This week in around the web, Libelium has launched its Smart Logistics platform for asset tracking, Seed has built an “idiot proof” BLE chip and app, aimed at making device discovery simple, and DAQRI launched a smart construction helmet, with HUD visor. For the more code-fluent readers, here’s a look at how to compile and run the AllJoyn package, and a look at Graphene’s potential in IoT, and Apigee has released the open source Zetta program, aimed at bridging disparate IoT APIs.
Luxury home automation brand Vivint buys Space Monkey for its cloud storage expertise, and Google has acquired Lift Labs, the wonderful company behind an auto-balancing spoon for those who struggle to eat due to tremors and other neurological conditions. Also in the connected-utensils sphere, Chinese web giant Baidu has produced contaminant detecting smart chopsticks. CMSWire also quite correctly points out that mobile devices will be the gateways to the IoT, and the Verge wants you to meet the godfather of wearables.
Elsewhere, Interoute picks Wyless to run the Wyless Porthos Management Platform across the Interoute M2M Virtual Data Center, and the GSMA wants SIM cards in every IoT sensor. Gemalto has certified its Cinterion PCS3 M2M module for use on Sprint’s US network. Also, Orbcomm has announced that its 6 new OG2 satellites are now operational.
Here’s a look at 9 scrappy smart home underdogs, and Ecobee released v3.0 of their pre-Nest smart thermostat. IVEE Sleek wants to be the voice control hub for the smart home, and Sony is using Control4 for its device discovery protocol. Network World tries to use a Revolv hub to link a range of separate hubs together, with mixed results, but Revolv has now launched an IFTTT channel.
GM has abandoned its own connected car system in favor of Android Auto and Apple’s CarPlay, and Nokia’s HERE mapping division is playing with smart traffic lights and an Oakland County connected car infrastructure ecosystem. Elsewhere in the connected car field, Volvo and Ericsson have partnered to work on Volvo’s Sensus connected car system, and there will be 42 million driverless cars by 2035, from 1.1m in 2024.
Cisco takes a look at retrofitting a dumb city, and here’s a look at DIY smart hydroponics and its potential in smart cities. Aviva Energy has picked SeeControl for enterprise its IoT energy management, and the smart grid proves its worth after Californian earthquake. 43% of US homes (50m) now have smart meters, and lastly, GE and Accenture have partnered to monitor oil and gas installations over the industrial internet.