[German]Bad news for users of Google's home automation products like the Net Thermostats, the Dropcam camera or the Google Secure solutions. Google has announced that their support will be discontinued on April 4, 2024. The solutions in question will then no longer be accessible via app and will become more or less useless, as support will be missing. Here is a short overview of what Google has announced.
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Looking back
Dropcam was a startup that was bought by Google's subsidiary Nest in 2014. The startup offered cameras for home surveillance – a good business in the US. In the same year, Google also bought US startup Nest, which built smart thermostats and smoke detectors that could be controlled via app. Then there was the Nest Secure Devices was a device that was meant to be an alarm system, but included an undocumented microphone.
"Works with Next" ends April 2024
After 10 years, the products come to the end of their life, which now hits the buyers of Google products such as Dropcom, Nest and Secure. In a community post An update for our Nest Secure, Dropcam, and Works with Nest Users and Developers from April 7, 2023, Google announces important new features for Nest Secure, Dropcam, and Works with Nest.
- Nest Secure: Support for this product will end on April 8, 2024. e After this date, Nest Secure will no longer be accessible through the Nest app. For affected customers, Google is offering a deal on the Google Store for a DIY system from ADT (worth up to $485) or $200 to use on the Google Store.
- Dropcam:Support for the security cameras will also end on April 8, 2024. Dropcam will stop working after that date, and users will no longer be able to check status via the Nest app. Those who want to keep the video history will need to download and save it before that date. Nest Aware subscribers can purchase an indoor Nest Cam from Google at a 50% discount.
- Works with Nest: Google had already decided in 2019 to discontinue Works with Nest to unify third-party connected home devices on a single platform for developers, with a focus on compatibility, security and privacy. Support for Works with Nest will end on Sept. 29, 2023, after which those Works with Nest connections will stop working and users will lose access. In the coming months, Google plans to provide interested parties with a script editor that will allow them to create advanced home automations that offer new features and capabilities. Google is also working closely with our partners to provide replacement integrations where possible.
The products have been on the market for 10 years or more by the deadline, so the end of support "seems natural". But it is still sick: Imagine that after 10 years you have to tear out your water installation or the electrical installation including lamps and switches because the "support ends". The whole thing shows the insanity of digitalization including IoT. At least users who live in the U.S. get help from Google to recycle their Nest Secure and Dropcam. A Google third-party recycling partner will send users a prepaid shipping label. The complete Google announcement can be found at the end of the article.
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Google's announcement
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An update for our Nest Secure, Dropcam, and Works with Nest Users and Developers
Hi all,
Thank you for being a valued customer and part of the Nest family. We appreciate the opportunity you've given us to help keep your home safe and secure.
Today we have a few important updates to share about Nest Secure, Dropcam, and Works with Nest. These are all longtime Nest products that many of you have depended on to take care of what's most important, and we take your trust in them—and in us—seriously.
Over the years, we've launched new, updated products and features that deliver even more help and security for you. As we look at what it takes to support your needs going forward, it is increasingly challenging to continue to update these products given the early hardware and newer, better options available.
As members of our community, we wanted to let you know about the changes that are happening:
Nest Secure
In 2020, we announced a long-term strategic partnership between Google and ADT, a leading US security and home automation provider. With this partnership, our goal was to develop even better solutions for greater customer peace of mind and choice, including giving users the option to add new types of sensors and professional monitoring.
We believe that our partnership with ADT creates a more helpful smart home security experience to help people connect and protect what matters most – both today and in the future. So starting April 8, 2024 support will stop for Nest Secure. Until that date, all current features will remain available and you can continue using your Nest Secure as you do now. After that date, your Nest Secure will no longer be accessible in the Nest app.
We understand that changing the technology in your home is hard. To show our appreciation and help provide a smooth transition, we will give users an exclusive offer for a Self Setup System from ADT on us (up to $485 value) or $200 to use on the Google Store.
Eligible Nest Secure users have been emailed with instructions on how to redeem this offer with a unique coupon code.
Dropcam
We are proud to have launched Dropcam over 10 years ago, and it was one of the first smart cameras on the market. As we look at what it takes to support your home security needs going forward, it has become increasingly challenging to continue to update these products given the early hardware. So we made the difficult decision to stop support for Dropcam starting April 8, 2024.
All features will remain available until April 8, 2024. Dropcam will no longer work after that date, and you will no longer be able to use your Nest app to check status. If you wish to keep your video history, please download and save before this date.
