Nest Co-Founder Tony Fadell Leaving the Company

[uid15]

after iphone smartphone revolution, Nest is one of the FIRST MASS-market smart internet of things. Others are just followers years after Nest was released.

that was the reason Google paid billions to have it.
[doublepost=1465147727][/doublepost]


here is the fact for you. Google paid billions to just have a "thermostat". Last time they did that was buying youtube for billions many many years ago.

if Nest is so bad or it is just a "thermostat", why cost so much? are you saying that you are smarter than Google? Fadell is leaving but with billions in pockets.

where is your fact? or is it just a guy's opinion on a forum?

Not EVERYTHING a company buys is going to magically explode in popularity. Using ONE GOOD example is implying that Google ALWAYS make good decisions - even Apple don't always do that, and they are a trillion times more savvy, prudent and sensible than Schmoogle and their vain pretenses of importance and relevance in EVERY sector.

Would you like a list of Google "products" (I use that word loosely) that have been abandoned and/or failed because of their lack of foresight? Google it (that's the ONE example where they triumphed - search) and you'll soon make a GIANT list.

 

[ShadovvMoon]

I get the feeling that you don't really like Google...

 

[mejsric]

after iphone smartphone revolution, Nest is one of the FIRST MASS-market smart internet of things. Others are just followers years after Nest was released.

that was the reason Google paid billions to have it.
[doublepost=1465147727][/doublepost]


here is the fact for you. Google paid billions to just have a "thermostat". Last time they did that was buying youtube for billions many many years ago.

You forgot buying Motorola and sell it

 

[normanfox]

Not EVERYTHING a company buys is going to magically explode in popularity. Using ONE GOOD example is implying that Google ALWAYS make good decisions - even Apple don't always do that, and they are a trillion times more savvy, prudent and sensible than Schmoogle and their vain pretenses of importance and relevance in EVERY sector.

Would you like a list of Google "products" (I use that word loosely) that have been abandoned and/or failed because of their lack of foresight? Google it (that's the ONE example where they triumphed - search) and you'll soon make a GIANT list.

where did I say everything Google bought is popular? I said google bought Nest for billions of dollars, like youtube.
I was responding to someone who said Nest is just a "thermostat", yet Google was willing to pay billions.
[doublepost=1465173393][/doublepost]

You forgot buying Motorola and sell it

whether you like it or not, whether buying Nest was a success or not, Nest worth billions. give me an example of a thermostat that can sell for billions?

why billions? because Nest is not just another thermostat. it is a revolution from a traditional thermostat.

 

[vvswarup]

Great. Maybe they will get things right now.
[doublepost=1465007448][/doublepost]

Maybe. Would had loved to see what Apple would had done with it. I personally own 4 nest products. They are high quality hardware but the software is definitely on the lacking side.

I own nothing related to HomeKit. Is that even a thing yet?

What do you think Apple would have done with Nest? Nest had products that were multiple generations into their lifecycle. There's not a lot that Apple could have done with Nest.

The point of buying companies is not to generate buzz in the media. Just about everyone in the media said that Apple whiffed on buying Nest. The same was said when Facebook paid $20 billion for WhatsApp. The media contrasted those two mega-deals with Apple's purchases of small startups for hundreds of millions at most and claimed that Apple wasn't bold enough to make big bets.

I'll take Apple's small but hugely successful deals any day over the brownie points that Google and Facebook get in the media. PA Semi was an Apple acquisition for hundreds of millions. That technology helped create the A-series processors, a large part of the success of iOS devices. As an another example, Apple bought AuthenTec and used that technology to develop Touch ID, one of the best smartphone fingerprint sensors out there.

 

[mejsric]

where did I say everything Google bought is popular? I said google bought Nest for billions of dollars, like youtube.
I was responding to someone who said Nest is just a "thermostat", yet Google was willing to pay billions.
[doublepost=1465173393][/doublepost]

why billions? because Nest is not just another thermostat. it is a revolution from a traditional thermostat.

So, You mean Motorola is more innovative coz it cost 12billions?

Btw... Watch this..

 

[rdlink]

..Do you find that the Schlage had decent range? Does it connect with your Apple TV to extend the range or? That's my only concern with it, but I liked that it connects with the Apple TV and my Apple TV should be within range of the door to extend it...

I have an Apple TV 4, and the range seems good so far. I was at work the other day and unlocked my door. My biggest concern was the distance of the Schlage from the ATV. The Schlage is, of course on the ground floor, and my ATV is on the 3rd floor. But everything has been working flawlessly so far, about 2 weeks in.

