You may have started to notice square, barcode-like boxes scattered throughout adverts, magazines and so forth. These are QR Codes, and they are only going to get more popular. Here's what QR Codes are, and how to use them.
What are those square, barcode-like boxes?
What are QR Codes?
If you’ve not encountered them before, all you need to know is that QR Codes are quick links. Point your smartphone or tablet's camera at a box and it will scan the graphic and show you a web link where you can find out further information about the product. Or sometimes it's a means of entering a competition, or enjoying a special offer.
In the case of app reviews in our recently published The Complete Guide To Google Android magazine, for instance, we used QR Codes to take readers to the App Market. This code, for example, takes you to a free QR Code reader called QuickMark.
Some handset makers of all mobile OSs install a QR code reader right on to the device, so you have everything you need straight out of the box. Launch this and point the camera at the QR code. You may not even need to press the camera icon to take the shot – some apps produce a haptic ‘shudder’ to indicate recognition. Next, press to see the web address the code relates to, then click on the browser icon to continue to the site.
See all: Google Android tutorials
Comments
Susan Bryant said: QR Codes are definitely going to be a big thing in 2011 Ive even found a company that is putting your QR Code in to a t-shirt design Like threadless but personal httpwwwscanmecom
ClickHere13 said: I agree that there are a lot of possibilities for QR codes but Ive also seen some quality issues that could hamper growth This past weekend I went through my localsunday edition looking for QR codes I found around twenty examples I tried scanningevery example I came across Out of the twenty or so QR codes I triedI was not able to get any usable data out of any of them I scanned or in my case snapped a picture at least three times for each QR code Im not sure why I was unable to get a single QR code to scan properly Maybe its the application Im using Maybe its the lack of a macro ability on my Palm Pre But a zero batting average is not a good signEmilioSt Louis Mobile Marketing
Tyler Coffin said: 2011 is definitely going to bethe launch point for QR Codes Businesses have numerous ways toutilize QR Codes as a marketing tool but none are better than httpwwwSocialQRCodecomSocial QR Code allows its users to set up a mobile landing page for their QRCode with social features such as a Facebook Like button or aTwitter Follow button Businesses can also create coupons that are sharable on Facebook andTwitter Give httpwwwSocialQRCodecom a try