"Nest" Launches New Thermostat - Business Insider

Last year, a company called Nest rolled out a super-cool-looking new product that immediately got design-freaks hyperventilating.

The fact that the device was a thermostat--theretofore one of the least-sexy electronic gadgets on the planet--did not get in the way of the celebration.

(And nor should it have! Nest's 1.0 was indeed super-cool looking. And smart. If Nest had had retail stores like Apple, we have no doubt people would have lined up at dawn to get them.)

Anyway, Nest has rolled out v 2.0 of its thermostat.

It's thinner.

It speaks lots of languages.

It syncs with smartphones.

And Silicon Valley can barely contain its excitement.

Here's the the launch note from Nest founder and design hero Tony Faddell:

We always wanted to make the best thermostat in the world. And within minutes of launching the first Nest Learning Thermostat less than a year ago, the amazing reviews, requests and feedback came pouring in. We listened to what you said and saw what more we could do. We could make the best thermostat in the world better.

Today we?re introducing a new Nest Learning Thermostat. New hardware, new software, new features, more compatibility, more apps, more beautiful, more tailored for you and your home.

We?re incredibly proud of the 2nd generation Nest thermostat. We?re also proud that we?re keeping our promise to 1st generation Nest customers. We told them that their Nest would keep getting better, and we meant it. So every Nest owner with a Wi-Fi connected Nest will be updated to the same 3.0 software as the new Nest in the next few days.

So here's what's new.

Streamlined design

The first thing you?ll notice about our next generation Nest thermostat is its refined design. The new Nest is 20% thinner than the original and encased by a premium solid stainless steel ring that clearly reflects the wall colors around it. Even Nest?s display is more streamlined - the sensor grille on the bottom of the original Nest has been replaced by a smooth lens.

We?ve worked hard to make the new Nest fit more beautifully with your home, but the most dramatic change to the Nest thermostat comes when you remove the display.

We upgraded our easy-to-use press connectors to make inserting heating and cooling wires even faster, then moved the screw holes to the top and bottom to make installation simpler. And of course the exclusive built-in level is included in this Nest as well.

Increased compatibility

The number one support question we get is ?Will Nest work in my home?? We?ve gotten a lot of requests for compatibility with two stage cooling and dual fuel systems and promised homeowners we?d let them know when Nest would work for them.

Today?s the day. The 2nd generation Nest Learning Thermostat is compatible with 95% of low voltage heating and cooling systems, including 2nd stage cooling, 3rd stage heating, dual fuel, emergency heat, and whole-home humidifiers and dehumidifiers.

Nest?s unique new?connector can accept any one of four wires (W₃,E,HUMorDEHUM), which means Nest now works with almost all heating and cooling systems in the US and Canada.

Read the full compatibility list

Homes with humidifiers, dehumidifiers or dual fuel systems have a more complicated installation process, so we?ve trained our Concierge professional installer network to install Nest for these systems. Find out more about Nest Concierge installation.

We only start working on a new feature if we can create something better and smarter. That?s what we hope we?ve done with our new 3.0 software.

We also want to make sure we fulfill our promise to our customers to keep improving their Nest, so every Wi-Fi connected new and existing Nest thermostat will get 3.0 software too. That includes enhanced Auto-Away, more languages, Auto-Schedule in Heat ? Cool mode and Android tablet apps. 3.0 software also features exclusive new System Match technology that automatically activates specific features like True Radiant, Heat Pump Balance, Early-On and Filter Reminders depending on the system you have.

Here?s all the good stuff you?re getting:

System Match - Most thermostats are designed exclusively for conventional forced air systems (systems that blow air out of vents). The trouble is not everyone has a conventional system. With System Match, Nest uses different algorithms and activates custom features depending on your system. And it won?t just give you controls that are better tailored for your home; System Match will make your entire heating and cooling system work better. More about System Match.

System Match automatically activates different features for you - True Radiant, Heat Pump Balance, Early-On or Filter Reminders - depending on the system you have:

True Radiant - You have an energy-efficient radiant system, now get the right control for it. True Radiant is a Nest exclusive that gives you a predictable schedule and even heat. No more frustrating guessing about what temperature to set when.

If you already have radiant heat, System Match will automatically activate True Radiant when you get 3.0 software. No more turning on the heat at 4am so you'll be warm by 7am, no more going beyond the temperature you wanted. This is how your radiant system should have worked all along. More about True Radiant.

Heat Pump Balance - Make sure your energy-efficient heat pump is actually saving you money. Heat Pump Balance is a Nest exclusive that optimizes how often you use expensive auxiliary heat. Just choose whether you want more comfort or more savings, and Heat Pump Balance will automatically adjust when AUX comes on.

Nest will automatically activate Heat Pump Balance in the Max Comfort setting if you have a heat pump with auxiliary heat. More about Heat Pump Balance.

Early-On - Get the temperature you want when you want it. If your schedule says 72?F at 6am, Early-On will start heating or cooling early so it?ll be 72?F when your alarm rings at 6:00.

Both Heat Pump Balance or True Radiant have Early-On technology built in. More about Early-On.

Filter Reminders - Filters are incredibly important for systems that blow air out of vents. A clogged filter can increase your bill by 5%. Unlike other thermostats that just alert you once a year or once a month to change the filter, Nest?s Filter Reminders are based on how many hours you?ve used heat or AC. That means they?ll only show up when you actually need them. More about Filter Reminders.

Enhanced Auto-Away - Now Auto-Away is even better at understanding if you?re home or not. When it?s sure you?re gone, Auto-Away can now turn on as quickly as a half hour after you leave the house. And if Nest doesn?t detect any activity for a while but knows you?re usually home at this time, it?ll wait longer before activating Auto-Away. More about Auto-Away.

Auto-Schedule in Heat ? Cool mode - Homes with both heating and cooling can automatically switch between the two in a mode we call Heat ? Cool (previously known as Range). Now Nest can use Auto-Schedule to learn what temperatures you like when you?re in Heat ? Cool, just as it would if you were only heating or only cooling your home. More about Heat ? Cool.

New languages -Hola and bonjour, everyone. The Nest thermostat, Web app and Mobile app now speak Spanish and French - just go to Settings and choose Language. And, as always, you can switch Nest to Celsius in Settings as well.

Android tablet compatibility and improved apps for everyone - The Nest Mobile app now works on all Android tablets, including Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire, and all Android apps are faster and more reliable. This has been one of our most requested enhancements, so we?re very excited to be able to offer it today. The Web and Mobile apps have also improved for everyone: Energy History has more detailed info about how and where temperatures were set, the At a Glance screen has been upgraded, you can now lock Nest remotely and switch the apps between English, Spanish or French. More about the Nest Mobile app.

This new software combined with our streamlined next generation hardware makes for an incredibly complete experience. We can?t stop looking at the new Nest, spinning the solid steel ring and scrolling through the new features. For the first time, a thermostat can understand what you and your home need to save energy and stay comfortable, then automatically adapt to make it happen. And for the second time, it?s absolutely beautiful.

We hope you love your new Nest.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/nest-launches-new-thermostat-2012-10

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