The iPad As A Digital Cash Register

I’ve been to many lunch wagons around town that use an iPad to keep track of their transactions, and I noticed a few of them were using the Square Register app. As you may recall from a previous column, the Square app turns your Apple iOS or Android device into a mobile point of sale system when you plug in a credit card reader.

“Local business owners take as a given that they need an ugly, slow, expensive and complicated point-of-sale system cluttering their counter,” says Jack Dorsey, co-founder and CEO of Square. “Square Stand is elegant, fast, affordable and easy to use. Whether you’re selling cupcakes, cardigans or cappuccinos, running your business with Square has never been easier.”

The Square Stand is ready to use in minutes and perfect for on-the-go businesses (e.g., lunch wagons) or even a garage sale. Using your Square register app, the duo gives you access to real-time analytics, robust reporting and a unique experience for your customers. Square Stand features an integrated card reader that keeps information secure from swipe to payment, and easily connects to the hardware accessories businesses need, including a receipt printer, kitchen printer, cash drawer and barcode scanner. You can lock your iPad in place and secure the stand to your countertop, making it easy to tilt and rotate the stand and complete orders quickly.

The Square Stand costs $299 and is available for preorder at squareup.com/stand. You also will be able to purchase Square Stand in Best Buy stores and other select retailers starting the week of July 8.

Click Chick’s Mobile App of the Week: Disney’s Story

Disney Interactive recently released Story, a digital storytelling app for iPhone and iPod touch that turns your photos and videos into compelling personal narratives. A revolutionary story creation and storytelling app, Story uses intuitive technology to access the photo and video library on your iPhone or iPod touch and automatically organizes them into rich digital experiences that can be personalized, saved and shared.

“When we become moms, our iPhone instantly becomes the go-to device to capture the spontaneous moments of family life,” says Brooke Chaffin, senior vice president, Disney Interactive Family. “Before we know it, we have thousands of photos and videos. With Story, we’ve created an easy-to-use app that takes this content and creates meaningful narratives and stories that can be shared with friends and family with just a few taps.”

The Story app makes creating and sharing rich media narratives as easy as sharing a single photo. It provides an easy-touse and artful experience that automatically assembles your photos and videos into shareable narratives based on time and location. Story offers creative freedom by allowing you to build stories from scratch, then edit and personalize them in countless ways.

Download Story for free from the iTunes App Store.