Google Nest

The new Nest Learning Thermostat has arrived after nearly a decade, and with it, another step towards the death of the old Nest app in favor of Google Home. But that’s not your only option.

While Gemini is the future on phones, Google Assistant will remain on smart displays and speakers thanks to Gemini updates meant to improve the experience at home.

The most iconic Nest product of all time is the Nest Learning Thermostat, but in the years since Google took over the brand, the product hasn’t seen a refresh, despite being a sore thumb in the modern Google lineup. Now, that’s finally changing.

Ahead of a seemingly fast-approaching launch, new promo materials offer a detailed look at the new 4th-Generation Nest Learning Thermostat from Google, an updated Home app UI, and alleged pricing for the device.

ADT is launching a new security system, its second with with Google Nest integration, which revives a couple of Nest Secure hardware features, starts at $269, and sets the stage for some big new features to come.

Ahead of new features (and hardware), ADT has updated its ADT+ app with better support for Nest camera feeds and some design upgrades.

For more than a year now, Google has made it clear that this is the company’s “Gemini era.” With what seems to be a Nest hardware renaissance on the horizon, where does Google’s smart home fit into the Gemini era?

Google and ADT are preparing to take their smart home and security partnership to the next level with “Trusted Neighbor,” a supercharged method of guest access that will allow users to automate when trusted contacts can enter their home using smart home devices and more.

Google Support now offers a Warranty Helper for Pixel and Nest to “check your warranty coverage, find solutions to common device issues, start a return, repair, or replacement.”

It’s been a couple of weeks since Google killed off Nest Secure, its only home security system, leaving owners to figure out something else. If you had a Nest Secure, what replacement are you using now?

In less than a week, Google will disable Nest Secure for anyone who bought it, regardless of its still working. It’s a needless death, and one that Google needs to learn from.

Especially in recent years, Google’s efforts in the smart home have received continued criticism, but looking at the current state of the Google Home app and Nest hardware, is that still deserved?

The Google Home app is slowly but surely getting better at handling Nest cameras, but some features are still missing, like the ability to schedule cameras. And, hilariously, Google had to work around that lack of support by setting up a complex automation when you port legacy Nest cameras to the Home app.

The Nest Aware price increase that Google announced last year for the US is now rolling out abroad, including in Canada and Japan.

Google Nest devices such as the Nest Hub have their own set of Digital Wellbeing features which, soon, will be configurable by anyone in the household.

As we approach the end of Nest Secure, ADT seems to be slowly ramping up towards a new system in its partnership with Google Nest which has now leaked for a second time.

Last month, an update for Nest Cam models left users seeing all night vision footage become blurry. Now, Google is rolling out a fix.

Google has been in the process of moving Nest products into the Google Home app, but the old Nest app is still in use by many on older cameras, thermostats, and more. For Pixel 8 buyers, though, the old Nest app is strangely unable to send notifications.