We’ve kicked around the idea for a mobile POS system for a few years. Unfortunately, the products were always really expensive, or the software required specific hardware which made support difficult. Since our first attempt, prices have normalized, and we’re proud to announce the POSGuys.com Mobile POS System. I’d throw beta up on there, because I’m pretty sure once it gets going, we’ll need to make changes, but for now it looks like a good fit for farmer’s market, line busting, or any POS application where being able to wander around is important.

The PartnerTech EM-200 tablet PC powers the system, running Windows 7. This was always the hardest part to find: a good, affordable tablet PC that is a little tougher than consumer units. The EM-200 comes with an energy efficient 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, 1 GB of Memory, and 160 GB hard drive, similar to what you would see on a secondary POS station or maybe a thin client. You also get bluetooth and 802.11b/g radios standard, which seems important when you want to flit about while ringing up customers.

By default, we pre-load the EM-200 with Proxis Store Manager POS software, which is pretty easy to setup and use and works well for a variety of retail locations. The software provides standard retail functionality, as well as consignment and rental options, giving you choices when setting up your business.

For receipt printing, we’ve paired the EM-200 with the Star Micronics SM-S300 mobile printer. The lightweight printer is compatible with Store Manager’s receipt formatting, and comes standard with Bluetooth printing, great for easy wireless compatibility. We also preinstall the drivers on the EM-200, cutting down on setup for your business.

Additional hardware is available if you need greater functionality from your system. If you need to take the Mobile POS Sytem into hazardous locations, or are worried about damage from drops, our ruggedization kit is a great fit. The kit adds in the EM-200 protective jacket with handstrap and credit card reader, as well as replacing the SM-S300 with the more durable Star SM-T300 receipt printer. The rugged kit is a good fit for food trucks or concessions vending, situations with a lot of hustle & bustle.

We also offer a stationary kit, which includes the EM-200 POS base and adds in an Epson ReadyPrint T20 receipt printer and POS-X EVO-CD cash drawer. Sometimes it’s nice to be able to help customers, do inventory checks, etc. with greater mobility, but still have a POS checkstand at your business. We feel this gives you the best of both worlds, without having to purchase an entire secondary POS System.

Other add-ons complete the retail POS experience, including the Motorola CS3070 bluetooth barcode scanner and high speed credit card processing. We also offer a year of telephone support free, helping you get set up and familiar with the system, as well as a 1-year warranty on top of the existing hardware warranties. We’re really proud of this system and believe it’s a great fit for any business wanting the mobility not available with a stationary POS system.

Diginfo.tv has an interesting article on a new scanning technology from Toshiba, where the checkstand scanner uses image recognition to determine products as opposed to scanning a barcode. I think this is  a fantastic development for grocers, but I think their headline is a little hyperbolic in that this signals the end of barcodes.

The video shows a tech demo at a trade show, so they may have been running slowly to show how easily the products are read, but it seemed about as fast as the grocer down the street who doesn’t have a scanner and manually keys in products. And compared to an omnidirectional scanner at a real actual supermarket, this seems remarkably slow.

I’m sure Toshiba is going to tune this technology so it’ll be as fast, if not faster, than standard scanners you encounter at grocery stores & supermarkets, but right now it looks like it’d be a strong complement to a laser scanner, not a replacement. Using a camera instead of a scanner could also be a fantastic tool for self-check systems, where right now customers have to sift through screens of products to find the right jalapeno or onion. But I don’t think an employee trained to use the scanner in the video is going to be faster or more accurate than an employee trained to use a flatbed scanner and keyed entry combination.

So yeah, Toshiba’s technology will be really interesting to see in use, but I doubt it’s going to end barcodes.

We managed to get our hands on some Motorola LI4278 barcode scanners, and we decided the best plan was to break one on video. Somehow we failed. Aside from some superficial (and some less than superficial) damage, the scanner kept on scanning.

So after dropping it from about 80-feet to asphalt, kicking it down a road, spiking it off a wall, hitting it with a plank, standing on it, hosing it down, and driving over it a few times, we could only scuff up the housing and crack the head of the scanner. But it still runs like a champ.

For a retail-priced scanner, we were amazed at the amount of abuse it survived. We really don’t recommend actually doing this to your scanner, but if you have remarkably clumsy employees or like to throw stuff to people, this is a great fit.

I’ve traditionally pegged Motorola (really Symbol) as the company that makes great laser scanners. Their LS2208 has been selling a ton since the beginning of time, and it’s a great choice for a lot of retailers. However, with their creation of the Blockbuster 2D imager, and now their linear imager, they’re distancing themselves from the pack as a premier data capture manufacturer. Their first entry into the linear imager market, the Motorola LI4278, has a list of specs that make it a fantastic choice for cordless scanning.

