Seems like this is the perfect opportunity to "shame" google into providing access to gen 1 and gen 2 nests for those that want to do their own remote support. I asked chatGPT about this. Here was its bottom line summary. Would anyone else want to participate in a petition to request this of google. Given google is currently facing antitrust issues, now is a good time.

Target a Specific Ask: Focus on allowing basic remote control via a local or self-hosted solution, not full open-sourcing. Examples: Release a local API with secure authentication Release a Dockerized server image for basic relay control Extend cloud access via an open licensing model Find Allies: Partner with groups like iFixit, the Repair Association, or the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). Reach out to smart home and privacy-focused influencers or YouTubers. Launch the Petition on the Right Platform: Change.org, iPetitions, or Action Network are common options. Consider also running a campaign through Reddit, Twitter/X, or YouTube. Provide Testimonials and Data: Show how many devices are still in use. Document how much e-waste this move could generate. Share personal stories of user frustration

"lose support" Is such euphemistic phrasing.

Firstly "lose" is passive. Google is ending support.

But most importantly "support" sounds like they just won't be fixing bugs and security problems. What is really happening is that Google is disabling all online functionality.

"Google is shutting down all online functionality for 1st and 2nd gen Nest thermostats in Oct 2025" would be a much clearer headline.

See https://community.home-assistant.io/t/rooting-to-save-the-ne... , particularly the post asking about using the older unofficial APIs with Nest Thermostats on an airgapped network controlled by Home Assistant ( https://community.home-assistant.io/t/rooting-to-save-the-ne... ):

I'm wondering if an approach to saving older Nest thermostats and reducing ewaste might be:

- Using the older ‘unofficial API’ (from around 2014) assuming it still works, and integrate it with Home Assistant (see GitHub - gboudreau/nest-api: Unofficial Nest Learning Thermostat API ( https://github.com/gboudreau/nest-api ) & GitHub - wiredprairie/unofficial_nodejs_nest ( https://github.com/wiredprairie/unofficial_nodejs_nest#readm... ) )

- Encouraging folks to put older and unsupported Nest devices on a separate wireless network that doesn’t have internet access but access to a Home Assistant server for remote monitoring & control.

- Facilitate a way for Home Assistant based HVAC control setups to work with energy company savings programs where appropriate (in areas of the US this is fairly common, but they may only be supporting major brand vendors so far)

Why do they keep releasing these products if they don’t plan to support the users? Users are left frustrated, they are producing ewaste and ultimately hurting the Google brand.

Nothing will compare to ads in terms of margins. It makes no sense for Google to work on anything else, because eventually some VP will see compare the margins across business lines, and the decision is obvious. Chop everything that does not sell ads.

So say you buy a car and it serves you well. But one day you get an email from The manufacturer telling you that at a date in the not too distant future the car will stop making left turns - but here is a discount on a new car. Would that even be legal? I don’t think so and I see no reason why this bozostat event would be any different. So what now? Will you be joining the inevitable class action suit that will be coming soon? And don’t you think that Google hasn’t already factored the cost of one into their plans? And what about the cost to Google of lost customers that realize that purchasing anything else from them (including a cellphone) would render you vulnerable to the whims of the marketing guys? I can’t wait to get the email that tells me that the phone can no longer send texts - but here’s a discount on a new one! The idea really blurs the line between buying and leasing, doesn’t it? I’ll leave you with a final comment: don’t do business with people that don’t play fair. And definitely don’t with those that do evil things.

Nest have done a really good job of poisoning the well of consumer IoT. If a well funded startup acquired by a tech giant isn't going to do this properly then what chance does anyone else have? Absolutely disgraceful.

Fundamentally the idea end point devices should be connected to the Internet is wrong, and this means the idea the manufacturer should run any associated cloud service or be responsible for "security updates" is also wrong.

The only long term solution to this is that "smart devices" not be given direct access to the Internet, where the security problems are, and live instead in their own strictly segregated networks controlled by something conceptually like Home Assistant but where it also acts as a broker between all local devices, with a whitelist only policy for networking access. Until that becomes the default mode for deploying these things the consumer IoT space will continue to fail to meet expectations.

Few years ago I had a Nest thermostat and Google did an update. It bricked my thermostat. I had to go buy a newer model from Home Depot that was unplanned. I called their help desk and they said no way that the device was bricked but I was able to prove that an update was pushed out that likely was the culprit.

Then, years later there was the push to move people to the Google Home app from the Nest app. I still have both. But Nest was better before Google bought them. I had better customer service when I called them for help wiring my thermostat.

My kingdom for a thermostat that doesn’t expire after a decade.

This week, Hydro-Québec, the nationalized company that provide electricity to residents of the province, has announced a major investment program to reduce electricity usage by using smart thermostats. I'm extremely worried about the life expectancy of those smart thermostats in the long run and whether it's a good use of public funds. I'm also not super thrilled of the amount of functional regular thermostats that will end up in landfills because of that initiative.

[1]https://news.hydroquebec.com/en/press-releases/2172/hydro-qu...

Check out SAT Smart Autotune Thermostat https://github.com/Alexwijn/SAT

Its heating curve is corrected by a PID. Room temperature precision is within 0.1 Celsius.

Less gas consumption, lower bills and higher comfort :)

~14 years, which feels like a long time, but really no time at all in terms of equipment.

Hmm, I think I'll stick with my traditional, non-smart thermostat. It's been... supporting my house for the nearly 40 years now without any issue.

Looks like they will look great in garbage cans. You would think that people would not fall for this, but they do.

Wait. Oct? They run Windows 10?

Hey! Reach out if you are looking for a mecury/bi metalic tilt switch thermostat, door knob, or m3chan8cal light switch, if you get locked out of your cold ,dark, house.