Google executive Eric Schmidt believes the world needs a platform for data about us in aggregate, even as companies are still trying to decide if they want to expose data externally. Read more »
What kind of technology stack does the internet of things need? What about security? Or standards? In this week’s podcast we tackle the infrastructure needs of the internet of things. Read more »
ARe you sick of losing your keys or unlocking your door with a bag full of groceries? The folks at August have a Bluetooth-powered lock that could change your life. Or at least how you open the door. Read more »
A Wi-Fi enabled teddy bear that lets you text your kids or send hugs while you’re away is one way for parents to embrace the internet of things. But there are many more options. Read more »
Life now. Data later. In this week’s podcast guest Carla Diana, a product designer, discusses this mantra and other attributes designers should consider when developing connected products. Read more »
The internet of things may be largely about connecting everyday objects, but who says design shouldn’t be a major focus? Not Berg and Benetton, who are partnering up on an Italian R&D facility called Sandbox. Read more »
Google’s support for the Bluetooth Smart Ready platform in Android is one step forward for the radio technology’s dominance in the internet of things. But the Bluetooth SIG has a lot more up its sleeve. Read more »
Connected products are becoming more common. Which means that even after a product goes out the door, the company responsible can still keep an eye on it. That has big repercussions for business and consumers. Read more »
Roku boxes and Apple TV streaming devices may be on everyone’s mind, but smart TVs with internet apps are actually a lot more popular. Read more »
With the continued miniaturization of technology, the rise of flexible software frameworks, and the growing interest in technologies such as biomonitoring and location-based services, the smart watch is fast becoming technology’s next big thing. We asked GigaOM readers to weigh in on the future of the device. Here are the results. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
San Francisco startup Automatic emerges from stealth mode with an iPhone app and a gadget that plugs into your car to monitor driving behavior. Read more »
More than 30 percent of consumers in the market for a new TV want it to be connected to the internet, according to a new survey. 3-D is also gaining some momentum. Read more »
WebMD and Qualcomm are partnering up to help consumers sync and analyze data from wireless health and fitness devices. Read more »
A Boston company has developed a onesie and a smartphone app for parents to monitor babies’ sleeping patterns. Questions remain about whether to share the data for larger audiences and internet of things systems. Read more »
Can Arduino devices jam-packed with sensors help you plan your next conference better? That’s what O’Reilly Media is trying to figure out. Read more »
LED production has grown tremendously, accompanied by a significant fall in prices that will further propel the sale of this energy-efficient digital-lighting technology. But challenges remain on the road to widespread adoption. Figuring out ways to use power efficiently for lighting will be crucial for a future when the world’s population will likely be much larger. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Beachfront Media just added the ability to build templated apps for Roku boxes, Google TVs and other connected devices. One of the first to take advantage of this seems to be College Humor. Read more »
News that the FDA has cleared iRobot’s medical robots for use in hospitals stoked interest across the web, but ‘robodocs’ are just one way telemedicine could keep healthcare costs down, improve care and increase access to patients. Read more »
Through AT&T’s ForHealth initiative, researchers at AT&T Labs are working on an asthma sensor that scans the air for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that may worsen asthma symptoms and then alerts patients via smartphones and other devices. Read more »
Once relegated to early adopters, smart watches are slowly filtering their way into the view of mainstream shoppers. Case in point: Casio’s new GShock connects to an iPhone for call or email notifications and can be found at Macy’s, Bloomingdales and Nordstrom for $180. Read more »
Walking and running centric personalized health devices like Nike FuelBand and Jawbone Up will soon have company in the market place, thanks to Scanadu, which is making a vital health signs monitor, Scanadu Scout. Soon to follow, Scanadu Flu and other gadgets, FDA willing, of course. Read more »
Whether it’s the iPhone 5, the importance of LTE, or BYOD trends disrupting the enterprise, there are always technologies, trends, and companies changing the way we define mobile. Here are some noteworthy segments to watch in the coming months, from location-based shopping to apps to wireless networks. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
As the volume of connected devices increases, so too will the probability of hackers targeting these systems to exploit networks, steal data, hijack systems, and compromise workflows. Security specialists recognize the potential risks and are already developing technologies and methodologies for hardening M2M systems from attack. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Cloud-based storage and cross-device syncing of media content are two of the most competitive areas in consumer IT. Apple, Google and Amazon see cloud-based media services both as a way to increase attachment to their platforms and a means to extend and amplify their broader strategic goals. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
