Barcode Scanner for Android 4.2

Overview

As mobile smartphones are rapidly becoming an integral and indispensible part of the everyday activities, shopping via these communication devices is growing more popular. Android-based smartphone owners can now take advantage of the ability to utilize the information contained in the bar codes with the Barcode Scanner application from XZing. The odd name is actually pronounced Zebra Crossing and constitutes a reference to the similarity with barcodes that can be typically found on products. This system utility will require at least a 2.1 Android operating system to run, but it is also compliant with the latest 4.1 OS. ZXing Barcode Scanner works well on numerous smartphone models and it is frequently updated to improve compatibility with the newest Android phones and tablets.

Interface

Barcode Scanner has a simple yet intuitive interface enabling users to learn how to properly utilize the application in a matter of minutes. This app permits users to take photos of the codes – which will be stored in the memory for later use – and then access the data contained within them. Moreover, Barcode Scanner stores the history of the data obtained from the barcode scans to perform a wide variety of actions, from sharing them with your contacts to searching the web for reviews or additional information regarding the product.

However, you will need to give the application permission to access your contact list and it will prompt you before taking a certain action. The settings menu enable you to configure automatic actions to be taken after the barcode is scanned, whether you want it to scan both the 1D and QR barcodes, if it should notify you upon finding results (beep or vibrate), etc.

Pros

The best feature of the ZXing's Barcode Scanner is its innate ability to accurately scan both the QR and 1D codes rapidly and efficiently, which is quite rare for freeware applications of this type. The app has seen a lot of improvements and updates until this point and its WiFi capabilities have been enhanced significantly.

At the same time, it is now more accurate in the detection of intricate QR characters and better at handling URLs for bitcoins. The history screen has also been revamped in the latest versions and numerous camera functionality features have been included. When handling the contact details obtained from the barcode scanning, Barcode Scanner conveniently permits you to add the data to a pre-existing profile rather than create a new one.

Cons

Some customers have declared themselves anxious about green-lighting Barcode Scanner's access to the contact list, but you should take into account that you cannot benefit from its full array of features otherwise.

Alternatives

You can also try out similar applications such as ixMAT Barcode Scanner, Barcode Box 2, .NET Barcode Reader, etc. However, once you try out ZXing Barcode Scanner, you are probably going to stick with it.

Impressed with Barcode Scanner so far? There's even an official premium version available on Google Play, so you can try it out as well.

Conclusion

Barcode Scanner from ZXing is one of the most convenient freeware barcode scanners available for Android smartphone users, incorporating a plethora of functions that simplify your shopping immensely. Be sure to check whether the app is currently compatible with your current Android smartphone beforehand, as models with OSs older than 2.1 or extremely new could present issues.