< PreviousIntelligent printers can do a lot more than fetching online orders. prints it out and responds to confirm that printing was a success. Because the intelligent printer is not just a printer anymore, it can be connected directly to the router/network without needing to connect to a computer at all. This is particularly practical in small and tight environments, such as restaurants where worktop space is valuable and you don’t want to have computers taking space or being at risk of getting dirty or damaged. The two main manufacturers of intelligent printers are Epson and Star; both Japanese companies with a good track record in POS printers and a wide range of relevant products. Both makers have intelligent printer models but their overall implementation approach is slightly different. In reality, the ‘intelligence’ aspect of those printers covers various use case scenarios, but for ease and the purpose of this article, we’ll focus on what one might call ‘cloud printing’ or simply the concept of orders made online being printed by an intelligent POS printer. Epson’s approach to this is called SDP, short for ‘Server Direct Print’. In practice, it’s nothing more than the printer being able to request up to three XML feeds at regular time intervals. The XML used is called ePOS XML and is specific to Epson. The way it works is that the printer requests whatever URLs are defined in its settings, and any XML returned essentially defines what is printed, and by which printer (ie the printer might instruct a different printer to print something remotely). What actually happens behind the scenes is that the printer translates ePOS XML into ESC/POS. All this ‘intelligent’ functionality exists in all the printer models which support SDP, such as the TM-T88VII and TM-m30II-H. One interesting thing to note about some intelligent POS printers in terms of fonts, text sizes, character sets and languages etc, are somewhat limited and based not on just the specific model, but also a particular part number. For instance, the TM-T88VI has a specific part number that supports Mandarin Chinese, another for Traditional Chinese, and another for Western languages. There is no T88VI part number which has everything. They’ve improved that with the TM-T88VII, but the point is that printers of the same model are not necessarily the same. This can be quite confusing. Fonts and text sizes are also somewhat limited, with just three text sizes available. But worry not; there is a workaround for bypassing some of these issues: instead of sending the receipt to the printer as formatted pieces of text, you can essentially convert the entire receipt into an image and then ask the printer to print the image instead. That way the entire receipt is an image and is not restricted by font sizes and supported character sets. However, it does mean that the size of the data file you send to the printer is increased which, depending on the use-case scenario, could make things slightly slower. Star’s approach is based on similar principles. Star’s technology is called CloudPRNT (aka Hi-X-Connect interface) and it can be found on printers like the TSP654II-HI-X and mC-Print3. What’s more, some older printers like the TSP700II can be ‘upgraded’ by changing their interface to the Hi-X-Connect one which then turns the printer into an intelligent one. Like the Epson, the printer does not require a connection to a computer but just to the router/network. The printer has a setting for a URL that you set to be polled at regular intervals and that URL provides INTELLIGENT PRINTERS 30KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINEINTELLIGENT PRINTERS 31 KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINE the printer with a feed containing the receipt. It appears that Star’s approach makes the receipt- as-an-image approach the preferred option. That way you do not have to worry about font sizes and languages etc. The above are simple examples aiming to demonstrate what ‘intelligence’ in a printer can do. In practice, intelligent printers can do a lot more than fetching online orders but that is a much bigger topic. It is worth noting that if we look to the Far East, and China in particular, intelligent POS printers used to be difficult to find. However, in recent years their approach appears to have changed and the region now seems to be viewing printers as nothing more than IoT (internet of things) devices. This is why nowadays you will find that the technology they support for their printers tends to be MQTT (MQ Telemetry Transport) which is a messaging protocol aimed for use in unreliable, low-bandwidth environments. It is certainly a technically valid approach, but more complicated than entering a URL into your printer’s settings. In any case, it will be worth watching how things develop. Intelligent POS printers, what they are, how they are used and how things work under the hood, is a continuously evolving area that surely will keep developing. They will, most likely, start playing a more regular role in our everyday lives, whether shopping in a retail environment or ordering within a hospitality one. The opportunities are endless. Because the intelligent printer is not just a printer, it can be connected directly to the router/network without needing to connect to a computer at all.REMOTE DEVICE MANAGEMENT 32KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINEW hile some TV brands carry their own operating systems, many other manufacturers and telco operators took the smarter route. Instead of investing heavily into their own systems, they partnered with Google for their OS needs. This gave their devices a full-featured system that offers more than just streaming video services. In fact, Android TV extends smart devices’ capabilities to activate voice commands, run apps and control other devices. For operators and manufacturers using Android TV, they’ll only need one more thing to close their loop - a capable remote device management app to control their devices. From TV to Smart TV to Android TV The television is one of the household appliances