class="align-right" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/2011-11-04-20h26_37.png" alt="" />Amazon has launched a new augmented reality app for the iPhone called href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/flow-powered-by-amazon/id474664425?mt=8">Flow. With href="http://a9.com/-/company/flow.jsp">Flow, you can use your camera to scan either a whole product or a product’s barcode, and get an overlay of Amazon details on top of it. The app recognizes products such as CDs, DVDs, games, books, and tens of millions of other packaged products, such as “a box of cereal” (Amazon’s own example).

By pointing your camera to the front side of the packaging or the barcode, you get Amazon’s price, product details, customer reviews and ratings, and you can also share the product on Facebook and Twitter. If you find that Amazon’s price is better than the one you’re holding in your hand, you can tap the “Buy Now” button in the app and get the product through Amazon. It can also be quite useful if you simply want to check if the product is good or worthless, and if you’re getting ripped off at the current store.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/2011-11-04-20h14_261.png" alt="2011-11-04 20h14_26" width="258" height="478" border="0" />

By providing this app, Amazon are probably assuming that their price will beat the one you’re holding in your hand at least some of the time. Otherwise, why would you choose to order from Amazon when you already have the product right there?

The app is apparently only available in the US iTunes store. If you find it anywhere else, you’re welcome to let us know.

What do you think of Flow and of augmented reality apps in general? Will you use something like this to check products before you buy?

Source: href="http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/shop_in_augmented_reality_with_amazon_flow_for_iph.php">ReadWriteWeb

View full post on MakeUseOf

Looking for a portable scanner? if you are thinking about the possibility of buying a barcode scan system and you could use some advice on which one to buy, you first need to think about what you want to use it for, which will make the process of researching and buying a scanner a lot easier. Choosing to use a mobile scanner can greatly enhance your technique for dealing with digital material, especially when backing up valuable documentation is of the utmost importance. Rather than making an impulsive purchase, it’s highly recommended to keep in mind the following points.

As is the case with every current and sophisticated hardware device, compact scanners are now less complex and simpler to use. They can answer many items you’ll want to scan, for example, business cards and receipts that have accumulated, documents, and even checks. You won’t believe the speed, and these scanners generate impressively sharp images in a variety of output. At the moment, the retail price of a barcode scan system is certainly worth the expense whether you’ll be using it for pleasure or getting down to business.

One of the most popular qualities of these portable usb scanners is that they’re so user-friendly and convenient wherever and whenever you need them. Every scanner comes furnished with a specialized scanning application which will let you obtain impressive results from pictures and text and then save the files to use in various ways. For instance, with id cards, the system has the ability to separate the ‘snapshot’ of the card, the cardholder’s photo and signature, and all the text of the id card arranged in appropriate data and image fields that can be saved to your choice of software.

Before committing to a barcode scan system please give some thought to the next several pointers: (1) determine what you’ll be using a scanner for; (2) scour the internet for the best scanners for your requirements; (3) compare the technical specifications of each scanner; (4) be sure that the manufacturer has a good name and read reviews by customers of the scanner; (5) verify delivery rates and refund or exchange practices.

Create bulk of barcode labels according to the your business needs and specification

Friday, January 22, 2010;

2D barcode creator tool is the most convenient barcode editor or printer software which offers its users to generate fully customize barcode images according to their requirements. Barcode generator software is beneficial for several manufacturing organizations where thousands of barcode labels at once required like CD-ROM label, video tape label, name badge, price marking etc. Barcode image creator wizard can save barcode images to files or copy them to the clipboard into several commonly used file formats like JPEG, TIFF, Bitmap, PNG, WMF, EMF, EXIF and GIF. Barcode symbol creator application can produce barcode labels, stickers, asset tags with having support to all barcode font standards such as Codabar, Code 128, Telepen, Code 11, Code 39, Code 93, Industrial 2 of 5, ISBN 13, MSI Plessey and more. Barcode development utility support  fully customizable mode by providing facility to change the Caption color, Caption font, Barcode color ,Background color and Barcode size of the created barcode labels. Freeware barcode generation solution supports all windows based operating systems such as windows 98, 2000, ME, NT, 2003 server, XP and Vista. Barcode label maker utility can create all common linear and 2D barcodes with having high-resolution graphics. Utility also support normal printer for its output, so user doesn’t have to worry about the cost of barcode printers. Barcode reader utility meets your barcode everyday needs anywhere your business leads to.

For more details you can visit the following URL:

à http://www.generate-barcode.com

Our comprehensive barcode generating utility lets you create and print barcode labels in your own defined style.

