TCP and Bluetooth Reader for Android™

TEC-IT joined the Android™ Community!

TEC-IT (http://www.tec-it.com) published GetBlue - its first free App for Android smartphones!

GetBlue is a smart application which communicates with Bluetooth and TCP/IP devices. The user is able to connect to arbitrary Bluetooth devices supporting the Serial Port Profile (SPP), receive and display device data immediately and finally to send manually entered data or control commands to the device. In addition to Bluetooth SPP GetBlue supports connectivity via TCP sockets.

We encourage you to give it a try! GetBlue is completely free and is intended as debugging/testing tool for Android users. When browsing the Android Market with your handset just search for the term GetBlue!

The screen-shot shows barcode data scanned with a Bluetooth barcode scanner paired with a Google G1. GetBlue is available for Android 1.5, 1.6, 2.0 or higher. It was tested with Google G1 and Motorola Milestone/Motorola Droid. For more information get in touch with us - visit www.tec-it.com.

UPDATE 09/04/2010:
We just released an update with the following new features:
- Save to File (save received device data to an arbitrary text file)
- Copy to Clipboard
- No more demo dialogs, this version of GetBlue is completely unlimited (and still free).

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Create Barcodes using the Word-Excel Add-in with Word

by Nate Schubert

One of the most popular methods of creating barcodes is by using fonts in applications like Microsoft Word for 2003, 2007, and 2010. Generally speaking, the data you want in a barcode must be encoded, and then the font in that highlighted text should be changed to the barcode type and size of your choice.

Not anymore! IDAutomation is very pleased to announce the latest barcode font tool, free to use with the purchase of IDAutomation Barcode Fonts. To see how easy this new tool is to use, just watch the video below!

Create Barcodes using the Word-Excel Add-in with Word @ Yahoo! Video

Also available on YouTube

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Create Barcodes using the Word-Excel Add-in with Excel

by Nate Schubert

Our previous post touches on using the new Word-Excel Add-in to create barcodes using Microsoft Word. Many IDAutomation customers like how effortless the process of barcode generation becomes with the use of this tool for both Microsoft Word and Excel. This particular video tutorial talks about how to use the tool to create barcodes in Excel.

While the uses in Word are impressive, it doesn't quite compare to the level of efficiency this free font tool brings to the Excel spreadsheet. Simply highlight the data you want to turn into a barcode and select the barcode type from the tool bar at the top. This font tool is compatible with Linear Barcode Fonts, GS1 DataBar and the IDAutomation Universal Barcode Fonts.

Please check out the video tutorial below to see examples of how to generate barcodes in Excel using IDAutomation fonts.

Create Barcodes using the Barcode Add-in for Excel @ Yahoo! Video

Also available on YouTube

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Barcode Software Update: TBarCode V9.3.5

As from today an update of the TBarCode Barcode SDK (including a Barcode ActiveX, Barcode DLL and .NET Barcode Assembly) is available. It fixes a bug concerning the check digit calculation in Telepen / Telepen Alpha.

Many thanks to SB Electronic Systems Ltd. (www.telepen.co.uk) for reporting!

Download TBarCode V9.3.5 Update

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Zebra XiIIIPlus End of life

Following the successful introduction of the new Xi4 High Performance printer, the XiIIIPlus printer family will be discontinued effective 31^st December 2009. This discontinuance applies to the 110XiIIIPlus, 140XiIIIPlus, 170XiIIIPlus and 220XiIIIPlus products.

The NEW Xi4 benefit from:

· Faster print speed (up to 356mm/sec) for increased batch and print/apply productivity

· Fast 10/100 Ethernet connectivity as standard

· Improved ribbon and media-low LCD/network alerts

· RFID upgrade ready

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Janam Expands XM Series Product Line

Janam’s XM66 and XM60+, the industry’s most advanced rugged mobile computers, are now available with Janam’s PDA-style keypad. The four new configurations pair the versatile, easy to program PDA-style keypad with Janam’s

Bluetooth-WLAN 802.11b/g and Bluetooth-only configurations of the XM66 and XM60+.

