Saturday 10 March 2012

QR Code - Uses, Free Readers and Generators


What is a QR Code ?

   A QR Code (known more as Quick Response Code) is a matrix-barcode, a two-dimensional code first designed for the automotive industry.
   Created in 1994 by Denso, a Toyota subsidiary, to track vehicles parts in the manufacturing process, the QR Code was designed to increase the readability of his content, the decoding speed for large content.
   As you know the code consists of small modules (usually black) arranged in a square on a wite background.
   Nowadays these code system has become more popular outside the industry due to his fast readability and his large storage capacity compared to traditional Universal Product Code (UPC). The amount of data that can be stored in the QR Code depends on the datatype, version and error correction level. The maximum storage capacities: numeric only  - Max. 7,089 characters, alphanumeric - Max. 4,296 characters, binary/byte - Max. 2,953 characters (8-bit bytes), etc. What makes QR codes so much better than a normal barcode is the fact that a normal barcode can only hold up to 20 digits and a QR code can hold over 7,000 digits, as you see upfront.

How do I use QR Codes ?

Do you want to Share more urls/links with one QR Code ?
Read to the end to see how....

   The use of QR Codes is free of any license. The QR Code is clearly defined and published as an ISO standard.
QR codes can be read by cell phones cameras using a software called QR reader.
The QR Code is photographed or scanned with the camera of your phone, and the reader software interprets the code. After scanning a QR Code, users may receive text, add a vCard contact to their smartphone, open a URL, compose an e-mail or text message, watch a video.
   A quarter of internet users are now apparently using mobile devices.
   QR Codes are used over a much wider range of applications: commercial tracking, product/loyalty marketing (discount coupons, storing company's information such as address, phone, e-mail, web address, etc), entertainment and transport ticketing, in storing personal information for use by government, in restaurants, business card, real estate, print advertising, flyers, posters, e-books, magazines, employment opportunity adverstising (create a mobile friendly web page for open position on your head hunting company and adverstise it with a QR Code),  etc. 
The best part about this new marketing trend is that it has almost no cost associated with it. That’s right, anyone and any small business can use QR codes. Even for those not scanning them it does make people ask questions. If you can engage people in conversation you have a much better chance of build relationships and business

   URLs encoded in two-dimensional barcodes such as QR Codes are often shortened by a URL shortener, to reduce the printed area of the code or allow printing at lower density to improve scanning reliability
Here is a list of Best Free URL Shortening Services – some with QR Code generator!!!

To Share Multiple links-urls, Videos, Photo, webpages with one QR Code you a need a Multisharing QR Code, a QR Code that open all you want.
To create a Mutisharing QR Code you need a Mutisharing or Mutitarget URL Shortener.
 

QR Code Printing Guidelines & Best Practices

32 × 32 mm or 1.25 × 1.25 inches, excluding quiet zone (the white space included around the QR Code in the EPS) is the minimum size that guarantees that ALL camera phones on the market can properly read the QR Code.
26 × 26 mm or roughly 1 square inch, excluding quiet zone covers 90% of the phones on the market. - OUR CURRENT RECOMMENDATION
The latest camera models, which have improved macro capabilities, can deal with QR Codes that are less than 10 mm (0.4 in) wide and high.
For example, an iPhone 4 will be able to scan this size, but an iPhone 2/3.x with 2.0 megapixel camera and no autofocus may not.
For good reader accuracy good contrast between the background and the bar color itself is very important. .
   Many Android, Nokia, Blackberry handsets come with QR Code readers installed. If not, QR reader software is available for most mobile platforms and could be payd or free app.
When you go to a Free QR Reader App download page you must chose your phone type and/or mobile operating system if not autodetected.
To Download a Free QR Reader  for Android, Windows Phone 7, iPhone, Blackberry you can visit one of this links from your phone browser:


Free QR Code Reader :

Great interface, multiple features which enables users to Scan, Store, Share and Pay. QR Pal is a QR Code scanner that rewards its users for scanning and sharing with monthly cash prizes. QR Pal also includes SafeScan giving you peace of mind that your scanning is always secure. Only for Android and iPhone.

