Coin Laundry News Technology Special, Part One

CL News Author’s Note: In the first of the popular Star Wars films, one of the android characters says to another, “Don’t get technical with me.” Well, in this series, we in fact do plan on getting technical with you, our readers. Of course, the NEWS is not, nor will we ever become a tech magazine. There are plenty of those to go around. But as Coin / Card Laundry people ourselves, we have given some thought to just how and where some of these new techno wonders that seem to be everywhere can and ought to be able to adapt to our business.

Can an iPhone or BlackBerry make itself an asset to your business? Or are these handheld devices something best left to our kids, your stockbroker and rock stars? Can you fire your accountant and keep your books on your computer? What about tracking your equipment’s maintenance schedules, your spare parts, or the fluctuations of your utility bills? Is doing your payroll and on-line banking right for you? What does the Internet have to offer you as a laundry owner? More importantly, how can you get the most out if it and these new, nifty gadgets?

Over this month and the next, we will try to answer these questions and more, as well as take a look at what some of these devices offer, and add another opinion to the mix about which techno toys will work well and will, work for you.

PDA Cell (Smart) Phones:

Few products released in the last year or so on the tech front have stirred more interest than Apple’s iPhone. While devices like the Palm Trio and the BlackBerry have been around longer, by marrying this type of technology with its successful iPod music players, Apple claims it will sell 10 Million of the devices by the end of 2008, and most analysts believe they will.

Obviously it’s pretty hard, from a business standpoint, to argue the need for music and video in the palm of your hand, but the communications ability and the availability of the Internet and E-mail at a business owner’s fingertips makes a very compelling case.

Let’s start by stating the obvious: Just about everyone these days has and uses a cell phone. A good friend of the NEWS is one of those types who adamantly adheres to the doctrine that a phone should be a phone. He doesn’t need or want a camera, MP3 player or E-mail client interfering with the basic needs and function of the device he carries in his pocket. Making and receiving calls is good enough for him. And this is a perfectly respectable point of view.

But let’s think about things that you, as a laundry owner could do with just a little more digital firepower in your pocket. A camera, which almost every cell phone now has, could come in very handy if you came to open your laundry one morning and discovered you had been vandalized. No scrambling around or having to head home for a camera, and what would be better for your insurance company than having pictures that were taken almost right away?

Or an unscrupulous patron “claims” they slipped on a wet floor. But the floor was dry and you can prove it by taking a picture. Or at least prove that you had your wet floor signage and cones properly placed.

We could go on and on, but these are just a few examples and I am sure our readers will think of many more.

So, let’s take a look at some of the tools that are available on a “smart phone” like the Apple iPhone or the BlackBerry Pearl. Like we don’t spend enough time on the Internet as it is, right? However, again there could be many situations where these little digital wonders and their tools can be put to work for you. It isn’t all about finding restaurants and movie times.

There is a small application available for the iPhone for example, that can take just about any unit of measure, be it length, weight, mass, temperature, etc., and convert it to any equivalent. So temperature can be viewed in Centigrade, Kelvin, Fahrenheit, etc.

Or perhaps you are talking to your distributor about adding another location. It’s a snap to calculate some basic costs, interest figures and more right from your iPhone, BlackBerry or Palm.

And here’s an example that’s even more basic. You have to meet someone at your business, or maybe you have a meeting scheduled with your banker. But you are running late, and left his or her business card behind. Maybe you scribbled the part number for that dump valve you need for your front loader on a slip of paper yesterday, slid it into your shirt pocket, and now when you need it, it’s back home on your dresser. And you happen to be driving. With a smart phone, you could call home or call your laundry and have the number you need text messaged or E-mailed to you in a snap. It might even be more useful if you need something from your computer a little more complex. If there is someone there at the other end (and in some cases even if there isn’t) you could get that information sent to you right on your iPhone or Trio.

Which Device is Best?

