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All iPhones have good enough optics to detect 2D barcodes like QR Code. Linear barcodes like UPC were trickier until the iPhone 3GS, which has variable focus ca

All iPhones have good enough optics to detect 2D barcodes like QR Code. Linear barcodes like UPC were trickier until the iPhone 3GS, which has variable focus camera hardware that also admits direct access to camera frames. On the 3GS, barcode scanning is a cake walk. There are many surprising things about RedLaser's success, but technology isn't one of them. I agree with OP that apparent violations of licensing (access to Amazon.com via mobile is not allowed) are surprising. Most surprising to me is how well RedLaser has sold given that barcode scanning was antiquated over a year ago by products like SnapTell. Why scan a UPC code when you can just take a picture of the cover of a book and have the product found just as fast, with as good or better accuracy? No matter if your photo is blurry, or badly lit, or out of focus, or only grabs a part of the book's cover...

dminor 17y ago
I'm surprised it's selling at all. Aren't there any decent free barcode apps for the iPhone?
jodrellblank 17y ago
The picture on the redlaser homepage shows someone scanning a packet of Quaker Oats. Does SnapTell handle food/drink/other supermarket goods?
ErrantX 17y ago
Why scan a UPC code when you can just take a picture of the cover of a book and have the product found just as fast Surely the error rate of that compared to bar codes is much higher. For common products Im sure it works just as well but bar code scanning doesn't degrade for edge cases in the same way.
- davepeck 17y ago
  You should try it. It is remarkably great, and while I can't speak to error rates I believe that it is on par or better than a good camera-based scanner. Also: using SnapTell with my decades-old textbooks in Greek religion confirms it's not just for "common" products. (Disclosure: I have nothing whatsoever to do with SnapTell, but I have been consistently impressed with the technology.)
conquest 17y ago
Where did you confirm that these guys use amazon for their product look up? I've been wondering what they use to look up the products and get images, etc.

dminor 17y ago

I'm surprised it's selling at all. Aren't there any decent free barcode apps for the iPhone?

jodrellblank 17y ago

The picture on the redlaser homepage shows someone scanning a packet of Quaker Oats. Does SnapTell handle food/drink/other supermarket goods?

ErrantX 17y ago

Why scan a UPC code when you can just take a picture of the cover of a book and have the product found just as fast Surely the error rate of that compared to bar codes is much higher. For common products Im sure it works just as well but bar code scanning doesn't degrade for edge cases in the same way.

davepeck 17y ago
You should try it. It is remarkably great, and while I can't speak to error rates I believe that it is on par or better than a good camera-based scanner. Also: using SnapTell with my decades-old textbooks in Greek religion confirms it's not just for "common" products. (Disclosure: I have nothing whatsoever to do with SnapTell, but I have been consistently impressed with the technology.)

conquest 17y ago

Where did you confirm that these guys use amazon for their product look up? I've been wondering what they use to look up the products and get images, etc.