Skip to main content

Works with Nest program expands to incorporate Weave language

When it works with Nest, it just works.
Google announced two Internet of Things systems at I/O earlier this year, Project Brillo and Weave. The latter is a common language for smart devices, allowing a “knock-on effect” that triggers once the user changes a setting on one device and allows devices to speak to each other.

That language is part of the Works with Nest program, now. Alphabet’s smart-home subsidiary announced that Weave would be incorporated into the Works with Nest program later this year.

This should mean greater collaboration between Works with Nest developers and engineers. Instead of only being able to use the APIs and libraries Nest adds to the system, any developer that is part of the Weave community will be able to write lines of code that can be applied across the platform. Nest claims it has been using Weave on all its products for some time now and is finally ready to make the language public.

We still aren’t sure where Project Brillo — Google’s own smart-home platform — fits into Works with Nest. Perhaps Project Brillo will be used more for business projects, while Works with Nest tackles the consumer side of the Internet of Things.

A new camera API is coming to Works with Nest in the near future, allowing developers to integrate with Nest Cam. A few devices have already added functionality for Nest Cam, including SkyBell, Philips Hue, August, and Petnet.

Introducing the Linus Yale lock

Nest also announced a partnership with Yale to develop a smart door lock that is able to message the homeowner and tell them who is at the door. It can create lock codes for different family members and the homeowner can set guest codes.

The Works with Nest program is definitely big at the moment, mostly due to Nest’s heavy investment in building APIs and helping developers get off the ground in the smart-home market. Apple’s own smart-home platform, HomeKit, is a major competitor, which allows the iPhone to become the central hub for all the smart devices.

Editors' Recommendations

David Curry
Former Digital Trends Contributor
David has been writing about technology for several years, following the latest trends and covering the largest events. He is…
There’s no new Nest Hub, but that’s OK
Hosting a Zoom conference through Nest Hub Max.

Google held its I/O 2022 event yesterday, but one much-rumored device was noticeably absent: The Nest Hub. Rumors had originally stated that there would be a Nest Hub with a detachable front screen that would work as a sort of "smart tablet." These were based off leaks that most likely pointed to the newly announced Pixel Tablet, releasing sometime in 2023.  While there is some disappointment among Nest fans, it's not the right time for an update for several reasons.
The 2nd Gen Nest Hub released last year
The 2nd Gen Nest Hub released on March 30, 2021. That means it's been just over a year since new hardware entered the market. The previous iteration of the Nest Hub released three years before that, and even with those three years to develop for it, the hardware didn't change that much. The biggest changes were sleep-sensing capabilities and better audio quality. While a detachable screen could work as a sort of portable tablet, there's not much use for it -- not realistically. Anything a portable smart tablet could do can also be done on your phone, and probably faster.

The one hardware upgrade I can see Google pushing for is a significantly larger screen -- perhaps something to compete with the Echo Show 15. Right now, Alexa has cornered the market on smart displays. The Echo Show 15 is massive and feels like a true smart device, while the Echo Show 10 caters to those who use Amazon's communications features. Both of those devices have a specific purpose, but the Nest Hub has always felt vaguely like an afterthought.
Software is the next frontier
The only smart-home related announcement at Google I/O 2022 focused on new feature updates for the Nest Hub Max (not even the standard Nest Hub.) These updates relied on the Nest Hub Max's built-in camera to recognize when you're looking directly at the device, eliminating the need to say "Hey Google" repeatedly. This is a key feature that makes it more convenient to use; after all, wake words can sometimes be irritating. While watching the event, my own Nest devices triggered several times from the audio cues.

Read more
The Google Nest lineup needs a redesigned plug
Google Nest Hub 2nd Gen on table.

Google is a company that gets a lot of things right. Its search engine is the most popular in the world, its lineup of smartphones is thriving, and its smart home products are among the most versatile on the market. But when it comes to designing plugs and power adapters for those smart home devices... well, it's time to go back to the drawing board.

The Google Nest Hub family boasts two of the most popular smart displays on the planet. Both the Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max make it easy to connect with family, check your calendar, or get quick updates on your daily news. By all standard metrics, they're a runaway success -- and they've got the sales to back up those claims. The same goes for plenty of other products in the Nest family, which continue to dominate the marketplace.

Read more
What you need to know about all Google Nest products
Nest speaker on table light on.

Google’s Nest line of products (an evolution from the previous Google Home brand after Google purchased Nest) incorporates a variety of smart devices, all designed to work under the Home app and integrate easily with each other. If you’re a fan of Google or frequently use Google Assistant, this is a great smart home ecosystem to invest in, and thanks to tech like Matter, Nest is due to become even more compatible with other platforms in the future.

So, where should you begin in the Nest world? With our guide to all the Nest products, of course! Here are all available Nest models, what they do, and what you should know about them.
Speakers

Read more