Of course that depends on a lot of things, including personal preferences, needs, and even what your cell carrier offers and whether or not you are under contract with them.

Apple iPhone:

It’s hard to argue that if you are swayed by the “cool” factor that Apple’s iPhone is hard to beat. And while that may not be a purely sober business choice, one of the reasons for being an entrepreneur is having the freedom to do things your way. Something the folks at Apple have always excelled at, is making devices that work well, are easy to get to what the user wants, and that for some reason just seem to have a knack for making you want to use them.

Now that the iPhone is 3G and able to access faster data networks, there are far fewer reasons to go in another direction. Apple’s operating system has always been more stable, and certainly more cooperative.

However, even with a new cheaper sales price, the iPhone is not a bargain. And many people are already happy with Windows Mobile or the Palm OS.

One other little iPhone gem: The iPhone really is smart. In our earlier example where you might need someone to send a phone number to you while you are out and about, the iPhone recognizes phone numbers and E-mail addresses in mail and SMS text messages. They appear highlighted in blue, just like links on the Internet do. Simply press the number from within a text massage, and the iPhone dials.

BlackBerry Pearl

Although not as sexy as the iPhone, the Pearl is a solid, stable and reliable device. So much so, that even though the Palm is older, it is BlackBerry that has come closest to becoming to the Smart Phone consumers what Kleenex and Xerox are to their marketplaces.

Detractors point out that the Pearl does not have a touch screen, but that might not be a bad thing. Keeping the touch screen smudge free on an iPhone or something like the HTC from Sprint can be a real pain especially for a busy laundry owner spending a lot of time with his equipment.

The BlackBerry also offers a video camera, though the quality is marginal, if you feel you need or want that added feature. So, this is a plus for the Pearl. And just because we couldn’t think of a situation where a laundry owner would need a small video camera on his or her hip, it doesn’t mean such a feature might not be useful to some of our readers.

The BlackBerry Pearl is a champ at handling E-mail attachments, but the real strength of the BlackBerry that shines through is the fact that it provides a number of features in a solid, attractive and small package.

One other benefit of the Pearl is that it is available from more than one carrier, so that if you decide this is the smart phone for you, you have the option to choose which BlackBerry provider you would prefer to use.

The Palm Centro

Also a very well known smart phone, devices like the Centro, and the Motorola Q, feature a full QWERTY keyboard, albeit a small one. Some people love the little buttons, and others absolutely hate them.

The Centro too is offered by more than one provider, and is also reasonably affordable being a little more competitively priced than the other two devices we have looked at here.

In recent years, some tech-heads feel that the Palm OS has lost some of its freshness, and there is little question that Windows Mobile and now the Mac OS on the iPhone do some things better than the Palm OS.

The Centro does feature a decent camera, including video, push-to-talk on the Sprint version, and includes all the smart phone basics in a stylish and reasonably priced package.

Finally, the Palm Centro does utilize a touch screen for added convenience, and of course an enhanced “cool” factor.

Beyond these three

There are several other smart phone offerings available and we have only touched on a few of them here. With Apple’s iPhone now 3G, utilizing 3rd party applications, and with its new lower price, we feel that for the Laundry operator who feels the need or desire for a smart phone, this may be the way to go. However any of the three devices we looked at have the basics covered. And there are several more you should look at before shelling out a couple hundred bucks and signing on to an expensive data plan.

But as we stated from the beginning of this article, we are not (at the NEWS) so concerned about how great each of these devices are, but more interested in looking into whether this new breed of smart phone has something to offer the Coin / Card Laundry owner beyond the simple convenience all cell phones provide.

One final note: Although not covered here because of space limitations, there are some smart folks out there who can even set you up to watch your laundry from your smart phone. Your distributor can probably point you in the right direction.

As always, we think common sense and what works for you is the way to go. But we do believe that for many busy laundry owners, this new breed of super phones does have something to offer in terms of saving time and trouble, and that seems like a smart choice to us.

