Meeting the challenges in the current state of the economy, PioneerPOS announces the release of the Stealth-M5/LX, a rugged 15″ all-in-one touchcomputer. Using best of breed components including an Intel processor and Microsoft Windows, M5/LX offers better performance and more connectivity, including a Intel 1GHz processor, gigabit network, 6 usb ports, 1 parallel port, and 4 serial ports.

PioneerPOS Stealth M5/LX specifications

PioneerPOS Stealth M5/LX

Microscan has just announced two new products that will be available in early June.

HS-1 Linear CCD Scanner

The HS-1 is an ideal low cost handheld barcode reader for reliable decode of linear barcodes in common applications such as printed black and white labels.

HS-1 Linear CCD Scanner specifications

HS-2D Handheld Imager

The HS-2D is a low cost handheld imager for decoding both barcodes and 2D symbols in common applications. It reads symbols in any orientation, includes a built-in dual LED targeting system for quick and easy data capture, and is designed to withstand rugged industrial environments.

HS-2D Handheld Imager specifications

Datalogic Scanning is pleased to announce the new Gryphon I GM4100 cordless linear imager. This new imager is the ultimate solution for applications in retail and light industrial environments where mobility is required. Featuring the Datalogic STAR Cordless System, the most reliable radio in the market, the Gryphon GM4100 imager provides full flexibility in the workplace, providing scalable solutions from simple point-to-point to point-to-multipoint applications and eliminates the restraints caused by cabled devices. An optional display with a 3-button keypad provides battery status, radio coverage indicator and enables operator interaction with the host system.

Extremely versatile and durable, the Gryphon GM4100 cordless linear imaging readers are the ultimate solution for applications in retail and light industrial environments where mobility is necessary for improved productivity. Mobile communications also eliminate the restraints caused by cabled devices, providing a safer and more efficient environment for employees.

Read more in the Datalogic GM4100 specifications sheet

Great Barcode Scanning applications are already on the Android Market – nod to ShopSavvy – but Google has just added that function to their own stable of services within Google Product Search. A post published on the Official Google Mobile Blog highlights the addition.

Google Shopping suffers from the same issues as apps like ShopSavvy – it usually only works with certain types of products and Google acknowledges this:

Today, barcode scanning works best for products like electronics, books, movies or video games, but we’re working on adding more barcodes for other items. Of course, if your scan does not return a result, you can always type in the product name just as before.

This is pretty awesome if you ask me and an obvious next step for Google. Although I feel kind of bad for ShopSavvy who seem to be getting cornered out of the market, everything is free game and I’m sure that ShopSavvy will have its fair share of users stick around.

It is interesting to note that Jeffrey Sharkey, an Android Developer Challenge 1 Winner, was the developer behind a barcode scanning/shopping application called Compare Everywhere and he is now a Google employee working on the Google Android Team. However, he didn’t know about this new feature until I told him! Jeffrey informed me that he has been extremely busy with other fun stuff like widgets, for example.

Be warned, this is only available in the US and UK on Android Phones.

(Original article: http://phandroid.com/2009/05/14/barcode-scanning-with-google-product-search/)

One of the reasons we haven’t seen an accurate barcode scanner for the iPhone is due to its lack of a decent lens with auto focus. Some developers have tried work arounds, like ScanLife, which went out of its way to create its own proprietary simple codes the iPhone lens could actually scan, but this app doesn’t work with the standard UPC and EAN we see on almost every product in our local stores, thus pretty useless.

Occipital, a startup based out of Boulder, CO., today has released RedLaser, a new iPhone app that can scan standard UPC barcodes simply with an iPhone camera.

Here’s what it does – let’s say you find a DVD you’re interested in checking out prices of, turn it around and on the back you’ll find the UPC bar code. Yes, the one your friendly cashier usually scans. Load up your RedLaser app, carefully frame up the bar code, and scan. RedLaser then sends that information to Google product search and sends back results right to your iPhone. Simple as that. You can then click through to see Amazon results.

Jeffrey Powers, Co-Founder of Occipital explained the product works with basically any name-brand item including electronics, games, hardware and office supplies. Groceries scan well but aren’t usually in the database at this point. RedLaser will soon have support for books. I tried it on several of my DVD’s and CD’s and got 100% accuracy.

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Near Field Communication (NFC) is a short-range, high-frequency (13.56 MHz) wireless technology that allows for the exchange of data between two NFC-enabled devices, such as mobile phones, over a distance of a few centimeters. Among the applications enabled by NFC are contactless transactions for payment and transit ticketing, simple data transfers and access to online content. It’s one of the fastest-growing wireless technologies, and now a number of vendors are launching products that extend its capabilities.

In addition to mobile phones, a variety of devices and machines can be NFC-enabled, according to the NFC Forum, a Wakefield, Mass., organization formed in 2004 to advance the use of NFC technology, ensure interoperability among devices and services, and educate the market regarding NFC. These include cash registers or other point-of-sale (POS) equipment, vending machines, turnstiles, parking meters, ATMs and PCs. The technology can also be used with posters, street signs and other public points of interest, certificates, food packaging and other items.

The use of NFC technology is growing, says Peter Preuss, the NFC Forum’s marketing chair and a senior manager at Nokia. NFC devices are being used in more than 65 projects worldwide, he explains, enabling users to make payments and access bus gates. A 2008 study conducted by ABI Research found that more than 419 million NFC chipsets will be shipped by 2012, and that NFC chipset shipments and revenue will continue growing steadily over the next five years, as the market adapts to the new technology.

