All In A Days Work

Part-Time Software Engineer. Part-Time Graphics Designer. Part-Time Marketing Director. Part-Time Sales. Full-Time Entrepreneur. I blog about discoveries I make.

[garlandchan]

Verifone Calls Quits on SAIL

Big-time card processing hardware manufacturer Verifone is calling quits on its mobile payment processing service, SAIL after just over 6-months of service. I guess they just didn't have it in them to compete with Square. But why did they go up against Square? Given their existing business model, they should have did what they do best, B2B. They should have sold SAIL as a alternative to the traditional credit card terminal machines and counted on the thousands of merchant account providers to do their selling for them. Sure, the revenue may not have been as attractive but at least the profits would be better and the customer acquisition costs would be much lower. Instead, the products now defunct. I had high hopes for SAIL, the reader looked cool and the UI looked better than most of the competitors out there, it's a shame.

[garlandchan]

Another American Made EV: 2014 Chevy Spark EV

Highlight: 20-minute fast charge

Looks like EVs are here to stay this time! Chevy has revealed an all electric Spark EV for under $25,000. That's gonna give the Toyota Prius C a heavyweight challenger.

[garlandchan]

Shocking Winner: Proof Positive that America Can Still Make (Great) Things

http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/car/1301_2013_motor_trend_car_of_the_year_tesla_model_s/

[garlandchan]

2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year: Tesla Model S

[garlandchan]

Apple Re-Releases the iPhone 4 Today!

In case you haven't heard, Apple has re-released the iPhone 4 today and is calling it "the biggest thing to happen to iPhone since iPhone" but it's more like the boringest thing. Pre-orders for the new iPhone 4 start Friday, 9/14.

[garlandchan]

Getting Started with your $35 Raspberry Pi Computer

Like so many other tech geeks out there, I was filled with excitement when the $35 Raspberry Pi computer was announced. The only problem was, I didn't know what I'd do with it! I knew the possibilities were endless, but specifically, what was I going to do with it? An even better question was HOW was I gonna get started? After scouring the Internet for a little while and having no luck, I gave up and forgot about the Raspberry Pi. But now, the University of Cambridge has released a free online crash-course on the $35 Raspberry Pi computer titled Baking Pi - Operating Systems Development. I haven't read through the entire course yet, so I can't give any feedback but I'm sure it's a great primer to get your Raspberry Pi development going. If you don't have one yet, you can pick one up at Newark.com for people in the US, otherwise check our raspberrypi.org.

[garlandchan]

HP webOS making a comeback?

As one of the earliest supporters of Palm webOS, I was thrilled when HP announced it's acquisition of Palm. Then HP effectively killed the OS by announcing it would no longer manufacture mobile phones or tablets. Now it looks like HP might be getting back into the consumer phone & tablet game. HP has hired Nokia's Former MeeGo Head Alberto Torres to be Senior Vice President of Mobility. Can't wait to see what HP Pre 4 or Touchpad 2 will look like!

[garlandchan]

Intuit's Mobile Payments App, GoPayment is cheaper than Square if you're serious about payments

Another company entering the mobile payments arena is Intuit. Upon first glance you'll see that GoPayment is actually 0.05% cheaper than Square. What you don't see until you look closer is that 2.7% swipe rate is for "qualified swipe" transactions only, meaning only the most basic, non-cashback, non-rewards credit card will get you that 2.7% rate. If you're accepting a Visa Signature card, you'll most likely be paying at least 3.56%. If you're a tiny business, processing less than $1295 a month, you're better off with Square. Square claims they charge one simple rate, they don't advertise a "qualified" rate, just what they're calling transparent pricing. However if you're processing over $1295 a month, GoPayments' "Pay Monthly & Save" plan is the way to go. They charge a $12.95 monthly charge, but they give you a 1% cheaper rate. Your "qualified swipe" rate is 1.7% and even considering the extra 0.86% to except a Visa Signature card, you're still at 2.56%.

Bottom Line: If you're a business processing over $1295 a month in credit cards, go with Intuit's GoPayment, it'll be the cheapest way to accept mobile payments. Otherwise go with Square if you process less than $1295.

[garlandchan]

What makes Square a better payment processor than your bank

Unless you follow tech, most likely you still have no idea who or what Square is. Square made a name for itself when it invented a credit card reader that plugs into the headphone/microphone jack an iPhone. That's out of the box thinking! Why is Square so revolutionary? First of all, Square is mobile. It works on your most mobile phones and tablets. It's faster! It uses the Internet to authorize cards so it's much faster than your traditional credit card terminal that uses a telephone line. It's cheaper! If you're an existing merchant you know how much it costs for businesses to accept credit cards. No matter what you were advertised as your "rate", you never get that rate. Banks advertise the lowest possible "qualified" rate and you're never charged that. There are tons of hidden fees they never tell you about. You know those money saving cash reward cards you use as a consumer, most merchants don't know they are the ones who are paying for those rewards! In my experience, a typical quick-service restaurant pays about 4% per transaction (that includes the flat rate per transaction fee). With Square, it's one simple rate, 2.75%! No flat-rate per transaction fee, no hidden charges for reward cards, no higher rates for American Express or Discover, one simple rate. I haven't received my free card reader yet so I can't speak based on experience, but that's what they are advertising. I'll update everyone after I run a few test charges.

[garlandchan]

Tesla Model S's are ahead of schedule! Delivery begins June 22. I'll consider 2012 a success when I can afford to put a down payment down for the Model S. *Fingers-Crossed*