that successfully transitioned from static to dynamic equipment. Regular cable and direct-to-home TV services don’t cut it for the modern viewer. They prefer on-demand services that allow them to view their shows at any time. Smart TV, which primarily allows TVs to connect to the internet, offers a basic expansion of connectivity services. Apart from including the majority of popular streaming companies, smart TVs also often include social media and other popular apps. However, smart TVs running on a manufacturer’s OS remain limited in functionality. Many manufacturers won’t provide regular updates for their OS. This leads to a system that only offers a limited number of apps. In some cases, some manufacturers’ OS can become obsolete, unable to accommodate new apps or even accept updates. Meanwhile, Android TV runs on Google’s powerful Android operating system. This means that smart TVs running Android TV will always have the latest updates and apps available. It also provides a direct connection to the Google Play Store, so users can download more apps and games than any other smart TV OS. Google also extended many popular Android features to Android TV aside from the Play Store. This includes voice and sound activation that lets users use the Google Assistant via hands-free mode. REMOTE DEVICE MANAGEMENT HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST REMOTE DEVICE MANAGEMENT APP FOR YOUR ANDROID TV FLEET Android TV is becoming the smart choice for many Smart TV users. Making sure these devices run smoothly requires a reliable remote device management app. “Remote device management app” is a phrase you will want to keep close to your heart as the Android TV keeps rising in the Smart TV market. NADAV AVNI CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER RADIX TECHNOLOGIES 33 KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINEThese are the main reasons why Android TV continues to grow in popularity year after year. In fact, Google said that in 2021, Android TV attracted over 110 million active users and signed up a growing list of operators and service providers worldwide. In addition, more TV manufacturers are also featuring Android TV as their operating system of choice. New players in the Android TV market include Sony, Hisense, and TCL. Android TV Fleets Require a Reliable Remote Device Management App The power and flexibility offered by Android TV make it an ideal choice for many hardware vendors and telco operators. Instead of shelling out a substantial budget to develop their own system, vendors and operators will find it easier to adopt the Android TV system to ensure they always have the latest apps available for their users. Manufacturers and operators often deploy thousands, if not millions, of devices. Ensuring that each device carries the latest version for Android TV and all pre-installed apps is easy if the devices are still on the warehouse floor. However, once the operator deploys the smart devices to various venues, managing and updating them can pose a challenge. This is where a reliable remote device management app comes in. Challenges of Managing Android TV Fleet Devices For telco operators and hardware vendors, relying on older device management systems can backfire badly. For one, relying on direct connections to manage or update devices can entail a substantial investment in fielding IT teams to individual venues. In addition, using legacy protocols such as TR69 may no longer be safe or even efficient. These older systems are more prone to security breaches and offer only token security. Instead of relying on legacy systems or off- the-shelf solutions, Android TV operators can instead use modern solutions that offer better connectivity and security. The modern remote device management app uses secure cloud REMOTE DEVICE MANAGEMENT 34KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINEREMOTE DEVICE MANAGEMENT Instead of shelling out a substantial budget to develop their own system, vendors and operators will find it easier to adopt the Android TV system to ensure they always have the latest apps available for their users. 35 KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINE servers such as Amazon Web Services to provide reliable, secure connections to each fleet device. This allows operator IT teams to perform updates on selected units or simultaneously on all fleet devices. Ideal Remote Device Management App Features The ideal remote device management app should easily handle the monitoring, management, and security of the operator’s entire Android TV fleet. Using cloud access, IT teams should have no problem connecting to one or all devices to check and ensure that everything is operating smoothly. This makes the operating system reliable and convenient for users. Remote Device Management The right Android TV device manager should have full remote capabilities that allow IT teams to perform updates, rollbacks and fixes without the need to involve the end-user. This also translates into substantial savings for operators, as complete remote management means reduced need for service or support calls to get the job done. In addition, full remote administration means support teams can schedule updates or fixes during device downtimes. This prevents system updates from happening during times when the customer regularly uses the device. Remote management also allows operators and providers to easily add new apps and features across the entire fleet. This means a faster time to install and launch new features compared to individual installation sessions. Continuous Monitoring Aside from managing system software and apps, the ideal remote device management app should provide complete monitoring services. This ensures that only authorised users are given access to certain sections of the devices. This includes checking if the authorised user registered to the device is the one actually using the unit. Outside of customers, there are multiple layers of stakeholders that require different access levels. For example, the system administrator and the IT teams need access to the