faces. It also has better Wi-Fi and a stronger speaker.
An outdoor version of the Cam IQ was released in September 2017. The indoor Cam IQ also got an update in 2018. This update added Google Assistant features to the device.
In 2021, the Nest Cam IQ Indoor and Outdoor models were stopped. Google planned to launch new security cameras.
Nest Secure
Nest Secure was a home security system launched in September 2017. It included Nest Guard, which was an alarm, keypad, and motion sensor. It also had Nest Detect, a sensor for doors and windows, and Nest Tag, a key chain fob. The system was released in November 2017. Nest also worked with Brinks Home Security for professional monitoring.
In February 2019, the Nest Guard got an update. This update added Google Assistant. This meant it could act like a smart speaker for voice commands.
On October 19, 2020, Google stopped making Nest Secure. However, the service continued for existing users. On April 7, 2023, Google announced that the service would shut down on April 8, 2024.
Nest Doorbell
The Nest Doorbell is a series of smart video doorbells. They can recognize faces. The first version was launched in March 2018 in the United States and Canada. It came to the UK in May 2018. In 2021, Google released a battery-powered Nest Doorbell. The original wired version was renamed Nest Doorbell (wired). In October 2022, a second-generation wired Nest Doorbell was launched in the US. This new version brought back features like 24/7 recording with Nest Aware Plus.
Nest × Yale
Nest × Yale is a smart lock made with Yale. It was released in March 2018. It connects to Nest Connect or Nest Guard. The lock uses four AA batteries. It also has a special terminal where you can connect a 9V battery for emergency power.
Nest Wifi
Nest Cam with Floodlight
In 2021, Google announced the Nest Cam with Floodlight. This is a version of the Nest Cam Outdoor. It has two floodlights, one on each side of the camera.
How Nest Worked with Other Devices
"Works with Nest" was a program that allowed other smart devices to connect with Nest products. This included virtual assistants and other smart home systems. Many companies, like Whirlpool and GE Appliances, had direct connections with Nest.
On May 7, 2019, Google announced that "Works with Nest" would stop on August 31, 2019. Users were told to switch to Google accounts and Google Assistant. This change meant that other devices could only connect through Google Assistant. This limited how much personal data they could access. Google said this was for security and privacy.
This change caused some concern. Some companies said their products would lose features. For example, IFTTT could no longer connect because it needed too much access. Critics said this made the smart home market less open.
On May 16, 2019, Google explained more about its plans. Existing connections would not stop working after August 31. However, users could not add new ones. Google also said it was working to add Nest features to Google Assistant. It also wanted to keep Nest working with Amazon Alexa.
Legal Matters
In February 2012, Honeywell sued Nest. They claimed Nest had copied some of their ideas. Nest said they did not copy any patents. Honeywell claimed Nest copied ideas for controlling thermostats remotely and for circular designs. Nest believed Honeywell was trying to stop their business.
In May 2013, another company, Allure Energy, also sued Nest. They claimed Nest copied their "Auto-adaptable energy management apparatus." First Alert sued Nest in 2014 about voice alerts and the design of Nest Protect.
In 2016, Nest announced that devices from Revolv customers would stop working on May 15. This was because Nest was shutting down the necessary online software. This decision caused a lot of discussion. The Federal Trade Commission even started an investigation.
In May 2016, an employee filed a complaint against Nest and Google. The employee said they were fired for talking about problems with Nest's leadership on a private Facebook page. The complaint also said Nest and Google watched and questioned employees to stop them from talking about their work environment.
A Parody Website
On May 7, 2014, a German activist group called Peng Collective created a fake website. It was named Google Nest. The site made fun of Google's privacy rules. It showed fake products that looked like Google's designs. These products were supposed to collect even more user data. The site described services like Google Trust and Google Hug.
The next day, Google's lawyers sent a letter to Peng. They asked them to change the site and give Google the website name. The site then explained what happened. The Electronic Frontier Foundation supported Peng. They said that making fun of a company for political reasons is allowed under trademark law.
See also
In Spanish: Google Nest para niños
- Android Things
- ecobee
- Internet of things
- Machine learning
- X10
