This is a half-baked solution. A business will not get rid of their register, which actually holds a cash drawer, in favor of a wi-fi enabled iPad and a flimsily attached Square device. If they want to get serious, they are going to have to step up and develop some practical hardware that the business owners can use for more than just credit card transactions. Also, an iPad costs a lot more than the average freestanding cash register.
The app has supported wireless cash drawers and receipt printers for quite some time.
I don't understand why this is a story. The CC Terminal App has been allowing me to use my phone (and now iPad) for POS transactions since 2008.
So AI should detail new products just because the same basic functionality already exists? So that means no detailing of the iPad HD on Wednesday because it'll be still be a tablet?
1) 2.75%? Yet another reason why I think Apple will want to spearhead an NFC-based system through their iTS. Square's Card Case is somewhat in the vain I hope Apple goes.
I actually think Apple should try to buy both Twitter AND Square.
This is a half-baked solution. A business will not get rid of their register, which actually holds a cash drawer, in favor of a wi-fi enabled iPad and a flimsily attached Square device. If they want to get serious, they are going to have to step up and develop some practical hardware that the business owners can use for more than just credit card transactions. Also, an iPad costs a lot more than the average freestanding cash register.
The iPad is about double the cost of that dinosaur, yes, but it's also double the cost of a netbook. Just as those died off so will those clunkers of registers.
That cash register you linked to is not portable, does not have easily upgradeable software, needs a multi-step link to a repository of inventory information, takes many lessons to learn, and makes gathering of sales tax a lot more cumbersome. Plus I don't see an integrated credit card reader. Instead of all-in-one, through a single app and attachment no less, you need Quickbooks and SD cards. And paper receipts. And, as already described, you need a separate merchant account.
This was briefly brought up in a previous thread. Yes the technology is new but it will get better. It can only go up.
It's great that they shows the square for their reader. It's good idea for a simple handheld unit that might not get used often, but when you have a register system you are expanding to a higher usage scenario that could be used by a lot more people. That 3.5mm jack can only take so much force. At this point I think Square should offer a new system that would limit the potential force applied to the jack. There are plenty of CC readers for the iPad that are more sturdy:
You do realize that there is always a merchant bank gateway with credit card purchases.
Generally a small/medium sized retailer has both an online and a brick and mortar swipe machine. In both cases the info goes to a merchant gateway account and then upon approval of the charge, the merchant account moves the funds to the retailer's commercial bank account. There are several merchant gateway banks to choose from but you must have one. In this case Square is providing the service.
Plus, according to their website, this has no merchant account, monthly fees, or set up costs. Strictly a per-use service, like paypal. This is an incredible boon to very small businesses and people who sell at shows, flea markets, and events.
SS Square is baked well. They've got great integration but it's not for everyone. Small business benefits from Square because many want to setup shop but payment processing usually requires a Merchant Account (around 10-15 dollars a month). Square doesn't require that in lieu of higher swipe fees.
Square is building our their own Card Case system where a card swipe isn't even necessary for those with Smartphones.
Ideal solutions for a set amount of transactions a month or a highly technical set of patrons (coffee shops around colleges or tech centers) that would use their smartphones.
What about cash purchases? As a product, it's lacking the functional equivalent of a real register system.
iPads have not worked out particularly well at a restaurant in my home town. They have a poslavu.com iPad POS system and servers carry iPads to take orders that automatically get transmitted to the kitchen. It's good in theory but in reality the system hiccups occasionally which can be irritating to customers trying to give their order. And when a customer orders water they want water; they don't want the server to instead start doing data entry into their iPad to tell the kitchen water is needed.
That problem would be solved by using Square and making water free.
This is a half-baked solution. A business will not get rid of their register, which actually holds a cash drawer, in favor of a wi-fi enabled iPad and a flimsily attached Square device. If they want to get serious, they are going to have to step up and develop some practical hardware that the business owners can use for more than just credit card transactions. Also, an iPad costs a lot more than the average freestanding cash register.
I actually think Apple should try to buy both Twitter AND Square.
