Nest announced on Thursday that it is opening its Nest Cam technology to developers so that third-party devices can be equipped with the intelligence to work within a smart home.
Launched in June, the Nest Cam is a Wi-Fi-enabled security camera that allows user's to check in on their home when they are away via its accompanying app, with the ability to receive activity alerts. Other Nest products include Wi-Fi-connected thermostat, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
With open APIs, developers will be able to access data from the Nest Cam to do features like turning on smart lightbulbs when the camera picks up motion or recording security video if someone breaks into the house.
Along with opening the Nest Cam, developers can also tap the brains of other Nest products. Nest is also expanding its Works with Nest program with Nest Weave, a scalable protocol which provides communication among devices.
Nest Weave will give developers the language to allow their own devices to communicate and sync with other devices without an Internet connection—with Nest products at the center of it all. According to the Google-owned company, Weave provides low latency, longer ranger, increased security and uses less power than Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. That means the devices will be able to communicate securely even when they are out of Internet range or if Wi-Fi goes down.
The third-party products would then be set up with Nest's app that is available for both iOS and Android, so that users can turn off the lights when they aren't home, check their carbon monoxide detectors, or even get an alert when their baby rolls over while sleeping (when using Mimo products), all from one app.
Philips, maker of Philips hue smart lights and Mimo, maker of baby onesies and monitors, are two of the 16 companies that already signed on to make their own devices that use Weave hardware. Others include Petnet, GE, Tyco and Earth Networks. Products will include the Yale smart lock, August smart lock and the Wi-Fi video doorbell called Skybell.
The Linus lock by Yale will be the first product to work with Nest Cam, and will lets users check to make sure they locked their front door, or give guests a temporary pass code to enter the house, and see who has left or entered and at what time. Working with the Nest products, the device would be able to warn the user before they unlock their door if the smoke detector has gone off. The Yale lock will be released in 2016.
Other companies can apply to get their products featured to work with the Nest Cam via the Works with Nest Store when it launches in November.
Via: Nest
