Barcoding News
Data tracking news, product updates, tips, and more
Intermec CK3 Mobile Handheld Computer: Do More. Carry Less.
The Intermec CK3 combines the features of multiple devices into a single, powerful mobile computer. High performance, omni-directional near far scanning from 6 inches to 50 feet, built-in image capture, voice/speech capability for hands-free picking, RFID and wireless printing compatibility enables you to do more. Faster.
Snap-on adapters reduce procurement costs enabling you to buy what you need today and add key functionality as your needs evolve.
The CK3 is built to last, with industry-leading ruggedness and an ergonomic multi-function design that minimizes training time, reduces maintenance costs, enables inventory and asset tracking and maximizes uptime—adding value that’s evident day by day and year after year.
New Snap-on Credit Card Reader for Motorola MC70 and MC75 Enables Mobile/Wireless Payments
Snap-On Mobile Payment Module provides robust anytime, anywhere mobile point of sale
The Motorola Snap-On Mobile Payment Device turns the Motorola MC70 and MC75 mobile computer into an instant point of sale (POS), enabling employees and associates inside and outside the four walls to improve service, productivity and sales in retail stores, hotels, car rental agencies, package delivery routes and more. With secure wireless LAN (WLAN) and wireless WAN (WWAN) connections to banking, CRM and other backend systems, this versatile three-track device allows workers to process credit and debit cards as well as driver’s licenses and loyalty cards in real-time for on-the-spot payment processing and more.
Intermec PB22 and PB32 Rugged Mobile Label Printers Provide High-Speed Printing for Demanding Applications
Intermec Continues Mobile Product Launches with Label Printers Delivering Industry-Leading Performance
Intermec today introduced the PB22 and PB32 rugged mobile two and three inch label printers, which set a new speed standard – delivering the industry’s fastest time-to-first-label, increasing customer productivity and lowering total cost of ownership. The company also announced an enhanced version of the PB50 rugged mobile four inch label printer, including an improved label self strip feature and media holder. The new printers build on the success of the PB50, and extend the momentum of 2009 product launches which include the CN50 and CN4 mobile computers, and the PB21, PB31, and PB51 rugged mobile receipt printers.
In addition to delivering up to three times faster time-to-first-label than competitive offerings because of large memory and fast print speed, the PB22, PB32, and PB50 offer mobile transaction security with support of advanced wireless security standards WPA/WPA2, IEEE 802.11x, and Cisco Certified Extensions (CCX). The new printers also support Intermec Smart Printingâ„¢, enabling businesses to lower total cost of ownership by hosting user-defined label applications on the printer without the use of a computer.
Honeywell Introduces Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 for Dolphin 9900 Series & New Dolphin 9951 with Long-Range Scanner Options
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.
Microscan Value Level Handheld Barcode Readers
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.
Barcodes Could Reveal Your Food’s Credentials
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 PowerScan PM8500 Imager: Rugged, Versatile and Mobile 2D Data Capture Solution
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. “
Motorola MC55 overview
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.
Laser Scanning or Digital Imaging: Which Barcode Scanning Technology Is Right for Your Application?
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.
Purchasing a Magnetic Stripe Reader (MSR): What You Need to Know
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.