Do they need Square? I don't see it offering much over what they already built in-house for their transaction devices... which by the way are durable and well built unlike the issues I brought up about Square for a constant use POS system.
As for Twitter, I like that idea but does Twitter make money and how would if affect Twitter for all the other devices? I know it gets pooh-poohed a lot around here but Twitter is great, one just has to get over thinking it's for Ashton Kutcher and Miley Cyrus for tell you what they had for breakfast.
Stephen Fry is a prolific Twitterer and made an astute comment about it forcing you to write succinctly, something neither Fry nor I have ever been accused of. \
The iPad is about double the cost of that dinosaur, yes, but it's also double the cost of a netbook. Just as those died off so will those clunkers of registers.
That cash register you linked to is not portable, does not have easily upgradeable software, needs a multi-step link to a repository of inventory information, takes many lessons to learn, and makes gathering of sales tax a lot more cumbersome. Plus I don't see an integrated credit card reader. Instead of all-in-one, through a single app and attachment no less, you need Quickbooks and SD cards. And paper receipts. And, as already described, you need a separate merchant account.
This was briefly brought up in a previous thread. Yes the technology is new but it will get better. It can only go up.
I don't operate a retail business, so I can only speculate as to the real world efficiency of such a system. Most small businesses are quite cost and security conscious, so the likelihood one would replace a cheap and reliable cash register with an easily stolen iPad set-up has me wondering.
As for Twitter, I like that idea but does Twitter make money and how would if affect Twitter for all the other devices? I know it gets pooh-poohed a lot around here but Twitter is great, one just has to get over thinking it's for Ashton Kutcher and Miley Cyrus for tell you what they had for breakfast.
iCloud doesn't make money either. Twitter needs to make money so it's beginning to go south. Every social network goes south when they try to make money.
Twitter would put Apple on the map in the social network realm, and Apple needs that because they have established at this stage that they cannot build social networks. Your Apple ID would also give you a Twitter account at which point all you need to do is create a username. And they could use Twitter to launch deals and products (with total control), Apple could keep Twitter ad-free, etc. There are many many other reasons why it makes sense. Twitter even feels like an Apple product. If Apple were able to build a social network Twitter would be the type of thing they would do. It just makes too much sense. Would be like a hand in glove. I'd bet you $1M Apple has already tried to buy them a few times, but Twitter wasn't selling, but eventually Twitter will sell, and I hope Apple takes the price. They'd be well worth $20B IMO. Twitter is one thing that is not a fad and isn't going away. I'd love Apple to have control of that.
And God forbid Google buys them. We're fucked if that happens.
iCloud doesn't make money either. Twitter needs to make money so it's beginning to go south. Every social network goes south when they try to make money..
But iCloud ties Apple's ecosystem together which sells more devices. That's the important difference.
I don't see how buying Twitter will accomplish this goal nor why they would need to since they've already incorporated it into the OS.
Now if we're talking about Twitter going to close up shop despite having a massive following then I could see Apple wanting to pick up the pieces by adding it to their ecosystem, but under normal circumstances I don't see it.
Do they need Square? I don't see it offering much over what they already built in-house for their transaction devices... which by the way are durable and well built unlike the issues I brought up about Square for a constant use POS system.
As for Twitter, I like that idea but does Twitter make money and how would if affect Twitter for all the other devices? I know it gets pooh-poohed a lot around here but Twitter is great, one just has to get over thinking it's for Ashton Kutcher and Miley Cyrus for tell you what they had for breakfast.
Stephen Fry is a prolific Twitterer and made an astute comment about it forcing you to write succinctly, something neither Fry nor I have ever been accused of. \
Comments
This is a half-baked solution. A business will not get rid of their register, which actually holds a cash drawer, in favor of a wi-fi enabled iPad and a flimsily attached Square device. If they want to get serious, they are going to have to step up and develop some practical hardware that the business owners can use for more than just credit card transactions. Also, an iPad costs a lot more than the average freestanding cash register.
The app has supported wireless cash drawers and receipt printers for quite some time.
