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Microsoft Launches RFID Software Project
securitas writes "RFID Journal reports on the first Microsoft RFID software pilot project. Microsoft launched the six-month pilot in December with KiMs, Denmark's largest snack food producer. Microsoft plans to bring the new RFID-enabled supply chain management software (Axapta Warehouse Management) to market next year, targeting small- to medium-sized businesses. The news comes after Microsoft announced its Smarter Retailing Initiative, tools based on RFID and .Net Web services. More on this latest development at CNet and InformationWeek."
[Pilot-Project Test Warehouse in Denmark]
PHB: OK, the new MS inventory system automatically ordered 15 semi-trailer loads of Kotex Ultra Thick & Fluffy With Wings. Make sure we have room for that shipment.
GeekSlave: But.. Sir, we sell snack food, not..
PHB: Don't question the system; do you know how much it cost?!
Trolling is a art,
microwave everything!
2 1337 4 u!
hmmm lets see 2000000 rfd tags at $399.00 for each license comes too ....
"It's so convenient to have a system where everyone is a criminal" - A. Hitler
pig out on candy bars.
"I would say that 99 per cent of what my father has written about his own life is false." - L. Ron Hubbard Jr.
Just wait until the system gets a virus. I can see it now... the systems orders truck loads of beans and toliot paper.
Evolution or ID?
Okay, it was wierd when companies changed their names to titles that mean nothing (Altria) or just started naming them incomprehensibly (Zyprexa), but now we have SOFTWARE that has a name that is following the same trend. What's next?
Microsoft AND RFID bashing all in one thread. Woohoo!
Life in Orange County
news from the CNN today: Microsoft Patents the RFID supply chain management process!
You RFID the food itself, not the wrapper, that way you can track its journey through your system and beyond!
[ Don't reply to this ]
even if your not using bloatware
pallet #245 has 300 items on it, how many bit is each rfid tag? 32 bits * 300 items (a bit over 1kB) per pallet (big items or small pallet) 64 bits? (over 2kB) what about the pallet of kazzos, 100000 * 64 bits (~800kB per pallet).
how large will the tracking databases have to get?
pallet #245 makes 3 stops before it gets to the final reseller, warehouse 1,2 and 3 then add 2kb per pallet of this product to each of their databases as they track it.
oh well, hard drives are cheap, bandwidth is cheap, heck even privacy is cheap (at the rate we watch it being given up, you'd think we where giving away air)
This is good news for the small and medium-size businesses that might not otherwise spring for a more expensive, market-leading solution from a provider like Manhattan Associates. If a smaller biz can jump on the RFID-enabled supply chain bandwagon early in the game, it offers an opportunity to develop their relationship with the big boys like Walmart.
That said, it's definitely not an easy thing to implement and realize savings from. It requires a real white-board redesign of how your product flows from supplier all the way through to customer. I'm sure there will be many examples of companies falling on thier faces doing this, spending resources on capabilities that they never end up fully utilizing.
Stop by my site where I write about ERP systems & more
Microsoft launched the six-month pilot in December
Great...good news that. I was worried that a capable outfit would get involved and RFID might gain traction. Now I can relax.
The title says it all. These various... ahem... projects by Microsoft are getting creepier and creepier every day.
I still think Palladium will fail, simply because Linux and the BSDs have now attained critical mass, and that most Linux users simply won't accept a closed hardware platform like it. Therefore, someone will step up to the plate and provide a non-Palladium hardware platform -- simply because there is money to be made in such a platform.
Now, for a serious question: has anybody got any idea on how to quickly disable RFIDs? I don't want to be followed around, whether it is by Microsoft, a retailer or anybody else. Please don't say: "Just microwave it", because some things with embedded RFIDs cannot be microwaved...
The right to offend is far more important than the right not to be offended. (Rowan Atkinson)
For anyone who doesn't have a currency converter in their brain (like me), 17,500 Euros is US$22,125. Great way to convert: http://www.xe.com/ucc/
RFID tags can be a very useful tool in some industries. In the field I work it has the potential to save millions of dollars. But, here comes Microsoft. To have them involved usually means some proprietary standard pushed and all kinds of licensing costs. This I don't like. The licensing fees alone could negate the profits the technology is even good for.