(Original article: http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/purchase/4784)

Addition of the Windows Mobile 6.1 Operating System Creates New Path for LXE and Software Application Use

ATLANTA – May 8, 2009 – LXE Inc., the rugged mobile computer business of EMS Technologies, Inc., announced today that the MX8 rugged handheld computer will include the Windows Mobile® 6.1 operating system. The MX8 is LXE’s ergonomic, lightweight, yet extremely rugged data-collection computer, ideal for use in a wide array of light industrial and supply chain environments.

“The MX8 handheld computer powered with Windows Mobile will extend LXE’s reach into new applications and markets,” states Steve Newell, LXE’s general manager. “We have seen growing sales of the product in the pharmaceutical and retail markets among others, due to its size, ergonomic design and voice capabilities. This computer was designed for scan-intensive or multi-modal voice applications. As such, we believe sales of the MX8 handheld computer will continue to increase with this expanded functionality,” Newell adds.

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Zebra‘s Z-Ultimate 2000T and Z-Ultimate 4000T label materials are similar to legacy Z-Ultimate 3000T label material in quality and performance, but offer additional savings.

Performance Key:

*** Excellent
** Very Good
* Fair
NR—Not Recommended

Given some of the negative news this year related to the use of radio frequency identification, as well as the decline in capital spending by most businesses, some had predicted the industry might have suffered a devastating blow from which it could not recover. I doubt anyone who attended last week’s RFID Journal LIVE! event in Orlando, Fla., would reach that conclusion today.

Our seventh annual conference and exhibition attracted 2,400 people, which was down a bit from last year’s total of a little more than 3,000. But many people, including exhibitors, feared attendance would be a lot lower, given that many trade shows have been down 50 percent or more due to the challenging economic conditions. They were pleased to see the aisles filled, but they were absolutely thrilled as they engaged in conversations with attendees. Most end users at the event were focused on specific projects with budgets and timelines. They are investing in RFID technology.

Last week, I said I thought RFID had crossed the chasm (see RFID Crosses the Chasm), and LIVE! 2009 confirmed that to be true. Those who attended this year were not visionaries dreaming about how RFID would one day transform the global supply chain. They were businesspeople from a wide range of industries and countries, seeking solutions to common business problems—lost and misplaced assets, inventory inaccuracy, shipping and receiving problems, and so forth.

I spoke to several end users during the free consultations we offered at the event. All had a solid understanding of RFID, and knew it could help them. They sought insights regarding which solution would be best, and wanted to know which vendors they should talk to.

Most applications being considered by attendees were closed-loop. That’s not surprising. Many companies have issues stretching across the supply chain, but it makes sense to tackle issues within their own control. They also seek solutions that can deliver a fast return on investment. Still, these early deployments will lead to additional projects down the road. At a private lunch hosted by ADT, one gentleman told me, “I got all the information I need to move ahead with my project, but I got five or six other ideas of how RFID could really help us.”

The attendees with whom I spoke impressed with the quality of the RFID products being exhibited. Hardware and software products are getting less expensive and easier to deploy. Motorola’s new reader is a case in point—it’s half the size and cost of its predecessor, but also has some great new features, such as built-in indicator lights and power-over-Ethernet, so you don’t have to run power cables to every location in which you want to place a reader.

ODIN Technologies, winner of our second Best in Show award at this year’s RFID Journal Awards ceremony (see Voegele, Vail, FOCUS and ODIN Technologies Win RFID Journal Awards), introduced a very cool self-contained, mobile RFID portal that can be installed in any ISO-standard shipping container in less than a minute. The unit comes with magnets enabling it to be popped into place, and also offers Wi-Fi, cellular and satellite communications capabilities to transmit the RFID data it captures.

In some ways, I think this event was critical to the RFID industry’s continued growth. The business that exhibitors get from attendees will enable them to continue investing in new products and services; without that continued innovation, the industry would stagnate. Next year, I predict that we’ll see even more attendees ready to invest, and I’m sure we’ll also see exhibitors with new, innovative products.

(Original article: http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/view/4841)

BarcodesInc announced today it has achieved Select Certification from Cisco®. The Select Certification recognizes Cisco resale channel partners whose primary focus is on the small and medium-sized business (SMB) market with fewer than 250 employees.

“This partnership offers both Cisco and BarcodesInc an excellent opportunity for growth. We believe that Cisco’s product suite combined with our expertise and customer focus will lead to a more comprehensive offering and improved customer experience for both companies’ clients.” – Amanda Healy Collins, Director of Sales, BarcodesInc

“The Cisco Select Certification was created in response to customer demand for channel partners to be capable of designing and implementing SMB-specific Cisco solutions,” said Surinder Brar, senior director of worldwide channels at Cisco. “With the Select Certification, BarcodesInc has made an investment in obtaining the training, skills and knowledge necessary to play a pivotal role in meeting this increasing demand.”

To earn Select Certification, BarcodesInc fulfilled the training and exam requirements for the SMB Specialization. BarcodesInc also met the personnel, training, and post-sales support requirements set forth by Cisco.

The Cisco Resale Channel Program provides partners with the training required to build sales, technical and Cisco Lifecycle Services skills. Cisco resale partner certifications—Select, Premier, Silver and Gold—represent an increasing breadth of skills across key technologies and a partner’s ability to deliver integrated networking solutions. Cisco resale partner specializations—Entry, Express, Advanced and Master—reflect an increasing depth of sales, technical and service expertise in particular technologies.

About BarcodesInc
BarcodesInc is North America’s leading provider of barcoding, mobile computing, and RFID solutions. Over the past fifteen years, we have worked hard to earn a reputation for being dedicated, reliable, and customer-oriented. Additionally, we are product experts with deep experience in field mobility, inventory and point-of-sale solutions.

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