Nest announces smart home API, brings third-party integration to connected devices

Nest has launched a "Works with Nest" certification program and API that allows third-party companies to communicate with Nest's Learning Thermostat and the Nest Protect smoke detector.
Companies initially in the certification program included IFTTT, Jawbone, LIFX, Logitech, Mercedes-Benz, Whirlpool, Chamberlain, and Google. Nest's program website lists several use-cases highlighting the integration with other connected devices, like the ability to connect a Mercedes car to Nest to inform when you will be home so that the the thermostat can automatically initiate the cooling or heating cycle before you arrive.
Similarly, you can now connect a Jawbone UP24 to a Nest thermostat{.nofollow}, which automatically changes the temperature levels in your house when it detects that you're sleeping, and when you're awake. Google is also set to join in on the fun, and has mentioned that Google Now integration would be coming to the thermostat sometime in the fall.
Greg Hu, senior product manager at Nest, said that the program was about giving connected home products access to Nest's products. The integration will work differently based on the product that the thermostat is sharing data with. For instance, Wi-Fi LED lightbulb maker LIFX was able to leverage this platform to turn all smart bulbs in a house red whenever the Nest protect detected smoke, adding a visual cue to the auditory alarm.
The inclusion of automation service IFTTT allows further avenues in which Nest sensor data can be utilized and extended. Using IFTTT, you can create text alerts to notify you whenever the CO or temperature levels rise.
Nest co-founder and engineering head Matt Rogers revealed during the announcement that the Nest APIs will be cross-platform, and that the same set of features will be offered to both iOS and Android users. "The home shouldn't be a platform war," Rogers said. "We're going to be neutral. Switzerland."
While the initiative is getting off the ground now, Rogers mentioned that the groundwork for the program has been going on behind the scenes for the better part of a year. Nest integration with other products will likely be a talking point at this year's Google I/O, which kicks off tomorrow. We'll have live coverage form the event starting with the keynote, so make sure you stay tuned to Android Central!
Source: Nest
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Harish Jonnalagadda is a Senior Editor overseeing Asia at Android Central. He leads the site's coverage of Chinese phone brands, contributing to reviews, features, and buying guides. He also writes about storage servers, audio products, and the semiconductor industry. Contact him on Twitter at @chunkynerd.
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I'm more interested in this:
https://developer.nest.com Scroll down and look at the cards that advertise partners, and apparently Google Now could manage your Nest! Coming in the fall! -
that was stated in the article
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This is great news overall. Even with the standards like Insteon, Zigbee, ZWave, etc., the home automation field suffers from a bit of "not-invented-here." I want the flexibility of buying from various sources and still having the expectation of interoperability and control. At some point, for ease of use, you at least want one app that controls everything and IFTTT integration (which Nest already has).
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Awesome, looking for more home automation and google is just the company that can do it.
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IFTTT will help a lot. I'd like to get motion detection alerts when set to away, skip next scheduled time, hold temp, option to turn on for X number of minutes, schedule times within an hour, better stats, etc..
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I'm hoping the same thing! I was really disappointed that there was no hold temp option on the nest (even if it's limited to a number of hours). That's my single complaint about it, otherwise it's awesome.
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I'm so old. The last thing I'd want is an advertising company having more access to my information.
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It says it can integrate already with the Jawbone Up 24, but I don't see anything explaining how to connect them.