Internet of Things review: software giants battle for connected dominance
The race towards the Internet of Things is heating up, with Google upping the ante on wearable tech by rolling out a set of new features for its buzzed-about smart eyewear product. The latest update to Google Glass introduces the ability to snap a photo with a wink even when the display is off.
The search giant said that the feature is more convenient the camera button, and hinted that it may explore other applications for the technology like mobile payments and augmented reality. For now, however, users will have to settle for direct YouTube uploading, Hangouts integration, and a lock screen .
Eyeing a bigger presence in the burgeoning mobile market, Microsoft is reportedly working on a platform update of its own in a push to catch up with rivals. Insiders revealed that a forthcoming upgrade for Windows 8.1 will include a notification center and a Siri-like voice assistant codenamed Cortana. Designed to substitute Bing search on Windows Phone devices, the app is rumored to provide a broader range of search criteria, including location.
AT&T is also jumping on the Internet of Things bandwagon with the release of a developer toolkit designed to help app makers leverage machine-to-machine communications. The bundle includes a cloud storage platform for machine-generated data and a Control Center from Jasper Wireless. The latter product packs capabilities for network provisioning, device activation and customer support, among others.
Finally, end-point security and zero-day attack prevention specialist Invincea nabbed $16 million in a Series C equity round co-led by Dell’s VC arm and Aeries Capital. Existing backers Grotech Ventures, Harbert Ventures, and New Atlantic Ventures also participated, bringing the firm’s total funding to $26.2 million.
Since you’re here …
… We’d like to tell you about our mission and how you can help us fulfill it. SiliconANGLE Media Inc.’s business model is based on the intrinsic value of the content, not advertising. Unlike many online publications, we don’t have a paywall or run banner advertising, because we want to keep our journalism open, without influence or the need to chase traffic.The journalism, reporting and commentary on SiliconANGLE — along with live, unscripted video from our Silicon Valley studio and globe-trotting video teams at theCUBE — take a lot of hard work, time and money. Keeping the quality high requires the support of sponsors who are aligned with our vision of ad-free journalism content.
If you like the reporting, video interviews and other ad-free content here, please take a moment to check out a sample of the video content supported by our sponsors, tweet your support, and keep coming back to SiliconANGLE.
