Mikey Campbell
A pair of reports this week made note of Apple's apparent decision to remove Google's Nest Learning Thermostat from its online and brick-and-mortar stores, leaving only smart home devices compatible with HomeKit available for purchase.
The change was first spotted on Apple's online storefront by Fortune, which reported on Wednesday that all Nest products were no longer for sale. A quick check confirms that while text autofill options for "Nest Learning Thermostat" and "Nest Protect" show up in the Online Apple Store's quick search bar, those same products are nowhere to be found on Apple's website.
An update to that story quoted a Nest spokesperson as saying, "Apple is a valued partner to Nest and our new products will be available through Apple and other retail channels in the coming weeks." The publication added Apple's plans seem to include stocking of Nest Protect and Nest Cam (formerly known as Dropcam), but not the Learning Thermostat.
A separate report from Mashable on Thursday serves as confirmation of the product's removal. An Apple spokesperson told the publication that it removed Nest's connected thermostat from both its online store and brick-and-mortar locations earlier this month. This is the second time Apple has stopped sales of Nest's device, but the recent change appears to be permanent.
The Apple Store was one Nest's first promoters and began stocking the device as an exclusive partner in 2012. Since then, Apple made headway into the smart home space with HomeKit, an iOS-based framework for controlling "Internet of Things" devices. Earlier this month, Apple Stores initiated sales of ecobee3, the world's first HomeKit-enabled thermostat.
Nest Labs was cofounded by former Apple executives Tony Fadell and Matt Rogers. Fadell, who some consider the "godfather of the iPod," would go on to recruit a number of employees from Apple's talent pool. Nest was ultimately sold to Google in 2013 for $3.2 billion.
While Nest products are not compatible with HomeKit they do work with iOS, and the firm counts a substantial number of iPhone owners among its customer base. More recently, Google announced a competing IoT platform called Brillo, which was developed with help from the Nest team.
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43 Comments
Just as well. I'm on my third Nest thermostat warranty replacement due to inaccurate humidity sensors, an unresponsive unit, and an assortment of other annoyances. Most of the problems have been firmware related and increased after Google absorbed Nest. I really wanted to love this device, but it's turned into one of my more regrettable purchases. It may have the design and appearance of an Apple-class product, but the performance (at least in my experience) and reliability has been anything but. My brother has one that often goes dead and has to be removed from the wall and recharged.
Hope the "Godfather" feels the financial pain. Godfather my arse (some CNBC producer looking for something catchy in his lower third) , inspired by Braun and it was Schiller who conceived the click wheel if I'm not mistaken.
According to Mashable, the Homekit that Apple promote is Ecobee 3. Homekit is not really attractive yet at this price point. I mean Ecobee 3 at $250 to monitor a room temperature is really ridiculous. My body can feel the comfortable ambient in the room without the need of a thermostat.
At least now Ecobee 3 is the only one include a remote sensor with the smart thermostat for this price, not Nest or whatever.
These products should drop to $100 to sell.
Mine works fine but I don't use their iOS app anymore. I assume lots of original iPhone owners of Nest products are doing the same thing.
Good, took long enough. Google owned spyware products do not below in Apple Stores.