The Story of Nest: From iPhone to Smart Thermostat

The Verge’s David Pierce, Nilay Patel, and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy dive into the founding and early development of Nest on the latest episode of Version History.

Tony Fadell’s motivation was simple: after helping create the iPhone, he couldn’t understand why his thermostat still felt like it was from the 1970s.

The episode, part of a broader smart home series, explores Fadell’s frustration with the clunky, programmable thermostats of the era. Drawing on his experience at Apple, he set out to design a device that was both beautiful and intelligent.

The discussion covers Nest’s key successes, including its sleek design, learning algorithms, and the way it redefined consumer expectations for home hardware. However, the panel also examines the product’s notable shortcomings, from early software bugs to the challenges of integrating with existing HVAC systems.

This episode follows previous Version History episodes on the Harmony remote and the Roomba vacuum, continuing the series’ deep dive into the gadgets that shaped the smart home revolution.