Dropcam and Nest Secure Devices Will Soon Stop Working
The ecosystem of security cameras, routers, and alarms we know as Google Nest arose from Google’s acquisition of Dropcam and Nest in 2014. As Google previously warned , the company is now ending support for some of the earliest models of these security devices. On April 8, Dropcam, Dropcam Pro, and Nest Secure users will find their devices virtually unusable, but Google is offering those affected several paths forward with new devices.
Dropcam was one of the biggest players in the early days of Wi-Fi security cameras, offering small devices with a cloud subscription for data storage. After this week’s deadline, Dropcam and Dropcam Pro users will lose the ability to save new clips and will only be able to access older clips until their subscription ends this month. At best, this gives the user 30 days to transfer the clips they want to save to another backup media.
Since Google wants to keep these users in the family, they are offering two paths forward. If you’re already a member of Nest Aware , a subscription plan for Google Nest users, you’ll get a free Nest Camera ($99.99). If you’re not a member, you can get 50% off a Nest camera. Nest Aware subscriptions start at $8 per month or $80 per year. Since many of the Nest Cam’s features are subscription-based—activity zones, event clips, smart alerts—you’ll likely still need a subscription. The math works to your advantage: Sign up for Nest Aware now and get a free camera, not 50% off. You can use Nest Cam without a subscription, but you probably won’t want to.
Nest Secure was an entire home security system consisting of cameras and locks. There are likely many users still using some parts of the old Secure system, such as the Nest x Yale door locks. As of April 8, these keyboards will no longer connect to Wi-Fi; they are actually walled up. The only way forward offered by Google is the free Nest Connect ($69), and you should receive details about this in your email. If you don’t, you need to contact Google support as soon as possible. Pro tip: When contacting Google support, make sure you’re signed in to the Google account you use for your Nest products. The Nest Connect is not a lock, but a Wi-Fi extender, so it will simply extend the life of your Nest x Yale lock ($249), which Google still sells. An alternative you may want to consider is replacing your lock with a different brand of lock that doesn’t require additional hardware, such as Nest Connect. If you go this route, keep in mind that you’ll have to cancel your Nest Aware subscription since Google doesn’t do that for you.