Roger Fingas
Google's Nest Labs on Tuesday upgraded its signature product, the Thermostat, with features such as a bigger, sharper display, and longer-range automatic wakeup.
The third-generation Thermostat has a 480x480 screen rated at 229 pixels per inch. The device has simultaneously slimmed down however, coming in at 1.21 inches thick.
The new wakeup feature is called Farsight, and will show the time or temperature when someone walks in the room — with the former having the option of a digital or analog-style clock face. Previously, people had to be within three feet of a Thermostat for it to turn on.
Another addition is Furnace Heads-Up, which will notify users about potential problems with their furnace and/or air filter by detecting activation and shutoff patterns. These alerts are pushed to the company's iOS and Android apps, which have been updated to support the new hardware.
Furnace Heads-Up will eventually be available to first- and second-generation Thermostats, but only through an update coming later this year.
The third-generation device is now on sale via the Nest store for $249. In some locations though power companies are offering rebates and rewards, or even giving away the product as a sign-up bonus.
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54 Comments
How is this pertinent to Apple news? No one gives a frack about Google.
For a third generation product that has been almost 3 years since the last, this is not much of a improvement. It does not solve any of the many reported shortcomings of the last genereation reported by users. It does appear to be better equiped to track you as you walk around, and in exchange for this you get to know what time it is. Google at Googles best.
AI just rubbing it in because Apple didn't buy Nest when they could've. 'Yeah, we know, AI.'
"The new wakeup feature is called Farsight, and will show the time or temperature when someone walks in the room -- with the former having the option of a digital or analog-style clock face. Previously, people had to be within three feet of a Thermostat for it to turn on."
Why on earth would I want it to light up whenever anybody is in the room. It certainly should not be the center of attention. Three feet was ideal. I hope this can be turned off.
Offering rebates - ding dong