Nest’s origin story has all the ingredients of a classic Silicon Valley legend. Tony Fadell, a celebrated product executive who helped bring the iPhone to life, had seemingly stepped away from the industry to enjoy life after one of tech’s biggest successes. But a frustrating real-world experience pulled him back in with a new mission: rethink the humble thermostat — and, potentially, reshape how modern homes function.
In this episode of Version History, The Verge’s David Pierce, Nilay Patel and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy revisit Nest’s earliest days. They trace how Fadell’s irritation with clunky, costly home temperature controls pushed him back into the world of product design — and how quickly he moved once he saw an opportunity.
Nest became a breakout success in surprisingly short order, with much of that momentum tied to Fadell’s reputation and vision. The thermostat itself, however, was not without complications. It delivered on several important ideas, and Nest’s broader bet on the future of the connected home would ultimately prove impressively prescient. Still, the product had its shortcomings — even if it did come with a famously excellent screwdriver.
This marks the third episode of the fourth season of Version History. If you have not listened to the episodes on the Harmony remote or the Roomba vacuum, now is a good time to catch up. This season is focused on the smart home, and there is plenty more to explore. Here’s how to get each new episode — along with our other projects — as soon as it is released:
For readers who want to dig deeper into Nest’s beginnings, these links are a good place to start:
