Why people say iPad 2 won't read bar code because the camera has no auto-focus?

[matrix07]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8F190 Safari/6533.18.5)

I've read it here a lot lately. IPad 2 is useless because camera is so crappy. It can't scan bar code because it can't auto-focus. For example, a post by this fool:

Part of the mentality behind specs is that software can improve after the fact while hardware doesn't.

buy the ipad 2 and you'll always have crappy cams on it (which isn't a big deal for normal photography, but say you wanna scan a barcode or something, there's no autofocus) even if the software gets better..

Idk maybe in Android world if the camera has no auto-focus then it can't scan bar code but i scanned 600 DVDs to make movie database in an hour using iPod Touch, the device all the reviewers claimed has the same camera as iPad 2.
So what is the problem scanning bar code again? Anyone who claimed this numerous times here care to explain to me?


Post on my iPod Touch btw.

 

[fertilized-egg]

It's definitely possible to read barcodes without AF but it's heck of a lot easier if you have AF. I have the iPod Touch, an Android with AF and an Android without AF, and having AF makes a big difference.

 

[goMac]

iPad 2 can read barcodes. It's just a little harder than on an iPhone because the camera can't focus. But it should be able to read barcodes just fine.

 

[matrix07]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8F190 Safari/6533.18.5)

Deleted.

 

[matrix07]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8F190 Safari/6533.18.5)

It's definitely possible to read barcodes without AF but it's heck of a lot easier if you have AF. I have the iPod Touch, an Android with AF and an Android without AF, and having AF makes a big difference.

It took only a few second to scan. How much easier than that can it be?

 

[matrix07]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8F190 Safari/6533.18.5)

iPad 2 can read barcodes. It's just a little harder than on an iPhone because the camera can't focus. But it should be able to read barcodes just fine.

Again from my experience it took about a few seconds to scan so how much easier can it be?
I know AF can make thing better but i never scan bar code and think i want this to have AF.

 

[fertilized-egg]

It took only a few second to scan. How much easier than that can it be?

Beside being slower, some barcodes are too small to be read by the AF-less camera of the iPod Touch and won't get read at all while some are just small enough that you have to fiddle with the distance between the camera and the barcodes. Also in low light, the added noise can affect the reading performance so sometimes you have to add some extra light to make it work.

I forgot to add that the iPod Touch's camera is also a lot pickier about the barcode reading software. Some programs cannot read anything.

 

[matrix07]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8F190 Safari/6533.18.5)

600 bar codes without any problems. Zilch. Nada.

This is from real world experience. Not only it's fast, it's reliable. Try again.

 

[fertilized-egg]

This is from real world experience. Try again.

Same here. I got the iPod Touch 4th gen on its launch day and have tried all sorts of barcodes in the past 7 months. I think there are discussions of this in the iPod Touch forum which detail which program works better for the iPod Touch camera.

Again, I have tried all of the iPod Touch, the iPhone, an Android with AF and an Android without AF, so I can speak from my own experience. Having AF makes everything a bit quicker and easier, especially with smaller barcodes that just cannot be read by the iPod Touch's camera.

 

[matrix07]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8F190 Safari/6533.18.5)

I don't yet experience small bar code like you say. But what i take issue the most is someone claimming it can't read bar code at all simply because the camera has no AF.
And again "a bit quicker and easier" is far from making iPad 2 "useless" like some Android fanboys claimed.

 

[Scott6666]

Well, it's good to know your experience. I had assumed that without AF it would not read barcodes (well) so I was planning to use Honeycomb for some inhouse industrial apps. I will reinvestigate. Guess I'll just have to buy one for me on the work credit card to try it out

 

[joe1946]

Beside being slower, some barcodes are too small to be read by the AF-less camera of the iPod Touch and won't get read at all while some are just small enough that you have to fiddle with the distance between the camera and the barcodes. Also in low light, the added noise can affect the reading performance so sometimes you have to add some extra light to make it work.

I forgot to add that the iPod Touch's camera is also a lot pickier about the barcode reading software. Some programs cannot read anything.

My 64GB iPod Touch 4G has no problems reading barcodes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeVAjrrTgHg

 

[nixiemaiden]

How is it with reading curved bar codes like on a tub of yogurt or a bottled beverage?

I know on these things, the auto focus on my phone goes crazy trying to get the bar codes so I'm curious.

 

[fertilized-egg]

My 64GB iPod Touch 4G has no problems reading barcodes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeVAjrrTgHg

Indeed, pic2shop is way to go. I found an old thread I've participated back in September regarding this issue where I mention pic2shop as the program of choice
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1012946/

At that point from my recollection pic2shop was the only one among the bunch that'd work reliably so I haven't looked at others since. Has the situation changed recently?

 

[matrix07]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8F190 Safari/6533.18.5)

How is it with reading curved bar codes like on a tub of yogurt or a bottled beverage?

I know on these things, the auto focus on my phone goes crazy trying to get the bar codes so I'm curious.

Yet to try something like that. Maybe tomorrow

 

[matrix07]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8F190 Safari/6533.18.5)

My 64GB iPod Touch 4G has no problems reading barcodes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeVAjrrTgHg

Indeed, pic2shop is way to go. I found an old thread I've participated back in September regarding this issue where I mention pic2shop as the program of choice
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1012946/

At that point from my recollection pic2shop was the only one among the bunch that'd work reliably so I haven't looked at others since. Has the situation changed recently?

I used 2 movie database apps and both are equally good.

 

[Dalton63841]

How is it with reading curved bar codes like on a tub of yogurt or a bottled beverage?

I know on these things, the auto focus on my phone goes crazy trying to get the bar codes so I'm curious.

I just got an iPod 4 a week ago and started playing with this kind of software. I scanned the barcode on a Dr. Pepper can no problems at all...Not to mention several other things.

 

[ovrlrd]

Yeah no reason to need autofocus, but it is always good to have.

For OCR on the other hand, the camera is useless.

 

[matrix07]

How is it with reading curved bar codes like on a tub of yogurt or a bottled beverage?

I know on these things, the auto focus on my phone goes crazy trying to get the bar codes so I'm curious.

Read this with RedLaser. 2 inches diameter. No problem. Took a couple of secs.

 

[biosci]

Played with an ipad2 today and the camera app had touch to focus....

 

[hi res]

I'm general manager at a very busy restaurant and I use my iPad to redeem our GroupOn offers with regularity...it works so well I only need to get the barcode in the relative vicinity of the iPad for it to go through. Plus, it's garnered a lot of inquiries lately...

 

[Stetrain]

Played with an ipad2 today and the camera app had touch to focus....

It doesn't actually focus when you tap, just changes the white balance.

 

[Cyberheart]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8F190 Safari/6533.18.5)

I've read it here a lot lately. IPad 2 is useless because camera is so crappy. It can't scan bar code because it can't auto-focus. For example, a post by this fool:


Idk maybe in Android world if the camera has no auto-focus then it can't scan bar code but i scanned 600 DVDs to make movie database in an hour using iPod Touch, the device all the reviewers claimed has the same camera as iPad 2.
So what is the problem scanning bar code again? Anyone who claimed this numerous times here care to explain to me?


Post on my iPod Touch btw.

You can always wait for Ipad 3 LOLZ

 

[NT1440]

It's because certain scanner apps require an AF camera. Thats all it comes down to.

I have one on my Touch that doesn't, and it works fine. It really comes down to the requirement of a given app

 

[matrix07]

It's because certain scanner apps require an AF camera. Thats all it comes down to.

I have one on my Touch that doesn't, and it works fine. It really comes down to the requirement of a given app

You're absolutely right. Not that it can't but some apps are just retard, like Barcode Reader for example.