Nest

Review: August Pro HomeKit smart lock

Popular smart lock maker August now has a product for everyone. There is the affordable August Smart Lock, the 2nd generation August Smart Lock with HomeKit, and then the "kitchen sink" model called the August Smart Lock Pro, which I've spent some time reviewing.

Apple hires Dropcam co-founder Greg Duffy

Former CEO and co-founder of Dropcam Greg Duffy has joined Apple, reports The Information. A company spokesman has confirmed the high profile hiring to the outlet, but would not comment on what his role would be in Cupertino.

Tony Fadell steps down as Nest CEO

Tony Fadell is stepping down as CEO of Nest, he announced in a blog post on Friday. The former Apple engineer and founder of the smart thermostat/device company, which was purchased by Google in 2014 for $3 billion, says he's moving into an "advisor" role to Alphabet and CEO Larry Page.

Despite recent reports of turmoil within the company, Fadell insists that the move is amicable and the transition has been in progress since late last year. He says he's leaving the company to new CEO Marwan Fawaz, who was previously CTO of cable company Charter, with a two-year roadmap in place.

How to control the Nest using HomeKit and Siri

The Nest is one of the most popular home automation devices in existence right now, but due to incompatibility with HomeKit, iOS users can't control their Nest Learning Thermostats using Siri.

Fortunately, a workaround has been found. It's called Homebridge, and it's a NodeJS server that runs on your Mac. Homebridge allows iOS devices to interface with incompatible home automation devices like the Nest using HomeKit.

This means that it is now possible to control the Nest with Apple Watch, iPhone, and iPad using Siri. No jailbreak required.

Apple pulls Nest products from its website and retail stores

Apple has stopped selling the Nest Learning Thermostat and Nest Protect smoke alarm online and in its retail stores, reports Mashable. A search for the products on Apple's website now redirects customers to HomeKit-compatible devices.

The move comes a month after Apple debuted HomeKit, a platform that aims to streamline communication between iOS devices and smart home accessories. Among the compatible products available at launch was the ecobee3 thermostat.

Nest roundup: home security camera, improved smoke alarm, revamped mobile app and more

Google-owned Nest launched some new home automation gear while refreshing its entire lineup at a media event held in San Francisco this morning. Designed for personal home security, the new Nest Cam is born out of Nest's acquisition of Wi-Fi video streaming camera maker Dropcam.

The $199 camera has a magnetic stand and can capture and stream a 130-degree video in Full HD 1080p resolution so you can keep an eye on your home while at work.

Moreover, it has advanced night vision, Nest Aware-powered activity alerts and boasts some other cool features worth mentioning.

Thermos lets you control your Nest from Notification Center on iPhone and iPad

Thermos for iPhone and iPad is the first application to let you control your Nest thermostat directly from your iPhone or iPad's Notification Center. Already available for Mac (read our review), Thermos has now made its way to iOS with a Notification Center widget that allows Nest user to adjust the temperature of the thermostat, as well as setting it to Away, or turning it off altogether.