Evolution or ID?
... That they were going to embed RFIDs into the software CDs.
Having a key in the chip that's required to decode the CD would be an interesting variation of the dongle concept.
If there was a cheap USB RFID reader that shipped with the S/W it might even be practical.
the privacy implications of RFIDs now that I know that Microsoft will be running the software that tracks them. And I look forward to my secure computing/Palladium/RFID implant. I know that my unimatrix team can help assimilate unique biological species to enhance the collective. I'm Five of Twenty Six Adjunct. Welcome!
Since the biggest retailer on the planet is mandating RFID, it only makes sense that the largest software company will get on board too..
Just good business sence in this case.. noting much to see..move along.
---- Booth was a patriot ----
DAMNIT! First, we all hear how Scandinavia's other large snack producer is owned by the devil itself - Kraft Foods, and now KiMs is cooperating with the other devil?
It's like some big conspiracy to make us all eat healthy stuff...
I'm naming my firstborn Quixlio
I am one of many. My idea is not unique, nor do I expect my voice alone to sway you. I speak in a chorus of opinion.
Hmm... think there's a chance this was written by a male?
Q: Can I microwave products to kill any hidden RFID tags they might contain?
A: While microwaving an RFID tag will destroy it (a microwave emits high frequency electromagnetic energy that overloads the antenna, eventually blowing out the chip), there is a good chance the the tag will burst into flames first. The difficulty of destroying a hidden RFID chip is one reason we need legislation making it illegal to hide a chip in an item in the first place.
I am looking at this story and thinking: "they never learn".
.Net architecture and a virus is released it means that while they aren't all the same, the virus can be easily altered to fit that system, especially with the number of systems that are being networked.
While I understand Microsoft is a well known brand name that people trust, I must ask the inevitable question: "Why do they trust Microsoft?"
Surely the people ordering these products must know the poor reputation MS has for quality control. Think back to Windows 95 Revision A. Type a password that is 99 characters or more and it skips the authentication. Or perhaps the numerous bugs that fill Outlook, MS IE and so many of their other vital products. Yes they can make computing easier and I wouldn't hesitate to point someone who is new to computers to Windows due to the simplicity you must also ask yourself if it is that simple then it probably shouldn't be used on critical systems and frankly ordering is fairly critical.
I remember when a bank used MS software on some of their ATMS and the machine began shooting out money. I am not sure what was the root cause but surely it is tied to the fact that MS's OS was installed.
There is also the question of interoperability. If you have a computer that runs Windows XP, a bank machine, a cash regsiter, an ordering system and a security system that run Windows
On a similar note some of you may have seen the newer cash registers that use some very simple operating system I have noticed a significant number of lockups on these machines whereas when I used to work at a coffee store we used a simple electronic cash with LED number display and I think we had a total of two lockups, one was caused by a paper jam.
It was that diversity of operating systems and the lack of availability of some of the more commercial ones that gave them a sense of security. Not to mention most of the "OSes" were so simple (because they needn't be any more complex than a calculator to work) that it was very hard to cause problems save for a few isolated cases.
Do we really need this many systems running computer software when a calculator can work just as efficiently? I have no problem with people who want to put an OS on something to say "we can!" but perhaps we ought to ask ourselves: "should we? Do we really need it?" before touting the benefits of something like this.
I don't want this to sound like I am just bashing MS, quite the opposite, I praise them on their marketing ability and their general ingenuity but perhaps we ought to think:
Do we really need Norton AntiVirus on our cash regiters?
...missing inventory.
hehe iz funay! i mean realay funay!!!!
Patrick Doyle
I mod down every jackass who puts his moderation policy in his sig. Oh, wait a sec....
How will they make such a teeny-tiny blue screen?
What's next?