Date:-05/28/2011
By:-Admin


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	Coin Laundry News Technology Special, Part One CL News Author’s Note: In the first of the popular Star Wars films, one of the android characters says to another, “Don’t get technical with me.” Well, in this series, we in fact do plan on getting technical with you, our readers. Of course, the NEWS is not, nor will we ever become a tech magazine. There are plenty of those to go around. But as Coin / Card Laundry people ourselves, we have given some thought to just how and where some of these new techno wonders that seem to be everywhere can and ought to be able to adapt to our business. Can an iPhone or BlackBerry make itself an asset to your business? Or are these handheld devices something best left to our kids, your stockbroker and rock stars? Can you fire your accountant and keep your books on your computer? What about tracking your equipment’s maintenance schedules, your spare parts, or the fluctuations of your utility bills? Is doing your payroll and on-line banking right for you? What does the Internet have to offer you as a laundry owner? More importantly, how can you get the most out if it and these new, nifty gadgets? Over this month and the next, we will try to answer these questions and more, as well as take a look at what some of these devices offer, and add another opinion to the mix about which techno toys will work well and will, work for you. PDA Cell (Smart) Phones: Few products released in the last year or so on the tech front have stirred more interest than Apple’s iPhone. While devices like the Palm Trio and the BlackBerry have been around longer, by marrying this type of technology with its successful iPod music players, Apple claims it will sell 10 Million of the devices by the end of 2008, and most analysts believe they will. Obviously it’s pretty hard, from a business standpoint, to argue the need for music and video in the palm of your hand, but the communications ability and the availability of the Internet and E-mail at a business owner’s fingertips makes a very compelling case. Let’s start by stating the obvious: Just about everyone these days has and uses a cell phone. A good friend of the NEWS is one of those types who adamantly adheres to the doctrine that a phone should be a phone. He doesn’t need or want a camera, MP3 player or E-mail client interfering with the basic needs and function of the device he carries in his pocket. Making and receiving calls is good enough for him. And this is a perfectly respectable point of view. But let’s think about things that you, as a laundry owner could do with just a little more digital firepower in your pocket. A camera, which almost every cell phone now has, could come in very handy if you came to open your laundry one morning and discovered you had been vandalized. No scrambling around or having to head home for a camera, and what would be better for your insurance company than having pictures that were taken almost right away? Or an unscrupulous patron “claims” they slipped on a wet floor. But the floor was dry and you can prove it by taking a picture. Or at least prove that you had your wet floor signage and cones properly placed. We could go on and on, but these are just a few examples and I am sure our readers will think of many more. So, let’s take a look at some of the tools that are available on a “smart phone” like the Apple iPhone or the BlackBerry Pearl. Like we don’t spend enough time on the Internet as it is, right? However, again there could be many situations where these little digital wonders and their tools can be put to work for you. It isn’t all about finding restaurants and movie times. There is a small application available for the iPhone for example, that can take just about any unit of measure, be it length, weight, mass, temperature, etc., and convert it to any equivalent. So temperature can be viewed in Centigrade, Kelvin, Fahrenheit, etc. Or perhaps you are talking to your distributor about adding another location. It’s a snap to calculate some basic costs, interest figures and more right from your iPhone, BlackBerry or Palm. And here’s an example that’s even more basic. You have to meet someone at your business, or maybe you have a meeting scheduled with your banker. But you are running late, and left his or her business card behind. Maybe you scribbled the part number for that dump valve you need for your front loader on a slip of paper yesterday, slid it into your shirt pocket, and now when you need it, it’s back home on your dresser. And you happen to be driving. With a smart phone, you could call home or call your laundry and have the number you need text messaged or E-mailed to you in a snap. It might even be more useful if you need something from your computer a little more complex. If there is someone there at the other end (and in some cases even if there isn’t) you could get that information sent to you right on your iPhone or Trio. Which Device is Best? Of