Apple Ceases Selling Nest Products Online and In Stores

[Popeye206]

No surprise here. Why would Apple promote Google products?

I'm just waiting to see this category mature. I really think a remote thermostat would be awesome. I'd love to be able to remote control my thermostat and some lights when I travel (and we're on the go a lot). But, I have not really looked too closely at these products yet assuming they are still early products — waiting for the tech to improve and price to drop some.

 

[neuropsychguy]

My HVAC installer recommended the Emerson Sensi because it was from a long time manufacturer of commercial grade thermostats and I have to say I love the thermostat. It's pretty basic for a wi-fi unit, but extremely easy to use and the app is very intuitive and simple. It's been very reliable and can be tailored for cycle time, schedules, etc. Anyhow I just thought I would point this unit out for someone who is looking for something simple, inexpensive, and reliable.

I've heard great things about the Sensi. It was on sale for $90 the other day and even at normal price (about $140) is a lot less expensive than Nest.

 

[doctor-don]

$230 for WHAT?

 

[an-other]

I was an early adopter of Nest. I've been extremely pleased with it, and I suspect I'm passed the break even now. I was a great supporter of the technology. One of my favourite things is it have the furnace/ac turn on before i arrive home. I bought the smoke detectors for the motion sensor link-in to the thermostat. No activity, everything is set to "Auto Away" automatically. I make no claim they are the best or most feature based anymore. Only the first that made sense to me. I'd go so far as to say I've probably convinced a few friend to buy one.

I was concerned when Google purchased them. I don't like to be tracked (and I may own a tin hat.) For a long time it was seamless to me. An uncomfortable coupling, but I was more looking for issues rather than seeing them.

Then, the Apple Watch. No support. Really? GMAFB. Nest had previously offered IOS support on every device upon release. It can't be too hard as 3rd parties have used the APIs to sell them in the app store. It just is the sign I was looking for that Nest no longer cares about the user experience. Just corporate goals. They still do not have an app. You can see several threads on their website, too. I'm sure some of you are rolling your eyes. Boo hoo, no watch support. How spoilt can you be? My response is a watch is a perfect size/interface face for thermostat adjustments. A lot more convenient than pulling out your phone, especially if it's packed away in your briefcase/backpack for better security.

I absolutely understand why Apple is dropping them. I've always viewed the Products on sale at the Apple store, except cases, to be a way of providing a "corporate attaboy" for clever complementary technology. Nest no longer deserves this position.

2016 will likely see them being replaced if no app is on offer. It was a good run, but nothing lasts forever.

 

[doctor-don]

"It's less to do with Apple maybe introducing something, and more the fact that Google bought Nest."

Yeah, but that happened a while back already.

Would one really expect Apple to sever ties with Nest the day Google bought Nest?

 

[yg17]

Just go to your nest when the A/C is running and turn it from COOL to OFF. Then listen for your A/C compressor to stop. It takes a while. Why? Because off is apparently not off to West Coast software engineers. Just one example, of many, of bad engineering (well engineering that is inappropriate for Heating & Cooling systems) in the Nest. And I am speaking about this after having owned one since version 2 was released and being an instrument engineer responsible for designing industrial heating and cooling systems.

Actually since google has owned Nest, at least the stupid Ui has improved. When Nest started they all thought that lack of things the UI could do was how to be Apple like. It was really clear after owning it why those people were no longer at Apple.

The A/C compressor shuts off immediately. The fan still runs for a couple minutes because there's still cool air in the ducts that it is pushing out. Otherwise, all that cool air would go to waste, I'd say it's an example of good engineering.

 

[billy the fish]

Good to see Apple dropping a Google product.

That said, I don't see HomeKit going anywhere, either. Like the Apple Watch, HomeKit is one strictly for the gadget-obsessed, lovely people though they may be.

Good to see Apple dropping a Google product.

That said, I don't see HomeKit going anywhere, either. Like the Apple Watch, HomeKit is one strictly for the gadget-obsessed, lovely people though they may be.

Great attitude.. Thats why we ended up with the farcical Apple maps.. And don't give me that privacy rubbish, .. Unless you have something to hide...

