Amazon's Flow augmented reality app for Android adds live scanning of multiple products and text

The augmented reality app Flow Powered by Amazon works by placing a camera over a product, like a book or Blu-ray, and then having Amazon retrieve information about the item. Amazon subsidiary A9 says that its new version of Flow for Android can do that and much more thanks to a faster system that can now scan multiple items at once; it can pick up on Catcher in the Rye and Catch .22, or scan multiple products when comparison shopping.

Flow has a new camera view that that can also detect text recognition. In addition to identifying products, it spots phone numbers, web addresses, or blocks of text. The number can then be called, the website visited, or the text copied to the device's clipboard. These new features make Flow more than just a product scanner that can retrieve Amazon reviews and product listings for items spotted in stores or other locations; it's also able to take related steps that go beyond placing an order.

Flow can scan UPC barcodes and QR codes in addition to photos of products and text. The app requires Android 2.3.3 or later and is available in the Amazon Appstore or Google Play.

Download Flow from Google Play or the Amazon Appstore