The hottest IOT Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

MAX30102 + ESP32-C3 0.4 inch OLED

atomic14 • 346 implied HN points • 15 Mar 26
đź•ą Technology IOT
  1. You can build a compact heart-rate and SpO2 monitor by combining a MAX30102 sensor with an ESP32-C3 microcontroller and a 0.4 inch OLED display.
  2. The sensor itself is very cheap — around $3 — making this an affordable option for DIY health sensing projects.
  3. There’s a maker-friendly tutorial that explains the wiring and code so hobbyists can reproduce the project easily.

Alexa, Stop Recording Me

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 333 implied HN points • 10 Mar 26
đź•ą Technology IOT
  1. A new consumer device called Spectre I claims to stop unwanted audio recordings by nearby smart recorders, pitched as a sleek anti-surveillance dome.
  2. A short social media video about the device went viral and generated strong public interest and excitement.
  3. Many people are skeptical about its effectiveness and safety, with some fearing it could be a Trojan horse for surveillance or otherwise be misused.

Fungible Compute, Mortal Computing and Why the IoT won't use Silicon

State of the Future • 12 implied HN points • 10 Mar 26
đź•ą Technology IOT
  1. Flexible thin‑film IGZO chips let you add cheap, bendable compute to everyday objects that never had it, creating a new class of semiconductor separate from cutting‑edge silicon.
  2. Process times measured in days and a tiny, modular 20Ă—30m fab footprint make manufacturing much cheaper and faster, enabling billions of units and even the possibility of deploying fabs at customer sites.
  3. Edge intelligence can be very simple but valuable: tiny classifiers of a few hundred gates plus basic sensors can capture huge amounts of real‑world data for use in supply chains, healthcare, and agriculture, shifting value to the aggregate data layer.

I Turned an ESP32 into a Thermal USB Webcam

atomic14 • 519 implied HN points • 15 Feb 26
đź•ą Technology IOT
  1. An ESP32 microcontroller can be turned into a USB webcam that works as a thermal/infrared camera.
  2. The device captures infrared/thermal images instead of normal visible-light video, letting you see heat signatures.
  3. Full DIY build instructions and details are available online for anyone who wants to reproduce the project.

Building Physical Agentic AI

Superficial Intelligence • 117 implied HN points • 13 Feb 26
đź•ą Technology IOT
  1. Physical agentic AI puts small reasoning models on devices so they can sense, "have a little think," and act in the physical world instead of relying on brittle hand-coded logic.
  2. Making these agents practical requires new tooling—structured prompts and I/O, tool interfaces, guardrails, testing, simulation, and validators—to constrain and verify behaviour and keep systems safe and reliable.
  3. Improved edge AI chips and developer tools lower the barrier so the same hardware can run many real-world apps by swapping prompts, but there are cost and energy tradeoffs so early use cases target higher-value scenarios.
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Stop Using printf() - Debug ESP32 the Right Way

atomic14 • 346 implied HN points • 18 Dec 25
đź•ą Technology IOT
  1. Don't rely on printf() or GPIO pin waggling as your primary way to debug ESP32 projects.
  2. There are better, more reliable debugging approaches and tools you should use instead of ad‑hoc prints and pin toggles.
  3. Learn a structured debugging process — the "six stages of debugging" (covered in the video and short blog post) can help you diagnose problems more effectively.

The Internet of Quietly Watching Things

God's Spies by Thomas Neuburger • 25 implied HN points • 20 Feb 26
đź•ą Technology IOT
  1. A kidnapping investigation revealed images and residual data from a turned-off Nest camera, showing devices can collect and store information even when they seem off.
  2. Everyday gadgets like TVs, cars, routers, and smart watches can quietly watch and feed data into surveillance systems.
  3. Surveillance is pervasive and often invisible, so an Orwellian security state can emerge without fanfare and people should be aware and cautious.

