Tag: Devices

Matter 1.3 could bring support for more devices to Samsung’s SmartThings

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date May 9, 2024
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The latest version of Matter (v1.3) has arrived. It supports more smart home device types and routines, and that support could come to SmartThings in the future.

Matter is a smart home device standard jointly developed by Amazon, Apple, Google, Samsung, and other consumer electronics brands.

Matter 1.3 brings support for ten new device types, energy management, and scenes

Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) has released the Matter 1.3 standard today. It now supports the several smart kitchen appliances, electric vehicle (EV) chargers, sensors, and valves. All the newly supported smart devices are listed below.

Cooktops
Dryers
Electric Vehicle Chargers
Extractor Hoods
Freeze detectors
Microwave Ovens
Ovens
Leak Detectors
Rain Sensors
Water Valves

With these additions, Matter now supports almost all types of commonly found smart home devices. Remember, Matter 1.2 already brought support for a host of device types in December 2023, including air purifiers, air quality sensors, dishwashers, fans, refrigerators, robotic vacuum cleaners, room air conditioners, and smoke detecting alarms.

In addition to support for new device types, Matter 1.3 also supports energy tracking and scenes. Energy tracking allows users to track energy usage of the device throughout the day. Scenes allow users to batch several actions together. For example, you can create a scene in which an AC turns on when the room temperature reaches a particular level.

Improved Matter Cast

Moreover, TVs that support Matter can now display notifications about other Matter devices. For example, your smart TV can display when the washing machine finishes a laundry load. Matter 1.3 now supports improved Matter Cast, a protocol similar to AirPlay and Google Cast, allowing audio, images, and videos to be casted to a compatible smart display or TV. It now allows multiple clients to be connected, and the experience can be different for each user, depending on the usecase.

This makes Matter Cast a great, open alternative to AirPlay and Google Cast. However, Amazon is the only adding support for Matter Cast. Fire TV devices and the Echo Show 15 are now getting support for Matter Cast. The Prime Video app for smartphones and tablets is also getting Matter Cast support. No other brand is supporting Matter Cast as of now, and it would be great if Samsung adds support for this new casting protocol to all its laptops, phones, tablets, and TVs.

One disappointment is that Matter still doesn’t support security cameras and video door bells. In the next release, Matter will support heat pumps, water heaters, and solar panels. Another disappointment is that none of the brands have added support for Matter 1.2, let along Matter 1.3, even six months after its release.

Samsung may add Matter 1.3 support to SmartThings

Samsung is among the important contributors to Matter, and its SmartThings platform supports Matter. However, it still doesn’t support Matter 1.2, and the company might need months more to add the new version of Matter to its smart home device platform. Samsung’s smart home devices don’t support Matter, though, which is worrying.

Home Assistant and SmartThings are the two platforms that are ahead of the others (Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Home) in supporting Matter, but Samsung itself isn’t adding Matter support to its own home appliances. If Matter is to be successful, all its primary promoters need to make sure that all their new devices support Matter.

Watch our hands-on video of Samsung’s new smart TVs below. These TVs act as SmartThings Hub (and Matter Hub) and can control compatible smart home devices.

Matter can be extremely helpful to Samsung. For example, Samsung TVs currently don’t support Google Cast, so casting audio and video to its TVs from non-Samsung Android devices is unreliable. If Samsung adds support for Matter Cast to all its audio and video products, it could help improve the sales of its devices.

Hopefully, Samsung will add support for Matter 1.3 to SmartThings in the coming months. This could potentially push other brands to improve Matter support, which will in turn expand the reach of Matter and help consumers worldwide.

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Tags bring, Devices, matter, Samsungs, SmartThings, Support

Featured

There’s a massive sale on Apple devices at Amazon: 7 deals I’d buy from $79.99

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date May 8, 2024
No Comments on There’s a massive sale on Apple devices at Amazon: 7 deals I’d buy from $79.99

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Thanks to yesterday’s Apple event, which unveiled the newest iPads, Amazon is having a massive sale on older model Apple products. You can score record-low prices on some of Apple’s best-selling devices, including AirPods, iPads, Apple Watches, and MacBooks. I’m rounding up today’s seven best deals just below, with prices starting at just $79.99.

• Shop more Apple deals at Amazon

While Apple deals are a regular feature on Amazon, today’s prices are some of the best we’ve seen, with discounts that match Black Friday and drop even further. Some highlights include the best-selling AirPods Pro 2 on sale for $179.99, the 10.9 iPad on sale for $349, and the Apple Watch 9 down to an incredible price of $299.