Available for multiple operating systems (iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Symbian, Java, Windows). Reads: QR code, UPC code, Data Matrix, EZ code
Features: Price comparison, Relevant Product Finder, Local Prices, Coupons, Sharing with others, Food Nutrition
How work one of its features:” I'm in a store and scan a product which may not be on sale. My ScanLife app shows me a list of online retailers from Amazon to Wal-Mart. Bingo! Since the product is on sale for 20% less, I can click to buy it right on the phone or send it to my email address to purchase at home”.

-  I-nigma – download from phone bowser  www.i-nigma.mobi  or
i-nigma reads: QR Code, DataMatrix, UPC and EAN codes  (supermarket codes),
Additional codes available with SDK reader - include: PDF 417, Micro QR, Code 39, Code 128, Codabar/NW7, Interleaved 2 of 5 (ITF), QRcode Models 1&2
Available for multiple operating system (Android, iPhone, WinP7, Blackberry).

A mobile barcode scanner app that allows auto-scanning of multiple barcode formats from your phone. (Quick Code, QR Code, Data Matrix, EAN 8/13, Code39, Code128, Interleaved 2of5)
Use mobile barcodes to access web links, add contacts, navigate maps, and much more! Works with QuickMark's Chrome browser extension!
Lite version also available with slightly less Permission requirements (which results in less). Free for Android. Windows Phone 7 and $0.99 for iPhone.
QuickMark is a barcode reader application that allows you to automatically scan and generate multiple barcode formats (Quick Code, QR Code, Data Matrix) with your Mac $3.99. Free for Windows PC (XP SP2).

QR Droid for android is very complete. The only QR code app rated "5.0 out of 5 stars" by PCWorld. Use your camera to scan a QR code in a magazine and watch a video immediately! Create a code from a Contact or Bookmark in your phone, share.
QR-GPS is a Plugin for popular app QR Droid. It adds ability to create a QR code from your current location, using your GPS or Network providers. Then, you can share that location easily. This plugin can't be launched by itself. You need to get QR Droid 4.1 (or greater) for free in order to use it.
QR-GPS Plugin and QR Droid, together, can get your GPS location automatically and generate a QR code from it.

-  Lynkee  -  Direct download form http://m.lynkee.com/ or  http://www.lynkee.com/   Available for multiple operating system (BlackBerry, iPhone (4G), Android, Windows Phome7, Java, Symbian. Their new version on iPhone is really amazing...with lots of features. (http://www.lynkee.com/index.php?page=how)

-   NeoReader  – can be downloaded at http://get.neoreader.com/ from your mobile browser. This is one of the best QR readers for iPhone and Windows Phone 7.
Reads: QR Code, Data Matrix and Aztec bar codes., EAN, UPC, and Code 128.
NeoReader is a free mobile application that turns a camera mobile phone into a code scanner and provides one-click access to mobile content. The NeoReader mobile application operates on a number of popular handsets including Apple, Blackberry, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson.
Universal Product Codes (UPC), better known as barcodes and found on most consumer products, can not be scanned by all mobile phones because the phone’s camera does not focus well enough to allow these types of barcodes to be scanned. To scan UPC codes you can use mobile phones with auto-focus.
Note:If the application does not work, you are still able to use the Enter Code button to type in the product code number that appears below these barcodes.
Go to get.neoreader.com on your mobile phone's web browser, follow the easy instructions and you're ready to scan!
This app seems to have it all included in one package. This scanner is only for QR codes. It will not scan regular UPC product barcodes.
QR Code Scanner Pro uses the latest BlackBerry tools for more reliable QR code scanning. You no longer need to use your phone’s camera to take a picture of the QR Code. Simply put your phone over the QR Code and it will be scanned instantly and automatically. QR Code Scanner Pro has the power to do any function stored in any QR barcode that you scan. It will launch your browser, dial your phone, send an SMS or email, import a contact from a vCard, all effortlessly and seamlessly. QR Code Scanner Pro will vibrate when you have successfully scanned the  barcode, giving you the heads up that you are good to go. 
-  BeeTagg  http://get.beetagg.com/  For download visit that link from your phone browser. Your phone model will be detected automatically.
The Free BeeTagg QR Reader app can read QR Codes, BeeTagg Codes, Datamatrix  EAN-13 / UPC-A. It supports the following formats: vCard, meCard, vEvent, Geo, Phone, SMS, Text.  
Multiple Operating System:  iOS, Samsung Bada, Nokia Symbian (all versions), Windows Mobile 5.5+, Windows Phone 7, J2me, Palm OS, BlackBerry, Android.

