Barcoding News

Honeywell today announced two advancements in the Dolphin 9900 product line: the availability of Windows Mobile 6.1 for all models in the Dolphin 9900 series, and the new Dolphin 9951 mobile computer with support for long-range barcode scanning. These two enhancements provide users with advanced technology to accommodate their mobile computing requirements.

Microsoft’s award-winning mobile operating system, Windows Mobile 6.1, is now available for all Dolphin 9900 models. Featuring a broad number of improvements for developers and customers, Windows Mobile 6.1 offers increased performance, advanced features and improved network security functions.

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Microscan has expanded its barcode product line to include value level handheld readers for standard barcode applications. They now offer handheld barcode readers for all applications, ranging from easy linear barcodes up to challenging 2D direct part marks. The introduction of the Microscan HS-1 and Microscan HS-2D expands Microscan’s value level product offering for standard applications, complementing its existing line of specialty handheld barcode imagers designed for more challenging applications such as 2D direct part mark reading.

The readers provide a notable out-of-box, plug and play experience. The easy to use barcode output can plug directly into standard Microsoft Office programs, such as Word or Excel. With the introduction of the handheld readers, Microscan becomes a one-stop shop for all barcode reading needs. As an additional user benefit, the new value level readers offer a low-cost entry point solution for barcode and 2D barcode applications.

The HS-1 is a value level handheld linear CCD reader for reliable decode of linear barcodes in common applications such as printed black and white labels. Providing fast and accurate performance with minimal budget impact, the HS-1 is ergonomically designed for comfort and built to withstand multiple drops in harsh industrial environments.

The HS-2D imager is ideal for any high-contrast automated data application from clean rooms to industrial environments. The HS-2D is a value level portable solution for decoding both linear barcodes and 2D symbols in common applications such as high-contrast black and white labels. 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.

Most manufacturers already use barcodes or RFID chips to track their products. With the help of cheap cellphone and Internet access it is becoming possible to collate data from remote locations around the world and make it available to consumers in grocery stores.

In many cases, are open to the notion that transparency about the source of their food is good for business. The idea is to develop a system to prove to customers that crops are not grown on land recently occupied by tropical rainforest.

In remote regions where farmers don’t have access to computers, they can use cellphones to record the time and place the crop was harvested into an online database. Tracking systems like this should also make it easy to calculate the distance that goods travel to reach stores, allowing consumers to estimate the greenhouse gas emissions racked up by the transport of their food. Heiner Lehr of FoodReg says, “The technology is there. If a big retailer puts itself behind this, it could happen very fast.”

Original article: Barcodes could reveal your food’s credentials

Datalogic Scanning pioneered industrial grade handheld scanners for the toughest industrial applications. The demands of this harsh environment are ever increasing. The ability to read 2D bar codes and wireless mobility are becoming must-have features. In its latest offering, the new cordless PowerScan PM8500 Imager, Datalogic stays a step ahead of these needs. This versatile 2D reader is ideally suited for a wide range of applications in warehouse, manufacturing/work-in-progress, transportation and healthcare applications.

“The PM8500 is designed for ease of installation, intuitive usability, ergonomic styling, and high reliability, fitting the productivity needs of today’s industrial users,” remarked Pietro Todescato, General Manager of Handheld Marketing. “Of course this new industrial imager includes Datalogic’s 3GL™ Technology which features our ‘Green Spot’ Technology and the ‘Double Good Read LED. These features are very popular with our customers because they offer the operator reliable feedback in any working condition or noisy environment. The selection of Datalogic PowerScan products by two of the world’s largest transportation companies to meet their scanning needs testifies to the quality of our industrial line. “

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Motorola’s MC55 Enterprise Digital Assistant is a rugged handheld computer designed for enterprise applications such as field service operations, warehouses and healthcare. As such it is larger and heavier than consumer-grade devices, but is designed for a longer lifecycle and ships with vertical-oriented features such as a barcode scanner.

The MC55 is split into two basic models: the 5590 with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for communications; and the 5574 which additionally features a cellular radio for wide-area networks and a GPS receiver. Both models are available with a Qwerty or numeric keypad, and a 1D laser barcode scanner or a 2D imager. Both options are available with or without a 2-megapixel camera with flash.

