Google’s Nest has today received a boost in that it can now be integrated with other home automation hardware and services from other vendors such as August, LIFX, Lutron, AT&T, P&G, Waxman, SkyBell, Simplehuman, Misfit, and WeMo.
While it is true that some of those supposedly adding support have indeed supported integration with Nest devices for a while now, this, more official support now allows developers to take advantage of things like Nest’s Cam, Thermostat, Protect and August’s automated home locking systems, for example, in order to create something truly magical. Imagine Nest noticing that you are no longer home and having August’s door lock hardware then go off and secure the home for you. It may be a rather tame example, but the possibilities are plentiful.
Another possibility with this integration is the ability to use Nest Cam and August’s Doorbell Cam together, making it possible to see what’s inside the house (using Nest Cam) and outside (using August Doorbell Cam) at the same time in one app.
As part of the additional support for integration, users can now manage their Nest Learning Thermostat via the AT&T Digital Life app, should they so wish, as well as able to control LIFX lightbulbs and WeMo switches with Nest.
Google’s Nest has undergone some internal shuffling over the last few months with some concerning reports coming out of the company of late. Whatever is going on deep inside Google, Nest or even its parent company Alphabet, we would all do well to remember that Nest is where a lot of the home automation we use today started off. Nest’s Learning Thermostat gave many of us a reason to try this home automation thing for the first time, and while some of the kinks do very much need to be worked out, all in all it does still feel like we live in the future sometimes.
With the likes of Amazon’s Echo and Apple’s HomeKit are in the middle of a purple patch as far as additional features and a groundswell of support by technology enthusiasts are concerned, Nest needs to try and take full advantage of any additional support and integration that may come its way.
Starting with today’s news.
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