I am also very interested in building a common database for all the retailers. I am just starting to explore this idea for my application. I think it will be hard to get the small retailers to jump on board since they have very limited resources. I mean take a look at Google Base. There are still very limited number of retailers on it. I think web scraping will still be required to make this work.
My idea is to use a combination of soliciting retailers and executing a web spider that scraps information from known retailers. I am very interested in helping out in the project. If there isn't one out there, perhaps we can start forming a team. Jeff, I think your project looks really good especially on the price lookup feature. One idea that I have is to go beyond barcode and use image recognition. This is where the common retail database will come in handy since most likely it will store a picture of the actual product. User takes a photo and the server will try to use image recognition techniques to compare the photo with the actual product to determine what the actual product is. I am also very interested in this. Regard, MT Muthuselvam Ramadoss wrote: > Integrating with the major retailers is the key. If the application can > retrieve special discount prices from various retailers just for android, > then the value add is immense. Having a common retail DB is a great idea, > and am guessing its already out somewhere. If not creating one with some > standards build into it would be a good start. > > On Wed, Apr 16, 2008 at 8:16 PM, Jeffrey Sharkey <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > wrote: > > > > > Thanks :) I'm also looking for more ideas on how to improve it. > > I've heard that people might like a general search box that tries > > finding products when you don't have a barcode. > > > > Also, I've seen a few others building their own databases of retail > > prices. I'm really interested in that idea, and would like to help > > out with it too. It would be sweet if we could create a uniform API > > for several apps to query that db. We might talk with major retailers > > and see if we can get raw pricing directly from them instead of > > relying on user-submitted prices. > > > > Just thoughts. :) > > > > On Apr 14, 3:33 pm, Muthu Ramadoss <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Hi, > > > > > > This is a really useful application. The ability to scan anything and > > > lookup for reviews, buy etc., is a great idea. Good luck on your > > submission. > > > > > > > > > > > > Jeffrey Sharkey wrote: > > > > Hey there, just wanted to share the Android application I just > > > > finished developing for the Challenge. > > > > > > >http://www.jsharkey.org/blog/2008/04/14/android-scan/ > > > > > > > Scan is an Android application that finds pricing and metadata for > > > > anything with abarcode. Check out the 3-minute video showing it in > > > > action with real barcodes: > > > > > > >http://scan.jsharkey.org/ > > > > > > > Here are some key features that make Scan stand out: > > > > > > > * Automaticbarcoderecognition using onboard phone camera using > > > > ZXing > > > > * Shows CD, DVD, or book cover along with detailed reviews from > > > > Amazon.com > > > > * Searches over a dozen stores, both online and brick+mortar > > > > * Tracklisting for CDs, along with option to play sample tracks > > > > right on phone > > > > * For books, searches local libraries to see if they have a copy > > > > > > > I had a blast writing it, and I'm pumped about getting some actual > > > > hardware. :) > > > > > > -- > > > Thanks. > > > > > > Muthu > > Ramadosshttp://mobeegal.inhttp://androidrocks.inhttp://intellibitz.comhttp:// > > twitter.com/intellibitzhttp://linkedin.com/in/tellibitzhttp://slideshare.net/intellibitzhttp://groups.google.com/group/android-chennai > > > +91 44 22476750 > > > > > > We develop innovative search solutions using LBS for Android. > > > > > > > > -- > take care, > Muthu Ramadoss. > > http://mobeegal.in > find stuff closer. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Android Challenge" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-challenge?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
