Google is updating its Nest smart home platform, introducing a new feature and making a long-awaited change. First, garage door detection will be discontinued in the public preview program and made available to “all compatible Nest Cam users” through the Google Home app. From now on, Nest cameras will alert you if you leave your garage door open without the need for additional sensors or hardware.
According to the Google Nest Help support page, certain requirements must be met, such as homeowners must place the device inside or outside their home with a clear, unobstructed view of the door.
Indoors, the camera must be at least 10 feet away and cannot be directly affected by “strong light sources.” If outside, the door must take up “at least 30 percent” of the lens’ field of view and the device cannot be positioned at too high an angle. Notifications will appear on your smartphone “if the door has been open for more than five minutes.”
As mentioned above, you'll need to have a compatible device. The full list can be found on the Google Nest Community blog, but to name a few, the second-generation Nest Cam and the battery-powered Nest Cam are included. Additionally, you must have a Nest Aware subscription and live in the United States or Canada, as the feature isn't available anywhere else.
New compatibility with Nest Hello
Google is also giving public preview access to the “first-generation wired Nest doorbell,” though you might know it better as Nest Hello. Owners of the device have been locked out of the program for years, though recently, the company has decided to add older Nest models to the program, albeit at a snail’s pace.
With the new support, users will be able to manage their Nest Hello alongside other smart home devices through the Google Home app. The package also includes additional features, such as Google’s improved “camera history experience,” which allows users to quickly switch between timelines and event list views.
Since it's part of the public preview, you can provide feedback to the company at any time.
The official Nest Help website offers instructions on how to join the program, and it's pretty easy to do so. In the Google Home app, access to the public preview is found in the Settings menu, while on the website, all you have to do is click the yellow beaker icon in the corner. Then, go through the various windows and you're good to go.
While we're at it, be sure to check out TechRadar's list of the best home security cameras of 2024.
