See and hear what's happening while you're away
Last year, Google bought Nest (the smart-thermostat company) and Dropcam (the internet security camera company), and this camera combines the know-how of both manufacturers. It is designed for indoor use and connected to a mains adapter via the supplied three-metre microUSB (you could also use a USB battery pack for limited periods).
It records continuously at 1080p Full HD resolution, and you can monitor the video stream via Wi-Fi on your phone or tablet (iOS or Android), PC or Mac. The camera has a microphone and speaker, so you can hear what’s going on and even talk back - so you can tell your cat to get off the sofa (good luck with that!). If you’re not at home, the stream comes over the internet.
What you can’t do is store recordings. If you want to rewind video and save clips, you have to pay £8 a month or £80 a year (plus £4 per extra camera) for a service called Nest Aware. This keeps 10 days of video ‘in the cloud’ (on Google’s servers) and adds features like time-lapse and motion detection, which will alert you once every half-hour if it detects an unusual sound or movement. There is a three-month free trial available.
Saving clips continuously to Nest Aware or streaming to outside your home will use up to 1.2Mbps of data, which could add up to 60GB a month, so you’ll need fast, unlimited broadband. The Nest Cam works well, but we’re not sure the subscription aspect will catch on.
VERDICT
The camera is great, but consider alternatives if you don't want to commit to an ongoing expense.
SPECIFICATIONS
1080p • Microphone • Speaker • Motion detection • 114x73x73mm (HxWxD) • Requires broadband internet connection • Nest Aware subscription needed for some features