This morning I was sitting on the balcony having a cup of coffee when the postal carrier walked up with my Amazon package downstairs at the front door. I asked her to set it inside the door, and I unlocked the door for her. Then I locked it after she left. Pretty darn cool.
[doublepost=1465186493][/doublepost]

What do you think Apple would have done with Nest? Nest had products that were multiple generations into their lifecycle. There's not a lot that Apple could have done with Nest.

The point of buying companies is not to generate buzz in the media. Just about everyone in the media said that Apple whiffed on buying Nest. The same was said when Facebook paid $20 billion for WhatsApp. The media contrasted those two mega-deals with Apple's purchases of small startups for hundreds of millions at most and claimed that Apple wasn't bold enough to make big bets.

I'll take Apple's small but hugely successful deals any day over the brownie points that Google and Facebook get in the media. PA Semi was an Apple acquisition for hundreds of millions. That technology helped create the A-series processors, a large part of the success of iOS devices. As an another example, Apple bought AuthenTec and used that technology to develop Touch ID, one of the best smartphone fingerprint sensors out there.

Fixed that for you: "As an another example, Apple bought AuthenTec and used that technology to develop Touch ID, the best smartphone fingerprint sensor out there."

 

[prowlmedia]

after iphone smartphone revolution, Nest is one of the FIRST MASS-market smart internet of things. Others are just followers years after Nest was released.

that was the reason Google paid billions to have it.
[doublepost=1465147727][/doublepost]

Here is the fact for you. Google paid billions to just have a "thermostat". Last time they did that was buying youtube for billions many many years ago.

if Nest is so bad or it is just a "thermostat", why cost so much? are you saying that you are smarter than Google? Fadell is leaving but with billions in pockets.

Where is your fact? or is it just a guy's opinion on a forum?

Sigh. There were many other thermostats that were connected before nest.... Nest just put it in a cool circular case.

Nest as a thermostat is not bad. It's still very limited for a lot of people. They OP Nest as a company is failing that's the point. They have not fulfilled their billions dollar promise. They have been too damn slow. Where is the home automation hub and devices? Their camera is great quality but the software sucks. I've had a complete loss of all my video and ZERO help from Nest. "Sorry it's all gone"

 

[MillieWales]

Sigh. There were many other thermostats that were connected before nest.... Nest just put it in a cool circular case.

Nest as a thermostat is not bad. It's still very limited for a lot of people. They OP Nest as a company is failing that's the point. They have not fulfilled their billions dollar promise. They have been too damn slow. Where is the home automation hub and devices? Their camera is great quality but the software sucks. I've had a complete loss of all my video and ZERO help from Nest. "Sorry it's all gone"

It's ridiculously limited, all it does is control the boiler in one room. Full house systems controlling each individual radiator are the way forward and save real money. Of course they cost a lot more, but then you get a more effective and flexible system. A pretty little device on the wall is nice to have, but it doesn't help with keeping a large house at the correct temperature and cost effectively working out he best way to manage the heating and hot water systems.

Nest shouts very loudly, but the reality is they have just the one product. I believe (not read much about it so may be wrong) their smoke alarms are so bad they are giving unconditional refunds to anyone who purchased one and asks for their money back. All they have is a thermostat, and for the money they spent they should and could have done a lot more with it.

 

[CFreymarc]

Macrumors needs to expain how the hell this is in any way relevant to us.

He is a former big player of Apple. Part of this site is keeping track of senior Apple alumni. It is not just Apple products, this site covers Apple corporate culture in its own twisted way.
[doublepost=1465218372][/doublepost]

Sigh. There were many other thermostats that were connected before nest.... Nest just put it in a cool circular case.

Nest as a thermostat is not bad. It's still very limited for a lot of people. They OP Nest as a company is failing that's the point. They have not fulfilled their billions dollar promise. They have been too damn slow. Where is the home automation hub and devices? Their camera is great quality but the software sucks. I've had a complete loss of all my video and ZERO help from Nest. "Sorry it's all gone"

We are in the middle of a huge "MacGuffin Race" in the technology industry as big as defining the default business PC in the 80's. For this round, many are in a rush to define the "digital hub" of a networked domestic home.

With NEST, they tried to make a Thermostat the hub. Some are betting on a replacement for the set-top TV box controller. Some Asian companies think it is the refrigerator. Others thing it is a new applicance all together that works off voice control (Alexis, etc.) for home use. IMO, no one concept has become dominant.

 

[djgamble]

The writing was on the wall with some of the rumors we heard about turmoil at Nest as well as Google hiring a VP for hardware and Google being the one to announce an Amazon Echo competitor. I don't think Beats was worth the $3B Apple paid for it and I certainly don't think Nest was worth that much either. It is amusing to look back at when Google acquired Nest and all the articles bemoaning the fact that Apple didn't.