Motorola MC55 options and pricing

Deciding which barcode scanning technology — laser scanning or digital imaging — is right for your application can be a difficult task. The purpose of this paper is to help in your decision-making process by providing technology overviews, advantages and application uses for each of these options.

Introduction

Over the past few decades, barcode scanning has become the data capture technology of choice, enhancing processes in virtually every industry and market. Low-cost scanning solutions improve performance and reliability in a wide range of enterprise activities, and reap tremendous business benefits, including increased worker productivity, improved task efficiency, and reduced operational costs.

As scanning technology evolves and new barcode symbologies appear, industries have more choices in data capture solutions. This paper discusses two competing, and sometimes complementary, data capture devices: the laser scanner and the digital imager. We will provide an overview of the technology behind each device, list advantages for each, and discuss markets and applications in which they are used.

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Shopping is a lot of work. Regardless of what it is that you are buying, there are numerous things to consider, research, and compare. So what are the things to think about when choosing a mag stripe reader (MSR)?

As with any product, a lot of thought goes into the design of each MSR. From the interface to the cosmetics to the feel of the card swipe, each unit is designed for a specific purpose. Your job is to figure out which one best fits your needs.

Terry Conant, the Executive VP of ID Tech, provides his list of the top things to consider when purchasing a Point of Sale (POS) MSR:

Reading Reliability

The purpose of a card reader, of course, is to read cards. Not just the new cards but real-world cards, and failure to do so can mean extra transaction costs, or even worse, a lost sale. Manually entered card information means additional transaction costs. At an unmanned kiosk, a customer’s unread card can mean a lost sale.

Minimum Number of Card Swipes

A card reader needs to be able to stand up to the rigors of swiping card after card, day after day. If a reader breaks down, it can severely handicap sales. Long warranties are great, but more importantly, look for the amount of swipes the reader is guaranteed for.

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Intermec Continues Momentum Following the Launch of the Game-Changing CN50 and CN4 Mobile Computers

Intermec today announced the addition of three new rugged mobile printers to its PB product family – the PB21, PB31 and PB51. The new printers feature two times more memory, print twenty to thirty percent faster than competing solutions, and are the industry’s only “Smart” rugged mobile receipt and invoice printers. The two, three, and four inch printers enable mobile workforces in route accounting, transportation and logistics, retail and field service applications to print high quality, graphically complex receipts.

The printers’ unrivaled reliability and durability allow customers to decrease maintenance costs resulting from hardware failure and associated support. With a wide temperature range, humidity and IP54 seal ratings, six and a half foot (two meter) drop specification, and 50g shock rating, the new rugged mobile printers can withstand the rigors of the most demanding environments.

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The CT-S801 is the industry’s fastest and most advanced three-inch, 300 mm/sec thermal POS printer with a customizable LCD display that communicates with the user.

LAS VEGAS, NV (July 14, 2009) – Citizen Systems America Corporation, a supplier of world-class printing solutions, announces the CT-S801, the first in a new line of revolutionary “Intelligent” printers, featuring the industry’s first POS printer with a back lit graphic LCD display that communicates with you. It is ideal for a variety of applications from retailers, end users, resellers and software developers in any location or environment, the unit has increased functionality that opens doors to the universe. Out of Paper? The two-line LCD display alerts you: “Paper end” “Please change paper.” Alternatively, if the front cover is open “F cover open” “Please close front cover.” The LCD has an editor to customize, change or edit the display message on LCD. “Roll paper is running out, please call 123-456-7890 for replacement roll order!”

Taking you straight to the cutting edge of technology, this printer moves at a previously unseen velocity of 300mm per second, providing the fastest printing results for customers.

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Many of the handheld mobile computers we carry run Windows Mobile and include Office Mobile.

As part of Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference, more information about the next version Office Mobile, Office Mobile 2010 has become available:

Microsoft Office Mobile 2010 will appear in early 2010 and include include new versions of Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, PowerPoint Mobile, OneNote Mobile, and a SharePoint client