Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Smart Home
  3. News

Works with Nest? Comcast will now support smart home gadgets with Xfinity Home

By

comcast now has more internet than tv customers xfinity home
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Comcast has been in the news a lot recently, from failed mergers to promising to improve its customer service. Interesting timing on the latter, because the company wants to up its presence in your home. It recently announced its Xfinity Home service will now support a slew of smart home automation devices. CEO Brian Roberts confirmed the news at cable television’s annual trade show gathering in Chicago. Some of the new partner devices include August Smart Locks, Leeo, Lutron, SkyBell, Rachio Smart Sprinklers, and the Whistle pet monitor. The company noted that it is working separately with Nest Labs to integrate its services.

Previously, homeowners with smart thermostats and doorbells have not been able to control them via Xfinity Home. With this new integration, homeowners will be able flip on the lights or lock the doors with the Xfinity Home mobile app, through their TVs, or with their voice via the Xfinity Remote. The pricing for these systems is tiered, but existing customers can pay $30 a month for the company’s Home Security Service or $19 monthly for no monitoring, with a two-year contract.

Recommended Videos

“We want to help people unlock the potential of their smart home,” said Dan Herscovici, senior vice president and general manager, Xfinity Home. “Whether it’s through the television, an app or a voice command, we’re giving customers one easy-to-use experience to control all their favorite devices, seamlessly on the same platform.”

Related

Later this year, Comcast also plans to release a Software Development Kit and certification program, which will allow partners to work with Xfinity Home to create more integrated devices.

As of late, Comcast has felt the pressure from “cord cutters” who are ditching their cable packages for pay-what-you-want television services. This move from Comcast could help the company find additional revenue through its Xfinity Home service, though it remains to be seen if customers will want to be locked into the company controlling their homes.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Krystle Vermes
Krystle Vermes
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Krystle Vermes is a professional writer, blogger and podcaster with a background in both online and print journalism. Her…
Blink Mini 2 vs. Nest Cam (Indoor): Which is the better affordable security camera?
The Google Nest Cam Indoor on a table.

The Blink Mini 2 and Google Nest Cam (Indoor) are two of the best budget security cameras on the market. They both cost less than $100, are easy to set up, and are packed with features despite their low price. You can't go wrong adding either to your home, but there are some key differences to understand if you're looking to get the best security camera for your property.

From pricing and ongoing fees to resolution and more, here's a comprehensive look at the Blink Mini 2 and Nest Cam (Indoor) to help you decide which is the better security camera for your smart home.
Pricing and monthly fees

Read more
Google rolls out new Nest Cam features to Google Home for web
Nest Cams on a counter.

While many users access Google Home on their smartphone or smart display, the platform is also available via web browser. The web-based Google Home experience wasn't exactly the best way to access your smart devices, but that's rapidly changing as Google rolls out new updates to the client -- the latest of which adds a ton of new ways to access your Nest Cams.

Google began rolling out the update late last week, and most users should now have access to the improved Google Home for web experience. The big draw is access to your Nest Cam history and the option to download clips. Prior to this update, it was impossible to view recorded clips via Google Home for web, forcing you to instead jump into the official Google Home app.

Read more
The Blink Mini 2 features an updated design, support for outdoor use
The Blink Mini 2 placed on two books.

The original Blink Mini was one of the best indoor cameras thanks to its affordable price, 1080p resolution, and support for Alexa. Now, Amazon is making the gadget even more enticing with the new Blink Mini 2, which boasts a sleek new design and is capable of working both indoors and outside in the elements.

While it's still small and compact, the Blink Mini 2 looks slightly different from the old Blink Mini. Its corners are much softer, its entire chassis is white (instead of a white chassis and black faceplate), and its camera takes up a bit more space on the front of the device. The differences are apparent when the two gadgets are placed side by side -- and the minor changes add up to make the Blink Mini 2 look a bit more premium than its older sibling.

Read more