Clear the Confusion

[NMB]

I'm starting down the path of home integration. I've been on the path for several years, just going quickly.

I now want to include an outdoor security camera, but it seems it's not that simple. Can someone confirm the problem I have and tell me if there is a solution.

I started with a Google Home Hub, and the Google Home app. Then I added a battery Google/Next doorbell. Those both worked through the Google home app and I could see live video. I subscribed to Next Aware to keep 30 days of video for a few months, and then upgraded my Googe 1 account which included Nest Aware. That all worked out okay.

Now I want to add an outdoor camera. One with Pan and Tilt. I was hoping that I could add this to my Google Home and it would work like the doorbell. It doesn't.

I think I have multiple problems and have been duped by the "Works with Google Home" claims. The camera can be included in the home app, but the video can't be viewed throught the app. I see no way to add the camera to my storage [google or nest].

I don't want to have multiple subscriptions and multiple apps to view and review. Is there a way forward to integrate other cameras with a Nest Aware subcription? Or am I doomed to either get Nest cameras [I can't see a pan and tilt version] or have multiple accounts and apps.

It's pretty frustrating.

[MplsCustomer]

@NMB 

Nest Aware subscriptions work only with Google Nest cameras and doorbells.

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

https://store.google.com/product/nest_aware

(We've had a Nest Aware Plus subscription since 2020, covering all of our Google Nest cameras and doorbells.)

[NMB]

@MplsCustomer 

Is that another way of saying - "tough, what should work doesn't"?

As a customer looking from the outside. I feel that I'm using a service from Google, a Google Home account. Adding to that Home account, several devices. Linking other accounts. Including a linking/integrated security service, Nest purchased through my Google 1 account. Devices with claims of works with Google Home should really integrate with all of the accounts.

Only it turns out that it doesn't quite work liek that the integrated services has limitations, and linking all those accounts doesn't really mean much or work right. It's a pretty poor state of affairs.

My Google Home app can't [or won't] even stream the live feed from a 3rd Party [works with google] camera!

[MplsCustomer]

@NMB 

I'm sorry your camera isn't working with the Google Home app as you had hoped.

I'm just another Google Nest customer, since 2019. In all that time, I've never seen anything that claims Nest Aware subscriptions could cover any non-Google Nest cameras or doorbells.

I don't know which brand of camera you have, or what that camera's manufacturer is claiming when they say "Works with Google".

There is this 2022 article from "9to5Google", "What cameras fully integrate with the Google Home app":

https://9to5google.com/2022/09/20/cameras-integrate-google-home/

[NMB]

Indeed the world isn't working correctly it seems. This is how I see it should work, but I accept it isn't.

1. Physical Tier - Displays, Cameras, Speakers, Thermostats, etc...
2. Management Tier - Home, SmartThings, Alexa, etc...
3. Data Tier - Video Streams, Music Service, Cloud Storage, etc...

With that model you should be able to take any Physical tier device and use any Data tier service, providing they are both compatible with your management tier.

You should be able play any music stream through any speaker just by instructing you management tier that is that is where you want to listern to your music. By extension of that model, you should be able to direct your physical camera to use which app to view the live stream and which service to use for storage, but I guess I'm just dreaming of a harmoneous world which works for the betterment of the people in it.

Unless you can tell me that it can be done, I guess I need to consider my options for security cameras and subscriptions.

This is probably more of a topic for the GoogleHome forum than the Nest Aware.

[nerys]

Hi NMB,

Thanks for posting in the community!

I'm so sorry to hear that the Google Home App is not what you expected. We're always looking for ways to improve our products and services, and we also appreciate your comments.

I share with you an article about how to send feedback through the Google Home App. Your comments go directly to the developers, helping them make informed decisions.

In the meantime, if you have any further questions, feel free to reply to this post. I'll be happy to assist further.

Best regards,
Nery.