At the entrance / exit, Google killed our nest while we knew it

There was a lot of news at the Google I / O developer conference this year, but when it came to the smart home, there was one thing that was missing. Nest, bought by Google in 2014 for $ 3.2 billion, was fully absorbed and renamed the Google Nest.

This is not the kind of new branding where Google simply assigns the Nest name to existing products. This is how Google removes any claim that Nest operates as a separate and independent operation within the company. Of course, Google has announced its intention to do so in 2018, but this year's I / O gave us a first glimpse of what that really meant.

If you visit Nest.com, you'll be greeted with a long speech about all the changes. (You can also read a detailed report at Ars Technica.) In summary, here is the summary. Starting August 31, 2019, the Works with Nest development program will be launched. It will be replaced by the Assistant program with Google. Over the next few months, Nest users can expect invitations to migrate to Google Accounts. More importantly, Google and Nest operate under a unified privacy policy. In other words, if you're an original Nest user, once you've migrated your account, you're sending your data to Google.

In truth, it's a bit naive to think that Google does not have already have access to this data – account migration makes it official with a capital O. According to the Google Nest FAQ, existing Nest users will not see their deleted Nest accounts. Google simply recommends "strongly" to migrate because "new devices and connected home services … will only be available to users with a Google account." Similarly, new users will have no choice but to sign up via Google. For those who choose not to migrate, they will continue to receive security updates and will be subject to Nest's existing terms and privacy policies.

The new Google Nest Privacy Policy page promises three things: "We will be transparent about the data we collect and why. We will never sell your personal information to anyone. We will give you the means to review, move or delete your data. If you scroll through the camera, microphone, home sensor, and Wi-Fi data sections, some themes appear. You will always be able to know when a microphone or camera is turned on via a light and the data collected will only be shared with third-party applications and services that are part of Google's closed ecosystem.

This makes sense, and it is encouraging to see Google respond to recent concerns about security and privacy of the smart home. Just a few months ago, Google was trapped for failing to disclose microphones built into the Nest Secure security system. There have also been recent reports of Nest camera owners terrified by hackers claiming false North Korean ballistic strikes or threatening to kidnap babies. It is also relevant to think that the new Google Nest Hub Max solution will have an optional face matching feature. No one would want to buy Google Nest if there was not at least an illusion of privacy and security.

But the other solution is to "improve" Google's security and privacy. Nest users are also facing a potentially broken home ecosystem. The Works with Nest program has been around for years, but the number of apps and products currently compatible with Thermostats and Nest Cameras will not survive the transition to Google Assistant. A Verge report lists popular integrations with Amazon Alexa, Logitech Harmony, Lutron Lights, August Home, SimpliSafe and Wemo switches can be canceled before August 31st. It also states that support for If This Then That (IFTTT), a third-party automation service widely used by the DIY smart home community, will cease as of that date for reasons of confidentiality, given the design IFTTT open.

On the one hand, this streamlining could be a good thing. After all, it does not really make sense to use a thermostat As a hub of smart homes, Nest did it only because it was its best-selling product and it served as a gateway for many homeowners. In addition, among the digital assistants, Google Assistant is widely imposed. But many Nest owners have already purchased an ecosystem and set up their homes that Google may decide not to support arbitrarily. They may have to buy new products and reconfigure their homes. If you've ever had smart home products, you know it's an expensive, head-on process.

In the short term, we'll probably see a wave of fear about how much Google is hitting the house, and Nest owners will likely face growth difficulties. (As I always say, if this really worries you, keep your health in mind and do not agree to buying a smart home as long as you can.) Or, in a year, we could sing the praises of Google for creating a seamless experience while crying the dream of a smart home truly independent of the platform. Anyway, Nest, as we knew, is gone.

[Ars Technica, The Verge]