Google Announces Barcode Scanner App

I've always thought of barcode scanners as handy devices to have around whenever I go grocery shopping---or just plain shopping, for that matter. It lets you find out the exact price of the item instantly, making it easy to avoid those embarassing moments at the cashier's. Google agrees that it's a useful feature and decided to equip cellphones with barcode scanning through an app. While it's unlikely that you'll find the exact in-store price, at least you'll be able to get an estimate of how much an item actually costs. And since the app will do a Google search, you know that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Here's how to get started. First, visit the Google Product Search for mobile homepage by going to Google.com in your browser and selecting 'Shopping' from the 'more' tab. Next, tap on the 'Scan Barcode' button to install the latest version of the Barcode Scanner app -- if you don't already have it -- from Android Market.

Once the app is installed, you can go to Product Search in your browser to begin scanning. Just aim the red line on top of the barcode and you should be able to get a reading. Once you do, the search results should display the item you're scanning. Pretty neat, right? Currently, it only works for electronics, books, movies and video games. Google is working on adding more.

Source

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