![]() ![]() I noticed the requests decrease over time the more faces that I feed it. It’s been over a week, and I’m still teaching the camera the faces of my child and her caregiver, who like to hang out in the backyard where I set up for testing. ![]() You will have to turn it on and off for each individual camera. Note that you don’t have to use the facial recognition feature, and Nest will alert you to “persons” instead (see the support page detailing how the new on-device facial recognition features work). The Nest Camera manages all of its machine learning on-device without pinging the cloud. It takes quite a few taps to get there, as the option is buried deep in the settings menu, and you’ll have to dig in there to approve each face manually. The Google Home app also acts as the controller for the facial recognition feature. As a long-time Nest user, and one who still has a bunch of those devices in a connected home, it’s confusing to have to shuffle between two apps when trying to figure out where a notification is coming from. One of my complaints about the latest crop of Nest cameras is that they rely solely on the Google Home app for checking in and configuration. The Nest Camera supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks, so I didn’t have to worry about connecting the device to a particular band. I used the QR code ability to get the Nest Camera online, and it took just a few minutes since I already use Google as my day-to-day digital assistant. Setup through the Google Home app is easy. That’s the point of this Nest Camera, anyway, but I like to keep my cameras constantly plugged in, so I tested it both ways. The magnetic cable easily attaches to the camera, though it uses a proprietary connector, and it’s much too short at a mere 1 metre in length, so you’ll have to buy an extension cable or give in to using the battery. The bottom of the camera is a magnetic mount for the charging cable, plus a speaker for two-way communication.Įverything else about the Nest Camera is a cinch once you figure out where you want it. Google sells one for $US30 ($40), and you’ll want to grab one of those if you’re planning to use the camera solely on a tabletop or bookshelf-or wait until the company launches its indoor wired camera. The magnetic base works better if it’s mounted, as it doesn’t have the requisite pivot ability to function as a stand. As is the case when dealing with magnets, it takes a bit of trial and error to figure it out, because it wants to point the camera up and outward. The app warned me that I might not get the best performance when using the camera that way, so I figured out how to move it back onto the base. But when I did that, it flipped over the motion sensor. At one point, I tested the camera upside down and used a settings option in the Google Home app to re-orient it. The magnetic mounting system is one of the major selling points of the new battery-powered Nest Camera, though I struggled with it a bit. The chassis is also water- and dust-resistant, so it’s primed for being placed wherever. The Nest Camera ushers in a new look for Google’s security devices, and it’s much more modern and sophisticated than the dippy bird-look of the original Nest Camera Indoor. No-fuss setup, on-device facial recognition, rated for both indoor and outdoor use DISLIKEĬan only be used through the Google Home app, requires a sold-separately stand for use on a tabletop, magnetic mount is finicky to useĮditor’s Note: Stay tuned for local Australian pricing and availability. The only concession you have to make is whether you want to go all in with Google.Īn outdoor/indoor smart security camera PRICE As it stands, the new Nest Camera is the best Nest cam you can buy. They also don’t offer 24/7 live recording or access to the free tier of Nest Aware. But the old Nest cameras don’t have on-device facial and object recognition. (When that is, is still unclear.) Google will support new Nest device software for at least five years. Folks like myself can keep using older Nest cams until Google cuts off support. But it could be better.Īt a glance, the Nest Camera seems like a mere model refresh. If you want an all-around dependable security camera, the Nest Camera is good. And there’s a magnetic base that makes it easy to remove the camera when it’s time to charge. The Nest Camera can also work outdoors and indoors, so you don’t have to think too hard about where to place it. Google also stopped requiring a premium Nest Aware subscription to get the most out of the camera. Google’s revamped Nest Camera is not only battery-powered, but the company made some changes to its features to make it much more economical when it comes to sucking up bandwidth. ![]()
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