The LI4278 looks very much like their LS4278, and is a cordless 1D barcode scanner. I do believe it will be supplanting the LS4278 eventually, so the transition should look pretty seamless. And it’s compatible with the LS4278 cradles, so if you have an old LS4278 and you want to upgrade, you just need the scanner. That is great forward thinking on Motorola’s part. There are plenty of LS4278′s in the wild, and if the LI4278′s spec sheet is any indication, upgrading is a no-brainer.

In terms of scanning, the LI4278 is a fantastic device. For standard UPC barcodes, you can get a read from an inch to 31 inches out. Most linear imagers out there can get reads from 18 inches back, some of the higher end ones make it to about 25-30 inches, so a retail scanner getting reads from that distance is going to be a boon to many businesses. Especially places like Costco, where maybe you can’t reach the barcode way up on the second or third shelf. High volume scanning should be no sweat for the LI4278. A maximum scan speed of 547 scans per second hangs in with even some presentation scanners, and the barcode scanner’s motion tolerance of 25″ per sec (1.4 mph) is pretty solid for a linear imager.

Bluetooth powers the wireless radio on the LI4278, Bluetooth v2.1 Class 2 to be exact. Most manufacturers run with this radio, as it can send data pretty quickly, and data transmissions are encrypted. Why you don’t want prying eyes to know you just scanned a case of Mountain Dew is a little beyond me, but I guess it’s important when you’re scanning like drivers license or customer data. With this radio, you get 330 feet of effective range, way beyond most cordless scanners and their paltry 33 feet of radio range. The Bluetooth radio also allows you to connect the LI4278 to a mobile computer or laptop, maybe even your iPhone or Motorola ET1 tablet. It runs in HID mode, so scanned data will be sent as keyboard input, making it really easy to integrate into a lot of mobility applications.

The LI4278′s battery provides more than a shift’s worth of scanning, eliminating nagging fears that the scanner’s just going to stop partway through a day. The replaceable battery with “green sustainability” can run for 72 hours on a full charge, or up to 57,000 scans. I can see why they’d put an either or. At the max scan rate, you can hit 57,000 scans in a little under two minutes. Or if you stayed at that scan rate for 72 hours, you’d read 141.7 million barcodes.

Motorola built the LI4278 for retail and maybe light industrial applications, and the durability matches up with those needs pretty well. The scanner sports an IP54 seal, though it’s advertised as a “gasket seal to protect from dust and water sprays.” It’s also built to withstand 100 consecutive 5-foot drops to concrete, so even a really clumsy person should be okay to use it.

I’m trying to get one in house to really put it through its paces, but so far the LI4278 is poised to be a fantastic scanner and a great release to start 2012. The 330-foot range and advanced scanning capabilities ensure that it’ll exceed most business’s needs for quite some time. And personally I’d rather have a product that does a lot more than I need, rather than a lot less.

FUZION For Aldelo Wireless!

I am excited!

For many years, now, if you desired to utilize a wireless hand-held device with your Aldelo POS for Restaurants system, the cost was prohibitive. First, you would have had to invest in Microsoft Server 2003 ($2100), a wireless license for each device ($295) and each hand-held ($500). Well, that is now in the past…no more…it’s history.  You have another, better choice.

POS-X has introduced a wireless solution for Aldelo for Restaurants…the FUZION!

This little touch-screen mobile computer comes standard with Windows CE 5.0 and a virtual keypad, as well as an IP54 rating to protect against dust and misted liquids. And, if you drop it from 4 feet, it should bounce.

But, all that is secondary to what this little baby can do. The price  for the device will be very reasonable.  So, here’s a scenario: Let’s say that you already have Aldelo installed on your back office computer and a station in your cashier area or bar. The license for the FUZION would only cost $500 for the Aldelo License and the price of the device for the entire mobile solution!

Another scenario: Suppose you have a night club. Besides your primary bar station, you would need a back office station($700 for copy of Aldelo for the office) to run any and all hand-helds. So, if you wanted 4 servers to each have their own mobile device, just add up the extra licenses at $500 each plus the price of the device…no more server pricing to pay for!

Look for this awesome solution to arrive in about a month or so.

Oh, and for those who require a card reader on those devices, that module will be coming soon!

Find it soon at: www.posguys.com

Knowing how to address some of the physical challenges of these devices makes sense, both for sales and support. This is another issue to consider when purchasing or presenting mobile computer-scanner options to specific market segments.

Selecting Appropriate Devices

Computers designed for spaces where invisible gases or extremely explosive “incindive” conditions exist require devices specially designed and sealed to prevent sparks from igniting such fuel sources. Oil refineries or grain elevator sites are areas where such devices might be used.