- ShopSavvy (Free)http://shopsavvy.com/     
This app scans QR codes but also scans UPC codes and finds the best prices near you. For iPhone, Andoid, Windows Phone 7
The original barcode scanner for Android. Find the best online and local prices.
The 5.0 version scanner includes ShopSavvy Wallet. Just add your credit card and you can buy with one 'slide' from top retailers like Walmart, Target, Buy.com and Barnes & Noble. Aim the camera at any product's barcode, wait for the beep and ShopSavvy will provide you with a list of online and local prices.

Now, when you know how can you read the QR Codes, Where can you use it and How, you will need a QR Generator - Creator to create your own QR Codes for personal use or for your business.

Free QR Code Creator-Generator

-   QRPal Track Generator
They offer: Text QR Codes, URL/Link QR Codes, Phone Number QR Codes, SMS or e-mail QR Codes, meCard QR Codes (best for QR code business cards), Wifi network, Location


-  "QR Code and 2D Code Generator" by Erkan Kerem
http://keremerkan.net/qr-code-and-2d-code-generator/
This QR code generator is also a generator for data matrix, aztec code and micro QR code.
"QR Code and 2D Code Generator" creates: Text QR Code, URL/Link QR Codes, Phone Number QR Codes, Send sms or e-mail QR Codes, vCard QR Codes (best for QR code business cards), vCalendar QR Codes, Google and Bing Maps QR codes, Raw Geological Coordinates QR Code, Youtube QR Codes, Android Market QR Codes, Connect to WIFI network for Android Devices QR Code

- BeQRious - Three easy steps: Select type, Customize your QR Code, Download Qr Code.
BeQRious a generator that is used to put an image (or other graphic) into your code, connect to Google Maps, connect to YouTube. You can make your own QR code with this generator to include a web URL, Email, SMS, Phone, vCard, Facebook Profile, Twitter Profile, Text or any kind of contact information.

- Delivr  - Is a QR Code Generator that has a special feature that sends SMS to short code and instantaneously sends RSS feed. You can create QR Code for Services, Google Places/Maps, Google Analytics Campaign, Coremetrics Campaign, Contact Information, SMS to Phone Number, Email, Text, Amazon Affiliate Link, Post a Tweet, Audio, WI-Fi Network (for Android device), Phone,

- Azonmedia - a QR code generator that is more advanced and complex than the rest. You can attach connect information using either vCard or meCard. In this generator you can adjust error correction, point size and color, download an image, Logo, or embed the QR code into your website or blog. Other features: Sms message, email message and adress, Text, Phone Number, Social Network Profile, Google Maps, Location., Update Twitter Status,  BlackBerry Messenger PIN, Andriod Network Wi-Fi, Website URL with shorten URL

- QRMobilize - This generator provides a way of creating a QR code mobile landing page for FREE, that links you to all your personal social media accounts. When you send in to this generator you will have the option of adding a picture, name your bio, phone number or email and then each of your social networks (Google+, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Linkedin). By scanning these QR codes it open your mobile browser so you can see all your links. This QR code generator is new and constantly updating and adding more features every day. This king of QR code generators can add Facebook users or page, add Twitter, mobile friendly landing page that open browser instantly, and offers a clean simple design

- QR Stuff  - Data Type available for Free QR Code: Paypal Buy Now Link, Skype Call, Dropbox, Event (vCalendar), Four Square, Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, Google Maps/Location, App Store Download, Youtube Video, Website URL, VCard, SMS message, Email message and address, Contact information, Plain Text, Wifi Login (Android only), Phone number, iTunes Link

- Free QR Creator

It is a free tool that allow easily generate QR and microQR Codes.
Free QR Creator allows quickly and efficiently create QR codes and microQR codes.
The program supports export in graphics formats BMP, JPG, PNG, GIF, TIFF and EMF, customization of barcode - the background and foreground color, rotation, and size of the border.
Free QR Creator does not require any technical skills.
Free QR Creator is totally free!

QReVolved - Free online Tool. Generate easily QR Codes for Text, Email, URL, SMS, Phone, VCard, MeCard, WiFi HotSpot Setup, GEO Tags, Like on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, Tweet, YouTube, Pinterest, Dribble.

QR Code Video

 




How to Make Free QR Codes
 
 


 


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