MobileOSS

The most used open source bar code engine is zxing. I do not want to dwell into the details of zxing. Please go to the site to know more. It is used by almost all platforms (except Windows Mobile?).
I downloaded the version 1.3 from there and compiled it for Android. I followed the instructions to the dot and still it did not work. Compilation of ZXing threw several unreported IOException errors. I added IOException handling in two files CameraManager.java and CaptureActivity.java and it went away. I also changed the build.properties at the top level of zxing folder for correct path settings and the compilation was finally successful. Then I figured out that these changes had been made in the svn repository The compilation is complete and has no errors, now, what next?
Watch this page for the updates

Android phone and I are inseparable ever since I bought it. As the experience is phenomenal, I mindlessly used it for all my social web activities and the data charges really burnt a hole in my pocket
Good thing about my jailed version of Android, I believe, is that it allows me to get my hands wet in writing applications for Android; otherwise, I will download applications from market and will never have the urge to try something which I never had done before. My jailed version does not have market application.
I love books and I buy them if the cover is attractive or if the write up in the backpcover is good. I now have become a little wise and stopped buying and I feel I probably miss good ones. I decided to write an application for Android which I can use to scan the code and find reviews of books while I am still in the book store. I want to use the bar code at the back cover and find reviews about them in the Internet.

I hear you shouting, “buddy, there are plenty of applications out there”. I know, but it is nothing like doing it yourself and in the process learn something new. I have the curiosity of a toddler and I believe that its my strength.
This is what I am planning in a nutshell.

Scan the code
Identify the book
Go to twitter, blogs,amazon, Barnes and Nobles or wherever and get the reviews.
First cut, I am planning to view one review after the other
Second cut, I am planning to get the sentiments of the review and give a score based on the crowd wisdom

And I promise, I will publish the source and the apk and most of all my learnings

I am trying to understand the android’s building block - the activity, intent and intent filters, intent receiver and content providers.

I wrote the first helloWorld program. Looked at the HelloWorld from this perspective and pretty interesting. My first HelloWorld.apk was installed on my machine and it worked

I will post my understnading on these four in the upcoming blogs.