A Google Nest security camera.
- Google is temporarily reducing the video quality of its Nest security cameras in an attempt to preserve bandwidth.
- Nest cameras' quality and bandwidth setting will be set to the default setting amid the strain placed on internet resources caused by worldwide coronavirus lockdowns.
- An email from Google to Nest users states that the change is "temporary" and that users will be able to change their video quality to a higher setting "if needs require."
- Other firms including Netflix and YouTube have also reduced stream quality to lower the amount of bandwidth they take up.
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Google is temporarily reducing the video quality of its Nest security cameras in an attempt to preserve bandwidth.
Nest cameras' quality and bandwidth setting will be set to the default setting in the next few days, amid the strain placed on internet resources caused by worldwide coronavirus lockdowns and an uptick in people working from home.
Multiple Nest camera users shared an email from Google, which states that the change is "temporary" and that users will be able to change their video quality to a higher setting "if needs require."
"With so many people working and attending school from home, we're stretching our resources in ways we haven't before - including the internet" the email reads.
"As local internet resources are stretched past their limits, you and many others may have noticed interruptions like dropped video calls or frozen screens. During this time, it's critical for us to work together to ensure we find ways to help the community at large."
The tech giant added it will inform users when it has changed the cameras' quality and bandwidth setting to the default setting, and will also inform them when it has restored these settings to their original states. It's not clear exactly how long Google intends to keep the measure in place.
Google did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.
Numerous other content providers whose services rely on steady bandwidth have also temporarily lowered the quality of their video streams in large swathes of the world to help ISPs manage demand, including Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, Apple TV, Amazon, Disney Plus, and YouTube.
You can read the full Google letter as shared by one displeased Nest owner here:
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Not sure if this qualifies as @internetofshit but Google Nest is changing the quality of my camera feeds because... they can. I've got a gigabit connection, so it's not necessary... and they could run a speed test to verify that. pic.twitter.com/y1W2ELRpMq
- Brendan Corcoran (@bcorcoran) April 14, 2020