course that depends on a lot of things, including personal preferences, needs, and even what your cell carrier offers and whether or not you are under contract with them. Apple iPhone: It’s hard to argue that if you are swayed by the “cool” factor that Apple’s iPhone is hard to beat. And while that may not be a purely sober business choice, one of the reasons for being an entrepreneur is having the freedom to do things your way. Something the folks at Apple have always excelled at, is making devices that work well, are easy to get to what the user wants, and that for some reason just seem to have a knack for making you want to use them. Now that the iPhone is 3G and able to access faster data networks, there are far fewer reasons to go in another direction. Apple’s operating system has always been more stable, and certainly more cooperative. However, even with a new cheaper sales price, the iPhone is not a bargain. And many people are already happy with Windows Mobile or the Palm OS. One other little iPhone gem: The iPhone really is smart. In our earlier example where you might need someone to send a phone number to you while you are out and about, the iPhone recognizes phone numbers and E-mail addresses in mail and SMS text messages. They appear highlighted in blue, just like links on the Internet do. Simply press the number from within a text massage, and the iPhone dials. BlackBerry Pearl Although not as sexy as the iPhone, the Pearl is a solid, stable and reliable device. So much so, that even though the Palm is older, it is BlackBerry that has come closest to becoming to the Smart Phone consumers what Kleenex and Xerox are to their marketplaces. Detractors point out that the Pearl does not have a touch screen, but that might not be a bad thing. Keeping the touch screen smudge free on an iPhone or something like the HTC from Sprint can be a real pain especially for a busy laundry owner spending a lot of time with his equipment. The BlackBerry also offers a video camera, though the quality is marginal, if you feel you need or want that added feature. So, this is a plus for the Pearl. And just because we couldn’t think of a situation where a laundry owner would need a small video camera on his or her hip, it doesn’t mean such a feature might not be useful to some of our readers. The BlackBerry Pearl is a champ at handling E-mail attachments, but the real strength of the BlackBerry that shines through is the fact that it provides a number of features in a solid, attractive and small package. One other benefit of the Pearl is that it is available from more than one carrier, so that if you decide this is the smart phone for you, you have the option to choose which BlackBerry provider you would prefer to use. The Palm Centro Also a very well known smart phone, devices like the Centro, and the Motorola Q, feature a full QWERTY keyboard, albeit a small one. Some people love the little buttons, and others absolutely hate them. The Centro too is offered by more than one provider, and is also reasonably affordable being a little more competitively priced than the other two devices we have looked at here. In recent years, some tech-heads feel that the Palm OS has lost some of its freshness, and there is little question that Windows Mobile and now the Mac OS on the iPhone do some things better than the Palm OS. The Centro does feature a decent camera, including video, push-to-talk on the Sprint version, and includes all the smart phone basics in a stylish and reasonably priced package. Finally, the Palm Centro does utilize a touch screen for added convenience, and of course an enhanced “cool” factor. Beyond these three There are several other smart phone offerings available and we have only touched on a few of them here. With Apple’s iPhone now 3G, utilizing 3rd party applications, and with its new lower price, we feel that for the Laundry operator who feels the need or desire for a smart phone, this may be the way to go. However any of the three devices we looked at have the basics covered. And there are several more you should look at before shelling out a couple hundred bucks and signing on to an expensive data plan. But as we stated from the beginning of this article, we are not (at the NEWS) so concerned about how great each of these devices are, but more interested in looking into whether this new breed of smart phone has something to offer the Coin / Card Laundry owner beyond the simple convenience all cell phones provide. One final note: Although not covered here because of space limitations, there are some smart folks out there who can even set you up to watch your laundry from your smart phone. Your distributor can probably point you in the right direction. As always, we think common sense and what works for you is the way to go. But we do believe that for many busy laundry owners, this new breed of super phones does have something to offer in terms of saving time and trouble, and that seems like a smart choice to us. Date:-05/28/2011 By:-Admin