Google-owned Nest, the home automation company, has sent out invites for a press conference on Wednesday, June 17.
The mysterious invite does not spill any beans on what Nest plans to hatch at the press event. It simply says: "Please join us for a Nest press conference." The Nest press conference will be held at the Terra Gallery in San Francisco at 10 a.m.
So what does Nest have up its sleeve you wonder, especially considering this is the first-ever announcement by the company since it was acquired by Google for $3.2 billion in 2014? It is likely that the company is looking to take the wraps off a new home audio product.
Rumors have been rife that Nest is working on an audio product for homes dubbed "Nest Audio." The company's job posting a few months ago fueled speculations as Nest was seeking out "a highly technical Head of Audio to lead the development of Nest Audio across hardware and software, present and future."
For those wondering what Nest Audio is all about, it is speculated to be a home automation system which can plausibly play music while hearing you speak the data. It is believed to be sort of in the Amazon Echo mold so that it is designed around a user's voice and can be controlled via the voice even from a distance. Nest Audio, like Amazon Echo, could possibly be able to share information, news, weather updates and music with users.
Nest is already synonymous with smart home devices such as thermostats, smart home alarms, and if Nest Audio bears fruition, then the company could well be foraying into the field of speakers, as well as other audio devices.
A possibility exists that Nest may have some security products to show off as well considering the company acquired Dropcam in 2014. Moreover, the Nest Thermostat has not been updated for a while - be it hardware or software alterations - and may be in line for an upgrade. So we could well see the next-gen Nest Thermostat make an appearance at the press event.
The device may also pack-in support for the Android-based Brillo, which is a smart home platform and will throw the gauntlet to Apple's HomeKit.
With speculations galore, we will have to wait and see what surprises Nest has in store on June 17.
