Internet of Things News of the Week, December 6 2019

Here’s a roundup of IoT news that caught our attention this week. To receive this summary in your inbox every Friday, subscribe to the newsletter.

A slideshow of IoT startups! I don’t love slideshows, but I’ll click through a good one, such as this offering from CRN. Dylan Martin is one of the few writers out there focused on industrial IoT who really tries to report beyond a press release. Most of this year’s crop of 10 IIoT startups are not new to readers of this newsletter(with the exception of Tulip and Altizon) and half of the bunch focus on security in some form. Go check it out and see how many you’re already familiar with. I’d also save a spot for MachineMetrics and Ockam for next year’s list. (CRN) —Stacey Higginbotham

New Qualcomm chips to power smart glasses next year: At its Tech Summit in Maui this week, Qualcomm introduced the expected next-generation chips for smartphones and 5G connectivity. The company has a chip for AR/VR glasses as well. Devices in late 2020 are expected to run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 silicon, designed specifically for smart glasses and headsets. 5G connectivity will be optionally supported: Pokemon Go without the phone? CNET’s early look at a demo headset is worth the read to explain what Qualcomm is bringing to this not-yet mature but developing market. (CNET)  — Kevin Tofel

China’s population will be sharing 5G airwaves with cloud-connected robots: Speaking of 5G, that’s the network CloudMinds is planning to use for its connected robots. CloudMinds, a China-based robotics company, expects real-time data collection and sharing will be the secret sauce for robots to be effective at the tasks we humans don’t want to do. Some of the early robots in the CloudMinds workforce are an “autonomous neighborhood patrol vehicle and humanoid service robots that can grasp objects with their hands.” A faster network for the robots should help with the artificial intelligence (AI) aspect of CloudMinds. That’s good; I wouldn’t want a robotic arm to grasp me with a crushing grip thinking I’m a recyclable can. (Fortune) — Kevin Tofel

IIoT has a lucrative target in supply chains: I thought I was disorganized, but this figure on supply chain inefficiencies takes the cake. They cost businesses in the U.K. alone $1.9 billion. Annually. That’s why Industrial IoT is hot for this market. It’s easy to show a positive ROI if you can implement smart asset tracking, sensors on the production line or analytics on all of the data collected along the entire supply chain. Now I’m wondering how much money is wasted on supply chains in countries that have a higher manufacturing output than the U.K. On second thought, I probably don’t want to know. (Supply Chain Brain) — Kevin Tofel

BMW reverses gears on CarPlay subscription fees: Earlier this year, BMW said that it would be charging 2019 and 2020 model year owners for the privilege of using Apple CarPlay. You know, the free software that comes with your iPhone. The free software that gets projected on an included dashboard display of many vehicles. That CarPlay. This week, BMW said effective immediately, it would drop the $80 annual fee to use CarPlay in its vehicles in the U.K. and U.S. Obviously, that’s a smart move. And it’s better than doubling down by charging customers for the right to charge their phone in that new car. (Autoblog) — Kevin Tofel

Yonomi integrates with iRobot’s vacuums and mops: If you’re a fan of Yonomi’s cloud automation service and you own either an iRobot Roomba or Braava Jet robotic mop, you’re in luck. This week, Yonomi added support for both cleaning “creatures” so you can program routines to sweep the dust and vacuum the carpets. I never thought of setting schedules for these types of devices, but the idea makes sense. With a set routine, the floors can be cleaned while everyone’s away for the day. (Yonomi) — Kevin Tofel

Google Assistant is moving into more rooms and devices: I expect to see new product announcements and demos for Google Home products using the Assistant next month at the Consumer Electronics Show. There appears to be a bit of a preview now, however. Developer documents for Google Assistant actions got an update this week, showing how to use the Assistant with connected beds, closets and furniture drawers. Also included in the docs are code bits to work with pet feeders, blenders, yogurt mixers and more. I guess I’d better not eat before hitting the demo at CES. (9to5 Google) — Kevin Tofel

New Eero WiFi mesh is great. Alexa integration, not so much: I had to chuckle when reading this review of the September-launched Eero Wi-Fi mesh system, its first since Amazon bought the company in March. The good news is that speed and performance testing shows this to be a very compelling mesh networking product, rivaling that of Plume. But using Alexa to control your Eero network appears to be an exercise in futility, at least for now. I’ll let you read the comical conversations between the testers and Alexa, but this ending line of the review sums up the experience: “We’re still not over being mad about the terrible Alexa integration.” (ArsTechnica) — Kevin Tofel

Why I’m unplugging my Wink Hub for good: After one too many outages and issues with my Wink Hub, it’s time for my smart home to move on. I’ll likely work with Samsung SmartThings for a bit, because I already have the hardware on a USB stick. I can just plug it into my Nvidia Shield TV. There are many other hub options, but mine has to meet the “wife test”: If she can’t use the system, I can’t install the system. Based on the comments to my article, it seems I’m not alone in that aspect, or in unplugging from Wink. (StaceyOnIoT) — Kevin Tofel