Microsoft co-opts QR codes, Pet Shop Boys 'not stoked'

Microsoft has announced that they're jumping onto the mobile tagging thing, having developed a system of High Capacity Color Barcodes that encode information in tags smaller than those allowed by QRCode and Datamatrix formats. Additionally, the specification has been designed to work with out-of-focus and fixed-focus cameras, making the thing more feasible for cellphone use. Although the "humanities" angle is kind of cute -- the company is rightfully stoked over the fact that HCCBs were on exhibit at MoMA in New York -- this is clearly aimed at organizations looking to sell more people even more useless junk. Hooray for conspicuous consumption!

[Jelthi @ Jan 10th 2009 9:46AM]

That is clearly Dwight Schrute.

[felix @ Jan 10th 2009 9:54AM]

omg

[Tom @ Jan 10th 2009 10:07AM]

This is mega old news, I think it was old when I read about it at the beginning of 2008.

[Evan @ Jan 10th 2009 10:29AM]

There are plenty of reasons to avoid color codes:
- Misalignment between the colors is common in offset printing.
- Offset printing often uses colors optimized for the content being printed, not a consistent CMYK color space. Sometimes entire colors are omitted to save money.
- Color images go through three color spaces: CMYK or similar (printing) -> RGB (sensor) -> YUV (data)
- Color images go through three resolution-decreasing processes: half-tones (printing) -> bayer pattern (sensor) -> sub-sampling (data)
- Most cell-phone sensors output sub-sampled YUV data, where the chroma data is half the resolution of the luminance data.
- The color processing from the sensor's raw RGB bayer pattern to YUV is different on different sensors. Some sensors produce color fringe artifacts, but it's hard to compensate for these artifacts because they are inconsistent.

The end result is: color lets you have multiple values per dot, but black-and-white lets you have smaller dots.

[TheAxMan @ Jan 10th 2009 10:40AM]

Evan -- that's not how this technology works -- follow the second link I posted below and you'll get the gist of it in 10 seconds.

I've installed the scanning app on my phone, and it's actually able to scan tags off an LCD screen (which is waay less precise than print media) -- not just that -- the app is super lightweight, and scanning is absolutely instantaneous and reliable.

If you have a smartphone (or iphone or something like that) try installing the app and give it a whirl -- it's pretty cool..

[GregA @ Jan 10th 2009 12:11PM]

@Evan,

My iPhone has none of those made up problems that you listed. This is Engadget, and if you are gonna maintain your anti-iPhone attitudes you are not going to like this web site very much at all;)

[Evan @ Jan 10th 2009 12:15PM]

@TheAxMan
From your first link, it's clear that the color code is much less dense than a QR Code and can store less data per square inch.

Microsoft gets around the poor data density by storing only an ID. The device has to communicate with a Microsoft server to access the same information that a QR Code stores directly in the code. This lets the code be smaller, but forces anyone using the code to use Microsoft's service.

I think the real motive behind the codes is to make people have to use a *service*. Anyone can print a QR Code and slap it on a label or poster. But to use an HCCB code, you have to go through Microsoft's service!

[Evan @ Jan 10th 2009 12:17PM]

@GregA
First, I have an iPhone.
Second, I'm an engineer, I work with machine vision applications every day. I know what I'm taking about, because it's my job.

[GregA @ Jan 10th 2009 12:21PM]

On the internet everyone is a dog;)

And you havent bothered to download the app and try it out yet;) So it matters not at all what you do in your day job, you are still ignorant of this particular application.

[GregA @ Jan 10th 2009 4:01PM]

You still around dude? What happened?

I did some more research, and this is the only 2d barcode reader (that works) on the iPhone. Those black and white DataMatrix and QRCodes simply dont read using the iPhone camera.

You still standing by your original point?

[TREX6662k5 @ Jan 10th 2009 8:57PM]

Those colours are making me foam at the mouth.

[TheAxMan @ Jan 10th 2009 10:08PM]

@Evan:

You're right about that -- the monetization for this will surely come from the service. They do have to make a buck as well :)

[skulldriveshaft @ Jan 12th 2009 1:32AM]

@GregA

whooooooosh

[TheAxMan @ Jan 10th 2009 10:36AM]

MS just cannot catch a break these days. They finally do something cool/useful/promising and when it gets lousy coverage like this.

Long Zheng has much better coverage here:
http://www.istartedsomething.com/20090108/microsoft-tag-microsofts-own-2d-barcode/

and here:
http://www.istartedsomething.com/20090109/hacking-microsoft-tags-hccb-works-monochrome-too/

This stuff actually looks pretty interesting. I can easily see a scenario where exchanging phone numbers can become a one-click affair (just as one example) if these tags get widespread adoption.

