Sunday, November 27, 2011

In the wild - XVI

The previous 'In the wild' blog entry (XV) had examples of QR implementations that were problematic for one reason or another... Here are some recently observed ones that seem to work better:

At an Illinois store selling flowers and Christmas items, use the QR code to sign up for their newsletter:


In Indianapolis, you could pay by entering your parking space number and paying at a central meter, or you could use a QR code to pay online:


Ate pizza at a restaurant over Thanksgiving, they had a QR code you could use to sign up for news, updates, special offers, etc.


Attended a presentation by a "thought leader." Following the talk one could either fill out a paper survey to rate the presentation, or scan a QR code to be taken to a mobile-friendly site to enter your feedback... A good, and useful, implementation:


I observed earlier that airports would seem to be natural venues in which to use QR codes given the volumes of people, some of whom have much time on their hands. And so, a QR/Tag scavenger hunt set up in the various terminals of DFW:



Previous QR and Tag entries:
BB QR readers
QR codes "in the wild" (16 links)
QR-and Tag-related entries (22 links)

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

DrawTop quick look


So what is this? DrawTop, the whiteboard "app" that is compatible everywhere... From their web site: "The back of the laptop has been, historically, bare and useless. Quickly turn this space into a portable whiteboard with custom cut DrawTop vinyl adhesives. Get rid of backs of envelopes, lunch table napkins, and clumsy whiteboard apps -- design and collaborate in any meeting where you carry your laptop. "

So, here it is on my Asus Eee Pad Transformer... Not a bad little idea!

iPhone 4S first look


The specifications:
Height: 4.5 inches (115.2 mm)
Width: 2.31 inches (58.6 mm)
Depth: 0.37 inch (9.3 mm)
Weight: 4.9 ounces (140 grams)
Cellular: UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz), GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
WiFi: 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi (802.11n 2.4GHz only)
Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology
Assisted GPS and GLONASS
Screen: 3.5-inch (diagonal); 960-by-640-pixel resolution at 326 ppi; 800:1 contrast ratio (typical)
Camera: Autofocus 8-megapixel camera, LED flash
Video: HD (1080p) up to 30 frames per second with audio
Front camera with VGA-quality photos and video at up to 30 frames per second
Battery: Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion
Talk time: Up to 8 hours on 3G, up to 14 hours on 2G (GSM)
Standby time: Up to 200 hours
Internet use: Up to 6 hours on 3G, up to 9 hours on Wi-Fi
Video playback: Up to 10 hours, Audio playback: Up to 40 hours
Sensors: Three-axis gyro, Accelerometer, Proximity sensor, Ambient light sensor




With a Torch 2 and a Dell streak:





Reviews:
iPhone 4S review
iPhone 4S review (Engadget)
iPhone 4S review (Ubergizmo)
iPhone 4S (MobileTechReview)
Apple iPhone 4S review (BGR)
Apple iPhone 4S review (Pocketables)
Apple iPhone 4S: Thoroughly Reviewed (AnandTech)
Everything You Need to Know About Apple’s New iPhone 4S

Random chart

Source: The Economist