Category: Small Biz Applications

Using Your iPad as a Point-of-Sale Device

by Justin Alcon

The iPad isn’t just in the business of generating revenue for Apple; in many modern small businesses it’s now tracking revenue as well. The super-popular tablet has been appointed (with increasing frequency) to help at the checkout counter and point-of-sale stations in restaurants and retail locations around the world.  Several different vendors offer iOS software which supports order management, payment processing, reporting and remote management.

One of the earliest products to this market was Square software (which also works on the iPhone) and features a custom wooden swivel case – a model of form and function.  Meanwhile, in the midst of busy Grand Central Terminal in New York, Joe coffee uses a discreetly shielded iPad which runs ShopKeep to track inventory and ring up sales. Grand Central is a busy place, and the setup seems to handle the high volume quite well. According to ShopKeep, similar setups are also used in several other Joe and Steve’s Ice Cream area locations.

In Sausalito CA, Lappert’s Fish & Chips uses a Revel Systems Point of Sale terminal to power their checkout. This high-tech setup sports the latest in Brinks style aesthetics, comes with an optional produce scale, and supports multiple payment systems. Table management versions are available, and the ever popular remote-management capability gives managers peace of mind.

In Okinawa, Japan, Global Network Systems offers the FLAVIUS system, which combines the register, customer counter and point-of-purchase stations.  Through FLAVIUS, businesses can use iOS devices like the iPhone or iPod Touch and WiFi to function in place of the traditional point-of-purchase setup. The software also includes integrated attendance management and reporting functions, while politely hiding the cash drawer.

It’s clear that the power of commerce has arrived in the palm of our hands, and the tyranny of expensive point of sale systems is coming to an end…which is great news to small business owners everywhere!

google cloud print goes mobile

by Justin Alcon

In business, everything’s going “to the cloud” lately.  Riding  this trend, Google has rolled out an update to their recently released Cloud Print product.  This update allows users to print directly to their home printer via mobile Gmail.  Cloud Print was initially a web feature that allowed users to print from any location, but was only available for Chrome OS. Now iPhone and Android users can print anything from mobile Gmail while they’re on the go.
So, when you’re out and about and want to print an email or attachment (like a .doc or .pdf file), just fire up Gmail’s mobile web interface.  Hit the print button from the top right-hand drop-down menu and when you get home, a hard copy will be waiting for you at your printer. To set up Google Cloud Print, head to Chrome’s preferences on your desktop/laptop and go to Under the Hood > Sign in to Google Cloud Print. It should automatically add all printers connected to that computer to your Google Cloud Print manager.  Afterwards, you’ll be able to print from your phone through your Gmail mobile client.   Note: as of right now, it only works on Windows, and you’ll need the latest beta version of Google Chrome to set it up.

TimeDroid: Freshbooks Time Tracking App for Android

by BrothaTech

FreshBooks lives up to its tag line “Painless billing” by providing a very easy to use online invoicing, time tracking and expense management service (ask me how I know). Freshbooks has an iPhone app that allows you to create, edit, and send FreshBooks invoices from your iPhone.

My girl DigitalFanGirl via her “31 Days of Android App Goodness” series, hipped me to another Freshbooks app specifically for tracking time spent on projects via your Android mobile device. The app is called TimeDroid and if you are a fan of Freshbooks, you will appreciate the simplicity of being able to record time spent on projects from a device as handy as easily accessible as a smartphone, especially if you are working on a project and the only electronic device on your person your trusty Android (who actually writes anything down anymore?). Now you can record your time no matter where you are…cause it’s not like you are leaving your house without your smartphone (ask me how I know)

TimeDroid for Android devices is a free download from the Android Market on your device or scan the QR Code with your smartphone.

TimeDroid QR Code

BlackBerry Playbook will have “Balance” Service Too

by BrothaTech

It has been recently announced that Blackberry is currently testing a service for BES (BlackBerry Enterprise Service) called BlackBerry Balance that will allow IT departments to control corporate data on a BlackBerry smartphone issued to an employee without touching the employee’s personal data also stored on the device. I personally think this is a move (and a good one) by BlackBerry to maintain its dominance in the enterprise arena by allowing the use of just one device for work and play.

