CSA Online Nest x Yale Lock Locking the front door on our way out is something most of us do so often that it’s basicallymusclememory. That’s why it’s so hard to figure out whether or not we remembered to lock the door when we think about it. This US$279 lock frees you from that worry. If you’re familiar with the Nest line of “learning thermostats,” you know that Nest thermostats sense when no one is home and puts the home heating/cooling system into a low-power eco mode. The Nest x Yale Lock does something similar, except that when it knows you’re not home, it can be set to automatically throw the deadbolt. In other words, whether you remembered to lock the front door or not, you can be confident that the front door is indeed locked. That feature alone may be enough to endear this lock to the more absentminded among us… but it also does more than that. First, it looks super slick on the door. Keypad locks are nothing new, but this one with its LCD screen is a joy to behold. It also lets you check in remotely and lock or unlock the door in the Nest app, remotely or when you’re pulling into the driveway, for example. Nest Hello We’ve seen video-enabled doorbells before. Heck, we’ve written about a couple in these very pages. Nest Hello (US$279) replaces an existing doorbell, using the same wiring and indoor chime. Replacing the doorbell may be a DIY job for the handy, but Nest is only too happy to hook you up with an installation technician, should one prove necessary. Once installed, you get a bright, clear, HDR-enabled 160° view of your front door. When visitors come calling, you can have a two-way voice chat or play a recorded message. Not only does Hello let you see who’s at the door, with its smart face recognition it can actually tell you who’s there, too. The system springs to life long before someone physically presses the doorbell; whenever Hello senses motion, it can notify you on your phone. Unlike other video doorbells that only start recording if and whenmotion is detected, Hello is always streaming to your private, online video page and footage can be reviewed and saved if needed. Nest Home Security Nest.com We’ve talked about Nest products in these pages before. Nest has a way of taking boring things, such as home thermostats, and turning them into desirable consumer tech goods. The Nest Home Security system is true to company form. This is probably the sleekest and most modern home security system on the market. The system is modular, with owners buying the pieces they need either individually or as a package deal. That’s good, because the components carry a premium price tag, so you might want to acquire them a piece at a time. Nest Secure (US$399 with two tags and two detect sensors) is the heart of the system. It’s the keypad you’ll use to arm or disarm the system (assuming that you don’t do so on your phone, which is a possibility, too). One neat touch is the NFC keychain tags (US$25 ea., if you need more than two) which, tapped on the Nest Secure, arm and disarm the system. This lets you give access to people whom you need to let in without sharing your code. Nest Cameras (US$199 - US$349) come in several varieties: indoor, outdoor, smart and less so. In every case, you get a nice clear picture of your home’s interior or exterior that you can view at any time on your smartphone or tablet. Also in every case, you get motion alerts if the camera sees something and you can save video in the cloud. The smart versions (labeled IQ) do more. If motion is detected, they’ll follow along. If it’s a familiar face, they’ll recognize it. The IQ variants also add 12x digital zoom (on a 4K image), with image enhancement. The cameras can be purchased as stand-alone components; Nest Secure isn’t required for use. Nest Detect($49 ea.) sensors can sense motion and door open/ close events too. What sets these apart from other motion or door sensors is the button that allows you to temporarily disable them to let the dog out at night, for example, without needing to disarm the whole system. These sensors require the Nest Secure base station to operate. Nest Home Security is expensive to start, relative to the SimpliSafe system. The fact that it doesn’t require a monthly monitoring fee helps its case. The other two components in the Nest Security system don’t require the Nest Secure base station and also deserve their own entries in this column. CSANews | SPRING 2019 | 47
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