Ask a Dev: What Are the Limitations of Beacons?


In our latest Ask a Dev video, iOS engineer Dan Murrell discusses the limitations of beacons, and some of the issues developers might encounter while working with this new technology. Beacons can pinpoint the location of a device, and then exchange data with that device. Beacons can sync with certain apps to enhance many digital experiences — improving the way we shop at stores or helping us to find movie showtimes on the go. There's even a beacon beer crawl. However, as with all new technologies, it does have its limitations and weaknesses. "One of the best ways to explore the full potential of a new technology is to find its limitations," says Murrell. "If we want to take advantage of all its features, we need to understand its problems and its pitfalls too". Check out the video above to learn more about beacons, and don't forget to check out our Ask a Dev YouTube channel and subscribe. Our developer experts are from Mutual Mobile, a leading development and design firm that builds mobile strategies for top companies such as Audi, Google and Citigroup. The team is eager to answer your questions about mobile, so ping us with your top queries on Twitter, using the hashtag #AskaDev. Don't forget to check out our Ask a Dev YouTube channel and subscribe.