My only issue is that Google did SFA with Nest!!! Maybe they tweaked the hardware/software a little, but they started with a thermostat (that requires a central heating system) and a fire alarm (that won't work with 'real' fire alarms that call the fire station and link up with the rest of your building.)

Neither work for my situation (living in a modern apartment with a high energy rating that just needs 1 reverse cycle ai conditioner... controlled by IR.) Also, they haven't really made any compelling products since becoming a 3 BILLION dollar Google subsidiary.

My guess is that they were bought up because they had a boot load of ex-Apple staff and Google wanted people rather than products. I dunno... out of all the startups out there, I don't think they were ever the guys who would change the landscape if given a blank cheque book.

 

[Dayv]

We're closing on our house soon, and with it stays the Nest. I've got the ecobee3 in my cart on Amazon, and unless something better comes out after WWDC, it will be one of the first things shipped to my new house along with the Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt. It is upon these things and my Apple TV 4 which I will begin to construct my HomeKit empire! I might also pick up some Hue White Ambiance bulbs, and maybe some kind of HomeKit weather thing because I'm a weather geek.

I picked up an EcoBee 3 this spring, and I love it. My home guy had no trouble installing it, and the remote sensors are a great feature, especially for an old house like mine. The app is great, I recently discovered and enabled the widget for the "Today" pull-down. The only thing I haven't gotten working yet is HomeKit & Siri compatibility.

I'm not sure I'd like Nest's learned schedules anyway, routines and work schedules vary a lot in my home.

 

[shanson27]

why is the guy staring at me! I hate this guy already!

 

[macduke]

I picked up an EcoBee 3 this spring, and I love it. My home guy had no trouble installing it, and the remote sensors are a great feature, especially for an old house like mine. The app is great, I recently discovered and enabled the widget for the "Today" pull-down. The only thing I haven't gotten working yet is HomeKit a Siri compatibility.

I'm not sure I'd like Nest's learned schedules anyway, routines and work schedules vary a lot in my home.

So it doesn't have learned schedules? Just seems odd to me if it doesn't. Not a deal breaker since we have an in-home daycare now, so we don't really need it to learn much since someone is often at home. Having an official today widget would be handy, and is an example of Nest not updating their app anymore with features. I had to rely on a third party app that was often glitchy.

 

[CFreymarc]

annnnnnnnd.......going where? maybe i don't understand the relevance of the article...

I doubt to see him anywhere but a board of advisors and tech reviewer for VCs. The guy is effectively retired.

 

[Solomani]

Kojak's leaving the nest. Interesting.

 

[prowlmedia]

It's ridiculously limited, all it does is control the boiler in one room. Full house systems controlling each individual radiator are the way forward and save real money. Of course they cost a lot more, but then you get a more effective and flexible system. A pretty little device on the wall is nice to have, but it doesn't help with keeping a large house at the correct temperature and cost effectively working out he best way to manage the heating and hot water systems.

Nest shouts very loudly, but the reality is they have just the one product. I believe (not read much about it so may be wrong) their smoke alarms are so bad they are giving unconditional refunds to anyone who purchased one and asks for their money back. All they have is a thermostat, and for the money they spent they should and could have done a lot more with it.

They have a camera which is very good - but the software is lacking and it's expensive monthly.

The smoke alarm is very good - the issue you are talking about was the Wave to turn it off / control it which they disables as it proved to not work and could turn it off in certain circumstances - they offered refunds back in 2014.
[doublepost=1465238694][/doublepost]

He is a former big player of Apple. Part of this site is keeping track of senior Apple alumni. It is not just Apple products, this site covers Apple corporate culture in its own twisted way.
[doublepost=1465218372][/doublepost]
We are in the middle of a huge "MacGuffin Race" in the technology industry as big as defining the default business PC in the 80's. For this round, many are in a rush to define the "digital hub" of a networked domestic home.

With NEST, they tried to make a Thermostat the hub. Some are betting on a replacement for the set-top TV box controller. Some Asian companies think it is the refrigerator. Others thing it is a new applicance all together that works off voice control (Alexis, etc.) for home use. IMO, no one concept has become dominant.

Well that Fridge is a stupid idea... $3000 notepad that is obsolete in 4 years - well 2 years given Samsung crappy support longevity.

Same goes for TV's - They shove all this smart stuff in and the chips are obsolete in 2-3 years. My samsung tv has got more stupid by the month. Live channel integration gone - many apps - gone. Those that remain are slow as hell. I just have and Apple TV or Amazon Fire attached and if it need updating... $100 or so.

