Google-owned Nest launches HD security camera

Nest founder Tony Fadell - a former Apple executive - is also known as the "father of the iPod"

Smart homewares firm Nest has launched a camera that senses movement in a user's home and alerts them via a smartphone app.

The camera will have a night vision mode and customers will be able to pay for their videos to be archived for up to 30 days, Nest said.

The firm also announced updates to its thermostat and its smoke detector.

The product launch is the company's first since it was bought by Google for $3.2bn (£2bn) in January 2014.

The Nest Cam, the launch of which follows Nest's acquisition of Dropcam for $555m in June last year, will film in high definition 1080p and will be available from the beginning of July in the UK, Republic of Ireland, France, Netherlands and Belgium.

The camera is built upon the foundations of earlier Dropcam designs. It will be capable of streaming video live and customers will be able to pay subscription fees of £8 and £24 per month to keep the video for 10 and 30 days, respectively.

Alarm

The existing Nest Protect product, which comprises a smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detector, has been updated and will alert the user if it senses danger, the firm said. The Learning Thermostat, for which Nest is perhaps best known, will also issue alerts if temperatures drop to dangerous levels.

Nest's chief executive Tony Fadell told a press conference in California that the carbon monoxide detector will talk to the thermostat to turn off a user's boiler if there is a carbon monoxide leak.

If Nest Protect detects smoke, it will also communicate with the thermostat, as well as its owner, he added.

Each of the products will be integrated with the firm's 5.0 smartphone app.

"At Nest, we always wanted to build more than a thermostat. Our vision was to create a thoughtful home, a home that takes care of itself and the people in it," said Mr Fadell.

Security

Mark Hung, an analyst with research firm Gartner, said he expected the launch to be the first step in a move by Google towards more smarthome devices. Last month, Google announced that it had developed an operating system for the internet of things called Brillo.

But Mr Hung said that security with such appliances remained an issue, adding that there was little in the announcement to soothe his concerns.

"On the security front, the details from Google have been fairly sparse, so we will have to wait until these things are launched and they are able to tell us more. The way to make things secure is to have a platform that is easily updated to prevent the latest hacks," he said.

'Father of the iPod'

Nest's first major product, the thermostat, was able to learn about users' behaviour and decipher whether or not a building was occupied.

It was set up by two former Apple executives: Mr Fadell, who is known as the "father of the iPod", and Matt Rogers.

Announcing the acquisition, Google said that Nest would maintain its own distinct identity under Mr Fadell's continued stewardship.