Skip to main content

Nest can now use your phone to tell whether you’re home or not

nest employees going to google thermostat lifestyle 1
Nest thermostat
Nest is about to get a lot better at telling whether or not you’re home — or about to get back home. A new update to the device essentially allows it to tell when the user is leaving and when they’re returning by connecting to the user’s smartphone.

So what does it do with this information? When the user leaves the house, the thermostat will automatically switch over to “away” mode, and when it sees that you’re on your way home, it will switch back on and start warming things back up so it’s nice and toasty when you enter your house.

The feature itself is called Home/Away Assist, and it can, of course, be switched off, however keeping it on could be both a time saver and an energy saver.

Home/Away Assist is being launched alongside another pretty important feature: accounts for multiple family members. Until now, those that live in the same house have had to share the same account if they want to have some level of control over the the product. Now, however, multiple people can log in and control the same product, a great addition for families or those with roommates.

Of course, it makes sense that the two features would launch at the same time. It would be silly for the account holder to leave the house, turning Nest to Away mode while the rest of the family stays home. Using the two features together, Nest is able to get a better idea of how many people come and go and when they tend to do that. One of the key features of Nest and how it functions is that it learns patterns over time, ensuring that it is able to accurately heat or cool the house.

It’s important to note that while the new feature does sound like a potential privacy issue, Nest reportedly does not “track” where the user goes, and all the information that is collected is encrypted. It’s also important to note that there are other platforms on the market that already use location tracking for this kind of feature; however, Nest says that its implementation of the feature is better because of the fact that it doesn’t rely on a single smartphone.

The feature isn’t limited to only the Nest thermostat; it can be used with Nest’s full product lineup, with many of them able to switch on and off depending on whether or not the user is home.

Editors' Recommendations

Christian de Looper
Christian’s interest in technology began as a child in Australia, when he stumbled upon a computer at a garage sale that he…
How to turn your old phone into a security camera

If you're like most people, you've probably amassed a drawer of unused electronics over the years. Many of these are probably smartphones -- after all, carriers offer great promotions nowadays, giving you a chance to upgrade your device every two years without paying hefty fees. However, instead of letting your old smartphones collect dust (or worse, throwing them away), consider turning them into a makeshift security camera.

There are plenty of great iOS and Android apps available that help turn your old smartphone into a security camera. These work by using your old smartphone's built-in cameras to provide a live stream to your new smartphone. Best of all, many of these are affordable (or free) and work with just about any phone you might have purchased over the last decade.

Read more
What is IFTTT and how can you use it in your smart home?
A bunch of colorful shapes on a black background.

If you've spent any time shopping for smart home gadgets, you've probably noticed that many are built with support for Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Home. These are smart home platforms, and they let you access all your devices through a single app or interface. You've probably also noticed support for something known as IFTTT. But what exactly is IFTTT? And is it something you should be concerned with? Here's a closer look at the unique (and incredibly useful) software.
What is IFTTT?

IFTTT stands for, "if this, then that." It's terminology often used in programming, allowing software to chain together functions and perform certain tasks if other tasks are detected. For example, if the user inputs the incorrect password, then they'll be notified to try logging in again.

Read more
Echo Show 8 vs. Nest Hub: Does Amazon or Google offer the best smart display?
Google Nest Hub 2nd Gen on table.

Anyone in the market for a reasonably priced smart display has probably stumbled across the Echo Show 8 and Nest Hub. Both clock in at under $150 (often less when on sale) yet provide homes with many of the same features found on premium alternatives like the Nest Hub Max and Echo Show 10.

But is the Echo Show 8 better than the Nest Hub? And what exactly is the difference between these two smart displays? Here's a comprehensive look at both to help you decide which one to bring into your smart home.
Pricing and design

Read more