Mobile Magazine » bluetooth 4.0 http://www.mobilemag.com Gadgets, Smartphones, Android Tablets, iPhone, iPad and all the latest tech you'd expect. Sat, 18 May 2013 02:58:22 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 tōd: The Bluetooth 4.0 Beacon That Lets You Connect To The World Around You (Video) http://www.mobilemag.com/2012/05/04/tod-the-bluetooth-4-0-beacon-that-lets-you-connect-to-the-world-around-you-video/ http://www.mobilemag.com/2012/05/04/tod-the-bluetooth-4-0-beacon-that-lets-you-connect-to-the-world-around-you-video/#comments Sat, 05 May 2012 00:51:43 +0000 Leo Xavier http://www.mobilemag.com/?p=133136 What you see above is the tōd (pronounced "toad"): a tiny Bluetooth 4.0 beacon that will let you know whether or not it is in range of your mobile device. You might not have realized it, but we are pretty sure that you will find a lot of uses for this new accessory.

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What you see above is the tōd (pronounced “toad”): a tiny Bluetooth 4.0 beacon that will let you know whether or not it is in range of your mobile device. You might not have realized it, but we are pretty sure that you will find a lot of uses for this new accessory.

You can place tōd anywhere or on anyone and your mobile device will know whether the beacon is in range or not. There are dozens of uses for this new product. Place this thing on your pet or child and you will know if they move too far away from you. If there’s tōd in the car, you will enter car mode when in the vehicle, or a beacon at your office will let your device know that you have reached there. Your device will alert you if the beacon on your teenager is not in range by the scheduled time. When connected to the web, you can even connect to beacons other than your own.

Of course there are similar sensors out there, but tōd appears to be better as it uses Bluetooth 4.0 that features low energy consumption. And also the beacon is cheap and can run on a single coin-cell battery for years. And it has a range of up to 500ft.

But Bluetooth 4.0 means that tōd is only compatible with devices such as the iPhone 4S, the new iPad, the Droid Razr and a very few other devices. But more devices will certainly arrive in the future.

Its makers, Rowdy Robot, need your help at the moment to enter production. It is a Kickstarter project and you can help them meet their $50,000 target if you want to have the device. Check out the video to know more about tōd.

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]]> http://www.mobilemag.com/2012/05/04/tod-the-bluetooth-4-0-beacon-that-lets-you-connect-to-the-world-around-you-video/feed/ 1 iPhone 4s will feature low-energy Bluetooth 4.0 http://www.mobilemag.com/2011/10/06/iphone-4s-will-feature-low-energy-bluetooth-4-0/ http://www.mobilemag.com/2011/10/06/iphone-4s-will-feature-low-energy-bluetooth-4-0/#comments Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:40:57 +0000 Andrew Patel http://www.mobilemag.com/?p=122074 One important thing about the iPhone 4s announcement that widely went missed, was that it will be the first Bluetooth 4.0 handset period.

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]]> One important thing about the iPhone 4s announcement that widely went missed, was that it will be the first Bluetooth 4.0 handset period.

As the newest version of the wireless communication technology, Bluetooth 4.0 is a low-energy technology. With this 4.0, devices like the iPhone 4s that constantly transfer data back and forth to other wireless devices can benefit from it. In addition, you will no longer have to worry as much about draining your battery from using Bluetooth. Devices like hands-free communications and wireless headsets for music will also benefit from the Bluetooth 4.0’s low-energy technology.

It will take some time before it is widely adopted, but when it is, we’ll be looking forward to it.

[CNET via Apple]

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]]> http://www.mobilemag.com/2011/10/06/iphone-4s-will-feature-low-energy-bluetooth-4-0/feed/ 0 Casio prototype Bluetooth watch pushes phone information onto your wrist http://www.mobilemag.com/2011/01/06/casio-prototype-bluetooth-watch-pushes-phone-information-onto-your-wrist/ http://www.mobilemag.com/2011/01/06/casio-prototype-bluetooth-watch-pushes-phone-information-onto-your-wrist/#comments Thu, 06 Jan 2011 18:43:04 +0000 Andrew Anderson http://www.mobilemag.com/?p=112096 So we’ve seen a few attempts to meld cell phones and watches in recent years and usually the result is expensive, clunky and never really takes off. But engineers at Casio are taking the iterative approach with a new prototype.

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]]> So we’ve seen a few attempts to meld cell phones and watches in recent years and usually the result is expensive, clunky and never really takes off. But engineers at Casio are taking the iterative approach with a new prototype.

Rather than try and smash the two together, their new prototype pulls a few bits of information from your smartphone and puts them on your wrist. Bluetooth technology weds alarm information from your phone and can notify you of email alerts. And we really like the feature that lets you press a button to stop your phone from ringing. It also syncs up with your phone to set the date and time which is kind of cool.

The technology on the backend is the new Bluetooth Low energy standard (aka Bluetooth 4.0) which thanks to its low energy demands provides a reported battery life of two years! On the downside it won’t work with existing smartphones as none of them have the new hardware required to support this standard.

So while we think some of these features are kind of cool and we’re thankful that Casio didn’t try and ram a watch-based twitter app down our throat it should be noted that it’s just as rude to check your watch in the middle of a meeting as it is to check your phone when an email comes in.


