Business News Holding

Tag: bluetooth

  • Broadcom’s Internet of Things WICED Platform Now Offers Full HomeKit Support

    Broadcom’s Internet of Things WICED Platform Now Offers Full HomeKit Support

    homekit-breadcom

    Broadcom has announced that its Wireless Internet Connectivity for Embedded Devices (WICED) SDK now offers full HomeKit support. As the first company to meet HomeKit technical specifications for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Smart, Broadcom expands its Internet of Things (IoT) portfolio offerings.

    Broadcom’s WICED platform enables developers and OEMs to take advantage of the growing Apple’s HomeKit ecosystem. By helping companies create IoT products that are HomeKit compliant, Broadcom is said to reduce time-to-market and improve the consumer experience.

    Broadcom’s WICED platform can also connect endpoints through a process known as bridging that delivers the benefits of HomeKit through a hardware module. This allows a product like a Bluetooth Smart light bulb to connect to a smart plug containing Broadcom’s WICED module, creating a bridge from the light bulb to the user’s HomeKit-supported app on their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.

    HomeKit offers a set of common protocols making it easier for customers to control HomeKit-enabled accessories using Siri or iOS applications. HomeKit is built on a secure foundation with end-to-end encryption which provides customers a secure connection between their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch and HomeKit-enabled accessory.

    Key Features:

    • Support for 802.11ab/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Smart
    • Compact design to support multiple microcontrollers (MCUs) and systems-on-a-chip (SOCs)
    • Low memory footprint
    • Integrated development tools
    • Reliable interoperability and integrated security
    • Upgradeable over wireless connections

    Availability
    Broadcom’s WICED SDK and hardware module with HomeKit support are available now.

  • Ooma Telo Air VoIP Phone with Bluetooth Adapter is 50% off at Amazon

    Ooma Telo Air VoIP Phone with Bluetooth Adapter is 50% off at Amazon

    amazon-ooma-telo-air-voip-phone-with-wireless-plus-bluetooth-adapter

    Today’s Bonus Gold Box Deal of the Day at Amazon is the Ooma Telo Air VoIP Phone with Bluetooth Adapter for $89.99 shipped (50% off).

    Ooma Telo lets you make free U.S. local and long distance calls over the internet. It includes the Wireless + Bluetooth Adapter, enabling your Ooma Telo to connect to the internet wirelessly using your Wi-Fi network. The built-in Bluetooth function also links your mobile phone to your Telo to receive incoming calls through your home telephones, giving you an additional level of convenience.

    PureVoice HD technology allows Ooma to deliver clear audio even when the internet is busy. Packet loss causes VoIP phone calls to sound stuttered or garbled. Ooma’s Adaptive Redundancy detects packet loss and automatically sends redundant packets for better sounding phone calls and fewer dropped calls.

    Ooma works with Nest

    Ooma securely interacts with Nest devices for convenience and peace of mind never before possible with a home phone (premier service required).

    • Automatically forward home phone calls when you leave the house.
    • Receive a call from home when your smoke alarm detects smoke or CO and have the option to contact your local emergency services
    • Receive a call from home when things don’t go as planned

    Features included with free calling service:

    • Free U.S. calling
    • Caller-ID, call-waiting and 911
    • Low international rates
    • Wireless and Bluetooth Connectivity
    • PureVoice HD technology for clarity and reliability
    • Text alerts when 911 is called
    • Online portal with call log, preferences and contacts
    • One-touch voicemail audio playback
    • Remote voicemail retrieval
    • Fax mode
    • Free Ooma-to-Ooma calling worldwide
    • Choose almost any area code

    Get it now for just $89.99.

  • Sony LT30 Bluetooth Approval Reveals More Details

    If an entry on Bluetooth.org is to be believed, Sony is silently working on a new phone. Sony calls it the LT30 and they are working away getting all the required certifications and the tie-ups for a possible launch.

    Apparently this means that there are more to the Sony LT30 rumors that are going around. Reading all the details below however it may seem very close to the Sony Xperia GX, a LTE smartphone released by Sony exclusively for the Japanese market in May 2012. The new phone could just as well end up being an international avatar of the Xperia GX. If things shape up well we could see the phone in the US and other international markets soon.

    The features that are mentioned on the website reveals some details regarding the dimension, screen size, and the camera quality. The smartphone is apparently going to be a thin one by looking at the dimensions registered. It could very well be powered by the Snapdragon S4 Dual core processor, the same as the Xperia GX and weigh around 140 Gms based on a metal back ARC design. Apparently, Sony is going for a trusted processor which can offer better battery life and increased phone performance.

