Nest was not the first smart thermostat to reach the hands of consumers. But it was the first that made our parents (and maybe even some of our grandparents) raise an eyebrow. Its cylindrical form and simple GUI are nothing, if not inviting to use, and its ability to learn from your usage habits not only offers convenience, but possible savings when it comes to the power bill. Now with the second generation iteration of Nest—one that is slimmer and guaranteed to work with 95% of home heating systems—the product wants to go from being a buzzy new product to a mainstream, must-have home gadget.


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In addition to being 20 percent thinner, Nest says that the redesigned stainless steel ring was engineered to reflect the color of the wall it sits on, helping to camouflage it in the home. And thanks to the 3.0 software update, Nest also now knows what type of heating system you have in the home, and will optimize the time it kicks on at to deliver the temperature you want, when you want. And nest is now compatible with more Android devices—specifically tablets—so that you can easily control the thermostat from anywhere in the house.


Expect to see the latest version of Nest popping up in stores (including Lowe's, Apple stores, and Amazon) later this month for $250. And you can snag an older Nest—which will have all the same functionality as the new one, just in a slightly bulkier body—for $230 at Lowe's while they're still in stock. [Nest]