The Internet of Things Podcast - Stacey On IoT

This week’s show kicks off with our discussion of several announcements from Amazon’s Alexa Live developers’ conference held Wednesday. Alexa is getting several features as part of the launch of the Matter smart home interoperability protocol that should launch in the fall. For example, users will be able to name a device once and put it in a group and that nomenclature will work across Alexa, manufacturer apps, and other controllers such as Google Home or Apple’s Siri. Amazon also shared new ways for developers to access context in the home thanks to its new Ambient Home Dev Kit and new ways for developers to build Routines for Alexa. Also ahead of Matter, Thread is getting an update, so Kevin and I explain what that entails before turning to Qualcomm’s new wearables chip. The Google Glass AR prototype. Image courtesy of Google. One of the keywords for Qualcomm’s new wearable platform is ambient, as the chipmaker has moved several features to a low-power always-on processor to ensure that smart watches built using the platform have always-on sensing, wake-word detection, and a nice display without compromising on battery life. Then we talk about FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s inquiry into data-gathering and sharing practices by cell phone providers, especially when it comes to location data. We also discuss Google’s new plans for AR glasses, using the IoT to detect forest fires, and yet another security flaw. This time it’s in a GPS tracker from a Chinese provider. We also say goodbye to Microsoft’s Sam George who retired from his role leading Microsoft Azure IoT. We end by answering a listener question about tracking the temperature of a fish pond. Hosts: Stacey Higginbotham and Kevin Tofel Sponsors: InfluxData and Intent With new features Alexa is a smarter brain for the smart home Thread’s getting an update ahead of Matter Qualcomm’s wearable chip is better late than never The FCC wants to know what carriers want with your location Google’s new glasses respect the camera shy The post Episode 381: Alexa and Qualcomm embrace ambient tech appeared first on IoT Podcast - Internet of Things.

21 Jul 202253min

This week’s show comes to y’all from Paris and the English seaside, with Kevin and I wondering exactly what happened to Wink. We also offer options for the few remaining holdouts on the platform. We then discuss Hive’s decision to pull back on smart home devices and its new smart thermostat (Hive plans to continue making smart energy devices). Then we focus on surveillance news starting with San Francisco’s Rule’s Committee broadening support for law enforcement agencies to access Ring camera data. Then we share how often police got access to Ring device footage without the owner’s permission. The Federal Trade Commission has a warning for companies that say they anonymize their data when in fact, they do not, and Home Assistant now has a program for formal integrations. We also share our perspectives on BMW charging a monthly fee for access to heated seats. We end by answering a listener question about network extenders. What the heck is up with Wink? We still don’t know. Our guest this week is Pilgrim Beart, CEO of DevicePilot, which works with companies to provide service assurance for connected devices. We discuss what the heck service assurance actually is, as well as the challenges of the smart home. Beart was the former CEO of AlertMe, which provided the back end for Lowes’ Iris and the Hive smart home systems. He talks about how his companies both shifted from a focus on smart home devices to smart energy. Then we talk about why the energy market is so ripe for disruption from players willing to take advantage of embedded intelligence. We end with a discussion about the role of regulators in the connected energy markets and how they should approach the job. Enjoy the show. Hosts: Stacey Higginbotham and Kevin Tofel Guest: Pilgrim Beart, CEO of DevicePilot Sponsors: InfluxData and Intent It’s time to dump Wink and here’s what to choose instead Police have gotten data from Ring 11 time in the last year without owner permission The FTC thinks your data anonymization claims are sus Why the smart home was destined to fail We need to think about resiliency when bringing smarts to the grid The post Episode 380: Here’s what we think with Wink on the blink appeared first on IoT Podcast - Internet of Things.

14 Jul 202258min

This week we continue discussing privacy and data protection with a focus on the smart home. I’d like to see a feature that lets us turn on privacy as needed on our devices, but Kevin doesn’t think that’s likely. For those who want concrete steps they can take today, Mozilla and the EFF have some suggestions that will appeal to the DIY types. And smart home device makers should be aware that if they focused on privacy, the might sell more gear according to a recent survey. For those worried about security (less about privacy), we discuss network segmentation options. In smaller news on this slow news week, Unabiz will retain the Sigfox brand, the FCC approves roaming satellite broadband via Starlink, and Samsung SmartThings is readying an app update with more features. I also share the devices I connect before I head out of town. In our IoT Podcast Hotline we answer a listener question about the best platforms on which to practice IoT development. Home Assistant’s Yellow hub can help you keep your smart home automations locale and more private. Image courtesy of Home Assistant. Our guest this week is Vijay Sankaran, the CTO of Johnson Controls. He talks about the reasons we’re adding more sensors to our buildings, and ensuring they work with other with IT systems. He also explains what needs to happen at the edge and what should take place in the cloud, while also laying out the standards we need to make digital twins of smart buildings. On the practical front, he says that customers usually start with modernizing buildings that are more than 10 years old or those that are currently under construction. And the best way to get started is for customers to start tracking carbon consumption by trying to understand how much energy is being used in a building and then understanding what deices are using it. Only after customers understand that, can they work on optimizing their energy usage to reduce consumptions or at least allocate carbon consumption to places or products that generate the most value. Hosts: Stacey Higginbotham and Kevin Tofel Guest: Vijay Sankaran, the CTO of Johnson Controls Sponsors: InfluxData and Intent The privacy-focused smart home is DIY but doable. What would you buy if privacy concerns didn’t hold you back? Here are the devices I use when on vacation. When it comes to smart buildings, which should get modernized first? Standards matter for digital twins of smart buildings. The post Episode 379: Lock down your smart home’s data appeared first on IoT Podcast - Internet of Things.