    The phone will sport a 13-megapixel rear camera (which should be more than enough as some of the entry level DSLR’s come with only 12-14 megapixels) and be capable of recording videos in 1080p. A front facing camera will be able to shoot videos in 720p HD, which is perfect for video streaming and making video calls.

    The 4.6-screen resolution details are not available and it is also not clear whether the screen will have any upgrades from the other phones that are in the Sony stable. Additional features could very well be implemented by the time the smartphone will hit the stores.

  • Bluetooth 4.0 Ready to Roll

    The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) unveiled more information about its forthcoming Bluetooth Core Specification Version 4.0, with the hallmark feature of low energy technology. Bluetooth v4.0 is expected to be brought to market by the end of Q2.

    According to SIG, Bluetooth v4.0 is like three specifications in one – Classic Bluetooth technology, Bluetooth low energy technology, and Bluetooth high speed technology– all which can be combined or used separately in different devices according to their functionality.

    For example, sensors like those in pedometers and glucose monitors will run only low energy technology, thus saving power, cost and space within the device. Watches will take advantage of both low energy technology while collecting data from fitness sensors on the body as well as Classic Bluetooth technology when sending that information to a PC, or separately displaying caller ID information when wirelessly connected to a mobile phone.

    Mobile phones and PCs, which support the widest range of uses, will utilize the full package with Classic, low energy and high speed technology running side by side.

    As with previous versions of the specification, the range of the Bluetooth v4.0 radio may be optimized according to application. The majority of Bluetooth devices on the market today include the basic 30 foot, or 10 meter, range of the Classic Bluetooth radio, but there is no limit imposed by the Specification.

    SIG says that with Bluetooth v4.0, manufacturers may choose to optimize range to 200 feet and beyond, particularly for in-home sensor applications where longer range is a necessity.

    “Bluetooth v4.0 throws open the doors to a host of new markets for Bluetooth manufacturers and products such as watches, remote controls, and a variety of medical and in-home sensors. Many of these products run on button-cell batteries that must last for years versus hours and will also benefit from the longer range enabled by this new version of the Bluetooth specification,“ said Michael Foley, executive director of the Bluetooth SIG.

    Bluetooth v4.0 was recently named one of the “10 Mobile Technologies to Watch in 2010 and 2011” by Gartner, Inc. Technologies chosen for the list were selected on their potential to evolve and impact short-term mobile strategies and policies.

    Specifically, Bluetooth v4.0 is cited to have significant impact on the fitness, healthcare and environmental control industries.

  • LG Integrates Broadcom Bluetooth Technology, Enables HDTVs to Connect with Mobiles and Headsets


    LG Electronics has integrated Broadcom’s advanced Bluetooth technology into a new line of digital televisions (DTVs) that are now shipping.

    Having Bluetooth connectivity in its LH70 TV line of digital televisions allows the sets to connect with a wide range of Bluetooth devices, such as wireless stereo headphones and cell phones.

    With the latter, future applications include functioning as a TV remote control or a QWERTY keyboard input device for TV-based widgets and electronics commerce applications.

    The Bluetooth technology also allows the new LGE TVs to act as a wireless docking station for MP3-enabled cell phones and portable media players (PMPs).
    This enables music and other audio to play over TV speaker systems.

    It also allows ‘picture push’ capabilities that enable users to wirelessly move digital photos and other graphic files from Bluetooth-enabled camera phones to the LGE TV for viewing and sharing.

    Fernanda Summa, TV product manager at LG Electronics, said consumers are continuing to discover that Bluetooth is much more than just a wireless headset. She said the technology is rapidly gaining adoption in digital televisions.

    "Broadcom Bluetooth technology provides the right combination of features and performance for embedded and consumer electronics applications, delivering advanced multimedia capabilities and low power consumption driven by Broadcom’s expertise in mobile handsets," he said.

    Broadcom estimates that the total available market (TAM) for embedded Bluetooth solutions will be more than 938 million units by 2012.

    Craig Ochikubo, vice president & general manager of Broadcom’s wireless personal area networking line of business, said the increasing adoption of Broadcom Bluetooth technology into digital televisions and other consumer electronics devices is driving an emerging connectivity ecosystem.

    He said it allows existing products with Bluetooth connectivity like cell phones and wireless headsets to play new roles.

    "Broadcom is helping to drive this trend and we look forward to our continued collaboration with LGE to transform consumer interaction with these devices," he said.

  • Panasonic's Dash-mountable Devices Offer In-car Blu-ray


    Blu-Ray may still be absent from most people’s living rooms – but Panasonic is offering a pair of dash-mountable devices for those who need their high-def fix in the car.

    The CN-HX3000D Windows-powered device, with a 7-inch, 1280 x 720 display offering GPS, Bluetooth, a 40GB hard drive, and iPod/iPhone compatibility.