A thermostat is a stupid Hub to have. Not many people would change a hub but they'd buy a set top box or speaker.

Smart Speakers are defiantly a way forward. Have them in various rooms - with motion sensors etc - Could be home automation, security, music, contacts etc.

I've mounted a few older iPads and iPod touches on my wall that do the same thing

A killer system would be a linked system with multi voice recognition etc - So recognises the person and tailors the answers.

 

[mdelvecchio]

The writing was on the wall with some of the rumors we heard about turmoil at Nest as well as Google hiring a VP for hardware and Google being the one to announce an Amazon Echo competitor. I don't think Beats was worth the $3B Apple paid for it and I certainly don't think Nest was worth that much either. It is amusing to look back at when Google acquired Nest and all the articles bemoaning the fact that Apple didn't.

beats not worth it? they've already made their money back. beats has huge sales and is the #1 headphone accessory brand.

 

[dasmb]

Steve would lead and discipline but also reward, praise and elevate those that excelled around him. Tony on the other had, I was told, viewed rising starts in a engineering group as a threat to his position. One at the bar (in view of The Loop) said very talented developers moved out of Tony's group or left Apple all together after such scuffles.

A players hire A players.
B players hire C players.

 

[TallManNY]

I still don't see what Apple got with Beats. Read this really good blog post from Federico Vicitti. The whole pitch with Apple Music was how Apple was going to do discovery better and how you need human curation, not algorithms blah blah blah. Yet so many say discovery on Spotify is better than Apple Music.

https://www.macstories.net/stories/i-made-you-a-mixtape/

So Apple got a profitable headphone company at its peak popularity. But did they really need headphones? I'd say no.

Don't belittle the profitability of cool headphones. Apple got a line of headphones that cost $30 to make and sell for $150. That is one fantastic business as long as it continues.

One issue that Apple has is that its products are expensive. There are different ways to be "cool" but one way things get cool and go mainstream is coming up from the lower economic classes. Since Apple by definition doesn't sell its products in as great numbers to poorer folks, I think Apple struggles to look cool sometimes. Aligning itself with a cool brand seems a reasonable thing to do. And if that brand also sells high margin items, so much the better.

Human curation is a reasonable idea. Maybe Apple is still failing to execute it very well. It wouldn't be the first time that Apple got social stuff and search wrong.

 

[tgwaste]

What do you think Apple would have done with Nest? Nest had products that were multiple generations into their lifecycle. There's not a lot that Apple could have done with Nest.

The point of buying companies is not to generate buzz in the media. Just about everyone in the media said that Apple whiffed on buying Nest. The same was said when Facebook paid $20 billion for WhatsApp. The media contrasted those two mega-deals with Apple's purchases of small startups for hundreds of millions at most and claimed that Apple wasn't bold enough to make big bets.

I'll take Apple's small but hugely successful deals any day over the brownie points that Google and Facebook get in the media. PA Semi was an Apple acquisition for hundreds of millions. That technology helped create the A-series processors, a large part of the success of iOS devices. As an another example, Apple bought AuthenTec and used that technology to develop Touch ID, one of the best smartphone fingerprint sensors out there.

Well.. Apple used to sell Nest in their stores. Then HomeKit happened (or didnt happen?)

 

[oplix]

Jumping from the sinking ship.

 

[vvswarup]

Well.. Apple used to sell Nest in their stores. Then HomeKit happened (or didnt happen?)

Ok. Apple stopped selling a product owned by a competitor in its stores. So what?

 

[normanfox]

So, You mean Motorola is more innovative coz it cost 12billions?

Btw... Watch this..

I only own the thermostat and I can only speak about the Nest thermos
[doublepost=1465260495][/doublepost]

Sigh. There were many other thermostats that were connected before nest.... Nest just put it in a cool circular case.

yes, there are many other thermostats before Nest but Nest is a league of its own. Google was smart and they wanted to own it, not other thermostat. Apple had to stop promoting and selling Nest in its store because of this.

no other thermostat can command billions of dollars from the big boys, Google or Apple.

 

[stringent]

I'll be honest, I have a nest and two smoke detectors. Never had an issue, even with the software updates. Mind you, I am in the UK so do not have the same systems as you my US friends. It has saved money on my energy bills and looks swish. So I'm happy with it. The other offerings are good, and if I move it will be a matter of looking into which is best at the time.

I do think their cameras are expensive, and the price plan for them (which obviously is designed to bring in extra revenue to the company) ludicrous. So I haven't invested in that aspect of it.