Keep in mind that all of the deals listed below are best-ever offers, and we typically don’t see prices like this outside of holiday sales. If you’re interested in the newest iPads, you can also check out our iPad preorders page for all the best deals around the web.

Huge Apple sale at Amazon: today’s 7 best deals

See more of today’s best AirPods sales and Apple Watch deals, and look forward to upcoming bargains at the 2024 Memorial Day sales event.

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Tags Amazon, Apple, Buy, Deals, Devices, massive, Sale

News

Apple Watch AFib History Feature Qualified by FDA to Evaluate Medical Devices

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date May 2, 2024
No Comments on Apple Watch AFib History Feature Qualified by FDA to Evaluate Medical Devices

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Apple’s atrial fibrillation (AFib) history feature on Apple Watch has been qualified by the FDA under its Medical Device Development Tools (MDDT) program, the first digital health technology feature of its kind to do so.

watchos 9 afib history
Since 2022, Apple Watch has supported AFib History, which allows users diagnosed with atrial fibrillation to view an estimate of how frequently their heart is in this type of irregular rhythm.

The feature analyzes pulse rate data collected by a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor to identify episodes consistent with AFib and provides the user with a retrospective estimate of AFib burden (a measure of the amount of time spent in AFib during past Apple Watch wear). Apple says the feature is intended for individuals aged 22 years or older who have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.

The AFib History feature received FDA clearance in the United States just prior to its announcement by Apple, after being validated in a clinical study. The MDDT program under which the feature was approved today is the FDA’s method of qualifying tools that medical device sponsors can choose to use in the development and evaluation of medical devices.

According to the FDA, the Atrial Fibrillation History feature is:

The first digital health technology qualified under the MDDT program, providing a non-invasive way to check estimates of atrial fibrillation (AFib) burden within clinical studies.
Designed to be used as a biomarker test to help evaluate estimates of AFib burden as a secondary effectiveness endpoint within clinical studies intended to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of cardiac ablation devices to treat.
Designed to be used throughout the clinical study, both before and after cardiac ablation devices, to monitor a study participant’s weekly estimate of AFib burden.

(Via MyHealthyApple.com.)

Tiny heat pump that relies on changing ambient temperature could be key to powering IoT devices and sensors without batteries forever — Nanoparticles are critical to the process, posit scientists

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As IoT technology progresses, the question of how to power these devices, particularly in locations where reliable electrical sources are scarce, presents a significant challenge.

Researchers at the University of Utah’s College of Engineering have pioneered a new form of battery that could help solve this dilemma. The solution, which is at the proof of concept stage, comes in the form of a pyroelectrochemical cell (PEC).

Developed by associate professors of mechanical engineering Roseanne Warren and Shad Roundy, the integrated device harvests ambient thermal energy and converts it into stored electrochemical energy. This effectively creates a supercapacitor or battery, which could be ideal for IoT and sensor applications.

Low levels of energy

The device works by charging with changes in its surrounding temperatures, whether located inside a vehicle, an aircraft, or even underneath soil in an agricultural environment.

“We’re talking very low levels of energy harvesting,” Warren said, “but the ability to have sensors that can be distributed and not need to be recharged in the field is the main advantage. We explored the basic physics of it and found that it could generate a charge with an increase in temperature or a decrease in temperature.”

Whilst solar cells can provide an alternative power source of IoT devices, the practicalities often present issues. “In a lot of environments, you run into two problems,” said Roundy. “One is that it gets dirty over time. Solar cells have to be kept clean. So in these types of applications, they get dirty and their power degrades. And then there are a lot of applications where you just don’t have sunlight available. For example, we work on soil sensors that we put just under the top surface of the soil. You’re not going to get any sunlight.”

With the use of a pyroelectric composite material made of porous polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and barium titanate nanoparticles as the separator in an electrochemical cell, the device’s electrical properties change as it’s heated or cooled. This action modifies the polarization of the pyroelectric separator. This shifting of temperatures in turn creates an electric field within the cell, moving ions around and allowing the cell to store energy.

Despite only producing up to 100 microjoules per square centimeter from a single heating/cooling cycle, this could be enough for the needs of some IoT applications.

The study, funded by the National Science Foundation, is the cover feature in the March 21 edition of the journal Energy & Environmental Science, published by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Millions of devices still connect to this dangerous malware, despite the creators ditching it years ago

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date April 26, 2024
No Comments on Millions of devices still connect to this dangerous malware, despite the creators ditching it years ago

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Millions of devices are still connected to the PlugX malware, despite its creators abandoning it months ago, experts have warned.

