Episode 382 – Zigbee and Z-Wave

Z-Wave is the simpler, but ultimately a proprietary protocol, with chips only available from one company. Zigbee is the more flexible, open protocol with chips available from multiple manufacturers, and can be configured for any short-range wireless task, but it uses the crowded 2.4GHz band.

The new Echo Plus includes a built-in Zigbee hub, perhaps for that reason. Hue, for example, uses the Zigbee standard, so other devices supporting this can work alongside them, such as Tradfri, the Ikea lighting system.

•  Android News
  • Android Distribution numbers…Nougat is now the largest single distribution at 28.5% and Oreo clears 1%
  • Introducing Android KTX
  • February patches available for Pixel and Nexus devices.
• App News
  • Add Any Widget to Android Auto
• In Other News
  • Google Home will play white noise.
  • Ajit Pai uses data from before he became FCC Chairman to indicate that the net neutrality repeal worked.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:01 — 12.3MB)