Tastiest QR Code Ever, the QReo

Some fancy nerds over at Red Pepper have taken QR codes in a new and tasty direction, building one out of Oreos. Called QReo, it’s a cookie-representation of a QR code that should scan with most QR reader apps. I tried with my iPhone and the Motorola DS9208 at my desk but couldn’t get a read, it might be the contrast of the vanilla cookies to the white background. I have a feeling if they used lighter cookies as negative space it might work more easily.

Motorola DS9208 Video Review

Our new video reviewer, Camille, has shot a review for the Motorola DS9208 barcode scanner, a retail 2D imager that can also read barcodes off cell phones.

Motorola DS9208

Motorola is making a play for mobile ticketing and coupon scanning solutions, and their DS9208 barcode scanner is another step toward that end. More people are getting coupons and tickets sent to their smartphones, iPads, and so scanners need to be modified to read them quickly and effectively.

The DS9208 follows a similar build style to the LS9208, so it doesn’t take up too much space at your counter or checkstand. It looks a little bit like a power droid from Star Wars, which I’m told has a posse. Anyway, the DS9208 offers 1D and 2D scanning, with a scan range of about 10 inches, which is pretty good for a 2D presentation scanner. Scanning speed is a little tuned down compared to their higher end 2D scanner, the DS9808, and I think that’s to maintain accuracy. It’s also still able to catch a barcode zipping by at 90″ per second, which is a little over 5 mph, and probably faster than most people would try to swipe a barcode past it.

Unlike boring paper-based barcodes, barcodes on smartphones, mobile computers, or other LCD screen type things end up catching a lot of glare. It’s bound to happen when there’s a piece of glass on top of your barcode. Kind of a bummer, but Moto’s got a solution. The viewing lens on the DS9208 is spherical instead of a flat piece of plastic, minimizing glare from smartphone screens when scanning, and potentially speeding up the barcode scanning process.

It’s become pretty standard among 2D scanners, but the DS9208 has models available that can parse driver’s license data, reformat it, and send it in the order you prefer. So Target, with their credit application process, or any grocer ever with their customer loyalty program, can scan a customer’s license and enter the data immediately and accurately, as opposed to hand writing the content, then manually entering it, and turning 743 Evergreen Terrace into 148 Fevergen Trace.

If mobile ticketing gets as big as everyone says, the last thing a passenger will want is to have to wait while someone futilely tries to scan the ticket on their phone. The DS9208 should definitely alleviate those headaches. Because the last thing I want to do while waiting for a flight is wait some more.

*Image courtesy Motorola.