Anzexium, the post with the answers to your questions!
Publishing warehouse management software with support for RFID is not exactly a big deal. The software presumably had a barcode module before, and now they've added an RFID module. So what? It's just another way to do the same thing. Warehousing is where RFID makes sense. The trouble with RFID has never been in the supply-chain side.
RFID only becomes a problem when active tags escape the market and remain with the end user. Escaped tags are a hardware problem, not a software problem, and trying to bash Microsoft for supporting RFID in warehousing software is just silly.
There are so many good reasons ro bash Microsoft that there exists no need to conjure up bad ones.
With reasonable men I will reason; with humane men I will plead; but to tyrants I will give no quarter. -- William Lloyd
Microsoft is doing this because there is already a Java based implementation of many of the key infrastructure services needed to create a large-scale RFID-based supply-chain management system. As a result, all the early trials are going to Sun/IBM.
This isn't something MS would want to loose out on. RFID-enabled supply chains are expected to generate 4-10x more tracking data. That could be a lot of SQL-Enterprise licenses, for just one example.
Well it seems that one of SCO's only decent markets (Retail POS systems) is going down the pooper. If Microsoft convinces the large retail chains that having a Microsoft managed inventory and POS system will be benificial, SCO is further screwed (but who do I root for?) My apologies to any red headed step-children.
Sigs? We don't need no stinking sigs!
I had a friend lose his Palm over at the airport in Maradonna
Maradonna is legendary soccer player from Argentina, and even though he grew fat during past few years, it's highly unlikely they managed to place an airport on his body.
I wrote it on the Starter cap
If Rob were to provide his autograph, he'd probably choose a ThinkGeek cap or something, why would he go with the Starter cap?
I seen this one shit on the news a couple weeks ago that made me sick
The repercussions with the DNS server are highly unlikely to be publicized on major networks such as CNN or Fox News, as DNS server failure is quite common (unless it's root DNS server). Perhaps a better line would say "I seen this one shit on the Web..."
Jenny Craig cheaters, beware!
This is a manual virus. Copy it to your sig and help me spread!
"The same thing we do every night, Steve. Try to take to take over the world!"
Zagreus sits inside your head, Zagreus lives among the dead, Zagreus sees you in your bed and eats you in your sleep.
That's interesting. Somehow you made it sound like the perfect opportunity for an OSS project. Huge list of options that no one will ever use, commercial versions going bust right and left, stingy target demographic, not easy to implement, etc.
I think maybe someone should reserve a space on Sourceforge for RFID.
Knowing the Slashdot editors though, I doubt such a story would ever make it to the front pages.
There's a Mercedes gap too. I want one and can't afford one, but it's not government's job to do anything about it.
That is the way of the world. There has always been a class of slave labor, you just started noticing that it is beginning to match your ethnicicity.
North&South-Americans, Europeans, Asians, and Africans are sheep being lead to a slaughter. And Most will happily forge their own shackles, just as the poor fools in Russia did in 1919. They were trading one set of chains for another, and it took them 60 some years to undo that mistake.
It is a cyclical problem, mostly going unnoticed throughout history. But thanks to the US (even with all its shortcomings), there has been a semi-stable model of freedom to strive for - or use as a model of what to avoid as the people see fit.
As America slides into decadent socialism, the last true middle class population will disappear and the old tried and true class and caste systems will doom billions to the slavery or serfdom.
Would you have also questioned the motives of the calculator's inventor, since the slide rule could obviously do math computations just as well?
There's a Mercedes gap too. I want one and can't afford one, but it's not government's job to do anything about it.
well?
Microsoft's beta test of their RFID system was wildly successful.
As hardware RFID units were expensive at the time, Microsoft used a software GUID inside of every Microsoft Office document. Millions of beta testers had their documents tracked by Microsoft without their knowledge. The program was a resounding success. It even helped Microsoft get their sweetheart "zero consequences" antitrust settlement with the USDOJ.
