With the Internet of Things really starting to take off now, especially in the home security / video camera space, I recently had a chance to try out two devices aimed at making your home more secure through motion detection, alerts and audio communications.The scoop: Canary home security video camera, $199 (or a two-pack for $379), by CanaryWhat is it? Here’s another network-connected video camera that you can use to monitor your home for security-related purposes, such as looking for intruders, or non-security purposes, such as watching to see if your dog is jumping on the furniture, or a “babycam” to see if your child is sleeping or awake. The cylindrical device connects via wired ethernet to a home router, or you can use a Wi-Fi network (802.11a/b/g/n). Monitoring of the camera is done via mobile app (Android or iOS supported).To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
As 2015 winds down and we start to focus on 2016, one thing can be predicted quite easily. Analysts, editors and others will start making their own predictions about what we can expect in the upcoming year.
We’re no different here at IDG Enterprise – we asked some of the top editors from the IDG enterprise brands (Computerworld, Network World, CIO.com, CSO) to take a few minutes out of their busy day to predict a few trends for enterprise IT in 2016.
The video above shows their final predictions, which includes trends in cloud computing, security, the Internet of Things, wireless, big data/analytics, and mobile devices. We even have one prediction about the 2016 presidential election (a campaign issue, not a prediction of who will win).To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
Another made up geeky dayWednesday, Oct. 21, 2015 marks the day in which time-traveler Marty McFly arrives from the past (from the movie “Back to the Future Part II”. The Internet is freaking out about this upcoming “holiday”, and in the tradition of fake geeky holidays like “Star Wars Day” (May 4), Pi Day (March 14) and “Talk like a Pirate Day” (September 19), we now have a day to celebrate everything related to the time-travel movie, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
The scoop: Mio Alpha 2 heart rate training watch, by MIO, about $200 What is it? It’s not a smartwatch! It doesn’t measure your sleep! You can't draw doodles on its display! But if you want a better way to track your heart rate while working out, this watch will do this and more. A sensor on the back of the watch that touches your skin measures your continuous heart rate on your arm, giving you the information via its display or via a Bluetooth-connected device (works with iOS and Android devices) through its Mio Go app. Why it’s cool: The killer function of this is the continuous heart-rate measurement while the Alpha 2 is on your wrist, as opposed to having to wear an uncomfortable chest strap or, if you’re on a treadmill, using the handgrips. When working with the app, the watch becomes valuable in terms of letting you know whether you are working too hard or not working hard enough in order for you to get into the proper maximum training zone (for your age/gender, which is calculated through the app). To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
The Internet of Things is many things to many people - we’re seeing things like Internet-connected basketballs to vending machines and other devices that connect to the cloud to provide valuable data.One thing I didn’t expect in the IoT world was a device that could measure a cow’s temperature.But that’s exactly what Brad Walters, CEO of Monnit, showed me recently at Interop 2015. Walters’ company makes more than 40 different types of sensors that fit into the world of IoT. Most of the things are dry (or wet) devices that measure temperature, water sensing or gas leaks - important things that can mean the difference between a small problem or a major disaster, whether inside your home or at your remote data center.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
The scoop: MX Master wireless mouse, by Logitech, about $100What is it? Logitech calls the MX Master “The Precision Instrument for Masters of Their Craft,” implying that this is for workers or users who need specific, precise mousing movements, as well as a large number of buttons for customized computer actions. The wireless mouse also includes two options for connectivity - you can connect up to three computers via Bluetooth or you can use the traditional USB dongle, which Logitech calls the “Logitech Unifying Receiver.”MORE: 10 mobile startups to watch
Why it’s cool: In addition to the standard left, right and middle buttons (the middle button is activated by pushing down on the middle scroll wheel), the MX Master includes a thumb scroll wheel on the side (for scrolling horizontally), two other buttons on the thumb area (for back-and-forward web browsing actions) and a new “gesture button” located in the area where your thumb would rest. Actions for these buttons are enabled through Logitech’s “Options” software, which you can download from the company’s web site. The software offers a range of customization options, everything from changing the direction of the scroll, speed of the mouse, sensitivity and Continue reading
Keith Shaw