Nest Labs is beefing up its security camera portfolio with the introduction of Nest Cam Outdoor, additional features to the Nest Aware service, and a new Nest app.
Nest Cam Outdoor is a $199 high-def 1080p camera with a weatherproof industrial design for permanent outdoor use. It includes many of the same features found in Nest Cam Indoor, including activity alerts and Talk and Listen.
According to the company, 30 percent of Nest Cam Indoor units were being placed outside.
The plug-and-play camera has a magnetic base to secure it in place and offers a 130-degree field of view. At night, the Night Vision function illuminates the scene with eight infrared LEDs. The $199 price tag is the same as the original Nest Cam Indoor unit. It will be available this fall and multi-packs will follow later in the year.
Users can stream and store video content using encryption technology (2048-bit RSA key with 128-bit SSL connection). Also, the Talk and Listen function let's users see someone at the door, and talk back to get their attention using the built-in speaker and microphone.
Nest Cam Indoor, Nest Cam Outdoor and Dropcam customers with a Nest Aware subscription can get 24/7 continuous recording, cloud storage and intelligent alerts.
The company also announced a new service called Person Alerts in which subscribers to the Nest Aware service will receive person alerts, allowing Nest Cam to distinguish between a person and another activity and let the homeowner know when someone comes into view. Person alerts are the first of a new generation of intelligent alerts from Nest that leverage Google’s expertise in machine learning and algorithms.
Nest Aware features including person alerts are available on all Nest Cam and Dropcam cameras. That service will start in September. Nest Aware can be purchased on www.nest.com or through the Nest app as a 10-day or 30-day subscription for $10 or $30 per month, respectively. New customers receive a free trial.
“The future is about intelligent alerts. Customers want to know when something is happening that genuinely deserves their attention. Person alerts are the first of many innovations that will make Nest Cam a more helpful partner in securing the home,” says Maxime Veron, director of hardware product marketing, Nest.
Fifth-Generation App
Lastly, the company unveiled its fifth generation Nest app that delivers new software features, including a new feature dubbed Spaces, which is a function of the Nest app that delivers a new user interface that groups Nest products by room, across multiple platforms, making it easier to access and control Nest products. Spaces will be available in Nest app version 5.6 in the Google Play Store and iOS App Store later this month.
Other new features of the app include:
- Secure Private Camera Sharing – Customers can create and share private, password protected livestream links with multiple people, such as close family members who are watching the house for them.
- Auto-bandwidth – Nest is making automatic bandwidth adjustments to match the bandwidth available, to ensure a clean video feed and avoid buffering.
- High resolution (1080p) viewing for Dropcam Pro customers
- Apple Watch Support – The new Nest app now supports Apple Watch, as well as Android Wear which was released earlier this year, so customers can control the temperature of their Nest Learning Thermostat from their wrist.
“Nest is completely reimagining the camera experience with new hardware, a redesigned app, and more intelligent alerts. And because Nest is constantly improving its products, current Nest Cam Indoor and Dropcam customers will also benefit from these new features,” says Veron. “Nest Cam provides customers with peace of mind and the ability to stay connected to the things they care most about. Now, Nest Cam Outdoor brings thoughtful security outside of customers’ homes, helping them secure their property and giving them more ways to watch over their families, even when they’re miles away.”
If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our digital newsletters!