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Starling Home Hub 12.0 brings HomeKit Secure Video support to the new Nest Doorbell

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If you like using Google and Apple smart home products, you need to be using the Starling Home Hub. In my original review, I noted that it was a streamlined and turnkey way to add all of your Nest products to HomeKit. Over the past two and a half years, the team behind the product has continued to release updates to make the product even better. Today, version 12.0 of the firmware adds support for the new Nest doorbell that includes continuous recording.

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Nest is considering Apple HomeKit as iOS 11 makes supporting existing products easier

Nest has long been a holdout on Apple’s Siri-controlled HomeKit platform, and many have speculated it will never add support due to its ties with Google and its competing offerings. But this week the company told us it’s at least considering adopting HomeKit following some big changes for hardware authentication requirements announced this month.

When we asked the company if it would look into newly announced iOS 11 features that allow old products to easily add support, a Nest spokesperson officially told us its “open to supporting” the platform and that it will indeed “consider HomeKit.”


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Nest update brings support for Apple TV, ability to save and share video clips

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Nest has introduced a pretty substantial update to its iOS and Android apps, bringing Nest Aware customers the ability to easily create, save, and share video clips straight from the Nest app. The iOS app also adds support for Apple TV, so you can quickly check out your Nest Cam feeds straight from your couch…


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Latest app update lets you control your Nest thermostat from your Apple Watch

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The key selling-point of a smart thermostat like Nest or Tado is that you shouldn’t often need to control it manually, as it learns your preferences and monitors whether family members are home or away. But for those times when you do want to make manual adjustments, the process just got more convenient: the latest update to the Nest app adds Apple Watch support …


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Apple hires former Nest exec & Google X co-founder to work on health initiatives

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According to a report from Fortune and her LinkedIn profile, Apple has recently hired former Nest executive and co-founder of Google X Yoky Matsuoka. At Nest, Matsuoka was the head of technology. According to the report, Matsuoka is joining Apple to help with its health initiatives, including ResearchKit, HealthKit, and CareKit. Matsuoka will report to chief operating officer Jeff Williams who oversees all of the company’s health projects.


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Nest’s GPS-enabled Home/Away Assist feature makes your smarthome devices much smarter

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Alphabet-owned Nest is best known for its smart thermostat, but the company works on a number of devices which, albeit being generally good at their given task, do not communicate with each other particularly well. And that’s mostly due to the fact that said devices have always had a hard time detecting whether you are actually at home or not.

With the upcoming implementation of GPS support via the Nest app, however, it looks like your house is about to become decidedly more efficient – and smart…


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9to5Toys Last Call: new Apple TV from $117, Pad & Quill leather Apple Watch band $104, Fitbit Charge $80, more

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Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:

Last Call Updates:

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App Store Free App of the Week: The Mesh puzzler goes free for the first time (Reg. $2)

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Review: Anker’s PowerCore+ gear is some of the best money can buy

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Best Buy, Target and Radio Shack are all discounting 4th Gen. Apple TV, 32GB from $117 & 64GB from $162 shipped

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Pad & Quill’s high-quality leather Lowry Cuff Apple Watch band offers Hermès style for just $104 shipped (Reg. $130)

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Fitbit Charge Wireless Activity & Sleep Band w/ OLED display: $80 shipped (Reg. $130)

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Many Apple Watch models now $100 off at Target and Best Buy: 38mm Sport $249 w/ free shipping (Reg. $349), more

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Download Lara Croft Go, Apple’s Game of the Year 2015, for just $2 (Reg. $5)

Heroes Reborn: Enigma for iOS goes free for the first time as IGN’s Game of the Month (Reg. $5)

Final Fantasy IX is now available for download on iOS/Android

The Martian official iOS/Apple Watch game goes free (up to $3 value)

Apple offering popular iOS video editing app ‘Videoshop’ for free ($2 value)

App Store Free App of the Week: Over graphic design & photo editing app ($4 value)

Final Fantasy II on iOS available free inside the FF Portal app ($8 value)

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

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Daily Deals: Nest 2nd Gen Learning Thermostat $170, Cable Modem $50, more

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MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

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Save on Apple’s monster 12.9-inch iPad Pro: 128GB Wi-Fi $850 (Reg. $949), 128GB Wi-Fi + Cellular $950 (Reg. $1,079)

