Seagull Scientific has recently released version 9.0 of their popular BarTender label and RFID software.  Packed with new modules and features, version 9.0 is Seagull Scientifics biggest release in over 10 years.  New features include:

• Printer Maestro- an application that provides centralized printer management for every printer and queue, no matter what size the network
• Printer Media Usage Tracking- on-screen “meters” show the quantity of labels and ribbon remaining for each printer
• Inventory Control- inventory of media and parts, including print heads, memory and font cartridges can be monitored with the Inventory Module
• BarTender System Database- allows you to log more detailed information about print jobs
• History Explorer- easily navigate and view past print jobs
• Reprint Console- easily replace lost or damaged labels even if the original data is no longer available
• And more

You can download a Free Trial Version for 30 days and start creating labels and testing out the new features now.  For more information on the new features and practical applications for them, you can read the detailed White Paper “What’s New in BarTender 9.0.”

Snappr.net has created an iPhone application that allows users to easily comparison shop with their mobile phones.  Simply scan a 1D barcode with the iPhone built-in camera and Snappr.net will do the rest.  The application will bring up information from several websites such as Amazon.com, allowing users to see various prices and reviews to help with a purchase decision.  The following video from Snappr.net shows a demonstration of this application and what it is capable of.

For those of us without iPhone’s, Snappr.net also offers a similar application that allows users to type in the barcode with their keypad at Snappr.mobi.  Snappr.net is currently in beta phase and is looking for iPhone owners who would like to try out the application.  For more information about participating in the test-phase you can visit Snappr.net.

You may have noticed that I’ve added a link on the left under categories that allows you to read barcode.com from your cell phone.  Simply click on the Mobile Version link and you will be provided with your choice of using a QR code to access my blog, or a URL that you can type into your phone.  Provided by Blog4Mobile, this  will allow you to read full posts on barcode.com, not just extracts of the contents like most RSS readers for cell phones.  So be sure to check it out and let me know how the feed is working.  Thanks!

I’ve had a few questions recently about scanning barcodes from cell phone displays or other LCD screens and I thought adding this as a Question of the Week would help everyone out…

Question:

Is it possible to make a UPC-A barcode jpeg file from a barcode generator and send it to my cell phone, then scan that picture as my grocery membership card?

Answer:

In order to scan a barcode from an LCD display you would need a barcode imager.  Most likely, the registers at your grocery store are equipped with laser barcode scanners and not imagers.  Laser scanners aren’t capable of reading symbols from a cell phone display, so this won’t work.  It’s a good idea though.

This kind of application does exist for m-ticketing or mobile ticketing; you may be interested in reading my post about this technology.  Mobile ticketing utilizes 2D barcodes rather than a linear barcode like the UPC-A you mentioned in your question.  2D symbologies work best for this type of application and many believe the Aztec Code is the best suited barcode.  You never know, as the use of 2D barcodes spread, your local grocery store may upgrade to barcode imagers and then your application could work.  If you would like more information about barcode imagers or laser barcode scanners please contact me at ehodges@barcode.com.

The IEEE Communication Society provides a selection of free tutorials each month that review current communication topics.  These tutorials are from Communication Society conferences and feature the original visuals and presenter voice-over.  This month the tutorials sound pretty interesting:

• WiMax: Mobilizing the Internet
• Next Generation Cellular Networks
• Broadband Fiber Access

To view any of these tutorials Click Here.  You can access previous tutorials as well and you’ll also find a link that allows you to view distinguished lectures.