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Point of Sale Information and News for September 2012

Unitech MS910 Cordless Scanner 9/20/2012 5:51:44 PM

We have had the Unitech MS910 barcode scanner up on our site for a few months, but I finally got my hands on a real actual unit to test out. So far, it’s a pretty easy to use and really affordable option for bluetooth scanning for iPhones, Android phones, or any tablet or laptop.

Unitech advertises the scanner as being as small as a pack of gum, and it definitely feels about the same size as those small packs of Wrigley’s. It’s remarkably lightweight and easy to carry, and the shiny trigger feels responsive when scanning.

Pairing the MS910 with my iPhone did take a bit longer than with comparable products, but is incredibly straightforward. An included Quick Guide has the configuration barcodes necessary for pairing, and after scanning a passcode provided on the iPhone’s screen, I was able to send data to any open text field.

The MS910 reads most 1D barcodes with ease, including retail barcodes and even 1D shipping barcodes. There is a little bit of a learning curve to find the sweet spot, as the depth of field is about half a foot for standard UPC barcodes. I wonder how many times I can write barcode in one paragraph. Barcode. We were even able to read barcodes off LCD screens, including cell phones.

In terms of durability, the MS910 is built for retail use. It has a drop spec of 5 feet, so maybe if you’re a little clumsy or knock it off a shelf it should be fine. But there’s also an included wrist strap, eliminating the risk of drops entirely, and making the scanner feel a bit like a Wiimote.

I think the MS910 is a great fit for plenty of mobile scanning applications. From general inventory management to shipping receiving, the scanner reads 1D barcodes quickly and pairs with most any device on the market. And with the ability to scan on LCD screens, the MS910 becomes a great option for ticketing applications. Rather than have a giant mobile computer, venues can use the MS910 and a smaller mobile computer or even a paired PC nearby to scan both paper tickets and etickets. I know Amtrak is using mobile computers to scan passenger tickets, so this could be a viable option.

Tags: New Products bluetooth barcode scanner iphone barcode scanner Unitech MS910

New Lightning Connector Throws a Wrench In Our Plans 9/12/2012 9:13:24 PM

Given that you’re reading this, you exist on the internet and have undoubtedly heard Apple’s iPhone 5 and 5th gen iPod Touch will come equipped with the new Lightning connector, replacing the older dock connector that’s been around for quite some time. While the connector sounds intriguing and should provide more space in iDevices for things like radios and laserbeams, it does put a hurt on an already growing mobile POS platform.

We sell some great mobile barcode scanners and mobile card readers, adding more whenever there’s time, and many of these use the dock connector. For some of the products, such as the MagTek iDynamo and Mobilogics iScan, the adapter should work to provide a stop gap until the peripherals are updated, but it does extend out the peripheral and increases the risk for damage to the iPhone or iPod.

However, there are some sled devices, most notably the Honeywell Captuvo, that currently lock in around 4th gen iPod Touches. In these instances, the adapter won’t fit, limiting your options to hoarding 4th gen iPod Touches until they also adjust the connector.

While this development is far from the end of iOS-based mobile POS, it does hamper the growth of this relatively new market. Many of our customers have had tremendous interest in using their iPhone or iPod to manage inventory or ring up customers, and we’ll just have a short span of time while peripheral manufacturers catch up. This is the first time for me, though, where Apple’s strong secrecy around new products has directly affected my work.

Tags: POS News dock connector honeywell captuvo iphone 5 iphone barcode scanner ipod touch 5 lightning adapter mobile barcode scanner

World’s Largest QR Code is A-Maize-Ing 9/10/2012 11:20:26 PM

Image credit: Whitehotpix/ZUMAPRESS.com

I had to go with that pun. I mean seriously, that is one gigantic maize maze, and to turn it into a QR code is terrific. A family in Lacombe, Alberta, Canada owns a farm they turn into a corn maze every year, and this year they decided to turn it into the world’s largest QR Code. I’m not sure how many people will be able to scan it, but they say the code takes people to their website, giving potential visitors a rundown on all the fun activities there.

This is a pretty unique way to get your name out, one because it’ll be in the Guinness book of records, and also because you can now use the picture of the maze, QR code and all, in promotional material and save a tremendous amount of space in your marketing collateral.

Imagine a sidebar ad in an travel mag, 80% of the ad can be the QR code and the link takes you to more information, including schedules and booking. Potential visitors don’t have to enter in your website info nor call for more information, just scan the link and they get straight to your site.

It’s great to see businesses using QR codes for more unique purposes but still getting the point across. I know more than a few people who have pushed back against QR codes, bringing up wtfqrcodes as examples why it’s not the best technology, so useful counterexamples are fantastic.

Tags: Uncategorized Corn Maze QR QR Code World's Largest QR Code

September 2012 News on the Barcoding Industry