Generate-barcode.com provides easy, simple and convenient solution to print bar code labels. 2D barcode creator software is the most convenient barcode editor or printer software which can offers its users to fully customize barcode images according to their requirements. Free barcode creator software allows you to generate a fully customized barcode graphic by providing barcode data, encoding type, and output file format. User just click on the Generate Barcode button, and the barcode generator will produce a graphic containing your barcode. Our software features a very easy user interface where the user simply types in the data to encode and click the Save button to generate the barcode image file.

###

Barcode scanning and the imaging of documents are two critical functions of businesses today. Until recently separate hardware devices were required to perform both tasks. A barcode scanner and a document imager. Having a single device that can perform both barcode scanning and document scanning would be a very low cost alternative for any business.

Some of the benefits of scanning barcodes are:

* Improved tracking of goods sold.
* Improved management of inventory.
* Better operating efficiency.
* Reduced data entry errors.
* Improved customer experience.

Document imaging benefits include:

* Quick data availability.
* Reduced or eliminated paper storage costs.
* Improved customer relations.
* Eliminated manual searching.
* World wide availability of the documents.

Today there is a solution that utilizes both barcode scanner and document imager. The Honeywell Scanning and Mobility 4800DR is a hybrid device that performs both barcode scanning and document imaging. The 4800DR has a 1.3 megapixel area image sensor and a custom stand system that places a document at the correct distance for imaging.

Barcode scanning with the 4800DR is conducted in one of two ways. The first and most recognized method is to simply align the scanner over the barcode, squeeze the trigger, align the aiming pattern and wait for the good read beep. The second way is to put the barcode scanner into presentation mode. When the scanner is in presentation mode it appears to be turned off because there is no aiming pattern or illumination present. When a barcode is placed in the field of view of the barcode scanner, the aiming pattern and scanner illumination activate and the barcode is read. Presentation mode allows the barcode scanner to be used while in the stand without having to depress the trigger to initiate scanning. Since the 4800DR uses an area imager it can read 1D and 2D barcodes in any orientation.

When used as a document imager the 4800DR can be integrated into just about any application. A suite of software tools is available to help with the integration effort. Twain and SANE drivers are available as well as an SDK (software development kit). Popular image formats are available, including JPEG, TIF and BMP. TIF support is extremely important since many legacy applications use TIF black and white images with Group 4 fax encoding compression for the smallest possible file sizes. The 4800DR also is equipped with a variety of image processing functions. Edge sharpening, gamma, histogram stretch, noise reduction, text enhancement and document auto-cropping. Auto-cropping is extremely useful as it removes the blank space around the edges of a document. The 4800DR acquires an area that is slightly larger than an 8.5″ x 11″ document. If a document the size of a standard business card was being imaged, the area encompassing the card is not wanted. The auto-cropping feature of the 4800DR crops the blank area surrounding the card and transfers an image that is only a little bigger than the card. Auto-cropping a document is another way to shrink the image file size.

The 4800DR is the first hybrid barcode scanner and document imager on the market. By uniting the functions of both devices the customer gets the benefits of both devices at a lower cost since a single device is bought.

To find out more about the 4800DR please visit the product page at Honeywell’s website. http://www.handheld.com/Site.aspx/na/en/product_center/hardware/?product=259

Barcode Software

Bar Code label design software and barcode label printing applications for Windows

Monday, July 13, 2009;

Barcode generator software allows you easily create and print unlimited number of professional quality barcode images. Barcode label design utility easily copy barcodes and paste them into other programs for label creation. Software allows you to customize barcode color, background color, orientations, text and font choices.

Free barcode utility supports useful collection of barcode fonts that includes UCC/EAN 128 as well as a variety of Code 39, UPCE, MSI Plessey, Postnet, Code 11, Code 128, EAN/JANs and more. Barcode generation software facilitates you to print labels with texts, barcodes, images, lines, rectangles and save that created output into commonly used formats such as BMP, JPEG and GIF image format on your computer system. Barcode labeling software can generate its output either by using Barcode printers or normal printers.

For more details you can visit the following URL:

–> http://www.generate-barcode.com

Software is commonly used to place barcodes on retail product packaging, including books and music CDs etc.

Generate-barcode.com provides easy, simple and convenient solution to print bar code labels. 2D barcode creator software is the most convenient barcode editor or printer software which can offers its users to fully customize barcode images according to their requirements. Free barcode creator software allows you to generate a fully customized barcode graphic by providing barcode data, encoding type, and output file format. User just click on the Generate Barcode button, and the barcode generator will produce a graphic containing your barcode. Our software features a very easy user interface where the user simply types in the data to encode and click the Save button to generate the barcode image file.

For all commercial enquiries please contact

Generate-barcode team

Email: links@generate-barcode.com

Website: http://www.generate-barcode.com

###