---

Mobile device use - Russian Roulette or the new normal?

Many of us have a either a smartphone or tablet, and some of us have both. We use them for all sorts of tasks every day. Are we simply pushing our luck? Are we rolling the dice every time we use them? Or can we use them in a secure manner that helps us be more productive and thus have a higher quality of life?

This week's blog is going to look at some pros and cons of the humble mobile device and what steps we can take to even out the odds.

Topics: groov, Internet of Things, Remote monitoring, Electronics, Tips, IoT, Networking

Get the latest groov View app for iOS and Android operating systems.

New in this release: Support for Android 5.0 (Lollipop) and verification of a valid SSL certificate on the groov Box or groov Server.

Topics: groov, Updates, Machine builder, optonews, OptoNews 2015-06-03

Have you have been waiting for this one?

Now you can create a custom application to read from and write to tags in a PAC Control strategy running on any of our SNAP PAC programmable automation controllers:

• the standalone PAC S-series (shown at right)
• the rack-mounted PAC R-series
• the software-based SoftPAC

That means you can access tags in the strategy like integer, float, and string variables and tables, as well as analog and discrete input and output points. 

Topics: optonews, PACs, New products, Integrators, OptoNews 2015-06-03

Our last OptoNews introduced the new features in groov 3, just released, including:

• Events and notifications, so you can log key events in your system and even send email or text notifications that come right to your phone
• Data simulator tags, so you can try out gadgets or demonstrate groov without having to connect to real equipment

Now see the webinar!

Topics: Webinars, groov, Updates, optonews, OptoNews 2015-06-03

• What if your hard drive fails while you're developing a PAC Control strategy?
• What if you need to update an old strategy built by someone else?
• What if ..?

That's when you're really glad you archived your strategy.

Topics: Tips, optonews, PACs, OptoNews 2015-06-03

---

Top 5 Myths for Securing a Wifi network

If you want to use a mobile device in your automation system, you are going to need to use Wifi for the simple fact that most mobile devices do not support a physical Ethernet connection to your network.

Adding Wifi is often seen as a security risk. Not done right, it can be; done right, it need not be.

Like many technolgies, Wifi has matured and become more robust. That said, poor advice still circles the web on how to secure your Wifi network that simply doesn't work anymore. Let's take a look at a few myths about securing Wifi that need busting, and what techniques we can use to bust them.

Topics: groov, Internet of Things, Remote monitoring, Electronics, Tips, IoT, Networking

---

Security is a trade-off between easy to use and secure.

In this blog we are going to take a look at a method of security that is often overlooked and yet can make a system a lot more secure.

The humble password.

For years we have all been taught to use a password that is a mix of letters and symbols. But should we rather be using a passphrase?

Which is better to use and why?

Topics: groov, Internet of Things, Tips, IoT, Networking

So much more than video:

One of my all-time favorite groov features is the Video Camera gadget.

The gadget is pretty interesting as it's simply an image placeholder. Just point the gadget at a URL that resolves in an image and the gadget will display it and update it.

Of course, for an IP video camera, this usually means a JPG image. The groov user's guide has a nice section down the back that will help you get your camera showing up in groov, so be sure to check it out.

If you're interested in some other uses for the gadget, then read on and let's have some fun!

Topics: Videos, groov, Internet of Things, Remote monitoring, Electronics, IoT

groov 3.0 is available now! And here are two reasons to get excited about this easy-to-use tool for building and viewing your own mobile apps for automation:

- First, new features like events, notifications, and built-in simulated tags

- Second, new platform options with lower pricing for simple remote installations and machine builders/OEMs

Topics: groov, Updates, optonews, OptoNews 2015-05-21

Introducing 3 new groov platforms with lower prices for OEMs, machine builders, and simple remote installations, in addition to platforms for more complex monitoring and control:

• groov Solo
• groov Plus
• groov Enterprise

Topics: groov, Updates, optonews, OptoNews 2015-05-21