1d barcode scanner coding
 

Hey guys

I found this great bar code scanner for windows mobile thanks to Hypest over at xda Here is the link.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=368798

My questioni is after i scan for the first time you are able to open up a seettings menu in the root folder. There is an argument in there which attributes to opening the external source which happens to be google. I was wondering how I could change that program to open up and paste the barcode into www.fastpricecheck.com. Every way I have done it so far has given me nothing but errors. there is a cab version of this program for windows mobile. Could I have the argument open the program and paste the barcode there? Any help would be appreciated and these two together would make a really cool app for our phones.

Thanks again

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

Hey, I am one of the developers at FastPriceCheck.com, so I can perhaps help some...I havent looked at the program you are referring to, but if it allows you to forward to any webpage, you want to forward here:
http://www.fastpricecheck.com/GetData/HTML/BARCODE
and replace 'BARCODE' with the actual barcode number...For example, this webaddress:
http://www.fastpricecheck.com/GetData/HTML/043396097742
Will search for barcode 0-43396-09774-2, which happens to be a seinfeld DVD.

We worked hard to try to get a camera capture feature for our software, but couldnt get anything to work reliably (since cameras are so device specific) so we basically gave up. If this works well, please let me know so we can research using it in some way.

EDIT: From looking at the program, it seems this link would make it work maybe?:
http://www.fastpricecheck.com/GetData/HTML/!###!

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

just posting to show my enthusiasm for this combo! will keep my eyes open

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

I installed Barorama, and easily changed the arguments to load the fastpricecheck.com site. I'm not sure if OP knows, but the part where it has the google URL is actually a text box...you can change it to http://www.fastpricecheck.com/GetData/HTML/!###! to make it work with that service.

This combination works, but the barcode reading require a very clear and bright image to work.

Just thought I'd let you all know.

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

I tried to scan but I'm just getting no bar code...I'm using the touch, one thing about an app of this sort will be the ease of use. Maybe our touch cam is not up to this challenge?

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

jdw7985,

You have to take a perfect, clear, bright photo. The barcode has to be perfectly flat too. I think this is software related - most cameras should offer good enough resolution for this.

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

is it VGA compatible?

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

Did you use the Barcorama.zip or the Barcorama_speedy.zip? and have you tried to scan any bar codes yet? If so how good does it work?

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

It's going to depend on your camera... If you have a macro option, good lighting, a flat barcode, and little reflection, it MIGHT work... I found it to be impractical on my apache, but I could get it to work...

See attached jpg for sample to test with..

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

works great on my sprint touch pro, getting about 2 of every 3 scans work and it is usually my positioning

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

thanks, I was going to dig mine out of the junk pile to see if it would fare better than the mogul.. sounds like it does, but not by much. anyone tried this with the diamond/TP?

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

Did you use the Barcorama.zip or the Barcorama_speedy.zip? And what site does it use to search for prices??

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

The guy who posted right above you said it works good on his touch pro

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

yea, i saw that after I posted, thus the thanks...

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

sweet app, works perfectly on my touch pro

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

works absolutely GREAT on my Touch Pro!!! VERY COOL!!

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

TP Users... I'm about 1/20 on recognition and have tried adjusting lighting, meter mode, pic quality, shooting port/landsc, etc. Changing the URL and browser to Opera in options worked great when it did scan, which was once with psiphi's sample. Can you please post your camera settings or anything you find to be working for you. I just can't see how some are posting great results with same hardware. I've got to have something wrong?

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

I turn camera sideways (landscape) when I take the pic and I use IE to go to the website. are you using the correct link to go to:
http://www.fastpricecheck.com/GetData/HTML/!###!

that should be loaded in settings...arrow to right twice and put it in the lower URL. the top URL routes to \windows\iexplorer.exe

I have found that the 1st return is amazon, so it seems to work best on electronics, etc. it was failing when I scanned some protien powder...it found the barcode for oatmeal, fruity pebbles, but no prices listed.

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

also are your pics pretty clear btw? you let it focus ok?

