Nest Intros Cam, Protect Upgrade

Google-owned home automation vendor Nest presents the Nest Cam internet-streaming home security camera, together with a second-generation Protect smoke detector and updated iOS and Android apps.

Nest CamEssentially a rebranded Dropcam Pro (the result of Nest buying Dropcam a year ago), the Nest Cam features a few improvements in the shape of 1080p video recording, better night vision and the addition of a rare-earth magnet in the bottom. Users can save up to 30 days of video on the "Nest Aware" cloud (requires subscription) and create Activity Zones for specific alerts.

One can also stream video directly to YouTube Live, and the company promises video security through the use of a 2040-bit RSA key and a 128-bit SSL connections.

Meanwhile the upgraded Protect smoke and CO2 alarm is reportedly 11% smaller than the original and sits "more flush" against walls or ceilings. It supposedly can distinguish between slow- or fast-moving fires, or whether it is detecting steam or smoke, via dual-wavelength sensors.

Other additions include a brighter light ring acting as a motion-detecting nightlight in the dark and a built-in microphone.  The "Nest Wave" gesture control feature is no more as the company says it leads to unintentional alarm disabling.

Control for the above mentioned devices, as well as the Nest thermostat comes through the upgraded Nest mobile device app.

Nest gives no word on when the Cam and Protect will hit European markets as yet.

Go Say Hello to Nest Cam

Go Meet the New Nest Protect