14 Oct
Blog

Google Nest Cam (Wired) Review: Watching With Confidence

Google Nest Cam Indoor Wired on the table.

Google Nest Cam (wired)

RRP $ 100.00

"This is a surveillance camera that, thanks to its intelligent functions, does not require constant babysitting."

advantages

  • Cute, compact design

  • Free three hours of video history

  • Convenient automatic arming / disarming

  • Reliable and accurate warnings

disadvantage

  • Power cord integrated in the camera

  • Limited articulation

Google's range of security cameras has recently expanded to offer more choice than ever before without compromising too much on features. In fact, the introduction of three hours of free video history without a subscription makes this range of Nest Cams much more appealing. However, Google doesn't make it easy for consumers to differentiate its new cameras – both the cordless and wired models use the Nest Cam name.

On the other hand, while the Google Nest Cam (battery) offers additional versatility as it can be used indoors and outdoors, the Nest Cam (wired) is a true indoor solution that has been improved thanks to a lower cost of $ 100. There are plenty of other indoor cameras in this price range, including models from the Ring, Arlo, and Wyze, making it an uphill battle for Google this time around.

draft

Immediately after unpacking, I am amazed at the smaller design of this camera compared to its outdoor sibling. There is one major difference to the Google Nest Cam (wired). It won't overwhelm countertops, tables, and other small corners of the house where you might want to install a security camera.

Google Nest Cam Indoor Wired on the table.John Velasco / Digital Trends

It's also smaller than the previous Google Nest Cam IQ Indoor, but maintains the same modern look that makes Google's cameras cozy and attractive. Consumers will appreciate that it is made from 45% recycled plastic and comes in four colors (snow, fog, linen, and sand). The only complaint I have is the limited posability of the camera – you really can't tilt it up that much when placed on a low surface.

Installation and setup

Similar to the battery-operated version, the Google Nest Cam (wired) only needs to be set up via the Google Home app – it is no longer tied to the dedicated Nest app. That is wonderful, because everything is controlled and accessed via an app. All of the event history is shown in a handy timeline view, but I also like how you can filter it by cameras if you have several from Google.

Once the camera is connected to my home's Wi-Fi network, the camera has very little latency when it is turned on, but it takes about five seconds before I can see the live stream. I suppose it's not that bad, but I can perfectly understand how those five seconds can get critical during an event.

Back of the wired Google Nest Cam Indoor.John Velasco / Digital Trends

Although it should rest on surfaces, there is always the option of mounting it on the wall – also thanks to its long cable. The disadvantage is that the wire cannot be removed. It's built into the camera so if the cable breaks you pretty much have to replace the entire unit.

Camera performance

As for the specification, the camera on the Google Nest Cam (wired) is lukewarm compared to the known cams in space. The 2-megapixel camera sensor records video at 30 frames per second (fps) in 1080p, but there are now cameras that record in 2K and 4K. In general, it produces some reasonable detail, but doesn't get the clarity I've seen with the Google Nest Cam IQ Indoor.

There are some artifacts that are a little distracting and become more noticeable with sudden changes in ambient light. It also tends to saturate colors a little more, making it look unrealistic at times. As night vision goes on, the footage tends to appear low in contrast, which I think is a good thing as it increases the exposure of the shadows.

While the video quality doesn't overwhelm me, I have to admit that the Google Nest Cam (wired) is spot on with detection. So far it has been the right thing to tell between people and my cats that are noted in the app.

privacy

What I really like about the latest Google Nest Cams is that they can all be turned off based on my phone's location – allowing them to turn on and off automatically for more privacy. The camera turns off automatically as soon as I get home, but turns on again when I leave the geofenced area around my apartment. There's no need to manually put the camera in Home or Away mode, so you have one less thing to worry about.

It's a simple camera that is effective in recording events.

There is also a green LED light on the camera that turns on when the camera is active. These are just a few of the privacy features I like about Google's cameras. They also come with up to three hours of free event video history and save those clips for you to review. No subscription is required, but if you want to extend the quota you must subscribe to Nest Aware, which is $ 6 a month and has 10 days of 24/7 video history and 60 days of event video history.

Close-up of the Google Nest Cam Indoor Wired camera lens.John Velasco / Digital Trends

Even if the internet goes down, you can rest assured that the Nest Cam (wired) will continue to store footage locally. Unfortunately, it can't do anything if the power goes out – which makes the battery-powered version more attractive.

Our opinion

Viewed across the product category, Google is not trying to blow the competition out of the water with its offer. It is not necessary as it is a simple camera that is effective in capturing events. At $ 100, it's not overly shoddy as it removes some of the frustrations I have with most security cameras – frequent false positives and manual arming are two of the most glaring points.

Is there a better alternative?

When it comes to indoor cameras, the Arlo Essential Indoor Camera is the closest competitor for the same $ 100 cost. I like it because it actually has a physical privacy shutter that goes over the lens to make sure no one is looking when they shouldn't, unlike Google's software-based privacy feature that turns the camera off.

Another alternative is the Wyze Cam V3, which at under $ 40 is still one of the best security camera deals you can get. With its weatherproof construction, it's designed for indoor and outdoor use, and you get the added convenience of local storage with its microSD slot.

If you're an Alexa user, the Ring Indoor Cam has similar features and performance for $ 60.

How long it will take?

Despite a body made mostly of recycled components, the Google Nest Cam (wired) feels like a well-made, solidly built camera that's well worth the price. There is a one year limited warranty that covers defects.

Should you buy it?

Yes, even if it's not the best deal Google has put on the table. While lacking the sharp clarity of other cameras, it does a wonderful job of actually providing meaningful warnings.

