Google has decided to give Nest a slow death instead of just outright killing it off in August like they originally planned. What does that mean for Alexa and her ability to control Nest now?? Well for one thing this new twist means that you can keep your existing IFTTT recipes and external automations as long as you DON’T accidentally “upgrade” to the new Google account. You will need to keep your Nest account open, BUT you can’t create new recipes or automations as of August 31st, you will only be able to use your old ones. So when ANY of your Smart Home hardware inevitably dies (Door sensors, motion sensors, hubs etc) and you have to replace it then your Nest connection is broken forever. Why am I still not happy? Because I flipping paid for IFTTT when I bought the device! I wasn’t told I was renting the connection to IFTTT and Philips Hue and Yonomi until Google tired of maintaining the API. But Google’s new API is available why don’t IFTTT and all the others just get on board? The reason is simple: Google’s API allows you to send requests to Nest but not have Nest send requests out, so I could create a recipe that changes the temperature, but not have any automation should temperature change, the same is true of all Nest products as of August; I can tell my Camera to start filming, but I can’t have a motion event trigger a task. Googles new API is half the functionality even IF everyone got on board, which is probably why they aren’t bothering. Will Alexa work? They’re saying it will whilst simultaneously telling us they’re “Working with Amazon”. Why is that present tense? Why is it not “We worked with Amazon”? I’ve heard several people saying that Google are only doing what Amazon did with Ring. Let me be clear I have no trust or love for either company when it comes to them screwing each other over, BUT; there is a world of difference between witholding a product from your competition from the outset and withdrawing a product from a platform of 30 existing partners. I paid for a product that had integration and as of August I no longer own that product. I’ve been electronically robbed. If you’re a Nest fanboy telling me “that’s progress, get over it” then you’re part of the problem, how is halving the fucntionality progress? Why not just secure the existing platform, or amalgamate the two? It’s because this isn’t about what they say it’s about, it’s a brand thing and a giant intentional step away from playing nicely with others. One day it may be a service that you’ve paid for that Google snatch out from under you in the name of progress or privacy or security and you’ll be glad there’s someone like me screaming bloody murder on your behalf. If you’re attacking me for drawing attention to this train wreck then you’ve miss-placed your faith in the wrong people. ==================== FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram a brother: www.instagram.com/hibberthometech Twitter me up: www.twitter.com/hibberthometech Facebook the heck out of me: www.facebook.com/hibberthometech BUY ME A BEER Donate to the channel: paypal.me/PaulHibbert Become a monthly contributor on Patreon: www.patreon.com/paulhibbert 🙂 UK: amzn.to/2Oqdgfg US: amzn.to/2xkT1ID ==================== BUY A RELATED SMART HOME PRODUCT: AMAZON Echo dot UK: amzn.to/2PSyNSE US: amzn.to/2BuN3YQ Echo: UK: amzn.to/2PSyNSE US: amzn.to/2BuN3YQ BROADLINK RM Pro (And RF plugs) Broadlink RM pro UK: amzn.to/2fBFyrg Broadlink RM pro US: amzn.to/2LZF1d1 RF Plug sockets UK: amzn.to/2QBWT3K RF Plug sockets US: amzn.to/2PqU4xB CURTAIN TRACK MOTOR Amazon UK: amzn.to/2KaaY2A DE: www.amazon.de/dp/B07HJ1LWZ8 FR: www.amazon.fr/dp/B07HJ1BYKM IT: www.amazon.it/dp/B07HHZJ3FB CONTROL YOUR TV AND INFRARED DEVICES CHEAP! Broadlink RM Mini 3 UK: amzn.to/2nFelnq Broadlink RM mini 3 US: amzn.to/2JOJAdx AISIRER WIFI PLUG SOCKET UK: amzn.to/2MzlYWK US: amzn.to/2xkWSWg Soma Smarthome Blind motor: www.somasmarthome.com ALEXA AND GOOGLE HOME ENABLED LED LIGHT STRIP UK: amzn.to/2qOQrYl US: zemismart.com/led-strip_p0045.html ROBOVAC VACUUM CLEANER AND MOP Proscenic Robovac: UK: amzn.to/2OJkfjU US: amzn.to/2MgGEUk ECHO DOT DESK STAND: UK: amzn.to/2HJMpKV US: amzn.to/2ObCjDH ECHO DOT WALL MOUNT UK: amzn.to/2CB55Jt US: amzn.to/2OglB6c As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. By buying through any of the links above I will earn commission at no extra cost to you 🙂 🙂 |