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Barcode Scanner in iPhone app
The latest version of the iPhone app (1.1.5) features a barcode scanner! We added this feature for two reasons: to scan your books and easily add them to your Goodreads account, and to quickly pop up information about a book, if for example you are in a bookstore trying to decide which book to buy.
The scanner is available in the iPhone app under My Books. After each scan you will see the book title and cover appear at the top of the screen: if you tap on that, you can quickly see reviews about the book you just scanned. Regardless, all your scans will be saved in a list that you can browse once you close the scanner. From there, you can add them to your shelves or simply read the reviews whenever you want.
There's one known issue though: the scanner will close on its own if you leave it open for too long. This is necessary to work around a problem in the actual barcode scanning software, which is not under our control. Your scanned books won't be lost. A workaround to this issue is to force-close some of your other apps running in the background.
We hope the barcode scanner will make it even easier to add your books on Goodreads and improve your experience at your favorite bookstore!
UPDATE: I added some topics in the help section for the most common problems related to the barcode scanner (and the iPhone app in general). Please refer to those first for a possible answer to your questions.
UPDATE 2: version 1.2.1 adds the widely requested "mass-add" feature: add all your scans to the read or to-read shelves, as well as the ability to just clear your scan list.
The scanner is available in the iPhone app under My Books. After each scan you will see the book title and cover appear at the top of the screen: if you tap on that, you can quickly see reviews about the book you just scanned. Regardless, all your scans will be saved in a list that you can browse once you close the scanner. From there, you can add them to your shelves or simply read the reviews whenever you want.
There's one known issue though: the scanner will close on its own if you leave it open for too long. This is necessary to work around a problem in the actual barcode scanning software, which is not under our control. Your scanned books won't be lost. A workaround to this issue is to force-close some of your other apps running in the background.
We hope the barcode scanner will make it even easier to add your books on Goodreads and improve your experience at your favorite bookstore!
UPDATE: I added some topics in the help section for the most common problems related to the barcode scanner (and the iPhone app in general). Please refer to those first for a possible answer to your questions.
UPDATE 2: version 1.2.1 adds the widely requested "mass-add" feature: add all your scans to the read or to-read shelves, as well as the ability to just clear your scan list.
Comments Showing 101-150 of 348 (348 new)
Don't forget, After you scan in your book/books on the iphone app unless you add 'em to a shelf they wont appear on your shelves when you next login to GR from your pc, etc. On your display of scanned books while you're still on your phone, go to the title you want to shelve and hit its radio button, scroll to add to my books, select “to-read” or "read" or whatever, click submit. Then it'll show up on your GR account online.
Camilla wrote: "So I scanned a book with my phone and I'm trying to figure out where to find it when I get on the Goodreads website on my account...Where will I see the scanned book at?"
Sue wrote: "I tried it on 4 books. One was so old it didn't have a barcode. One said it wasn't in Goodreads (Terry Pratchett's Reaper Man.) One it kept giving me error messages. My own book was the only one th..."ohhh i will have to try that!!!! :)
Are you sure we can use it on an iPod touch because I can figure out how to do?
Are you sure we can use it on an iPod touch because I can't figure out how to do it?
Wren ♫aka♫ Rebecca wrote: "uggh why cant my ipod touch have a camera!?!?!"I so agree. Can you imagine my face when I tried to scan and in a moment of intelligence figured out that you needed a camera? I knew I should have held out for the new generation WITH a camera? *face palm*
Try "MyBookDroid" for free from the Market app. (I have MyTouch Slide 3G). It works well. I've been able to scan most of my books; the ones that don't work, I can put in manually. Then can add to different shelves, etc. Now to find out how to put them on my GoodReads page. May have to try the Goodreads Droid for $.99. Will update later.
If this was to be used with the Ipod Touch, I can see one flaw, would it not require a camera {which Ipod Touches Lack} in order to "Scan" the books?
FYI - I can use this with my ipod touch 4g, which has a camera. *ISSUE* My scanned books from yesterday are gone, no big deal since I already added them to my shelves. Today I scanned some books and it kept randomly taking me out of the scan mode and taking me to the scanned books screen. I finished scanning, go to select a shelf for one of the books and the app closes on me. I open it back up and all of my scans are gone. :( Please fix this.
So cool!! Downloading the updated app now :)
Thanks, but my problem is that the barcode image is out of focus
rivka wrote: "Karen wrote: "Can you use this with the ipod touch?"Yes, the iPod Touch can use the GR iPhone app."
THAT IS SO FREAKING COOL!!!!!!!!