Editor's recommendations



19 Aug
Blog

12 Minutes Review: Watching the Same Show Over And Over

12 minute gameplay review

12 Minute Review: Watching the same show over and over again

RRP $ 24.99

"Experimental and unique, 12 Minutes does away with some classic gaming standards in favor of a stylized, cinematic approach."

advantages

  • Excellent speech output

  • Exciting, mysterious story

  • Sufficiently difficult puzzles

disadvantage

  • Just get stuck

  • Top-down perspective is a pain

12 minutes are a rarity in gaming. It's not like a lot of other things out there, with its unique take on the now ever popular time warp cliché and an all-star cast of voice actors. While there isn't a single cutscene, 12 Minutes is actually one of the most cinematic games I've played in a while. It's overly stylized and practically written like a movie. Luis Antonio, the creator of 12 Minutes, shapes the game like a director does his debut film.

While 12 Minutes looks like a movie, it's not – and it's its characteristics as a game that let it down in the end. That's not to say it's a bad experience. It's experimental and quickly draws you into its mystery. I was over the moon to hear the performances of James McAvoy, Daisy Ridley and Willem Dafoe (especially Willem Dafoe) but because of the 12 Minutes core loop mechanics they stopped being a source of immersion and became an irritation. To be clear, 12 minutes doesn't perfectly do everything a video game should have. However, it is a departure from the norm, and while it fails in some cases, it excels in others.

A night in the cinema

12 minutes is not difficult at first. You are a man, a nameless fool who seems to lead an enchanted life. You have a woman who loves you and she surprises you with the news that she is pregnant. However, an officer shows up, puts both of you handcuffs and kills you. Then you'll be back in your apartment minutes before the cop shows up. The object of the game, apparently, is to escape this loop.

But the 12 Minutes style is not like most games. It's a point-and-click game with an almost exclusively top-down camera angle. It is the first instance in which the style of the game collides with its function. The top-down perspective is harrowing and makes the feeling of being trapped in a time warp even more limiting. Your apartment is not that big, but if you look at it from an eagle's eye you will see how small it is, which creates a feeling of claustrophobia.

The husband will be kneeling on the floor in 12 minutes.

And while this is an impressive use of a top-down perspective, it makes the game a little more difficult in practice. There are times when you are looking for something without knowing that it is hidden under another object or that you need to look at another object to see something else. This is the case with one of the key items in 12 Minutes, a central piece of jewelry that can change the course of the game. I found it out of luck, but anyone else can look for it much longer.

Since the game will repeat itself if you miss your window or take wrong action, you will have to restart.

That doesn't sound bad, but keep in mind that for the whole 12 minutes it took me about five and a half hours to hit. That counts the few times I got stuck looking for the next clue in the puzzle. The downside is that if you get stuck, you don't have to search in just one area. It is a point in time that you must reach. Since the game will repeat itself if you miss a window or take the wrong action, it's time to restart. Fortunately, getting back to the beginning of the loop is as easy as leaving the apartment.

Again from above

The hard part comes after when you have to listen to the same voices over and over to get to the right moment on the loop. The first time I was impressed by the way McAvoy and Ridley played against each other as a married couple – half of whom were in a seemingly impossible situation. Dafoe is the star here, however, showing off the wide range he's developed in films over his decades. His gruff, angry character becomes vulnerable and then paternal with ease, showing off one of the best voice overs I've heard in games.

Dafoe is the star here, however, showing off the wide range he's developed in films over his decades.

But at some point I stopped caring about those carefully written, exquisitely played lines. When I got stuck, all I could think of was getting where I needed to be to solve the puzzle. Fortunately, you can skip the dialogue at 12 minutes, but even getting to where I needed to be just took too long. It went so far that I looked at my phone while clicking the mouse and waited for everyone to finish.

Two people are talking in bed in 12 minutes.

That doesn't even affect the repetitive actions players sometimes have to go through. If you get stuck or if you are trying to find out if you have missed something, you will have to perform the same actions over and over again. Pick up the same items, combine them again and place them in the right places. After doing it for the third time, it becomes clear why someone can easily lose their marbles in a time warp. You keep doing the same thing over and over and expecting something different. I think a certain antagonist once had a word about doing just that.

Role credits

By the time I finished at 12 minutes, I felt bittersweet. The story of the game was not wrapped in a bow; it made me wonder more. I didn't know if my choice eliminated the main conflict of the story, a twist that really left me gasping for breath. The story of 12 Minutes, neatly presented, is a gripping work. But with the whole game, with all of its contradicting parts, I felt like I'd rather read 12 minutes than play it through again.

Three people in the room. Woman dead on the floor in 12 minutes.

12 Minutes is definitely an extremely cinematic title. It's inherently slow, and that will eventually wear down players. There were nights when I had to turn the game off because I faced another run through the loop after not finding anything. However, the first time you walk through some of the game's unique permutations, you will be mesmerized. Its story is compelling and makes you question everything, but it takes a pain to move it forward.

The story of 12 Minutes, neatly presented, is a gripping work.

Our opinion

12 minutes is something unique and experimental, and as with any experiment, there will be some hiccups. As it turned out, the main flaw of this game was that it naturally drains its players of time. But between those moments it tells a brilliant story where you can return to each chapter and choose to rewrite it. 12 minutes is certainly not for everyone, but if you are looking for a change the game is highly recommended.

Is there a better alternative?

If you're looking for some point-and-click and cinema, The Walking Dead by Telltale is unparalleled.

How long it will take?

My run through 12 minutes took me about five and a half hours, but it could easily take more than seven if you're trying to get every success in the game.

Should you buy it?

Yes. 12 Minutes is a game unlike many others out there, and while it may not always respect your time, you'll at least be kept entertained by excellence from recognizable actors.

A clock is ticking in 12 minutes.

Editor's recommendations