ScanLife barcode client now available + QuickMark extends availability

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

Regular readers will know i've been a bit of a fan of 2D barcodes - initially championed on Windows Mobile by Quickmark - for quite a while. Well, it looks like they might be starting to catch on, as Sprint are promoting use of them with their devices, courtesy of partner ScanLife.

A number of Sprint ads like the one shown here have appeared stateside with 2D barcodes in them, with a URL (http://getscanlife.com) to download the application and a code in print with an associated reward!

Want to give it a go? Well, you can download the client by pointing your device to the URL above, and then try scanning one of the images below. Although the ScanLife site only has a subset of devices, there is a link to a generic client, and in addition by selecting a device type similar to yours - you may well strike lucky. For example, the HTC Mogul download works great on my Kaiser :(

Failing that, you can also download suitable clients from QuickMark, who have added some new devices of late, including the HTC Touch Dual, and the iPaq 514 Smartphone.

FINALLY, have fun making your own codes at http://www.quickmark.com.tw/En/diy/?qrEmail.

Come play :D

P

P.S. Check out the full Billboard / ScanLife / Sprint ad (PDF link): http://scanbuy.com/billboardad.pdf

[sprint ad image courtesy of 'theponderingprimate']

[Guest chucky.egg]

I saw these things on something recently, I forget what but it might have been my mobile bill or a packing slip or something.

I like the idea, but can't think of many practical uses.

What I would like is a proper bar code scanner, so that I can (for example) scan the packet of Cheerios when I finish it, and have it automagically added to my shopping list. Then I want to be able to define the layout of my local supermarket and have the shopping list converted into a "Route Plan" of the aisles I need to visit to fill my list. All this gets uploaded OTA (cant rely on a data connection in the supermarket itself) to my device daily/weekly so I don't have to remember my shopping list.

Not much to ask I think. :(

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

Just an app that let you scan codes and add them to a shopping list would be a start!

I actually looked into this, but the only barcode reading components for winmo are commercial.

I got the device successfully reading and looking up barcodes, but it's definitely a freeware app IMHO!

P

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

The other problem is getting a fully populated UPC database... you'd need to partner with someone like Tesco!

Anyone remember Tesco Pocket Shopper?

P

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

Oooh, interesting! If you go to tesco online shopping and type in a UPC...

e.g. 5050083328800

it returns the product...

e.g. Kelloggs Special K Bars Red Berries 12pk

So...

Device + camera + barcode reading component + UPC + Tesco driven lookup + shopping last app = win :(

(assuming you shop at Tesco)

:D

P

[Guest tasman]

Scanlife is far better at recongising codes than Quickmark, at least on my M3100 :(

Nice app.

Now just have to find a real use for it.

[Guest NuShrike]

Scanlife is far better at recongising codes than Quickmark, at least on my M3100 :D

Doesn't show any images from my camera for my Kaiser. I tried the Mogul and the generic version. Back to Quickmark.

I used Quickmark to scan in a URL from a rice bun wrapper that I bought near a ski slope in Japan. :( THAT was cool.

Edited January 9, 2008 by NuShrike

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

Weird, fine on mine!

P

[Guest barneyhoncho]

Hey guys, I'm late to the party here, but after downloading the scanlife client to a winmo (navigate mobile browser to http://getscanlife.com), it might be worth heading off to http://mobilebarcodesrock.blogspot.com/ to try it out under a few different use cases.