Skip to main content

Nest User posts video of his frustrating experience with un-silence-able Protect

Whenever we burn something in the kitchen (which happens shamefully often), the smoke detector starts to shriek in protest. Normally, this can be fixed by waving a towel in front of it or, in dire straits, removing the battery while the air clears. But we’ve never had a detector go haywire when there wasn’t a whiff of smoke in the air.

Unfortunately for Brad Fitzpatrick — software engineer at Google and founder of LiveJournal — his Nest Protect decided his house was on fire and sounded the alarm all day. There was neither smoke nor fire, and the frustrated programmer posted a video of himself trying to silence all five of his units to no avail.

Recommended Videos

It’s especially awkward given Fitzpatrick’s employer: Google bought Nest last year for $3.2 billion. Back in April 2014, Nest pulled Protect from shelves due to a software flaw that could potentially cause the detector to “sleep” through an emergency. It went back on sale in June.

Despite working for Google, Fitzpatrick pulled no punches in his Google+ post about his malfunctioning Nest Protects. “They false alarm and are unhushable [sic] pieces of crap,” he wrote. The YouTube video shows him frantically removing all five devices, then playing some nightmarish version of Simon as he pushes the buttons and the Protects continue to say, “Can’t be hushed here.” Finally, he locks them up in a couple of coolers and shoves them in the garage.

Nest Protect does run on batteries, but he was probably a little out of sorts after all the false alarms.

Jenny McGrath
Former Senior Writer, Home
Jenny McGrath is a senior writer at Digital Trends covering the intersection of tech and the arts and the environment. Before…
Get this Anker power station while it has a $1,800 discount
The Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus Portable Power Station in the kitchen.

Prolonged power outages are one of the most stressful incidents your family can experience. If you're looking at portable power station deals for a solution, we highly recommend going for the Anker Solix F3800 Plus, especially now that it's on sale from Anker itself with a massive $1,800 discount on its original price of $4,799. At its lowered price of $2,999, it's still a significant investment, but we think it's a reasonable amount for the comfort and safety of your family when there's no electricity.

BUY AT AMAZON

Read more
Blink Video Doorbell vs. Ring Battery Doorbell: which is best for your front door?
Blink Video Doorbell installed

The Blink Video Doorbell just hit the market, and at just $60, it’s a frugal option for shoppers interested in bringing smarts to their front door. Featuring a two-year battery life, person detection, and an improved field-of-view, it’s a well-rounded device given its low price tag. However, the Ring Battery Doorbell is a perennial favorite — it’s not quite as new, but it’s loaded with premium features that have made it a common sight on porches across the planet. But is it the best option for your home? Here’s a look at the Blink Video Doorbell and the Ring Battery Doorbell to help you decide which to purchase.
Design

The Ring Battery Doorbell is built with its iconic black and silver design. The top portion of the rectangular device is black, and it houses the camera unit. The larger lower half is silver, and it’s where you’ll find the doorbell button with its cool blue glow. It’s a great-looking device, and it looks remarkably similar to all the other video doorbells in the Ring lineup. Alternatively, you can pick up a Venetian Bronze model that’s a bit darker.

Read more
This fragrance diffuser is one of my favorite smart home gadgets of 2025
The Aera Smart Diffuser on a table

We’re about halfway through 2025, and it’s a year that’s been filled with cool smart home products. From a robot vacuum with a robotic arm to a portable misting fan that’s perfect for the impending summer heat, I’ve had the pleasure of testing out dozens of truly unique products. Yet somehow, my favorite smart home gadget of 2025 (so far) is the Aera Smart Fragrance Diffuser -- a tiny little device that sits in the corner of my home and works tirelessly to fill my home with invigorating scents.

Living in a small space has its drawbacks. Scents from the kitchen, bathroom, and my makeshift home gym all comingle to create an environment that can sometimes be… uninviting. I’ve used candles and found them to do a good job of refreshing my home, but they need to be constantly monitored and aren’t the best way to keep a home smelling clean every hour of the day.

Read more