The list of supported devices is pretty good too - iphones, windows mobile, blackberry, j2me, and symbian s60 - neat.

[Quikboy @ Jan 10th 2009 1:43PM]

I know how you feel. Flatley doesn't even mention it's called "Microsoft Tag" until you reach the post tags. That picture isn't even the most recent looking Microsoft Tag. If this had been Google, the media would be all out on this latest innovative technology and start making tags like crazy. If I hadn't heard of MS Tags before reading this article, I'd probably not have looked much further into it, based on how sarcastic and bored this article is.

[Wwhat @ Jan 10th 2009 2:12PM]

Hey quickboy, why don't you rush to balmer with rubbing oil and comfort him already, like you do every wednesday I imagine..

[Quikboy @ Jan 13th 2009 11:11PM]

@Wwhat: I don't have any love for Ballmer...

[Brian @ Jan 10th 2009 11:02AM]

I was hoping this post had something actually to do with the Pet Shop Boys.

[Tony2X @ Jan 10th 2009 12:50PM]

Well their new album, Yes is due out on March 23rd and the single they wrote for Girls Aloud, The Loving Kind is out on Monday.

There we go, the post is now about Pet Shop Boys. :)

[Brian @ Jan 11th 2009 2:27AM]

Thanks Tony2X!

[HB @ Jan 12th 2009 11:40AM]

Pet Shop Boys new album is called 'Yes'

and Yes are reforming, their new album is called 'Pet Shop Boys'

[darkmax @ Jan 10th 2009 11:02AM]

This cellphone-bar coding thingy (or whatever you call it) has been in the Japanese market, like forever. What's new about this is just the color, no?

[rosevictor2 @ Jan 10th 2009 11:06AM]

This sounds good in my mind

[ShyGuy91284 @ Jan 10th 2009 11:11AM]

Barcode reader: Probably the #1 unused-but-slightly-interesting app on many s60 devices....

[STINK @ Jan 10th 2009 11:19AM]

Where's the quilt lady? I want a bar code quilt for beefaroni!

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Jan 10th 2009 11:28AM]

Very very old news. They announced this two years ago.

Also, color barcodes are typically called "3d" barcodes by those in the industry and have been around for some time. See this very similar press release from 2006.

http://www.i4u.com/article4971.html

They see limited use for the reasons specified by others here.

http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/19/microsofts-elite-hccb-barcodes-to-contain-promo-extras/

[GregA @ Jan 10th 2009 11:59AM]

Weird, Engadget is getting crappy even by their own standards.

They utterly failed to mention that you can get the reader on your iPhone and try it our right now;)

[GregA @ Jan 10th 2009 12:07PM]

Oh I don't know. Seems like it would be trivial to make one these with your contact on it, then put that picture on your iPhone, then when you meet other iPhone users they would just launch the tag app, take a picture of your code, then they have your iPhones critical stats on their iPhone;)

It seems to be more about the total integration of the thing rather than the code its self at this point.

Oh, also the reason it is in the news has nothing to do with the barcode, it is in the news because microsoft release an iPhone app. Something that engadget either failed to understand, or purposly ommited from the article to get some anti-microsoft snark in the article.

[therpham @ Jan 10th 2009 12:53PM]

The reason it's news today is because they released mobile reader software the other day. I'm interested in it because I happen to be in an image recognition course right now, and this coming into the limelight has given me a perfect subject for my final project!

[Magallanes @ Jan 10th 2009 1:01PM]

YAY!

The world need more standard and while more complex/expensive/hard to follow then better

[microlith @ Jan 10th 2009 1:23PM]

TheAxMan's link states:
Unlike other tag technologies too, the Microsoft Tags don’t actually store the information. You see, all it stores is a unique ID which it then sends to Microsoft’s servers.

Which is a boon for Microsoft, since they get to force everyone who uses these to be dependent on them for resolving these codes, whereas QR Codes and the other 2D coding schemes store at least a full URL in the barcode. There's nothing new here over QR codes, except the new (suprise!) Microsoft dependency. I wonder if they've patented it.

[Quikboy @ Jan 10th 2009 1:37PM]

It's still in beta. Maybe at some point, they will allow tag makers to use it on their own servers, if Microsoft wants to quickly push the technology forward everywhere.

It's more like a web service at the moment. Almost anyone could be able to use it, and it even has Analytics too. Give it time, and it will probably do more. Technology wise, I think it's way better than what QR Codes would have done.

[itsnotabigtruck @ Jan 10th 2009 2:27PM]

@microlith You're dead on. Moreover, the page for making MS Tags contains this ominous text: "Creating tags is easy, and during our beta, free!". Clearly they intend to charge for this, despite DataMatrix and QR Code doing the same thing but better for free.

[TheAxMan @ Jan 10th 2009 10:05PM]

@microlith:

MS isn't *forcing* anyone to use their service -- you're falling into typical groupthink mentality.

This tagging stuff promises to be an easy way for say, rich marketing content (eg. scan this tag to learn more about this cool offer), public announcements (eg. scan this tag to get traffic info), info exchange (scan this tag to call support, or to get my vcard etc.)

No force! If you have no use for the above service, don't use it - plain and simple. If you think the above service is worth the amount MS is charging, go for it. The decision is yours. I repeat -- no force!

Lastly -- this is very different from QR codes. If you try a QR scanning code app on a cellphone, and then try this app, you'll understand. Scanning QR codes isn't hit-or-miss -- it's mostly just miss. For the new tag format MS Research seems to have figured out a way to make the tag scanning and pattern recognition to work super-fast and super-reliably from an amazing variety of distances, angles, and bad cellphone cameras. Try the app and you'll understand the difference.

[Glenn Rempe @ Jan 10th 2009 2:43PM]

Issue #1 : The Microsoft iPhone tag reader cannot parse the (extra wide) color tag you have in this article. I tried it about 6 times and it variously froze the app, or failed to recognize it.

Issue #2 : This will not work on printed (B&W/grayscale) media.

Issue #3 : While free while in beta, Microsofts FAQ clearly indicates that they intend to charge publishers for creating/reporting on MSFT tags in the future.

Issue #4 : ALL scans require an internet connection, and report the scan to MSFT.

Issue #5 : The iPhone version of the app requests your location data to send to MSFT as well. Why?

Issue # 6 : This is not an open standard. This is a proprietary move by MSFT to take over a nascent market dominated by QR codes (an open freely licensed for use standard).

I do give them kudo's though for a 3d code that seems to be readable with less capable cameras and camera phones when I tested this with some samples (other than the non working one above). The QR code/DataMatrix codes are tricky to get read (at least with the current gen of iPhone apps).

[Peter @ Jan 10th 2009 2:53PM]

It asks for your location because if you allow it Microsoft graphs the places in the world that the tag has been scanned for the tag creator. No personally identofying information is given. Only GPS coordinates are sent.

[GregA @ Jan 10th 2009 3:41PM]

All your points are made irrelevant by...

The other four 2d barcode readers for the iPhone dont work at all. Microsoft is currently the only company that can make this work on the iPhone.

Thats funny.

[TheAxMan @ Jan 10th 2009 10:20PM]

@Greg Rempe

That's why I got annoyed with engadget for such poor coverage. The tag they've posted at the top is NOT a valid Microsoft Tag. It's just a huge-ass ugly think they created to make fun of the tag.

Way to give something a fair shake, engadget. Shame on you.

[Glenn Rempe @ Jan 10th 2009 3:56PM]

@GregA

Well, I would agree that the various 3d code readers for the iPhone are a mixed bag in terms of quality and reliability. That surely includes the MSFT tag reader which as I stated is rather unreliable itself.

However, the capabilities of the MSFT client on the iPhone (only one of several mobile platforms they support) says nothing about my other points (2,3,4,5,6) which are more about the proprietary closed nature of the MSFT tag when compared to open standards that are free for use by publishers and consumers alike.

There are many places where I can self create other 3d barcodes (e.g. google charts) that are open standard and do not rely on a central party for creation or consumption of tags. And I will NEVER have to pay anything as either a producer or consumer if I decide to use an open standard like QRcode. MSFT has stated that they intend to charge for this once they get a sufficient number of people hooked.

Client software will come and go. And the rising tide will lift all boats in terms of quality and reliability. However, a proprietary closed standard with a revenue generating business model will likely remain so. MSFT sees that there is a future for this technology and they are doing nothing more than looking to get in on the $$$ early. I personally prefer the open route. Wouldn't you?

[GregA @ Jan 10th 2009 4:16PM]

Not a mixed bag. They simply do not work. A mixed bag implies that they work sometimes. The only one I could get to read ~any~ 2d code was 2d sense, and it was reading about 5% of the time. The one that google suggests has this telling quote in the reviews (I was unable to get Barcodes to scan even a single thing) "Move and scale is key!"

An Open route would be great;) the problem is, they don't work (and probably won't ever work) on cheap cell phone cameras. Google suggests a phone camera with macro mode.

Im guessing the use of this service will be free for individuals, and when they do charge, it will be a function of the analytics.

So for now, your choice on the iPhone and just about every other camera phone out there is, open and free, or Microsoft and works.

[Dave @ Jan 10th 2009 4:38PM]

Along with the serious problem already mentioned that they are requiring a server lookup instead of just encoding data (an artificial constraint, since the tag could easily simply encode the data), they are also lying about the compactness.

Look on this page:
http://www.microsoft.com/tag/content/overview/

They show a large QRCode and Datamatrix code, and a tiny Microsoft Tag, and say, "The barcodes illustrates encoding of the following URL in a QRCode, a Datamatrix code, and a Microsoft Tag at actual size." Nevermind that "actual size" depends on what size you choose to print it at, the three codes all contain different data!

I decoded all three on my Nokia E90 (because, in spite of their hype, it IS possible to scan those other codes on a mobile device).

The QRCode says "Microsoft Tag creates unlimited possibilities for making interactive communications an instant,".

The Datamatrix code says "IDAutomation.com, Inc. Datamatrix Symbol. Visit www.idautomation.com for more information."

While the MS Tag reader won't tell you what data it actually reads, they state on that page that 1 byte is represented in 4 symbols. So the sample MS Tag contains about 14 bytes of data.

A fair and honest comparison, as only Microsoft can do...

[GregA @ Jan 10th 2009 5:53PM]

Dave,

None of the iPhone App Store barcode reading programs are able to scan the QRCode or the Datamatrix code(well they do work but with massive fail rates). On the other hand MS Tag reader works.

There is no hype, merely my observation, and the observation of the people reviewing the iPhone App Store applications. All others fail, while the Microsoft tag works.

The camera on your e90 works because it is a nice camera. However for the 99% of phones that dont have autofocus and macro mode, Microsoft offers this solution;)

Finally, there is something wrong with Glenn Rempe's iPhone, because I am having decode rates similar to the Symbol barcode scanner I use at work, and that only does 1d barcodes.

I am only pressing the issue because it is funny (very funny) that the only 2d barcode reader that works on the iPhone is made by Microsoft;)

[dean collins @ Jan 10th 2009 9:19PM]

Boring, there is no advantage in this over QR codes which are license free and not encumbered with any kind of microsoft tax.

[macpanda @ Jan 11th 2009 7:25PM]

I have a 1D barcode and 2D QR code reader on my G1 and it works perfect. I have yet to find a code that does not scan. i have scanned from paper and from my lcd screen. I love QR codes and I hope they become more popular here in the states.

[skulldriveshaft @ Jan 12th 2009 1:39AM]

if you squint while looking at that color code it says "fuck off" in blue.

are bar codes really that hard to read?

[Pete W @ Jan 12th 2009 6:04AM]

GregA - I've had 100% no problems reading QRcodes on my G1. Perhaps your phone is the problem.

I'd also like to point out just how much Evan's post must have 'wooshed' over your head. There's a massive margin of error when it comes to printing colours (ie at point of sale, on products...) in addition to the different colourspaces used. Also, there's technically nothing wrong with the awesome 2d QRcodes, which as Glenn_Rempe points out is open source.

Just for you - as you couldn't read the QRcode in this post, it says 'Gosiunia'. Text QRcode.

dean collins has the right idea. I think engadget only brought it to the foray to remind us how useless h00ge companies can be sometimes.

@Evan - video engineer? I'm in telecine.

[GregA @ Jan 12th 2009 9:33PM]

Pete W,

Your g1 has autofocus. What about the 99% of phones that don't have autofocus???

I was able to get the iPhone to reliably read the QRCodes, when I enlarged them to 20" and and held the camera 3' away.

Also sorry about your misfortune of having to get a phone besides the iPhone. OMG AND you are on T-Mobile. Um, wow talk about having the worst of all possible worlds. Im sorry about your misfortune.

Oh also, Evan was wildly off base, these work when you print them black and white as well. The dude really was way out of his depth and expertise when he was talking about this.

[airmanchairman @ Mar 20th 2009 7:45PM]

Amazingly, no-one even mentioned the other QR code reader applications available for the iPhone (and many other platforms), like the free NeoReader, which has been on the AppStore since July 2008 (and has pretty good reviews by satisfied iPhone users, crappy camera notwithstanding), QR Reader (since October 2008 - much worse reviews) and the much more recent (and expensive) Optiscan.

Kudos, however, to Evan, TheAxMan, Dave and Glenn Rempe for shedding some critical light on the details of the disparities between the formats and revealing the agendas at work behind the scenes.

I'd like to hear more, however, from those who can stretch their imagination to flesh out more exciting, fun, positive and creative uses for this technology.