Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Google Acquiring Tony Fadell-Founded Nest for $3.2 Billion

iBug2 said:
My question is why didn't they do that sooner? Nest has been around for a while, why wait until the company is worth a lot? They probably could have gotten Fadell for a lot less than 3.2 billion, or who knows, maybe he didn't want in back then.
Click to expand...

Google has had a significant investment in Nest for a while through Google Ventures. Haven't been able to find a specific percentage yet.
 
KazKam said:
That was just my response to samcraig's comment about why targeted ads on the thermostat itself wasn't at issue. You may note that in the rest of the post of mine you quoted below I state that targeted advertising is the LEAST nefarious use of this data, and that's not what concerns me.

It's all of the other uses for this kind of data combined with all the other data they (all tech and info-gathering companies, and yes, Google in particular, because I believe them to be unscrupulous) are amassing.
Click to expand...

Well, that's the $64,000 question:

What are the "other uses" outside of targeted ads (which Apple also does) that you're concerned about?

A major reason why Apple and Google keep our info secret, is because the secrecy is what makes it so valuable.

The advertisers themselves do not get a list of people. They just provide the ads and what kind of people they should be shown to, and Apple / Google delivers the ad appropriately (for a fee).

Btw, if you ever look at the advertiser options for Apple / Google ads, you'd see that the actual info they keep... and the demographic slots they put us into... is pretty boring. And often wrong.
 
sixrom said:
While some of the posts here reveal peoples fear of Google, it's largely unfounded. Anyone who thinks Googles collecting info on customers is evil, they're easily mislead. Privacy is a thing of the past. Facebook proves that.
Click to expand...

samcraig said:
For those that don't seem to get this one point - let me state it again

It is not in Google's best interest to violate your privacy. Much of their business relies on that trust and keeping your data secure. A disruption in that would cripple the company.
Click to expand...

Google (and its followers) want nothing more than for us to be lulled into a false sense of security and apathy. They'll never exploit us. They'll never cross the creepy line. They're not evil. Look at their primary colors and propeller hats! Completely harmless! Besides, privacy is an antiquated notion. Here, take these free services and zero-profit hardware! We love you!

Sorry guys, but an increasing number of us aren't buying it.
 
I looked at Nest, but as it doesn't work in the UK, didn't explore it further. I'm glad I didn't as i've recently seen this, which seems like a far better product:

http://www.tado.com/gb/this-is-tado

The other "smart" heating controls seem to reply on learning your patterns - whereas this one, seems to offer something no-one else does - it knows your location based on where your phone is, and so turns the heating on and off when you leave/approach your home. Combine that with knowing when you go to bed, and when you get up, and it seems like the most efficient control possible.
 
[MOD NOTE]
Closed for moderator review

Thread is reopened. Please be sure to follow the Rules for Appropriate debate.

Respect

Guidelines: Show respect for your fellow posters. Expect and accept that other users may have strongly held opinions that differ from yours.

Rules:

  1. Name-calling. Name-calling falls into the category of insults and will be treated as such according to the forum rules, your own opinion about another member notwithstanding. You can't call a bigot a bigot, a troll a troll, or a fanboy a fanboy, any more than you can call an idiot an idiot. You can disagree with the content of another member's statement or give your evidence or opinion to dispute their claims, but you may not make a negative personal characterization about that member.
  2. Insults. Slurs and insults against groups of people based on negative-stereotyping and obvious generalizations fall into the category of trolling and will be treated as such.
  3. Taunting. Mocking or taunting another forum member is not acceptable. Posts that ridicule another member or obviously exaggerate or misstate their views may be removed.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Google can have it. I understand what Nest does but at the retail price and the sealed battery I'm not buying one and especially not every five years or so when the battery dies. A programmable thermostat saves me money too and it's less than half of the price.
 
skinned66 said:
Google can have it. I understand what Nest does but at the retail price and the sealed battery I'm not buying one and especially not every five years or so when the battery dies. A programmable thermostat saves me money too and it's less than half of the price.
Click to expand...

