IntelliScaner Kitchen Companion 100 keeps track of groceries

IntelliScanner — which developed the Wine Collector 150 we peeped a while ago — now has a version of the Bluetooth barcode scanner for folks who would rather keep track of less intoxicating substances. The Kitchen Companion 100 is the same basic scanner, but adds a database of over 300,000 grocery items, along with nutrition data from the USDA. Scanned info can be downloaded to a PC, Mac, PDA or cellphone, letting you compile detailed grocery lists. At $279 (a USB version is $179), it seems a bit steep for a tool to help you figure out how much peanut butter you need to buy, though it could come in handy for big families that have massive shopping lists — and lots of kids who can do the scanning, database analysis and list production while you kick back with the output from the Wine Collector.

[Via MacMinute]

[khamel @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

i have been wanting one of these to exist for a long time now. but considering my frig currently consists of a half a bottle of diet coke, some shredded cheese and alot of condiments, im not sure i'm in too much of a hurry. If this drops down below 100 and the codes can be updated for free online then i can see it creating a market for itself.

[Robin @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Doesn't anyone remeber the CueCat? It's original purpose was suposed to be keeping track of groceries in just this manner. Last time I looked they were running for about $10 on Ebay...

[dmek @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

My fridge is more like a game of Command and Conquer, an all out war of various colonies of mold.

[Tony C @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

This is just a Microvision Flic (http://www.flicscanner.com) barcode scanner -- you can get the scanner yourself for a little less. A quick check at Froogle shows that a serial port Flic goes for about $90-$100, USB adds about $30, CompactFlash and Bluetooth are a little over $200. eBay, of course, has much better deals, if you're lucky.

Appropriate software for your needs is a different matter. I use mine to track my DVD library and will probably expand its use to books (maybe comics) and CD's too. Not sure about food though...

[BJ McWild @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Yep,

this is a Microvision Flic. But what is cool about this is the software integration to make Flic something that regular folks might want.

Groceries, wine, DVDs, comic books...

anything with a bar code scanner can be scanned and inventoried using this inexpensive device. totally sweet.

check out MVIS Blog for all things Microvision: http://microvision.blogspot.com

[rigel @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

CueCat.

that is all.

[Gadget Guy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Sure, the CueCat had a list generator plug-in within the CRQ software interface that did the same thing five years ago. For free.

[Carl Leiby @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I've wanted one of these for ages. But it doesn't quite do what I want. I want it to interface with a recipe database so it could tell me what I have the ingredients to make, right now. Or, a web based interface so I could connect from home and get a shopping list for the things I need to make a particular recipe.

[Paul Scandariato @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Carl,

The original spec for Kitchen Companion included such a feature for recipe recommendations based on current supplies, but it missed the cut for the first release. It's on our list to add in the future.

Paul Scandariato
IntelliScanner Corporation

[Tony C @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Oh, forgot to mention... this is a LASER barcode scanner! =D No whimpy CCDs here bucko! ;)

[Diego @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

A more ideal solution is for the total data to be aggregated as a QR-code printed on your receipt. Better yet, make use of those silly bonus cards and let the regular Joe have access to the data the store is already collecting.

[Wry Cooter @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I already have the scanner as bundled with Delicious Library. How much for the software only, for the grocery stuff?

[cjw @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

the software/db is the key. i've been trying to figure out how to do someting like this with my cuecat for some time with no luck. on the other hand i've been very successful using my cuecat with readerware to catalog my entire cd collection. what a find that was.