CASIO DEVELOPS WATCH THAT COMMUNICATES WITH SMARTPHONES VIA BLUETOOTH® LOW ENERGY LINK

Prototype Features the Latest Wireless Technology with Very Low Power Consumption

LAS VEGAS, JANUARY 5, 2011 — Casio Computer Co., Ltd., announced today that it has developed a watch using Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) technology, the new low-power-consumption version of the short-range wireless networking standard*. A prototype of the watch, sharing a two-way data link with a smartphone, will be exhibited at Casio’s booth (#11006) at the International Consumer Electronics Show to be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center from January 6-9, 2011.

Casio has been redefining the wristwatch for years by applying the latest technologies. Now, Casio’s application of BLE positions the company to create new possibilities for the way people use their watches. Taking advantage of the low power consumption of BLE, the new watch powers wireless communication functions with a single, ordinary button-cell battery, and without consuming any more battery life than a conventional wristwatch. Users can wear it every day just like they normally do, without the hassle of recharging which is required by typical mobile devices. Battery life is estimated at approximately two years based on the prototype model, assuming that the Bluetooth wireless communication function is used for 12 hours per day.

Casio’s new prototype communicates with BLE-equipped smartphones, which will be available in the near future and will connect to networks of various kinds of devices. As the wireless link between smartphones and watches gains in adoption, and as the universe of smartphone applications continues to grow, Casio expects to see new possibilities for watches in everyday life.

Casio aims to produce its first Bluetooth Low Energy Watch in 2011. Meanwhile, Casio will call for partner companies to develop applications compatible with smartphones and other household devices in such areas as sports, health, home entertainment, security, and communication with family and friends.

Overview of Casio’s Prototype Bluetooth Low Energy Watch
Main features:

Wireless communication is powered by the button-cell battery used in small devices and watches
Battery life with the communication functions is the same as previously released watches
The watch case measures a comfortable 53.4 (D) x 44.4 (W) x 12.8 (T) millimeters
Main functions:

The alert signal notifies the wearer of calls and e-mail messages arriving on the networked smartphone
Alarm and vibration functions of a smartphone can be activated using a watch button
A smartphone’s ring and vibration alerts can be stopped by tapping the watch
Accurate time information can be transmitted from a smartphone to the watch to ensure correct time
Casio’s demonstration of the Bluetooth Low Energy Watch uses a prototype of a Bluetooth Low Energy smartphone. The demonstration will be conducted at Casio’s Booth (#11006) at 2011 International CES, in cooperation with NEC Casio Mobile Communications.

Main Specifications of the Prototype Bluetooth Low Energy Watch

Communication Specifications Data Transfer Rate 1 Mbps
Signal Strength 0 dBm (1mW)
Signal Range 2–5 m (may differ depending on surrounding conditions)
Encryption Method 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)
Communication Functions Time Correction The watch can be synchronized with time information transmitted from a smartphone
Incoming Call and E-mail Alert The watch alerts users of incoming calls and e-mail messages sent to a smartphone
Finder Function Alarm and vibration functions of a smartphone can be activated using a watch button
Watch Functions Alarm 5 independent daily alarms; hourly time signal; vibration function
Stopwatch 1/100-second; measuring capacity: 23:59’59.99”; split time
Countdown Timer Measuring unit: 1 second; Input range: 1 minute to 24 hours
World Time 100 cities (35 time zones, daylight saving on/off) and Coordinated Universal Time
Light Electro-luminescent backlight with afterglow
Other Full auto-calendar, 12/24-hour format; sleep mode
Power Source CR2032
Approx. Battery Life
(Based on the Prototype Model)		 Approx. 2 years (assuming the communication function is used for 12 hours per day)
Size of Case 53.4 x 44.4 x 12.8 mm
Total Weight Approx. 50g

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About Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
Casio Computer Co., Ltd. is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of consumer electronics products and business equipment solutions. Since its establishment in 1957, Casio has strived to realize its corporate creed of “creativity and contribution” through the introduction of innovative and imaginative products. Today, Casio’s offerings include timepieces, digital cameras, electronic dictionaries, calculators, musical instruments, system equipment, and electronic components such as LCDs. The Casio Group employs more than 12,000 people worldwide, shipping over 100 million products per year, with net sales of 427 billion yen (approx US $4,601 million) in the fiscal year ended March 2010. News and product information from Casio is available at http://world.casio.com/

About NEC CASIO Mobile Communications, Ltd.
NEC CASIO Mobile Communications provides innovative mobile handsets for major wireless providers in Japan and the U.S.A. The company was established in 2010 after spinning off from NEC Corporation’s mobile handset business. Later that year, it merged with Casio Hitachi Mobile Communications Co., Ltd. a joint venture between Casio Computer Co., Ltd., and Hitachi, Ltd. NEC CASIO Mobile Communications aims to build an enriched communication linked society utilizing mobile handset solutions crafted from imagination and creativity. For more information, go to http://www.nec-casio-mobile.com/

Bluetooth is a registered trademark of the Bluetooth SIG, Inc., U.S.A. Other company and product names are generally trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

[Gizmodo, Akihabara via Casio]

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