Google Nest

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.

Google’s Nest Cam lineup doesn’t take the highest-quality video, but it once had a solid reputation for being pretty reliable. After previous updates made daytime HDR footage look unpleasant in the light, newer updates seem to be hurting night vision performance on Nest Cam.

ADT launched its first Nest-integrated security system earlier this year, but it seems another device is around the corner, and with some of the best features from the Nest Secure that Google is killing in a few months.

The Nest app is slowly on its way out, as Google puts all of its smart home efforts into the Google Home app. And now, you can bring old Nest Cam units into the Google Home app with a simple transfer process – here’s how it works.

As part of Works with Nest (WWN) shutting down next week, Google says it will stop supporting the “legacy Nest skills for Alexa.” To avoid any control disruption, owners need to migrate from Nest to Google Accounts and activate the newer “Google Nest Skill for Alexa.”

Arlo has been a Google Nest alternative for quite some time, and in our experience, the hardware is generally quite good. Today, Arlo is launching a new series of cameras, as well as a clever little tag for disarming your security system that feels it’s trying to replace what Nest Secure tried to do.

A curious and restrictive change to Google Home makes it so that newer Nest devices can now only be placed in one speaker group at a time.

Google today started informing customers (in the US) of a Nest Aware price increase. This monthly or yearly subscription enhances Nest Cams, Doorbells, Smart Displays, and Speakers.