A warning for anyone thinking about buying Google Cameras

[WizitStrogg]

Anyone thinking about buying the current generation of Google cameras, please do your research and consider other options. When we first bought into the system it was based entirely on the "Nest" platform and used the nest app. I couldn't have asked for a better system and it did everything I wanted and more, however after Google bought out nest the system has gone from the best to one of the worst home camera systems. Below is a list of the negative changes I have experienced using the newer Gen2 cameras.

1. Documentation can be flat out inaccurate and hard to find. Resetting a camera took me hours because their documentation wasn't updated.
2. The Google Home interface is terrible and you are UNABLE TO SAVE CAMERA FEED THAT ISN'T CONSIDERED AN EVENT. This one is especially egregious because this was a feature with the old nest system that was removed for no good reason. Google... for the love of whatever god you believe in, add this feature back in as I'm highly considering moving away from your platform for this reason alone.
3. The new cameras (Gen2 and above) will only function on the google home application, which as stated above, sucks.
4. The mounting system is absolutely terrible and doesn't allow for proper positioning. The older nest cameras used a magnetic base with a swivel, allowing any orientation needed. The new cameras use a base screwed into the wall and twisted on which means you have to essentially guess at where the final orientation will be.
5. The camera quality is questionable at best, for 2023 it's sad to see that the camera looks about the same as a 480p feed from 10 years ago or one of those off-brand action cameras that don't pick up license plates properly. I have 6G capable routers upstairs so there is no excuse as to why the quality is so piss poor other than google not wanting to store video that is able to be interpreted by a human.
6. Google support is basically non-existent.
   
   I'm sure there are more issues, however these are the only ones coming to mind right now. If google gets it together and fixes the glaring software issues, I could see overlooking the physical annoyances with the cameras themselves. In its current state I would HIGHLY recommend avoiding a Google Nest system and buying into a better system and not trapping yourself in this terrible ecosystem. As of right now you can still use older nest cameras and avoid the google platform all together, however knowing google that won't be the case forever. So, I wouldn't even bother.

[gilleslibre]

I agree, the impossibility to save video of camera feed that is not considered an event is a great lack in the second generation cameras. This is indeed a deal breaker. 

[dcblueman]

This is absolutely true--I had to buy a new camera, now I'm left without any recording on the stupid Google Home app. Google took a perfectly great product and completley **bleep**ed it up.  As a security system, using a cell phone to view past events is useless.

[EmersonB]

Hello everyone, 

Thanks for reaching out here in the Community. We appreciate your interest however, we don't have any news to share about applying these features. We're always looking for ways to improve and we'll take it as feedback. I'd suggest you send feedback using this link to let the Google Engineering team know about your concern. While they won't respond directly back to you, this is the best way to let them know about this. Please let me know if you have other questions or concerns.

I appreciate the help, MplsCustomer.

Regards,

Emerson

[dcblueman]

Emerson,

You're as **bleep**ed up as the engineering team. give me a break; i have to use the app to give feedback about the shocking lack of features that were once available.

[EmersonB]

Hi dcblueman,

I understand if this is not the answer you're looking for. We’ll take note of it and ensure that we'll learn from your experience as we continually improve our products and services. Rest assured that we'll take this as feedback and learn from this to deliver a better process and experience in the future. Let us know if you have additional questions.

Best,

Emerson

[Ddk]

we where told time and again they where going to make everything comptable yea sure they just screwed up the originsl nestcams completely