Filed under: iPhone, App Store, App Review
Cyclops bar code scanner for iPhone 3GS
One of the problems with some previous bar code scanners for the iPhone has been a lack of good close focus (helped somewhat for owners of the iClarifi case), but the new and better camera in the iPhone has greatly improved the situation. It is, therefore, no surprise that new software is rolling out to aid in your shopping by scanning bar codes and connecting you to Amazon to allow you to comparison shop.Cyclops [App Store link] requires the new 3GS camera, and in my tests it worked pretty well. It correctly identified 9 of 10 products on the first try, although I was doing the test at home under pretty good lighting. I tried some poorer lighting and mixed tungsten and sunlight, and it did 6 of 10 scans correct. The challenge is still to hold the camera steady and try to make sure you get a sharp image, but the software did pretty well even with imperfect focus.
The software is free, so it is not a very risky proposition. I can't guarantee you'll be popular at a retailer while you price check, but I think it most cases the software will work for you. Be careful to get the distance right so the bar code pretty much fills your screen. It gives the software the best chance of interpreting the scan.
One weakness is you can't get the info out of the program easily. It would be good to be able to email the Amazon data to yourself or others.
If you need this sort of information, and don't mind nasty looks from store clerks, I'd suggest you give it a try.
Here are some screen shots as I put the program to work today:
Gallery: Cyclops Barcode scanner
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bigboy said 12:50AM on 7-16-2009
Meh. Doesn't work for me.
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mitch said 1:46AM on 7-16-2009
double meh! didn't seem to work for me, either.
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Jeff Powers said 1:27PM on 7-16-2009
These guys need to plug in the new RedLaser SDK for realtime scanning. It'll also help this application grow beyond the 3GS-only crowd. Cyclops guys: contact us!
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Shunnabunich said 6:32AM on 7-16-2009
If they fixed the (apparent, from these comments) scanning issues, made it available to other developers as a part of their apps, and Apple gave the iPod touch a 3GS-quality camera, that could eliminate the need for a laser-scanner accessory for an iPod touch-based POS system. That's pretty cool. We should always be looking for ways to ditch those horrific WinMo POS (and I don't mean point-of-sale) devices. :)
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Stefano said 7:39AM on 7-16-2009
It works great for me (iPhone 3GS).
Quick point though: how can the pull it off given amazon's new API license?
Delicious Library was removed from the App Store exactly because it was using Amazon's data and Amazon's license explicitly forbids using Amazon information on a mobile device.
glenn said 11:48AM on 7-16-2009
I'll be watching the Apple stores to see if they actually stop using the windows based purchasing handhelds and switch to something that's iPhone based. Sure would make sense, and a good model for them to use their own devices as point of purchase rather than someone else's.
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Liberty For ALL! said 12:31PM on 7-16-2009
I tried scanning an Almond Joy and Mounds candy bar, but it had no success with either. :-(
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cheezorg said 12:37PM on 7-16-2009
Haven't tried it yet but sounds great. Hope it works better than NeoReader on my 3GS.
Also, they probably don't let you email the info to yourself because they get affiliate payments for orders placed through their service (speculating).
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mark said 1:54PM on 7-16-2009
RedLaser has offered this functionality for months. It worked on my 3G, and now, it works even better on my 3GS.
It's not free ($1.99, IIRC), but instead of just looking at Amazon -- which is almost always overpriced -- it shows you Google's price-comparison results, which gives you far more choices in terms of saving money.
You'll save at least $1.99 the first time you use RedLaser, which means it pays for itself. (I'm not affiliated.)
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