The news on Monday that thermostat giant Honeywell slapped startup Nest with a lawsuit for patent infringement throws an unexpected wrinkle in the landscape of the smart thermostat this year. These connected energy devices — often overlooked but finally getting some attention in 2012 — have been poised to be a gateway into the connected home, working with mobile phones, utility meters, and heating and cooling systems. Honeywell’s lawsuit, which you can read more about here, claims that “many features of the Nest Thermostat infringe Honeywell patents.”

How might this new lawsuit impact the growth of the overall smart thermostat market? We want you, GigaOM readers, to weigh in below, and we’ll release all the details of the survey in a research note.

< ![CDATA[//>< !]]>

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.

• Let the battle for the smart thermostat begin
• Smart Grid Apps: Six Trends That Will Shape Grid Evolution
• The future of Wi-Fi in the enterprise

alt=''
border='0'
/>

GigaOM

Attackers behind the Stuxnet computer worm initially targeted five Iranian organizations with links to the Natanz nuclear enrichment plant, according to a new report from security researchers.

Wired Top Stories

17″ Widescreen Laptop Notebook Sleeve Soft Case for Fujitsu, Samsung, Dell, Acer, ASUS Eee PC, Gateway, HP, Sony, Compaq, IBM, Mac, Sharp, Toshiba models

• Soft, stretchable neoprene material fits most 17″ Dell, HP, Compaq, IBM, Toshiba, Sony, Apple, Gateway, Acer, and Sharp laptops
• Protects your notebook against shock, scratches, dust and damages
• Flip design, easy to slide in a briefcase or backpack
• Case size: 16″ x 12.25″
• Neoprene is sturdy, durable, and resistant to water

Today laptops and notebooks are a necessity for work and school. But what about carrying them around in your daily commute? You don’t want your notebook to get scratched or damaged! What you need is a light weight and durable neoprene sleeve case. This sleek black & red case will protect your notebook against shock, scratches, dust and damages. The flip design makes it easy to slide in a briefcase or backpack, and means no zippers scratching your notebook. The stretchable neoprene material fits most 17″ Dell, HP, Compaq, IBM, Toshiba, Sony, Apple, Gateway, Acer, and Sharp laptops.

Rating: (out of 30 reviews)

List Price:

Price: $ 3.85

Find More Products

www.thetechstop.net You don’t have to spend a ton of cash to get gaming performance. The new FX line of Gateway desktops use the Intel i7 “Nehalem” CPUs for great gaming power without the sticker shock. You can find more episodes in high resolution at www.TheTechStop.net

www.thetechstop.net You don’t have to spend a ton of cash to get gaming performance. The new FX line of Gateway desktops use the Intel i7 “Nehalem” CPUs for great gaming power without the sticker shock. You can find more episodes in high resolution at www.TheTechStop.net

www.thetechstop.net When is an obsolete computer not an obsolete computer? — When it’s Gateway’s FX540XT! You’ll get more of the backstory within the episode itself, but let’s just say that when we first received this gaming desktop, 5 months ago, it was cutting-edge and the pinnacle of performance. Today it’s not quite the end-all be-all of gaming, but it still more than holds its own against rigs that are newer and more expensive. You can find more episodes in high resolution at www.TheTechStop.net