On “Incindive” Compliance for Class 1, Division 2 Devices:

Class 1 is part of the National Electric Code definitions of hazardous location classifications and protection techniques for operating devices within areas where flammable gases or other “incindives” may be present in sufficient quantities to produce explosive or flammable mixtures.

Division 2 is an environment where flammable gases, vapors, liquids, combustible dusts or ignitable fibers and airborne particulates are not likely to exist under normal operating conditions. Hazardous atmospheres are further defined by ”groups.” These include:

• Group A: Atmospheres containing acetylene.
• Group B: Atmospheres containing hydrogen, gases or vapors of equivalent hazard such as manufactured gas.
• Group C: Atmospheres containing ethyl-ether vapors, ethylene, or cyclo-propane.
• Group D: Atmospheres containing gasoline, hexane, naptha, benzene, butane, propane, alcohol, acetone, benzol, lacquer solvent vapors, or natural gas.
• Group E: Atmospheres containing metal dust – including aluminum, magnesium, and their commercial alloys, and other metals of similarly hazardous characteristics.
• Group F: Atmospheres containing carbon black, coal or coke dust.
• Group G: Atmospheres containing flour, starch, or grain dusts

The bottom line to all of this is that without the specialized components within these hardened devices a mobile computing/scanning solution has the potential to be downright deadly. Therefore, it would be prudent for the buyer and the sales professional to make certain that all devices considered for these areas be certified as Class 1, Division 2 compliant.

The experts at www.POSGuys.com can assist in providing safe, appropriate mobile computer-scanner options for retail and warehouse environments in addition to industrial class 1 division 2 areas and cold storage facilities.

So, you have an authentic Chinese restaurant and have hired an authentic Chinese cook who speaks and reads only Chinese. Does your POS system have the capability to print in languages other than English? Does your printer print in languages other than English?

If your POS system does allow displaying and printing in other languages then what printer has the ability to print the those language sets?

For instance:

Aldelo Pro for Restaurants prints in English, Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Spanish. The system will display in Arabic characters.

Amigo POS prints in Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovenian, Spanish, Turkish, Welsh…and four user-defined.  By the way, all these languages are displayed in the system by Arabic text. The system will display different character sets for these languages using non-Arabic characters if the character sets are installed on the system.

What is the procedure to get such a printer?

1. Call your software vendor to make sure your POS application does have the ability to print in another language set.
2. Ask them if any specific printer model works better than another with their system.
3. Most of the time a KITCHEN PRINTER is what is needed but other models are made for receipts, as well.
4. Go to www.posguys.com to get your printer. Our sales staff can research the correct printer for your needs.
5. Epson and Star-Micronics are just two of the manufacturers that make printers with alternate language drivers.

Additional things to consider:

1. How the printer attaches to the computer:

Serial port, or RS-232 has 25 pins on the computer side.

Parallel port, or Centronix has 36 pins on the computer side.

USB port is a small, flat connector that slides into the computer USB port.

2. What kind of paper the printer uses:

Thermal (no ribbon) uses heat-sensitive, coated paper

Impact (uses ribbon) uses plain paper

Each brand or model has specifications for paper width and diameter, in addition to ribbon type so check your operator’s guide!.

www.posguys.com has all your retail POS and inventory needs!

Do you require custom gift cards, employee cards or loyalty cards for your retail store or restaurant?

You may be interested in knowing that all cards will not work with all software applications. Therefore, here are a few things to know before placing an order for Card Printing:

1. Color of card stock
2. Design of card available from your card vendor
3. Programming codes required by the software you are using
   1. Some applications require specific characters before or after the card number so that their system identifies the card as a gift card, loyalty card, employee access card from a credit card. These programming codes can be found by asking your software provider. Be ready for some resistance from your vendor because they usually provide card programming themselves and may not release their codes to you!
   2. Card number you want the current batch to start at: ie: 1001 for Gift cards, or maybe 4001 for employee cards, etc. to be able to differentiate each type of card, if you wish.

1. All cards should come with a barcode but you may want to add a magnetic stripe if required by your system or if you just want to use a MSR instead of a barcode scanner.
2. Color of the text and image on the card (single-color or full-color ribbon needed).
3. Pre-made image to be included on a custom card (JPG, GIF, PSD, etc. format)
4. Text to be printed on the front (or back) of the card (restaurant name, address, phone, “10% discount for order over $100″, or other message needed).
5. There may be other things to consider but this is just a place to start!

At POSGuys.com we print custom cards in quantities of 50 and up. We can provide all the information you need for your cards (except maybe the proprietary programming codes mentioned above if we do not already have them).

Also, we have a full-service design department to assist you!