7 Jul 20221h 1min

It’s been a minute since we’ve discussed the metaverse, but this week we cover Siemens’ deal with Nvidia to create the metaverse for the industrial IoT. It’s part of several announcements this week from Siemens that include an acquisition and a new product launch for smart buildings. We also dig into some Apple rumors about a new HomePod, whether or not you’ll want to use the iPad as a home hub, and Kevin’s advice for folks trying to adopt HomeKit. Then we ask if you want to pay for a subscription to Insteon’s cloud and explore how the ADT partnership with Google is working. From there we talk talk about the new Raspberry Pi Pico W device with Wi-Fi. For $6, they are a steal. In smaller news, we talk about wireless power research and new sounds that help your Nest doorbell celebrate the Fourth of July. We also answer a listener question about automating his water heater. Siemens Process Simulate (left) connects to NVIDIA Omniverse (right) to enable a photorealistic, real-time digital twin. Image courtesy of Nvidia.  Our guest this week is Alok Bhanot, the CTO of ParkourSC, a company trying to create digital twins for the supply chain. We discuss the current state of the supply chain and why we’re moving into what Bhanot calls supply chain 2.0. He explains how companies are going beyond merely tracking their products and instead are trying to predict problem areas in advance and automate their response to those problems. This takes sensors and connected devices, but it also takes deep integration across the entire logistics, transportation and product ecosystem. We also explain how these solutions can’t predict everything, but for many companies, the goal is to optimize for easing the delivery of the most important things. We also discuss why ParkourSC decided to stop making its own hardware. Hosts: Stacey Higginbotham and Kevin Tofel Guest: Alok Bhanot, CTO of ParkourSC Sponsors: Nordic Semiconductor and Wirepas Will the industrial IoT use the metaverse? Do you want a new HomePod or an iPad for HomeKit? There’s a new Raspberry Pi for the IoT. What the heck is supply chain 2.0? Why this startup decided to stop building sensors. The post Podcast 378: Welcome to the industrial metaverse appeared first on IoT Podcast - Internet of Things.

30 Jun 202258min

This week we cover the Ericsson mobility report that offers some stats on cellular IoT connections, including the surprising nugget that we won’t see 4G/5G connections surpass 2G/3G connections until some time next year. Then we hit another report. This one is from NPR and covers the state of audio and smart speakers. It proves that growth is slowing for smart speakers and that we may not do as many things with voice as we think. In dystopian news we cover China using COVID tracking apps to lock down protesters, and Microsoft stopping sales of some facial recognition tools. In new product news we talk about the latest Philips Hue gear, a new material that could generate electricity for wearables, and new MCUs from NXP. We also address the closure of SmartDry and explain how Google’s update on the Nest Max Hub may break your Nest x Yale lock. We end by answering a listener question about more accurate motion sensors. Our guest this week is Daniel dos Santos, head of security research at Vedere, a business unit of Forescout. He’s on the show to discuss why Forescout released 56 new OT vulnerabilities dubbed ICEFALL. He shares the design flaws that led to these vulnerabilities and more importantly, explains what needs to happen if compromised controllers or devices can’t be fixed. He also shares a startling stat about how many industrial customers are actually updating their devices after a vulnerability has been disclosed, and how to encourage more of them to address security flaws. If you want to learn more abut securing critical infrastructure, this is a good place to start. Hosts: Stacey Higginbotham and Kevin Tofel Guest: Daniel dos Santos, head of security research at Forescout Sponsors: Nordic Semiconductor and Wirepas There are still more 2G and 3G IoT connections than 4G/5G ones With smart speakers it’s the same as it ever was Are the new Hue track lights for you? The ICEFALL vulnerabilities are a sign of progress actually. This vendor says only one in ten patch their OT gear The post Episode 377: Why there were 56 OT vulnerabilities this week appeared first on IoT Podcast - Internet of Things.

