First SDIO RFID Reader for Palm OS

TradeWind Technologies has just introduced the world's first RFID reader in the SD card form factor. The card enables many Palm OS handheld devices to read or write standard and proprietary RFID 13.56Mhz tags and labels.

SDIO RFID Reader for the Palm OSThe reader fits into any standard SD/SDIO slot and extends outside the slot for a small external footprint of 28mm x 28 mm. The reader also has a low 11mm profile and a read range of 7cm.

The company is now taking orders for development kits for integrating the SDIO reader into an application. The kit provides one SDIO RFID reader card, C++ modules for PalmOS, as well as some sample tags and labels for testing. The kits cost $999 USD, and the Tradewind also offers separate purchases of just the RFID SD card. The reader support any device with Palm OS 4.2 or higher.

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Not with a nine foot pole!

RhinoSteve @ 3/2/2005 4:20:55 PM # Q
RFID is so controversial, I don't feel like writing something that will not sell for fear of being a "big brother" agent. I can never see RFID replacing bar codes. This is a solution looking for a problem.
RE: Not with a nine foot pole!
Moose Man @ 3/2/2005 4:36:00 PM # Q
Walmart has already required it's top 200 vendor's to start RFID instead of bar codes.....unfortunately the train is on the tracks headed in that direction.

A Palm wannabe fanatic
RE: Not with a nine foot pole!
RhinoSteve @ 3/2/2005 7:31:03 PM # Q
WalMart is not God. Frankly, I think this RFID requirement could become their undoing.
RE: Not with a nine foot pole!
Sweetlu @ 3/2/2005 7:39:23 PM # Q
You may want to add Target and about a dozen more large retailers.

This is their way to control their inventory.

How do I know...I work for a manufacturer and we have been mandated by them to apply RFID tags to our merchandise.

___________________________________
Casio B.O.S.S --> M100 --> Vx --> M505 --> T3 -->?

Yankees, Steinbrenner,...... I will never turn to the dark side.

RE: Not with a nine foot pole!
pmjoe @ 3/2/2005 9:11:01 PM # Q
Hmmm ... well once you get past about 9 feet most of the current tags are useless.

Make that a nine meter pole ....
Token User @ 3/3/2005 9:56:11 AM # Q
The device in question here has a range of 7cm.
Long Range RFID tags have a distance of about 10m.

The small passive tags you will find on goods at WalMart have a limited range - about that of a retail barcode scanner without the hassles of locating and aligning the barcode before scanning. They transmit a number - which will probably tie back to the barcode number (because for the most part both systems will be in place) and identifiy a product in a database, not actually broadcasting the product description itself.

The long range tags are generally powered devices, or operate in a different spectrum to the low power RFID tags. These are used in things like toll ways.

Are there grounds for concern from a privacy standpoint? No more than what you currently have where your purchases can be tied back to your credit card and your entire purchase history accessed by a store. Is there a threat from RFID "hackers" spying on your purchasing habits? Only if you are paranoid enough to believe that it might be true.

BTW - interesting use of RFID ...
http://www.hackaday.com/entry/1234000997033548/


~ "Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed." - DV ~

RE: Not with a nine foot pole!
Wollombi @ 3/3/2005 1:58:56 PM # Q
I'm surprised CASPIAN hasn't been as vocal on the issue of late. Most retailers agree that RFID in various iterations would be invaluable to them for keeping track of inventory, avoiding lost inventory, etc. I can agree on this point, but the system needs to be watertight against abuse, which doesn't seem to be the case yet. If you can find the right balance, ensuring consumer privacy while maintaining accurate and current inventory, I think it will work out.

_________________
Sean

There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.

RE: Not with a nine foot pole!
RhinoSteve @ 3/3/2005 2:41:59 PM # Q
I wonder when RFID jammers will start to show up in street use.
RE: Not with a nine foot pole!
Fernando @ 3/3/2005 2:44:45 PM # Q
Call me a noob, but what exactly is the 'security' problem with rfid's?

i mean from my understanding on them they just transmit a number, like a barcode, to a receiving device... how are you guys getting ppl being able to get ur credit card accounts from this information, i mean aren't RFID's programmed at factory? And how are manufacturers supposed to know who buys their merchandise ahead of time?

All this concern about RFID's being a invasion of privacy seems unfounded to me. I mean if people wanted to know your buying habbits, they can already find out just by looking at what you're wearing... Am I missing something here, or do we actually think people we don't know actually care to steal that kind of information digitally when they can already do so with their eyes....

