BIDI

BIDI is a complete Android app to read barcodes or QR codes. Just install the application, aim with your camera's lens, and get hold of all sorts of data

Barcode and QR reader

QR codes were supposed to be an invention that would revolutionize the world, but ultimately weren't too successful. Hardly anyone uses them these days, but at least the infrastructure they put in place helped lay the foundations for the features that BIDI now offers us.

How does this work?

This tool has a camera function that we will not use to take photos, but to scan barcodes or QR codes. All you have to do is point your device's camera at the code and the app will show you all the information available. For example, if you are at a bus stop with a BIDI code (and the connection actually works), the QR code will show you the approximate location of your transport, the journey time and the route...

But the most popular feature of this app is that of a barcode reader. Just scan a barcode and this app will give you information like the following:

• The information that the brand offers about this product (ingredients, nutritional information, useful data, contact...).
• Opinions and comments from other consumers (you can also write your own comments).
• Marketing information.
• Discounts if there are any.

And of course you can share all these interesting details with your friends or via social networks. In addition, you can save your favorite scans, download discounts and create a profile to keep a log of all your searches.

The difference between BIDI and QR

BIDI codes were developed by Movistar in 2008 to run interactive campaigns, but they were based on a closed protocol and we had to pay for the application that could read them. QR (Quick Response) codes were developed in Japan in response to BIDI. They were free to create, save in vector format, and read because they were open source. The main aesthetic difference from the former are the three squares in their corners, which allow the reader to identify the position of the code. Today it comes as no surprise that QRs easily defeat BIDIs.

Requirements and further information:

• Minimum operating system requirements: Android 4.0.