Google quietly kills off another product
The unfortunate hunt for a Nest Secure replacement
Has there ever been a company who has discontinued as many products or services as Google? That may be a hard question to answer. There aren't many companies on the same level as Google. For the sake of this argument maybe we can compare them to Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta.
Sure, those other companies have sent plenty of products to the graveyard over the years, but usually we were able to see it coming. They tended to be poorly reviewed or not priced correctly. The difference here is that Google just seems to uproot successful product lines whenever they feel like it without much warning.
I can't be the only Google fanboy who's noticed this right?
The End of Nest Secure
There are plenty of examples that I can share, but today I'm particularly cheesed off about the impending doom of Google's Nest Secure security system. It's a product that I've used in my home for the better part of a decade. And in just a few short months it will be a useless piece of tech. And owners of the mostly fantastic system are not at all pleased.
Home security is something that people take pretty darn seriously. They get used to the daily rhythms of their alarms and locks. It's not a purchase that someone makes without giving some thought. The Nest system has been one of the few viable options outside of Amazon's Ring ecosystem or the more pricey SimpliSafe or ADT packages. Basically, this space has the established security players like ADT, and a few more innovative tech companies like Google and Amazon. Your options in this space in America are limited. We're talking a handful of options and now one of the better ones them is going away.
The Nest Secure system just worked without much fanfare. It rarely lost connection or had any annoying errors. It just protected our house faithfully for years. The app integration was solid and the hardware itself is just nice to look at. Plain white shapes that can seamlessly slip into any home decor. Yes, there is a keypad to enter your code to enable and disable your alarm system, but they also have fun little tags that you can tap on the home base to disarm the system. It's just really simple and intuitive.
Maybe the best part about it is that it played so well with the Google Home ecosystem. You could tie it into your Google Home speakers for alerts. The speakers could even be programmed to listen for troubling sounds like broken glass (to be fair, I've probably had about 5 broken glass notifications over the years and my windows are still all in tact. Better safe than sorry I suppose). The Nest Secure system can talk to your Nest security cameras, doorbells, thermostats, and even smoke detectors. Yes, I have all of these things. They aren't all amazing, but overall they work well. The system as a whole is greater than the sum of its components.
Why Google?
I suppose the profit margins just aren't there for Google right now. The people who were willing to buy these things already have them installed, and they're unlikely to upgrade any time soon. Yes, there are upsells for subscriptions and monitoring and security cam web storage, but I guess it isn't as juicy of a market as Google had hoped.
Now Google is offering up some Google Store Credit for those of us who are lamenting the loss of their simple security system. I think they're giving us a $200 credit to buy the somewhat inferior ADT SmartHome system (which is a $485 value). While that's better than nothing, it's a shame that there isn't really a better replacement that I can use that cash to buy. I’m torn on if I should give the ADT system a fair shot or just use the $200 credit to buy something else from the Google store, maybe put it toward a new Pixel phone that’s on the way? I'm not entirely sure, I need to do more research.
Conclusion
The point is that the Nest Secure system seemed to be perfect for those of us who didn't really want the complication of a major alarm system with scary monitoring or unnecessary up charges. It is the perfect system for those who don't feel totally unsafe where they need a state-of-the-art system, but they also want something that makes them feel a little safer than just a deadbolt. Our previous home was definitely more susceptible to break-ins. A basement bike robbery was really the impetus to setup the Nest Secure system in the first place. But these days, I prefer something simple and nice to look at rather than something complicated and extra secure.
I'll likely have an update on this situation when I decide what my new system will be. I think there is a pretty solid chance that I'll just hold off on buying any other security system until something better comes out.
Technically, I have until April 2024 to make my decision, but with each passing month I get more and more bummed out about Google killing off another thing that I loved.
Anyone else ever use the Nest Secure System?
Thanks for reading, I’ll see you next week!
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