Google Kills Off Nest Thermostat App for Apple Watch

[MacRumors]

Google has killed its Nest app for Apple Watch, meaning Nest smart thermostat owners can no longer control the device's target temperature and operating mode directly from their wrist.

The deprecation of the wearable apps for both Apple Watch and Wear OS coincides with version 5.37 of the Nest mobile app, which was released on Tuesday.

Any mention of the Apple Watch app has since been removed from the Nest App Store listing, while Wear OS device users who try to launch the app from their watch are now met with the message "Nest is no longer supported for Wear OS" and are advised to uninstall the app.

Google's reason for the watch app's demise is simple. According to the company (via 9to5Google), "only a small number of people" used the watch apps, therefore Nest will focus on developing its full mobile app and Wear OS-only Google Assistant functions going forward.

We took a look at Nest app users on smart watches and found that only a small number of people were using it. Moving forward our team will spend more time focusing on delivering high quality experiences through mobile apps and voice interactions.

Google advises Nest owners that they can no longer adjust their thermostat or change the Home/Away mode from their Apple Watch, but these actions can still be controlled remotely via the Nest mobile app, which can also still deliver notifications to their watch.

The Nest app joins a long line of high-profile Apple Watch apps that have met their demise over the last two years. Beginning in 2017, Twitter, Google Maps, Amazon, and eBay all quietly removed their Apple Watch apps from the App Store, after seemingly concluding their continued development was no longer worth the effort because not enough people were using them.

In a bid to rekindle interest in developing Apple Watch apps, Apple has added an App Store in its upcoming watchOS 6 that can be accessed right on your wrist, allowing apps to be downloaded on the Apple Watch independent of an iPhone.

This means developers won't need to create Apple Watch client extensions as part of their iPhone apps, and can instead create truly standalone versions for Apple Watch, or even create watch apps that don't have iPhone versions at all. Still currently in beta testing, watchOS 6 is due to be released in the fall.

Article Link: Google Kills Off Nest Thermostat App for Apple Watch

 

[x-evil-x]

Shocker. The app never worked anyway it just crashed. Shows how much they care about working with apple.

 

[KrisJa]

Shocker. The app never worked anyway it just crashed. Shows how much they care about working with apple.

They’re too busy spying on people... must require a lot of resources to listen in on all these conversations:

https://translate.googleusercontent...700262&usg=ALkJrhgjZZP0ysycNm6tfszBkDZdM6m3cg

 

[@Brett]

Google really trying its hardest to alienate Apple users in the Nest ecosystem. Can’t really see HomeKit support coming after this. Apple should have bought Nest makes sense with the founders and the cost and design of the hardware.

 

[rillrill]

Just got rid of my Nest thermostats and replaced them with Honeywell T5's. It's so much nicer controlling the temperature with HomeKit. I have the option to use Amazon or Google as well. Google better get their butt in gear because they are eroding any consumer faith they had in the Nest product line.

The last to go is my Nest Hello doorbell. As soon as those HomeKit doorbells are out, I'm out of Nest completely.

 

[x-evil-x]

Just got rid of my Nest thermostats and replaced them with Honeywell T5's. It's so much nicer controlling the temperature with HomeKit. I have the option to use Amazon or Google as well. Google better get their butt in gear because they are eroding any consumer faith they had in the Nest product line.

The last to go is my Nest Hello doorbell. As soon as those HomeKit doorbells are out, I'm out of Nest completely.

Im about to go that route. Been thinking about it for a year now. Anybody want a 3rd gen nest and iqindoor cam?

 

[Manatlt]

When I start investing on smarthome products next month, it must all support Alexa.

Don't really care about HomeKit as that's only for people with iOS devices exclusively and while I do have XS Max and iPad, I also have a P30 Pro.

Ring products are a good shout, but I'm fine with anything that supports IFTTT and Amazon Alexa. HomeKit/Google Home support are small bonuses.

Nest, are definitely out of the running.

EDIT: Had a look at Google Home (and Nest). No Apple Music support. Don't build your home around Google Home. You're way better off with Alexa.

 

[rillrill]

Im about to go that route. Been thinking about it for a year now. Anybody want a 3rd gen nest and iqindoor cam?

It was pretty painless since the thermostat was already configured to the Nest. Mostly, it was just making sure the screws fit. I was able to sell my Nest for roughly 70% of the cost of the T5. It's not as pretty as the Nest, but any functions the Nest has, you can duplicate with HomeKit automations.

Apple just has to get on the ball regarding video in HomeKit. hopefully this fall it will be better.

 

[zubikov]

Bought 2 nests before it was acquired by Google, and now really regretting it. I’m staying away from all G home products, since I have no assurance that my hardwired home products will work in a number of years or even months.

