iPod touch iPod Touch 4, video camera out of focus??

[PracticalMac]

A few days ago I became a proud owner of an iPT4 (w000t!)

Today I tried some bar-code readers (QRCode, Bakodo), the 2 I D/L would not read the bar code on several items I tried.

Looking closely I discovered the left side of the image is out of focus slightly.
if I turned the camera around, the out of focus area moved as well.
It is enough that details, like the spacing of the bars, is lost. Right side can clearly see bars, left side it is fuzzy.

2 questions:

Anyone else notice this?
Is camera good enough for reading bar codes? (Good enough resolution)?

And YES, the lens IS clean.

Thank you

 

[mchad]

A few days ago I became a proud owner of an iPT4 (w000t!)

Today I tried some bar-code readers (QRCode, Bakodo), the 2 I D/L would not read the bar code on several items I tried.

Looking closely I discovered the left side of the image is out of focus slightly.
if I turned the camera around, the out of focus area moved as well.
It is enough that details, like the spacing of the bars, is lost. Right side can clearly see bars, left side it is fuzzy.

2 questions:

Anyone else notice this?
Is camera good enough for reading bar codes? (Good enough resolution)?

And YES, the lens IS clean.

Thank you

Mine reads barcodes no problem...

 

[dave1812dave]

A few days ago I became a proud owner of an iPT4 (w000t!)

Today I tried some bar-code readers (QRCode, Bakodo), the 2 I D/L would not read the bar code on several items I tried.

Looking closely I discovered the left side of the image is out of focus slightly.
if I turned the camera around, the out of focus area moved as well.
It is enough that details, like the spacing of the bars, is lost. Right side can clearly see bars, left side it is fuzzy.

2 questions:

Anyone else notice this?
Is camera good enough for reading bar codes? (Good enough resolution)?

And YES, the lens IS clean.

Thank you

with the right apps, barcodes are a snap! pic2shop, RedLaser, and QR Code Reader all work great.

 

[tablo13]

iPod touch is a fixed-focus camera, so it wouldn't be clear. But RedLaser seems to scan barcodes fine.

 

[Outrun1986]

Mine reads barcodes just fine. I think it depends on the app and how they do it, because some apps like icollect video games will allow me to scan any barcode even if its super blurry in super low light, however other apps like keyring, I seem to have trouble with scanning.

Most apps allow you to enter a barcode manually as well, so this shouldn't be an issue.

 

[PracticalMac]

with the right apps, barcodes are a snap! pic2shop, RedLaser, and QR Code Reader all work great.

I tried many barcodes on merchandise, even went to Wiki to see samples
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcode

These are the ONLY ones "Bakodo" would pick up.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:UPC_A.svg


QR Code Reader did nothing at all.


I will try another reader, but so far it is not looking good.

 

[mercsd]

I purchased the new iPod Touch last week and noticed that both of the cameras on my unit are very much out of focus. The lines on a bar code should be perfectly in focus and not fuzzy at all. I'll be taking it back to the store that I bought it from for a replacement tomorrow. Fixed focus just means that you can't adjust the focus and that there is a point where very close items will be out of focus (usually < 6 inches), but all other ranges should be perfectly in focus at all times. Think about it, those cheap disposable cameras are fixed focus. If they can give you a perfect image, there is no reason that your iPod Touch should not be able to do the same.

 

[tablo13]

I will try another reader, but so far it is not looking good.

Try RedLaser, it works great for me if you hold it upright.
mercsd, can you give us a picture? I think you would usually scan it inside of the 6 inches you said.

 

[zagato27]

Ok, here comes the dumb question. Why scan bar codes? No, I don't have a IPT4 yet but thinking of getting one. Cheers

 

[ghostshadow]

As others have said, red laser is a great app. So far in my testing it seems to be about the fastest one for the iPod touch. Also seems to be more accurate, it can read QR codes as well.

Give it a try, it's free.