One of the programmers we work with recently developed a signature capture application that works with the Topaz line of signature capture pads, so we thought it’d be a good idea to list a couple and see where it goes. So far we have the SigLite LCD series available, but could add more in the next few weeks.

What really interests us about these signature capture pads is that Topaz developed a plugin for MS Word, Excel, and Adobe Acrobat, allowing the captured data to be embedded into files. For businesses trying to limit their use of natural resources, this is a fantastic way to minimize paper (ab)use. I know we often receive contracts for various projects, and they usually require us to print out, sign, and fax the complete file back to the initial sender, essentially making two copies. Being able to add our signature to the PDF and email it back to them not only cuts down on paper usage but speeds up the process tremendously.

We got yet another video up for your amusement. This time it’s the Datalogic QuickScan series of retail barcode scanners. Available as a linear imager, laser scanner, and cordless imager, these barcode scanners are pretty snappy and lightweight.

Anyway, enjoy!

Not one to deprive you of the videos we make, here’s a quickie of the new POS-X EVO-TM1 touchscreen monitor. We got Travis to run this one, primarily because we wanted more videos of him on YouTube.

I do enjoy finding odd or unique design decisions in the POS industry, and the Opticon OPR 3101 barcode scanner is a good fit for unique design. The only barcode scanners I know of with a trigger guard, the OPR 3001 and OPR 3101 are designed for light industrial or rough retail environments. The OPR 3101, though, is a cordless barcode scanner, so you can do your best Briscoe County/Wyatt Earp impression while doing inventory. I do want to get my hands on a couple of these and set up some sort of incredibly expensive laser tag style shootouts.

This is a rugged laser scanner, and it actually has the capability of scanning PDF and MicroPDF barcodes, so you could use it in shipping applications at a lower cost than cordless 2D scanners.

The scanner has a Bluetooth 2 radio in it, so you can’t get quite as far from the base station/bluetooth-enabled device as the XI3200, for instance, but it does automatically switch into batch mode when out of range and dumps the data when communication is regained.

Otherwise, it’s pretty similar to the cabled model. IP54 seal to keep out dirt and water, 9″ optimal scan range for 10 mil barcodes. And it has a trigger guard!

My friends like to send me weird stuff they find on the internet involving pos hardware, and this video shows a great way to waste rolls of receipt paper. Hopefully he’s using standard paper & not thermal, I can’t imagine thermal paper to be good to ingest. Nor that tasty.

POS-X updated their XI3000 to become the XI3200, and so they did the same with their bluetooth barcode scanner. The XI3200BT is a pretty solid contender for any retail location needing a bit of mobility. It doesn’t have a batch memory mode, which is alright since it also has a 328-foot line of site radio range. That is a long distance to cover and can easily take care of most businesses.

And check this out, more video!

The fellas over at POS-X did a rev bump on their mid-range barcode scanners, jumping from the XI3000 to the XI3200. I’m pretty sure that this scanner is 200 more than the predecessor, too. POS-X chose the XI3200 as the time to shift offering only a USB model. A lot of manufacturers, and even some end users, are still clinging to PS/2 and even RS-232 for their barcode scanners, but 9 times out of 10 we’re selling a USB model.

We have a video here to show off, just a quick look at some of the new features on this scanner. Once we have a couple in house we’ll try to chuck one off the roof.

Just saw a pretty rad video on warrenellis.com from a blogpost over at BERG about methods to visualize RFID Fields for use in building equipment and device deployment. We try to provide customers with RFID solutions often, unfortunately there are so many variables when creating a solution that it often becomes daunting quick. The method involved in the video, while not feasible for on-site estimates, can give customers a fantastic way to better understand and visualize the effective reading range for various RFID equipment.

Warren Ellis – Immaterials

Our lovely friends at POS-X are working to build a more economical lineup of products, under the EVO product umbrella. These products are not only less expensive, but they’re designed to lower your total cost of ownership through things like lower power usage, greater durability, and more comprehensive coverage. First out the gate are the EVO-TM1 and EVO-TP1, a touchscreen monitor and all-in-one touchscreen computer, respectively.

EVO-TM1
The EVO-TM1 is a 15″ touchscreen monitor, which is what the TM stands for. Not Tiny Man. Or Triumphant Muppet. It’s a pretty solid monitor, with VGA input and a 1024×768 native resolution. It rocks a 5-wire resistive touch screen setup, so it’s pretty accurate for touchscreening and doesn’t have any touching requirements like you get with capacitive or acoustic pulse screens.

You can also pop this badboy off the stand and VESA mount it to whatever you like, such as walls or MMF’s new display pole holder thing.

EVO-TP1
TP does not stand for Toilet Paper, I don’t think. It may stand for Tyrannosaur Parliament, because dinosaurs in wigs sounds awesome. This system rocks an Intel Atom processor rated at 1.6 GHz. That may not seem like a lot of GHz, but Intel made them more efficient, so it’s on par with a P4 2.6 GHz or Celeron 2.8 GHz. It’s also more energy efficient, drawing 65W for the whole setup. Compare that to the 180W-250W for most all-in-ones (alls-in-one?) and you can see some great savings right there.

Unfortunately, the EVO-TP1 can’t get VESA mounted quite yet. The hard drive is located in the base, so you’d have a dangly if you tried to remove the base and wall mount it. Not a good plan aesthetically. However, it sounds like POS-X will have a solid state option soon, putting it all on one small board and further speeding up the system. And then you can have your very own wall mounted computer type thing for not a whole lot of money.

Our friends at Datalogic let us know about this new scale they have kicking around, the Magellan 8500Xt, so I thought I’d share it with you guys. This is a combination barcode scanner and scale, kind of like what you see at your local grocery store. Only it’s probably about 10 years younger. Scanner / Scale combos are the tanks of the point of sale industry, so if you buy one, you probably won’t need to buy a replacement.

The 8500Xt improves on the already existing Magellan 8500. In fact, it’s Xt more. I don’t know what Xt stands for. Maybe eXtra Tough. or Xylitol Teleporter. Either way, it’s a bit beefier and does a bit more than rest of the class.

The big feature for this, at least the one I thought really made it worth buying over other scanner / scale combos, is the dual-interval weighing system. For weights between 0 and 12 lbs, the Magellan 8500Xt has a weight increment of 0.005 lbs, much more precise than the 0.010 lbs that seems pretty standard. In fact, it’s twice as precise! You know it’s great, because it rhymes. This really helps for fancy pants delis who cater in only the finest meats and cheeses, because 0.005 lb of gruyere may cost just enough that you don’t want 1.105 lbs to be rounded up to 1.110.

They also have the AllWeighs system, so the weighing platter extends up the side of the unit. This is great for big tilty items, like giant okra, mega celery, or maybe off-balance pets, keeping the weight balanced on things that won’t actually alter the weight of the product.

For the scanning, this guy reads up to 6 sides for products, so you don’t have to do much to get your scan on. It also scans at about 6,400 scans per second, pretty snappy for high-volume reading.