NEST became the star in home automation field this January. Google declared that they have taken over Nest Labs (referred to as' NEST ') founded by the father of the iPod – Toni with $3.2 billion, which is expected to be completed in a few months.
In May of 2014, NEST became the focus of attention for another incident, but the NEST is not a super star any more, more like "a literary youth" who has made mistakes. Due to there is something wrong with the process of the products which may result in the products’ failure to trigger an alarm or shut it down in case of emergency. Therefore, Nest recalled 440 thousand smoke detectors -- Protect smoke.
From January to May, NEST has created the second largest acquisition in Google history next to the acquisition of Motorola, which also opened the first "recall door" in home automation history. Protect Smoke, the pursued star since it came into being, exposes its own problems and take the initiative to recall, which indeed shocked many people. It is just about 10 days after its products criticized as“unnecessary products”by an USA magazine - Consumer Reports. That’s really what we say “misfortune never comes alone”.
We have to say that the recalled NEST smoke detector is exquisite in design and appearance. It can remind users the change of CO through the change of voice and colors, so users can check whether there is an emergency. If not, users can turn it off by waving his hands or clicking the off button. In short, with a view to the appearance and function, especially the new added waving gesture to turn off the alarm function, the smoke detector in China cannot exceed it, so we may say foreign “smart home” monks can chant.
There is no doubt that the Innovation of NEST in intelligent aspects is in one continuous line with the Apple Corp. However, this process bug appeared in the intelligent innovation. The original alarm setting of the smoke detector does not include the function of waving gesture to turn off the alarm, and will not miss the alarm or turn off incidentally. The new version is aimed at avoiding the trouble of turning off the alarm. But, it makes things worse. The alarm function changed from intelligentization to "degradation", which finally cause the recall.
Compared with the recall by Toyota in 2009 from its scope and influence, this "Recall Door" may not a big deal. Besides, NEST has prepared two solving ways for smoke detector users: full refund or repair or upgraded repair through the firmware of wireless network. And the smoke detector will go back to the market in several weeks. However, the mysterious "foreign monk" also goes wrong when he chants. Perhaps, foreign monks chant better in some field, but that does not mean in the field of home automation. By comparison, the wireless smoke sensor made by Nanjing IOT Sensor Technology Co., Ltd with the same function, has withstood the challenges.
Of course, in the field of home automation, "foreign monks" who cannot stand up with the test is not just NEST. According to the feedbacks of IOActive Institute, an USA safety inspection company, hackers can easily bypass Belkin’s password and encryption check which is based on WIFI technology, and sign the malicious firmware camouflaged in the product, so they can easily control other people's smart home devices, including remote control socket, lamp switch and motion sensors, etc.