D.G. wrote: "Ah drat! My iPod Touch doesn't have a camera so I can't use this feature. :("I didn't know there was a Touch with no camera? Are you sure about that?
@Cory,The GR app doesn't automatically save your scans to your shelves it just looks them up in the GR database for you. If you want to save the scanned books to your shelves that's a separate step:
On your display of scanned books while you're still on your phone, go to the title you want to shelve and hit its radio button, scroll to add to my books, select “to-read” or "read" or whatever, click submit. Then it'll show up on your GR account online.
Cory wrote: "I scanned about 40 books and none of them saved.... quite annoying."
It's fantastic, when it works. Bit iffy sometimes. Need lots of light.It's like Snaptell an iphone app that lets you scan book barcodes & access wikipedia, google, amazon for more info!
I want an iphone just for this app. its awesome.
e.c.h.a wrote: "Sorry...Is this application only for iPhone? Is iPod touch can use this application too?"Probably not, you need the Camera to do it.
I'm really excited about this feature. I use the Goodread app a lot and this is a much easier way to add books I see in the bookstore!
I never knew until now Goodreads had an app!!!. I am really impressed. I will be scanning all my books when I get home. I just scanned one in the office!!!
This is fantastic! If I ever decide to tackle the epic job of adding in all the books I own, this will make life so much easier. :)
I'd like to put in another vote for not neglecting Android users. Charging money for an app that is inferior is not cool.
e.c.h.a wrote: "Karen wrote: "Can you use this with the ipod touch?"I'm asking the same question too Karen :) There's anyone can answer our question?
@Stef...Really? This bar code application can use in android ..."
I am also curious about this, and I have a Droid X. How did you get it on your phone?
going to add another request for an android app! i would love this on my droid2
Terri wrote: "Today I scanned some books and it kept randomly taking me out of the scan mode and taking me to the scanned books screen. I finished scanning, go to select a shelf for one of the books and the app closes on me. I open it back up and all of my scans are gone. "Just to be clear, these look like 2 separate issues. The scanner closing on you to soon (even immediately after you opened it) is unfortunately a known issue, not directly under our control. Workaround is to force-close some of the apps running in the background.
The other issue, i.e. the scanned books gone / entire app shutting down, is a crash and we definitely want to fix that. Please send us your crash logs:
http://www.goodreads.com/help/show/12...
Melpomene wrote: "It's fantastic, when it works. Bit iffy sometimes. Need lots of light."Yeah... Sometimes glare is more of a problem, on some paperbacks that have a reflective cover.
I was soooo hoping for this added feature!!! With over 1,0000 books it will be a Fantastic addition to the already WONDERFUL site. Well Done.....
I love technology - worked brilliantly for me!
Cool, but it would be cool to have an Android app, too. MyBookDroid is great (and has had barcode scanning for months), but an official app wouldn't hurt.
That is awesome I always wanted to have something like this on my phone
Can I upload the app from my iphone? Do I go through goodreads? Do I have to sync my iphone with my computer to find it?
Ettore wrote: "Chris wrote: "Awesome! Is there any way to clear the list of scanned books?"You make a good point.
Sorry, no, not directly. Only thing you can do right now is force-close the app. When you resta..."
That did work but since it removes all the scanned books it isn't good for picking and chosing what you want to keep in that list. That ability would be a great feature in an update!
Awesome feature. Too bad I can't use it. I have an ipod touch :/
Just been given my son's old i-phone. Unfortunately too late as it took me about 6 hours to input all my books when I joined Goodreads !
when i get an iPhone or a new iTouch I will use it. right now i have an iTouch without the camera
Melissa wrote: "The DROID app is called MyBookDroid. It will also allow you to load into Goodreads. Its also FREE!!!!"Sweet thanks for the recommendation. Loving MyBookDroid.
Dana wrote: "Please make it a free app on the droid."The DROID app is called MyBookDroid
Add me to the list of those who would like the Droid App to be free.
OMG this is amazing. Not only can I now find the exact copy of the book I am reading, but now I can go into bookstores and scan the books I want to read instead of having to write them down and look them up later! 5 stars, Goodreads you rock!
I just updated my app to 1.1.5 app; but no "Scan" button is appearing on the screen :-(
For all the Android users out there: we hear you! I can't discuss future plans, but the interest is obviously there.
Tanya wrote: "I just updated my app to 1.1.5 app; but no "Scan" button is appearing on the screen :-("Apparently, those of us who still have 3G as opposed to the newer iPhones have been left out.
I can hardly wait for there to be a GoodReads app for ANDROID!!
iPhone 3G is compatible with iOS 4 (which you need for the scanner) though....
I don't know. I just got my Droid X a month ago, and am still learning about it ...