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from the next-up-are-mcot-msofa-and-mrecliner dept.
Reported last week at the BBC, CNet and IEEE Spectrum is the news that ARM is launching a new OS targeting low power, low footprint devices.
The operating system, called mbed OS, is meant to resolve productivity problems that arise from fragmentation—where different devices in the so-called “Internet of things” (IoT) market run on a hodgepodge of different protocols. ARM is looking to consolidate those devices under a single software layer that's simple, secure, and free for all manufacturers to use.
(Although the IEEE article reports that "this is the first operating system ARM has ever developed", that slightly glosses over the history of RiscOS by Acorn, of which ARM was a subsidiary.)
The software comes as a free "mbed OS" and a licensable "Device server". Although parts of the OS will be open source:
ARM says it wants to retain control of other parts to ensure mbed remains unfragmented
More technical details at the mbed developer site. One oddity is the Online Toolchain, which provides the device IDE and version control online.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Rosco P. Coltrane on Tuesday October 07 2014, @04:32PM
Things on the internet don't "run on a hodgepodge of different protocols" (whatever that means). They use IP, and HTTP on top of it, and whatever other documented protocols already exist.
This sounds like a ploy to profit from the Internet of Things buzz.
Oh and by the way, Things on the Internet of Things are not really needed or desirable, but advertisers, data miners and state agencies who wet their pants at the idea of 24/7 consented-to, invisible surveillance by a myriad of snitch devices really, really love the idea. Just sayin'...
(Score: 2) by Blackmoore on Tuesday October 07 2014, @05:46PM
well it is cashing in - but it looks like this is attempting to solve the issue with hardware differentiation - say between one set of Arm chips and the next.
as it stands right now you basically have to encode specifically for the device; and when those chips change; or you move to the next iteration of the chip you have to go back and change the code to work again. it's a right PIA.
so - lets see what developers do with this.
(Score: 2) by BasilBrush on Tuesday October 07 2014, @05:49PM
This sounds like a ploy to profit from the Internet of Things buzz.
It's free of charge. And as ARM is already the leader in embedded processors they don't need any ploys to get them into the market. This is simply about making reliable interoperability for their customers. For sure having a better overall product will improve their sales. But it's hardly something to criticise any company for. It's the very best way of companies making more money.
Oh and by the way, Things on the Internet of Things are not really needed or desirable
That's like someone in the 1980s saying the internet is not really needed or desirable. It's simply because you can't yet imagine all the great things that are enabled when objects can interact with each other. For sure the internet was also good for "advertisers, data miners and state agencies" - but that doesn't mean we'd want to be without the internet and all it's benefits.
Hurrah! Quoting works now!
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Tuesday October 07 2014, @05:56PM
Internet of things is nice if done the right way and with restraint (my fork doesn't need it..). Now it's the case with many devices coming with an umbilical cord that can be yanked at will and will be used to spy on you. The hardware is useless to modify to ones need or to recycle in a meaningful way because it's all glued up and undocumented on purpose or just had the never clear bit set.
(Score: 2) by BasilBrush on Tuesday October 07 2014, @06:42PM
Now it's the case with many devices coming with an umbilical cord that can be yanked at will and will be used to spy on you.
Note that the well known recent story on this was the LG smart TV that was spying on it's users. Note that it is using an open source OS - WebOS with is Linux based. That neither stopped it being used for spying, nor enabled discovery (it was found via packet sniffing, not source examination), nor did it let the user eliminate the spying - other than by publicising it in the hope of shaming LG into changing.
This idea that an open source OS keeps you safe from spying is just wrong on every level.
Hurrah! Quoting works now!
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Tuesday October 07 2014, @08:11PM
Open source won't keep you safe. It will enable you to take action. But if don't do anything you will be at the mercy of others.
(Score: 2) by LoRdTAW on Tuesday October 07 2014, @05:59PM
The hodgepodge of protocols is referring to the high level control protocols that the device listens for or responds to. They will use HTTP or TCP/UDP but you still have to stuff those packets with something that actually tells the device what to do. The problem arises when you have 100 different money hungry, IoT buzzword pimping companies rolling out 100 different devices that speak 100 different protocols. And this is where IoT falls flat on its face. I dont trust it because every vendor will try to herd people into yet another walled garden complete with spyware added. *BUT* I am not saying networked devices is a bad idea. I can bring about a lot of convenience.
Turning a light bulb on and off over the internet sounds simple but how do you ensure 100 other manufactures speak the same protocol? If I wanted to control the lights in my home from the internet I should have the freedom to mix and use devices from ABC-Tech and XYZ-Pro. They should speak the same turn-stuff-on-and-off protocol so I can choose an IoT management app of MY CHOICE! I should not be forced to use ABC-Tech's app and server which will never have its security nightmare of a uPnP hole poking firmware blob upgraded to control their gadget. And then we have XYZ-Pro who won't release their protocol and uses the DMCA against the hacking community's reverse engineering attempts to squash free open source 3rd party control software. Or BigCorp gadgets which must be controlled through their proprietary cloud app that is vulnerable to the latest zero day because their admins are incompetent, under funded or apathetic. This will inevitably happen.
If the IoT buzzfest wants to succeed they all have to speak the same control protocol OR release the protocol to the public without NDA or any strings attached. PERIOD. And better yet, dont make interface software for your device. Let someone else do it. All you have to worry about is that your toaster speaks the right protocol to tell a server that my toast is ready. And that server can be open source running under linux or BSD, hardened and using strong encryption, like ssh or https to ensure no one hacks my house. Otherwise I have a slew of apps that can't talk to each other and worse yet, can't feed data to logging software for metrics. Lets not forget they may be vulnerable to hacking but the company stopped giving a damn about a 5 year old washer to care about patches.
I want a single app that controls, polls and listens to everything. Then let it log data and perhaps even run cron-like jobs so I can program my lights to turn on while I am on vacation. Maybe I also tie that to a power monitoring system that watches my usage and sends a message to my phone when I exceed a load limit or burn too many kW/hrs so I can open the same app and shut some things off or check to see where the juice is going. e.g. Phone: beep - Power draw is 680W, exceeding 600W limit. Me:Damn, left the kitchen lights on again, click, okay they're off now. I want this. But I know it wont work the way I want unless I build it myself which I don't have time for.
This isn't rocket science. It is very doable but getting all the money hungry idiots running these companies to cooperate is akin to establishing permanent peace in the middle east.