Google promises to solve biggest problem with Nest cameras

If you plan to upgrade your existing Nest cameras to the updated version Outside camera or battery powered doorbell, a warning: If you have any old Nest hardware operational, you will need to use two apps to manage the old Nest’s with the latest. This is a problem I encountered while looking at the cameras, and it’s something that Google knows will bore its users until everything is completely merged.

The company has slowly revamped its line of security cameras. With each update comes improved connected hardware, with the caveat that it only works in the Google Home app. Previously, you would connect a Nest security camera to your home network and manage it through the Nest app. This app still exists, but as Google expands its Home app to become the centralized controller of its connected devices, it is also forcing users to this app by making Nest irrelevant.

The good news is that Google is planning to fix this horrible to live.

“We know this can be frustrating, and we’re committed to bringing the Nest experiences and devices you love into the Nest app in the Home app,” wrote Rishi Chandra, vice president of Google Nest, in a Wednesday blog post. “It will take time to get it right, and we’ll continue to share more details as we get updates.”

The Home app can handle much of what the Nest app did before, including managing wired and battery-powered security cameras, event-based notifications, and 24/7 continuous video recording. / 7. the story. These capabilities aren’t specific to the Nest line – you can find them on Arlo and TP-Link Kasa security cameras, for example – but they add value.

Chandra added that there are new features come to the camera experience in the Home app. You’ll be able to switch between events faster rather than painstakingly scrolling through the activity timeline. Google is also rolling out the “desktop experience” for the Google Home app for next year, which hopefully means the simple ability to use it in the browser. I constantly use it with my original Nest devices because I’m not always able to pick up my smartphone to see what’s going on, especially during working hours. And while that won’t fix the problem of both apps for a while, it will make it easier to manage devices. through side directly from your computer.

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Chandra also announced a new Nest coming soon. For those disappointed with the battery-powered Nest Doorbell’s inability to record 24 hours a day, Google will launch the second-generation wired Nest Doorbell in 2022. You can still buy the first-generation wired Nest Doorbell for now, but if you want the updated look of the rest of the Nest camera line, you’ll have to wait a bit longer. The current battery-operated doorbell can’t save 24/7 video due to heat dissipation issues. It’ll be interesting to see what the next wired doorbell looks like, especially with Amazon trailing Google when it comes to home security.