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Difference Between Linear & 2D Barcodes

by Nate Schubert

For someone who isn't already familiar with barcode technology, knowing the difference between a linear and a two-dimensional barcode is like knowing the secrets of the universe. Very simply put, linear barcodes look like "tick marks" of black bars in rectangular fashion while two-dimensional barcodes are generally square in shape. That's the most basic explanation that gets the curious off on the right foot, but there's more to it than that.

Rather than taking the time to explain the differences between linear and two-dimensional barcode types, we thought it would be helpful to pull the question and answer directly from our knowledgebase. Check out the video below to learn more about what makes a 1D barcode linear, and a 2D barcode two-dimensional.

What is the difference between Linear (1D) and 2D (Two-Dimensional) Barcodes? @ Yahoo! Video

Also available on YouTube

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Code128 Barcode Standards

by Nate Schubert

As common as the Code 128 Barcode Symbology has become, many visitors to our website still have questions about what exactly they need to buy in order to create a barcode related to the Code 128.

The fact is, there are a lot of standards out there that can make understanding a little more difficult to reach. GS1-128, for example, is just one standard within the Code 128 symbology, and there are many others.

The following video tutorial is a question taken directly from our knowledgebase that touches on the various standards that can be created with the IDAutomation Code 128 Barcode Font Advantage Package.

Code128 Barcode Standards @ Yahoo! Video

Also available on YouTube

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How to Create a ISBN Barcode with Image Generator

by Nate Schubert

Creating ISBN Barcodes has never been easier with the IDAutomation Barcode Image Generator. While we have been able to successfully explain How to Create & Print ISBN Book Barcodes via written tutorial, many visitors like to have the option not only of reading, but also watching how it can be accomplished.

Watch a video tutorial about creating ISBN barcodes with the IDAutomation Barcode Image Generator below.

How to Create a ISBN Book Barcodes with a Barcode Image Generator @ Yahoo! Video

Also available on YouTube

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Free QR-Code Badge for Web-Masters

Interested in adding a "Create QR-Code Badge" to your web-site? If yes - please read on!

TEC-IT has enhanced it's bookmarking and sharing add-on for web-sites. Besides the "traditional" sharing services for Facebook, Twitter, Digg, StumpleUpon, SlashDot etc. this web-control now generates and displays a QR-Code encoding the URL of interest.

Such an URL QR-Code can be read with camera-equipped smartphones. The bar code decoder application on the phone forwards the user to this URL immediately - without keying in the URL manually. The bar code looks cool and can be shared via email, via MMS, by embedding it into arbitrary artwork - or simply by printing it.

Get in touch with us if you are interested in this QR-Code Badge. It will be available for free if you provide a backlink to www.tec-it.com.

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TBarCode: Barcodes for Office 2010

TEC-IT confirms the compatibility of the barcode generator TBarCode with Office 2010. 


Just check out the screenshots!


The tests were performed on Windows 7 x64 with the German and English beta builds for Office 2010. TBarCode integrates seamlessly into

• Word 2010
• Excel 2010
• Access 2010 
• etc.

Besides this, TEC-IT software products are compatible with all current  Microsoft Windows versions (Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Seven, Server 2003 and Server 2008). 32 Bit as well as 64 bit systems are supported.

If you need more information just get in touch with us - www.tec-it.com.

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QR-Code Generator on Facebook

The time has come - QR-Codes will be really in the wild in a few days.

As of today Facebook offered a QR-Code generator feature for each page. Below the page logo a link enabled the user to create a QR-Code image encoding the URI of the facebook page. It was also possible to download the QR code as PDF, but I was not able to try it.
The mentioned features were online for a few hours until they disappeared. But I assume QR-codes will be an integrated part of facebook in the very near future.

For Japanese people, insiders and interested people around the world QR-codes and their amazing capabilities (mobile tagging, mobile marketing, geotagging, ticketing, advertising, and so on) are well known. But for the broad public QR codes and their features are still miracles. This will change very very fast, facebook has a huge amount of users and the visibility of the QRCode generator feature is unbeatable.

Quite interesting how this story will develop. Feedback is welcome!

