Microsoft Tag launches in beta, reader available now for S60
Microsoft has launched their version of mobile 2D barcodes, called Microsoft Tag. The new codes look quite different from the widely used (at least in Japan, that is) QR codes or Datamatrix codes:
The cool thing is that the reader application is available now for S60 as well. Just type this address into your device browser: http://gettag.mobi. You can create your own codes at the Tag site, though it’s only for US at the moment so I wasn’t able to fully try it out. Actually I got just a weird error page when trying to log in, so remember it’s in beta..
To create and scan mobile codes without having to sign in, you can go to Nokia’s Mobile Codes site where you will also find a collection of barcode reading applications that will read the standard QR and DM codes.
-Jukka
These have been around for a little while, but although it may be small, at least to me it seems rather unrecognisable as a ‘barcode’ which is an important feature. It looks like the colour test pattern printed on the binding of newspapers.
It’s a novel idea, but I wonder how much it can cope with changes in colour (on different screens/faded/wrong printed).
I think ultimately what’s needed is a pretty (aesthetics really count) barcode technology which is as open as QR Code/Datamatrix. It’s annoying to see all of the proprietary formats (eg. beetagg, shotcode) not open up and make the world of barcodes a nicer looking place.
What is also important is how fast the tag is identified and decoded by the client application. I declare myself impressed by the speed with which this beta application works. Well done Microsoft.
Btw, tag creation works ok, it must have been a site glitch when you have tried.
wow, it’s fast. not as many small details to get, just colors, therefore it doesn’t need perfect focus. and the s60 version works on the 5800, which is always a plus