Introducing The Nest Learning Thermostat

October 25, 2011

The Nest Thermostat learns from your behaviors, preferences and surroundings to create a custom heating and cooling schedule, keeping you comfortable when you’re home and conserving energy when you’re away.

“It was unacceptable to me that the device that controls 10 percent of all energy consumed in the U.S. hadn’t kept up with advancements in technology and design,” said Tony Fadell, co-founder and chief executive officer of Nest Labs. “Together with the team, Co-Founder Matt Rogers and I set out to reinvent the thermostat using advanced technologies, high-quality manufacturing processes and the thoughtful design elements the iPhone generation has come to expect. The resulting Nest Learning Thermostat is like no other thermostat on the market. We hope it will not only save money and energy, but that it will teach and inspire people to think more about how they can reduce home-energy consumption.”

Product Features:

- Programs itself – Nest programs itself based on the temperatures you set. Nest learns your personal schedule in a week and starts automatically turning down heating or cooling when you’re away to save energy. Nest will keep refining its schedule over time.

- Saves Energy – Nest tracks the temperatures you typically set and guides you to more energy-efficient ones, displaying the green Nest Leaf as a reward when you set the temperature to a more energy-efficient setting. The Auto-Away feature uses sensors to detect when you’re not home, lowering the temperature and saving energy. You can also check Energy History to see how much you saved.

- Connected – Connect Nest to your home’s Wi-Fi to control it from your laptop, smartphone or tablet. Change the temperature, adjust your schedule and check your energy usage.

- Simple to Use – Rotate the outer ring to adjust the temperature. The display turns blue when cooling and red when heating. Push down to open the menu.

- Convenient Installation Options – Bundle installation service with purchase at nest.com or install Nest yourself if you’re handy around the house. Just about everything you need comes in the box. If you’ve installed a lighting fixture, you’ll find that installing Nest is a similar process.

- Thoughtful Design – The brushed stainless steel dial frames the display while the ring’s curved, neutral-silver finish creates a chameleon effect that grounds Nest within its environment by picking up the color of the wall upon which it’s mounted. This combination of sleek design elements and premium materials makes Nest a thermostat you can finally feel proud to display in your home.

Pricing and Availability:

The Nest Learning Thermostat is expected to be available at www.nest.com and retail outlets in mid-November for a suggested retail price of $249.00 (U.S.).


Elvis Costello Sings Monster Went and Ate My Red 2 on Sesame Street

October 25, 2011

Elvis Costello and Elmo singing “Monster Went and Ate My Red 2″ on Sesame Street.


6-Minute The Dark Knight Rises Prologue Will Start Before Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol IMAX Shows

October 25, 2011

Warner Bros. Pictures is planning on showing a six-minute prologue for The Dark Knight Rises with Paramount Pictures’ early release of Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol in IMAX theaters on December 16 (the film has its general release on Dec. 21).

The prologue will only screen at 70mm IMAX screens and not at digital IMAX locations.

The plan matches the screening situation in December 2007 where The Dark Knight attached its opening sequence to IMAX prints of I Am Legend.

The Dark Knight Rises opens in theaters on July 20, 2012. Check back here soon for a full listing of when and where the prologue can be seen.


Possible Watchmen Prequel Miniseries To Be Published By DC Comics

October 25, 2011

DC Comics may be planning on doing prequels to Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen. The plan is to do four prequel miniseries that tie in together. The roster of talent rumored is strong, and includes Gibbons. The entire arc for the four miniseries is being plotted and possibly drawn by Darwyn Cook.

The other names in the mix are John Higgins, Joseph Michael Straczinski, JG Jones and Andy Kubert, but these are all preliminary names.

More info will be posted as this project progresses.


McDonald’s To Add Chicken McBites To Menu

October 25, 2011

Following successful testing in Australia and Detroit, McDonald’s will expand Chicken McBites to restaurants nationwide beginning next spring as a rotating promotional menu item.

McBites are small, nugget-size pieces of fried chicken, the poultry version of popcorn shrimp. They will be available in packages of 4, 6 and 12 ounces and priced from $1.99 to $4.99, accompanied by dipping sauces.

McDonald’s is also bringing back the McRib — the boneless sandwich with a cult-like following at all U.S. locations through Nov. 14.


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