The strip lights in the hypermarket know where you are, and can tell you where to go. The new technology being trailed by French retailer Carrefour tracks your movements and beams data to your smartphone via light pulses undetectable to the eye, to guide you to the right shelves for tailored special offers. It is the latest attempt to combine the online and real-world shopping experience, regarded as the holy grail for the industry at the moment. As part of a new loyalty scheme launched last month, for example, Britain's Marks and Spencer is sending promotional text messages to shoppers …

Even if you’re not necessarily aware of it all the time, wireless signals are zooming around you every minute of every day. Though WiFi and cell signals have been in heavy use for a long time, most common applications of Bluetooth aren’t nearly as well-known. Bluetooth is much better than WiFi for short-range (less than 30 feet) communication, because it operates at a much lower power. Today, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) released its 2016 roadmap. Many of these improvements relate to the Internet of Things (IoT), with a focus on bettering range, speeds, and networking. These will particularly …

Bluetooth and iOS devices are being deployed across parts of London's rail network operated MTR Crossrail to help inform and track staff in areas GPS cannot reach. MTR Crossrail has been contracted by Transport for London (TfL) to provide services for the Crossrail parts of the capital's underground railway system, due to go into full operation in 2019. Mark Daniels, head of IT at MTR Crossrail, said the company needs to know where its staff are on the network to ensure they get the latest information on schedules, services and maintenance tasks. "As part of TfL guidance terms we need …

The terms “field to fork” or “farm to table” are often used to describe the movement to track all stages of food production: from local food harvesting to storage, processing, packaging, and ultimately, consumption. Now, with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), there’s an even greater emphasis on food quality and safety. Leave it to a company established in 1877 to be on the forefront of this food safety movement, leveraging the latest technology trend—the Internet of Things (IoT). Barilla Group, the Italian company known for its Barilla brand pastas and sauces and which has 30 …

Google says cellular support is coming to Android Wear. “Cue in Oooohs and Aaaaahs and gasps of jubilant shock,” Android Police half-jokes. “Having already heard about the LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition LTE through its teaser video back in September, it was pretty much a given that Wear watches were about to learn a new trick and cut their umbilical cord tether to their phones.”

The Pit Row at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, home to the only Formula 1 championship race in the U.S., is packed with fans. Some people clutch their ponchos and wince as gusts whip along the asphalt. Others snap photos of themselves with the cars and hope for a glimpse of their favorite driver. When one finally makes an appearance, a scrum surrounds him, asking for autographs and selfies. The vehicles are momentarily forgotten. But these machines, each valued at more than $9 million (a steering wheel alone is worth $77,000 or so) are more than just …

With the rise of ubiquitous computing and the burgeoning Internet of things(IoT), the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has announced some big changes for Bluetooth to help support the growing demand for connectivity. The Bluetooth SIG is a membership-based organization that manages and develops Bluetooth standards. While there are different levels of membership, the seven core “Promoter” members consist of Ericsson, Apple, Intel, Nokia, Microsoft, Lenovo, and Toshiba

Amazon.com just picked up an improved rival in the burgeoning home shopping button market, which it provided mainstream attention with the launch of its Dash remote ordering device earlier this year. San Jose-based technology vendor Hiku just launched version 2 of its eponymous shopping button tool. Ironically, Hiku actually released version 1 of the button shortly before Amazon launched its Dash button, but was overshadowed. In the months since, Hiku has quietly built up a new version that will let consumers place remote grocery orders with Walmart and the Peapod grocery delivery service as of Wednesday, Nov. 19. The device will cost $49, and …

TV makers are constantly crowing about the tricks their smart TVs can do. But one of the most popular brands has a feature that it’s not advertising: Vizio’s Smart TVs track your viewing habits and share it with advertisers, who can then find you on your phone and other devices. The tracking — which Vizio calls “Smart Interactivity” — is turned on by default for the more than 10 million Smart TVs that the company has sold. Customers who want to escape it have to opt-out. In a statement, Vizio said customers’ “non-personal identifiable information may be shared with select partners …

LVMH's Tag Heuer became on Monday the first Swiss watchmaker to offer a "smartwatch" to customers that combines Swiss design with U.S. technology, seeking to tap a growing market for wearable devices amid flagging sales of traditional watches. Co-developed with Google and Intel, the "Tag Heuer Connected" will cost $1,500. One thousand units are immediately available in 15 stores across the United States, with Britain, Germany, and Japan following in the coming days. With its titanium casing, black rubber strap and digital watch hands, it is designed to look like a classical watch. But Connected houses an Intel Atom processor …