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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) by BasilBrush on Tuesday October 07 2014, @06:26PM
If my dehumidifier fragmented, would I know or care?
Don't confuse it with the question of whether networking is useful for a given category of device. If a device can be usefully networked, then it's an advantage if it's compatible with other networkable devices. Fragmentation is a pain in the arse.
If it's not work networking, then OS is irrelevant. Does you humidifier even contain a CPU? Mine doesn't.
Hurrah! Quoting works now!
(Score: 2) by VLM on Tuesday October 07 2014, @06:55PM
"Does you humidifier even contain a CPU? Mine doesn't."
Mine unfortunately does to run the touch screen. I bought the wrong model. If I had purchased the "dumb" one for about $5 less then I could switch the physical controls on, then plug the works into an appliance module and control it via my Misterhouse automation system. So not noisy running while I'm asleep but on every day while I'm at work and auto-on-off depending on my presence or lack there of in the basement (based on light switch) With some hysteresis so its not toggling on/off for no reason when I'm just getting laundry.
Thats the other extreme, where a dumb appliance is paradoxically easier to control than a smart appliance.
The Chinese value engineers are falling down on the job, this thing is like 10 years old and hasn't self destructed yet, they're leaving a lot of profit on the table. I'm sure new model ones only last 2 years now. Eventually I'll replace it with a really dumb dehumidifier and I'll automate it.