entire operating system to diagnose problems and apply fixes and updates. Marketing, sales and management teams might need limited access to collect user data and collate the findings into helpful insights. Superior Security The ideal remote device management app should provide superior security services to prevent device or data theft. Geolocation services help locate Android TV devices and verify if the location corresponds to the user’s registered address. In the case of missing or stolen devices, administrators can apply geo lock to automatically disable Android TV units once they show up outside their registered locations. In extreme cases, operators can remotely freeze stolen units or erase user data to prevent sensitive user information from leaking. Android TV is fast becoming the popular choice for many smart TV operators and vendors. To keep the entire fleet of Android TV devices working optimally, operators should consider pairing their Android TV investment with a reliable remote device management app.MOVERS AND SHAKERS 36KIOSK AND DIGITAL SIGNAGE MAGAZINE MOVERS AND SHAKERS A round up of promotions, structural changes and new recruits across the kiosk and digital signage industry IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR MOVER OR SHAKER PUBLISHED, EMAIL: EDITOR.KDSEUROPE.COM EDITED NAMES DOUG KOFOID CEO Edited has announced that Doug Kofoid has joined the company as its new CEO. Kofoid’s experience leading high-growth B2B SaaS companies and AI-driven solutions will be integral as Edited continues to scale. Kofoid is joining Edited during a period of strong growth for the company. In 2021, the company grew ARR by over 100% through client acquisition and platform expansion, offering both Market Intelligence and Enterprise Intelligence. Edited works with the world’s top apparel and footwear brands and is expanding verticals into homegoods, beauty and home improvement retail. The value to global brands and retailers from Edited’s technology has accelerated post- pandemic with the growth of digital commerce and challenges from supply chain disruptions and turbulent market conditions. “Under the leadership of its co-founders Geoff Watts and Julia Fowler, Edited’s AI- driven analytics have resonated strongly with global brands seeking to grapple with the complexities of modern retail, fuelling accelerated growth,” said Karen McCormick, Chief Investment Officer, Beringea and Edited board member. “We are confident that Doug’s ability to blend product and technology strategy with a hands-on leadership style will continue to drive the growth mindset and operational rigour Edited is known for.” Geoff Watts, Edited co-founder and board member added, “Julia and I are excited to welcome Doug and are confident in his leadership. We’re sure he will foster and grow the team and expand the vision that underpins Edited’s success.” As CEO, Kofoid will be dedicated to scaling Edited further, including bringing the company’s technology to new markets and strengthening Edited’s retailer and brand partnerships. CELEBRATING A DECADE WITH INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY Innovative Technology (ITL) has announced that Andy Bassam, one of their established customer support personnel based at their UK head office, is celebrating 10 years of service with the company. Following a series of promotions over the years, Bassam now holds the position of VP of Customer Support. Commenting on this long-standing commitment, Bassam said, “When I first joined ITL, I started as a Senior Support Engineer and was responsible for providing technical support for our retail and kiosk customers. In December 2012, after a short period of six months, I was then promoted to Customer Support Manager and four years later, I was delighted to accept the position of VP of Customer Support.” Tony Morrison, Group Sales Director for ITL said, “Andy has been in the cash handling industry for over 20 years and his technical expertise and overall industry knowledge are exceptional. He is responsible for our group support and service divisions, supervising two Support Managers and a team of over 30 staff from around the world, including China, Thailand, Europe and the UK. He is valued by his team and is an integral part of the business.” ITL has also announced an internal promotion for one of its long-standing employees, James Beswick, who takes on a managerial role in Customer Support. Beswick, who previously held the position of Lead Engineer, started his new role at the beginning of the year. He has been with the cash handling business for nearly eight years, and will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to this new position. Commenting on his progression at ITL, Beswick said, “I joined August 2014 on the graduate programme and have since worked my way up to Engineer, Lead Engineer and now, Support Manager. I have primarily worked with our retail products, having started with the NV200 banknote validator with TEBS – a Tamper Evident Bag System for cash-in transit operations, where I was part of first-line support giving technical advice and working with the development teams to integrate these new products into devices. I then took on support responsibility for the North America market and spent a lot of time out in the States. As ITL grew, we took on dedicated support engineers in the US, so I was able to focus more on new products and improving technical infrastructure and integration tools for customers.”LOREM IPSUM DOLOR SIT AMET KDS Magazine is the leading technical journal for manufacturers, integrators and deployers of self service terminals and digital signage. Published on a bi-monthly basis, KDS features news, articles and features from industry leading bodies, and the very latest information on the innovative technology used in our exciting industry. Past issues can be found on our website: www.kdseurope.com, along with news, features and information on events throughout the year. 2022’s media pack can also be accessed on the website HERE www.kdseurope.com | sales@kdseurope.com | editor@kdseurope.comNext >