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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 201-250 of 348 (348 new)
message 201:
by
Stephine
(new)
Jan 28, 2011 11:51AM
Will a version of this come out for Droids?
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Is this new feature accessible on the iPad????
Melissa wrote: "I tried the scanner, and it wouldn't scan. Opened the scanning function, placed the barcode in the bracket, the bracket turned green, but it didn't scan. Help?" well what u need to do is try ur best it SHOULD WORK.
no it is not acessible on the i pad,ipod toch,or and other phone.i wish the driod could have the app like that!
Stacy wrote: "Ettore wrote: "Nyssa wrote: "Can not find the option to scan?? I've updated/synced the app, and went into "My Books". My choices are to "View My Profile" or choose one of my bookshelves. Nothing ab..."Same with mine...not sure why it's not giving us the option.
Karolyn wrote: "Stacy wrote: "Ettore wrote: "Nyssa wrote: "Can not find the option to scan?? I've updated/synced the app, and went into "My Books". My choices are to "View My Profile" or choose one of my bookshelv..."Oh wait, I just found it. I tapped on my books again and it brought me to a different screen that says view my profile and under it says barcode scan. Hope that helps.
I'd just like to say...that my scanned books are deleted everytime I close the app. Why is this?
When it is good it is very very good, but when it is bad it is awful. Mine jumps right back to scanned books when I hit the scan button,though earlier I could get some in. How do you force-close an app for for the workaround? And how do you tell which one? I don't even have that many apps. For that matter, how do I get rid of the scanned books that I've transferred to my goodreads shelves?
I've downloaded the app to hubby's iPhone but when I went to My Books I can't see anything about a scanner. What am I mising?
Mark wrote: "e.c.h.a wrote: "Sorry...Is this application only for iPhone? Is iPod touch can use this application too?"It'll only work for your ipod touch if it's the one with the camera."
Thanks Mark..got it :)
that sounds great how about a scanner app for droids
Daniel wrote: "PLEASE make the app for the droid!!"Theres a few out there, I use this one:
http://code.google.com/p/zxing/wiki/F...
Rad!But please notify me when you've an app for Android!
Nadine wrote: "And has anyone tried it with a Blackberry?"You got 2 hopes- Bob Hope and no hope!
I'm also in the Droid boat. I would love to have this app, though.
Bill wrote: "jen wrote: "Rad!But please notify me when you've an app for Android!"
It is called "Mybookdroid""
Et voilà! Thank you SO much, Bill!
Please, everyone asking for an Android app, MYBOOKDROID works great with the standard Droid Barcode Scanner from Zxing Team.
The number one selling phone in the U.S. is the Google Android. Most likely that means there are more Android phones being used than iphones. Mine included. Any chance we'll be getting goodreads apps for these phones. I'm feeling neglected.
How about the Android market? I would love to have this ap.
I just went to the app store to see if there was an upgrade and got NOTHING searching on goodreads. Has the app been withdrawn until the scanning problem can be fixed?
The app was not withdrawn, it should be there. Check your phone if you have version 1.1.5 already.
Heidi wrote: "How about the Android market? I would love to have this ap."The android market comes with all android phones.
Cool, downloaded mybookdroid, tested it out, works! Job done guys!
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?"I am looking for the answer to the same question!
Natalie wrote: "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..."
ah ha, that adds about 5 extra steps for each book!
kawayama wrote: "Batch scan please!It would be great if I could set up the scanner to add all scanned books to a shelf automatically.
99% of the books I own I have read, so if there was an option to "Add all to..."
Agreed!
upgraded to ISO4 and the scanner appeared. just have to work out how to use it now.... :)
Yay! It works now. Got an "update" message from iTunes today for the app, and the scanner is now there!
ANDROID! Pretty, pretty please with a cherry on top! :)
Any word on the app for those of us with awesome Windows 7 phones?
This is really cool, and appeared to work just fine. Unfortunately, my library covers the isbn bar code with their own library bar code. But next time I'm browsing in a bookstore instead of the library, I'll love having it.
People need to read the posts, THIS IS AVAILABLE FOR DROIDS, SEARCH FOR MYBOOKDROID ON THE ANDROID MARKET. It works too ;)
I'd love to see an app like this for my Android phone! Right now there are only third party apps available on the Android Marketplace.
This is a great feature for someone like me who can often remember all the details of the story but cannot remember the title!
Lisa,Sometimes you'll find the ISBN barcode printed again one one of the pages just inside the back cover.
Lisa wrote: "Unfortunately, my library covers the isbn bar code with their own library bar code."
Waiting for the Android version...let us know when it arrives!
Waiting for the Android version...let us know when it arrives!
I give up! Are the previous posts not showing? The app for android IS available!
e.c.h.a wrote: "Sorry...Is this application only for iPhone? Is iPod touch can use this application too?"I have the iPod Touch and was able to get this app.
Larry wrote: "I give up! Are the previous posts not showing? The app for android IS available!"They are, Larry, but I wasn't going to read all 6 pages of posts. I think it would be helpful if Goodreads updated the article itself to include the Android info.
Thanks
Corinne
I can't seem to get the scanner to work on my iPhone 3. Is it too old? The image of the bar code looks blurry and nothing happens when I center it between the green lines. Any advice?
VERY COOL feature! Makes it much easier to register books! Thanks!
How about doing this for Android devices ... after all, we are 25% of the market now ... c'mon get it together.
