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A QR code reader was the problem then... I am an Android user since the dawn of time and I was so surprised when my wife showed me that on her iPhone the QR cod

• romanows 6y ago
  On my Pixel 4a: Camera / Modes / Lens. That will open Google Lens which should scan QR codes.
  • muro 6y ago
    It does - just checked.
  • chaos_a 6y ago
    You can do the same on any android phone by opening the google app and tap the lens icon in the search bar.
• deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
• izacus 6y ago
  Pretty much most of Android phones have QR code reader embedded in the camera app as well.
• Sander_Marechal 6y ago
  I have a Pixel 2. It scans QR codes with the default camera app just fine. When it detects a QR code you get a little popup you can click. It even works with regular 1D barcodes.
  • MrDresden 6y ago
    Long time Pixel user here (and an Android dev for that matter) and I had no idea the camera had qr support!
    • mackrevinack 6y ago
      just go into the camera settings and turn on lens suggestions
      • Daniel_sk 6y ago
        If you are fine with sending the camera stream to Google for analysis...
        • Daho0n 6y ago
          If not you wouldn't use a Pixel.
          • tjoff 6y ago
            Hardly a fact. As a privacy minded person I hold the Nexus/Pixel devices quite high in regard in the android ecosystem. Better to be screwed by google, than to be screwed by both google and samsung/whatever.
      • MrDresden 6y ago
        Well actually I just tried this with the normal camera and it worked fine without activating lens (or having given it any permissions).
  • po1nter 6y ago
    Same here with my Samsung Galaxy S8+. There's a QR code scanner in the camera app.
  • ciceryadam 6y ago
    Same here with a semi-recent Motorola One Zoom
  • dariosalvi78 6y ago
    same here with One plus
• TheChaplain 6y ago
  For CalDav/CardDav there's DAVx⁵. It's on Play if you want to support the developer, or F-Droid if you don't. There is also ICSx⁵ from the same developer, works against outlook.com. I paid for both, they work great.
  • samoa42 6y ago
    so there are a ton of different apps for which you can pay to get a feature that ios has builtin. great
    • forty 6y ago
      Note that the apps they mentioned are available for free
      • samoa42 6y ago
        noted, hence i wrote 'can pay' and not 'must pay'.
    • ChuckNorris89 6y ago
      You mean just like how on iOS you need to pay for apps to give you (almost) the same functionality and customization as on Android?
    • teekert 6y ago
      Meh that goes 2 ways. Try getting good WebDAV or third party backup solutions in the Mac ecosystem. You win some, you loose some.
      • samoa42 6y ago
        yea. really buggers me that there is no native webdav support in ios (at least there is cal-/carddav)
  • dotancohen 6y ago
    I'll vouch for DAVx⁵. Terrific app, I've been using it for years through the name change. I use it to sync contacts and calendar with NextCloud.
• prof18 6y ago
  QR Reader are load of everything. I went mad to find one a decent one for my parents’ android phone and apparently it doesn’t exists. So in a weekend I’ve created one without any kind of tracking, ads, permission, whatever. Here it is if you guys need one -> https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.prof18.secureqrreader https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.prof18.sec...
  • deadbunny 6y ago
    Thanks for this.
  • FullMetalBitch 6y ago
    it's great sinve you have de ability but I setup all my family phones with f. droid and some good apps there including qr readers
  • notretarded 6y ago
    Update it to include ads once you have the majority market share and cash out
  • slezyr 6y ago
    Or anything from FDroid. I use Barcode Scanner (https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.google.zxing.client.android/ https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.google.zxing.client.andr...) as it scans even damaged codes.
    • climb_stealth 6y ago
      I feel like this is a good example of how difficult it is to find a good barcode scanner. It mentions permissions for contacts and full network access. I would have thought that those two permissions should not be necessary for a barcode scanner and point toward something dodgy going on.
      • ignitionmonkey 6y ago
        It's actually not that difficult. F-Droid has a few offline scanners. It depends of course on how much of your experience you want automated. Though it would be nice if Android let you control the more granular permissions like network access. https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.secuso.privacyFriendlyCodeScanner/ https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.secuso.privacyFriendlyCo... https://f-droid.org/en/packages/de.t_dankworth.secscanqr/ https://f-droid.org/en/packages/de.t_dankworth.secscanqr/
• underlines 6y ago
  Xiaomi's Android distro MIUI has QR code scanning in the Camera app by default. Most asian target markets do that, because QR codes are more common here.
