Nearables Are Here: Introducing Estimote Stickers | Hacker News Reader

Nearables Are Here: Introducing Estimote Stickers

blog.estimote.com

84 pointsljdk17 comments

Doesn't the original beacon include temperature and motion sensors (I think I remember reading that in a hardware teardown) - will there be a software update to allow the original beacons also transmit this info?

I'm also interested in the resolution of the motion sensor. I'm assuming that since it's just an accelerometer that it will be a simple "I'm stationary" vs. "I'm moving" broadcast - can anyone from estimate clarify that?

But cool update whatever the answer :)

Hey Mathew, Tanuj from Estimote here. Yup, our original Beacons include temperature and accelerometer sensors too. We actually unlocked those features via an over-the-air firmware update a few months ago: http://blog.estimote.com/post/87918401035/firmware-update-ac.... Use the Estimote app to update your beacons' firmware and you're good to go.

As to your other question, currently the beacon or sticker just transmits exactly as you said: moving or not. But we'd like to expand that in the future to include direction, velocity, time in motion, etc. Are there particular parameters you'd like to see?

Awesome! I'll update our beacons and try that out :)

I guess that direction, velocity etc would be cool, but since they need to be communicating with an app on a smartphone anyway it might be overkill.

On the other hand, if beacons/stickers could somehow transmit that info independently of a smartphone app (e.g. through a hub device with internet connection) that could be pretty amazing!

From what I've read the difference between stickers and beacon is only battery life. Is this correct?

Why would one choose beacon over the sticker?

Hey, Tanuj from Estimote here. Stickers and Beacons are meant to be complementary products. Beacons are great to attaching to fixed points inside venues - museums, stores, sports stadiums, etc. They add location context to a physical space. Stickers, on the other hand, are small and discrete enough to be attached to objects. Put it on any item to turn it into a nearable, a smart, connected object that broadcasts data about its location, motion and temperature. You can read more about our vision on our blog: http://blog.estimote.com/post/95382199590/nearables-are-here...

Ok, but the sticker will broadcast like an iBeacon correct?

While I see the philosophical distinction you are making here I don't see any technical reason why a sticker couldn't be used as a beacon. So I guess my question is, are stickers crippled by your SDK/firmware to not replace beacons or can they be used as such if someone didn't care about the philosophical difference?

Yup it'll broadcast like an iBeacon. So yes, if you wanted to use stickers instead of beacons because the price / size / aesthetic / whatever suits your needs better, that's possible and 100% up to you. Our goal is to be super developer focused and make the platform (hardware + firmware + SDK's + API's for management) flexible.

Gotcha. Thank you.

The stickers sound like a great thing! Basically $10 iBeacons :)

Well this requires users to install an app on iPhone to work. Is there a way to trigger a notification without it?

Hey - Steve here from Estimote. If you use iBeacon as the method to talk to the beacon, which would be typical, yes an app is required. But there are innovations happening to allow you to use mobile web or "read" other packet formats. A lot will happen in this space in the next year.

Hi Steve,

Is there a volume discount, or is it still $10/sticker (which is a pretty good price in itself)

There definitely will be volume discounts although until we begin shipping in full production in October we won't worry too much about forward pricing. But in the future these stickers will go way below $10 each. Glad you like the product :)

I have no idea what I'd use this for but I am excited. Great job guys.

I'd love to use these to detect bike thefts.

Tanuj from Estimote here. Great idea, Daniel. You could build a simple app that sends you a push if your bike is in motion - that way if you're inside, you know if anyone is messing with it.

What is the price?

$99 for 10 stickers http://estimote.com/#jump-to-products

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