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

When it works it links to the web through opera great... When it recognizes, which is about 1/20. Shooting dead straight, no blur or glare, filling anywhere from 75-95 percent of the screen, quality at superfine, and metering to center or avg, can't get this thing to work. My 1/20 stats continue, only joy I've got it to recognize is with the sample jpg on page 1. (1 out of 20 shoots)

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

I used barcorama.zip

I finds the squareness of the touch pro to the barcode matters most, and steady hands

I use the fastpricecheck link posted and it brings up ie with the description and price, found some crackers for my wife, lol

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

same difference if I use reg or speedy.... must be my "technique"! I'm sure the 2 pots of coffe and half pack of cigarettes don't help the steadiness either.

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

works perfectly! has anyone tried the speedy version compared to the other?

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

OK think I got it! haven't had luck with speedy, but reg seems to be working. Black/white barcodes seem to be the best, filling about 60-70 percent of landscape screen, and lots of clean flourescent lighting. I think that was my problem? Ambient room light just doesn't cut it. Went into the basement, flourescent fixtures every 4-6 feet, and i'm shooting like 90% now. (Black and white bars only though) Any other colors, especially those where there's not a huge gradient difference is 40-50%.

BTW - all shots are saved to directory or folder where .exe sits. I had to delete like 500 shots! Guess you could fill a card @ 3.2MP superfine if not cleaned out periodically...

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

sometimes the camrea doesnt respond by pressing the middle d-pad button

so i have to touch the screen and then press the dpad

is this happening for anyone else?

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

for people who are having problems getting a read on barcodes try scanning with the bar code upside down. seems to work better for me

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

hey joey how do you do the superfine settings?

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

open camera - touch the screen - touch options (wheel/gear icon) - choose advanced - quality (page 1 i think) - superfine - OK

I'm not sure if it makes a difference in barcorama, but pics in general seem more sharp...

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

what website does the g1 use? I mean fastpricecheck works good, but seems like amazon is the only one it pulls up

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

good find, thanks guys

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

The g1 uses google product search. Fastpricecheck uses the following:
amazon product search
google product search
yahoo product search
shopping.com product search
ebay search

and then brings all the data together, eliminates duplicates, displays reviews and a product description, etc. Since we are searching by barcode, fastpricecheck SHOULD find the same results as the G1, plus more.

Please note that on the 'results' screen, there are a few result options. Amazon is displayed prominently at the top (because we get money if you buy through them), but below that are product details and reviews, and then 'preferred results' (will only be amazon if you do not have a registered account at fastpricecheck.com), then 'other stores' (where you will find all other results). Then there are 'ebay results' for similar products currently on ebay. You may have to scroll down a bit to see these options.

You can create a fastpricecheck account, then login through your mobile device and click the 'remember me' checkbox when you do. This will allow fastpricecheck to save you search history, allow you to save search results, find shipping and tax rates for some sites based on your zip-code, and you can then specify which online stores you want in your 'preferred store' list (you can remove amazon, add best buy, overstock, bobs garden shop, whatever).

As a side note, our results are only as good as data entered by stores online. This means things like electronics, which have strong online sales, are easier to find on fastpricecheck, whereas things like oatmeal from your grocery store arent sold online quite as much, so its harder to find (and if the retailer doesnt 'link' the item to its barcode number, it makes it even harder). We keep a page where we examine search stats, and I can tell you that roughly 70% of searches on our site return actual results, about 29% are where we cant find results, and the remaining are invalid barcodes.

Hope this sheds light on how fastpricecheck performs it search. We are always looking for user feedback on the user experience, so please PM me or email me through this site with any suggestions you may have on ways to improve the site.

Brentan
Fastpricecheck.com developer

(PS-if you are searching for products by barcode and only getting amazon results and nothing else, please feel free to PM me the barcode number so I can troubleshoot our site and make sure weird things arent happening).

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

Just tried this out on my new Omnia.

Works great so far. I'll report back after my trip to the grocery store.

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

so this works but I scanned a box of tissue and it came up a mag lite for 18.99 lol any other website I can use??

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

has anyone tried highway's "Barcorama Frontend" and "Barcode Price List"
the pricelist will let you choose from several sites to check prices.

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

haven't tried that version, tried barcodeorama a while back but it wasn't impressing me @ the time.

might check this out if i get some time this afternoon

Re: 1d barcode scanner coding
 

here i found this barcode scanner for phone ,which reads qr code and other barcodes
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....android&hl=en