Google tipped to launch a cheaper Nest Thermostat with gesture controls

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If this new report is accurate, Google is supposedly developing a new Nest Thermostat that will come with gesture controls and will be its most affordable version yet. According to Bloomberg, the new Nest Thermostat will retail for US$129, and it'll arrive "in the coming weeks." The lower price tag might make it more enticing, but the differentiator really is the promise of gesture controls.

It will supposedly be similar to the gestures available on the Pixel 4, which used the Soli chip to detect motion at close range. There were previous reports that claimed Google would use the same technology for the new Nest Thermostat. But now, we have a clearer picture of how it might work. The report claims users can "swipe their hand up or down near the device to control the temperature or move their hand toward or away to navigate menus."

Google Nest teases 'special appearance' on Monday

This is what the next Google Nest speaker will supposedly look like. (Mishaal Rahman/Twitter)

Google Nest has something up its sleeve today. And some are speculating it's the arrival of a new Google Nest speaker, featuring a boxy cylindrical shape. The teasers the Google Nest team released on Twitter kept things vague, so we can't precisely glean what they are. Some are saying it might be a month-long sale, instead of a new device. But with a teaser that says, "Help has many faces," others think we might get a product of sorts. We would hope it's a bit of both.

Source: SlashGear

Google rolls out new Nest Aware plans in Canada

The simplified, more cost-effective Nest Aware plans are now available in Canada, which comes seven months since Google introduced these new subscriptions. Nest used to charge $5, $10, $30 per month and camera, depending on how many days of video history users wanted. Now, you can avail of either Nest Aware or Nest Aware Plus subscriptions. Nest Aware costs $8 per month or $80 a year, including 30-day "event video history." Nest Aware Plus costs $16 a month or $160 annually, including 60-day event video history and 10-day 24/7 video history. Event video history is the recordings of motion and sound captured by Nest cameras.

Both plans cover all Nest camera devices you have as well as products like Nest Mini, Google Home and Home Max, Nest Hub and Hub Max, and Nest Wifi Point. Both plans also offer "intelligent alerts," which will let you know when a Nest camera detects sounds or a person, and "activity zones," which you can define and then have Nest alert you when something happens in those areas. If you have an existing subscription, you can upgrade through the Google Store.

Source: MobileSyrup + iPhone in Canada

Nest Hello Doorbells can soon play seasonal sounds, including a Halloween-themed one

A new update rolling out to the Nest app will let you change Nest Hello Doorbells to something a bit more festive than a bell. Version 5.40.0.2 will have the option that enables you to change the standard doorbell into seasonal sounds, one of which is labelled "Spooky sounds" that comes just in time for Halloween. 

The update will also allow any Google Assistant-enabled speaker or display at home to announce that a visitor is at the door by playing the same seasonal sounds. We assume that you should be able to return it to the usual sound at any time you like. We also expect there might be other themes coming just in time for the holidays.

Source: 9to5Google