I think they're cool but I agree the nest products are priced way too high for what they are. They need to be around the $99 price point.. like the Apple TV :D
 
MacVault said:
I think they're cool but I agree the nest products are priced way too high for what they are. They need to be around the $99 price point.. like the Apple TV :D
Click to expand...

Don't worry, I'm sure Google will be slashing the prices. It's all about the data.
 
Scott6666 said:
Let's see, sell $250 thermostats with a 35% gross margin...

Will have to sell 36.5MM thermostats to generate enough gross margin to cover the purchase price.

Maybe 20% net before tax, that means 64MM thermostats, assuming of course you don't need to put more in any more capital (even though they were looking to raise $150MM) and don't want too much return on your investment.

Well there are about 115MM US households so they only need to get 50% to buy.

Unless of course you mean households making over $100k which is about 17%,so you only need 327% of the market.

Well, there's always China and India. And Dubai. Yeah, Dubai.

And future products, yeah, lots of future products. Before Samsung copies them all.

Maybe they'll sell subscriptions. No, advertising! No, they break a lot so people need to buy replacements!

Yeah, that's the ticket...
Click to expand...


Er market cap doesn't work like that!
 
Rogifan said:
What products was Fadell involved in at Apple besides iPod (and maybe iPhone early on). If he was that important, how come Steve brought in Mark Papermaster to run iPhone/iPod touch hardware engineering (which eventually went to Bob Mansfield)? Why not give that job to Fadell?
Click to expand...

Could be numerous reasons, but some speculate there was a falling out with Jobs and Fadell.

And yea, the iPod and iPhone are two of Apples biggest products, so he was pretty "important".


Now Apples creative process will spill into Google. Its going to be a dent to Apple, but Apple never stops innovating, including on their creative process, so they shouldnt have too much to worry about.
 
reznick said:
Could be numerous reasons, but some speculate there was a falling out with Jobs and Fadell.

And yea, the iPod and iPhone are two of Apples biggest products, so he was pretty "important".


Now Apples creative process will spill into Google. Its going to be a dent to Apple, but Apple never stops innovating, including on their creative process, so they shouldnt have too much to worry about.
Click to expand...

How much involvement did he have with the iPhone? Especially once it was decided it would run OSX? According to John Gruber Fadell had little to do with the iPhone and the iPhone team was responsible for the iPod touch, not the iPod team. Source:http://daringfireball.net/2008/11/executive_scuttlebutt

Some of the media spin is that Google wanted Fadell for his design saavy yet the sleek design of the Nest thermostat and smoke detector was done by a 3rd party - Bould design. Below are screen shots from their website.

AP_Nest.jpg


AP_Topaz.jpg
 
Rogifan said:
Some of the media spin is that Google wanted Fadell for his design saavy yet the sleek design of the Nest thermostat and smoke detector was done by a 3rd party - Bould design. Below are screen shots from their website.

Image

Image
Click to expand...

That's interesting. I'll be the first to admit that I just assumed that the Nest devices had been designed "in house", maybe/probably because of the term "iPod father" that people had given Fadell. Accordingly, that media spin also made sense to me at first.

(Funny "twist" to the story, we have the Nambe cocktail shaker too, as I loved the design)

In general it's interesting to see how controversial the purchase has been received and commented throughout the tech media world, it seems that more people than just macrumors members are questioning Googles long term motives.
 
I always wondered why anyone looks at ads.
I use Adblock and don't watch live tv.
Virtually no ads anywhere
 
dec. said:
That's interesting. I'll be the first to admit that I just assumed that the Nest devices had been designed "in house", maybe/probably because of the term "iPod father" that people had given Fadell. Accordingly, that media spin also made sense to me at first.

(Funny "twist" to the story, we have the Nambe cocktail shaker too, as I loved the design)

In general it's interesting to see how controversial the purchase has been received and commented throughout the tech media world, it seems that more people than just macrumors members are questioning Googles long term motives.
Click to expand...

I assumed it was in house too, mostly because of how Fadell was/is being hyped by the tech press. One would think if Google needs an infusion of sleek design they could contract with a company like Bould for much cheaper than $3.2B. What blows my mind is we're supposed to believe Tony Fadell is worth $3B when Apple bought Steve Jobs for ~$400M.
 