  • aembleton 6y ago
    MIUI also allows you to sort apps by installation time
• underlines 6y ago
  Xiaomi's MIUI has QR code reader as a default feature in the camera app, and as a short link on the desktop
• j1elo 6y ago
  +1 to the answers here. Mine offers QR reading as another selectable mode, in addition to the "Still photo" and "Movie" modes. My previous phone had it integrated in the "Still photo" mode: it would simply detect and read QR codes automatically when pointing the camera towards one. But, the phone I had before those two, had a Camera app which didn't read QR codes. So maybe it's a matter of expectations now: old Camera apps were just for Camera, while modern ones are now generally expected to be able to read QR codes? (I would, anyway)
• nunodonato 6y ago
  I use the Microsoft launcher and a qr code scanner is part of it
• cdr3 6y ago
  Firefox for Android comes with an integrated QR code reader. Works great. No add on needed.
• Apanatshka 6y ago
  My Firefox on Android has a QR code scanner, I typically use that even when I know it's not a website. When you open a new tab and select the address bar you get to see the button for the QR code scanner.
• qu-everything 6y ago
  I just tried with my Samsung s9+ and the camera app picked up the qr code, don't know what you are saying
  • Tokelin 6y ago
    That's specific to the default Samsung Camera app.
    • Daho0n 6y ago
      It is in moto, pixel, oneplus, xiaomi, huwaei too. Likely default to Android 9+
• perryizgr8 6y ago
  > I wonder why it is not the same in any version of Android that I have used I've had this on Samsung phones for a long time.
• oakwhiz 6y ago
  I was going to recommend the open source "Barcode Scanner" app also known as "zxing" on GitHub. However when looking at the app's page, I noticed that someone seems to be engaging in some kind of review-bombing with that app. There are tons of reviews claiming that it was recently updated and has highly intrusive full page popup ads. But looking at the version info, the app hasn't seen an update for over 2 years and the repository is in maintenance mode, and I nor anybody else that I know has seen a single ad when using it. I wonder if this is a concerted effort to steer impressionable people away from a "real" FOSS QR code reader app and direct them to a malicious one instead, using scare tactics.
  • rozab 6y ago
    If you say "OK Google, scan a QR code", it opens up Google Lens which does the job but only seems to be accessible through voice on my device
    • jimmySixDOF 6y ago
      I also use Lense for QR and like any typical app just installed through Play and launch normally. Voice Assist is yet another privacy invasion vector imho, there are too many anecdotal first hand accounts of someone talking about fishing and suddenly getting banner adds for boat trips everywhere.
      • chopin24 6y ago
        You don’t think it’s more likely that a person who talked about fishing also searched for fishing gear using Google? Or “Likes” fishing on Facebook? Or follows a fishing person on Twitter? The technology and storage that would be required to parse non-device-directed speech doesn’t exist and wouldn’t be profitable since there are so many other reliable signals that are much cheaper.
    • pja 6y ago
      On my Android phone if you open the camera App there's a Google Lens icon at top left next to the menu hamburger icon.
• matsemann 6y ago
  It wasn't a QR code reader that was the problem, it was a malware posing as a QR code reader. It didn't sound like the author downloaded a QR code reader and happened to get malware. He got malware from some source which installed itself that way. I had a QR reader in my camera app on some old Androids, around 2011 or so, but maybe it was because I then often was running custom ROMs? Or because back then QR codes were hyped and used for everything? Anyways, in 2019 or so it was included again in the native camera app on all Samsungs. While I get the allure of "it just works", having a niche feature that's basically never used and easily installed anyway seems like a weird hill to die on.
• teekert 6y ago
  Firefox mobile also has one embedded.
• OJFord 6y ago
  The camera app is actually not one thing, even on Android One, it depends on hardware support. The Pixel one doesn't work on my Nokia for example. My last few Android phones have had QR reading built in to the camera though, just not current Nokia. It might even be my biggest annoyance with it...
• lathiat 6y ago
  I read somewhere the native camera app also does but many including Samsung have their own app instead. Cannot vouch for that. On the flip side there are QR apps in the top 100 App Store apps because the built-in support in camera is not really obvious unless someone tells you.
  • mackrevinack 6y ago
    i had an s10e recently and the camera app would scan them if they were in view and show a popup message.
• saagarjha 6y ago
  This is basically the problem I have with Windows (well, had, maybe it's gotten better): a bunch of basic tools are third-party utilities. Microsoft will even point you to them?! On macOS either the basic things are build in or easy to find from a website that isn't trying to push a new toolbar at you. On Linux you just use your package manager to install whatever it is…
  • toyg 6y ago
    I don’t think you really need any 3rd party utility on Windows anymore, for the basic tasks. Any hrowser has PDF viewing, .zip support is already there (since Win2000), it has basic image manipulation and text editing, screenshot editor, and i think even desktop-recording. Sure, none of these things is a “best in class” app, but that’s normal (and leaves market space for developers). Anything beyond that is not “basic” and I wouldn’t expect it on MacOS either.