If you need QR-Codes with your personal data create them on www.tec-it.com: Free QR-Code Generator

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Create Caterpillar Shipping Labels and MAT Labels for Free

TEC-IT's free barcode label generator service was recently extended with new industry labels!
Among other compliance labels and industry forms (like VDA 4902 or AIAG labels) this online service now supports creation and printing of

• Caterpillar Shipping and Parts Identification Labels
  Caterpillar Shipping/Parts Identification Label Standard Practice 2.0 
• Material Labels - MAT Labels
  in use by Bosch, Continental, Hella and Siemens

Free Online Barcode Label Generator

We hope this service is useful for you! Please keep in mind that this service is free for non-commercial use only, please contact us if interested. Customer references for this online label solution are available on www.tec-it.com.

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Selecting Barcode Font Height

by Nate Schubert

Some of the most common questions to come across the IDAutomation Help Desk have to do with our various barcode font packages and how to properly size the barcode font so that it can meet size specifications and still be readable. One of the great things about IDAutomation's Barcode Fonts is the fact that the packages contain a number of different font sizes so that barcodes can be created without sacrificing the quality of the code.

For more information on font sizing and how it works, please check out the video below.

How to meet a specific barcode height requirement @ Yahoo! Video

Also available on YouTube

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Create Databar Barcodes in Excel using a Font

by Nate Schubert

Excel is one of the easiest Microsoft Office Applications that can be used to create barcodes. Simple IDAutomation Font Tools allow for easy encoding of information and then it's just a matter of highlighting the encoded data and selecting the appropriate barcode font to create your barcode.

DataBar is one of the up-and-coming barcode symbologies that promises to add flexibility and efficiency to a variety of environments such as grocery and healthcare fields. Creating DataBar barcodes in Excel requires not just the DataBar barcode font, but also the VBA font tool for Excel, which is free to use with the purchase of any IDAutomation font license.

The below video tutorial gives an excellent demonstration on how to create DataBar barcodes in Excel using the free VBA tool.

Create Databar Barcodes in Microsoft Excel using a Font @ Yahoo! Video

Also available on YouTube

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Video Tutorial: .NET Barcode Recognition Decoder SDK

by Nate Schubert

Decoding barcode images from a computer screen is common these days as more scanners and smart phones have the capability as imagers to capture and read barcode images. If you do not have a scanner capable of reading barcodes from an LCD screen or do not have a smart phone that allows you to scan barcode images, then the .NET Barcode Recognition Decoder SDK may be the product for you.

This barcode component decodes barcodes from scanned document images. You can load a single image of a barcode or an entire document and center the focus around the barcode on that document. This powerful application allows the user to not only scan the targeted barcode image but can also tell you which type of barcode appears in the image, all data encoded in the barcode and the bar pattern of the image itself.

Using the .NET Barcode Recognition Decoder SDK is a breeze, especially with the release of our latest Video Tutorial. This video shows how quickly and easily a barcode image can be decoded using this IDAutomation barcode component. Check out the demonstration below.

How to use the Barcode Recognition Image Decoder @ Yahoo! Video

Also available on YouTube

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New Mobile Data Acquisition Software from TEC-IT

Press Release

TEC-IT Datenverarbeitung GmbH (www.tec-it.com) released the new version of its data acquisition software for mobile devices.

The new release of TWedgeCE simplifies mobile data acquisition significantly. This software wedge provides application-independent data collection and data logging features for mobile devices. Once installed and configured, TWedgeCE captures data from arbitrary devices like bar code scanners, readers, RF-ID transponders and ID tags, electronic meters and sensors, balances, scales, weights, gauges and many more.

TWedgeCE forwards the captured device data automatically to target applications by simulating keystrokes. This mobile software wedge extends standard applications like Office Mobile, browser based front-ends and any other system with flexible and affordable data acquisition functionality. There is no need to modify the target applications.

Guenter Kriegl, the CEO of TEC-IT, emphasizes the strengths of TWedgeCE: „The new release of the mobile software wedge offers better interface support. The integration of native Bluetooth and the TCP/UDP server capabilities ensure reliable device connectivity. Besides simple configuration and easy deployment that is exactly what our customers are looking for.“

The new version of TWedgeCE offers unmatched communication capabilities. It collects data from serial (RS232, RS485), USB, TCP/IP, UDP and Bluetooth devices. Network connections may be operated in server- or in client mode. In addition, virtual COM port drivers are no longer required for Bluetooth devices.

