App Reviews: Quick Scan Pro, Genius Scan

Quick Scan Pro

This handy iPhone app is great for bargain hunters who constantly wonder whether they’re missing out on a better deal online. The app uses your iPhone’s camera to look at bar code and QR codes and searches for the item at a number of online sites including the big ones such as Amazon, Best Buy and eBay. You can sort your results by price, whether the item is new or used, and you can have the app keep a history of past searches or favorite items. The app promises it will pay for itself quickly, based on the savings you’ll find through price comparisons. 99 cents, for iOS.

Genius Scan

Sometimes you could use a scanner when one isn’t handy. Genius Scan attempts to bridge the gap when you need to send snippets of documents in PDF or JPEG form via e-mail, social networks or other apps on your phone. If you have a multi-page document, you can append several snaps to the same file before sending it on. You can also crop and straighten pictures. The app has its limitations -- namely the fact that you’re limited to a smartphone camera and can’t get full pages. But if you need to send a section or two of a larger document quickly, Genius Scan is a good free option. Free, for iOS. If you’re interested in more features, there is also a paid version for iOS and Windows Phone.