Google Photos saves space by deleting photos you’ve already backed up

Google Photos is a handy way to backup and organize images, and starting today, Android users are getting new features to help with the task. First, a “Free Up Space” option in the Settings menu will automatically delete photos stored on your mobile device that have already been backed up in the cloud. To make sure that you don’t delete any copies that you might need on your phone or tablet, you’ll have to confirm the action before it happens. You’ll also be able to nix any photos stored on your device’s SD card from inside the app so they won’t continue to be visible there. On the web, you can opt for the smaller “High quality” setting after photos have been uploaded in “Original quality.” Doing so not only saves space with smaller files, but those files won’t count against the storage cap like the full resolution images do. The new features are hitting the app today on Android devices, so you should see the changes soon.

Source: John Elstone (Google+)

Google Glass successor may come without glass

Who would have thought that the next generation of Google Glass may just as well ditch the glass altogether, but that’s exactly what the team behind the wearable technology has opted to do. According to The Information, Google’s Project Aura is working on three prototypes of Google Glass, out of which at least one doesn’t feature the glass screen.

The report further adds that these three versions may eventually be consolidated into two. The first version that will be targeted at enterprises will feature a screen, while two others will come without the glass and rely solely on audio output. Just like the original Google Glass, the new versions will also use bone conduction, which sends sounds to inner ear through cranial bone.

Earlier, Google Glass was part of the Google X “moonshots” lab, but in June, it came under Project Aura, which is the search giant’s new outfit for wearable tech. In the recent months, the company has hired a number of engineers to be part of the Glass devision. Hopefully, the new versions of Google Glass will manage to attract more attention than the last time.

Source: The Information

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Nest’s 3rd Generation Learning Thermostat is Now Available in the UK for £199

With the UK heading firmly into winter, it’s fair to say that people will be cranking up the central heating in trying to stay warm over the next couple of months. Keeping on top of energy usage can be irksome at the best of times, which is where something like Alphabet‘s Nest Thermostat can soon prove its value, the third generation of which is now available in the UK for £199.The 3rd generation Nest Thermostat has a 40% larger display with a higher resolution and 229ppi which is slimmer than the previous model, and thanks to a new feature called Farsight, can detect when you walk into a room. The larger, crisper display also means you don’t have to be stood up close to the device to read the relevant information, instead, Nest say the readouts are visible from across the room.

A couple of new features are exclusive to Europe, the first is that the Nest Thermostat can control the hot water tank, enabling you to tinker with the schedule from your phone or thermostat. The Auto-Away feature also senses when you are away from home (after two days) and works with the hot water tank to save energy.

The second feature that is exclusive to Europe is called ‘Advanced modulation with OpenTherm’. Basically, that means that Nest can use 2-way communications between the thermostat and OpenTherm compatible boilers, calculating the optimum amount of gas to burn to reach or maintain the desired temperature, saving you some more money on your utility bill.

You can buy the third generation Nest Thermostat from here.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Full Press Release:

3rd Generation Nest Learning Thermostat Now Available in Europe

Latest Nest Thermostat Supports Hot Water Control,
Improved Compatibility and Control with OpenTherm

London, UK — November 17, 2015 — Nest Labs, Inc. ( www.nest.com ), architect of the thoughtful home, today brings the 3rd generation Nest Learning Thermostat to the UK, France, Netherlands, Belgium and Republic of Ireland. In addition to its new design, the 3rd generation Nest Thermostat offers improved boiler support that now delivers remote hot water control and advanced compatibility with OpenTherm heating systems. New design features include a slimmer profile, a high-resolution screen that’s 40 percent larger and an updated user interface that makes it easier to read temperatures, alerts and messages. And Farsight, a new software feature, automatically displays the target temperature or time when movement is sensed across the room.

“Millions of Nest homes around the world have saved approximately four billion kilowatt hours of energy compared to what they would have used if they’d left their thermostats at a consistent temperature. And today, with brand new software and hardware, our European customers can save even more whilst staying comfortable, thanks to remote hot water control and OpenTherm compatibility,” said Lionel Paillet, General Manager of Europe for Nest. “And we are continuing to expand our presence in Europe – the 3rd generation Nest Thermostat will be available through thousands of retail locations, professional distributors, and directly through Nest Pro installers, and at a discount or at no cost at all through energy partners.”

The 3rd generation Nest Thermostat learns the temperature you like, then programs itself. It knows how long it takes to heat your home so you’re comfortable when you get there. When you leave, it automatically turns down your boiler and hot water tank so you save energy.

New features for the 3rd generation Nest Learning Thermostat

• Hot water (exclusive to Europe) – The Nest Thermostat can now control your hot water tank, in addition to central heating. You can adjust the hot water schedule from your phone or thermostat, boost from anywhere, and Auto-Away works with your hot water tank to help save energy when no one’s home (after 2 days).

