Should I migrate?

[ae1m]

I have used Dropcam and then Nest for a long time and like the app.  I use it mostly on IOS devices and login to home.nest.com on Win10 platform.  I am hesitant to move migrate to Google and be surprised by some loss of functionality or compatibility.  Without talking about price, what are the pluses and/or minuses?   I have 5 Nest Cams in use at my house, various versions as they have changed over time.  I cannot use a wifi thermostat if that has any bearing.  Thanks, Bob

[MplsCustomer]

@ae1m 

Some of it is your personal preference. But note the following:

"1st gen Nest Aware subscriptions are only available for Nest Cam Indoor, Nest Cam Outdoor, Dropcam Pro, and Nest Cam IQ Indoor, with Nest Accounts that haven’t been migrated to a Google Account."

The current US prices: for Nest Aware - $60/year; for Nest Aware Plus - $120/year

The newer Google Nest cameras and doorbells work ONLY in the Google Home app and NOT in the Google Nest app or on the home.nest.com website.

We don't know what Google Nest is going to do with the Google Nest app, or when. A year ago, Google Nest's Vice President said: "we are committed to bringing the experiences and Nest devices you have come to love in the Nest app into the Home app. This will take time to get right, and we will continue to share more details as we have updates." He also said: "we commit to being more transparent with you on where we are taking the camera portfolio." However, in the intervening year, Google Nest has not shared any new updates at all on its direction.

For specifics on Nest Aware, see:

https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9233159

https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9546397?hl=en

This Google Nest Help page says that for an Android TV, you need "A Nest Account that hasn’t been migrated to a Google Account."

https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/7035987?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid

This Google Nest Help page says "Once you migrate your account, you’ll no longer be able to use the Nest app on Apple TV or on Android TV.":

https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9297676#zippy=%2Candroid-tv-and-apple-tv

P.S.:  I am just another Google Nest customer; we migrated our Nest Account to a Google Account  a couple of years ago.

[Jake]

Hey ae1m,

I wanted to check in and see if you managed to see MplsCustomer's post. Please let me know if you have any questions from here. I would be happy to assist, and make sure you are good to go.

Thank you so much MplsCustomer for the helpful reply.

Best regards,
Jake

[ae1m]

I have no clue what this all means.  I have 4 cams and the Nest app and am very happy with what I have.  I still dont know if/why I should migrate!

[MplsCustomer]

@ae1m 

I was just trying to share what I know about the pluses and minuses of migrating. If you have 4 cameras that work in the Google Nest app and are not planning on getting any more, then you don't need to migrate--at least for now. However, if you get a new Google Nest camera or doorbell, they work ONLY in the Google Home app, and you cannot get the 1st gen Nest Aware subscriptions for the new cameras.

Also, Google Nest says they have plans for moving the Google Nest app to the Google Home app (see below), but who knows whether they will then phase out the Google Nest app.

Google Nest VP: "...we are committed to bringing the experiences and Nest devices you have come to love in the Nest app into the Home app" (Sept. 29, 2021: https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Blog/Message-from-our-GM-Updates-for-our-Nest-customers/ba-p/...).

[Jake]

Hey ae1m,

I wanted to check in with you, and see if MplsCustomer's response was able to provide you with more information. 

Thank you so much, MplsCustomer for following up, and providing more details.

Best regards,

Jake

[Jake]

Hey ae1m,

I wanted to check in with you, and see if you had any further questions from here.

Thanks again MplsCustomer.

Best regards,

Jake

[Jhonleanmel]

Hey folks,

I wanted to follow up and see if you are still in need of any help. Please let me know if you are still having any concerns or questions from here, as I would be happy to take a closer look and assist you further.

Thanks,
Mel

[Jhonleanmel]

Hi everyone,

Just one quick final check in here since activity has slowed down. We'll be locking the thread in the next 24 hours, but if you still need help, I would be happy to keep it open. If there's more we can do, just let me know.

Thanks,
Mel

[ae1m]

I cannot figure out what all this means so I am not making any changes.  I have 5 cameras purchased since it was Dropcam and no one can tell me anything useful.  I just use the Nest app to monitor them and occasionally set an alert. 

[MplsCustomer]

@ae1m 

You are fine unless Google Nest decides in the future to phase out the Google Nest app, but hopefully here would be sufficient notice if that happens.