Nest launches 2nd-gen smoke detector for $99, kills off Dropcam brand

Megan Geuss

Nest's Maxime Veron said that Nest has become better at reducing "nuisance alarms."

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SAN FRANCISCO—Nest, the Google subsidiary devoted to home automation, announced a refresh to its product line Wednesday, which includes a second-generation smoke detector, a unified Nest app, and the rebranded Dropcam, now called "Nest Cam."

In a press event held in an art gallery, company reps touted the new Nest Protect smoke detector ($99/£89/€119), which features new dual-wavelength sensors that can detect "fast and slow moving fires" and can also distinguish between steam and smoke.

"We're really good at reducing nuisance alarms," Nest head of marketing Maxime Veron told assembled media, pointing out the new ability to disable the alarm from a smartphone. "When you burn toast, the last thing you want is the smoke alarm to yell at you."

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