BeClueCat 1.2

This perl script interprets the output from the free
CueCat barcode readers that you can get from Radio Shack.

Since this script is based on Kevin Fowlks' CueCat script,
BeClueCat is covered by the Gnu General Public License.

How do I use it?

(1)  You need Perl.  Get Perl for BeOS.  If you don't have Perl, it
     won't work.  So there :P

(2)  Run the script from Terminal.  Doubleclicking it won't do anything.

       Usage:   perl cluecat.pl

(3)  Scan a barcode with your CueCat scanner.  You can get
     CueCats for free at most Radio Shacks in the US.

(4)  If BeClueCat recognizes the barcode it will start NetPositive
     and send you to the appropriate Amazon.com url.

Known Limitations

(1)  BeClueCat won't go to Amazon if you scan the barcode on
     the back cover of most nonfiction paperbacks.  Try
     scanning the barcode inside the front cover instead.

(2) Digital Convergence, the company that makes the Cue:Cat
    scanner, apparently dislikes anyone who uses their FREE Radio
    Shack scanner without also using the free Windows software
    that comes with it.  For some background info, check

    http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=00/09/01/149223
    http://www.cuecat.com/index.html

According to the Slashdot article, Digital Convergence is claiming
that all alternative uses of their FREE barcode scanner infringe upon
"intellectual property rights owned by Digital Convergence".  At this
point in time (5:00pm on Saturday, 2 September) there hasn't been any
new info.

Obviously there is nothing special or proprietary about barcodes, nor
is there anything special or proprietary about the way that the CueCat
encodes the information that it reads.  I am giving Digital Convergence
the benefit of the doubt and assuming that Slashdot is once again twisting
the story into a "hackers vs. big companies" drama.  Besides, Digital
Convergence has no grounds for complaint, if it were true.