    • V-2 6y ago
      Same with eg. multi-entry clipboard (although I still use a third party utility app for that out of habit).
• oefrha 6y ago
  > on her iPhone the QR code reader is embedded in her camera app... I wonder why it is not the same in any version of Android that I have used Apple added a builtin QR code scanner to the camera app in iOS 11 due to the ridiculously widespread use of QR codes in China.[1] I guess (Google's version of) Android doesn't have that because Google doesn't derive much value from that market, and QR codes don't have as much mindshare in other major markets. [1] They specifically called out the Chinese market when introducing the feature in WWDC 2017 keynote: > Of course, there's much more than we have time to talk about today, but I want to highlight some features of special interest to our customers in China, like QR codes that are integrated right into the main camera, accessible from the lock screen, super use Yes, super useful for customers in China. https://asciiwwdc.com/2017/sessions/101 https://asciiwwdc.com/2017/sessions/101
  • Daho0n 6y ago
    Android has had a buil-in QR scanner for years. Looking in this thread at least OnePlus, Pixel, Motorola and Samsung has it in the default app. As far as I know it is part of android.
    • srg0 6y ago
      Huawei has QR scanner built-in in the gallery app https://consumer.huawei.com/en/support/content/en-us00326153/ https://consumer.huawei.com/en/support/content/en-us00326153... I believe that its built-in app also has a QR scanner in HiVision package, but it requires to accept a scary privacy agreement. Firefox for Android embeds a QR scanner in its address bar: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/scan-qr-codes-firefox-android https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/scan-qr-codes-firefox-a...
• johnchristopher 6y ago
  Firefox android has a QR code reader. I also recently noticed that the Google App (Discover ?) has a QR code reader and I think the Google assistant too. But these are all behind app, not readily accessible.
• neya 6y ago
  On my Samsung it's the same as well. The default camera app scans any QR code, even does document scanning on the fly which I find super useful.
  • roel_v 6y ago
    Yes, on my Samsung the camera app is great, and it gets better all the time. I know people like to crap on Samsung but they do some great things in some regards.
  • barnabee 6y ago
    Aside: on iOS the default camera app doesn’t do document scanning but the Files app does (it’s an option under the menu on the browse tab). Took me ages to discover that, still not sure how long it’s been there.
    • lethologica 6y ago
      The notes app also does document scanning in iOS and I’ve found it very very useful.
• rbg246 6y ago
  I recently discovered Firefox on Android has one if you focus on the address bar there is an option to scan, you just need to give Firefox permission to access the your camera
• pbhjpbhj 6y ago
  I have an Honor5C on Android 7 (with EMUI5) and there's a QR code reader built in, but I only found it by accident. After taking a picture of a QR code, view the image, tap 'more', wait 10s, if the image is good enough (and it really needs perfect focus and placement, it's very pinickety) then it will show "read QR code", if you choose that option it will then take you to a URL/text preview, and then you can open your browser to that URL, etc.. Worst discoverability ever!
• jedimastert 6y ago
  There is native support now with Lens, although I agree it's kinda nutty that it took so long.
• cam_l 6y ago
  After going through dozens of QR code scanners trying to find one that is open source and trustworthy enough looking to install, i realised there is just one right there in Firefox.
  • Daho0n 6y ago
    And in the default camera app.
    • cam_l 6y ago
      Sure, but only if you also have the Google app and Google lens.
• Daho0n 6y ago
  So does Android (at least OnePlus and Pixel) in the default Camera app.
• goldcd 6y ago
  It is on my pixel (so worth a try on whatever's shipping with Android One). I thought it was a bit 'hit or miss' at first - if you hold the camera over the code, after a bit it decides to pop up a link over the QR in preview. Then realized if you tap on the code, it instantly displays the link. Just had a fun few minutes on https://www.google.com/search?q=qr+codes&tbm=isch https://www.google.com/search?q=qr+codes&tbm=isch - as the tap allows it to handle multiple ones within the same frame.
• wwn_se 6y ago
  Samsung phones have qr reading in the camera app since a few years at least. Google also has Lens but that does not work offline (?)
• gfxgirl 6y ago
  That's disappointing. Chrome on iOS also has a QR code scanner. Surprising that Chrome on Android does not https://support.google.com/chrome/thread/7862896?hl=en https://support.google.com/chrome/thread/7862896?hl=en
• chupchap 6y ago
  Take photo of the qr code with any camera and open the image in Google photos. Google lens will detect qr code and do the rest
• pwg 6y ago
  On my Moto E4 (Android 7.1.1) the default Android camera app also reads QR codes. But nothing in the app. nor app. help actually tells anyone that it will do this. The only way one discovers it is by pointing the camera at a QR code to see what happens, and realizing that the app just decoded the QR code it was viewing.
• andrepd 6y ago
  Simply get something from fdroid.