SAFE SPACE
Google’s smart facial-recognition doorbell hits UK today – and it looks amazing
There's a new must-have smart home gadget in Britain, and it's perfect for sci-fi fans
GOOGLE has finally launched its smart doorbell – the Nest Hello – here in the UK.
The smart home gadget debuted in the US back in March, but it's finally landed in Britain.
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In short, the Nest Hello is a Wi-Fi connected doorbell that you can see through thanks to a built-in camera.
The camera connects to your smartphone over the internet, making it possible to see what's going on outside your front door at all times.
The high-quality camera has a wide-angle lens and records high-definition HDR footage.
It's also got night vision capabilities for after-dark filming.
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But it doesn't stop there – the Nest Hello rocks a microphone and speaker, too.
That means you can have a conversation with the person at your door from anywhere in the world.
This sci-fi gadget gets even creepier, though.
Unlike most other smart doorbells, the Nest Hello boasts facial recognition capabilities.
The Nest Hello knows when someone is at your door, and it can alert you with a smartphone notification.
If you recognise the person, you can tag them as "Mum", for instance. Then next time that person turns up at your house, you'll be notified that "Mum" has arrived.
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It would also understand if it's someone you don't know, so you'll be notified if for example, a courier has rocked up with a package.
And Google claims that it can detect people walking past your house (rather than actual visitors) – and even would-be burglars loitering outside.
“Your front door is where home begins," explained Google's Nest marketing boss Lionel Guicherd-Callin.
"It’s the entryway to special moments with family and friends – but also the most common way burglars enter your home.
"So we’ve designed a doorbell experience that makes your front door more safe and secure, yet still feels friendly.”
Nest Hello can also be synced up to your other smart home gadgets.
So if you've arrived home, for instance, you can set it up so that your smart lighting turns on.
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To get the face recognition tech (and cloud-storage video recording), you'll need to pay a £4-per-month service fee.
And for the luxury of owning a Nest Hello, you'll have to pay a relatively hefty £229 charge.
This rises to £329 if you want professional installation, too.
It's possible to install it yourself using one of Google's helpful video guides, but DIY naysayers may want to just fork out the extra £100 and save the hassle.
The Nest Hello can be purchased from today in the UK, and will start shipping on June 13.
- Nest Hello smart doorbell –
Are you tempted by Google's smart doorbell? Or do you think smart home tech has gone too far? Let us know in the comments!
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