The quantified-self movement is a community of individuals deploying mobile health applications, fitness trackers and social media platforms to share information on their health behaviors. It’s an important movement to watch, as its growth has huge potential implications for the health care sector’s future evolution. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
The ubiquitous Wi-Fi standard officially improved on Monday, with the IEEE publishing its fourth revision to 802.11. The updates include faster throughput, improved cellular hand-offs, and communication between vehicles in addition to other improvements. One marketable standard could help with consumer education and purchase decisions. Read more »
Eighty-five percent of the global population owns mobile phones. This report forecasts the global handset market, examining the Americas; Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA); and Asia-Pacific. Drivers include an increased number of subscribers in developing countries and the rollout of 3G and 4G wireless networks. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Five key technology sectors are enabling the smart city: smart grids, smart transport, smart water and waste management, smart building systems, and the enabling ICT platforms for the smart city. Key players like IT companies, telcos and utilities must learn how to harness those technologies, and quickly. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Big data now touches everything from enterprises to smart-meter startups, while Hadoop is fast becoming the leading tool to analyze that data, and debates around privacy abound. GigaOM Pro analysts offer insights on what to consider when it comes to big data decisions for your business. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
In just the past few weeks, Barry Diller-backed Aereo launched a subscriptions streaming service in New York City, Cisco bought NDS for $5 billion, word leaked of Intel’s plans to create a nationwide virtual cable TV service and Netflix began chatting up cable operators about addings ... Read more at GigaOM Pro »
ARM, the semiconductor company whose chip technology powers most modern smartphones, has come up with a chip for the Internet of things. It is an energy-efficient chip technology that is optimized for use in everything from connected lighting to power controls to other home appliances. Read more »
Apple is now taking most of the smartphone profits, but some component manufacturers are coming along for the ride. Sales of gyroscopes rose 66 percent in 2011 over the prior year as record iOS device sales pushed the small motion sensor market to new highs. Read more »
Apple CEO Tim Cook said iCloud “is not just a product, it’s a strategy for the next decade.” What will that mean for a company trying to lead us all into the post-PC world? We look at possible future applications of cloud-based services from Apple. Read more »
Cisco’s new Videoscape products announced at the 2012 CES will provide more functionality both for managing assets in the cloud, as well as new client-based technology for a wider range of connected devices. That will add new immersive features for pay TV subscribers. Read more »
A couple of new videos from Verizon show that wireless technology will eventually replace coaxial cable for video distribution within the home. That’ll mean more TV content available on more devices, as well as huge potential cost savings for pay TV operators. Read more »
By 2020 it is estimated that 20–50 billion devices will be connected to the Internet. Many of these devices will be collecting health data or will be connected to health and medical devices in the home, the hospital or the wider environment. The Internet of things (IoT), meanwhile, refers to the growth of sensors and things that connect to the Internet via RFID, Bluetooth, ZigBee and satellite. In health care, its growth is likely to open new disruptive business opportunities for services that add value to the data collected. This paper provides a preliminary overview of the landscape of opportunities and drivers in the current health and health care environments and highlights some of the challenges that remain. Companies mentioned in this report include IBM, Arrayent Health, Kaiser Permanente and Ford. For a full list of companies, and to read the full report, sign up for a free trial. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Here’s something fun from London design consultancy BERG: a social printer that connects to a variety of online services and runs off a ticker of news and information from the world around you. Read more »
Are you still waiting to buy Iomega’s Boxee set-top box? Then maybe it’s time to look for alternatives or call your relatives in the UK: Iomega just told us that it won’t be selling the device in the U.S. but will concentrate on Europe instead. Read more »
Spotify is close to launching a dedicated Roku channel, we’ve been told by a source familiar with both companies’ plans. The music subscription service could launch on Roku devices as early as next month. First screen shots of the channel’s UI look promising. Read more »
Huge news for Boxee Box owners: Boxee will soon release a major update that will include the capability to watch live, free over-the-air HD TV on the device though a USB dongle. We were able to take a first peek at the unreleased feature. Read more »
