Nest launches outdoor version of Nest Cam

Home security cameras are plenty and not expensive these days, one reason Nest’s Nest Cam was not as successful as its smart thermostat. Another is Nest Cam users seem to have wanted a feature that it didn't support. Users were putting the Nest Cam in windows to record outside, according to Nest director Maxime Veron in an article by the Wall Street Journal. So Nest is now releasing the Nest Cam Outdoor, which largely has the same internal hardware as the Nest Cam but has a casing better suited for outdoor-use. Like the indoor camera, it is priced $199.

The new outdoor camera is resistant to dust, rain and snow, and its included mount allows it to be screwed into walls or attached to a surface via magnets. Similar to the original Nest Cam, the new version records 1080p video with a 130-degree angle and can stream to iOS and Android through Nest's smartphone app. It also has a night-vision mode, motion detection and a built-in speaker and microphone. The last feature is arguably more likely to be useful on an outdoor camera for it can let people communicate with visitors or delivery personnel, for example.

Nest has become a common name in the smart home market, but the company is still offering a limited product line. Security is one of the more promising areas of the smart home market, though. In surveys, security is generally one of the top reasons people want to invest in smart home technology. It makes sense that Nest wouldn't want to forgo this market segment. Many manufacturers are now in the race to produce small Wi-Fi cameras and IP security cameras. Of course, Nest being related to Google gives it the advantage of cloud computing. That comes at a price, though. The Nest Aware subscription is $10 per month.