Best Buy just cut prices for Apple’s iPad mini 4 and iPad Air 2 by $100, deals start at $300 w/ free shipping

Apple iPad Air Wi-Fi 16GB $299 or 64GB $349 shipped (Reg. $399/$449)

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iPhone 6/s/Plus Cases from $3 Prime shipped: Dual-Layer w/ Screen Protector $8 (Reg. $16), 3,000mAh Battery Case $20more

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Amazon offers rare 25% discount on Kindle Unlimited subscriptions: 6-months $45 (Reg. $60), more

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

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OMBEE’s modular standing desk turns any table into a upright workstation

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The new Andy Warhol Where’s Waldo book is perfect for any Pop Art connoisseur

Nest Cam Review: Is Google’s Wi-Fi security cam worth the subscription costs?

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It’s certainly not the only connected-security camera, but following Google’s acquisition of popular security cam maker Dropcam last year, the company has just launched a second-generation product with new features. The new product was re-envisioned by Google’s Nest team— the people building smart home accessories like the Nest thermostat and fire alarm— and in the process dropped the Dropcam branding and gained a few notable enhancements.

But is the new Nest Cam worth an upgrade from your current Dropcam setup? And how does the product compare to the other connected home security-cam and all-in-one security devices on the market? We’ve been testing out Nest Cam since its release a few weeks back to find out.
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Tado, Europe’s Nest competitor, adds multi-room temperature control and IFTTT support

tadoTado, Europe’s main Nest competitor in the smart thermostat field, has announced two new enhancements to its system. First, multi-room temperature control, allowing different temperatures to be set in different rooms. Second, support for IFTTT recipes to automatically trigger other actions based on Tado detecting people arriving or leaving the home.

For homes that already have different heating devices in different rooms, such as underfloor heating, adding a second thermostat is all you need for the multi-room control. Most of us, though, will need a new smart radiator valve that won’t be available until next fall.

IFTTT support – first promised back in March – has been added from today. This can do things like automatically switch on your alarm when the last person leaves your home, and turn on lights when someone returns. The company has also confirmed that it plans to add HomeKit support further down the line, enabling Siri control and more.

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If you’re considering Tado, you may want to check out my review.

Review: Nest’s 3rd Gen Learning Thermostat adds a better screen + wall clock to the market’s best temperature controller

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By now, Nest’s story is quite well known: founder Tony Fadell left Apple after co-inventing the original iPod, founding Nest to re-imagine neglected home devices with modern designs and features. Nest started with the Nest Learning Thermostat, which made HVAC programming and remote management easy — really for the first time — then released the Nest Protect smoke and carbon monoxide alarm, and after acquiring Dropcam, the Nest Cam home security camera. Now owned by Google, Nest has closely followed Apple’s strategy of refined iteration upon past designs, releasing the Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Gen and Nest Protect 2nd Gen as modestly but meaningfully tweaked sequels to address rough edges and omissions.

Yesterday, the company announced and released the Nest Learning Thermostat 3rd Gen ($249), which looks familiar at first glance. Still shaped like a metal-clad circle, Nest’s latest Thermostat is a hint thinner than its predecessors, yet sports a larger, higher-resolution screen that can optionally be used as an analog or digital clock. As a satisfied user of the 2nd Gen Thermostat for my home’s downstairs heating system, I bought the 3rd Gen Thermostat to replace the old control panel I had upstairs. Here are my thoughts on Nest’s latest product…


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Apple stops selling Nest’s smart thermostat following launch of HomeKit-compatible Ecobee 3

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Apple has removed Google’s Nest smart thermostat from both its online store and physical retail locations following the launch of some of the first HomeKit devices. As reported by Mashable, Google’s smart thermostat is not available from Apple and searching for the product on Apple’s online store now reveals HomeKit-compatible smart devices instead.


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Nest reveals new Nest Cam, 2nd generation Nest Protect, updated iOS app

Following the Nest Cam outed by Best Buy earlier this morning, Nest did in fact take the stage today to announce its new lineup of products. Besides the Nest Cam, Tony Fadell and company showed off the 2nd generation Nest Protect smoke detector, a new mobile app for iOS and Android that brings all of the company’s new products together, and more. Unfortunately, the company’s flagship Nest Thermostat didn’t get any hardware upgrades today, but here’s what’s new…
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Apple debuts ‘Change Everything’ iPad ad campaign and website to highlight apps, accessories, education

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Update: Apple has uploaded its new “Change Everything” ad to YouTube, as well. It’s embedded below.

