Google Kills Off Nest Thermostat App for Apple Watch

[honglong1976]

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 went for two google home speakers. My concern was music subscription. Turns out you can upload your own music (50,000 songs limit) to google music, create playlists and google home will play them. I have one for each artist. Free streaming

 

[MisterSavage]

I don't see this as a big deal and I can see why they had low usage. I have an Apple Watch and a Nest and I never used the app even though it was on my watch. When I'm home I control the temperature with my voice. When I'm away my heating/cooling is on a schedule. In the rare cases where I'd want to change the temperature remotely I'd just do it from my phone.

 

[Manatlt]

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

You can turn on and off your TV with just the Alexa ecosystem (using SmartThings/IFFTT), depending on your TV. No need for Google Home.

You already have invested in Google Home, so this doesn't surprise me. It's just terrible as Google wants you to use their products, instead of others. You can get Alexa in third-party products built-in like Sonos. What other video doorbell works perfectly (video feed) with Google Home other than Nest?

I know you can flip it the other way, and say Nest doesn't support Alexa - but that's because Google wants to keep Nest exclusive to its ecosystem.

The only positive with Google Home/Assistant is that - it is the most human sounding. But eventually Alexa and Siri will get to that stage.

 

[sananda]

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.

I was one of the small number of people. But since I have the original Watch, it takes so long to adjust the temperature on it that it's usually quicker to get my iPhone.

 

[imola.zhp]

But I just used it on my watch for the first time in (ever) a few weeks ago, and I haven't used it since. How will I survive?

 

[jhtrico1850]

You can turn on and off your TV with just the Alexa ecosystem (using SmartThings/IFFTT), depending on your TV. No need for Google Home.

You already have invested in Google Home, so this doesn't surprise me. It's just terrible as Google wants you to use their products, instead of others. You can get Alexa in third-party products built-in like Sonos. What other video doorbell works perfectly (video feed) with Google Home other than Nest?

I know you can flip it the other way, and say Nest doesn't support Alexa - but that's because Google wants to keep Nest exclusive to its ecosystem.

The only positive with Google Home/Assistant is that - it is the most human sounding. But eventually Alexa and Siri will get to that stage.

I searched a lot, but couldn’t find an easy way for my Echo Dot to turn off my Fire TV stick connected device. I suppose I could have gotten a smart plug, but it’s just easier with Google. The Fire TV stick obviously has HDMI-CEC capability to turn the tv on, but Amazon is steering people to the more expensive Cube for full control.

The Eufy Doorbell can stream to any Google Assistant display. Up to vendors to support it. You can stream Nest on Echo displays, but not Ring on Google. Up to Amazon to implement.

 

[Marconelly]

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.

Thermo Watch developer here - I should point out that this is actually good news for existing users (or anyone who starts using the app before August 31) Because it means that for those users at least, the app will keep working fine. I don't plan on abandoning the app even after that day. It will still be getting updates for existing users, and will soon also have Homekit thermostat support, in particular so that it can display homekit thermostat temperatures on the watch face complications.
I also still have plans to update the app in any way possible so it keeps working even for new Nest users after that date.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

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.

So what you're saying is, you like giving your data away to unscrupulous companies (Google and Amazon) and hostile foreign governments (China).
[doublepost=1562857737][/doublepost]

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.

I went the opposite route; I set my HVAC automations in the Ecobee app instead of HomeKit.

 

[RobNYC]

I don't see this as a big deal and I can see why they had low usage. I have an Apple Watch and a Nest and I never used the app even though it was on my watch. When I'm home I control the temperature with my voice. When I'm away my heating/cooling is on a schedule. In the rare cases where I'd want to change the temperature remotely I'd just do it from my phone.

How did you control it through voice?

 

[Marconelly]

How did you control it through voice?

You can control Nest using voice with Amazon Echo, and Google Home speaker. If you want to control it via Siri you can actually use my app for that, but it has some limitations since it works through Siri shortcuts. You basically have to pre-record the phrases you wish to use for various actions. You can also setup Homebridge server in your home, which lets you control Nest via Siri.

 

[pbush25]

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.

Love my Ecobees!

 

[MisterSavage]

How did you control it through voice?

Nest supports Amazon Alexa and Google Home speakers.

 

[ericg301]

Thermowatch for the win. Once you get used to changing your thermostat while under the covers....from your wrist...you'll never go back.

 

[CarlJ]

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 seems like sloppy reporting, assigning a motivation to Apple's actions with no facts to back it up - unless you have some proof that your assertion really is why they're adding an App Store to the watch.

Seems more likely that the on-watch App Store is part of a long plan towards making the Watch a standalone platform. I've heard of numerous Android users who would jump at the chance to buy/wear an Apple Watch if they didn't have to also get an iPhone in order to use it.

 

[Manatlt]

Nest supports Amazon Alexa

Not all Nest products.

 

[djbuddha]

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.

Got my Nest when I bought my home 2 months ago

This is what I did to solve the connection issues.

On my router, I disabled smart connect (or the equivalent feature that switches from
2.4 GHz to 5 GHz)

Left my 5 GHz SSID the same and made my 2 GHz SSD NetworkName_2ghz

Disconnected the nest from the normal SSID and only connect it to the 2 GHz (it’s low bandwidth but better range and the nest doesn’t need the higher data throughout anyway)

It’s been solid for the last few months.

Hope that helps.

 

[johnnygee]

Google probably couldn't figure out a way to charge users each time they accessed their thermostats from their Apple Watches.

 

[az431]

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.

Is your underlying message that weak that you felt the need to shout to be heard?
[doublepost=1562859928][/doublepost]

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.

Great decision if you don’t care about your privacy at all.

 

[furbzv1]

it wasnt something that I used everyday but used it enough times that ill need to find a replacement.
Will most likely go back to Thermo Watch. I used to beta test for them some time ago and the app is awesome!

 

[imola.zhp]

How did you control it through voice?

I use Home Assistant but its pretty advanced. All of my non-homekit products are ported into homekit with Home Assistant.

 

[likegadgets]

I too replaced the NEST thermostats with Ecobee thermostats when Nest was acquired by Google.

I am soon going to get new 4K and 8K TV replacements and it is a problem finding a selection without Android OS. As much as possible I try to be Google free (but I assume they are reading this, logging it, and selling it)

 

[MisterSavage]

Not all Nest products.

Ok. The Apple Watch app the story is about controlled the Nest Thermostat. The Nest Thermostat supports Amazon Alexa and Google Home.

 

[Stealth Beige]

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.

I find this to be true, and pretty annoying as well. I had to reset my ecobee this spring when it got glitchy after a power outage, and re-link it to homekit. I noticed that it had inserted a 'Resume Schedule' scene into my apple home. That scene (and that scene alone) will return the ecobee to its previously scheduled programming. Not at all intuitive or user friendly, but maybe see if a homekit removal and re-install gets you the same result.

 

[Manatlt]

Ok. The Apple Watch app the story is about controlled the Nest Thermostat. The Nest Thermostat supports Amazon Alexa and Google Home.

Fair enough.

Great decision if you don’t care about your privacy at all.

Apple/HomeKit support is far behind though, and not enough smart devices support HomeKit. Also, again - HomeKit stuff is only for people who only has Apple devices exclusively.

 

[ebika]

About 80% of the time, I use the Home app or Siri (HomeKit) to control my Nest thermostat (via homebridge). The rest of the time I'll adjust the thermostat physically, or use the iOS/web apps. I wasn't even aware they had a watch app.