Now you can free-up more space on your iPhone, wondering why? because you don’t need that barcode and QR code scanner your mobile anymore. With the new update, the Google’s Chrome mobile browser can do the same job instead. Google Chrome now includes aa built-in scanning function, which you can use either by doing a search for “QR” in the spotlight or by using 3D Touch on the app’s icon.
Even though the shortcuts only refer to the QR code scanning, Chrome can also scan a traditional barcode product for you. The barcode scan will take you to a Google Search results page of the item in question, a place where you can check read reviews, prices, and more.
Despite the rumours to the contrary, QR codes have not entirely died out. If anything, they have started to make a comeback due to the adaptation of the apps like Kik, Messenger, and Snapchat, as well as in the food labelling. Even Amazon is now putting QR codes on some of its own packagings now, as with its Elements brand of baby products.
Still, it is not the kind of thing you will do often enough to just justify keeping a barcode scanning app on hand all the time.
Because of the limited adoptation of the QR codes, smartphone makers are hesitant to fully integrate the QR code scanning function into their operating systems, even though it would be a simple add-on from the Camera. The iPhone’s QR code reader has tucked away inside the Wallet app, for example, where it’s used to scan coupons, boarding passes, tickets and the like. This presumes these are main ways that QR codes are used, but, in reality, that’s a limited subset of what QR codes can do.
With scanning bundled into Chrome, you have a more functional barcode scanner without needing a separate app. The update is out now on iPhone.
