Google Buys Nest Labs For $3.2 Billion

Steven Bogos

The Taco Man
Jan 17, 2013
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Google Buys Nest Labs For $3.2 Billion

Nest Labs is a connected device company responsible for the Nest learning thermostat and the Protect smoke detector.

Google has just announced its acquisition of Nest Labs for a whopping 3.2 billion dollars. Nest, founded by iPod creator Tony Fadell, creates connected devices for the home, such as the Nest learning thermostat - a thermostat that learns your heating and cooling habits and uses them to save you money, and the Protect smoke detector - a smoke detector that can tell you exactly where and how a fire is breaking out in your house.

Nest will continue to operate independently following the accquistion, co-founder and CEO Tony Fadell told the Verge [http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/13/5305282/google-purchases-nest-for-3-2-billion]. He says that co-founder Matt Rogers will make the move to Google, while he will stay and manage Nest. He also confirms that Nest will continue to support Apple and iOS products going forward.

Google Ventures had already invested tens of millions of dollars in Nest, so the company has been on Mountain View's radar for some time now. It says the acquisition should be finalized over the next couple of months.

It's unclear what Google plans to do with Nest, but with the emergence of products such as Google Glass, I'm sure it will be able to find a use for Nest's devices and technology.

"We are excited to bring great experiences to more homes in more countries and fulfill their dreams!" said Google CEO Larry Page in an official statement.

I've never really heard of Nest until now, but if Google seems to think that it's worth $3.2 billion, it may be a company to keep a close eye on.

Source: The Verge [http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/13/5305282/google-purchases-nest-for-3-2-billion]

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Tireseas_v1legacy

Plop plop plop
Sep 28, 2009
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You know, there are some days I wonder if Google's computers have already achieved self-awareness and has simply been in the process of acquiring companies that could better help develop its war on the humans. First it creates a massive global network that touches almost every part of the world [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/120183-Google-Finally-Lets-Us-See-Where-it-Keeps-the-Internet], then it purchases a mobile robotic company [http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/dec/17/google-buys-robot-firm-boston-dynamics], and now acquired a company that develops sensors and adaptive programming.

Google is one weapons manufacturer acquisition from developing terminators at this point...
 

frizzlebyte

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Oct 20, 2008
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The Gentleman said:
You know, there are some days I wonder if Google's computers have already achieved self-awareness and has simply been in the process of acquiring companies that could better help develop its war on the humans. First it creates a massive global network that touches almost every part of the world [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/120183-Google-Finally-Lets-Us-See-Where-it-Keeps-the-Internet], then it purchases a mobile robotic company [http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/dec/17/google-buys-robot-firm-boston-dynamics], and now acquired a company that develops sensors and adaptive programming.

Google is one weapons manufacturer acquisition from developing terminators at this point...
Nah, Terminators would be too obviously threatening to your safety and privacy, so Google could never learn about you with it. The acquisition of Nest is totally in keeping with Google's desire to know everything about everyone, so that they can sell ads and make money. Think about it: Nest develops the technology to tie your thermostat readings to your Google profile (they're already Wi-fi enabled, so it'll be easy to do), so if you keep your thermostat unseasonably high or low, Google can sell you ads for "more efficient HVAC systems" on that brand-spankin' new Google TV service you're paying for.

And this isn't a monopoly, because 1) Google is a "services" company, and 2) their related companies are "independent," so they finagle around the anti-trust laws.
 

Tireseas_v1legacy

Plop plop plop
Sep 28, 2009
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frizzlebyte said:
Nah, Terminators would be too obviously threatening to your safety and privacy, so Google could never learn about you with it.
You've obviously never thought of Google Steel,[footnote]Note: there is no Google Steel as of yet. It is a pun off of Goggle Chrome.[/footnote] their new personal-protection robot running their new Android-3000 operating system that can hear and see a threat from miles away, as well as monitor all your vital conditions to insure you are safe and comfortable at all times.
 

uchytjes

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Mar 19, 2011
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Fucking hell. How long will it be before google goes into farming crops and livestock? At this rate, I expect that to happen by 2020 at the latest.
 

List

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Sep 29, 2013
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Interconnected devices... so they can spy on you from every corner of your home...
 

CriticalMiss

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Jan 18, 2013
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So soon they will be collecting information about the temperature of someone's home to direct adverts at them? The last thing I want to hear when a fire breaks out in my house is an advert for a cruise around Norway.