Google is throttling Nest camera quality to reduce internet strain
Google is reducing the signal quality of Nest cameras for a short period of time to help reduce bandwidth and traffic. The decision was told to Nest users by email, and will happen slowly, throughout the coming week.
Not every customer is going to have this happen to them, according to TechCrunch. But those who do end up having the quality lowered on their cameras will get a notice in their Nest app.
As the coronavirus pandemic has taken hold, sending more people home, the strain on bandwidth is a concern. People are video conferencing with co-workers, families are holding online chats, and children are getting online daily to complete school work around the globe. Already, the European Union has asked Netflix and YouTube to reduce the quality of their own streaming video to lower the strain on the internet — and they complied. Amazon has followed suit.
But that hasn't stopped people from getting online in record numbers. Video conferencing tool Zoom says the number of average daily users on it has grown to 200 million now. And Roku now says that TV streaming online is up 50 percent since the lockdown began.
Google is now making the decision to reduce strain from its devices on its own. In addition to the change in quality on Nest cameras, those using Nest displays may also see changes on their slideshows, with resolution on photos lowered as well as the number of images rotating through, according to The Verge. As for Nest camera users, they need to know that they aren't going to be force or required to keep their setting at the new lower level if they choose. They can up the levels to a higher quality, it's just that they'll have to go into the settings to change that on their own.
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