While checking out the latest information on Google, I saw a new Android App from Google. This application is able to scan barcode (1D barcode) and use the Google Products Search (Beta) on the Android browser to determine the pricing of that product online. It draws to me that I have not seen one on Windows Mobile. So, I did a research on them and found one. That is QuickMark Barcode Reader. BTW, 1D barcode is linear barcode (single line) while 2D barcode is Matrix barcode. I requested QuickMark for a review and kudos to them, they responded and agree immediately.
If you google for barcode reader, you can actually get a few of them. However, on closer check, you will realize that they are 2D Barcode Reader. Not many are having a 1D barcode reader. Quickmark is one of them. While it is the trend now to use 2D barcode, many items in real life is coded in 1D barcode. For example, your books, CDs, groceries and etc are coded in 1D.
Read more about barcode HERE
So, how useful is QuickMark barcode. Let me start the review from installation to actual usage. But before that, here is a demonstration on using the QuickMark Barcode Reader on 1D barcode.
1. Installation
To install QuickMark barcode, you will need to register first. Don’t get too panicky over the registration. It is easy. QuickMark response to you promptly.
Next, you will need to choose the phone type. Surprisingly, QuickMark has many models to choose from. From Symbian to Windows Mobile. There are also models from Telcos like NTT Docomo, Softbank that are from Japan and Vodafone, T-mobile and etc.
I chose HTC Touch HD and installed the Version 3.8.
2. Using the Reader
One of the strong point about QuickMark is that the latest version supports focus which is very important as you will need to focus the phone camera lens to read the barcode.
What’s on the QuickMark Barcode Reader V3.8
Here are some screenshots of QuickMark Reader.
As you can see above, you can toggle between 1D and 2D barcode easily. Notice that it has a”AF”. That will focus the lens to the object.
Also, one important feature is that it allows you to enter the code manually (see above).
From the above menu, you can see that it can scan a variety of barcodes.
For example: –
2D Barcode Type:
- Quick Code
- QR Code
- Data Matrix
1D Barcode Type:
EAN8
EAN13
Code39 (bills)
Code128 (Packages)
BTW, all these labels are tested OK with QuickMark Barcode Reader.
What type of 2D Barcode can be Generated?
There are many types of barcode that can be generated using free online application on the web. I am using one from QuickMark.
We can build many types of 2D barcode. Examples are: –
- Web Site
- Bookmark
- Phone Call
- Send SMS
- Send Email
- meCard
- vCard
- Text
- Encryption
- Magic Jigsaw
- Geographical Coordinates
Here is a video of how a QR Code with Encryption works.
Click Here to QuickMark Website
What can we do after scanning the 1D barcode?
There are a few ways you can make use of the barcode on QuickMark. For example: –
- Publish to Twitter
- Add a Favorite
- Redirect Settings
- Save to file
- Send by SMS
- Send by email
- View Text
Of course, one of the main function is to use the “Access”. By using “Access”, you are actually redirecting the information to somewhere (e.g. a website). There are a maximum of 5 redirects that you input. See below picture.
Apart from that, there is also a history that you can use it to log 30 barcodes that you scanned/type.
How to make use of these 1D barcodes?
This must be the question that you will be asking if you read to this point. For a consumer like me, I would want to use this barcode scanning for scanning daily use products so that I can easily compare prices. There are already applications like ShopSavvy (Android and iPhone) and SG SavvyShopper for Android that make use of barcode to compare prices. I research on this and found a few useful websites that we can use the barcode.
Here are the 5 of them that you can key into the redirects. I have configured them to use the barcode to search for products: –
- Popular Bookstore (Singapore)
- Amazon (Worldwide)
- Google Products Search (Beta)
- Google Search
- Barcodepedia (like wikipedia but for barcodes)
Have fun with them.
Click Here to Go to QuickMark Website
3. Conclusion
QuickMark Barcode Reader is free to use for 2D barcode but you will need to pay US$10 to use the 1D barcode function. I have tried other readers like i-nigma (2D Barcode) and I found that QuickMark reader is fast.
Good
- Supports many 1D barcode type
- Fast and easy to use
- Good customers service support
- Have online software update
- Many information on their website on barcode application
Bad
- Failure rate for 1D barcode is high. It may be due to lighting or the quality of the barcode.
- Need good lighting and steady hand for 1D barcode.
- After pressing the AF button for many times, it stop functioning. I have to reset my phone to get it to work again. But it maybe because I move the object too near and the lens focusing is already max.
- Need to pay to get 1D barcode.
Overall, I am quite satisfied with QuickMark. In fact, I have done a few tests during shopping. It is quite useful. However, QuickMark should follow the current trend to incorporate the software with richer features like location-based price checks, reviews and etc (these have been done on ShopSavvy software for Android).
To end with, I have to thanks QuickMark to let me evaluate the software. Here are some websites from my research for you to generate barcode and have fun 🙂 If you have found websites that can use barcode to check prices, please share with me. Thanks.
- http://www.barcodesinc.com/generator/index.php
- http://www.idautomation.com/java/linearservlet.html
- http://www.barcoding.com/upc/
- http://www.tec-it.com/online-demos/tbarcode/barcode-generator.aspx
- http://www.barcodesoft.com/online-barcode-generator.aspx
Click Here to Go to QuickMark Website
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