MakerNews - January 2026

Maker News • 22 implied HN points • 31 Jan 26
đź•ą Technology IOT
  1. Investing in the right bench tools and setups makes everyday electronics work faster, safer, and more reliable.
  2. Creative hardware hacking and reverse engineering often reveal far more capability than expected, from PID‑controlled glue guns to running DOOM on a smart pressure cooker.
  3. Open source projects and detailed writeups turn experiments into shared learning, helping others reproduce fixes, learn tapeout and PCB tricks, and build fun projects like 1D Pong or a lock‑picking robot.

Mach 1 with Python!

Bite code! • 733 implied HN points • 19 Nov 24
đź•ą Technology IOT
  1. You can measure distance using sonar technology, which was once considered advanced but is now easily available and affordable for projects like Raspberry Pi.
  2. Creating fun experiences, like detecting when people pass through a giant Mario pipe and playing a sound, requires careful planning and some troubleshooting.
  3. Working with hardware can be tricky, as it often involves dealing with unexpected issues and requires patience, but it can lead to creative and playful outcomes.

Law, Order, and Tech

Diane Francis • 619 implied HN points • 27 Feb 23
đź•ą Technology IOT
  1. Modern policing uses a lot of technology. There are many ways to gather evidence from digital devices like phones and cars.
  2. Smartphones are crucial in investigations today. They can provide a lot of information about a person's movements and actions.
  3. While technology helps solve crimes, it also raises concerns about privacy. People worry about how their data is collected and used.

Round-Up of Embedded World 2024

burkhardstubert • 59 implied HN points • 22 Apr 24
đź•ą Technology IOT
  1. Software updates are important for devices, and using smaller application updates instead of large full updates can save time and bandwidth. It's a smart way to keep devices running smoothly.
  2. Manufacturers need to focus on creating simple, secure solutions for managing software updates and cryptographic keys to comply with new regulations like the EU Cyber Resilience Act.
  3. New companies like QBee and Crypto Quantique are developing innovative tools for secure OTA updates, which help manufacturers manage their devices more effectively and meet security standards.

Revolutionizing IoT Beyond Earth | Challenges & Innovations in Satellite-Enabled IoT

Space Ambition • 259 implied HN points • 23 Jun 23
đź•ą Technology IOT
  1. Satellite technology is changing how we connect and communicate, especially in remote places. Smaller, cheaper satellites help devices send and receive information directly from space.
  2. Using satellites for IoT can improve many areas like farming, disaster response, and environmental monitoring. These systems can gather essential data from hard-to-reach locations and help address big challenges.
  3. While satellite IoT offers great opportunities, it also faces hurdles. Issues like regulations, energy needs, and ensuring data security will be important as this technology grows.

Vibe Check: Google and Amazon. Earnings: IoT(SMTC, NOD, SLAB,PI), RMBS, AMD

Mule’s Musings • 141 implied HN points • 09 Feb 25
đź’Ľ Business IOT
  1. Google and Amazon are being assessed for their performance and outlook. People are paying attention to how these companies are doing.
  2. The earnings report includes various companies related to the Internet of Things like SMTC and AMD. These companies are important to keep an eye on for future trends.
  3. This is the first part of a weekly summary about company earnings. Expect to see more updates on financial performances soon.

The $800 Billion Secret Inside Your Car: Data

Fight to Repair • 59 implied HN points • 04 Aug 23
đź•ą Technology IOT
  1. California is investigating how car companies collect data, emphasizing the importance of data transparency and ownership for vehicle owners
  2. Vehicle data is projected to be worth $800 billion by 2030, highlighting the lucrative nature of data collection from cars for companies
  3. Consumers often lack awareness of the data being collected from them, leading to potential privacy concerns and issues with car companies' practices

Tesla Hackers Are Fighting Digital Extortion

Fight to Repair • 59 implied HN points • 17 Aug 23
đź•ą Technology IOT
  1. Security researchers hacked Tesla's seat-warmers to challenge paywalls for features, showcasing vehicle owners' tech skills
  2. Attempts to jailbreak devices demonstrate the growing demand to free devices from vendor constraints, empowering users to reclaim control
  3. Companies face backlash for using software to restrict features, leading to calls for legislation to prevent device disabling and the creation of repair barriers

