2015/9/1 2:35:50
Source: web
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The Bluetooth 4.2 standard was announced
back in December,
but it's back in the news with the launch of the Samsung Galaxy
Note 5 and Samsung Galaxy
S6 Edge+.
That's because these two high-end
phablets are the first smartphones to include Bluetooth 4.2.
So what exactly is Bluetooth 4.2? Well,
according to the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, "Bluetooth 4.2 makes
Bluetooth Smart even smarter, faster and the ideal wireless technology for the
Internet of Things."
But what exactly does all that mean?
Bluetooth 4.2 enables devices to connect
directly to the internet over a Bluetooth connection through IPv6/6LoWPAN. It
needs no got-between device.
This instantly makes Bluetooth a far
more useful connection standard in the so-called Internet of Things (IoT).
Essentially, it means that
Bluetooth-equipped devices can communicate directly and quickly with one
another. That includes smart home devices such as lights, locks, thermostats,
and any other household appliance that offers remote control over an internet
connection.
With Bluetooth 4.2, the standard can
essentially become the very foundation for the fledgling Internet of Things.
Faster and more stable
Bluetooth 4.2 also improves the data
transfer speeds over Bluetooth connections by as much as two-and-a-half times,
while packet size has increased by ten times. This will lead to significantly
faster and more stable firmware updates for Bluetooth Smart devices.
It should also be noted that Bluetooth
4.2 doesn't replace Bluetooth 4.0 (or indeed 4.1). Rather, it extends the
functionality of those earlier standards.
As a result, there shouldn't be any
compatibility issues with any existing Bluetooth gear. Having said that, in
order to benefit from that aforementioned data transfer speed and packet size
increases, as well as the internet connectivity, fresh hardware will be
required.
What about smartphones?
As you've probably discerned by now, the
improvements brought about by Bluetooth 4.2 don't really add that much to
smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy Note 5. They're really more concerned with
simpler smart devices operating under the Bluetooth Smart brand.
What it will add is an extra layer of
security to a phone. It will no longer we quite so easy to exploit your phone's
open Bluetooth connection when out and about, nor will so-called 'beacons' in
retail spaces be able to make contact or track you without your approval. There
are the usual bug fixes and efficiency improvements that any update brings,
too.
But in terms of general features, you
probably won't notice any difference when hooking your Note 5 up to your usual
Bluetooth headset or speakers.
(Credit: web)