RedLaser ― Impossibly accurate barcode scanning

Post by jodrellblank » Fri, Nov 06, 2009, 5:24 PM UTC

davepeck wrote: post #6

ZeroGravitas wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I thought the iPhone didn't support those kind of barcodes due to physics based limitations of the camera/lens. If they're doing something really clever to read these barcodes it makes some sense to not just give it away. The Apache licence does give them that option.

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 (acce…

Post by jrockway » Fri, Nov 06, 2009, 5:47 PM UTC

jamesbressi wrote: post #4

Very interesting to note that as the popularity of these types of apps rise, so will brick-and-mortar retailers awareness and deterrent of them. How? Many retailers do not allow pictures to be taken in their stores, something that is very loosely enforced, but is enforced nonetheless. One time I needed to take a pic of the description of a product in Home Depot so I wouldn't forget. Told the associate that and he sai…

Post by grinich » Fri, Nov 06, 2009, 6:10 PM UTC

sil3ntmac wrote: post #7

ZeroGravitas wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I thought the iPhone didn't support those kind of barcodes due to physics based limitations of the camera/lens. If they're doing something really clever to read these barcodes it makes some sense to not just give it away. The Apache licence does give them that option.

As they state on http://www.redlaser.com/SDK.aspx : "WARNING: 10/14/2009 The RedLaser SDK currently uses an unpublished function to access video frames. Very recently, others have indicated that this will likely lead to rejection of any application using this function, including any application with the RedLaser SDK. We are working hard to find a solution, as we believe there is great potential for this technology on…

Post by bh23ha » Fri, Nov 06, 2009, 6:21 PM UTC

Post by malaxeur » Fri, Nov 06, 2009, 7:02 PM UTC

amackera wrote: post #16

jamesbressi wrote: post #4

Very interesting to note that as the popularity of these types of apps rise, so will brick-and-mortar retailers awareness and deterrent of them. How? Many retailers do not allow pictures to be taken in their stores, something that is very loosely enforced, but is enforced nonetheless. One time I needed to take a pic of the description of a product in Home Depot so I wouldn't forget. Told the associate that and he sai…

I don't know how the iPhone apps like this work, but the Barcode Scanner for Android doesn't take a picture. You just hover your camera over the barcode and it figures it out from the preview. I suppose it's technically taking a picture, but you could argue that you're not pressing the camera button, so you're not really taking a picture.