Nest Cam
Outdoor
BEST FOR
Sleeping easily
Peace of mind doesn’t
come in packages much
smaller than this. Nest’s
new home security
camera has built-in night
vision and is water-
proof, so you can install
it anywhere. When it
detects a person, it’ll
text you with a live feed
that you can watch on
your phone. The camera
records continuously
and can upload the
last 30 days into the
cloud. A built-in mic lets
you warn off potential
intruders or tell the
FedEx guy to leave the
package on the patio.
$199, nest.com
Google Home
BEST FOR
Everyone else
Google’s entry is just
opening its platform to
developers. It’s a lock
if you’re using Android
or Chromecast, and
it offers some solid
functionality—weather,
music, calendar. But
only time will tell if
Home will make as
many friends in your
connected home
as Alexa has. $129,
madeby.google.com
Amazon Echo
BEST FOR
Prime members
Amazon’s in-home
hub already supports
3,000-plus “skills,” from
recommending recipes
to playing music. It’s
as useful in the day-to-
day scrum (“Alexa, buy
toilet paper”) as it is
for a parlor trick (“Alexa,
tell me a joke”). The
latest updates even
allow you to unlock and
start your smart car.
$180, amazon.com
Choosing hardware is just the
beginning. Rolling updates and
third-party services make this
an ongoing battle; these devices
are becoming essential. You’ll
have to pick one eventually.
The software on
this 1080p HD
camera can tell
the difference
between human and
dog. Sparky won’t
set off an alert.
MEN’S HEALTH TECH GUIDE 2017 19