networking

Check Point Software Technologies researchers have uncovered a vulnerability in millions of Small office/home office (SOHO) routers which they said has been around since 2002.  The Vulnerability Research Group detected approximately 12 million devices in 189 countries and said the vulnerability exists on many different models and makes from different manufactures, making this one of the most widespread vulnerabilities revealed in recent years.

Depending on the smart appliance you buy you are also making a decision on what communication protocol you want to use.  With the growth in the Internet of Things (IoT) it is even more important because we want all of the devices in our homes to be able to communicate with each other securely.  This is on the backdrop that there are many protocols for the home at the moment.  To add to the complexity or to simplify things a new protocol 'Thread' has been introduced.

NETGEAR's AirCard 785 4G LTE mobile hotspot has been named a 2015 CES Innovation Honoree in the Smart Home category.  The device is the world’s first “unlocked” 4G LTE mobile hotspot with simultaneous dual-band WiFi coverage. For homes that have no or limited fixed broadband connection, the AirCard 785 can be and ideal solution, offering 4G broadband connection.  Its unlocked state mean it is not automatically tied to a service provider's service plan.

The last time I checked Zigbee was up to ten standards, all based on different solutions or sector depending on the use of the product.  Neighborhood Area Network (NAN) was the last one I heard about.  with some standards and the possible that one manufactore might might manufacture for different makrets can mean a lot of work.  The ZigBee Alliance has seen this and has unified all its wireless standards under one standard called ZigBee 3.0.

Zonoff, creators of the Zonoff Connected Home Software Platform, today announced the completion of a Series B investment of $31.8 million USD. The round was a mixture of strategic and venture investment, including current Zonoff investors Grotech Ventures and Valhalla Partners. The close of this Series B round of funding brings Zonoff's total funding to $35.6 million.

D-Link Canada has launched a new line of high-performance home networking devices with the Wireless AC3200 Tri-Band Gigabit Router (DIR-890L). Packed with advanced features, the DIR-890L router was designed to keep both the latest and legacy Wi-Fi devices running at peak performance.  It combines Tri-Band wireless connectivity with SmartConnect technology to distribute Wi-Fi traffic over three Wi-Fi radios giving you improved performance and reliability.  For those who have suffered from Wi-Fi weak spots or dead zones in the home.  The Wireless AC3200 Tri-Band Gigabit Router features Advanced AC SmartBeam technology which tracks your connected devices and focuses signals towards them for superior Wi-Fi speed and coverage inside and around the largest of homes.

TRENDnet this week announced the availability of its Home Smart Switch with Wireless Extender (THA-101), the device offers a combination of smart electrical outlet and powerful N300 wireless extension capability. You can plug in a light lamp, fan or appliance into the electrical outlet on the front of the THA-101 then use the TRENDnet's free Apple or Android mobile app to turn the outlet on/off from a mobile device with an Internet connection.

Novabase and Entropic have created a new home gateway, which they said is unlike any other device on the market today. They have collaborated to develop a SAT-IP gateway with home automation features.  The solution is part of an industry initiative to allow satellite broadcasting to IP base devices.

Other SAT-IP solution are available; however the new home gateway according to Novabase and Entropic, is the industry's first to integrate home automation, SAT-IP in a power plug form factor.

Sony is making it easier to integrate its home entertainment systems with the Control4 home automation solution.  They have adapted the Control4's Simple Device Discovery Protocol (SDDP) technology as part of its W and X series 2014 TVs.  The integration makes it easier for installer to setup Sony's HD and 4K ultra HDTVs as part of a Control4 home automation solution.

Developers of Twonky based solutions now have the option to integrate their services with the cloud. According to PacketVideo version 8 has a "cloud-enabled architecture that ensures optimal speed and flexibility". With the increaseing need for flexibility and connectivity PacketVideo said they want to accelerate the provivision of cloud services by service providers and manufacturers to their customers.