On demand, TWedgeCE can be configured to restore lost connections automatically, to send I-am-alive packets, to suppress duplicate data packets and to modify the captured data by applying transformation rules. Numerous automation functions are available: TWedgeCE selects the required input field in the target application automatically, activates or starts applications on demand or simulate function keys based on the captured data.

Programming knowledge is not required for using this software tool. TWedgeCE is installed and configured easily. The complete configuration of TWedgeCE is stored in plain text files; this makes deployment to a large number of mobile devices extremely simple.

The current version of this keyboard software wedge can be downloaded from TEC-IT's Website. TWedgeCE is available for Microsoft Windows CE, Pocket PC, Windows Mobile and Symbol PPT 8800. Other platforms are available on request.

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Create Intelligent Mail Barcodes With IDAutomation Postnet Fonts

by Nate Schubert

One of the most common questions our customers have is which font to use to create an Intelligent Mail barcode when using the IDAutomation Postnet & Intelligent Mail Font Advantage Package. There seems to be a lot of confusion, mainly because just one font allows you to create the Intelligent Mail barcode as well as the Postnet barcode. It may seem confusing, but in practice it's really very clear.

The video tutorial below provides a very straight-forward demonstration of how to create a Postnet Barcode, and then how you can create an Intelligent Mail Barcode using the same font. Check it out!

Create Intelligent Mail Barcodes With IDAutomation Postnet Fonts @ Yahoo! Video

Also available on YouTube

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Create GS1-128 Compliant Barcodes Using the IDAutomation Barcode Label Software

by Nate Schubert

The latest version of the IDAutomation Barcode Label Software makes it easy to create GS1-128 compliant barcodes, which are used to create several different types of barcodes that include Application Identifiers.

The video tutorial below will show you how to easily create a GS1-128 compliant barcode using our IDAutomation Barcode Label Software.

Create GS1-128 Barcodes with the IDAutomation's Barcode Label Software @ Yahoo! Video

Also available on YouTube

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New: QR-Code Business Card Creator - Video

Today, TEC-IT has launched a new video which explains how to create QR Code business cards - online and for free. In just five steps you get your personal business card.

It's Simple and Easy
Just select a pre-defined business card template, enter your contact data, generate a PDF, print it and scan the bar codes with your the barcode reader of your smartphone (Android, iPhone, Windows Mobile, ...). That's it!

You will never need enter contacts or URLs manually! Most camera-equipped mobile phones are able to decode the QR-Code (meCard, vCard, URL 2D barcodes) on these business cards. Common (and most likely free) bar code reader applications are i-nigma, beetagg, QuickMark, NeoReader, UpCode, Snappr, Camclic, 2d sense, codescan, zxing, optiscan, semacode etc.

Try it and visit TEC-ITs Free Business Card Generator Service!

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Creating Code 39 Barcodes Using Fonts

by Nate Schubert

Code 39 Barcodes are known for being some of the easiest to create because of the very simple start and stop characters that are required for the barcode to be scannable. One of our newest in an ever-growing collection of video tutorials shows how you can create a scannable barcode using the IDAutomation Code 39 Barcode Fonts.

This useful tutorial shows how to apply the asterisk as the start and stop character in addition to encoding a space or extended characters into a Code 39 Barcode. Check out the video tutorial below. Also available on YouTube.

Creating Code-39 Barcodes Using Fonts @ Yahoo! Video

Also available on YouTube

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Create GS1-128 Compliant Barcodes Using the IDAutomation Barcode Image Generator

by Nate Schubert

The IDAutomation Barcode Image Generator is a powerful barcode generation program that allows users to create barcode images and then paste them into other Windows applications such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Publisher, Adobe InDesign, FrameMaker, Photoshop and much more.

This particular video barcode tutorial shows in detail how you can create a variety of GS1-128 compliant barcodes with the IDAutomation Barcode Image Generator with very little effort. One of the best things about this latest installment in our video library is the fact that it walks you through the creation of barcodes using functions and check digits, which can be confusing for customers who are newer to barcodes. Check out the video below.

Create GS1-128 Compliant Barcodes Using the Barcode Image Generator @ Yahoo! Video

Also available on YouTube

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