NEWSLETTER: 4-29-2005

This edition of the Flic Newsletter presents you with:

 

Flic Developer "Yet to be Named" Newsletter

Name the Newsletter Contest
 Submit your name for the Flic Developer Newsletter. The person who submits the selected Newsletter name will receive a $100 gift certificate for Amazon.com. Other submissions may receive honorable mentions in an upcoming newsletter.
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Events:

 

MEDC - Microsoft Mobile and Embedded Developer Conference
RIM Wireless Symposium
palmOne Treo Mobile Solutions Road Show
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Flic Feature
RS232 Stand-alone Bluetooth Base Station
Need to connect your Flic Cordless Laser Bar Code scanner to that old computer or terminal? Here's the solution.
The RS232 Stand-alone Bluetooth Base Radio provides a wireless connection to any device with an existing serial port data input device. This could be an old DOS, Windows 3.1, or Windows 98 computer or a newer Linux machine. Point-of-Sale terminals also often have serial port scanners plugged into them.
Just because you have older equipment doesn't mean you can't "Cut the Cable" as well. No software required - simply connect the Stand-alone Base Station to your device and with Proximity pairing you can have your Cordless scanner working in no time. Learn more
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Flic Tip
Serial Monitors
If you plan on working with serial devices such as the Flic scanner, plan on acquiring a serial monitor (also called "protocol analyzer" or "data scope"). A serial monitor taps the line connecting your computer and the Flic scanner and allows you to see all data traffic. Being able to see data flow between devices makes application development and debugging significantly easier. Here, we cover 3 types of serial monitors:

Software serial monitor
PC-based serial monitor
Dedicated serial monitor

A software serial monitor is an application that runs on your development computer. As you test your application the serial monitor intercepts and displays the characters that traverse across your COM port. One excellent source for a software serial monitor is www.HHDSoftware.com. HHD offers several serial monitor versions depending on how much functionality you require. They are reasonably priced and HHD offers a 30-day free trial. The software is easy to install and use. As a point of reference, Microvision's Flic engineers regularly use HHD's serial monitor software. There are other serial monitor packages available but the HHD package is affordable and works well.

With a PC-based serial monitor you can convert an old desktop or laptop computer into a very nice analyzer using either software or a combination of hardware and software. HHD also offers a version that operates in this mode. This type of monitor is most useful when your development computer that does not support a software serial monitor (such as certain versions of Linux or Macintosh). The monitoring computer is cabled between the host and the serial device and it displays the data that flows through the cable.

A dedicated serial monitor is a self-contained box with all the analyzer functions built-in. These devices can be very small, battery-powered units with small displays, or large units that require AC power. These units can be expensive but you can find previous expensive devices selling for very low prices on eBay. Good ones include the NCC Network Probes, HP 495x series, etc. Many, including the HP 495x, work very well and make excellent doorstops or muscle-building devices when not in use as a serial monitor (they weigh about 18 pounds).

We have selfish motives for recommending a serial monitor. They will reduce your development time, decrease your interface aggravations, AND reduce the number of technical support calls that come in to Microvision. If you use Microvision's Flic SDK then also use a serial monitor. They are well worth it!
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Flic Developer Spotlight
Serialio.com is a key Microvision partner, and value added distributor, enabling Flic scanner solutions on many platforms. For example, Serialio.com's SerialMagic(tm) product enables the Flic scanner to run on Palm OS, MAC OS X, Blackberry, Zaurus, Linux, Pocket PC, Windows Mobile, Windows CE.NET, and Windows XP/2000/98 and Windows Server 2003.

Serialio.com also provides Java developer tools for working with the Flic scanner, and provides unique solutions like the BtSnap (Bluetooth Serial Network Access Point) allowing real-time simultaneous scanning on 7 Flic Bluetooth enabled wireless scanners to a single host computer.

Serialio.com - Bringing your bright ideas to Life

Request to be a featured developer
Do you have an application that you would like us to showcase? Send us an email.
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You Ask, We Answer

What is Bluetooth™ Serial Port Profile (SPP)? Does the Flic Cordless Laser Bar Code Scanner support it?

The Serial Port Profile defines the protocols and procedures that shall be used by devices using Bluetooth for serial cable emulation. The scenario covered by this profile deals with legacy applications using Bluetooth as a cable replacement through a virtual serial port abstraction.

The Flic Cordless Laser Bar Code Scanner does support SPP. In fact, this is the only profile it supports.

For applications that require keyboard emulation, Flicware Cordless software provides this while also managing the Bluetooth SPP connection behind the scenes. Flicware Cordless helps establish the initial connection and then provides auto-reconnection whenever the scanner goes to sleep after an idle period or when it may go out of range. In either of these conditions the connection with the computer is lost and must be re-established.

For applications that require tighter integration, the Flic SDK is available. The SDK helps the developer manage the Bluetooth SPP connection and reconnection with the Flic Cordless Laser Bar Code Scanner.
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Flic Developer Resources
Download the free SDK
Compatibility Matrix
How Can We Help You?
Flic News
Company Information

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Testimonials
This testimonial came to Microvision from Vic Boudolf Jr of Computer Directions:

"Programming the Flic is Quick."

"Back in my college days we used the FFPG method (Flip through the book, Find a close example problem, Plug in your numbers, and Grind out the answer). Using the Flic SDK is similar. Flip through the SDK and find the sample problem that fits your programming language. If you don't see one for your programming language, Microvision has VERY responsive tech support!

After studying the sample program I got it to upload a few bar code scans.
In less than an hour I had a working program and in two hours I had a program that would let the user set up a new scanner, set the scanner's internal clock, and upload bar codes."

Vic Boudolf Jr. is a partner in Computer Directions. Their bar code applications include FATS Fixed Asset Tracking, Job Tracker, Attendance Tracker, and Training Tracker. You can find them on the web at http://www.ComDirections.com. Be advised that Vic is not your average engineer and he has extensive programming experience. Do not expect to code a complete interface in two hours, but do count on Microvision to supply documentation and tools to make your Flic integration go smoothly.
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Partner with Microvision
The FlicMate™ Partner Program is designed to provide great solutions to the marketplace as a result of strong partnerships. Microvision seeks to develop complimentary partnerships with exceptional organizations in software, manufacturing, distribution, consulting, services and systems integration. The Flic Scanner's simplicity and affordability enables its use in applications where features, cost, ease-of-use and simple integration make it a clear choice. Together, FlicMate Partners and Microvision provide solutions for price sensitive bar code data collection solutions in a variety of industries, applications, and end user environments. Other benefits include:

  • Developing business to drive shared revenue opportunities
  • Creating additional marketplace visibility for partners
  • Delivering market solutions with the lowest total cost of ownership that     provide rapid return on investment
  • Establishing strong and valuable working relationships
  • Developing non-traditional channels for distribution of bar code scanning     solutions

For more information on the FlicMate Partner Program, please visit http://www.flicscanner.com/flicmate_overview.html.
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Flic Fact
Did you know Flic Scanner protects your customers' data in 3 ways?

  1. Storing data into nonvolatile Flash memory.
  2. Providing an acknowledge protocol; host must acknowledge receipt of     data before data is deleted.
  3. Providing a host control clear function; data is retained in scanner until     host forces clear.

And lastly the durable design keeps data from falling out should the Flic Scanner be impacted or dropped. ;) To increase durability further, consider the Flic Protective Boot.

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Flic Beat
Flic Scanner just keeps getting hotter. Appearing at the CTIA Fashion in Motion Wireless
Fashion Show this Flic Scanner is wearing a lanyard attached to a model. The model is carrying a Blackberry wireless device in her hand.
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