iPod creator reinvents the thermostat

[ronjor]

By Daniel Terdiman

(CNET)

It's hard to imagine making thermostats sexy, but if anyone could do it, it would be the "father of the iPod."

In 2008, amid renewed concerns about Steve Jobs' health, Fortune ranked the probable candidates to someday replace the famed Apple CEO. The first choice? Then COO and eventual successor Tim Cook. The second? ITony Fadell, chief of the iPod division and the man credited with the ideas that resulted in the creation of the iPod and its marriage with the iTunes Music Store.

Around that time, Fadell left Apple, his next move unknown, and since then, he's been in stealth mode. But today, he re-emerged, announcing Nest, a 100-person startup that's applying the design and user-experience DNA of Apple and many other top Silicon Valley firms to a humdrum home appliance that just happens to govern the largest share of American households' energy spending: the thermostat.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503043_1...he-thermostat/

[JRViejo]

Introducing the Nest Learning Thermostat: -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCJ1PnVlzIE-

Coming soon to a Best Buy near you!

[ronjor]

Nest Labs: we’re sold out of thermostats

Launched just a week ago, Nest Labs says it's now sold out of its Learning Thermostat through early 2012 and has shut down its online store in the meantime.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-te...f-thermostats/

[Noob]

WHAT!? They really did sold out all of them?
Never expected it since it's kinda expensive and on top of it you gotta have some equipment compatible with it

[prius04]

Originally Posted by Noob

WHAT!? They really did sold out all of them?
Never expected it since it's kinda expensive and on top of it you gotta have some equipment compatible with it

Well, considering the price of the unit and the rapidity with which the product "sold out" after it was announced, I'm inclined to believe the initial production run was relatively small. If it were otherwise, meaning they actually sold something on the order of a million units (or more), I would think that number would have been disclosed by the folks at Nest in a press release. Instead, they're not releasing the exact number of pre-orders.

After all, it is a startup company (relying on cash infusions by partners/venture capitalists) and, as such, they absolutely must demonstrate that there is sufficient demand for the product. You don't do that by manufacturing zillions of units and then have them sit in warehouses waiting for enough orders to sell through the initial run in a short period of time.

[Noob]

Originally Posted by prius04

Well, considering the price of the unit and the rapidity with which the product "sold out" after it was announced, I'm inclined to believe the initial production run was relatively small. If it were otherwise, meaning they actually sold something on the order of a million units (or more), I would think that number would have been disclosed by the folks at Nest in a press release. Instead, they're not releasing the exact number of pre-orders.

After all, it is a startup company (relying on cash infusions by partners/venture capitalists) and, as such, they absolutely must demonstrate that there is sufficient demand for the product. You don't do that by manufacturing zillions of units and then have them sit in warehouses waiting for enough orders to sell through the initial run in a short period of time.

Forgot that part, totally right

[ronjor]

Giant Thermostat Company Sues ‘Nest’ Creators

By Mike Isaac

Honeywell, a company long known for its commercial and residential thermostats, filed a patent infringement lawsuit on Monday against Nest Labs, the outfit that launched the highly publicized Nest thermostat last October.

The suit claims the Nest Learning Thermostat infringes on seven of Honeywell’s patents, spanning categories as generic as a “natural language installer” (a set-up menu, by any other name) to an “HVAC controller,” a standard component of any temperature control system.

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/...ostat-lawsuit/

[ronjor]

Smart thermostat Nest gets smarter with AirWave, robust Energy History, simpler setup

April 5, 2012 6:00 AM
Devindra Hardawar

The Nest Learning Thermostat was plenty smart when it was first released five months ago, but even genius products sometimes need a bit of tutoring.

Today Nest users will receive the first major update for the thermostat, which will offer a more detailed Energy History, as well as a new feature called AirWave that can more intelligently cool homes. New Nest owners will also have an easier time installing the device starting today as well, thanks to an improved backplate.

http://venturebeat.com/2012/04/05/sm...-installation/