Cybersecurity analysts Sekoia managed to obtain the IP address associated with the malware’s command & control (C2) server, and observed connection requests over a six-month period.

During the course of the analysis, infected endpoints attempted 90,000 connection requests every day, amounting to 2.5 million connections in total. The devices were located in 170 countries, it was said. However, just 15 of them made up more than 80% of total infections, with Nigeria, India, China, Iran, Indonesia, the UK, Iraq, and the United States making up the top eight.

Still at risk

While at first it might sound like there are many infected endpoints around the world, the researchers did stress that the numbers might not be entirely precise. The malware’s C2 does not have unique identifiers, which messes with the results, as many compromised workstations can exit through the same IP address.

Furthermore, if any of the devices use a dynamic IP system, a single device can be perceived as multiple ones. Finally, many connections could be coming in through VPN services, making country-related statistics moot.

PlugX was first observed in 2008 in cyber-espionage campaigns mounted by Chinese state-sponsored threat actors, the researchers said. The targets were mostly organizations in government, defense, and technology sectors, located in Asia. The malware was capable of command execution, file download and upload, keylogging, and accessing system information. Over the years, it grew additional features, such as the ability to autonomously spread via USB drives, which makes containment today almost impossible. The list of targets also expanded towards the West.

However, after the source code leaked in 2015, PlugX became more of a “common” malware, with many different groups, both state-sponsored and financially-motivated, using it, which is probably why the original developers abandoned it.

Via BleepingComputer

EU Right to Repair Rules Force Companies to Fix Out-of-Warranty Devices

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date April 24, 2024
No Comments on EU Right to Repair Rules Force Companies to Fix Out-of-Warranty Devices

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The European Commission has waved through new ‘right to repair’ legislation that aims to make it easier for consumers to get their broken devices fixed, even if products are out of warranty.

European Commisssion
The EU already requires companies to offer a two-year minimum warranty on common household appliances and electronics, such as smartphones, TVs, washing machines, and vacuum cleaners, but the new rules impose additional requirements.

According to the legislation, if a consumer chooses to have their device repaired under warranty, the warranty must be extended by a year. Consumers may also borrow a device while theirs is being repaired, and if it cannot be fixed, they have the right to opt for a refurbished unit as an alternative.

When a product’s warranty expires, companies are still required to repair devices at a “reasonable price,” so as not to intentionally discourage consumers from repairing them. Manufacturers will also be prohibited from using “hardware or software related barriers to repair,” including preventing the use of second-hand, compatible, and 3D-printed spare parts by independent repairers as long as they conform to EU laws.

Additionally, manufacturers will be unable to refuse to repair a product solely for economic reasons or because it was previously repaired by someone else. Companies will be required to publish information about their repair services, including indicative prices of the most common repairs.

“Consumers’ right to repair products will now become a reality,” said EC rapporteur René Repasi. “It will be easier and cheaper to repair instead of purchase new, expensive items. This is a significant achievement for Parliament and its commitment to empower consumers in the fight against climate change. The new legislation extends legal guarantees by 12 months when opting for repair, gives better access to spare parts and ensures easier, cheaper and faster repair.”

The legislation will come into effect after formal approval by the Council, with the directive set to activate 20 days after its publication.

Europe’s Right to Repair group welcomed the legislation, calling it “a step in the right direction,” but said “the scope of products covered remains very narrow,” and would introduce loopholes. The coalition noted that the rules only cover consumer products, and not anything purchased by businesses or industrial goods. It also criticized the lack of guidance on what constituted a “reasonable price” for spare parts.

Apple is likely to be impacted by the legislation, especially with regard to its controversial “parts pairing” requirement that prevents third-party replacements of certain device components. Currently, if an iPhone part is replaced with a like-for-like replacement by an unofficial third party, it may not be recognised by the iPhone’s system software. The wording of the new EU rules suggests this will no longer be allowed.

Meanwhile in the U.S., more than two-dozen states are working on individual right-to-repair legislation. California’s Right to Repair Act will become law this July, requiring manufacturers to make repair materials available for all electronics and appliances that cost $50 or more.

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Tags companies, Devices, fix, Force, OutofWarranty, Repair, rules

Business Industry

How to use navigation gestures with the S Pen on Galaxy devices

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date April 24, 2024
No Comments on How to use navigation gestures with the S Pen on Galaxy devices

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Gesture navigation has been a thing on smartphones for some time now. More and more users are switching from the traditional navigation buttons to gestures on Android smartphones, including those made by Samsung.

