ShopSavvy for webOS under development 32
Mon, 22 Mar 2010 5:33 pm EDT
If you’d asked the developers at Big in Japan if they were making a version of their popular ShopSavvy app for webOS, they’d tell you that they wished they could. If you asked them this week, however, you’d be happy to hear that not only they now can, but they intend to do so. In a response on the Get Satisfaction boards, Big in Japan developer Alexander Muse posted the following just a few days ago:
"We have confirmed we can build a ShopSavvy version for the Pre. Now we just need some time to build it."
Not familiar with ShopSavvy? It’s an app that lets you, well, be a savvy shopper. With ShopSavvy you take a picture of a product’s bar code, ShopSavvy scans it and returns pricing for that same product at both online and local stores. Pretty simple and straightforward, but still incredibly useful. And popular, on Android, iPhone, and Symbian S60. Check out the demo video above - yeah, it’s Android, but at the very least you can see how it works.
Thanks to jpgiv for the tip!
32 Comments
So how exactly is this going to work on the Palm Pre and Pixi when they don't have auto focus and zoom support?
Cool...I wonder how they will get the camera to actually pick up the bar code!!!
+1 Need better macro auto-focus.
It's not like a barcode needs to be crystal clear to be readable. It's just a bunch of black lines, after all.
I have a feeling it'll be fine, maybe once in a while you'll need to take a second picture or whatever, but probably will usually work decent.
I just went to their blog and they need access to the video camera. So it doesn't take a picture of the bar code it takes a video of it until it is processed. Thanks to Palm for opening up the video API!
Thanks for the info. I was about to ask the same question everyone else was asking.
This is the same app advertised for CNet.http://cnettv.cnet.com/cnet-scan-shop-app/9742-1_53-50081274.html
Wonder if Cnet will do an app for WebOS.
Actually, the technology behind the Pre (and Pixi's?) camera does allow for macro focus. The depth of field is software controllable, to include macro capabilities. Check out DxO Labs for more. So, Palm could have made software adjustments to enable a "macro mode" for apps.
Here's a blurb, and note the section in bold (if I did the tags correctly):
Image Processing Engine
The DxO IPE 5350 solution combines newest digital optics technology and highest class image processing providing best low light imaging results and offering advanced features like enhanced depth of field, Global Adaptive Lighting, Smart Vibrancy and on-the-fly processing without the need of frame buffer.
Key Features
* Support for wide aperture and Extended Depth of Field (EDoF) lenses
* Field dependant optical faults correction
* Image stabilization
* Automatic switch to backlit, night mode
* Multiple Pixel Level Corrections
* Advanced new generation demosaicing
* Breakthrough random noise reduction
* Advanced Color and Contrast rendering
* Adaptive Lighting
* Smart Vibrancy
* High Quality bi-cubic up and down scaling
* Auto-focus, Zoom, Strobe, Shutter control
* On the fly processing without frame buffer
* Real time video at full sensor speed: VGA, D1, 720p,1080p
* Full size still image capture at sensor frame rate
* Shooting without flash in low level conditions
Just because the camera chip supports auto-focus doesn't mean the hardware is present for the auto-focus on the device that uses the chip. I am highly skeptical that there is anything one could do in software to reduce the depth of field/focus...
I hear you, and I was thinking the same thing. But, I've seen some info that does make me wonder. The extended depth of field is a function of the DxO software, and so couldn't it by default be dialed in to a "reasonable" DoF for normal images (i.e., a normal image wouldn't have a DoF starting at 6" and going to infinity)? Or, do the camera's optics just literally not allow for anything less than whatever the minimum currently is on the Pre?
Anyways, I'm no expert in this. Perhaps someone else with some additional (and specific) info can weigh in here...
Here's a link to some info, all or only some of which might be relevant to the Pre's actual configuration: http://mypre.com/more-uncovered-info-about-the-palm-pres-camera-200919274/
You would want to increase (or Extend) Depth of field to bring more things in focus.