Check out our site at http://www.posguys.com/custom_card_printing_60/

It’s amazing what a difference Class 1 vs Class 2 Bluetooth does for the scanning range of Bluetooth Barcode Scanners.  Here’s a relatively good example of how much farther the Class 1 Bluetooth will allow you to scan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ahjBQO6ixg

The Xenon Barcode Scanner is one of the most aggressive wireless barcode scanners I’ve seen.  And it’s priced accordingly.  If you don’t want to mess around with damaged or barely readable barcodes, buy this scanner.  The only other scanner that comes close is the Symbol 9808.

You can find the Xenon on our website at:

http://www.posguys.com/barcode-scanner_3/Honeywell-Xenon-1902_1030/

Thanks and please let me know if you have any questions,

Shad

The OPN-2002 bluetooth Barcode Scanner quickly connects to the Apple iPad and functions like an external keyboard device.  This Barcode Scanner is small, lightweight and survives drops to concrete by the fact that it weighs a couple ounces.  The lithium ion battery is recharged via a USB cable and will power the scanner for a few days of moderate use.

We sell the scanner for $314 and they’re currently in stock.

http://www.posguys.com/mobile_computers_6/Opticon-OPN-2002_947/

Honeywell Xenon

Fort Mill, S.C. – May 4, 2010 – Honeywell (NYSE: HON) today announced the introduction of the Xenon™ series, the company’s sixth generation of hand-held area imaging scanners. Xenon is the first Honeywell scanner to combine two proven technologies, Adaptus® Imaging Technology and Omniplanar’s SwiftDecoder® decoding software, to create an industry-leading platform that extends depth of field, shortens read time and improves scanning performance, including faster throughput and processing, on almost all types of bar codes. Designed to meet the needs of workers in healthcare, retail, manufacturing, postal/courier and government, Xenon is available in two easy-to-use models: the corded 1900 and Bluetooth-enabled 1902.

Xenon utilizes Adaptus Imaging Technology 6.0 to read high density linear bar codes, 2D bar codes and those found on alternative surfaces, such as the screen of a mobile device. Adaptus also provides enhanced image capture capabilities, including auto-cropping, resolution enhancement and sharpening filters that increase flexibility and ease integration into existing applications. Combined with SwiftDecoder software, which improves the scanner’s ability to decode damaged and hard-to-read bar codes, Xenon delivers unmatched scanning performance.

“The Xenon series is not only a major advancement in our scanning portfolio, but also the industry, as it brings the best of two worlds together to form a scanning platform with next-generation capabilities,” said Darius Adamczyk, president, Honeywell Scanning & Mobility. “In our internal testing, Xenon outperformed the other scanners tested in a wide variety of use case scenarios. We look forward to offering our customers this series of feature-rich scanners that will reshape the AIDC industry.”

Another differentiator for Xenon is its custom sensor, optimized specifically for bar code reading to deliver improved scanning aggressiveness. Additionally, as the sensor is manufactured only for Honeywell scanning products, it helps avoid supply chain issues experienced with off-the-shelf camera sensors used by other area-imaging scanners. Unlike most competitors within the AIDC space, Xenon’s internal infrastructure mounts critical components on a single board, reducing the need for connectors. This improves serviceability and reliability, while minimizing downtime and increasing productivity.

“Our customers demand quick, efficient and seamless transactions,” said Brad Fick, president, Direct Source, Inc. “To meet this need, we collaborate with partners like Honeywell to provide advanced scanning solutions. It serves our customers well that Honeywell is a proven leader in the imaging space.”

Xenon also comes equipped with Honeywell’s TotalFreedom® development platform, which expands Xenon’s functionality by allowing image processing, decoding and formatting application plug-ins to be loaded directly to the scanner instead of the host system. Additionally, the device is compatible with Honeywell’s Remote MasterMind® (ReM) scanner management software, which provides a quick and convenient solution for IT administrators seeking to manage all scanners within their network from a single remote location, enabling users to perform tasks ranging from asset tracking to software upgrades.

EZConfig, Honeywell’s new scanner configuration software, is launching along with Xenon. With an easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI), EZConfig saves time and increases productivity by simplifying scanner configuration.

Xenon’s space-saving design fits well in any sized hand, increasing comfort and reducing operator fatigue. The scanner’s rugged form factor is capable of withstanding up to 50 drops to concrete from distances as high as six feet. Xenon also offers optional disinfectant-ready housing to minimize degradation in environments where scanners must be cleaned frequently with harsh chemicals, such as healthcare facilities.

Corded Xenon scanners are now available, while Bluetooth® Xenon scanners will begin shipping in June. For more information on Xenon, please visit www.honeywellaidc.com/xenon_press_release.

This video from APG Cash Drawer shows their focus on point of sale Cash Drawers extending to high volume, multi-lane implementations. APG Cash Drawer has a solid offering of Cash Drawers that fit into the budget whether you’re a multi-lane grocery or a quiet book store.