If you are a current Nest Aware subscriber, we will be offering you a Nest Cam (indoor, wired) on us to help you keep your home secure. If you are not a Nest Aware subscriber, we're offering a 50% discount toward a new Nest Cam (indoor, wired). Nest Cam is part of our next generation of cameras with more helpful features like HDR and built-in intelligence. We hope you will continue to trust us to help you at home. Please note, your Nest Aware subscription will not be automatically canceled. It will continue to work with any other Nest Cameras in your home. We will contact eligible Nest Dropcam users with instructions on how to redeem this offer.
If you're in the US, we can help you recycle your Nest Secure and Dropcam. Our third-party recycling partner will send a postage-paid shipping label to your inbox.
Works with Nest
We created Works with Nest in 2014 as a way for smart home devices from other manufacturers to take what Nest knows and help personalize your experience, such as turning off lights when you're away. The connected home has evolved significantly in the past 10 years. In 2019 we made the decision to eventually retire Works with Nest to unify our efforts around third-party connected home devices under a single platform for developers with a focus on compatibility, security, and privacy. We extended the support for Works with Nest for the last few years, and we will officially end Works with Nest as of September 29, 2023. Until that date, all current Works with Nest connections will remain active. Starting Sept. 29, those connections will no longer work and you will lose access to them. In the coming months, for those interested, we'll make available a script editor for you to create advanced home automations that will offer new features and capabilities. We're also working closely with our partners to provide replacement integrations where possible. Learn about the changes and options available to you.
Thank you for your support
We know you might have questions about these transitions and the change they bring; please rest assured that at Google, we are building and supporting devices and services that work well together and are there for you when you need them. We hope these upgrades will help ease the transition and offer new, helpful experiences for your home.
We apologize for the inconvenience this will cause you, but we're committed to helping you and minimizing disruptions. For questions regarding how to redeem your offers, please contact our offer redemption team. If you need help with anything else, our support agents are standing by.
Thank you for being a valued customer and part of the Nest family.
The Google Nest team
Frequently asked questions:
How do I redeem the Nest Secure offer that I'm eligible for?
Eligible users were sent an email from Nest with instructions on how to redeem their offer.
- Nest Secure users that want to redeem the ADT Self Setup System offer should call the dedicated ADT toll free phone number that was included in their email. Please have your unique redemption code ready that was also included in the email, support agents are ready to help.
- Nest Secure users that want to redeem the $200 Google Store offer should contact Google Store support and provide the unique redemption code that was included in their email. The code cannot be redeemed directly on the Google Store, please contact Google Store support for redemption instructions.
How do I redeem the Dropcam and Dropcam Pro offer that I'm eligible for?
Eligible Dropcam users should have received an email with a unique Google Store link that they can click to redeem their offer. Using this link will automatically apply the discount at checkout.
What if I have two or more eligible Dropcam or Dropcam Pro cameras?
If you have two or more eligible Dropcams, you can redeem the offer for up to two indoor wired Nest Cams. Please follow the instructions in the email that you should have received. After you click on the unique link in the email, you can add up to two cameras to your Google Store shopping cart and the discount will automatically be applied at checkout.
Does the end of support announcement for Dropcam include Dropcam Pro?
Yes, the end of support announcement applies to Dropcam and Dropcam Pro cameras. Eligible users should follow the offer redemption instructions in the email they should have received from Nest.
If I choose the ADT Self Setup System, can I still self monitor my home without an ADT subscription?
Yes, eligible Nest Secure users will receive 12 months of free professional alarm monitoring with their offer, then $19.99 plus tax per month after. If you prefer to self monitor, you can cancel anytime and continue to use your ADT Self Setup System without a subscription.
What will happen to my Nest Secure on April 8, 2024?
On April 8, 2024, your Nest Secure will no longer work. It will not be accessible in the Nest app and won't connect to the internet.
What will happen to my Dropcam on April 8, 2024?
On April 8, 2024, your Dropcam will no longer work. You won't be able to use the Nest app to check the status of your Dropcam, view live streams, receive notifications, or change settings. To keep any videos from your Dropcam, please download and save them before this date.
Does this announcement affect other Google Nest products or services?
This announcement only affects Dropcam, Dropcam Pro, Nest Secure, and Works with Nest. This announcement does not affect other Nest Cam models. If you need help determining if the camera you own is a Dropcam or Dropcam Pro, please refer to this support article.
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