The time has come for Google’s range of smart home products and software, with Gemini taking the lead. Google has completely introduced its Gemini for Home initiative, starting with a fresh array of Nest Cam Indoor, Nest Cam Outdoor, and Nest Doorbell devices. These gadgets have been enhanced with Gemini, providing smart alerts that come with video previews, Home Brief, Ask Home, and 2K HDR video features boasting an improved aspect ratio and broader viewing angles. Additionally, Google launched the Home Speaker, designed to serve as your Gemini assistant at home, complete with a vibrant ring light and “natural conversation” functionality. The Nest Cam Indoor is priced starting at $99.99, the Nest Cam Outdoor begins at $149.99, and the Nest Doorbell is set at $179.99 effective October 1.
While October usually embodies the “spooky season,” Google’s unveiling an entirely new series of smart home products that ensure your security instead of scaring you. During Google’s event in August for the Pixel 10 lineup, we caught a glimpse of a brand-new smart speaker, and the corporation began hinting at another release early in September. In this October month, Google is kicking off the spooky season by rolling out Gemini for Home, a fresh selection of smart devices featuring its AI model intricately integrated into every single item. Among these new cameras are a Nest Cam Indoor (3rd Gen), Nest Cam Outdoor (2nd Gen), and a Nest Doorbell (3rd Gen), each providing a familiar yet significantly improved experience thanks to enhanced hardware and Gemini.
At its core, Gemini drives functionality, with Google indicating that new features are made possible through its multimodal software, such as more comprehensive alerts from your home. The press announcement notes that users will “get the complete picture” behind every notification and “view important moments closely with a zoomed-in video preview.” Within the app, users will notice they are scrolling less through their video archives. Utilizing “Ask Home,” users can inquire with the AI for specific information such as, “What transpired with the vase in the living room?” Google reveals that the AI will provide a description of the event, along with a video for verification. Additionally, the app’s Home Brief will provide users with a recap of all incidents that might have occurred during their absence, negating the need to sift through multiple videos.
On the hardware side, Google emphasizes that all three cameras have undergone upgrades to include 2K HDR video capabilities. Accompanying this enhancement is a wider, taller aspect ratio for video capture. The announcement details that the new Nest Cams feature a 152-degree diagonal viewing angle, while the Doorbell showcases an improved 1:1 aspect ratio and a 166-degree diagonal view, offering homeowners a more comprehensive view of activity in and around their property. Lastly, Google claims improvements have been made to low-light performance, resulting in more vibrant colors and details in dim conditions.
User privacy remains paramount, particularly for such intimate cameras. Google reassures that the latest cameras come with video encryption, along with two-step verification through your Google Account. Users will also observe a green indicator light on their cameras, signaling when they are processing or broadcasting video. Without the need for a subscription, Google affirms that the latest Nest cameras offer a zoom and crop feature, enabling you to concentrate on significant aspects of any occurrence. The built-in “intelligent alerts” that differentiate between people, vehicles, animals, and more are included at no additional cost (no subscription necessary). Moreover, homeowners benefit from “video history included,” allowing access to footage from as far back as six hours, rather than just three.
The new Nest Cams and Doorbell are launching today (Oct 1) available for purchase on the Google Store and through “major retailers.” Available in Snow, Hazel, and Berry, the Nest Cam Indoor starts at $99.99. The Nest Cam Outdoor, available in Snow and Hazel, is priced from $149.99. Finally, debuting in Snow, Hazel, and Linen, the new Nest Doorbell has a starting price of $179.99. The Indoor and Outdoor cameras will be available in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Japan, the U.K., Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. For now, the Doorbell will launch exclusively in the U.S. and Canada.
A conversational Google Home Speaker
The new Nest Indoor camera isn’t the only addition coming with Gemini for your home. Leading the charge in the “Gemini for Home” era is the newly designed Google Home Speaker, which has reportedly been “engineered for Gemini.” At its foundation, Gemini constitutes the essence of this Speaker, with the announcement stating that it is crafted for “natural conversations.” The latest Home Speaker features “custom processing” to seamlessly execute any task you assign.
Complementing its rounder design is a circular ring light positioned beneath it. Google indicates that this light serves as visual feedback, informing users when Gemini is engaged in listening, “reasoning,” or responding to your requests.
