One of the projects leads of the Apple iPod has come up with a novel design for a household thermostat.  Tony Fadell’s Nest thermostat has the brains of a smartphone and the looks of a product made by Apple.  Instead of complex programming steps, the device learns from every day  use.  It can be controlled from an iPhone or iPad and through a computer.  It will be interesting to see if this product really catches on.  Optimal adjustments to the temperature in a home can potentially save a lot of energy.  There also seems to be ample R&D and funds behind the product.  Just purchasing the domain nest.com was probably quite an investment.  The Nest thermostat should be available for sale late this year for $249.