However, on Samsung smartphones and tablets that come with an S Pen, navigation gestures can become an issue when the S Pen is used to draw or write near the edges of the display. This is particularly applicable to Android’s stock navigation gestures, which include swiping in from the left and right edge of the screen to go back.

Samsung addressed the problem a few years back by introducing an option to disable the use of navigation gestures with the stylus. That option is useful, but it can come into conflict with some of the new software features that are found on modern Galaxy smartphones and tablets today.

Circle to Search is one example of such software features. The Google-powered AI feature is available on select Galaxy devices running One UI 6.1 and is accessed by long pressing the home button or, in case you are using gesture navigation, by long pressing the bottom edge of the screen.

Out of the box, modern Galaxy smartphones come with the option to use the S Pen for navigation gestures disabled. For most users, this is actually a good thing, but what if you want the gestures to be enabled for both finger/touch and stylus input?

Here’s how to enable navigation gestures with S Pen

To make navigation gestures work with the S Pen, follow the steps below.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your device.

Step 2: Go into the Display menu.

Step 3: Select Navigation bar.

Step 4: Tap the Swipe gestures option if gestures aren’t already enabled, then tap the More options button.

Step 5: Here, disable the Block gestures with S Pen option.

On some older devices, especially those running Android 13 or earlier versions of the operating system, the Block gestures with S Pen option may be located in the Settings » Display » Navigation bar menu.

Samsung gestures may be better suited for the S Pen

Samsung smartphones and tablets launched before 2024 came with both Android’s stock navigation gestures and Samsung’s own solution. The latter is more suitable if you wish to have gestures enabled when using the S Pen.

Samsung’s gestures require you to swipe up from the bottom of the screen whether you wish to go to the home screen, access the recent apps screen, or go back. The back gesture in Android’s gesture system, on the other hand, requires swiping in from the left or right side of the display.

To switch between Android and Samsung’s gestures, open your device’s Settings app, go into the Display menu, select Navigation bar, tap Swipe gestures, and hit the More options button. Here, select Swipe from bottom for Samsung’s gestures or Swipe from sides and bottom for Android’s gestures.

If your device is running One UI 6.1, you will not have Samsung’s gestures as an option in the navigation bar settings. But you can change that by following our easy guide here.

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Tags Devices, Galaxy, Gestures, navigation, Pen

Featured

Rugged devices are becoming an increasingly popular business choice

Post author By lisa nichols
Post date April 23, 2024
No Comments on Rugged devices are becoming an increasingly popular business choice

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Businesses are looking to invest more in rugged devices as they seek to get more for their money, new research has found.

The Getac-commissioned IDC InfoBrief found that rugged devices can lower the total cost of ownership while helping companies meet their ESG goals.

The figures come from 990 IT decision-makers from different industries globally and reveal an anticipated increase in spending on the emerging category of hardware.

Companies are preparing to spend more on rugged devices

Getac revealed that buying rugged tablets and rugged smartphones can reduce the total cost of ownership by 10-20%, with rugged laptops and PCs presenting a higher 20-30% saving.

Two in five (43%) also said that rugged devices with advanced sensors and connectivity capabilities helped them gather operations data, which in turn helped them make better-informed decisions about energy consumption and waste reduction.

Paul Waddilove, UK & Nordics MD for Getac, commented: “These survey results show rugged devices are playing a transformative role in industrial operations by improving TCO and productivity and driving sustainability.”

Currently, one in five (21%) are spending 20% of their budget on rugged devices, however half (49%) plan to increase spending in this category within the next 12-18 months.

Organizations claim to have improved worker productivity, reduced equipment failure and enhanced communication and collaboration among employees with rugged devices.

Waddilove added: “Organisations across Europe are increasingly realising the operational benefits that rugged technology offers, from improved worker productivity and field communication to better data collection and more informed decision making in challenging work environments.”

Mre generally, recent statistics from IDC and Canalys have indicated a resurgence in the PC market, with shipments reaching or exceeding pre-pandemic levels imminently.

Elgato Neo devices arrive to make video calls and streaming easy

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date April 18, 2024
No Comments on Elgato Neo devices arrive to make video calls and streaming easy

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The new Elgato Neo range of devices — condenser microphone, webcam, LED key light, capture card and stream deck — simplifies video calls, content creation and video streaming for newbies, the company said Thursday. The gear also looks good doing it, with a unified white design across all five devices.

All the Neo products are compatible with iPad, making them an excellent choice for creators who use their tablets for content creation.

This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.