BlackBerry Balance Corporate Data Wipe Screen

To up the ante, it has also been announced that the BlackBerry Balance service will be available for the upcoming BlackBerry PlayBook tablet device as well. Since the PlayBook has been touted as business device, it makes since to provide users with a way to get extended use from the device while outside of the office.

BlackBerry Balance for smartphones (and tablets) doesn’t have a firm launch date, but word on the street is that you will be able to carry two BlackBerry devices in one within the next few months.

Mobilize SharePoint with Moprise for iPhone

by BrothaTech

Moprise Cloud Collaboration

Microsoft SharePoint is one of the giants in intranet file/content sharing, collaboration, and management. Moprise wants to get you from behind your desk and give you access to your SharePoint content no matter where you are.

Moprise, which I am assuming is a mash-up of “mobile” and “enterprise” (which would make perfect sense) is a mobile collaboration cloud-based solution that enables workgroups and enterprise users to securely access, share, and collaborate on any SharePoint business content from their mobile device.

Moprise can take what your company or group already does:

– social networking
– group content creation and management
– presentation sharing, project management
– integrated voice and video
– calendaring, scheduling

…and adds value by giving it that “cloud” flavor that frees users from feeling left out if they are not at their desks. Speaking of freedom, Moprise also offers an iPad version, with Android currently in the works.

Moprise offers a free (‘Lite’ is what cool kids are calling it these days) version where you can just access content. Beefed up paid versions with more options and more users start at $5 bucks a month. The iPhone and iPad apps are a free download from the iTunes App Store.

The ability for users to access, edit, and share QUICKLY in order to make fast and confident business decisions while on the go is what Moprise wants to capitalize on. Try it out and let us know what you think in the comments section.

AccountEdge

by Justin Alcon
AccountEdge, the small business accounting software, has a 20-year track record of good stuff.  Now, it’s been updated with a robust feature list that includes:

– an app for iPad and iPhone
– a  new time-tracking web application
– advanced retainers and progress billing capabilities.

“We’re happy to announce our iPad and iPhone app will let people take their business on the road,” said Managing Partner Tom Nash. “You will be able to enter sales and expenses from anywhere and sync that data with your company’s Mac or Windows desktop version of AccountEdge.”

AccountEdge Mobile for iOS
For users of AccountEdge 2011 desktop software, AccountEdge Mobile is currently available in the iTunes store. The free app syncs cards, items, activities, and jobs; and uses these to create quotes and orders, tracks service and billing, activity slips and expense transactions.

Time Tracker for AccountEdge
Time Tracker is a web application that lets employees and sub-contractors enter time sheets and activity slips remotely.  It’ll work whether they’re across the office, across town, or across the country. Time Tracker lets users apply time to both jobs and payroll, and then can sync this data with AccountEdge 2011. It makes time billing simple, fast, and secure; and, allows employees to enter their time without having access to the company’s full accounting records.
Time Tracker is soon to be released and is free while in beta, with a modest subscription price to be announced at a later date.

In addition to these great business features AccountEdge also has progress billing, helps with retainers for your lawyers, and allows you to create an invoice from a purchase.  AccountEdge is available through the AccountEdge website. AccountEdge is priced at $299 for new users, and $159 for upgraders ($249 for Network Edition).

Pay For That Latte With Your Smartphone and the Starbucks App

by BrothaTech

This one goes out to all my small biz owners who constantly set up small satellite offices at their local Starbucks (in addition to being on a first name basis with all the staff).

The Starbucks app for BlackBerry and iPhone now lets you pay for your premium coffee using your smartphone (I drink hot chocolate in the winter and smoothies in the summer…but this is not about me). After you’ve created a Starbucks account, downloaded the Starbucks app, and linked your account; you can simply show a 2D bar code for the cashier Java Specialist to scan to pay for your moca something-or-the-other. The payment doesn’t pull directly from a credit card, but the app itself acts as a Starbucks Card that you add monies to in order to use…Which shouldn’t be a problem for the Starbucks faithful. If you’re cool with it, you can even save your credit card info to make it easier to reload your virtual card.

This feature of the app started off as a trial in local (you guessed it) Seattle Starbucks stores, but now is ready for a nationwide shine. In addition to paying for merchandise, the Starbucks app lets you check your card balance, monitor your Starbucks reward points and see nearby Starbucks locations on a map or list. If you get a physical Starbucks card as a gift you can still pay by smartphone by adding the gift card’s number and security code to your account.

