Socket Mobile Introduces Family of 2D Bar Code Scanners

[Paul Martin]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.socketmobile.com/about/news-and-events/press-releases/read.asp?ID=237' target='_blank'>http://www.socketmobile.com/about/n...read.asp?ID=237</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Socket Communications, Inc...an innovative provider of mobile productivity products, extends its industry leadership with the introduction of the Socket CompactFlash Scan Card 5X, a high-performance, stacked-linear bar code scanner. It is the first device in a new line of Socket 2D bar code scanners designed to address the fast-growing market for 2D and omni-directional scanning....2D bar code symbologies provide the ability to generate small labels with a high-data capacity that can be used in a wide variety of environments. Spurred by regulatory mandates and the need to cut costs, many industries continue to implement 2D bar code applications."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/martin-041807-socket-CF-Scancard.jpg" /><br /><br />In the category of "if you have to ask what it's for, you don't need it" the new <a href="http://www.socketmobile.com/products/bar-code-scanning-data-collection/series5/">Series 5 2D bar code scanners</a> from Socket will read "<i>all popular linear, stacked-linear, 2D/Matrix and postal symbols, including MaxiCode, Data Matrix, QR Code and PDF417, among others.</i>" With a suggested retail price of $679 USD, it should be released at the end of 2nd Q07. Is anyone here making use of complex 2D bar codes in your line of work?

[SteveHoward999]

I'm thinking more along the lines of --- in the caegory of gadgets that came along too late :-) Are there *any* devices on sale now thjat include a CF slot?

[Stik]

I'm thinking more along the lines of --- in the caegory of gadgets that came along too late :-)

Actually, Socket was the first to introduce a CF 2D barcode scanner way back in 2002 ...

http://www.superwarehouse.com/Socket_Communication_2D_Scan_Card_5X/IS5217-516/p/413953

... so this is Socket's new version CF 2D scanner model. :wink:

Are there *any* devices on sale now thjat include a CF slot?

I know of one that may be compatible come May...

http://www.ixbt.com/short/images/web%20SoMo_1_.jpg

Is anyone here making use of complex 2D bar codes in your line of work?

Not personally Paul, but I believe the target markets are as follows ...

http://www.aimglobal.org/technologies/barcode/industries_2D.asp

[PPCRules]

We've used these codes for quite some time. I had wondered if there were PocketPC-based readers for the codes.

This is not a consumer device, so it doesn't need to work with consumer PocketPCs. Most industrial strength/ruggedized PocketPCs will have a compact flash slot. But I would guess among these there have already been models with this type reader built in. So the retrofit market, needing something like this, might be small.

[Paul Martin]

Is anyone here making use of complex 2D bar codes in your line of work?

Not personally Paul, but I believe the target markets are as follows ...

http://www.aimglobal.org/technologies/barcode/industries_2D.asp

Thanks for the link, Stik. The product makes sense in those applications.

[PPCRules]

On the more general subject of barcode readers, has anyone hooked a CueCat to a PocketPC? (I have an application in mind.)

[SteveHoward999]

I believe the target markets are as follows ...

http://www.aimglobal.org/technologies/barcode/industries_2D.asp

FedEx, supermarkets, warehouses. These and more use PocketPC-based devices all the time and they usually have barcode scanners built in.

Seems to me like this device is certain;y not aimed att he consumer market ... which makes it being showcased here seem a bit weird to me. But then my wife says I'm weird ;-)

[bigray327]

Odd shape. Must have been designed by a woman.

[Stik]

FedEx, supermarkets, warehouses. These and more use PocketPC-based devices all the time and they usually have barcode scanners built in.

Seems to me like this device is certain;y not aimed att he consumer market ... which makes it being showcased here seem a bit weird to me. But then my wife says I'm weird ;-)

My wife says that about me so we're in the same boat in that regard. :lol:

The scan product ( and handheld ) is aimed at the small and medium-sized business mobile worker, not the conglomerates, so your absolutely correct in that regard. Consumer market? Correct again in yout thought with maybe a caveat.