Now Microsoft is rolling out the same system to hardware vendors. Of course Microsoft's closed source / closed data will prevent the hardware vendors from knowing about Microsoft's additional RFID GUIDs and hidden back doors... until that fateful day when the vendor considers using a non-Windows platform. Within moments, Microsoft's "special accounts" team (think Agent Smith & friends) shows up and tells them why that will never be a good idea...
Company directors have a liability to their shareholders, if this goes horribly wrong (guaranteed!) it can destroy entire businesses, the directors may then be held personally liable, having installed this trash.
Of course it will be designed to interoperate badly, or not at all, with anyone else's systems. It will simply be another intolerable burden, a Bill Tax, like their junk Office suite, which wastes hours every day per user.
Why will the purchasers of such systems not grow up, and spend their money on something useful instead?
You'll never win any popularity contests by speaking the truth, as demonstrated by the -1 mod.
More choice quotes from the article:
Does anyone who really understands computer security seriously believe this proposal would prevent cybercrime? Seems to me that it would only help state and federal governments track legitimate users who haven't found ways around the nannyware.
--
When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.
But aren't the "Smarter Retailers" moving to Linux POS systems and back ends? ;-)
Maybe the internal name is more descriptive. Something like "Locked-in Retailing Initiative".
It does look more and more like Microsoft is attempting to become an services company. You can look at IBM's work in RFID and it makes sense but when you look at Microsoft getting into it I have to ask, "Is it such a good thing and do they really have the customer in mind?" I mean, EVERYTHING they have every done has been done to protect the MS Windows product/monopoly by creating MS Windows-only based API's, "standards", etc.
And have all the Windows developers gone away so that Microsoft must now also provide the integration service too?
Like I said, the Smarter Retailing people are moving to open systems and away from prioprietary/lock-ins. IMHO.
LoB
"Anyone who stands out in the middle of a road looks like roadkill to me." --Linus
People seem to have got it in their heads that these tiny grain-of-rice sized RFID tags will let CIA satellites track your every movement and interaction via your underpants, which is just crazy. The detection range of an RFID tag that you can comfortably include in an item of clothing is about 20-30cms, depending on the model and the size of the antenna. For the ones that are enclosed completely in glass capsules, it can be as little as 10cm - and if retailers want cheaper tags, this range is going to go down.
Since the range that a passive RFID tag can be read at is proportional to the amount of power that the reader puts out, anyone who wanted to read one of those tiny tags from 100m away would have to fire so much microwave radiation at you that you'd be too busy bursting into flames to care about the invasion of privacy. All an RFID tag really does is identify an item of clothing that you buy, not you. That item of clothing could be given as a gift, shared between partners or sold in a thrift store - the information you can get from tracking it is so abstract in it's focus and massive in it's volume as to be nearly useless.
Besides, stores already have a way of tracking you. They're called 'Credit Cards'.
The last RFID project I saw at Microsoft was their "Kitchen of the Future" on the Food Network. They had an interactive recipe that knew when each ingredient was placed onto the counter and automatically checked it off.
It was actually very cool. RFID itself is an extremely useful technology for retailers and consumers -- it just needs to be used responsibly. And consumers have to have the ability to not use it.
(Score:-1, Wrong)
This is likely a high growth sector, as all industries are looking to make their distribution systems more efficient, and anyone who gets an early leed could have a large advantage, since interoperability between difference companies systems would be a big selling point.
Particularly, I wondered where was IBM, who once lost control of a large industry to microsoft.
Some quick googling showed that IBM doesn't plan to let this fish get away. See here and here.
That said, anyone know about open-source non-proprietary RFID solutions for businesses?
So with RFID integrated firmly in the OS, Microsoft can change their slogan to "Where have you gone today?"
Just wait till they put them IN the food it's self and the tiny claws attach the tag to your stomach lining....
Gah!!! I'm being too paranoid. I need more coffee...
Actually America should probably look to Europe and you should stop making comments like that you idiot.