 

[GadgetBen]

Goodbye Nest, time for an upgrade. Constantly plagued with connection errors anyway and like other posters their Watch app was terrible. It had one job, to change the temperature and it couldn't even do that.

 

[apple_iBoy]

Just moved to a new house and I’m leaving the Nest at my old place for its new future owners. I got two Ecobees for our new place.

 

[javisan]

I have an Ecobee, which works with Alexa and HomeKit, and love it. I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to switch to a HomeKit enabled thermostat.

 

[GIZBUG]

Who needs nest app on watch anyways?

https://www.thermowatch.net/

Been using this app for over a year, works fine

 

[JohnApples]

I have an Ecobee, which works with Alexa and HomeKit, and love it. I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to switch to a HomeKit enabled thermostat.

A bit off-topic but there is one small caveat when using HomeKit with Ecobee.

If you do want to use HomeKit with it, make sure your automations are all done within the Home app.

If you set up your schedule on the Ecobee app or on the thermostat yourself, it’s fine. But the moment you change temperature thru HomeKit, it will remain at the temperature indefinitely. It will *not* return to its set schedule automatically and you must do it manually.

 

[Mansu944]

They want to get away from the watch and rely on voice so it’s easier to spy on you.

 

[axcess99]

I have both a Nest and a Apple Watch... and had neither any idea this existed nor desire to use such a thing.

 

[RogerWilco]

Now that Google is a defacto federal agency, they are simply falling in line. Publicly-accessible technologies must be at least ten years old. Devs and engineers will focus their efforts on advanced covert surveillance systems.

You’re gonna love the real Big Brother.

 

[Return Zero]

I'm so glad I've 'accidentally' stayed completely away from google and amazon hardware in my house. I was close to buying a nest, but went with ecobee instead. I was close to buying eero routers, but went with TP-Link Deco instead. (Never even considered buying any Echo products of course.)

 

[Braderunner]

The Nest app on the Watch was terrible anyway. Useless. Thermo Watch is awesome!
It does seem like they’re pushing Apple customers away, though. Fine by me.
I have a first gen. Nest thermostat. At the time, Nest seemed like they had a bright future. Then, Google bought them.
It is my first, and last, Nest product.

 

[x-evil-x]

I have both a Nest and a Apple Watch... and had neither any idea this existed nor desire to use such a thing.

how do you use your nest? Having controls close to you or voice control is what its all about. Physically getting up and touching anything nowadays. ewww

 

[travoose]

Bought 2 nests before it was acquired by Google, and now really regretting it. I’m staying away from all G home products, since I have no assurance that my hardwired home products will work in a number of years or even months.

I’m in the same boat. Bought two of them a few years ago when they were the leader in this type of category. Now regretting it, but spent a lot of money and I don’t want to spend even more money to get out of it. Next house I get/build, going with Ecobee.

 

[klymr]

I find it interesting that Goole has moved Nest.com over to the Google Store website.

 

[jhtrico1850]

When I start investing on smarthome products next month, it must all support Alexa.

Don't really care about HomeKit as that's only for people with iOS devices exclusively and while I do have XS Max and iPad, I also have a P30 Pro.

Ring products are a good shout, but I'm fine with anything that supports IFTTT and Amazon Alexa. HomeKit/Google Home support are small bonuses.

Nest, are definitely out of the running.

EDIT: Had a look at Google Home (and Nest). No Apple Music support. Don't build your home around Google Home. You're way better off with Alexa.

I like my Google Home ecosystem. Already had 3 Chromecasts and Spotify. With HDMI-CEC,
- I can easily turn on/off the TV (with my Echo Dot, it can turn on the Fire TV, but requires Cube to turn off),
- overlay weather or translations or interactive YouTube choices over the existing video
- most human sounding voice vs Siri or Alexa, especially with their recent magic that had John Legend respons
- smartest responses

Limitations of it
- weakest routines (no location based routines like Alexa or Siri)
- lack of “waits” or timers between routine steps like Alexa

For someone like me that already has lots of Google stuff and with a foot in the door of a smart home, I like it. I may go Zigbee/Echo Plus later, but for now, I’m fine

 

[JetTester]

Can't say that I see the appeal of controlling the thermostat from my wrist anyway. If I'm there, I can just walk over and adjust it on the wall, and if I'm not there, I don't need to adjust the temperature.

 

[BenGieCruz]

Who needs nest app on watch anyways?

https://www.thermowatch.net/

Been using this app for over a year, works fine

On May 16, Google / Nest have announced that while the "Works With Nest" program will end on August 31, 2019, apps like this one will continue working indefinitely, as long as you do not migrate your Nest account onto a Google account. Developer of this app will make every attempt to apply for Google's security audit, that would allow the app to continue working even after the account migration.