From the Dxo Website:
"DxO DOP is in mass production and has been deployed in its EDOF incarnation in the Palm Pre and a number of other phones from major OEM vendors. In these phones, DxO DOP is used to remove the autofocus mechanism (replacing it with Extend the Depth Of Field
Yes, precisely. The EDOF functionality is controlled by the DxO software, and so the only question is what's the greatest (e.g., closest and farthest) DoF that the software can provide given the hardware?
This is really technical, but it's fascinating stuff. In fact, page to the back of the document and it shows barcode scanning:
http://www.dxo.com/var/dxo/storage/fckeditor/File/embedded/2009_EI_EDOF.pdf
Every time I read about a barcode app of ANY type for the Pre, developers say that the fixed/non-macro camera in the Pre won't work with barcodes. I have tried a few apps, and they are right, it just can't focus on anything less than a few feet away. And if you pull back far enough to finally be in focus, it is so tiny, there is probably no way their server will find the barcode in all the other noise in the photo. And/or, there is not enough light and the barcode would not have enough contrast.
Should be interesting to see how this is addressed with an app like shopsavvy...
Cheesy advert. Interesting app, never heard of it before but will definitely try it out when its released
Good news to me. Love it and looking forward to it! Sorli...
It is dumb to suggest that ANY developer would attempt such an app w/ this sophistication that couldn't handle it. I'm sure Palm has given them a leg up on key enhancements of camera/video capabilities (i.e. focus, zoom, etc) so that their ideas for the app can come alive.
Nobody knows the full potential of the Pres hardware but Palm and a few intelligent programmers @ WebInternals so nobody could say "it can't be done with the Pre" because more than likely, it can and will;
...just give it a little time to evolve!!!
Sweet. Now I can stop borrowing my wife's Android phone just to use ShopSavvy.
Of course, her hot pink phone case really sets off my eyes :-P
yes shopsavvy!!! i cant wait!
ShopSavvy is great. I had it on my Nexus One (which I sold to get the Pre), and it worked great! I actually bought 2 Christmas gifts while standing in a Sears by using ShopSavvy, saved me over $100 bucks...Can't wait for it to get to webOS.
hmmm... Can't wait for shazam to come to my pre (and my sister's once it arrives in the mail, I added her to my Sprint SERO plan)
I took three photos from my Pre and was able to correctly process two of them at:
http://www.datasymbol.com/barcode-recognition-sdk/barcode-reader/online-...
The third was too fuzzy. With video and a shakey hand, I expect it wouldn't take long to get a good frame or two. I can't wait!
Just need shazzam and the Pre will be complete!
Cool, and free, like iphone and Android?
Whoop! Gig 'em, Rylan! Looking forward to it.
This looks really slick. It probably takes a video for a few seconds and then uploads to a site/verifies then does the search. I want it!
I'll believe it when i see it working. Video or no, the Palm Pre's camera just won't let you get a good macro shot. Don't see how this is going to work.
(Must be a slow news day if PreCentral is taking tips from me :-)
In a running conversation with the Big in Japan people they mentioned that on some other phones they used the camera to take multiple pictures of the barcode and then use error correction to actually read it.
That was problematic on the Pre because of the way the camera api was handled (it basically allowed apps to take pictures one at a time, which obviously is not so helpful when you're trying to take *alot*) but that seems to have been fixed with the new video API.
I'd encourage people whom are interested in the ShopSavvy to post on the GetSatisfaction forum about their interest in it and I'll post a link to this article there as well.
I was going to suggest the functionality but never looked into it :)
can't wait?
I am really hoping that this will work, and that they do come up with a way to give the pre camera an auto focus... I love the pre plus- but I had the droid before and with losing so many apps, I have just purchased another Droid. Now - I have the hardest decision to make. Either sell my PRE :( - or sell the Droid that I just bought. I wish I could take some of the PRE - and some of the DROID and make my own new phone... But thats not going to happen... :( So Lets get this working with the PRE - it will be a step in the Right Direction.
The macro focus on the Pre sucks. They need to get some decent macro auto-focus before any of these type programs will be worth having.
ShopSavvy seems to get around the macro focus issue by using video feed instead of a single image.
ShopSavvy was one of the useful apps on my iPhone. Glad it is coming to the Pre as I am back to palm with Verizon. How can I get the notice it is available when it is available?