Why Biden's 'Cyber Trust Mark' is nonsense

Cybersect • 58 implied HN points • 21 Jul 23
đź•ą Technology IOT
  1. Mainstream news stories about the 'Cyber Trust Mark' lack critical viewpoints.
  2. The cybersecurity industrial complex prioritizes control over actual security.
  3. There is no significant IoT cybersecurity issue; security is a tradeoff that the industry overlooks.

Episode 41: Better Built By Burkhard

burkhardstubert • 39 implied HN points • 01 May 23
đź•ą Technology IOT
  1. Qt for MCUs is designed for memory-constrained devices, making it ideal for low-cost electronics like appliances and wearables. This helps companies save money, especially when producing large volumes of products.
  2. Manufacturers are looking for a way to use the same software framework for both high-end and low-end devices. Doing this would allow them to reuse code and save time and resources when switching between different hardware.
  3. Recent advancements have made Qt for MCUs more efficient, allowing it to run on devices with very little memory. This is a game changer, as it opens up new possibilities for using Qt in even simpler and cheaper devices.

Episode 30: Better Built By Burkhard

burkhardstubert • 59 implied HN points • 15 Nov 22
đź•ą Technology IOT
  1. Many development kit providers focus mainly on hardware, but customers actually need software solutions too. It's better if they offer a complete package that includes useful software support.
  2. Several manufacturers are already adding value through software features. For example, some provide remote management and monitoring options, which help save time for their customers.
  3. Understanding customer needs is key. If companies build systems that help customers easily create their own software, it can lead to quicker product launches and better overall success.

Chromebook Churn could sink school budgets (and the planet)

Fight to Repair • 19 implied HN points • 20 Apr 23
đź•ą Technology IOT
  1. Many school districts rushed to purchase Chromebooks for students during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a potential tsunami of e-waste as these devices near the end of their support life.
  2. Extending the lifespan of Chromebooks could save school districts billions of dollars and help reduce the environmental impact of replacing these devices.
  3. Manufacturers need to make Chromebooks more repairable by offering replacement parts and designing devices that support repairability, which could make repair more economical and sustainable.

Episode 11: Burkhard on Qt Embedded Systems

burkhardstubert • 39 implied HN points • 31 Oct 20
đź•ą Technology IOT
  1. Working from home has become the norm for many due to the pandemic. It's nice to have a routine and support from loved ones during tough times.
  2. Qt Marketplace offers a variety of components for developers at reasonable prices. It can save time and money compared to building from scratch.
  3. Testing is crucial for software quality, and using methods like approval testing can help improve the process, especially with legacy applications.

Episode 22: Burkhard on Qt Embedded Systems

burkhardstubert • 19 implied HN points • 04 Oct 21
đź•ą Technology IOT
  1. Qt 6.2 has many new features that make developing applications easier, especially with QML modules and CMake support.
  2. Parking meters can be improved with mobile apps for payments, but they need to better serve user needs for a great experience.
  3. A good solution should be user-friendly, allowing payments without internet access, and making it easy to park without confusion.

Episode 10: Burkhard on Qt Embedded Systems

burkhardstubert • 19 implied HN points • 30 Sep 20
đź•ą Technology IOT
  1. The Gartner study highlights various technologies that are influencing embedded systems in IoT, like Edge Networking and Embedded AI. These technologies will shape future Qt embedded systems significantly.
  2. Technologies like RISC-V offer chip vendors a cost-effective alternative to ARM by eliminating licensing fees. This could lead to more widespread use of RISC-V in embedded devices.
  3. Qt supports several protocols like CoAP and MQTT, making it suitable for developing applications in resource-constrained environments. The flexibility of Qt can facilitate efficient communication in IoT systems.