Binary Eye; seeing through barcodes.

chrisbarth(62)

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#utopian-io

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891

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4 min

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Repository

https://github.com/markusfisch/BinaryEye

Introduction

I never knew what a barcode was until I started using Android. Before then, a lot of people who didn't know what it was called, called them lines and believed it was satanic. I didn't know what it was but I was sure that it was technology and had nothing to do with such powers.😅

On almost everything I buy, I always find a barcode. I once had an app which was supposed to scan barcodes but the app proved to be inactive and my curiosity for what lied behind barcodes faded slowly. I finally knew what lied behind barcodes after installing an app called Binary Eye.

While I was exploring here on steemit, I noticed that a utopian contributor has suggested a lot of feature to the Binary Eye. I didn't really pay attention to these contributions till I noticed that he was consistent with it. I finally found a review in which he wrote about the app. I went through the review (which was interesting), did more research and stormed towards the download button. Afterward, I installed the app and got really excited when I launched it.

What is Binary Eye

source

Binary Eye is a simple and focused app which is developed with the aim of scanning and composing barcodes. It is a free and open source project which uses the ZXing barcode scanning library.
About 19 days ago, the latest version (version 1.8.1) of the app was released with 3 assets on GitHub.

You can download the app both on Google Play and on F-Droid. You can also use the Direct app download link.

Features of Binary Eye

There are two main features of Binary Eye, it's either the user is scanning a barcode or composing a barcode.

Scanning a barcode: Scanning a barcode is the main aim of the app. Once the app is launched and given permission to turn on the camera, the app automatically starts scanning for codes. At this point, all the user has to do is to place the camera in front of any code. The app is that simple; grant permission, and place camera in front of any available code. There are also some options for users to zoom in the camera, turn on/off the flashlight, and switch to the front camera of the device.

After I launched the app, I was curious to know what lied behind barcodes so I took an exercise book which had a barcode on it and scanned it.

In about two seconds after placing the camera against the code on the book, the app scanned the code and gave me details about it.

While taking the above screenshot, I couldn't take the camera any closer to the barcode because the Binary Eye app is very sensitive. It would scan the code before I take a screenshot.

Composing a barcode: Users don't just scan; they create. It's a good thing that the Binary Eye app gives its users the capability to also compose their own barcodes. The app provides 11 formats in which codes can be created. Users are also given an option to select the size of the code (in pixels). And then, there's a box in which users are to type in the content that'll be encoded by the code.

When I saw this feature, I was glad because I expected the app to only scan codes; I've gotten more than my expectations. I clicked on the '+' symbol at the top of the default page and was directed to where I would compose a barcode. I selected the format, size (in pixels) and typed in the content to be encoded. Afterward, I clicked on the encode button and my code was created immediately. I also saw an option to share this code to most anywhere.

The two features listed above are the main features of the app. However, there is a history feature which keeps the details of previously scanned barcodes.

Comparing Binary Eye with Barcode Scanner(a similar open source app)

Irrespective of the fact that both applications are good and serve their purpose, let me do a comparison between the two of them.

Binary Eye works both in landscape and portrait view. Meanwhile, Barcode scanner also works in landscape and portrait view, but then, users have to buy the pro version before being able to enjoy the portrait view.

On the Binary eye, users can zoom in the camera against the barcode. On the other, users of Barcode Scanner cannot zoom in the camera.
On Binary Eye, users can compose a barcode using any of the provided 11 formats.

Whereas, users of Barcode Scanner can't compose a barcode.

On the Barcode Scanner app, users can only use the back camera to scan codes. Meanwhile, Binary Eye accepts the use of both the front and back camera to scan codes.