Google to Buy Nest Labs for $3.2 Billion

[mrengine]

"Why did we decide to partner with Google?" Fadell wrote in a blog post. "Google will help us fully realize our vision of the conscious home and allow us to change the world faster than we ever could if we continued to go it alone. We've had great momentum, but this is a rocket ship. Google has the business resources, global scale, and platform reach to accelerate Nest growth across hardware, software, and services for the home globally."

Source: [news.cnet.com...]

Concerns about the in-home user data being acquired by Google is also discussed on the following article:

Source: [washingtonpost.com...]

[Shepherd]

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Good morning Jane, thought you might like to know that google Shopping has some great deals on blankets right now...

Seriously though, reading through the comments so far on the stories about this around the web and the majority really seem to be negative. I think Bing's negative ads may be making some headway and this acquisition might just be the proverbial jumping of the shark for google. Time will tell I guess.

[Swanny007]

Aw crud. Now I'm going to have to get rid of my Nest thermostat. Good product but Goog is crossing the creepy line. Oh well I'll guess I'll go buy a Honeywell smart thermostat now.

[superclown2]

Looking at the SERPs your popup toaster will cook the budgie and your vacuum cleaner will sing Land of Hope and Glory.

[engine]

What are Google to do with their funds! Isn't it a good thing to invest in new technology?

Other major companies are already offering domestic products that 'communicate' so it's only a matter of time for the Internet of Things to be widespread.

Of course, there is the privacy aspect that nobody can be sure of, and that's the thing that we really ought to be concerned about, from any company.
Smart TV Transmitting Unauthorised Viewing Data [webmasterworld.com]

[explorador]

A small step for a device
a big jump for spying people and getting behavior stats
not good, not good

[longen]

Nest acquisition: Where next for 'new' Google?

[bbc.co.uk ]

[EditorialGuy]

People here are always complaining that Google is a one-trick pony ("just an ad seller"). Now the critics will have to come up with something else or shut up if they want to maintain any credibility. :-)

[superclown2]

People here are always complaining that Google is a one-trick pony ("just an ad seller"). Now the critics will have to come up with something else or shut up if they want to maintain any credibility. :-)

Have you analysed their accounts lately? Take away their earning from search and they'd be heading for the precipice. Full marks to them for diversifying but there is a long haul yet before most of their investments show a worthwhile profit. Having a virtual monopoly of search is one thing, entering competitive markets is another.

[3zero]

If you have the ability to put the industry you buy into top of the SERPS then you really can sell Icebergs to Eskimos. A business with Google SERPS backing is sure to succeed.

[heisje]

ATT-type breakup? I suppose it was inconceivable then, and it is inconceivable now . . . . .

.

[turbocharged]

What are Google to do with their funds! Isn't it a good thing to invest in new technology?

When ownership of many technologies fall under one company, who happens to own the most dominant marketing channel, future advancements in technologies can be adversely impacted. Who wants to innovate in an industry where an 800lb gorilla stands ready with a hammer to beat you into the ground?

Of course, there is the privacy aspect that nobody can be sure of, and that's the thing that we really ought to be concerned about, from any company.

Google has been caught with their hands in the cookie jar misusing and/or stealing private data before (ie. street view) and giving this same company an entry point into our homes should be of the highest concerns. With Google's recent acquisition of Nest Labs, people now have another reason to fear how information about them will be used by a company that is being investigated and has just been fined for privacy violations in other nations.

The bottom line is that one company should not have access to so much of our personal information. Who knows, maybe Google actually has more info on people than the NSA. Some people feel the same and have pledged to return their Nest Labs thermostats as is noted at [latimes.com...]

The fact that Google can pretty much do as they please, without any concern from government, is very disheartening. There are many privacy concerns that surround Google as a company and no government agencies in the United States have the guts to do anything to even remotely protect the people.

[zeus]

Its just to much knowledge about each person in the hands of one company, it really scary now. Google is really reminding me about the book 1984. If they have so much money why not invest in something good, instead of this data collecting thing. It was HUGE news here in Europe "google is spying on us".

[SevenCubed]

Now the critics will have to come up with something else or shut up if they want to maintain any credibility.

Let's you and I, without your handler's interference, have a civilized debate. You can start the thread, any topic of your choice. Without doubt it will revolve around google because that's where 95% of your posts are, in defence of them, constantly. The shrill shilling is deafening.

Let's see who shuts up first. Such a rude attitude.

I'm game are you?

[JohnRoy]

Many brag about Privacy, again and again.

But they will do nada to protect it.

Danny Sullivan says so.

Don’t get me wrong. If you ask people about search privacy, they’ll respond that it’s a major issue... [however] virtually none of them make efforts to have more private search.
[searchengineland.com...]

[graeme_p]

Google acquiring it makes it worse but its pretty intrusive anyway - anything that it sends back to Nest will go to the NSA anyway.

What functionality do you gain by having it send data back? There is little a thermostat needs to do that cannot be delivered on your LAN, surely?