Nest wants to fix your heater

The the beginning of Nest it’s a great piece of tech fiction. A famous inventor (in this case, Tony Fadell) helps create one of the most successful products (the iPhone) and then rides off into the sunset to enjoy the rest of his life, only to have something that keeps him coming back to the finished project. For Fadell, the task was to test and reset the thermostat. And maybe change the way our buildings work forever.

Get started this part of Ancient History, we talk about the early days of Nest. The Verge’s David Pierce, Nilay Patel, and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy describe Fadell’s frustration with outdated, expensive controls, and his rapid entry into the retail space.

Nest became so successful, so quickly, and much of it is due to Fadell himself. The thermostat itself, however, was a mixed bag. It was good – and Nest’s big idea for the future was proven right – and it missed the mark in some important ways. It was shipped with one heck of a screwdriver, though.

This is the third episode of the fourth season of Ancient History. If you haven’t seen the story yet Harmony away or Roomba airmake sure you get it! It’s a smart home season this season, and we’re having a great time. Here’s how to get each episode, and all the other fun stuff, as soon as it drops:

If you want to know more about Nest’s early days, here are the links to get you started: