NYT goes to Japan, discovers QR codes

Don't get us wrong, we have a special place in our robo-hearts for the Grey Lady, but you know we're gonna get a little chuckle about today's billowy two-pager on this totally new thing called QR codes that the Japanese have been using for, um, years. (And that we've been writing about for some time as well.) Still, we're not exactly balking since we do love QR so very, very much, and anything that could be done (including New York Times exposure) to faster integrate it into connected lives is something you know we're down with. Next up from the NYT's Japanese dispatches: a new phenomena sweeping the nation, an adorable character named "Hello Kitty".

[root @ Apr 1st 2007 7:23PM]

It's 2007! Get with the New York Times.

-Love, Engadget

[Dave @ Apr 1st 2007 7:41PM]

Interesting technology. Too bad the graphics suck. :P

[Vagrant @ Apr 1st 2007 7:45PM]

At least this dinosaur has taken a step, unfortunately they link to Qcode in their article, which is not a QR Code. The biggest problem with cellphones & QR Codes are the size as most cellphones don't have a macro lens. (Zoom alone doesn't do it.)

Here's some helpful URL's
http://www.quickmark.com.tw/download.html
http://qrcode.kaywa.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QR_Code

[JaxTJ @ Apr 1st 2007 7:52PM]

These actually are pretty cool. You can scan the packaging on your McFries and maybe get a coupon. My Samsung W41SA (as almost every single J-Phone) has a bar code reader as well as J-E E-J dictionary which makes the phone camera so much more useful. I

[JaxTJ @ Apr 1st 2007 7:55PM]

Ah yes, but the phones here have a "normal/macro" slider ring around the lens cover.

[Jeff @ Apr 1st 2007 7:59PM]

To be fair to the NY Times, they're a newspaper for Americans, most of whom have never heard of these codes. Is the NY Times supposed to withhold info just because a bunch of people 8,000 miles out of their target readership already know about it?

I'd wager that probably even about 85% of Engadget readers don't know about these codes. Hell, my wife's Japanese and even *she* didn't know what they were for, because she's been in the US for too long (about six years).

[Zadillo @ Apr 1st 2007 9:13PM]

Good point Jeff. I have to admit that I hadn't actually heard of these before, and I've been an Engadget reader for a while. Either way, it's silly to take this kind of attitude about the NYT; they are going out of their way to highlight some cool and interesting technology that undoubtedly a large percentage of the people who read their business section probably don't know about. Just because it's been around for a while doesn't mean that the NYT should forego doing a story about it now. And I'd give the NYT credit for not just covering it, but actually including a sidebar story with instructions on trying the software out with your own cellphone, etc.

[PreGHz @ Apr 1st 2007 8:29PM]

QR Codes? Next thing you'll tell me about some newfangled high speed data network for phones. What are you gonna call it, EDGE? You kids these days, always making stuff up.

[CT A @ Apr 1st 2007 8:52PM]

Next thing you know they'll start slicing bread! BAH!

Seriously, It's been used in Japan alot including websites and magazines..

[vincenzo @ Apr 1st 2007 9:20PM]

Actually the NYT did a story on this new technology three years ago:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/07/technology/circuits/07kios.html?ex=1254888000&en=17e68aa0913e5ff5&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland

[Josh Warner @ Apr 1st 2007 9:57PM]

While it seems to be a slightly different technology, the fact that NYT has a dupe makes me all warm and fuzzy inside...

[Victor (Mister A) @ Apr 1st 2007 10:17PM]

I had a program capable of printing these out from 1998/99 I don't now how it is possible for so many people not to have heard of these. The only new thing is the option of adding the mobile solution, but even then we have to only imagine that it is here in the US, where else can you explain people being amazed with such "simple" things.

[JaxTJ @ Apr 1st 2007 10:33PM]

Victor, It's true that the 2d barcodes have been around for a while, but what is interesting here in Japan is that if you are in a restaurant or supermarket you can scan one of these and be brought to the webpage of the product or company to get more information (or coupons) sometimes, location specific. All from the comfort of your mobile phone. While I was a little sad when I got here that I couldn't use my Tmobile/HP 6315, I quickly got over that when I saw all the features the free phones include here. And did I mention we can buy these here: http://buffalo.jp/products/catalog/storage/hddvd.html

[Victor (Mister A) @ Apr 1st 2007 10:56PM]

I know what you mean, but lets see when, if, they ever apply it here.

[Redbluefire @ Apr 1st 2007 10:20PM]

I've actually wondered what these codes were for. Which US handsets support the software to read these codes?

[Craig Shergold @ Apr 4th 2007 11:48PM]

The 2D bar code was invented for tracking robots on factory floors. The original code standard (which may not be this code standard) was published by a manufacturing organization. Many years ago. The camera phone thing was a mighty clever hack from less than 10 years ago. Very nice hack.

[Samarkand @ Apr 1st 2007 10:52PM]

Too bad the New Yorks Times is a highly left-wing newspaper with a tendency for slanting news, making outright false stories for sensationalist response, and from time to time printing stories to purposely compromise National Security. It's not the most Patriotic newspaper in the country. But I'm sure the Engadget people don't read it for the Political commentary. I dearly hope not.

[kaybee @ Apr 2nd 2007 9:31AM]

I'm not going to speak on whether or not Engadget readers go to NYTimes for their political commentary. However, I am quite certain that no one wants to read your political commentary in the Engadget comments.

[Zander @ Apr 2nd 2007 7:33PM]

I'd have to agree. The Gray Lady is a militantly liberal old bitty. Doesn't bother to hide showing her blue stripes. So Kaybee, I think it was important to reveal to the world what kind of organization the NYT is nowadays.

[akijikan @ Apr 1st 2007 11:41PM]

So this article is about what?

[Lazarus Dark @ Apr 2nd 2007 12:25AM]

um, yeah, we've been using 2d barcodes for sometime at fedex, though this widespread consumer use in japan is a bit different.

[Felix @ Apr 2nd 2007 1:24AM]

There's a difference between mobile phone culture in Japan and America that makes QRcodes work in the former and not the latter. Data access is widely available, and at relatively cheap rates, that scanning QRcodes to view a website for information is cheap and helps with day-to-day life. Here in Kyoto, QRcodes are printed next to bus stops, where you can scan them and download the bus schedule to your phone. There is also, of course, consumer-advertisement driven usage of QRcodes.

In the US, it would certainly be easy to setup carrier-side data services. However they just don't permeate enough into day-to-day life where voice calls and email/sms reign supreme, so building extensive high-speed networks and 3G handsets isn't yet justified.

I think it's nice NYT is taking this on, but for a format America has traditionally loved for its tacticle feel, it won't help spread QRcode usage.

[FinalFan3 @ Apr 2nd 2007 7:17AM]

I was wondering what these are. There's always one in a slip of card on Japanese albums that I buy.

[John @ Apr 2nd 2007 11:04AM]

Doesn't anyone at the NYT bother to be an organ donor or do leg work anymore? These codes have been on the backside of driver's licenses in about 1/2 the states in the union. Mine gets scanned by security at about a dozen buildings I visit in downtown Chicago.

[Takeo @ Apr 2nd 2007 11:25AM]

Nice "QR-enabled" T-shirts:

http://0xaa.org/t-shirts/

http://pukupi.com/blog/image.php?blog=109&image=0

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6067/1658/1600/20060420%20Taiwan%20QR%20codes.jpg

[Andrei @ Apr 2nd 2007 2:20PM]

Ha. we had these codes here and they were used at parties and such. and i live in god forsaken romania.

[bytemeal @ Apr 3rd 2007 4:49PM]

Cell phones reading bar codes have indeed been around for years in Japan and Korea. Unfortunately, the article fails to identify the real new generation of "bar" codes entering the market. There is a new color 3D bar code technology (http://www.colorzip.co.jp/en/) that is starting to take over the market that is by far superior (color pixels mean a lot more data per pixel which means much simpler codes can be read off of TV, print, t-shirts, billboards, etc...). The codes are cool to look at (they can be branding events) and are much more effective. Colorzip has established a presence in the US so hopefully we'll be able to get out of the mobile dark ages soon.

[Dean Collins @ Jun 4th 2007 2:25PM]

Lol - I wonder if NYT saw this article and considered sending a 'private' message back.

My issue is where can we get encoding software from?

I dont mean find a website that has a servce but actual commercial software that I can generate my own QR codes locally.

Plus half of the online encoding apps are crap (even the Microsoft Live product screwed up the Vcard implementation - go to www.collins.net.pr/blog to see what I posted about it).

I have a few commercial 'campaigns' that I'd like to implement but until I can find an encoding software I can run locally I'm not going to start these.

BTW for those of you looking for encoding web site http://www.quickmark.com.tw/English/download.asp this is the best on by far - has all 8 options (only thing missing is Vcal)

Cheers,
Dean Collins
www.collins.net.pr/blog