Webster says he's seen a number of productivity applications, such as a shopping service that scans bar codes with the phone's camera and supplies comparative pricing, product reviews and local store information.

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After its US premiere, the initial reaction has been mainly positive, with reviews commenting on the potential downfall of the camera technique.

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One of the reasons Engadget runs separate mini-reviews for US versions of phones is that while the overall design and camera performance might remain the same, battery life can often vary from one network to another.

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For example, you could point your camera at a street scene, and the image on your screen would be overlaid with cafe reviews, directions to the nearest subway stop and other useful travel information.

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