RE: Not with a nine foot pole!
Gekko @ 3/3/2005 2:50:50 PM # Q

Rhino - maybe they can implant an RFID in you and all the common-folks' skulls so when you go to buy your clothes, shoes, furniture, etc. at the Walmart, you can walk out without having to go through the register line and they can just bill you.



RE: Not with a nine foot pole!
Gekko @ 3/3/2005 3:03:47 PM # Q

I'm for anything that will move you hillbilly cattle in and out of the store as quickly and as efficiently as possible in order to maximize earnings per share and shareholder value.

RE: Not with a nine foot pole!
Token User @ 3/3/2005 3:50:14 PM # Q
Gekko - As much as I HATE WalMart with a passion, its still a retail model that works for most of the USA. Not everywhere has a population to support a full blown mall, but most have a population that CAN support a strip mall with "anchor" retailers like WalMart and HomeDepot. Track Palm stock and map it against WalMart, HomeDepot, QQQ, and S&P 500 ... you'll soon see who has the right marketing model.

Yeeee ha.

~ "Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed." - DV ~

Existing RFID future
Georg @ 3/3/2005 4:48:40 PM # Q
look to:
http://www.future-store.org/servlet/PB/-s/5q36xy1l43voq19wdx5t1mtvpay1kc6icq/menu/1003892_l2/index.html

There you can find the real exsisting "future"

looking for a industrial stile PalmOS divice

RE: Not with a nine foot pole!
useybird @ 3/3/2005 11:53:17 PM # Q
Wal-Mart might be the biggest retailer, but many people are against it. Ever seen that South Park Episode? Some major cities don't even have a Wal-Mart yet. Chicago is getting its first one, albeit with heavy protest, and New York City doesn't have one yet.
Shop at Wal-Mart, burn in Hell.
The_Voice_of_Reason @ 3/4/2005 1:08:44 AM # Q
Wal-Mart is a company of parasites that has somehow avoided unions (not that unions are always A Good Thing). I feel sorry for anyone stuck working for them.


http://www.reclaimdemocracy.org/walmart/quebec_canada_store_closed.php





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RE: Not with a nine foot pole!
RhinoSteve @ 3/4/2005 2:46:43 PM # Q
Gekko, your loath pleases me!

Cest le ger!
Symbol SPT1550 dinosaur
drw @ 3/4/2005 10:58:59 PM # Q
I get to setup a cheap inventory system for a bar using a handheld to scan barcodes on bottles. Seems just about everything from a $24 palmgear program to a $4000 accubar system uses the symbol spt 1550 which is basically a palm IIIxe with barcode scanner.

For my personal use I use a tungsten C and I think that 2 year old technology is antiquated, now I have to use 7 year old palmos barcode scanner simply because symbol hasn't bothered to update!?!

I did see one company making an SD barcode scanner, but all the software I'm looking at supports the SPT1550, so I don't want to shoot myself in the foot there. If any of you have done this before, can you recommend a software package. I'm leaning towards Wasp MobileInventory v3, but I will be demoing at least 3 others.

---
David

RE: Not with a nine foot pole!
rcartwright @ 3/5/2005 5:44:42 PM # Q
Wal-Mart bashing aside, the tags could be a benefit to the Joe Geek consumer if they are coded to match the UPC. Think of this, Mr, Geek buys his tagged items at wherever, comes home and his fridge and storage areas read the items in as he unloads at home. The information is passed to the home computer and as the items are used up the empties are scanned "out". From thsi the Geek computer creates a new shopping list that is synced to the Geek's Treo 950. Or if he is a Maximum Geek(© Jeff Kirvin and Josh Curry), the computer generates a message or fax to the store of choice for the staff to pull his order for pickup or delevery. Frankly, I worry more about the chips that the government wants to put in my passport or my drivers license that has all of my personal info ripe for the stripping.

"Many men stumble across the truth, but most manage to pick themselves up
and continue as if nothing had happened."
- Winston Churchill
RE: Not with a nine foot pole!
joad @ 3/6/2005 10:06:46 PM # Q
I'm going to be the first on the market with the Tin Foil Backback. Maybe even Tin Foil Clothing, too. RFID is blocked ala Faraday Cage.


It'll be the best thing since the Duct Tape Wallet.

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