Microsoft Tag comes out of beta, promises free colorful codes for all
By Tim Stevens 
posted May 28th 2010 1:08PM
posted May 28th 2010 1:08PM
It was about a year and a half ago that Microsoft decided it could do QR codes better, that any universal coding system needed a dash of color, and launched Tag. Now, the roughly one billion Tags that users have printed have been made a little less illegitimate, with Microsoft bringing the service out of beta and taking the opportunity to toot Tag's trumpet a bit. The codes have appeared in 20 million magazines so far and have recently been deployed to create a sort of tour for geeks in Amsterdam (no word on whether our own international man of mystery is featured). Meanwhile America's cultural hub, the Mall of America, has been similarly bestickered to "enhance customer engagement," but based on our previous experiences at that bastion of commercialism we're thinking scooters and foot massages might have been more effective.
@smakus For what? If I'm at my computer it's not that hard to type a site. I can take a picture of it a get the link from my phone. The only thing I think is interesting about in home barcode tech is in the Kitchen. I saw a system where you scan your groceries. Then you can put together recipes based on what you have. Scan the box again after you use it and it generates shopping lists. Kept track of expiration dates as well.
For a second I thought it was another one of those Viva Pinata codes.
First, black and white, then color... next - 3D!
Hipsters rejoice.
The main problem I have with Microsoft tags is that they require Microsoft's servers to be decoded, effectively giving Microsoft control over all tags ever created.
I like Microsoft Tags because crappy phone cameras can read them, and they are fast.
If you have the reader app, find a qr code and then point your phone in the general direction of the code, it will find it almost instantly without you having to focus on it
This might have it's uses, but I prefer QR Codes that store information in the actual code instead of just referencing a website.
I wonder if it's legal for the Google to implement Tag reading in their QR code scanning apps?
1 app, all tags. Simple.
@Johnny Rockets Why not? The more widespread the tags become the better for MS.
I am just back from amsterdam and did see those QR codes but they are on canals and unless you see them very quickly then you won't get a chance to scan them
The first usage in New Zealand of an MS Tag on the front cover of a magazine has just hit the shelves - Trade A Boat by ACP Media. Interestingly, the MS Tag is sitting over the top of a platform that allows advertisers to choose between MS Tags, QR Codes and other formats - they can collate all activity together in one place which is pretty cool. Details can be found here: http://www.hardlink.co.nz/news-acpmedia-tradeaboat.html