 

[dugbug]

They won't be selling Nest thermostats for the same reason they don't sell Sonos products - they can't bear to sell products that are far superior to anything they will ever come up with on their own. Out of sight, out of mind.

as a nest owner I'm dumping them for ecobee3. Not sure where you get 'superior' from.

 

[Zorba]

Oh well, plenty of other places to buy Nest products. I own the Thermostat and a Protect and I love it, no problems whatsoever, plus I love the design of their products.
Would rather see them as an independent company rather than owned by Google, but it's no reason to suddenly sell all my Nest products.

 

[-Ryan-]

I bought a Nest when I bought my house last year and have been very happy with it. The app and web interfaces are very good, the hardware itself looks and works great and the software is totally stable. It's a shame to see Apple drop such a quality product. Jawbone, you're next.

 

[UKgaryb]

I think it's just Apple who does not play well with others. It's in the nature of Google's business to be present on every platform (the same is true for Yahoo or Amazon, by the way). Even Microsoft is opening itself more and more to other platforms - something that was almost unfathomable under Ballmer's reign.

Tell that to the Microsoft Windows Phone users who can't get Youtube etc because Google refuse to support the platform and have killed 3rd Parties trying to make clients for them.

 

[djgamble]

Good to see Apple dropping a Google product.

That said, I don't see HomeKit going anywhere, either. Like the Apple Watch, HomeKit is one strictly for the gadget-obsessed, lovely people though they may be.

I hate Google, but IMO it's a bit of a dog act given people with iPhones have invested in the technology.

Also, the Nest team is quite separate from Google... it's a bunch of Apple fans making stuff under the Google umbrella.

Nest doesn't suit my situation (aircon uses an IR remote and smoke alarm's linked up with a central unit in the apartment). As a result, I've built and coded up my own device using a Raspberry Pi. Still though... Nest was first and IMO it's pretty dirty removing their app. Let people choose!!

That said, maybe there was a conversation.
Apple: Hey when's the Homekit version coming?
Google: Never.
Apple: You suuure? We'll drop your app!!!
Google: We're sure, now get lost, we're all about freedom here...

 

[Takeo]

"I'm willing to go thermonuclear war on this."

... or Thermostatnuclear

... and when your internet goes down, you instantly lose any way of being in control (or worse!)

You know it still has a dial right? And that it doesn't requite an internet connection.

 

[NachoGrande]

I LOVE my Nest thermostat and the smoke detectors. I have 5 smoke detectors and never had a problem with them. I also ordered the newer version so I can hush my kitchen smoke detector with my phone.

The thermostat just works perfectly and my bills are pretty low..


I hope that they start working with Amazon with the Echo, so I can get alexa to turn up the heat/air.

 

[thomasfxlt58]

I own 4 Ecobee3 stats. I had used Nest stats in a previous home. I really didn't have a problem with the Nest stats. When Google bought Nest and I relocated, I decided to go with a more Apple-centric product. It appeared that Ecobee was headed that direction last fall. I purchased 4 E3's last December. These early units have been abandoned for Homekit compatible units now. The upgrade path offered wasn't very good, but that's another story. There are significant differences in how these stats work. The Ecobee's do not communicate with one another in a multi-zone installation, whereas the Nest do. My experience with both tells me that the Nest approach is better for multi-zone. Ecobee has a very good back-end tracking and performance tool called HomeIQ. Unfortunately, it's having server issues for a number of weeks with no apparent end in sight. This raises my final issue with Ecobee. They are very vague in addressing support requests. Often their responses are dismissive and lack any meaningfull intent to address real issues with their hardware and software. I suspect they are riding the Apple-wave and are experiencing rapid growth issues in software and firmware development. I agree with the comment above about Nest haveing superior design. I think that's true. While I don't have any issue with how the E3 looks, the Nest has superior build quality. HomeKit is a bit of a gimmick right now relative to the Ecobee stat but I suspect that will change with iOS9 and the evolution of Homekit. My recommendation to anyone buying more than 1 smart thermostat is to wait and let the home automation thing settle a bit. I suspect these devices will begin to commoditize and the price competition will make the investment significantly more reasonable. $79-$100 for devices like this would be my guess within a year or 2. One trick pony manufacturers like Ecobee will be under stress from vertically integrated companies. I would imagine they will either be aquired or they'll have to quickly expand their product line. I suspect the latter is a difficult path without raising some serious cash and doing big-time hiring. They certainly do not have the development staff right now to even handle the product they have.