• Advanced modulation with OpenTherm (exclusive to Europe) – Nest now uses OpenTherm to enable two-way communication between compatible boilers and the 3rd generation Nest Thermostat to work out the precise amount of gas to burn to reach or maintain the requested temperature, rather than simply turn the boiler on or off, helping to save energy, increase comfort and prolonging the life of your heating system.

• Sleek new design – The Nest Thermostat has a 40 percent larger, brighter, high-resolution screen and new graphics so you can see it easier from far away. The crisp screen has 229 pixels per inch (ppi), 25 percent more than the current generation Nest Thermostat. The 3rd generation Nest Thermostat also has a slightly thinner profile so it can sit flush against the wall.

• Farsight – Previously, you had to be pretty close to get the Nest Thermostat to wake up and turn on the display. Farsight takes advantage of the new high-resolution screen so that you can see useful information on the Nest Thermostat from across the room. You can set the thermostat to display target temperature, an analog clock or digital clock, or turn Farsight off.

We’ve also created a brand new stand for the Nest Thermostat. This was designed for homes that don’t already have a thermostat, or where the old thermostat was in a room where the temperature wasn’t regulated, so it can be put in the best place to sense the temperature and activity in your home.

Creating a More Thoughtful Home
Just like the current generation, the 3rd generation Nest Thermostat will also include the following integrations with Nest Protect and Nest Cam:

• When Nest Protect sounds a Heads-Up or Emergency Alarm for smoke or carbon monoxide (CO), you’ll see a message on the Nest Thermostat display to help you know what’s going on in addition to a Nest app notification . The Nest Thermostat can automatically stop your gas or oil boiler from heating your home – the most common source of CO in the home. This can prevent your boiler from making the situation even worse

• Nest Protect enhances the Nest Thermostat’s Auto-Away feature by improving Nest’s knowledge of when you’re home or away

• You can set your Nest Cam to turn on automatically when you switch your Nest Thermostat into Home or Away mode

In addition, the 3rd generation Nest Thermostat speaks with other connected products in the home from household brands including Philips Hue, Osram, Bosch, Logitech and LG, to work together, learn from one another and help you out – all on their own – helping the home to be safer, more secure, or help save money. To learn more visit https://nest.com/works-with-nest.

Energy Partners Throughout Europe
More than 50 energy and enterprise partners are now working with Nest to bring Nest products and services to millions of homes across the world. In Europe, consumers will be able to receive a Nest Thermostat at no cost, or at a discounted price, as part of their energy contract through local energy partners including Direct Energie and ENGIE in France, Electric Ireland in the Republic of Ireland, Essent in both the Netherlands and Belgium, Lampiris in Belgium, and nPower in the UK. Full details of these offers will be announced in the coming months.

Pricing, Availability, Installation and Compatibility
The 3rd generation Nest Learning Thermostat is available from today with a recommended retail price of £199/€249 (VAT included). The stand for the 3rd generation Nest Learning Thermostat is sold separately for a recommended retail price of £29/€35 (VAT included). Both products will be available from more than 2,500 retail locations across Europe – as well as online – including nest.com.

Because the Nest Thermostat connects to the heating system using high-voltage cables, professional installation is highly recommended. Professional installation is available for purchase through over 20,000 European Nest Pros who can be found at www.nest.com.

About Nest

Nest‘s mission is to create a home that‘s thoughtful – one that takes care of itself and the people inside it. The company focuses on simple, beautiful and delightful hardware, software and services. The Nest Learning Thermostat and Nest Energy Services keep you comfortable and address home energy consumption. The Nest Protect smoke and carbon monoxide alarm helps keep you safe and Nest Safety Rewards lets you save money through participating home insurance providers, while Nest Cam keeps an eye on what matters most in your home.

Nest products are sold in the U.S., U.K., Canada, France, Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands and are installed in more than 190 countries. The Nest Learning Thermostat has helped save approximately four billion kWh of energy to date. Through the Works with Nest program, third-party products can securely connect with Nest devices to make homes safer, more energy efficient, and more aware.

For more information, visit www.nest.com.

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Nest’s latest thermostat comes to the UK with hot water controls

A month after its US launch, Nest’s third-generation thermostat has arrived in Britain. The hardware might look familiar, but it has a few extra tricks that separate it from previous versions and even its counterpart across the pond. For starters, Nest has given the circular design a nice little spec bump; compared to its predecessor, the thermostat has a larger (2.08 inches), brighter and pixel-dense (229ppi) display, making it easier to scroll through the interface with sleep-deprived eyes. The device’s entire body is also slightly thinner, meaning it should look just a smidge more attractive in a hallway or living room.