June 30, 2008
What's New?
Welcome to the June edition of the Microvision Developer Newsletter!
Flic Scanners are sold out! Developers with applications that utilize the Flic Scanner are strongly urged to udpate to the ROV Scanner. Do you want your ROV Scanner to alert users in a specific way? Read the "Just the Facts" article to learn about Customer Alerts. If you've recently been having troubles with the USB Cable on Windows®, read the "You Ask, We Answer" to learn how to fix it.
This month we'll be spotlighting a high profile software vendor: Wallace Wireless. Also, read the trend spotting article to get the full picture of the spectrum auction results, what it means, and how YOU benefit. Lastly, meet a few Microvision team - Mark Cope and David Scarlett.
Regards,
The Bar Code Scanner Team at Microvision
Events
Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2008
July 7-10, 2008
Houston, TX
https://partner.microsoft.com/global/40018508
Are you also a Microsoft Certified Partner and would like meet?
Let us know!
Microvision has officially stocked out of Flic Batch/Tethered and Flic Cordless Scanners; they will no longer be manufactured or sold by Microvision. Microvision has, however, kept a stock of Flic Scanners for warranty support. All Flic Scanner warranties remain unchanged and will be honored for one (1) year after the purchase date.
Although some applications may be forward compatible with the ROV Scanner, updates to the Microvision SDKs and ROV Scanner Firmware are common and Microvision will not guarantee continued forward compatibility. Microvision strongly advises developers use the new Microvision SDKs to update applications to support the ROV Scanner.
Quick links:
ROV Scanner SDKs: Windows, Windows Mobile, BlackBerry
Learn more about the ROV Scanner
Have a question? Ask us
Just the Facts: ROV Scanner Custom Alerts
The ROV Scanner allows you to create custom alerts using the speaker and the two-color LED. The “Signal” (or “Sig”) command allows you to control the frequency and duration of the speaker and the color and duration of the LED. You can use a maximum of eight signals.
Signal |
{frequency},{duration},{ledGreen},{ledBlue} |
|||
where |
{frequency} |
The beeper frequency in Hz (zero for silent) |
||
{duration} |
Duration of the frequency in intervals of 0.5 ms |
|||
{ledGreen} |
The green LED turns on when the signal is audible |
|||
{ledBlue} |
The blue LED turns on when the signal is audible |
|||
This example shows how to beep the speaker four times while alternating green and blue LED flashes. These examples divide the Signal string into sections to make it easier to read. The string concatenation is not necessary in your application but I recommend it to increase readability.
C#
m_Scanner.Command(
// Send Signal string to scanner.
"Signal",
// Beep speaker & flash blue LED.
"1000,100,0,1," +
// Stop speaker & flash green LED.
"0,100,1,0," +
// Repeat the above pattern.
"1000,100,0,1," +
"0,100,1,0," +
"1000,100,0,1," +
"0,100,1,0," +
"1000,100,0,1," +
//***** End of Signal string *****
"0,100,1,0",
0); // No values returned.
The SDK uses VARIANTs and these must be handled differently in C++.
C++ |
VARIANT signals; // String to control beeper/LEDs. |
If you have any questions, please visit the Developer FAQ.
You Ask, We Answer: My ROV Scanner was communicating through my USB Cable but now has problems. What's going on?
By Tony Cataldo
Recently, my faithful development computer stopped talking with my ROV Scanner. Thinking the USB connection was loose, I disconnected the cable, reconnected it and all was right with the world until I rebooted my computer and experienced the same problem. My esteemed and honorable NCC-6640 protocol analyzer showed commands leaving my computer but no response from ROV Scanner. I decided to check the cable using the Device Manager.
If an exclamation appears next to the cable name then you have a problem (probably a Code 10 error). This rare problem is a cable startup error that seems to have been caused by a Windows update. Symptoms of this problem are:
- The computer boots with the cable connected but the cable does not start.
- The computer is booted with the cable disconnected, you connect the cable, and the cable does not start.
- The error is cleared if the cable is unconnected and reconnected when the computer is running.
To resolve this problem you need to uninstall and reinstall the cable drivers:
1. Press Start button > Settings > Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs.
2. Select “Flic USB Interface Driver”* and press the Change/Remove button and press the Finish button when prompted.
*Same driver also applies to ROV Scanner USB cable.
3. Reinstall the USB cable driver.
From this point forward the cable should work properly. This problem occurs when the USB cable driver is loaded and then the Windows update is applied. If you are installing the cable and driver then you should never experience this problem.
By the way, you can diagnose other communications problems by following these steps:
1. Select Start > Settings > Control Panel > System or right-click on My Computer from the Windows Desktop and select Properties.
2. In the Device Manager select the Hardware tab and then press the Device Manager button.
3. Expand Ports (COM & LPT) and make sure the cable switch is set on VCOMM. Connect the cable and you should see a line that reads Microvision Flic USB Interface (COMx), where x is the number of the virtual COM port. If you disconnect the cable then this line should disappear. If this line does not appear then try reloading the USB cable driver.