I don't understand why this is a story. The CC Terminal App has been allowing me to use my phone (and now iPad) for POS transactions since 2008.
So AI should detail new products just because the same basic functionality already exists? So that means no detailing of the iPad HD on Wednesday because it'll be still be a tablet?
The app has supported wireless cash drawers and receipt printers for quite some time.
It appears that the new app supports only certain wired printers and certain wired cash drawers:
https://squareup.com/receipt-printer...#printer-setup
Don't take my prior comments the wrong way... I am all in favor of this app!
Though, I would like more local control and information gathering/processing -- and less information on 3rd-party servers.
Jack Dorsey is a genius. He's our generations' Steve Jobs.
1) 2.75%? Yet another reason why I think Apple will want to spearhead an NFC-based system through their iTS. Square's Card Case is somewhat in the vain I hope Apple goes.
I actually think Apple should try to buy both Twitter AND Square.
This is a half-baked solution. A business will not get rid of their register, which actually holds a cash drawer, in favor of a wi-fi enabled iPad and a flimsily attached Square device. If they want to get serious, they are going to have to step up and develop some practical hardware that the business owners can use for more than just credit card transactions. Also, an iPad costs a lot more than the average freestanding cash register.
The iPad is about double the cost of that dinosaur, yes, but it's also double the cost of a netbook. Just as those died off so will those clunkers of registers.
That cash register you linked to is not portable, does not have easily upgradeable software, needs a multi-step link to a repository of inventory information, takes many lessons to learn, and makes gathering of sales tax a lot more cumbersome. Plus I don't see an integrated credit card reader. Instead of all-in-one, through a single app and attachment no less, you need Quickbooks and SD cards. And paper receipts. And, as already described, you need a separate merchant account.
This was briefly brought up in a previous thread. Yes the technology is new but it will get better. It can only go up.
It's great that they shows the square for their reader. It's good idea for a simple handheld unit that might not get used often, but when you have a register system you are expanding to a higher usage scenario that could be used by a lot more people. That 3.5mm jack can only take so much force. At this point I think Square should offer a new system that would limit the potential force applied to the jack. There are plenty of CC readers for the iPad that are more sturdy:
You're dead right.
You do realize that there is always a merchant bank gateway with credit card purchases.
Generally a small/medium sized retailer has both an online and a brick and mortar swipe machine. In both cases the info goes to a merchant gateway account and then upon approval of the charge, the merchant account moves the funds to the retailer's commercial bank account. There are several merchant gateway banks to choose from but you must have one. In this case Square is providing the service.
Plus, according to their website, this has no merchant account, monthly fees, or set up costs. Strictly a per-use service, like paypal. This is an incredible boon to very small businesses and people who sell at shows, flea markets, and events.
SS Square is baked well. They've got great integration but it's not for everyone. Small business benefits from Square because many want to setup shop but payment processing usually requires a Merchant Account (around 10-15 dollars a month). Square doesn't require that in lieu of higher swipe fees.
Square is building our their own Card Case system where a card swipe isn't even necessary for those with Smartphones.
Ideal solutions for a set amount of transactions a month or a highly technical set of patrons (coffee shops around colleges or tech centers) that would use their smartphones.
What about cash purchases? As a product, it's lacking the functional equivalent of a real register system.
I actually think Apple should try to buy both Twitter AND Square.
And let people pay for things with the CC on file with the iTunes store.
iPads have not worked out particularly well at a restaurant in my home town. They have a poslavu.com iPad POS system and servers carry iPads to take orders that automatically get transmitted to the kitchen. It's good in theory but in reality the system hiccups occasionally which can be irritating to customers trying to give their order. And when a customer orders water they want water; they don't want the server to instead start doing data entry into their iPad to tell the kitchen water is needed.
That problem would be solved by using Square and making water free.
This is a half-baked solution. A business will not get rid of their register, which actually holds a cash drawer, in favor of a wi-fi enabled iPad and a flimsily attached Square device. If they want to get serious, they are going to have to step up and develop some practical hardware that the business owners can use for more than just credit card transactions. Also, an iPad costs a lot more than the average freestanding cash register.
