Large-scale industrial deployments are now within easy reach thanks to the release of Bluetooth Mesh 1.0. We take a look at options for the warehouse of the future.

Bluetooth 5’s benefits are about much more than increased speed and extended range. Low energy advertising extensions are also a major enhancement.

Advertisements are used by devices to broadcast data and information that can be discovered and processed by observer devices. This means information can be broadcast to multiple devices at the same time, as opposed to connected Bluetooth devices, which only allow peer-to-peer communication.

Dig below the hype and you’ll discover there are real benefits to mesh networking.

With faster speed, longer range and higher bandwidth, Bluetooth 5 might seem like the perfect communications method. Yet with a close look, we can see that although Bluetooth offers important benefits, it’s not all things to all people.

One of the most critical parts of IoT security is the commissioning process. Secure communication depends on getting this stage right, but the best products successfully balance this need with ease-of-use.

While we have talked about the Internet of Things for a long time, actual adoption in products has been relatively slow. Different products use different technologies to achieve the same end result, leading to confusion for consumers and problems with getting things to work together. What is the best way to fix these problems?

Tracking equipment in a large facility is a difficult task. Checking inventory for things such as location, condition and battery life can be very time-consuming. In this article we look at a few ways to make this process smarter, simpler and quicker.

Ever since smartphones first combined internet access and location in the same device, developers have worked hard to create better and smarter services to make lives easier. Emerging personal location based services just around the corner look set to change everything.

HomeKit was first announced at Apple’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference (WWDC) in 2014, as a framework for home automation. The name HomeKit was formed from “Home” for home automation, and “Kit” for software development kit (SDK). The idea is that all HomeKit devices work to the same set of rules, ensuring they can all work together. Once connected they can be setup in a single app and controlled using Siri, Apple’s smart, voice-controlled assistant in iOS. The first devices based on HomeKit reached stores in July 2015, and new accessories are launched every day.

Smartphone battery life remains a frustration for many users. The same problem also applies to a wide range of IoT devices. Although it’s easy to bury yourself in detail seeking a perfect solution, it’s important not to lose sight of the broader picture.

To ensure reliable long-term operation of your smart device, consider battery type, peak power consumption, wireless connectivity protocol, latency, throughput, sleep-states and data transfer requirements.

Rule number one: Always have your end user in mind. Even the most desirable product will be ditched if the battery lets it down.