Version 4.0 also brings the following new additional features:

• Live stream of recent scans using the ShopSavvy application (more on that in the next section)
• Better scanning technology which allows for full 360 degree scanning so you can scan the image from any direction
• Enhanced sharing features such as sharing info via Twitter and Facebook
• Export your historical scans to Microsoft Excel or Apple iWorks
• ShopSavvy Deals – a service which searches your historical scans to look for price changes at all retailers (including if a purchased product drops in price after you’ve bought it, alerting you whether you can take in your receipt for a refund of the difference)

The new homescreen for ShopSavvy 4 features a live feed of user scans from around the United States. This feature pulls in both the item name, the city in which the item was scanned, and the best available price for that item. Users can simply click on any item in the live feed, and it will scan both online and your local retailers to find the best available price. Think the live feed is a little too big-brother-y? Rest half-assured. Users can switch to the standard personal historical scans view in the settings, but there doesn’t appear to be a way to prevent your scans from showing up in other users’ live stream feeds.

All things considered, Shopsavvy version 4 is an awesome update which should please ShopSavvy users once you get used to the new layout and features. If you haven’t yet checked out ShopSavvy on your Android device, you may want to download the free application now.

Don’t like the new UI update? The folks at ShopSavvy have also released GoCart, which is basically a legacy edition of their most recent pre-4.0 update release (version 3.6).

ShopSavvy Barcode Scanner ShopSavvy, Inc. MARKET QR POWERED BY APPAWARE

From Google: Shopper recognizes books, CDs, DVDs, and video games by their cover art, and also offers barcode scanning and voice search. You can view prices, reviews, and specs, and star your favorites for later. Shopper also saves your history for use offline and lets you share products with friends. Currently U.S. prices only.

Download it and let us know what you think. Does ShopSavvy have a real competitor now?

Update: Speaking of ShopSavvy, we contacted the founder of Big in Japan to get his response.

“From our perspective it is more of the same. Google has always had a barcode scanner – i.e. ‘Barcode Scanner’. It was available the first day just like ShopSavvy was. It uses Google’s shopping data which is good (we include it in ShopSavvy), but we also have direct relationships with 20,000+ retailers. Google and Amazon are and have always been our biggest competitors.”Alexander MuseBig in Japan

Features of Google Shopper include:

• Detailed product information: Find prices, reviews, specs, and more. Shopper is powered by Google Product Search.
• Barcode scanning: Scan the barcode of almost any product to quickly learn more about it.
• Save your history and favorites: Shopper saves your history and lets you star your favorites for later.
• Scan the covers of books and media: Find a product by simply pointing your camera phone at the cover art of a book, CD, DVD, or video game.
• Voice search: Say the name of a product and find it easily in Shopper.
• Share your finds with friends: Find something you want to share? Click on the share link to post to Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, Instant Messaging, etc..

For an example of what ShopSavvy is looking for, check out their last scan mob promotion.

Are you a developer running your own contest? Contact us and we will be happy to share it with our readers. We are also looking for developers to help sponsor a major phone giveaway promo next month. Drop me a line if you are interested in an exciting advertising opportunity.

Update (11/24): Big in Japan has uploaded a video from the event.