Once again you are correct.
I actually think Apple should try to buy both Twitter AND Square.
Do they need Square? I don't see it offering much over what they already built in-house for their transaction devices... which by the way are durable and well built unlike the issues I brought up about Square for a constant use POS system.
As for Twitter, I like that idea but does Twitter make money and how would if affect Twitter for all the other devices? I know it gets pooh-poohed a lot around here but Twitter is great, one just has to get over thinking it's for Ashton Kutcher and Miley Cyrus for tell you what they had for breakfast.
Stephen Fry is a prolific Twitterer and made an astute comment about it forcing you to write succinctly, something neither Fry nor I have ever been accused of.
The iPad is about double the cost of that dinosaur, yes, but it's also double the cost of a netbook. Just as those died off so will those clunkers of registers.
That cash register you linked to is not portable, does not have easily upgradeable software, needs a multi-step link to a repository of inventory information, takes many lessons to learn, and makes gathering of sales tax a lot more cumbersome. Plus I don't see an integrated credit card reader. Instead of all-in-one, through a single app and attachment no less, you need Quickbooks and SD cards. And paper receipts. And, as already described, you need a separate merchant account.
This was briefly brought up in a previous thread. Yes the technology is new but it will get better. It can only go up.
I don't operate a retail business, so I can only speculate as to the real world efficiency of such a system. Most small businesses are quite cost and security conscious, so the likelihood one would replace a cheap and reliable cash register with an easily stolen iPad set-up has me wondering.
As for Twitter, I like that idea but does Twitter make money and how would if affect Twitter for all the other devices? I know it gets pooh-poohed a lot around here but Twitter is great, one just has to get over thinking it's for Ashton Kutcher and Miley Cyrus for tell you what they had for breakfast.
iCloud doesn't make money either. Twitter needs to make money so it's beginning to go south. Every social network goes south when they try to make money.
Twitter would put Apple on the map in the social network realm, and Apple needs that because they have established at this stage that they cannot build social networks. Your Apple ID would also give you a Twitter account at which point all you need to do is create a username. And they could use Twitter to launch deals and products (with total control), Apple could keep Twitter ad-free, etc. There are many many other reasons why it makes sense. Twitter even feels like an Apple product. If Apple were able to build a social network Twitter would be the type of thing they would do. It just makes too much sense. Would be like a hand in glove. I'd bet you $1M Apple has already tried to buy them a few times, but Twitter wasn't selling, but eventually Twitter will sell, and I hope Apple takes the price. They'd be well worth $20B IMO. Twitter is one thing that is not a fad and isn't going away. I'd love Apple to have control of that.
And God forbid Google buys them. We're fucked if that happens.
And let people pay for things with the CC on file with the iTunes store.
Indeed.
iCloud doesn't make money either. Twitter needs to make money so it's beginning to go south. Every social network goes south when they try to make money..
But iCloud ties Apple's ecosystem together which sells more devices. That's the important difference.
I don't see how buying Twitter will accomplish this goal nor why they would need to since they've already incorporated it into the OS.
Now if we're talking about Twitter going to close up shop despite having a massive following then I could see Apple wanting to pick up the pieces by adding it to their ecosystem, but under normal circumstances I don't see it.
Actually the new register system has some good features and some limitations. Here are some of the limitations:
You're like a feedback-God!
Do they need Square? I don't see it offering much over what they already built in-house for their transaction devices... which by the way are durable and well built unlike the issues I brought up about Square for a constant use POS system.
As for Twitter, I like that idea but does Twitter make money and how would if affect Twitter for all the other devices? I know it gets pooh-poohed a lot around here but Twitter is great, one just has to get over thinking it's for Ashton Kutcher and Miley Cyrus for tell you what they had for breakfast.
Stephen Fry is a prolific Twitterer and made an astute comment about it forcing you to write succinctly, something neither Fry nor I have ever been accused of.
They had each other for breakfast!