Latest news with #NestThermostat
Android Authority
3 days ago
- Android Authority
Google Home is getting even dumber: Now thermostat voice commands are broken
Ryan Haines / Android Authority TL;DR Google Home users with thermostats can no longer use the simple command 'turn off the thermostat' to control their device. Instead, users have to say 'set thermostat to off' to turn it off, which is an unnatural command for this control. Nest Thermostat users are no strangers to Google downgrading their smart home experience, but a recent downgrade has all thermostat users on Google Home scratching their heads. As it turns out, Google's smart home ecosystem no longer accepts a simple command to turn off the thermostat, forcing you to say more convoluted commands out loud just to get back in control of your smart home. Reddit user NSuave pointed out how their Google Nest Hub in their kitchen no longer responds to the 'turn off the thermostat' or 'turn off the nest' command. Instead, the device advises the user to use the command 'turn off the thermostat,' which is the very command used in the first place. We tried turning off a Nest Thermostat 3rd gen through voice commands, but the command no longer works. Instead, we have to say 'set the thermostat to off,' a rather unnatural command, to get it to respond correctly. Thankfully, controlling the temperature via voice continues to work properly. The Reddit thread is filled with frustrated Google Home and Google Assistant users complaining about how things break every now and then within this smart home ecosystem. This often also breaks any automation that users may have meticulously set up. Broken commands like these also require the entire family to adopt new lingo just to get the basic functionality of their house to work again. We've reached out to Google for a statement on this issue. We'll keep you updated when we learn more about it. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Scottish Sun
28-04-2025
- Scottish Sun
Major money-saver feature is CLOSING on popular home heating gadgets as users slam Google for ‘absolute let down' change
Find out how to check if your device is affected below IN HOT WATER Major money-saver feature is CLOSING on popular home heating gadgets as users slam Google for 'absolute let down' change Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HOMEOWNERS are raging with Google after the company announced that a major money-saving feature will close down later this year. Google owns the hugely popular Nest brand, which makes products including smart thermostats and alarm systems. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Nest Learning Thermostat 1st gen and 2nd gen affected Credit: Google 2 Google also announced that it will no longer launch new Nest thermostats in the UK Credit: Getty The main appeal for such devices is that you can use them remotely with a smartphone. This can be a real money-saver for scheduling heating and turning it off remotely if you forget once you've left the house. But very soon the feature will be closed down entirely for several Nest thermostat models. The tech giant says it will be "transitioning away" from supporting three of its oldest devices. "As we look at what it takes to support your energy needs going forward, it has become increasingly challenging to continue to update these products given the early hardware," the firm said. "You will no longer be able to control them remotely from your phone or with Google Assistant, but can still adjust the temperature and modify schedules directly on the thermostat." The three models affected are: Nest Learning Thermostat (1st generation, released in 2011) Nest Learning Thermostat (2nd generation, released in 2012) Nest Learning Thermostat (2nd generation, Europe version, released in 2014) Support is due to be withdrawn on October 25. Other models will continue to work as normal. How to tell if your Nest Thermostat is affected The Nest thermostats affected by the move all have smaller 1.8-inch screens compared to more recent models. "You can look at the display, the base, or in the Nest or Home app to find out which Nest thermostat you own," Google says. "What an absolute let down," one user wrote on Reddit in reaction to the news. "Google being Google. Never again will I buy anything from them again." Another wrote: "This makes me so mad. "Why is the world would I ever buy hardware from them again knowing they could turn around and do the same thing again?" Alongside the development, Google also announced that it will no longer launch new Nest thermostats in the UK going forward. "Heating systems in Europe are unique and have a variety of hardware and software requirements that make it challenging to build for the diverse set of homes," the company explained. "The Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd gen, 2015) and Nest Thermostat E (2018) will continue to be sold in Europe while current supplies last. "These models will continue to receive security updates and you can control them via the Nest and Home apps."