Elgato Neo devices: Microphone, webcam, key light, capture card and stream deck

Elgato intends the new Neo lineup to augment and simplify live streaming and video calls. The five products are simpler versions of gear Elgato already makes, having captured a good chunk of the creator and gaming markets. Now, apparently, it wants everyone else — like anyone who might hop on a conference call.

An earlier move in that direction came when Elgato put out an affordable teleprompter that virtually anyone can use. And its Facecam and Stream Deck are also popular for good reason.

These affordable products are designed to be plug-and-play, making them easy to set up and use. The devices also feature compact designs that make them portable and easy to use in smaller spaces or on the go.

Check out the lineup of more accessible, user-friendly gear, below.

All five new Elgato Neo devices appear in this computer-setup shot.
Photo: Elgato

Stream Deck Neo

Stream Deck Neo, priced at $99.99, makes for a highlight of the Neo lineup. Like the company’s line of Stream Decks, the device operates as a command center. It features eight LCD keys you can program to automate various tasks, such as adjusting lights or joining video calls. Stream Deck Neo also features a display that functions as a digital clock, making it a versatile tool for streamers and professionals alike.

Where to buy: Elgato

Facecam Neo

Facecam Neo, priced at $99.99, is a high-quality webcam that supports 1080p video at 60fps, ensuring clear images. It comes with an integrated privacy shutter. You can easily mount the camera on top of a monitor or laptop. But it’s not out quite yet, though you can get notified about the release date on Elgato’s website.

Where to preorder/get notification: Elgato

Wave Neo

Wave Neo, priced at $89.99, is a condenser microphone that offers high-quality audio capture with reduced background noise. It features a tap-to-mute function and is designed to integrate seamlessly with Elgato’s advanced Wave Link app.

Where to buy: Amazon or Elgato

Key Light Neo

Key Light Neo, priced at $89.99, is a compact LED light that pairs perfectly with a webcam. It offers adjustable settings to enhance visual presentations and can be mounted on top of a laptop or monitor, freeing up desk space.

Where to buy: Elgato

Game Capture Neo

Game Capture Neo, priced at $119.99, is a capture card designed for high-quality game streaming. It supports capture at up to 1080p 60fps, making it ideal for Twitch or YouTube streaming.

Where to buy: Amazon or Elgato

AI lurks under the hood, of course

In addition to user-friendly design and high-quality performance, the Neo products also feature artificial intelligence. For instance, the new Stream Deck Neo works with an SDK that allows app developers to create profiles for controlling their apps. This makes it possible for the Stream Deck Neo to work with a wide range of applications, providing a versatile tool for streamers and professionals alike.

You can buy all Neo devices now except for Facecam Neo, which comes out in the coming weeks, Elgato said.

Source: Elgato

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Tags arrive, Calls, Devices, Easy, Elgato, NEO, streaming, video

News

Apple Promotes Recycling Your Devices ‘For Free’ Ahead of Earth Day

Post author By miranda cosgrove
Post date April 17, 2024
No Comments on Apple Promotes Recycling Your Devices ‘For Free’ Ahead of Earth Day

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Ahead of Earth Day on April 22, Apple has added a banner to its website that reminds customers they can recycle their Apple devices “for free” with the company’s recycling partners. The process can be initiated on Apple’s trade-in page in many countries, with customers able to submit a form to receive a prepaid shipping label for their devices.

Apple Recycling iPhones
“We’ll recycle your Apple devices, cables, cases, accessories, and other similar electronics for free,” says Apple. “You’ll help protect the earth’s precious resources and reduce waste as we work toward a better future for the planet.”

On a related note, Apple today shared a new “Recycling Robots” video on its YouTube channel in the U.K. that says Apple’s recycling robots are now able to recover recyclable materials from a total of 23 different iPhone models.

“Our custom recycling robot Daisy can disassemble 23 different iPhone models to recover crucial materials like gold and rare earth elements,” says Apple. “Robot Dave extracts tungsten from Taptic Engines, while robot Taz takes care of audio modules. Together, they’re leading the way in recovering recycled materials for the next generation of products.”

Apple will likely release its 2024 Environmental Progress Report soon, and share other Earth Day announcements over the coming days.

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Matter 1.3 brings support for ten new device types, energy management, and scenes

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Huge Apple sale at Amazon: today’s 7 best deals

Popular Stories

Here’s how to enable navigation gestures with S Pen

Samsung gestures may be better suited for the S Pen

Elgato Neo devices: Microphone, webcam, key light, capture card and stream deck

Stream Deck Neo

Facecam Neo

Wave Neo

Key Light Neo

Game Capture Neo

AI lurks under the hood, of course

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