Using these tools, I can run the onePOS Terminal application on the iPhone and have full access to everything on the screen on a standard POS Terminal. This includes starting a check, adding / modifying items, performing check options, even doing server checkouts and management functions.
The server currently setup is in our office, but I have been doing all my testing over home cable modem and 3g. Home cable modem has very good performance, and 3g is fine if you dump all the bitmaps and logos... of course if you are using the local POS network the speed is amazing.
I have been very surprised at how usable the solution actually is. Yes the screen is small and if you do not have perfect vision you better be wearing your glasses. This is not a handheld solution for the masses, but I can see lots of areas for it to be successful, including remote owners (an owner can look at their sales, comp a check, etc all from their home in real time), remote ordering (catering, marinas, golf courses, large events), and as a general handheld / line buster in a quick service or casual dining restaurant.
I have found zooming in so the height of the screen fits in the height of the display, and can swipe left and right to move the screen as needed. I am hoping to get some feedback from our partners as they come in and out of the office and look forward to any comments on this.
Update 1:
Removed:
We have setup a server to connect to for eval purposes. You will need to download an RDP viewer application for your iPhone. There is a free one that works some, but Jaadu RDP is the one we are using and it seems to work great. Use 71.43.155.5 for the IP and onePOS as the user with the standard onePOS Windows User Password.
Update 2:
We have had a lot of people look at this and all liked it! We have tested the iPod touch unit and found battery life to be right at 2 hours of continuous use, which would be enough for line busting or an entire shift of on / off use. We have also found that waking the unit up is a matter of a few seconds and the software picks up right where it left off.
Update 2:
We have had a lot of people look at this and all liked it! We have tested the iPod touch unit and found battery life to be right at 2 hours of continuous use, which would be enough for line busting or an entire shift of on / off use. We have also found that waking the unit up is a matter of a few seconds and the software picks up right where it left off.
2 hours of battery life is just not sufficient. Would you add a swipe the battery life would get even worse... but restaurant-usable swipes are not around for I-phones. They still block the data port.
ReplyDeleteMost people (have never run handhelds in a restaurant) don't consider that cradeling a handheld defeats the whole idea of having a mobile device.
And 2 hours battery life translates into maybe dozens of batteries to manage if you have multiple servers use handhelds. That requires multiple chargers and plugs and is just not workable at all in the BOH of most restaurants...
We have come across a handheld, that lasts in sleep mode for up to 4 days, but is on and working within 1 second. Its called WIDEFLY.