The Future of Google Analytics

The Future of Google Analytics = “What Are You Doing, Dave? I cannot allow you to raise the house thermostat heating temperature above 62F, based on your income level; which is disproportionally higher than other members of the State.

In order to raise the house temperature, you will need to purchase additional Carbon Credits from other members of the State; members whom receive less of the ‘Common Wealth’ due to your disproportionally higher income level.

And as always; if you change your party affiliation from the independent status to that of our mighty State Party, you can raise the house temperature an additional degree higher.

How many Carbon Credits will you be purchasing today Dave? Are you ready to join the mighty State Party today Dave?”. :D
 

Attachments

  • AP_Nest.jpg
    AP_Nest.jpg
    477.5 KB · Views: 98
MeeMac said:
The Future of Google Analytics = “What Are You Doing, Dave? I cannot allow you to raise the house thermostat heating temperature above 62F, based on your income level; which is disproportionally higher than other members of the State.

In order to raise the house temperature, you will need to purchase additional Carbon Credits from other members of the State; members whom receive less of the ‘Common Wealth’ due to your disproportionally higher income level.

And as always; if you change your party affiliation from the independent status to that of our mighty State Party, you can raise the house temperature an additional degree higher.

How many Carbon Credits will you be purchasing today Dave? Are you ready to join the mighty State Party today Dave?”. :D
Click to expand...

Sounds like a perfect world. I can't wait for this to happen.
 
#1... Nest will not "stay Nest." (Not that I've heard of them before.)
#2... Google as part of my home? Good God. Get out. OUT!

Ugh. As a company they just skeeve me out. They're just so creepy.
 
Rogifan said:
I assumed it was in house too, mostly because of how Fadell was/is being hyped by the tech press. One would think if Google needs an infusion of sleek design they could contract with a company like Bould for much cheaper than $3.2B. What blows my mind is we're supposed to believe Tony Fadell is worth $3B when Apple bought Steve Jobs for ~$400M.
Click to expand...

i sincerely hope you realize that the almost 20 years between these purchases makes this comparison quite useless and its no judgement on fadell in comparison with jobs

just because it isnt designed in house dosent mean nest and tony fadell dosent have a very good sense of design, style and function.

are all the apple ads that everyone here goes ape over 100% made inside apple?
 
this is now in my Top 5 most entertaining threads on here, knew it would not disappoint

my Alcoa stock is going up!!!
 
The purchase (at least for now) includes 100 former Apple employees. How much value can one put on that?
 
Oletros said:
I bet that those posts are just parodies, no sane person can write such things
Click to expand...

Those posts? What are you honestly talking about?

I was seriously angry and still am. I just installed the damn thing back in August when I bought my first house and dropped $250 on it. I love using it—was a wonderful addition and saves lots of money. Our house is almost twice as big as our old duplex but we use much less energy. And when we were out of town for Christmas and an ice storm hit the area I was able to turn up the heat remotely to help save our pipes before the power goes out.

But now it's going to get tied into the whole Google ecosystem. What sucks about Nest (and also makes it great at the same time) is that you have to connect to their servers to operate your thermostat and they track your usage and know when you're typically away from your home. You know Google wants that data, and even more so the nanny state does so that they can tax you every time you get cold and need to turn up the thermostat and are therefore being "wasteful". They will probably also force you to sign up for Google+ to use the service and by default it will automatically post each adjustment to some damned social network. And all of this doesn't even scratch the surface of future home automation products and the type of data that they could gather.

This along with the whole net-neutrality ruling have me in a pissed off mood with regard to anything tech. I wish the whole internet was just dumb, fast, and incredibly secure pipes. I could run my own server outside of all of these companies and that server would handle all of the automation of my home, store all of my files, etc. I just want to install a software package and run it myself. I've already been mulling the idea of building my own Dropbox and web server. I just need a fast connection with an ISP that supports net neutrality. Maybe I'll buy a MacMiniColo! I just wish I could have it on my own property so I know when people are jacking with it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back