To download for iPhone, visit the Starbucks Card Mobile app in iTunes. To get it for BlackBerry, visit the Starbucks Card Mobile App for BlackBerry site or text “GO” to 70845 from your smartphone.

Happy MLK Day!

by Justin Alcon
Today marks the 25th anniversary of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday (observed for the first time in 1986).  So please join myself and the rest of America in celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. King. Martin Luther King Day is not only a federal holiday, but also a national day of service. In 1994, Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act,  encouraging citizens to volunteer today.

This MLK Day, many employees of our biggest and best companies (such as Google, for example) are participating in service projects all over America. They’re reminding us that while internet and mobile technologies can be powerful tools for your business, they can also be leveraged in the service of your community. At MLKDay.gov you can learn about the King Day of Service and find a project in your area.  Projects include delivering meals, refurbishing schools and community centers, collecting food and clothing, signing up mentors, reading to children, promoting nonviolence and more. Many of these projects start on King Day and last throughout the year.

You can also read more here about using existing social media tools like Twitter, Flickr, and Facebook in service to your community.  There are even apps like this one (for iPhone) that bring Dr. King’s legacy to the palm of your hand in the form of speeches, sound excerpts and more.

President Obama is leading by example today and is volunteering at a local elementary school in Washington DC.  To commemorate the service aspect of the holiday, the president gave this quote: “ Dr. King obviously had a dream of justice and equality in our society, but he also had a dream of service, that you could be a drum major for service, that you could lead by giving back to our communities.”

So together, let’s make Martin Luther King Jr. Day “a day on, not a day off.”

Remember the People You Meet with NameCatcher Biz App

by BrothaTech

With all the seminar’s, conferences and networking events you feel compelled to attend as a small business owner, remembering names can be a task in and of itself. Yeah, you could collect business cards from people to add to the mountain of business cards you already have (and never look at).

OR you could use the NameCatcher Biz iPhone App that allows you to not only quickly jot down a name, but assign names to categories and add little facts/details about the person. NameCatcher Biz displays those categories and hints about people you meet so you are constantly reminded. Glancing at your master list of names can help you make that visual connection about each person.

Additional features include:

Photo tool – snap an image and assign it to your names
GPS feature – shake your phone to pull up a list of people you’ve met at a particular location
Contact List Sync – Sync your names, categories, and details about a name with your phone’s contact list.

Every person has their own unique way of using memory tools. NameCatcher Biz was built to allow you to search how you want. If you want more details about a person, NameCatcher Biz has “additional info” fields to allow you to add more. Some of us want the bare bones…others want more visuals, more hints and even location reminders. The app can find the name you need in a blink, using it in whatever way works best for you.

NameCatcher Biz is $0.99 in the iTunes App Store (OS 3.0 and up)

Handyscan Document Scanner for Windows Phone 7

by BrothaTech

Smartphone cameras come pretty much standard with uber-high megapixel cameras nowadays – Prolly more than your average consumer will ever need. Simply because most of us still have a trusty-old (or new) point-and-shoot camera for “real pictures”. So I can’t think of any other purpose to use the smartphone camera for than using it as a document scanner for those documents that you need to send to a friend, family member, or client when your phone is the only piece of technology you have on your person at that moment.

Developers JDB Pocketware wasted no time in creating the Handyscan app for Microsoft Windows Phone 7 devices that snaps a shot of the image and can convert it to either .jpg or .pdf to quickly send to anyone.

Handyscan can emulate the functions of an actual document/image scanner by scanning multiple documents and creating one file and edit options like the ability to align/rotate, crop and change the size/resolution of scanned documents. Additionally, Handyscan has also a ‘typewriter’ feature which allows you to type text into scanned documents or forms.

Handyscan for WP7 devices can be downloaded from the Windows Phone Marketplace on your device for $2.99. There is also a free lite version that excludes the options of choosing the file format (.jpg or .pdf) and size/resolution of scanned documents.

Of Course, even if you have the best lighting and a super-steady hand, a scanned document using an actual scanner will produce the best document quality, but I don’t know anyone who carries one of those around with them…just in case. So for those times when you need to get that document scanned and sent sooner the later, why not rely on your smartphone?

…You already rely on it for everything else