Google is reportedly creating an AirTags competitor

Google appears to be working on its own tracker to compete with Apple’s AirTags.

Bluetooth-based trackers like Tile have been available for multiple platforms long before AirTags. As is often the case with Apple, the company took an existing idea and created a far better user experience.

Anyone who has used a Tile will be aware that finding items can often be problematic. Bluetooth doesn’t accurately report distance and connecting to a tracker is often difficult...

18 January 2023 | Applications

Matter gets closer to becoming the ubiquitous smart home standard

Matter is getting closer to becoming the ubiquitous standard for the smart home with two big updates from Apple and Google.

From Apple, we saw the release of the iOS and iPadOS 16.1 developer betas bring a new option for “Matter Accessories” in the Settings for each operating system:

Apple first announced that iOS 16 would support Matter back at WWDC, but now we’re beginning to see the first signs of real-world integration.

Selecting the new option...

15 September 2022 | Connectivity

Google looks set to finally debut its Apple Watch competitor in 2022

According to reports, the long-rumoured in-house smartwatch from Google will finally launch in 2022.

Insider reports that a smartwatch from Google codenamed Rohan will launch next year. When it hits the market, it will probably launch commercially as the Pixel Watch.

Rohan is said to have a round design without a physical bezel. Google employees have reportedly been allowed to use the prototype for feedback purposes but claim that it currently needs to be charged...

3 December 2021 | Consumer IoT & Wearables

Google’s IoT-focused Fuchsia OS is launching on Nest Hub

Google’s new IoT-focused Fuchsia OS is beginning to roll out on Nest Hub following years of speculation about the operating system.

Fuchsia OS has been known to be in development for quite some time and Google even launched a developer site for it in 2019.

At I/O that year, Hiroshi Lockheimer, SVP of Chrome and Android at Google, described Fuchsia as one of Google’s experiments around new concepts for operating systems.

Mountain View has remained vague...

25 May 2021 | IoT

Google’s acquisition of Fitbit finally crosses the finish line

Google has completed its acquisition of Fitbit after assuring regulators the company will protect user data.

The $2.1 billion acquisition was first announced in November 2019 but caught the attention of regulators around the world amid increasing scrutiny of “big tech” companies like Google.

In a letter announcing the completion of the acquisition, Fitbit founder James Park wrote:

“The trust of our users will continue to be paramount, and we will maintain...

14 January 2021 | Consumer IoT & Wearables

The EU is set to approve Google’s acquisition of Fitbit this week

While most eyes are on the close-to-collapse Brexit negotiations, another notable European decision is finally expected this week.

Google’s proposed $2.1 billion takeover of Fitbit naturally caught the attention of the European Union—which continues to tighten its screws on “big tech” over privacy concerns.

According to Bloomberg’s sources, the EU will grant conditional approval for Google’s historic takeover this week.

We don’t know what...

7 December 2020 | Consumer IoT & Wearables

Ex-Google engineer sentenced to 18 months in prison for stealing autonomous car secrets

Former Google engineer Anthony Levandowski has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for stealing autonomous car secrets.

Levandowski was employed by Google’s self-driving car division Waymo when he transferred over 14,000 secret files to his laptop before leaving the company.

The stolen files were taken to Uber, where Levandowski led the firm’s own robotaxi project. US District Judge William Alsup called Levandowski’s actions the "biggest trade secret crime I have...

5 August 2020 | Connected Vehicles

Google invests $450m in ADT to boost IoT security devices

Google has announced a $450 million investment in security firm ADT to increase the adoption of IoT security devices.

Often when you hear IoT and security in the same sentence, it's because another device has been hacked. However, secure devices can actually improve the safety of premises (don't be too shocked.)

ADT is one of the most recognisable security brands in the world. You'll almost certainly have seen one of the company's somewhat iconic yellow alarms on the...

3 August 2020 | IoT

Google promises the EU that it won’t use Fitbit data for ads

Google is attempting to avoid an EU antitrust probe by promising that it won’t use Fitbit data for advertising purposes.

The web giant announced its intention to purchase Fitbit for $2.1 billion back in November 2019, but it’s caught the attention of regulators.

EU regulators are concerned that Google will use Fitbit data to further boost its advertising business. A decision is due to be made on July 20th whether to launch a full probe into Google’s...

14 July 2020 | Consumer IoT & Wearables

Opinion: Pixel Watch is more likely now a decent WearOS processor is available

Rumours of a Pixel Watch are now more believable following the release of a competent WearOS processor.

Unlike wearables from Apple and Samsung, Google relies heavily on third-parties. The main reason WearOS manufacturers have struggled is the inability to access hardware which can compete with the in-house chips used by Apple and Samsung for their wearables.

The main critiques of WearOS devices are they’re slow and have poor battery life. The OS didn’t help in the...

1 July 2020 | Applications