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Enlarge / The Dropcam line was eventually replaced by Nest Cam. (credit: Dropcam)
In a post on the official Google Nest Community page, Google announced it is shutting down the service for several old Nest smart home products. Most of these have not been for sale for years, but since this is all hardware tied to the cloud, turning off the servers will turn them into useless bricks. The good news is that Google is giving existing users deals on hardware upgrades to something that is supported.
First up is Dropcam, which Nest and Google acquired in 2014 for $555 million and eventually turned into the Nest Cam line. Dropcam (and Dropcam Pro) server support is getting shut off on April 8, 2024, and Google says, "Dropcam will no longer work after that date, and you will no longer be able to use your Nest app to check status." The video clips are stored online, so Google adds, "If you wish to keep your video history, please download and save before this date."
Nest replaced the Dropcam line in 2015, so these cameras are all around 8 years old. Nest promises five years of support for its own products. Google isn't just cutting these users off, though; it's offering discounts on new Nest Cams if they want to keep rolling with the Google ecosystem. Google says if users are currently subscribed to Nest Aware, they'll get a free indoor, wired Nest Cam (a $100 value). Nest Aware is a $6 or $9 monthly subscription that lets you record video from the camera and store it online. Since that subscription fee will match the price of a Nest Cam in a year or two, it makes sense for Google to try to keep that subscription revenue flowing. If you don't have a Nest Aware subscription, Google is offering a 50 percent discount on the wired, indoor Nest Cam.
Welcome back to Found, where we get the stories behind the startups.
This week Darrell and Becca are joined by Matt Rogers, the founder and CEO of Mill, a startup that helps its customers turn their food scraps into farm feed. The former founder of Nest talked about what compelled him to jump back into entrepreneurship after years of investing, why he decided to focus on food waste and how they built the startup’s closed-loop system. Plus, Matt talks about how his days designing the original iPhone influenced his design choices now.
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Talking trash with Matt Rogers from Mill by Rebecca Szkutak originally published on TechCrunch
Each of MENU’s latest releases has their own individual personality, but also feel as though they could band together as a capsule collection. A clever, space-saving coffee table, a well-crafted dining chair with or without armrests, and a triangular side table meant to nest with more of its own all have their place. With rounded legs, wood tones, and attention to small details, they have our attention.
Originally designed by Danish designer Mogens Lassen in 1941, the Jäger Lounge Table has quite the backstory. Lassen was commissioned by a merchant – named Jäger – to make a coffee table. He shared several design options, but this one that was inspired by the folding furniture found in Tutankhamen’s tomb was never produced. It was rediscovered in 2020, and MENU has spent the past two years making sure the Jäger Lounge Table is true to the original designs while also meeting modern standards.
It’s also a small space dweller’s dream come true. When not in use the Jäger Lounge Table is easy to fold up and tuck away. A solid wood frame, seamless joints, warp-free veneer tabletop, and brass fittings make it a sturdy coffee table that’s ready to go the distance. Each oiled oak or oiled walnut piece comes with a brass plaque engraved with its serial number for an extra unique touch.
The Merkur Dining Chair has its own tale to bring to the table (pun slightly intended). It was first designed for the Oslo Stock Exchange, and named after the Roman god of trade – Merkur. The updated remake of the archetypal dining chair brings together traditional craftsmanship techniques, a timeless form, and modern function. You can customize the chair by choosing armrests or no armrests, natural oak or black oak, and a variety of fabrics offered through MENU’s upholstery program.
Stackable, space-saving, and the ultimate example of mid-century modern design, the Umanoff Nesting Side Table was created by Arthur Umanoff in the 1950s. Traditional yet somehow unexpected, each table features colored laminate panels in geometric shapes for that little something extra. The solid walnut design is lightweight and easy to move about, a smart addition to any space.
To learn more about the latest additions to MENU’s offerings, visit menudesignshop.com.
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