The Irish Sun
28-04-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Major money-saver feature is CLOSING on popular home heating gadgets as users slam Google for ‘absolute let down' change
HOMEOWNERS are raging with Google after the company announced that a major money-saving feature will close down later this year. Google owns the hugely popular Nest brand, which makes products including smart thermostats and alarm systems. Advertisement 2 Nest Learning Thermostat 1st gen and 2nd gen affected Credit: Google 2 Google also announced that it will no longer launch new Nest thermostats in the UK Credit: Getty The main appeal for such devices is that you can use them remotely with a smartphone. This can be a real money-saver for scheduling heating and turning it off remotely if you forget once you've left the house. But very soon the feature will be closed down entirely for several The tech giant says it will be "transitioning away" from supporting three of its oldest devices. Advertisement Read more about Google "As we look at what it takes to support your energy needs going forward, it has become increasingly challenging to continue to update these products given the early hardware," the firm said. "You will no longer be able to control them remotely from your phone or with Google Assistant, but can still adjust the temperature and modify schedules directly on the thermostat." The three models affected are: Nest Learning Thermostat (1st generation, released in 2011) Nest Learning Thermostat (2nd generation, released in 2012) Nest Learning Thermostat (2nd generation, Europe version, released in 2014) Most read in Tech Live Blog Latest Support is due to be withdrawn on October 25. Advertisement Other models will continue to work as normal. How to tell if your Nest Thermostat is affected The Nest thermostats affected by the move all have smaller 1.8-inch screens compared to more recent models. "You can look at the display, the base, or in the Nest or Home app to find out which Nest thermostat you own," Google says. "What an absolute let down," one user wrote on Reddit in reaction to the news. "Google being Google. Never again will I buy anything from them again." Another wrote: "This makes me so mad. Advertisement "Why is the world would I ever buy hardware from them again knowing they could turn around and do the same thing again?" Alongside the development, Google also announced that it will no longer launch new Nest thermostats in the UK going forward. "Heating systems in Europe are unique and have a variety of hardware and software requirements that make it challenging to build for the diverse set of homes," the company explained. "The Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd gen, 2015) and Nest Thermostat E (2018) will continue to be sold in Europe while current supplies last. Advertisement "These models will continue to receive security updates and you can control them via the Nest and Home apps." 4 ways to keep your energy bills low Laura Court-Jones, Small Business Editor at Bionic shared her tips. 1. Turn your heating down by one degree You probably won't even notice this tiny temperature difference, but what you will notice is a saving on your energy bills as a result. Just taking your thermostat down a notch is a quick way to start saving fast. This one small action only takes seconds to carry out and could potentially slash your heating bills by £171.70. 2. Switch appliances and lights off It sounds simple, but fully turning off appliances and lights that are not in use can reduce your energy bills, especially in winter. Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, can save you up to £20 a year on your energy bills 3. Install a smart meter Smart meters are a great way to keep control over your energy use, largely because they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity is being used. 4. Consider switching energy supplier No matter how happy you are with your current energy supplier, they may not be providing you with the best deals, especially if you've let a fixed-rate contract expire without arranging a new one. If you haven't browsed any alternative tariffs lately, then you may not be aware that there are better options out there.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Yahoo
A Thermostat That Follows You: This Satellite Device Reinvented My Home Heating
Smart thermostats can save you energy and time, but they have a problem: They're still stuck to the wall. Now thermostats have an answer for that, brilliant little sensors that stay in constant communication with your home's heating and cooling. After using one, I consider it an essential part of my thermostat setup. Here's why it's so important. Whole-house thermostats tend to be in central locations like main hallways and large, open walls. But that means their onboard temperature sensors don't always reflect the comfort level where you are -- like a living room, bedroom or kitchen. If the thermostat is too near a vent and gets lots of hot air, for example, it's going to register higher and shut off while you're still shivering back on the cold kitchen tile. If it's stuck in a drafty hallway, you may start sweating before it finally shuts off. Satellite thermostat sensors are portable, battery-powered models that address this problem. Satellite sensors are small temperature sensors designed to be activated and placed wherever you want, preferably in a room where you spend a lot of time, or a place that always seems too hot or cold. The sensor sends back the temperature at its location, and the smart thermostat uses that information to make better decisions about when to turn heating and cooling on or off. That helps your comfort expectations match reality more accurately. In my house, I typically keep the Nest Thermostat sensor in my study, which stays notably colder than the rest of the house and could use a heating boost, especially in the morning. In the Google Home app, I can select whether the Nest Thermostat will use the sensor to judge its temperature requirement or to use its own built-in sensor depending on where people in the house are spending the most time -- or to average the two together, which seems to be the best option in my home. These sensors aren't just for comfort, either. When used correctly it may be able to help you save money by avoiding overheating or overcooling a room no one is using. They could even help prevent frozen pipes in a cold room. Major thermostat brands including Google Nest thermostats, Ecobee thermostats and Honeywell thermostats offer portable sensors for compatible units. They're getting more common, too: Now that we're on the second and third generations of satellite sensors, companies are packaging them together more frequently and offering them at lower prices. Notably, Amazon has a unique take with its Amazon Smart Thermostat ($80). Instead of a dedicated satellite sensor, it can use devices such as an Echo Dot 5 or Echo 4 as temperature sensors for the same purpose. You can find cheap portable temperature sensors everywhere, but the key is finding one that connects with your smart thermostat. In most cases, it's best to buy directly from the same brand as the thermostat. The newest thermostats we've reviewed, like the Nest Thermostat 4 and the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium, include a temperature sensor alongside the smart thermostat so you don't even have to buy an add-on. If you need to buy them separately, you can find the Nest sensor for $40, an Ecobee satellite sensor two-pack for $100 and a Honeywell sensor two-pack for $80, among others. In many cases yes, and that comes with additional advantages. If you use multiple Ecobee sensors, you can set them to sense when people move from one room to the other and set heating requirements for the room where everyone is currently chilling (or uh, heating). Multiple Nest thermostat sensors allow you to average the temps of all sensors in the home so the thermostat gets a broad view of all major rooms when reaching its set level. Those that have batteries will need to have them replaced every year or two, although their apps should send you alerts about it. In our tests, we sometimes found that it was hard to tell if satellite sensors were working (indicator lights would be a nice upgrade for many) or when they had become disconnected, so some troubleshooting may be needed. To learn even more, check out our list of the best space heaters, if a heat pump is better than a furnace, and how you can use a heat pump even in an apartment with this window model.