Apple has debuted its newest iPad marketing campaign, “Change Everything,” with a 1:30 commercial and a new website highlighting the apps that change the way people go about their daily lives. The ad starts off with a list of things that have changed since the release of the first iPad, such as small businesses and education.

From there the commercial demonstrates a variety of applications and accessories that have augmented the way people connect, learn, and conduct business, and enjoy their lives…


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Misfit Flash fitness tracker adding remote controls for Spotify, Nest, IFTTT + other home automation gear

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Misfit, maker of the Flash and Shine wearable fitness trackers, today announced a collection of partnerships that will extend Flash’s functionality to include limited remote control of certain apps and home automation accessories. According to Misfit, Flash — a coin-shaped accessory with an integrated accelerometer, button and small lights — will be able to work as a wireless on/off switch in the following situations:

  • Start and stop a Spotify playlist.
  • Wake up to an ideal temperature using Flash’s sleep tracker and smart alarm with the Nest Learning Thermostat.
  • Connect to over 160 products and services via IFTTT, using a double press and other triggers to turn devices on and off, send stored messages, and send fitness information to an archive.
  • Use certain Logitech Harmony systems to activate commands such as “Watch a Movie,” “Play Games,” and “Listen to Music.”
  • Double press to send a message via the Yo messaging system.
  • Unlock August Smart Lock and Latch doors.
  • Change colors or turn on/off the Leeo Smart Alert Nightlight.
  • Check the air quality of your room using Bitfinder.

Misfit says that the features are coming to Flash in March, which should be shortly after the release of Misfit Bolt, a $50 light bulb capable of being wirelessly controlled by Flash. Additional partners will be announced in the future.

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A former Apple engineer is heading Ford’s new Palo Alto research center

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We learned today that Ford is staffing up a research and development center in Silicon Valley located in Palo Alto, California, and heading the automaker’s new R&D facility is a former Apple engineer.

Dragos Maciuca, who served as a senior controls systems engineer with mobile technologies at Apple since early 2013, will head the research center’s 125 scientists and researchers, Ford told CNBC.

Prior to his tenure at Apple, Maciuca worked in various technology and research roles including for automakers Nissan and BMW.

As for what the former Apple engineer will focus on at Ford, Reuters has this:
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You can now control your Nest with Google Now voice commands

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It was only a matter of time following Google’s acquisition of home automation company Nest earlier this year that users would begin receiving the best of both worlds. One of the first marriages of each company’s products and services is Google Now integration with Nest, allowing for users to control the smart thermostat using voice commands.
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Cyber Monday: The best iPhone, iPad, & Mac accessories on sale today

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A ton of great deals on accessories for iPhone, iPad and Macs have gone live today for Cyber Monday in addition to the many Black Friday deals still running from the weekend. Today is your last chance to get in on most of these discounts and in some cases might be your last chance to get your hands on these products before the holidays.

Head below for our roundup of the best deals available today on cases and accessories for your Apple device. 
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9to5Toys Black Friday: Sabrent 10-port USB charger $20, Macs up to $200 off, Made In America deals, Anki $99, more

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Last USB charger you’ll need: Sabrent 10-Port USB Desktop Charger: $20 (orig. $45)

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Best Buy Black Friday Mac deals: MacBooks/iMacs up to $200 offmore

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Made in America Black Friday Deals: This is Ground, Spool Dock, DODOcase, more

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Anki Drive Starter Kit, iOS-controlled killer robot car racing game $99 shipped (Reg. $150)

Continue on for the rest of our favorite Black Friday tech deals:


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Holiday gift guide: Smart home products – get a jump on HomeKit for 2015

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I wondered earlier this year whether Apple’s HomeKit system would bring home automation to the masses. The good news is that you don’t need to wait for HomeKit to start bringing smart home technology to your family and friends – and we’ve put together a gift guide covering some of the main products that might bring a smile to their faces during the holidays.

With the right gadgets, they will be able to control lighting, heating, cooking, sound systems … even have their kettle switch on when they walk up to their front door, which will automatically unlock as they approach. Best of all, you can get them in on the smart home action from just $30 …


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