You have stupid laws and allow corperations to bribe your government. You bomb every country you don't like and bush is a gimp doing what his daddy never finished off.
now that microsoft is *cough* *cough* writing the software, there's less to worry about since it'll crash before they can even collect and mine data.
Now if it was some body else or if it was linux, it would be "1984" all over again.
I see this as a prime reason the OS movement should embrace RFIDs. If the code to track and reference RFIDs is open then we can also know how to disable them after their legitimate use. It also allows us to know exactly what can and is trackaed by said systems ( or at least give us a big clue) Basicly reverse microsoft's embrace / extend / break philosophy, after all keep your friends close and your enemies even closer neh?
Bad Panda! No Bamboo for you! In matters of importance ACs will not be responded to. Want to say something critical,OK
I'd be tempted to encourage them both. I do my shopping with double foil lined carrier bags (keeps food at a low temperature). I may have to review this after careful experimentation.
When the unit is pallete you track the ID of the pallete. Only when you get to the part of the process where the unit becomes smaller do you track the individual items.
For instance, when a car dealer gets a shipment of new 2004 models, does he get an invoice for car: 1, VIN zyx1234 or does he get lines items like Wheels: 4, VIN zyx1234, Windshield: 1, VIN zyx1234 etc..
Great, if MS$ is the one that feeds us cattle, no wonder we have the MadcowVirus.A
Wouldn't /. users be all for this? If Microsoft enters the RFID arena, then odds are that they will hardly ever be able to track anyhting, will be easily hackable, and can be brought to a halt with the d1Fr.a virus.
Dean also wants TCPA. He's just another Fritz Hollings.
The Democrats are just as hostile toward digital freedom and privacy as the Republicans. If you don't want to elect a tyrant, better vote for either a third party or an independent.
Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen
"Welcome to WalMart. You must have a Microsoft Passport in order to shop here."
I know the benefits of RFID tags for supermarkets, but most of those concerns were taken care of by UPC codes!!
I remember the furor when the bar code scanners were first put into the stores. And you can't read THOSE through clothing, bags, and without people's knowledge.
Unless they're blind, I guess.
Next, there needs to be a cheap piece of hardware that lets you program/read the RFIDs. THe final step is to have open-source software developed that enables you to search for RFIDs in your house, and displays on a map of your house where the item is. And it could also keep stock of how many groceries were in your fridge and order things ahead of time if it needs to. It could also keep track of where people are in the house (useful for parents with little kids) and could be very useful for automating your house. Think "i put the coffee cup with its chip inside the coffee machine with its reader, it does the rest". Think "pull car into garage, have RFID reader automatically start dinner/announce your arrival."
And these are just some of the more obvious uses, I'm sure people would think things up that would be a lot more useful.
Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
For real:
How come I feel very uneasy whenever Micro$oft makes another strategic move into an already worrisome market.
RFID is scary enough. Micro$oft is shady enough.
Micro$oft in charge of RFID? How shady and really scary is that?
It's so breathtaking just to watch it every time. ...or something) and acting so the ham that anyone not an expert on big software players way of bullshitting the customer just _must_ have the impression that M$ solutions are so much on top of things. It's really astounding just to watch this unfold.
Once a new market opens up, M$ is right there with some whitepaper some guy in the company came up with wile taking a dump. Something like 36 hours later you have an army of marketeers all over it, designing Logos and Brandnames ('Axapta' - expect to axept it!
Ah, well, in five years from now, when - as usual - billions of customers have been ripped and - as usual - the first OSS developers get really pissed with the crap they have to fuss with on their dayjobs, we're gonna see the first OSS ERP RFID integrations popping up here and there. It's just like with classic ERP slowly being crept into by compiere and the very promising GNU Enterprise project - there is no way you can beat it in the end.
Anyway, the smartass attitude that MS displays allthough they don't have any more clue than the rest is just amazing.
We suffer more in our imagination than in reality. - Seneca
Honey, I know that you bought chips last night. Didn't we agree that you were going to go on a diet?
let's use rfid tags on luggage at the airport so that the plane can't take off if everyone's bags aren't on board