It seems that Apple is no longer content with third-party app systems that assist shoppers, as Patently Apple recently uncovered an Apple patent for their own alternative to these barcode scanning programs. The invention isn’t really all that different from what we’ve already seen, scanning codes and using image recognition to search the web for the best pricing around.

The patent really isn’t much different from what we’ve already seen, so how can they issue one? Non-surprisingly, the patent shows that Apple would have its own spin on familiar functionality, using the electronic device with the app to identify a product and obtain pricing relevant to retailers in specific geographical zones, it would also obtain information for a shopping list of products and give you the best possible prices and where to find them. The idea of the patent isn’t just about scanning things already in stores to get the best price, or so it seems, instead it is a tool that would make the entire planning of the shopping trip, and where to go, all that much easier as well.

[ source ]

The post New Apple Patent hopes to make shopping easier for iDevice users appeared first on Mobile Magazine.