| Cult of Mac

Google throttles Nest camera quality to reduce network strain

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Nest-camera
It's only temporary.
Photo: Nest

Google has confirmed in an email to Nest customers on Tuesday that it is throttling camera quality to “conserve internet resources.”

The temporary measure, which will roll out to every Nest user over the coming days, is one of many Google and other tech giants have made in an effort to reduce network strain during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Be very careful about buying used Nest security cams [Update]

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Nest-camera
Who’s watching you through your Nest?
Photo: Nest

UPDATE: See the statement received from Google at the bottom of this story.

You might want to think twice about buying used Nest security cameras.

A new report reveals that secondhand models can allow previous owners to spy on new users — even if they correctly follow Nest’s instructions on resetting the device. There’s currently no fix for the security flaw.

Apple tore apart 100 rival devices to build its perfect phone

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Fadell
Tony Fadell spills the beans on the original iPhone's creation.
Photo: Nest

iPhone turns 10 As Apple scrambled to create the first iPhone, the company’s engineers tore apart literally dozens of rival products to work out what made them tick, according to a new interview with former Apple exec Tony Fadell.

He may be best known today as the founder of Nest, but Fadell was one of the fathers of the iPhone — which, if you haven’t heard, celebrates its 10th birthday this week. Fadell reveals more about Apple’s reverse engineering efforts in an interview with Wired U.K..

Cult of Mac is collaborating with Wired U.K. all this week for an in-depth look at the iPhone’s first decade — and the device’s lasting impact.

Severed, Upthere Home and other awesome apps of the week

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If you're appy and you know it, check our list!
'Appy weekend!
Photo: Cult of Mac

Looking to get up to speed on the week’s hottest apps? We’ve got your back!

In a week in which Apple sold its billionth iPhone, and a strong showing from the App Store was partially credited as the reason behind Apple’s better-than-expected Q3 earnings, we’ve combed the latest apps to bring you the cream of the crop.

Whether you’re looking for a smart camera app which uses AI to improve your pictures, or a tremendous action-RPG game, we think you’ll find something to entertain you…

You can now control your Nest smart devices using your Apple Watch

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Nest
Nest just helped our smart homes get smarter.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

One of the most important components of smart homes is going to be our ability to easily control them, preferably with the minimum effort required to do so.

With that in mind, Nest’s app for iOS has just gotten a significant upgrade in the form of new Apple Watch accessibility — which means that users can now control their Learning Thermostat, Nest Protect, Nest Cam and Dropcam from their wrist using Apple’s debut wearable device.

Tony Fadell is leaving the Nest

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Fadell
From the sound of things, Nest CEO Tony Fadell learned quite a bit from working with Steve Jobs.
Photo: Nest

Nest co-founder and CEO Tony Fadell revealed today that he’s taking flight and leaving the company he created.

The godfather of the iPod hit a grand slam with the launch of his smart-thermostat company that was bought by Google, but it appears he’s ready to call it quits just six years into Nest’s run.

Apple hires Google X Lab co-founder to work on health projects

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Apple's latest hire specialized at building robotic hands.
Apple's latest hire specialized at building robotic hands.
Photo: University of Washington/Flickr

Apple has added yet another wicked smart talent to its ranks recently by hiring famed robotics expert Yoky Matsuoka.

Yoky was working as the head of technology at Nest before joining Apple. She was also one of the co-founders of Google’s X Lab and is a MacArthur genius award winner.

Why you can’t trust ‘lifetime guarantees’ on the Internet of Things

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The looming shutdown of Revolv has some home-automation fans questioning the Internet of Things.
Photo: Andrew Stawarz/Flickr CC

Revolv smart hubs will no longer be supported as of May 15. Even though subscribers have known this was coming since February, there wasn’t a lot of attention until an author’s highly critical piece was published on Medium.

That story has spurred conversations questioning investment in the Internet of Things, or IoT, and prompted Nest to consider compensating users who were early investors in the Revolv hub.