<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"When Google's Android platform first launched in late October of 2008, ShopSavvy from Big in Japan was easily one of the most impressive apps available for the platform. Using the phone's built-in camera, ShopSavvy scans barcodes of any product and then uses the data connection to search the Internet for the best price. It's one of those really genius mobile app ideas, and it is no surprise that ShopSavvy was one of the winners of Google's Android Developer Challenge in 2008.\nAlthough the ShopSavvy team has been busy with ShopSavvy for the iPhone, they haven't neglected Android users. ShopSavvy 3.6 is available in the Android Market now and in addition to some bug fixes and extra UI polish, the newest version adds a very, very cool feature: QR code support!QR codes are two-dimensional barcodes created in Japan back in 1994. The idea behind QR codes is that you can store far more information in the code than you can with a standard one-dimensional barcode. However, outside of Asia and the manufacturing industry, QR codes haven't really become something consumers in Europe and North America interact with.\nThat's now starting to change, as companies like Google start to find ways to utilize the data storage power of QR codes. Recently, Google mailed QR code stickers to more than 100,000 local retailers as part of its Google Favorite Places program.\n\n\nBusinesses can affix these stickers in their store windows or in other easy-to-access areas and customers can scan the barcode with their mobile phones. The code will take the user to the business' Places Page where they can read reviews, find coupons, and star or rate the business.\nShopSavvy has shied away from embracing QR codes in the past, but now that Google is rolling out the Favorite Places program, they've decided to integrate the feature into the latest version of the Android app.\nWhat is your favorite mobile app for price checking? Let us know!"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2010/01/01/shopsavvy-3-6-android/>