New Square Stand Combines iPad With Built-In Apple Pay and Credit Card Reader

When they turn the screen to you for the tip...

And the only available pre-set options are 20%, 25%, and 30% for a to-go drink/sandwich

At half the cost of an iPad. The moment apple release the tap to pay api. This is out of date.

That relies on NFC being integrated into the iPad, which I don't believe they have yet? Only iPhones. Correct me if I'm wrong.

A lot of you are bringing up the Tap to Pay API.

I just wanted to clarify, that only works with devices that have NFC, so it should work no problem iPhone to iPhone, but not iPhone to iPad. The iPad doesn't have the hardware (NFC) to support tap to pay. So for right now until Apple adds NFC to the iPad this hardware is necessary.

And my biggest pet peeve with tipping... the tip amount being calculated AFTER tax when pretty much every tipping guide states that tip should be calculated BEFORE tax. I am not tipping the goverment!

When they turn the screen to you for the tip...

Haha. Yeah... I mean, who doesn't appreciate a tip? I have been on the vendor-side of many counters of varying business types. Not all of them were tip-worthy transactions. That said, I don't take issue with any business offering a tip option at POS because I also have no issue with tapping NO TIP for certain transactions. But for those so inclined, having the option is win-win.

The bang-for-buck for this hardware, seems pretty good. While my initial concern about the inevitable: when the 10.2" iPad's physical dimensions changes to not fit with this hardware, it's quickly pretty much moot when you consider A) the relatively low cost of this Square hardware and B) that whatever iPad that does fit this hardware will likely perform Square's transactional functions for years (not like it needs to play the latest game at the highest frame rates). Anyway, if my Mac-powered company were in need of transactional navigation and management, I'd likely consider this setup.

is it me or does this make it easy for people who steal? they might need a rugged version of this

Plenty of places use the older Square stand, and nobody is ripping them off and running with the iPads unless the place was getting burglarized anyway.