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Nest Labs tries to smarten up smoke detectors

Nest Labs is counting on its latest innovation to prove that a smoke detector can be sleek and smart instead of an annoyance that produces headaches.

The device, called "Nest Protect," is Nest Lab's second product since former iPod and iPhone designer Tony Fadell hatched the startup in 2010. The company aims to infuse homes with more of the high-tech wizardry that people take for granted in their smartphones.

Besides sensing smoke, Nest Protect is designed to detect unsafe levels of carbon monoxide. It will go on sale next month for $129 in more than 5,000 stores in the U.S., Canada and United Kingdom. Other less-sophisticated devices that detect both smoke and carbon monoxide typically sell for $50 to $80 apiece.