 

[dugbug]

The Ecobee's do not communicate with one another in a multi-zone installation, whereas the Nest do.

I prefer the remote sensor feature of the ecobee. Out of the box you get one, and it can be up to 45 feet away.

Im not sure if 45 feet will do it, but right now my only option is to buy a second nest as a 'sensor', or keep my damn fan on all the time. I have opted to try the ecobee3+1 sensor

 

[EyeTack]

Funny how they react to Nest, because the way I see it right now, Wink is eating Apple's lunch in the home automation space.

 

[KanosWRX]

It's funny and Nest and Apple used to be like bread and butter.. Seeing as the makers of Nest came from Apple. I knew when google bought them though it would end that relationship unfortunately. But I am not going to go spend another 500 dollars on two thermostats for my house. Apple needs to learn to work with people, even their competitors for the benefit of their customers.

 

[Edgar Spayce]

So next Apple product is a Domotic controller like Nest to accompany the Apple Watch. Smart.

 

[thomasfxlt58]

I prefer the remote sensor feature of the ecobee. Out of the box you get one, and it can be up to 45 feet away.

Im not sure if 45 feet will do it, but right now my only option is to buy a second nest as a 'sensor', or keep my damn fan on all the time. I have opted to try the ecobee3+1 sensor

I've got 7 sensors in my Ecobee install. They finally work after almost 6 months of constant disconnects from their connected stat. Remember, they can't account for how your HVAC system is balanced and pusing air to separate rooms. They just sense air temperature and try to maintain a balance between your grouped devices. There's some exciting new products coming to market with motorized vents that would help address airflow to rooms in a specific zone.

 

[dugbug]

Funny how they react to Nest, because the way I see it right now, Wink is eating Apple's lunch in the home automation space.

The reason you have not seen a lot of homekit products is well documented at this point and has to do with security and encryption requirements levied by apple.

 

[dugbug]

I've got 7 sensors in my Ecobee install. They finally work after almost 6 months of constant disconnects from their connected stat. Remember, they can't account for how your HVAC system is balanced and pusing air to separate rooms. They just sense air temperature and try to maintain a balance between your grouped devices. There's some exciting new products coming to market with motorized vents that would help address airflow to rooms in a specific zone.

were the sensor issues fixed by software updates over time? Or are they flakey?

 

[thomasfxlt58]

were the sensor issues fixed by software updates over time? Or are they flakey?

They suddenly and finally started staying connected after a software and firmware update to the E3's. This was after almost 6 months of being told they were either too far away (25ft?) or to replace the batteries. I neither moved them or replaced the batteries. I've gone almost a month now without a disconnect. My point here is that Ecobee development is slow and very veiled in their customer communication. Just be cautious. There's a lot to like about the product but there's a lot wrong right now too.

 

[mchoffa]

I'm really waiting for some homekit products that have great reviews. Especially in the camera department. I've got Dropcams and a Nest Cam, because they work well, and they have better reviews than any other camera. I just hate that they won't be compatible with anything else when homekit really hits its stride. Same goes for a thermostat. I don't even have a smart thermostat yet because Nest has the best reviews, but I don't want to buy one that isn't homekit compatible.

Same thing is happening with CarPlay. Still no products made that have excellent reviews. This is what happens when Apple isn't making the hardware.

 

[UKgaryb]

That said, maybe there was a conversation.
Apple: Hey when's the Homekit version coming?
Google: Never.
Apple: You suuure? We'll drop your app!!!
Google: We're sure, now get lost, we're all about freedom here...

eh? did you even read the article? This is on about Apple no longer selling Nest Thermostats or Smoke Detectors / google at home sensors in the Apple Store. The Nest apps are still available in the App Store.