Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. Guides

Bluetooth’s dream of controlling the smart world edges closer with newest version

Brad Jones
By

Libratone Too
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Bluetooth 5 is here, and it’s no longer just about connecting headphones and speakers to your smartphone. The new version signals a shift to become a conduit for the Internet of Things, thanks to new features including extended range, faster speeds, and the ability to send more data to devices without needing a direct connection.

The new version was first announced when the Bluetooth Special Interest Group’s Mark Powell discussed plans in a public email earlier in June. Bluetooth 5 signals a shift away from the “version x.x” naming template that has been in use since the technology was introduced. Powell said the change is intended to simplify the organization’s marketing efforts, and make it clear to users that this is a “significant” update to the technology.

Recommended Videos

Bluetooth 5 will be released later this year or early 2017, and promises to quadruple the current range of approximately 10 meters and double the speed of low energy connections, all without sucking too much power. Where Bluetooth 5 will come into its own is in the home, and through the use of Bluetooth Beacons powering smart cities, stores, and public spaces.

Related

In addition to the extra range and speed, Bluetooth 5 introduces a connectionless feature, where rather than beacons and other devices communicating with an open app or one running in the background, they can broadcast to browsers — such as Google’s Eddystone linking with Chrome. The additional broadcast capacity means more data can be sent, and the messages received more helpful and information packed.

Bluetooth has made its plans for connecting up smart homes very clear in the past, and in 2015, spoke about what it called “enabling technology” coming to Bluetooth soon. It appears Bluetooth 5 is the result. The new features make Bluetooth Beacons — the transmitters that will drive smart streets and provide information to us automatically, from inside museums to navigating around airports — far more useful and, hopefully, more reliable.

Will Bluetooth 5 support come via a firmware upgrade, or will it only be supported by hardware designed with it in mind? Previous versions have been a mixture of both, and according to the Bluetooth SIG, version 5 will most likely have specific hardware and software requirements, indicating it’ll only arrive on devices designed for it. However, it will depend on Bluetooth 5’s usage, so some features may be pushed through a software update.

We’ll know more as the release date approaches.

Previous updates:

Updated on 06-17-2016 by Andy Boxall: Added in comment from Bluetooth regarding compatibility with existing Bluetooth hardware

Updated on 06-16-2016 by Andy Boxall: Added in news of Bluetooth 5’s official announcement

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Brad Jones
Brad Jones
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Brad is an English-born writer currently splitting his time between Edinburgh and Pennsylvania. You can find him on Twitter…
Bluetooth speakers vs. smart speakers
Woman using smart speaker while working in office.

When looking for the best smart devices for your home or gifts for your friends, you may come across both the terms: “Bluetooth speaker” and “smart speaker.” The differences aren't immediately apparent, and sometimes the terms are applied to the same device, so we know it can get a little confusing.

We’re clearing up the mess right now by explaining just what these two categories mean, where they overlap, and what term may be most useful depending on the sort of speaker experience you want. Let’s go!
Basic definitions

Read more
The human battery: Smart backpack generates power as you walk
Smart backpack

Backpacks are good for carrying your belongings, as they distribute the weight of the pack evenly across the body so it's supported by the body’s strong back and abdominal muscles. But that’s not to say that they couldn’t be better. A backpack that’s overloaded or contains bulky items will still be heavy, and a long hike carrying an overstuffed pack will take its toll the next day.

Researchers in China have found a way to make a smart backpack that feels 20% lighter, however -- and, no, it doesn’t involve taking one-fifth of the contents out of your pack before setting off. It's about giving the backpack a car-style suspension system instead.

Read more
No need to estimate: Nanit’s smart sheet precisely measures your baby’s height
nanits smart sheet will measure your childs height overhead hero pro sheets

Have you ever tried to measure a child? In particular, a wriggling, active, uncooperative infant? It's a bit like herding cats -- all but impossible. Thanks to new smart technology from Nanit, you can let your baby's sheets do the work for you. Nanit's no stranger in this space having released a baby monitor previously.

The new Nanit Pro, combined with the matching Smart Sheets, keeps track of your baby's height as they grow over time. You can take this information and present it to your pediatrician to help ensure your child is growing properly and meeting all of their health thresholds.

Read more