    Use in conjunction with the CY-BB1000D in-car Blu-ray player and the results are no doubt impressive.

    At what cost, though, Panasonic has still to release, though the pair are expected to hit stores by the end of the summer.

  • Want VoIP Calls On Your Bluetooth Headset?


    Callpod has launched a "plug-and-play" Bluetooth device that connects with a headset or headphones to provide streaming music and voice over a 100 meter (328ft) range.

    Called the Drone, it plugs into the USB port of a computer and audio is routed automatically.

    When a VoIP call comes in, Drone switches over to the call automatically.

    The Drone works with all Bluetooth headsets and headphones, supports all major VoIP platforms and is Mac and PC compatible.

    It will retail for USD $49.99.

    Performance details:

    • 100-meter (Class-1) range
    • VoIP and music streaming to any Bluetooth headset or stereo headphones
    • Automatically pairs with your headset or headphones
    • Seamlessly switch between music and VoIP calls
    • No software installation – Plug and Play
    • Optional software install for advanced functions such as data transfer
    • Upgradeable firmware

  • Samsung launches 8-megapixel smartphone

    i8510 – or the Innov8 – offers strong combination of business and entertainment features

    Samsung has launched the i8510, its first 8-megapixel camera phone, which comes with autofocus features, face recognition, image stabilizer, and flash.

    The smartphone uses the Symbian v9.3 operating system and features on-board software that allows users to edit and personalise photos.

    The camera records video at 30 frames per second and comes with a secondary camera to make video calls.

    For mobile professionals, the Innov8 offers multiple ways to connect. It’s HSDPA-compatible, so users outwith the US can get a maximum downlink speed of 7.2 Mbps.

    There’s also integrated Wi-Fi for high-speed connection, and an EDGE connection. The smartphone can receive push e-mail, has an HTML browser, and is Bluetooth-capable.

    Although lacking a touch-enabled display, its 2.8-inch LCD screen has an accelerometer sensor, and it can be navigated with a 4-way navigation key and an optical mouse. Samsung did not elaborate on how the optical mouse would be implemented.

    The Innov8 has an integrated GPS that can be used to geo-tag photos, as well as utilise cellular data for assisted-GPS services.
    Handsets come with 8 or 16 GB of memory on-board and that can be expanded up to 8 GB via the microSD slot.

    On the multimedia side, the Innov8 has a host of options. The handset, which has a standard headphone jack, can play multiple audio formats, and it has a built-in FM radio. The video player is capable of playing many codecs, including DivX.

    Measuring 4.2 by 2.1 by .7 inches, the Innov8 will be launched in Europe in August, with global release to follow in September.
    No details have so far been released on pricing.

  • Smartphone? Most people just want a camera, Bluetooth and music

    Research shows that cameras, bluetooth, and music top consumers’ lists as “must have” features on mobile phones

    The function-packed Apple iPhone 3G may about to be released to the world but many consumers say they just want a mobile that’s a phone
    Clint Wheelock, vice president and chief research officer for ABI Research, said: “It’s still a voice-centric world. Consumers across all mature markets still choose their mobile operator based on ‘the basics’: price, friends/family on the same network, and network coverage.”

    Speaking after the publication of an ABI Research consumer survey, Wheelock said the findings showed that digital camera functionality, Bluetooth connectivity, and music/radio playback on mobile phones were the top three features that people consider essential for the next mobile phone they will purchase.
    The desire for camera phones with 2+ megapixels leads the pack with 47 per cent of consumers listing this feature as a “must have,” followed by Bluetooth at 34 per cent and music/FM radio functionality at 32 per cent.

    Games and Internet access are also high on the list of features that subscribers have on their phones, but never use.
    “Many mobile data and multimedia services are failing to reach the mainstream not because they’re unavailable, but because they fail to provide a satisfactory user experience and pricing model for most consumers,” said Wheelock.

    However, he said the survey results identified some “surprising differences” between markets.
    “Camera phones, for example, were more than twice as important for consumers in Taiwan versus those in the US,” he said.
    “Similarly, Bluetooth is considered essential by mobile subscribers in Western Europe and Taiwan, but penetration of this feature is very low in Japan and South Korea, so it’s of little importance to consumers in those countries.”

    Other key findings from ABI Research’s global wireless consumer survey of 1,402 current wireless subscribers in seven countries, are as follows:

    * The three most common features that subscribers have on their current mobile phones are: games (64%), Internet access (61%), and 2+ megapixel cameras (58%).
    * The handset features that are least likely to be regarded as essential are: Wi-Fi, mobile TV, and games.

    Click here for full information on the ABI Research brief Wireless Subscriber Profiles and Preferences.