If you have any questions, please visit the Developer FAQ.
Partner Spotlight: Wallace Wireless
Application: Mobile Forms
Platform: BlackBerry
Developers often face the make vs. buy decision when they are tasked with implementing business solutions. This month’s partner spotlight is on Wallace Wireless, an Ontario-based company that has focused its primary business on business continuity software and solutions.
Recently, many small businesses are looking for ways to make their mobile workforce more efficient. One common area for improvement is the task of capturing information, whether it’s creating a work order, time card, sales receipt or asset audit sheet. More often than not, this information is being captured on a paper form. Later, the information is then transposed, electronically, into a line-of-business application and processed.
However convenient pen and paper may be, the benefits are outweighed by the detriments: time consuming, error prone and inefficient.
Wallace Wireless provides the perfect solution: WIC forms on BlackBerry. Using Wallace’s service, you can quickly recreate your forms in digital format and easily push them to BlackBerry® handhelds. WIC Forms has native ROV Scanner support allowing mobile workers to quickly capture data into the form and send it to the home office. Once complete, the worker simply clicks “submit” to send the form over the wireless network to the backend system.
Time is saved by eliminating the data re-entry step and errors are virtually eliminated by utilizing bar code data capture. In the end, mobile workers are more efficient because they can capture and process information more quickly and accurately. Less effort is placed on data entry, and more on what truly matters: compelling customer service.
To learn more about ROV Scanner solutions, click here.
Trend Spotting: Spectrum Auction Results and How Developers Benefit
In April 2008 the “700 Megahertz auction” ended with Verizon the victor.
The main event was Verizon versus Google. You don’t normally think of Google as a cell phone carrier, but Google has nation-wide fiber for the back haul network. It’s also got billions of dollars in its war chest to show mobile customers more ads. So it was Verizon’s currently closed network versus Google’s upcoming, open mobile OS: “Android”.
Both Sprint and T-Mobile have already committed to adopting Google’s free operating system. But Verizon is far larger and has richer customers. And if Google won, then there was a fifth major player in the US cellular market, alongside these three and AT&T.
Bidding was secret. And it turned out, Google simply bid the $4.6 billion required. Why? Once the the $4.6 billion plateau was crested, whomever won the “C block” of the spectrum would have keep the airwaves "open"; customers would then have the freedom to use any device with any application. No more being locked down to a specific suite of devices.
Yet Verizon out-bid Google, paying nearly $9.6 billion to secure their spectrum bids, including the "C Block" for February 2009. Verizon also said it would open up its existing airwaves. It just never said WHEN this would happen; odds are it will put up what obstacles it can to prevent Google from targetting its customers with mobile advertising they would not gain a share of. In fact, Verizon is trying to work with the Linux Mobile organization to shut out Google.
Despite Verizon’s efforts, Google’s place is assured. The FCC open platform rules mandate “any application from any device,” and that obviously includes Android. Google hopes that access also leads back to Google’s search engine, and its voice search programs.
Bottom line, open airwaves will push carriers to focus on compelling service instead of providing hot devices. Developers can then concentrate on compelling software features instead of worrying about compatibility on every device and every operating platform. In the end, the user is the winner, having the freedom to use whatever device they choose, with any application on any open carrier.
To learn more about Android, click here.
To learn more about the Linux Mobile organization, click here.
Meet David Scarlett: Wireless Channel Manager
My name is David Scarlett, Wireless Channel Manager for Microvision. I manage relationships with VARs, Mobile Operators (carriers), large distributors and other players in the wireless industry. If you play a role in the wireless industry and would like to talk, contact me at:
email: david_scarlett@microvision.com
phone: (440) 590-5109
Meet Mark Cope: Global ISV Manager
My name is Mark Cope, Global ISV Manager for Microvision. I manage all of the ISV Partners and am constantly looking for new partners who have developed innovative solutions that are integrated with our ROV Scanner. Once we identify a fit within our portfolio, there are many opportunities to sell the combined solution through our Carriers and Distributors around the world. I am looking forward to hearing from companies who meet this criteria.
Contact Mark Cope at:
email: mark_cope@microvision.com
phone: (732) 979-3895
Microvision Beat: ROV Spotting on Spring Break
This ROV Scanner was seen kayaking on Lake Siskiyou, CA, near Mt. Shasta.
Submit your own ROV Scanner Spotting!
Developer FAQ
Case Studies
Three ways to put the ROV Scanner to work for you right now.
Check out the Compatibility Matrix and Platform Resources
Report device compatibility issues or successes.
Developer Support - Need Help?
Buy a ROV Scanner online
Flic® is a registered trademark and ROV ™ is a trademark of Microvision, Inc. BlackBerry® is a registered trademark of Research in Motion, Ltd. Windows® and Windows Mobile® are registered trademarks of Microsoft, Inc. Bluetooth® is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
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