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QR Codes Everywhere in Austin, Texas

This year’s SXSWeek, the eleven days that include SXSW Interactive, SXSW Film, and SXSW Music, takes place in Austin, Texas, from March 10-21. Attendee’s badges will have a photo and a QR Code that decodes to a personal page where delegates can leave a message or access contact information. To coincide with the event Marqr [...]

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Southbay Beach QR Code v2.0

The Digital Scarborough 2010 team have been at it again. Not content with their previous QR Code on Southbay beach they have had another go and produced this monster (image below). Just after I posted this I received the following email from one of the builders, Anthony Springall: On Saturday 6th of March we decided to create [...]

Asides (Latest News)

• The International Natural and Organic Cosmetics Association (NaTrue) are replacing their three star labeling system with QR Codes (Full press release). The codes will resolve to mobile pages with information on the natural ingredients, the companies who produce them and their values, environmental standards and fair trade practices (example image below). #
• Fandango is using Datamatrix 2d Codes for its Mobile Ticketing roll out in the Reading Cinemas circuit (full press release). The Datamatrix Code in the image below decodes to A0000015446. #
• As we previously posted badges at SXSW have a photo and a QR Code that decodes to a personal page where delegates can leave a message or access contact information. Organizers hoped that this will cut down on the paper footprint of SXSW by reducing the need for business cards. However scanning the QR Code leads to a simple login page (image below) which contradicts the 3rd Rule: Make the content valuable. The content behind the login page may be valuable but the page itself is not. How do you make the login page valuable and decrease the abandonment rate? Provide just enough information for the user to feel compelled to login and view what comes next. Simple really. #
• Patrick Donnelly has had an interesting idea and is looking for help to make it a reality (email is on his website) - QR Codes on the sole of your shoes (image below). I am not sure how they could be kept readable given the contrast requirements between the dark and light squares, any ideas? #
• Chevrolet will use QR Codes at SXSW to introduce attendees to the key features of the Camaro, Volt, and Cruze. They are making a fleet of vehicles available for the conference and QR Codes on the hood will resolve to a microsite to learn more about that particular model. Although the one in the press handout (image below) does not do that and decodes as SMSTO:2142081845:Hi There. I'm Chrissie. #
• 2DCodeMe.com who made the History of Symbology and 2D video has a new website. Visitors can watch their explanatory videos and generate their own free QR Codes for creating personalized items such as T-shirts, Mugs and Decals (full press release). #
• The first QR Code in Tunisia is on the cover of this months issue of Tunivisions, the celebrity and glamour magazine. Interestingly it does not decode to a url but to text which when translated into English reads "Do not miss the revolution Tunivisions 2.0". #
• We reported on the demise of Snappr last November but now they have been resurrected and incorporated into ShopSavvy. #
• SCVNGR the location based mobile gaming platform will be building a QR Code game for Google I/O in May. Google I/O is Google's largest developer event of the year and takes place in San Francisco, CA. SCVNGR recently received a $4M investment from Google Ventures. #
• Over a year ago Clever Cupcakes of Montreal produced the first QR Code cupcake ever. The image below shows the latest version and how they have evolved in sophistication! The QR Code resolves to the Facebook page for the Montreal Science Center. #