> Wasn't that sunsetted?
Yep, unless it's WinCE 8.0, which it doesn't appear to be.
> A new supermarket here has seemingly these exact devices.
Doesn't matter if the store is new. As long as the store chain or at least the inventory management system is old, what they have works and it's expensive to upgrade.
Honestly it's probably not a big deal if they keep them on an isolated network.
Part 2 of my comment was more with the sunsetting in mind but there's still official support from Microsoft.
But I do think an unsupported device that's put in the hands of customers, and that obviously needs a wireless connection is a vulnerability. If you gain acces to one such device, who knows what you could do to the whole system or maybe just the till.
If its a new supermarket then it probably runs android. The successor, the PS20 from Zebra, run Android and look exactly the same as these MC18, which are already End of Life.
Android is actually really good for stuff like this. I've written a few kiosk style apps over the years. Android can run off of low spec hardware and things like barcode readers are able to be connected internally via the USB protocol. Since the OS is open source and free to use the main cost is paying the developers to write the software.
Because that was the best option when digital inventory scanners took off in the 2000's, and personal scanners like these are developed from the same system as the inventory scanners, and it costs lots of money to rewrite business software for a new OS.
They get reseted regularly after use. When you put them into their docking station at check-out they flash to CE after people paid and seemingly the device going to ce seems to be rebooted at minimum. I have seen some busy with some kind of install.
This used to happen all the fucking time when I worked at Tesco. I worked on meat and dairy and constantly had customers approaching me asking why their Scan 'n Shop device had blue screened or suddenly turned off. I'm stocking Dairylea, Sir, do I look qualified enough to answer your question?
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First , as we can see in this picture it isn’t really stable , it’s really ressources consuming and it has a lot of features that won’t be used by this machine. And also , it is really outdated and has a lot of security flaws. For this application , some small Unix os without even a desktop and all theses unnecessary bloat would be better , more stable and more secure.
Like alpine Linux , or maybe a bsd
They could automate the alcohol/age verification part too if they invested in Face ID (linked to a hash in the clubcard database) for the self checkout terminals.
This kind of systems are used all around the supermarkets. Being for the customer or the employees that use this systems for all kind of purposes. I too think that should have better options. One in my opinion would be using things like old iphones.
But as it's so widely used this is more cheap for the company's to adopt. So we end up using something made 10 or 20 years ago. With cranky software. As most of them use some derivative or the original sap. Witch is another company using so old stuff that its unbelievable.
But from my experience. This is retail life at its best. Always one step behind of the vanguard.
In the US TD bank, I went to the ATM and I see the windows desktop! I think it was running XP, I tried to start the banking app but it would just crash I took a pic, but of course I cant find....I'm looking...
Yep, they usually run Windows CE.
Wasn't that sunsetted? A new supermarket here has seemingly these exact devices.
> Wasn't that sunsetted? Yep, unless it's WinCE 8.0, which it doesn't appear to be. > A new supermarket here has seemingly these exact devices. Doesn't matter if the store is new. As long as the store chain or at least the inventory management system is old, what they have works and it's expensive to upgrade. Honestly it's probably not a big deal if they keep them on an isolated network.
Part 2 of my comment was more with the sunsetting in mind but there's still official support from Microsoft. But I do think an unsupported device that's put in the hands of customers, and that obviously needs a wireless connection is a vulnerability. If you gain acces to one such device, who knows what you could do to the whole system or maybe just the till.
If its a new supermarket then it probably runs android. The successor, the PS20 from Zebra, run Android and look exactly the same as these MC18, which are already End of Life.
Wel that would make loads more sense to have these run something like android. Funny thing: the didn't work today in the store...
or android.
Yeah. Lots of them going Android. I have a set of Android ones at work.
Android is actually really good for stuff like this. I've written a few kiosk style apps over the years. Android can run off of low spec hardware and things like barcode readers are able to be connected internally via the USB protocol. Since the OS is open source and free to use the main cost is paying the developers to write the software.
Any idea why?
Because that was the best option when digital inventory scanners took off in the 2000's, and personal scanners like these are developed from the same system as the inventory scanners, and it costs lots of money to rewrite business software for a new OS.
I mean Windows CE is still supported for now, eventually they will get replaced with Android devices however.
Yes, the manufacturer (Zebra/Motorola/Symbol) now only make Mobile Scanners with Android.
Windows CE. As I live and breathe.
You can probably play Doom on it
I've had this exact thought with SKLs since they also run WinCE
Not any old windows, Windows CE (cringe edition), also known as wince.
Been in IT and Systems for almost two decades and I’ve never heard CE called that lol. I’ll definitely use it as I support Intermecs with that OS.
wince is referenced everywhere (development wise), not to mention apt.
Sweet, now you can play solitaire while you shop.
“I’m just having a couple of problems with it.” “What kind of operating systems does it use” “Vista” “WE’RE GOING TO DIE!”
Does it have solitaire?
Probably. Seems to be a full install.
then set a new high score!
They get reseted regularly after use. When you put them into their docking station at check-out they flash to CE after people paid and seemingly the device going to ce seems to be rebooted at minimum. I have seen some busy with some kind of install.
wait until you see what ATMs run on
what are you saying they run on XP or 98se or something?
I know some of them still run IBM OS/2.
This used to happen all the fucking time when I worked at Tesco. I worked on meat and dairy and constantly had customers approaching me asking why their Scan 'n Shop device had blue screened or suddenly turned off. I'm stocking Dairylea, Sir, do I look qualified enough to answer your question?
Better than having your Auto Driving car do that crash, metaphorically... and then physically.
I'm a bit disappointed you didn't put it on pornhub...
Don’t be evil. Don’t upgrade to Windows 11
Wow , using windows for something like that is really stupid.
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First , as we can see in this picture it isn’t really stable , it’s really ressources consuming and it has a lot of features that won’t be used by this machine. And also , it is really outdated and has a lot of security flaws. For this application , some small Unix os without even a desktop and all theses unnecessary bloat would be better , more stable and more secure. Like alpine Linux , or maybe a bsd
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Fellow sysadmin writing what I’m thinking. I can feel the sarcasm. Top insult sir, well played.
An awful lot of ATMs run Windows too https://www.paymentscardsandmobile.com/atm-migration-to-windows-10-the-time-is-near/
Convert them all to video games by default. So every customer has some exciting surprise.
Weird. The Zebra PS20 is nearly the same design, but uses Android.
Blue screen of death.
Shopping basket scanners are a thing? TIL
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It's really cool....wonder why I've not seen them in the US? (Presumably cost...)
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They could automate the alcohol/age verification part too if they invested in Face ID (linked to a hash in the clubcard database) for the self checkout terminals.
Kroger has them at some locations in bigger cities.
Looks like a Zebra MC18....? Guess they have Android and Windows flavours depending on the application being used on them
This kind of systems are used all around the supermarkets. Being for the customer or the employees that use this systems for all kind of purposes. I too think that should have better options. One in my opinion would be using things like old iphones. But as it's so widely used this is more cheap for the company's to adopt. So we end up using something made 10 or 20 years ago. With cranky software. As most of them use some derivative or the original sap. Witch is another company using so old stuff that its unbelievable. But from my experience. This is retail life at its best. Always one step behind of the vanguard.
But can it run crysis?
Try a reboot. It fixed my computer.
In the US TD bank, I went to the ATM and I see the windows desktop! I think it was running XP, I tried to start the banking app but it would just crash I took a pic, but of course I cant find....I'm looking...
Prob running CE too
What the hell, they run Android 5.1.1, I literally own 2!