23 Jun 202257min

This week’s show kicks off with another look at Ring’s potential to become a surveillance tool, this time prompted by a letter from Senator Ed Markey who wants Amazon to answer some questions. We then talk about a new capability for InfluxData’s time series database and explain why it matters before encouraging everyone who listens to the show or visits the site to get comfortable with doing things yourself. We then give a brief update on Insteon’s buyer and what it might mean before covering two industrial stories. First up is Siemens’ acquisition of Senseye, a company that provides predictive maintenance software, and then we discuss a remote factory experiment between Finland and South Korea. In smaller news we discuss the number of smart locks in U.S. households, Orro signing a deal with RTI for smarter light switches, and a new HomeKit enabled smart plug from TP-Link. We close by answering a listener question about the best smart lighting options to use in a new home. Image courtesy of Parks Associates. Our guest this week is Evan Kaplan, CEO of InfluxData, who is talking about the demand for time series data for the internet of things. InfluxData makes a time series database for storing trading and sensor data. We discuss how companies are using time series data as part of closed loop systems, and what the future tech stack for the IoT will be. He also shares his strategies to get developers interested in a platform and why he thinks appealing to developers will be essential for success in the industrial IoT. It’s a fun show. Hosts: Stacey Higginbotham and Kevin Tofel Guests: Evan Kaplan, CEO of InfluxData Sponsors: Nordic Semiconductor and Wirepas Senator Markey wants more information about Ring’s capabilities Be bold, and try to DIY your next project Remote factory project has incredibly low latency Why the IoT loves time series data What we need to build better architectures for a real-time IoT The post Episode 376: Senator calls out video doorbells … again appeared first on IoT Podcast - Internet of Things.

16 Jun 202255min

This week’s show is an exercise in controlled chaos, as I am once again quarantined in a hotel room (this time with my teen). Kevin and I discuss Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference and Apple’s claim that HomeKit is the foundation of the upcoming Matter smart home protocol. Insteon users got a shock this week when their formerly dead hubs mysteriously turned on and their cloud-based integrations began working. We explain what we know. SmartThings is getting a new app, and Microsoft signed a multi-year deal to help Procter & Gamble with its digital transformation. In security news, we discuss new ransomware that starts on the IT side but can move over to the OT side to wreak havoc, as well as a new program from Dragos to help small businesses secure their OT networks. Finally, in chip news radar chip company Vayyar raised $108 million and Arm launched a new low-power image sensor for embedded vision. During the IoT Podcast Hotline, we answer a listener question about how to prepare his smart home for a move. Arduino launched the Portenta line of boards for the enterprise a year and half ago. Image courtesy of Arduino. Our guest this week is Fabio Violante, the CEO of Arduino. Arduino raised €30 million ($32 million) this week as it seeks to add software and hardware to meet the needs of enterprise and industrial product designers. We discuss why Arduino is branching out from the DIY market, and how it differentiates itself from other computing platforms such as the Raspberry Pi or Nvidia’s Jetson Nano. Violante also shares his observations about the state of the market and the popularity of certain connectivity options, protocols and cloud platforms. It’s a good show. Hosts: Stacey Higginbotham and Kevin Tofel Guest: Fabio Violante, the CEO of Arduino Sponsors: Nordic Semiconductor and Wirepas Apple contributed a lot to HomeKit and we all will benefit Who is the new Insteon owner? Microsoft is helping Procter & Gamble make better paper towels Good and bad news for OT security Why Arduino is stepping up to the enterprise The post Episode 375: Arduino gets $32 million for enterprise IoT appeared first on IoT Podcast - Internet of Things.

9 Jun 202250min

This week’s show kicks off with our favorite topic: bringing context into the smart home. This time it’s iRobot and its new operating system that aims to bring the smart home together. From there we discuss a merger between satellite IoT companies and a new idea for building a privacy-centric smart home from the folks at Carnegie Mellon. In more enterprise news, BT wants to stop being a telco and become a “tech-co” with a focus on digital transformation, while a group of chipmakers want to create a consortium to buy Arm. In smaller news bits we’ve got some more unsettling news around John Deere tractors, a smart blinds retrofit from Somfy and the end of Amazon’s Cloud Cam. We’re not mad. Kevin also reviewed Ecobee’s newest and fanciest thermostat and came to a surprising conclusion. In our IoT Podcast Hotline we answer a question from someone who is switching to HomeKit. Image courtesy of iRobot. Our guest this week is Ron Rock, CEO and co-founder of Microshare.io, who discusses why his company started building pre-packaged IoT solutions and selling the data, as opposed to trying for some horizontal IoT platform. He also talks about the next big use cases for enterprise IoT after COVID. First up is figuring out how to best use corporate real estate in a hybrid work environment and how to rightsize corporate real estate holdings post-pandemic. His third use case is my favorite. He talks about why ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) demands are driving companies to adopt IoT solutions across a wide variety of use cases and industries. We end with a bit of conversation about new building standards and how he expects those standards to develop in the next three to five years. It’s a fun show. Host: Stacey Higginbotham and Kevin Tofel Guest: Ron Rock, CEO and co-founder of Microshare.io Sponsors: LoRaWAN World Expo and InfluxData Why iRobot could turn the smart home into a robot The IoT satellite consolidation is here Who should buy Arm? Everyone. COVID drove enterprise IoT spending, but what’s next? All your pre-2020 occupancy data is worthless now The post Episode 374: Peekaboo offers privacy for the smart home appeared first on IoT Podcast - Internet of Things.

2 Jun 20221h