Smart Phone MS Tag or 2d barcode Access

Don · #1 (**permalink**) 02-05-2012, 01:36 PM

Any experience with an app for using a smart phone, in my case iPhone4s, to process the coded tags which allow for a direct connection to the web ? Referring to the graphic 1" X 1" coded blocks appearing in magazine advertisements, articles, etc

If so, app being used is ?

jshel1 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-05-2012, 02:27 PM

I am Android based and very happy with the functionality of the app "QR Droid."

Looking thru iTunes reviews, I found "Scan." Here is a link:
Scan for iPhone, iPod touch (4th generation), iPad 2 Wi-Fi, and iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G on the iTunes App Store

Happy QR code scanning.

Don · #3 (**permalink**) 02-07-2012, 06:06 PM

jshel1.......thanks

While I was keying, couldn't remember the " QR " designation, downloaded an app. New to using the concept. I was reading Handyman Magazine and they reference and used the app TagReader. The article refers to their use as Microsoft Tag technology and refer to it as MS Tag , a 2D barcode, or gettag mobi, which is mentioned by Road & Track, different pattern than other QRs. If Handyman sends me a link to their article, I will post.

What Is Tag? | Microsoft Tag

A picture of the tag is included:

App Store - Microsoft Tag

Seems there are now multiple formats which require a unique apps

jshel1 · #4 (**permalink**) 02-07-2012, 09:05 PM

Just great... leave it to Microsoft to copy an idea and put their own spin on it. QR and dot-matrix 2D have been industry standards in medicine for at least five years. I have readers and printers (grayscale dot-matrix) that can do UPC and QR.

Seems like print magazine press is the primary user of the MS Tag format; this is likely because of the color content. Industry (Medicine and Manufacturing) seem to be adhoc on QR, retail seems to be adhoc on QR as well.

The following is excerpted from Nellymoser Mobile Marketing Firm's report on 2011 Black Friday store visits:

"Nellymoser discovered that 23 of the store brands, or 7.2% of the total, contained at least one QR code. This is approximately one out of every 14 stores. None of the stores used a 2D barcode other than a QR code, such as a Microsoft Tag or a Spyderlynk SnapTag.

More than 700 retail locations were visited, including the following national anchor stores using QR:
Best Buy
J.C. Penney
Lord & Taylor
Macy’s
Nordstrom
Neiman-Marcus
Saks Fifth Avenue
Sears"

I am sure there is some political republican/democrat or right brain/left brain (analytical/creative) comment in this somewhere but it escapes me. I am pretty entrenched with QR professionally and have always been resistant to change... must be the tea-party in me. I hope QR wins out, but will adopt to whatever becomes the industry standard.

Glad the search term "QR" was helpful to you in discovering your needed app. I hope your curiosity about QR piqued your interest enough for you to investigate my link and if so, I hope your visit was enjoyable. Many man hours went into the hobby website to benefit my cobra enthusiast friends.

4RE KLR · #5 (**permalink**) 02-08-2012, 01:17 PM

Don,
I have the HTC Droid and I have the Bar code scanner ap on my phone. I also have the QR reader and it reads the QR codes, like the one in John's avatar.

We use the QR code as well for our marketing and have had some good response with it.

As a side note the bar code reader I have also reads the bar code on stuff at the stores that have line bars. It does not always tell the price of the item in the store but it does usually have some information about the product. This has been helpful many times. I just think it is a matter of time before everything gets loaded and corrected in the ap world for this one but it is good so far.

______________
Ferrari Killer
Steve

Must Sell Right Now

.

Don · #6 (**permalink**) 02-09-2012, 11:50 AM

Now having the " QR " capability for the smart phone, I look more closely at the magazine pages. Road & Track calls their full page " Scan & Watch ":

" 2D Codes Grant Instant Access:
The special 2D codes found throughout every issue of Road & Track grant instant access to our latest videos. To begin, simply scan the steering wheel code of your choice with a smartphone using free Microsoft Tag Reader. Don't have the Tag Reader app yet ? Get it at Device not found, or text RTTAG to 44636 for a free download. "

Featured are 3 R&T Steering wheel codes for selected videos.

Question:

The apps I have seen are for smart phones, one example of many being the iPhone. Have not seen a QR app for use with a hand held scanner, either wireless or wire , connecting to a desk top , lap top, notebook etc device. ?
Is there an app & hand held scanner for Computers ?

Note: Device Not Found is a valid link

jshel1 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-09-2012, 08:06 PM

Don,

Our medical grade stuff was more expensive than I would care to spend for outfitting a small business or home computer system. Our connectivity or interface is USB however. You might find what you are looking for in the $75-150 range.

I found the ebay related site shopping.com easy to filter for different scanner features. They might have something that does the MStag.

usb barcode scanner - QR Code - USB - Barcode Scanners - Shopping.com