:: SIMPLE
:: DIGITAL BUSINESS CARD
:: DROP ITBusiness card scanning software is nothing new in the App Store. There are plenty of apps that take data from a picture of a business card, but none that get the data right every time. Sometimes shadows get in the way, or the app thinks that the name Chris looks like Cheryl, and boy is that annoying.
TechCrunch talked about how CardMunch does things a bit differently, adding a human element to the card scan. Like other card scanning apps, it still captures the card image with your iPhone's camera, but then the picture is sent off to the CardMunch office where real humans extrapolate the data. Real humans that guarantee 100% accuracy! Once it's done, the data is sent directly to your Address Book or to the CardMunch app itself if you don't want to clutter your contacts.
The service does cost $0.25 per card, but if you have to scan 400 cards, CardMunch claims that you will save an average of 23 hours of data entry time. Seems worth it to me. Try the app out for free and get 5 free card scans with your "purchase".
[Source: TechCrunch]
:: BARE BONES READER
:: VIABLE CONTENDER
:: BEST IN CLASS
Yesterday As I grew up and entered the professional world, I realized that these cards were actually useful, but were a total pain in the expletive. Currently, my organizer has a section devoted to storing/displaying business cards and I’ve amassed quite a few, but I don’t know who’s where, offering what at whatever phone number/email address. I might as well just use them for kindle; at least I would know where they're not.
Furthermore, I don’t carry my organizer with me everywhere I go:
Not Me: “Hey Jason, let’s go play a pick-up game of two-on-two!”
Me: “Okay, let me just grab my organizer in case anyone we play has a business card they want to show off/give me,”
OR
Not Me: “Hey Jason, let’s go graffiti the side of the tattoo shop!”
Me: “Okay, let me just grab my organizer, in case one of the cops wants to network with me.”
When I acquired my iPhone, however, all that changed. It replaced my organizer and is always with me. And if someone wants to give me a business card, regardless of the time, location, cell block, etc., there is now “an app for that.” Actually, there are several apps, but I’ll focus this review comparison on three:
| Application | Version | Price |
|---|---|---|
| ScanBizCards [App Store] | 2.60 | $5.99 |
| Business Card Reader [App Store] | 1.2.1 | $5.99 |
| WorldCard Mobile [App Store] | 1.2.4 | $5.99 |
In reviewing these apps, I’m specifically looking for (in no particular order):
1. Menu interface/Aesthetics
2. Image quality
3. Scanning accuracy/data recognition technology capabilities using the app's built-in camera features
4. Scanning accuracy/data recognition technology capabilities using a pre-selected image
5. iPhone Contacts integration
6. Storage features
7. Stand-out/Special features
