Help Device can't read small barcodes

[Windhoek]

Hi,

My Android tablet cannot read barcodes unless they are greatly enlarged. I don't think it is an issue with the barcode reading app, because I've tried different apps and they all have the same problem.

Questions:

1. Could this be anything to do with the way the app is coded? Are there some coding techniques that cause the barcode reader to be less accurate? (I'm building an app which includes a barcode reader, so I don't want my users to face this problem because of the app.)

2. Is there anything I can do besides getting another tablet with a higher resolution camera? My Android phone (which is a higher end Android device) doesn't have this problem.

Specs of my tablet:
Model: Shinco Mini7-3G
Android version: 4.4.2
Camera: 2.0M pixel ( back)

Thanks for the advice.

 

[mikedt]

Cheap device with a very cheap fixed-focus camera, and so it just can't take a clear sharp image of anything closeup. Not a lot you can do about that, apart from getting a better tablet. Your phone has a much better camera, with auto-focus and macro.

If you're scanning barcodes and QR codes, the image must be reasonably sharp. And some codes can be quite small.

 

[JaronH]

What mikedt said.

Cameras will have a lot of trouble scanning barcodes that are blurry, featuring a fixed-focus, low-resolution camera because it'll be harder to read close-ups. Use your phone, instead.