ThingWorx 7 composer screen. (All images courtesy of PTC.)
This release includes a handful of new features including tools for device management, analytics and linking to third party clouds. PTC has also said they have streamlined app development in the updated IoT platform.
New Built-in Development Tools for ThingWorx
As part of these version updates, PTC has rebranded ThingWorx Converge into ThingWorx Utilities. With this rebranding, the development team also created a selection of new, built-in tools to help engineers extract, manage and monitor data.
These tools provide the following functions:
- Device management: define and provision attributes, build custom dashboards
- Alert management: customizable interface for visual product alerts
- Remote access/control: troubleshoot, provide operator assistance and training
- Software management: mass distribution of content, updates, upgrades and patches
To further assist developers, ThingWorx Analytics will now plug directly into the Thing Model for faster development and predictions
ThingWorx Strives to Be Compatible with the Cloud System That Fits Your IoT Application
“As an open, flexible platform, ThingWorx also gives developers the freedom to build with their preferred tools and create solutions that work with their existing device cloud infrastructure,” said Rob Gremley, president of the technology platform group at PTC.
To that end, a recent ThingWorx announcement noted its compatibility to third party cloud offerings. As a result, engineers will be able to use the Amazon Web Service (AWS) and the Microsoft Azure IoT Hub clouds with ThingWorx if these best suit the intended application.
The IoT platform will connect to the third party cloud and the IoT devices. It will then transfer the data and control the whole system. PTC reports that they will continue to build compatibility with an increasing number of cloud platform options in the future.
ThingWorx Promises to Develop IoT Applications Faster
ThingWorx Console
Gremley said the new release of ThingWorx “allows developers to more easily capitalize on the promise of the Internet of Things by rapidly prototyping and building impactful IoT applications … ThingWorx 7 enables companies to accelerate IoT application development and to fully realize the value of their investment in IoT initiatives.”
“With these enhancements to the ThingWorx platform, PTC continues to make impressive progress in delivering an IoT platform to the market,” agreed Carrie MacGillivray, vice president of IoT at IDC. “By offering a comprehensive technology portfolio and strong cloud offering – which will appeal to enterprise customers and developers alike – ThingWorx stands to strengthen its position in this competitive market.”
For more on PTC ThingWorx and other IoT platforms check out 10 Questions to Ask an IoT Platform Provider.