My understanding is that in Japan and other Asian countries QR code bars are placed on all types of products from business cards to merchandise posters, clothing etc. etc.

The consumer uses their camera phone to snapshot the QR code which will bring up the products webpage to the phone without having an internet connection. This to garner more information on the targeted product, whether it be a new movie , restaurant or a myriad of other products that use this QR barcode technique to promote.

The afforementioned CueCat was devised for this purpose.

With that said, if a consumer would want to have the functionality of a full blown Pocket PC that had QR code add-on functionality they may consider this to fit their overall needs. I would totally agree however that the cost factor of the combined products would limit this to a small market of technocentric consumer users like the ' weird ' ones that can be found here at PPCThoughts. 8)

[rhelwig]

Is anyone here making use of complex 2D bar codes in your line of work?

Not anymore, but I did work at a place where we used PDF417 barcodes to encode data, including a photo. We used wavelet compression to get a picture of a person down to 800 bytes - it was bad but you could still identify people using it.

This was for boarding planes. We also took photos of checked bags and could hand the passenger a piece of paper with the bags encoded in the barcode. When they got to their destination, they could scan the barcode to show what their baggage looked like. (Apparently there is/was a huge "free shipping" market out there that this would help prevent. You purchase a refundable airline ticket, check in your bags, don't board the plane, get your refund after the plane has taken off, call your buddy at the destination, he gets the bag.)

The advantage of the system was that there was no need for a central database - all the data could be in the barcode.

[Paul Martin]

Not anymore, but I did work at a place where we used PDF417 barcodes to encode data, including a photo. We used wavelet compression to get a picture of a person down to 800 bytes - it was bad but you could still identify people using it. This was for boarding planes. We also took photos of checked bags and could hand the passenger a piece of paper with the bags encoded in the barcode.

Very creative use of the bar codes! I hadn't heard of the scam but makes sense. Thanks for passing this along.

[dh]

A lot of my customers are defence contractors and the US DoD mandates that 2D barcodes are used on a lot of items as well as shipping labels. These are both Datamatrix and PDF417. I was actually setting up a Datamatrix labeling system at a customer's plant this morning.

What I really want Socket to do is come out with a 915MHz Compact Flash RFID reader. They have a 13.56 MHz one, but that's no good for 99% of the people I work with. We're stuck with the big old Symbol MC9090 still.

[Paul Martin]

What I really want Socket to do is come out with a 915MHz Compact Flash RFID reader. They have a 13.56 MHz one, but that's no good for 99% of the people I work with. We're stuck with the big old Symbol MC9090 still.

I'm not familiar with the standards. I'm assuming they don't play well with each other, but what are the differences?

[dh]

What I really want Socket to do is come out with a 915MHz Compact Flash RFID reader. They have a 13.56 MHz one, but that's no good for 99% of the people I work with. We're stuck with the big old Symbol MC9090 still.

I'm not familiar with the standards. I'm assuming they don't play well with each other, but what are the differences?

Hi Paul, the 915 MHz (or UHF) RFID standard is what is specified by organizations such as Wal-Mart and the Department of Defense for their Supply Chain RFID mandates. The 13.56 MHz (HF) RFID is used much more in closed loop applications such as asset tracking.

So far, there are very few mobile readers that operate in both parts of the spectrum. One thing I'd like to do is be able to revive my old Axim X5 to use as a cheap reader. There are several PC card readers available for UHF. It would be a great application for one of the old 5550 Ipaqs with a sled :D

[Paul Martin]

One thing I'd like to do is be able to revive my old Axim X5 to use as a cheap reader. There are several PC card readers available for UHF. It would be a great application for one of the old 5550 Ipaqs with a sled :D

Sounds like a great idea. I know in working with my Jornada, which had a PC Card adapter, I ran intro problems with drivers and recognition of the card (I was trying an ethernet card). But, if you could get it to work, might save some significant $$$.